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w w w .in si de ha lto n. co m | O AK VI LL E BE AV ER | Th ur sd ay , J an ua ry 4 , 2 01 8 | 2 6 ON NOW AT THE BRICK! As distinctive as you are You are unique. Your family is unique. Ask our trusted specialists about personalized options for lasting remembrance, and preserve the memory of one special life forever. Arbor Memorial Inc. Family Owned. Proudly Canadian. Call today to take the first step: 905-257-1100 glenoaks.ca D Look for us on Facebook 3164 Ninth Line (403 & Dundas St.), Miss./Oakville, ON Glen Oaks Funeral Home& Cemetery byArbor Memorial It's been a good ride: Gerry Cullen continued from p.25 Association of School Board Officials for outstanding contribution to school operations, maintenance and construction. Cullen won the Wales award in 2002. His other provincial accolade was winning the McCordic award in 2016. It is given to one person by the Ontario Association of School Business Officials for contributions to the service of school business. In his time, Cullen served under five directors of education -- Bob Williams, Dusty Papke, Wayne Joudrie, David Euale and Stuart Miller. "I lived through the early years of school and pool closures, portables, construction of 30 schools, numerous additions, introduction of junior kindergarten, Hayden/Haber partnership, five directors of education, numerous trustees and senior staff team members and lots of board meetings." He said the most challenging projects of his long career occurred in recent years. "The recent school in north Oakville (Oodenawi PS.). Usually we have one year to design and obtain approvals followed by one year of construction. That school was done from start to finish in 10 months -- design, approval and construction -- (it) should have been impossible. "The other (challenging project) would be Hayden (high school a) joint project with the City of Burlington. Seven years in the making but a good outcome at the end." The day-to-day challenges are just as important and are perhaps harder to overcome, he said. "The new schools everyone likes is an accomplishment so you can't understate that, but keeping 100 schools open every day and keeping kids and schools safe and warm" is probably a harder thing to do, he said. He interacted with parents on a regular basis answering a multitude of questions over the years often about concerns with local school issues like parking and driver/student safety. Cullen admits he wasn't planning to have a long career with a school board. "I hadn't really planned to stay (long). I worked in the private sector for five years before I came here and I was looking to go back to the private sector," he said. Cullen was born and raised in east Hamilton attending the original Bishop Ryan H.S. then McMaster University and Mohawk College. He worked for Arvin Air Systems, a mechanical service company in Stoney Creek. He started with the Halton public board in 1987, was appointed assistant superintendent in 1991 and then superintendent of facility services in 1994. Cullen was involved in provincial issues through Ontario Association of School Business Officials serving as its committee chair, a board director and president. He participated on several provincial panels and gave presentations related to education and facilities. He said the board is in the process of finding his replacement but that he is not part of it. He noted the board is in good hands currently as three managers who worked under him all have many years of experience in facilities management. From a personal standpoint, Cullen says he married "my high school sweetheart", Linda, 34 years ago. They have two daughters, both married. Meaghan Hammond, 30, is an elementary teacher at Bruce Trail PS. in Milton. Kat Cullen, 28, is in promotions and on air at Hamilton radio station KX 94.7 FM New Country. Cullen said there isn't a thing he would change about his career. "It's been a good ride. There isn't one day of it I would undo. It's been a very busy and active 30 years." His plans now are to relax a little. "My wife is retiring at the same time so we hope to spend more time at the cottage and home." 60% Off All Christmas Themed Items! [Now until Jan 8th • All items final sale. k-a- illY W P P Y NEW YEAR! i § 3350 FAIRVIEW STREET, BURLINGTON 905-634-7700 • EMAIL: wbu1@bellnet.ca WE BRING PEOPLE & NATURE TOGETHER Overhead Door Co. of Hamilton-Burlington Proud to be servicing the GTA for 32 years. 5450 Harvester Road, Burlington Overhead Door (Hamilton-Burlington) Ltd. 905-333-1772 info@overheaddoorburlington.ca overheaddoorburlington.ca Thermacore® For premium construction and maximum thermal efficiency, a Thermacore® insulated steel door is the ideal choice. 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