Past and present staff reflect on what makes Woodsworth College special

By Coby Zucker

Since 1974, Woodsworth College has built a reputation for strong retention of staff. On the college’s 50^th anniversary, three of its most long tenured and esteemed staff reflect on what makes the college special.

June Straker was at Woodsworth from the beginning, retiring in 2014. She began as head of the Registration Office and was a pivotal part of establishing the college’s enduring identity of acceptance and familial support.

“It was a family affair at Woodsworth,” Straker says. “My husband and my son were Woodsworth students, and my kids worked at Woodsworth part time.”

Straker was a committed advocate for staff and students at the college. She founded a Single Parents group and during the summer, along with their parents, she would often take the children of Woodsworth students on field trips to Ontario Place, Hart House Farm or some other place of interest.

The June Straker Award for Single Parents is awarded annually to full or part-time single support parents to assist with education-related expenses including tuition.

“Knowing the staff are very friendly, students develop that trust,” Straker says. “They know they can come to you with almost anything.” 

Staff who overlapped with Straker recognized her generous spirit. Anne Marie Blackett, an associate registrar, has been at the college for more than 40 years, beginning with a part-time job out of high school in 1981.

It was her friend Straker who brought Blackett into the college’s fold.

“June’s invitation to start as a part-time student working here opened the door to many opportunities for my own family,” Blackett says. “And since then, through many different life journeys, through different ups and downs, I'm still here.”

Blackett credits Woodsworth staff as the reason she’s stayed as long as she has. She mentions Straker as well as Alexander Waugh, former vice-principal and registrar, and Noah Meltz, former principal.

“It's just that sense of family and community,” Blackett says. “As a family, you'll have your ups and downs, but everybody looks out for one another.”

Part of that sense of community came from Woodsworth’s unique focus on mature students, says David Nimmo, who was involved at the college from 1976 to 2012 in a variety of roles, including director of the Millie Rotman Shime Academic Bridging Program. 

“They were the same age as the young staff at Woodsworth,” Nimmo says. “So, there was a sense of camaraderie between the Woodsworth College Students’ Association and the staff themselves.”

Nimmo also points to the many extracurricular activities run by the college as helping to foster the camaraderie among staff and students.

One common thread in the careers of Straker, Blackett and Nimmo is the strength of the relationships they built with students at the college.

“We help our students,” Straker says. “Come and cry on our shoulders. It doesn’t matter what about.”

“Because I'm a person of colour, a lot of students identified with me so I felt like I could actually share with them and encourage them to go to school,” says Blackett, who was similarly encouraged by Straker and others to earn her degree while working at the college.

Nimmo recently spoke at a reunion for alumni of the Academic Bridging Program. He reflected on the many students’ lives who touched his own, as well as the college’s strong leadership over the years.

“I feel so loyal to the college that I have it included in my will, and I continue to donate annually, as do other people,” Nimmo says. “It’s an important part of my life, that’s for sure.”

Looking forward, the staff are excited by the prospect of a new building for the college, expanding the possibilities and physical spaces for students.

“The college is going in the right direction,” Straker says. “Getting a library at Woodsworth will be fantastic.” 

“I never thought I would be here for 40 years, and, honestly, when I look back, it doesn't feel like 40 years have gone by,” Blackett says. ““I hope we continue to attract great staff and leaders, people who would carry on the reputation established over the last 50 years, truly demonstrating our motto ‘You Belong Here.’”