Children mourning Joyelle McIntosh at an assembly in 2015 following the death of the Queen’s College teacher.
By RICARDO WELLS
Tribune Staff Reporter
rwells@tribunemedia.net
SCORES of mourners joined the staff and students of Queen’s College to remember the life and work of slain teacher Joyelle McIntosh, a woman whose “word was her bond and excellence was her habitat.”
During a memorial that was held yesterday at the school’s Geoffrey Brown Auditorium, colleagues and students conveyed stories of their interactions with the mother of two who was shot to death in her car nearly two weeks ago at the intersection of Parkgate Road and Village Road.
Fighting back tears, one of Mrs McIntosh’s fellow teachers, Braquelle Newton, said she was still struggling to understand the “senseless and selfish act” that has left her and many others “totally distraught”.
According to Mrs Newton, the day her friend was killed will live in infamy for the rest of her life. She said that the friendship she and McIntosh shared brought the best out in both of the young teachers.
She added that while remaining true to her character and beliefs, Mrs McIntosh, even in death has managed to win.
Mrs Newton said if her colleague could speak, she would encourage mourners to “cry if they must, but life goes on.”
“She would say, ‘Friend I am free. I have done my part don’t worry about me. It seems difficult, but continue on as life is worth death; so live, enjoy because this too shall pass. I didn’t mean for it to happen this way friend, so cry for a moment, girl, you know life has knocked us down several times, but we got back up. I know we have always had each other to help get back up, but this time my friend it might seem as if I am not there, but I am. Just reflect on the memories we have made, the lives we have touched, the students we have taught.’”
Mrs Newton said her friend would encourage those in the audience to touch lives the way she affected theirs.
Those words proved evident in statements given by two of the late educator’s former students.
One student recalled her time in Mrs McIntosh’s second grade class – indicating that she and many of her classmates still remember the wonderful things the teacher did for them.
“We can also remember when she taught us how to add and paint our faces on the back of paper plates. We loved second grade and we loved Mrs McIntosh. We must all do our best to remember Mrs McIntosh, it is hard to believe that someone would do such a terrible thing to such a wonderful person. Although she is gone, she is still deep in our hearts, we must pray that (she) is in a better place,” the young student said.
Another student added: “Mrs McIntosh always wanted the best for her students. She loved doing activities with us. She was one of the most understanding teachers I have ever known. She was always so full of joy, you never saw her without a smile on her face.”
He said while in Mrs McIntosh’s second grade class he was had extra classes to ensure that he had a full grasp of mathematics.
“During class time she would teach us how to add, subtract and our tables. Whenever anyone was sad she always used to cheer them up,” he said.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, the school’s principal, Andrea Gibson described the murdered teacher as “most ambitious” during her three years at Queen’s College.
Ms Gibson said despite their best efforts, those who knew Mrs McIntosh are still struggling to cope with the heinous act that claimed the life of the young teacher.
“Three short years, but it seemed much longer because she got involved from day one. She had a major impact, tremendous impact, she impacted the students and teachers,” said Ms Gibson.
“Mrs McIntosh was loved and respected by her colleagues, and truly loved and appreciated by her students. In three short years, Mrs McIntosh demonstrated to our school community what it means to do whatever it takes to accomplish said goal.”
Mrs McIntosh joined the staff of Queen’s College in August 2012.
During her time at the institution, she coached spelling bee teams and assisted with several extra curricular actives, including drama and dance.
On Monday, three men – 21-year-old Armando Sargeant of Kemp Road, 25-year-old Johnny Mackey of Bonaby Alley, and a 17-year-old boy - were charged with her murder and attempted armed robbery.
It is alleged that the three attempted to rob the Queen’s College teacher, at gunpoint, of her 2009 silver Toyota Corolla on November 11. After Mrs McIntosh was shot, her car crashed into a wall.
In the weeks since the homicide, counselling teams offered by the Methodist Church and the Ministry of Education have been in close contact with the school ensuring that both students and teachers received the help needed.
To conclude Tuesday’s service, students of Mrs McIntosh’s fourth grade class lit memorial candles in her honour.
Comments
TruePeople 8 years, 11 months ago
Very Sad
asiseeit 8 years, 11 months ago
To ALL politicians, you failures are the cause of this, each and every one of you due to your greed, petty politics, and corruption. How very proud you must be in creating a country that has children mourning a beloved teacher and cowering in fear of crime.How any politician in this country can be proud of the job they have done is beyond me. You are failures, there is nothing to be proud of and you should hang your heads in shame!
sheeprunner12 8 years, 11 months ago
Did anyone from the government pay homage to her ????????????
And to think that a teenager from Programme SURE was the alleged killer is hard to stomach .......... where are our social safety nets to deal with delinquent youth before they become monsters??????
jus2cents 8 years, 11 months ago
So sad for all, there must be a way to stop these senseless killings? Everyone is a victim here, even the stupid lost gunslinging child that kills an innocent person.
Maybe try this- http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatche…
No one under 18 can be out in public between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. without supervision by a parent, guardian or an authorized adult. The bylaw begins with, "No parent(s) shall permit his or her child to be in any public place during the prohibited hours."
RCMP are being asked to warn parents at first, then move on to issuing a $50 ticket and, subsequently, $100 tickets.
They're directed to call Child and Family Services if they can't locate a parent. (More info on the link)
TruePeople 8 years, 11 months ago
But murder is happen broad day often times... how do you curfew that?
g9822033 8 years, 11 months ago
I am a political atheist but there is no sense blaming the politicians - it's easy to point the finger.
Fact is that the thugs pulled the trigger, not the politicians. The thugs are to blame.
That said, until this country has a leadership with a 20 year plan to improve the standard of education things will not change.
John 8 years, 11 months ago
As the murder count climbs steadily to 153 (yes there abouts) for 2015, this is a clear and definite message that murder in this country is not just bad boys killing bad boys; gang members killing other gang members. It could have been anyone who stopped at that light that night or any other place on this island and met with a similar fate. This wound, this senseless killing is felt by an entire school and will forever change the lives of so many young people, who must experience the sting of death when the joy of their lives is just beginning. They must live under grey skies now when they should be seeing blue skies filled with sunshine. The sting of death is so permanent . The need for murder so unnecessary. How long, O Lord, how long?
John 8 years, 11 months ago
This is also a clear indication that government needs to put more effort, energy and resources in to pre-police activities to stem this monster of violence and murder and rescue young men from activities from the eventual fate of becoming a hardened criminal, a serial murder. It is now obvious that the gangs have penetrated the school system and are recruiting and influencing young males, especially, into anti-social, criminal and violent behavior. They must be identified and dealt with before it gets to this. just look at the number of young men (under 18) who are flashing gang signs in favor of the person who, also a minor< is involved in this tradegy. A no nonsense force must now go into every junior high and senior high school and give warnings to students to give up their gang membership and stop gang activities, gang banging, grand auto theft, murder robberies. Then after sufficient warning and pleading is done a strike force must go in and removed all students who are involved in gangs and furthermore debrief them to identify which gang(s0 they are involved in, who recruited them to the gang(s) and who are the leaders of those gangs. Then go after the big fish, as the law permits. The quickest way to kill a snake is to attack its head.
TruePeople 8 years, 11 months ago
They have BEEN in the schools. I grew up during the Gundoggs and Raiders time, and alot of my school mates (at QC no less) was claiming Hoyas and rocking Gtown gear.
But it's also in the communities, i'd go home and see the Raiders Logo tagged up on the Bins.
Try go play ball at the park, who you think is out there?
The culture of violence and gang affiliation is pervasive and increasingly visible in our culture
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