The Written Prose of Madame Veer
By: Ayen Riak
A Shaunavon native of rural Saskatchewan for seventeen years, raised on a farm, often tending to her family’s livestock–the fruit of her labor blossoming into a love for animals and horse riding, especially. The storyline of Lisa Veer–the genesis of a farm townie, who soon embraced an endless spree of adventures–writes like a novella. As a youth, Veer’s school years extended between the basketball team and absorbing literature; with Jane Austen being a favorite of hers. Upon entering middle school, Veer’s French education commenced with a series of menial core French classes. Fast forward to senior year, Veer saw an absence in French proficiency with the casual, generalized lessons she came to know as a schoolgirl, and sought to change the matter. At the University of Saskatchewan, Veer pursued a Bachelor’s in French, followed by a supplementary class in Quebec to further enhance her French dialect. These courses would serve as prerequisites in Veer’s education degree, predestined for a career in teaching English and French Immersion. The foundation of her teaching dwelled in Moose Jaw; staring as a French instructor at King George–which later brought Veer to Ross school for nine years. A passionate educator by nature and inclination, Veer was provided the opportunity to enlighten a diverse band of students in the Netherlands, via NATO. Following four years teaching in Europe, Veer returned and completed a year’s tenure on the École Palliser Heights staff, before establishing a longer residence of almost two decades at Central Collegiate.
Though the bulk of her curriculum would impede life outside the classroom, Veer sustained an enduring passion of varied interest that ushered her onto every continent. Among thousands of applicants, all of whom yearned to see the likes of Europe, a young Veer, at age 19, was granted the chance to travel South Germany. She worked on a dairy farm for six months, while learning the native tongue under the tutelage of a local elder, Ms. Hamp. Enraptured with other cultures, Veer would see herself journey to a selection of counties: Italy for three weeks to brush up on her Italian; a month in Spain to improve her Spanish; two trips to Morocco a week each; along with another week in Egypt.
Throughout Veer’s expeditions there was no shortage of fond memories. While in Cairo, Veer and a friend ate with the Canadian embassy for Thanksgiving, and took an extravagant tour of Iceland with Veer’s Icelantic grandmother. On Veer’s family trip to Italy, a chance encounter with a German couple–of whom Veer was able to translate the interaction–led to a week’s stay for free, in Verona at her new friend’s mountain top villa: a three story apartment, with a pool and gated entrance.
Beyond the fantasy, Veer would encounter a slew of mishaps in many countries, to which friends and acquaintances dubbed, The Veer Effect. “One time we were in a car accident, on the way to
the airport to go to England. One time I was in Morocco and they had an earthquake. One time I was flying to England, just before we landed, there was a bombing in the underground, in London, so everything ground to a halt. Another time someone jumped in front of a train to commit suicide, so they stopped all the trains and I almost missed my plane. It was just on and on and on. It got to where people would just say ‘so what happened this time’ and usually I had a story.”
A stirring passion for the arts cultivated Veer’s undertaking and witness to creative projects at home and abroad. “I used to write and direct plays in elementary, with Ms. Lemur [colleague], about the Titanic, and I redirected it in Europe.” Veer was cast in a European production, River Spoon Anthology, acting in three different roles: “The fellow who played opposite me, he left his phone on by his guitar. So I’m doing this big, long monologue with a German accent, and it rang, and rang, and rang. I could’ve killed him.” She visited a Roman amphitheater, The Verona Colosseum, to see an Opera of Othello. “It was 37 degrees that day, we had to sit on stones. We had cushions, but I had to stand up and fan myself because it was so hot.”
The immersion of cultures translated to the extracurriculars Veer later adopted at Central Collegiate. Once a month, a Friday lunch period was reserved for ‘Author’s Tea’, a safe space for students to share their creative works in Veer’s classroom, provided with baked goods and a draw for door prizes.
While digital programs were known but not fixed in schools, in a class of firsts, Veer was originally responsible for bringing Google Classroom to institutions inside the Prairie South School Division. “I had to convince the powers that be. I was teaching photography at the time, and I had spoken to a teacher in Regina who was quite an expert in it, and that’s what he used, and so I said that’s what I have to use too.”
When a global pandemic put a damper on sports and activities during the 2020-2021 school year, Veer was the only Central teacher to safely pilot extracurriculars for her students. She held Jane Austen Club sessions in her room, twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays, for embroidery, letter making, and watching movies. The Model United Nations Association (MUNA) hosted meetings with Veer and their National Spring Conference was held over Zoom. “I wasn’t able to do everything, but I tried to get permission for everything. [It was] something that I really wanted to continue, something that people could do.”
When asked how she would advise a new generation of educators, Veer remarked: “Be a trailblazer, go out there and try things. Never assume that kids will never be interested, looking back to Jane Austen and such.” Veer recalled her best moments as an educator, taken out of the classroom. “I did a ballroom dancing class for grades 4 to 6 at Palliser, and I remember I had a little girl in a wheelchair and this boy asked to dance with her. The parents bawled their eyes out. You’re gonna have those kinds of moments. Keep a journal, and keep track of those funny things and poignant moments. I didn’t do that per say, but I wish I had.”
As far as Veer’s retirement is concerned, she is ready to trade her workaholic schedule for a no less satisfying second act. “I’m on the German School Board in Regina. I’ve teamed up with my friend, who is a travel agent and we’ve formed a business called ObserVeer. Our plan is to go to Peru for photography next November. I also have a trip booked to the Maritimes at the end of June, this year. I want to write; I’m hoping to write a book. And my usual gardening, of course. In Northern Spain, there’s a pilgrimage that you can do on horseback, walking, or on bike. My problem is my knees. I have very bad knees, so sitting on a saddle for 4 to 6 hours is a lot. I’ve done it lots of times in the past, but I was younger then, and I didn’t have the arthritis issues that I have now. That’s something that I want to train up to. And I would like to get riding more, and painting some more.”
Veer plans to keep a foot in different worlds, becoming a tradesman of sorts. “I take piano and I’m ready to take my grade five theory piano. I took lessons as a kid, but the teacher I have now is very qualified. She’s taken 50 students to grade 10, and 20 to the ARTC, which is the highest level you can go [in piano]. I’m learning to play better, to play well. It’s more than just plunking on the notes, that’s for sure! I still have a book club at my house too, once a month. And [for teaching] I’ll be subbing.”
Tune in to the launch of DeVeer photography. “My photography website is coming up, next week. We’ll be live Wednesday for part time bookings. I took a professional photography course from the Photography Institute in Vancouver in advanced modules for wedding and portraiture. I did three workshops with Greg Johnson,” the Tornado Hunter television personality, “and I did some private sessions with some professional photographers in Regina. I’ve had years of interest, now I have the credentials. A hobby turned into a profession.”
Veer offered a closing statement of her time at Central, and thirty-two years she’s dedicated to teaching as well. “My teaching career, as a whole, has been wonderful. You have ups and downs’, some days are harder than others, but that’s life. Overall it has been a tremendous experience. I love who I’ve worked with–teachers, assistants, TA’s, and of course the students; I like to keep up with my students. I’m forever telling kids, text me when you finish university, tell me what you’re doing.“
**Author’s Note – The recording of the author’s taped interview with Lisa Veer took place January 20th, 2023, in the last few weeks of Veer’s full-time teaching career. By the time this article is published, Veer will be retired–sipping mai-tai’s and soaking up the sun!