Neil J. Salkus

Neil Salkus was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, December 11 1944. The son of an engineer in the Canadian Army, he attended a number of different schools across Canada. He studied engineering at UBC, graduating in 1968 with a BSc (Applied Science) in metallurgical engineering. After that, he worked in the steel industry in Ontario, where he focussed on specialty stainless steels and earned his Professional Engineering designation.

However, when he realised that the most satisfying part of his work was tutoring men from the plant who wanted to complete Grade 12, he decided to return to UBC and become a teacher. He began this new career at Handsworth Secondary School in North Vancouver in 1972, where he taught chemistry until his retirement in 2004. He also served as chair of the school's Staff Committee.

Neil was an enthusiastic volleyball coach. At Handsworth, he transformed raw Grade 8's into accomplished Grade 12's. He was also co-founder (in 1978) and long-time coach of the North Shore's non-profit, volunteer BCO Volleyball Club.

Neil joined the North Vancouver High School Education Foundation October 1 2009 and served two terms as president. He also founded the career training scholarship which now bears his name, for he believed in putting theory into practice.

Neil died May 23 2014, but he is remembered by students, colleagues, and friends for his dedication to teaching, his skill in organization, and his ever-present dry wit.