Colin MAILER

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MAILER: Colin Malcolm, passed away on Wednesday, July 8, 2009 at the Brandon Regional Health Centre at the age of 70 years. Colin was born on the family farm east of Sioux Valley on November 17, 1938, with Nurse Frances Birtles assisting. His childhood was spent at the farm and at a cottage in Griswold to make school attendance easier.After Grade XI at Griswold School and a six-week summer course at Provincial Normal School in Tuxedo, Colin was assigned to Eddystone School as a permit teacher. The following year was spent completing Grade XII at Oakwood High in Oak Lake. In 1959, he graduated from the Teacher Training Program at Brandon College and began his career at Alexandra School in what was then Brandon School District #129. In succeeding years, he taught at David Livingstone, McLaren, J. R. Reid, Fleming, and Linden Lanes Schools including seven years as an elementary school principal. Colin completed his 34 years with Brandon School Division #40 as English Language Arts Consultant K - 12 and finally as Middle Years Consultant. Colin earned his B.A. from Brandon College in 1965 and his B.Ed. from Brandon University in 1968. He was a life member of The Brandon Teachers' Association and of the Manitoba Association of Teachers of English. A lifelong supporter of the arts festival movement in Manitoba, he served for many years on the Executive of the Brandon Festival of the Arts and, in retirement, travelled all over Manitoba and into Ontario adjudicating speech arts classes at community arts festivals, a special privilege he thoroughly enjoyed. Colin conducted numerous professional development sessions for teachers across Manitoba and presented at an international conference on the teaching of reading in 1994 in Buenos Aires. He served for many years as a sessional instructor in language arts methods in the Faculty of Education at Brandon University. Gardening and word puzzles were among his varied interests and, even after rheumatoid arthritis severely reduced his mobility, he continued regular visits to a nearby wooded area he called "my wild place" to keep it debris-free. He served on many executive committees over the years including the Board of the Westman Recycling Council. Colin was grateful for the exceptionally good care and attention of Dr. Caplan and the staff at the Brandon Clinic, of Dr. Bookatz and the staff at the Western Medical Clinic, and of Dr. Tim McCarthy, Shelley, Jana, Kathy and the staff at the Manitoba Clinic. Colin felt blessed to have so very many good friends in Brandon and Winnipeg who readily volunteered transportation, food, accommodation and more. Colin was predeceased by his Parents, John William (1883 - 1959) and Alice (1899 - 1992), and by two brothers, John Wentworth Lowe (Wenty) (1922 - 1972) and William Ewart (Bill) (1925 - 1986). He is survived by sister-in-law Connie, nephew Danny, his wife Kathy, and their daughter Dannielle in Calgary. The Funeral Service will be held at the Brockie Donovan Chapel, 332-8th Street, on Monday, July 13, 2009 at 1:00 p.m. with Arlene Robertson officiating. Interment will take place at the Griswold Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, if friends so desire, donations may be made in Colin's memory to the Brandon Regional Health Centre Foundation, 150 McTavish Avenue East, Brandon, Manitoba, R7A 2B3 or to the Griswold United Church Building Fund, Griswold, Manitoba, R0M 0S0. Messages of condolence may be placed at www.brockiedonovan.com.

As published in Brandon Sun on Jul 10, 2009