Teacher inducted

Page R7

A steady commitment to education led an Alberta woman to forge new paths in community services, and land a coveted award.

Mary Ruth McDougall was inducted in the Lethbridge Community College Hall of Fame April 30 for her outstanding contributions to native education. McDougall iscurrently the co-ordinator of post-secondary education and the Blackfoot language program for the Peigan Board of Education.

Mother of five and grandmother of 13, McDougall has dedicated her life to family and community. She was the first in her family to graduate from university, taking a degree in education after training as a laboratory technician at the Holy Cross Hospital in Calgary.

McDougall founded the Sarcee Reserve Girl Guides Club, and was later one of the key organizers of the Peigan Reserve's first day-care centre.

But counselling and instructing students to foment a love of learning has been McDougalls' primary goal. She has served on the Lethbridge Commuity College's Native Advisory Committee, Native Education Task Force, and now is a member of the college Presidents Advisory Council.