A retired Northlands Parkway Collegiate custodian is the recipient of this year’s Manitoba School Board Association (MSBA) Presidents’ Council Award for his dedication to his school community.
Garden Valley School Division trustees presented Frank James with the award at a special celebration at the Winkler high school Monday morning.
Before his retirement in late 2024, James worked at NPC for seven years. He was hired to keep the facility in tip-top shape, but he did so much more, noted principal Donovan Giesbrecht in addressing the assembled student body.
“It only takes two minutes in a conversation with Mr. James to realize what he was really trying to do, what his real job here was: encouraging students and staff to find their hope, to find their passion, and to find their purpose.”
James truly went above and beyond in his time at NPC, and it made his nomination stand out, shared GVSD board chair Leah Klassen, who also serves as a vice-president with the MSBA.
“This year, our association had a record number of applicants for our Presidents’ Council Award. There were many inspired and worthy nominations,” she said.
In selecting James, the nomination committee found someone “whose quiet passion and unwavering commitment to students has left a lasting imprint on the entire school community,” Klassen continued. “He embodies the very spirit of Garden Valley School Division’s mission by creating an environment where every student is seen, valued, and supported.
“Mr. James built genuine relationships with students, taking the time to listen,” she said. “His deep appreciation for art became a bridge to connect people, often purchasing art supplies with his own resources so students could explore their creativity.
“Whether sitting in The Commons to offer a listening ear, cheering from the sidelines at sporting events, or offering a steady voice of encouragement during difficult times, Mr. James became a trusted adult mentor to countless students.”
Gr. 11 student Chantelle Reimer reflected on the huge impact James made during his time at NPC.
“There aren’t enough words to describe how thoughtful and caring Frank is. He a light in a dark room,” she said, noting he was always there to talk with any teen who needed a listening ear. “I think everyone here could agree that Frank was more than just a custodian. He was a friend, and one of the greatest friends ever.
“Frank, I hope you know everyone here at the school loves and appreciates everything you have done for this school.”
For his part, James said he felt called to this role.
“I always looked forward to coming to work each day, not necessarily for the work I had to do but for the friendships I gained with the kids and staff,” he said.
James shared that he had a difficult home life as a teen. It gave him a point of connection with students who were going through similar challenges.
“My heart goes out to them. I tried to befriend them, love them, encourage them, and try to set them on the right path,” he said. “Sometimes telling them that you truly understand where they are coming from goes a long way. And they also need to know that they are loved and you are praying for them.
“Being a Christian, my heart was telling me: ‘What would Jesus do?’” James continued, noting his time at NPC “provided me with many opportunities to share my faith.
“As the years went by, challenges changed, new problems came up, new friendships developed, and some kids’ lives changed for the better. The kids and I shared times of joy and anger, tears, love, faith, mourning, celebration, and even the odd dad joke—okay, a lot of dad jokes.
“I never thought that I would ever go back to school, but I must say: I think I learned a lot more the second time around.”
