A GREAT TEACHER WITH A LOT OF FIGHT IN HIM

Dear Editor,

I write to offer my congratulations and to say thanks to a great teacher, community champion and friend Bill Peterson.

I had the pleasure of working with Bill, and he and I would often swap canine chatter about our feisty, furry, four-legged family members. Sometimes, they’d even join us at the office.

I’ll never forget one particular workday. It was almost approaching noon. My dog, Winston, was zonked out under my desk. Quiet and calm until the serviceman that picked up our recycling came to call. Winston tore off to investigate after the blue cart on wheels (and the man who was wheeling it). Bill recognized Winston’s distress and invited him into his office to watch at a safe distance. Not five seconds later, Winston made two quick circles and lifted his leg to relieve himself all over the sleeve of Bill’s suit jacket. I was humiliated. Bill, hardly fazed at all, laughed it off by saying he’d have a good story to share with the Mayor with whom he’d be having lunch in a few minutes. Thank goodness they are both dog lovers, too!

Intelligent, loyal and determined, Bill shares some of the characteristics of his beloved Jack Russell Terrier breed. He also shares their insistence to not ever back away from a challenge. Dwight Eisenhower said, “What counts is not necessarily the size of the dog in the fight it’s the size of the fight in the dog.” Bill Peterson has a lot of fight in him.

I’d like to congratulate Bill on an outstanding career and the impact he’s made on our community. I’ll miss seeing him regularly at work and around Saskatoon, but I know his influence remains in our community and in the people he’s worked with.

Sincerely,

Chris Shauf

Saskatoon