Yellowknife’s St Joseph School has just renamed their gymnasium to honour a beloved teacher.
With both private and public ceremonies held on Thursday, November 28th, the St. Joseph gym has officially been renamed in honour of the late Eugene Roach. Eugene was a well known and well respected sports teacher, who volunteered much of his time to groups like Team NWT, and would often help to organize local tournaments.
(Photo by Connor Pitre/True North FM Staff)
(Photo by Connor Pitre/True North FM Staff)
Eugene was an advocate and practitioner of living a healthy lifestyle, and always tried to help his students in doing the same. Paul Kelly, a teacher at St Joseph, shared that the students were always very admiring of their former teacher.
“I think he was well respected at other schools as well, because Eugene was really involved in a variety of sports, and he also coached at the Territorial level, so kids throughout the Territory would know who he was, particularly if he was involved in a sport. I think a big part of it is that Eugene really promoted physical fitness and healthy living as a lifestyle, because it’s something he really truly believed and wanted for all of his kids.”
Tragically, the day came where a trip to the doctor revealed that Eugene had developed a very aggressive form of cancer. While Eugene’s case was sadly one that was unable to be cured, he still showed great strength.
“He spent the next number of years living with that reality, and taking every opportunity to battle cancer. He traveled around to different parts of the country, trying different treatments, trying to keep active himself and still be involved, which I think speaks to just who he was. He was the type of character that he wasn’t just going to accept it. He was going to fight it, and so he kept trying to teach and kept trying to coach with kids and with adults as well.”
(Photo by Connor Pitre/True North FM Staff)
(Photo by Connor Pitre/True North FM Staff)
Eugene ended up passing away in July of 2022.
Thursday’s ceremony saw many community members gather at St Joseph to honour Eugene. Many pictures were decorated around the gym showing all of his connections to the NWT sports community. Several members of the St Joseph faculty and surrounding school system took to the podium to share their kind words.
