Former teacher remembered fondly by colleagues
MERIGOMISH, N.S. — People in Pictou County are mourning the loss of a longtime teacher from East Pictou.
Wallace MacLean, 78, was first reported missing in Merigomish on Feb. 13. At approximately 4 p.m. on Feb. 17, the man’s truck was located near Mill Road in Upper Barney’s River. His body was located nearby.
“The investigation into the death is continuing and we have not made a determination about any criminality at this time,” a release from the RCMP stated.
RCMP Cpl. Ron Bryce said they’re still waiting for autopsy results, but at this point nothing seems suspicious.
Pat Carty taught with MacLean at East Pictou for several years and described him as a soft-spoken but well-liked teacher.
“He spent a lot of his teaching time with students who struggled in school. The kids really related to him. They really attached themselves to him.”
Fergie MacKay was another teaching colleague of MacLean’s and said everywhere he has gone recently he‘s run into former students of the man who have fond memories of him.
“He was a wonderful person to work with,” MacKay said. “We at one time had a class between both of us and he was a joy to work with.”
To meet MacLean, you would at first wonder how someone so soft spoken could be a teacher, but it’s something that he did and did well, MacKay said.
Outside of the classroom MacLean enjoyed spending time outdoors and travelling.
“I never heard a bad word about Wally,” MacKay said. “He was always well liked.”