Hello County.
I sit to pen this Monday Check-In with a very heavy heart.
Last Thursday, our local lost a tremendous champion, mentor and friend with the sudden passing of long time NSTU member Susan Noiles.
For those of you who did not know her, Susan was an amazing educator whose career spanned 3 decades. Most recently, she held a guidance position at Lockview High School where she had worked for 18 years. She was also a wife, a mother, sister and a very proud Nana. As an avid unionist, Susan held a number of positions, both locally and provincially, including serving on the Insurance Trustees, and on the Provincial Executive and had long been an active member for Halifax County.
For those of us who did know Susan, however, we understand that her involvement ran much deeper than the positions she held. She had a passion for fairness and a way of seeing issues through a very objective lens that made her someone to be reckoned with. You knew at the meetings that when Susan approached the microphone, you should probably pay attention. She was never anything but professional, and she exuded this calm sense of assurance, but when she wanted you to hear a message, I can tell from personal experience, you heard exactly what was on her mind.
She attended our local meeting last Wednesday night, the day before she died, and as always, was involved in the discussion and the debate. In her last act of Unionism, she remained well after the meeting had adjourned, wishing to bend the ear of her local President on an issue, as she did so often. In typical Susan style, she apologized for taking my time, but felt compelled to speak to how something that had come up that evening was so important to our members.
And that was what she was like; naturally wired to put others’ needs before her own.
To paraphrase a line from Julius Caesar, I owe Susan more words than you will see me write today. She was nothing short of an inspiration, and she will be deeply, deeply missed.
Have a good week, County, and reach out with any questions or concerns.