Bill Belsey has been an extraordinary professional educator for many years.
A personal experience; it was 1994 when I found Bill working for Canada's Schoolnet, where he was co-ordinator of Canada's National Network of Innovative Schools, he advised our school community with developing a technology plan at Soulanges Elementary School, a one-room schoolhouse in St. Telesphore, Quebec, Part of the Lakeshore School Board (LSB) based in Pointe Claire Quebec.
Our small, rural school board had five high schools and 29 elementary schools. The parents took Bill's advice and wrote the tech plan, it was noted in the whole Lakeshore School Board as the best submission. Bill gave us tremendous support from the LSB for technology. Included in the technology plan was Bill’s advice on computers, colour printers and laser printers, scanners, and the completely awesome Sony Digital camera. Each student had his/her own floppy back then. It was so easy to manage pictures, etc. We had six computers and 15 students in our one-room schoolhouse that eventually expanded into two rooms. It was built and paid for by the parents, the entire community, and even amazing donations from across the province like an architect, electric boxes and wires, electricians, and so much more. Our forward-thinking technology plan, led by Bill, helped us to fight against closure that was threatening our small, rural school.
Thanks again to Bill and his professional advice for helping us save our school!
Beyond this, he tirelessly worked in support of teachers and students across Canada and around the world. His work on behalf of professional educators, developing far-sighted educational projects and many other issues such as information on bullying and cyberbullying, is beyond words. Thank you, Bill, your life has touched so many, more than you will ever know.
Lorraine Krause
Hinchinbrooke, Quebec
