Dancer strives to use surprise scholarship
Unexpected college offer has brought unexpected costs
Winnipeg Free Press, Tue, Aug 28, 2001
By Melissa Leong
AFTER a private college in Ottawa offered him an ,000 scholarship last week,
George Bear is scraping up enough money to get himself to the school.
"I have to start saving. It all came about so suddenly," said the 37-year-old
caretaker at Freight House Leisure Centre.
A week ago, Bear performed a traditional hoop dance to a room packed with 150 educators from 20 countries who were in Winnipeg for a conference.
After his dance, Bear spontaneously gave a speech about his lack of education and the hardships that First Nations people face in achieving higher learning.
Rima Aristocrat, president and CEO of Willis College of Business and Technology in
Ottawa, was so impressed, she offered Bear a one-year scholarship to her school.
She is currently preparing the scholarship certificate to send to Bear.
Bear is responsible for his airfare and accommodations. He said he's looking for funding and may approach the Southeast Tribal Council for help.
Bear has several hoop-dancing gigs coming up and he said he will set aside that
money for Ottawa, as well as save money from his full-time job as a caretaker, where he is paid minimum wage.
Patti Buck, Bear's girlfriend, shares his monthly expenses of about . Buck, who works at Great West Life in the human resources department, said she will contribute to the savings and accompany Bear to Ottawa this year or maybe nextyear.
"I think it's awesome," said Buck from their inner-city home yesterday. "For him, it was a dream come true. It was Creator's way of saying, 'now it's time'."
Willis College of Business and Technology has recently set up a partnership with the University of Winnipeg, the first inter-provincial partnership in Canada between< private and public education.
Aristocrat told Bear that he could take his schooling in Winnipeg if he's willing to wait until the project gets underway some time next year.
"I like change," said Bear who only went to Grade 9. "I'd like to see different places. I'd sure like to see what the college is like."
Aristocrat said Bear will be assessed and offered upgrading courses to prepare him for the classroom. The ,000 scholarship doesn't cover tutoring but it will be offered free to Bear, she said.
"I want to make sure that he's successful," said Aristocrat.
Bear said he is following the examples of other First Nation people in the community who have succeeded in achieving higher learning.
"Other people in their life... they've done good for themselves. And me? I want to do it, too," said Bear.
melissa.leong@freepress.mb.ca
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Gifts allow hoop dancer to fly, take train to college
Winnipeg Free Press, Wed, Aug 29, 2001
By Melissa Leong
GEORGE BEAR received several more surprise gifts yesterday when two Winnipeggers offered him free train and air travel to get him to a private college in Ottawa.
Last week, Willis College of Business and Technology in Ottawa offered Bear a one-year paid scholarship worth ,000.
Yesterday, Bear received calls from Kevin Williams of VIA Rail and Monica Quiring, an Air Canada employee, who both wanted to extend a helping hand to the 37-year-old caretaker of Freight House Leisure Centre.
"I just can't believe this is happening," an incredulous Bear said. "It happens to people, but I didn't think it would happen to me."
After performing a traditional hoop dance at an educators' conference in Winnipeg, Bear spontaneously gave a speech about his dream of getting an education and the hardships that first nations people face in achieving higher learning.
Rima Aristocrat, president and CEO of Willis College of Business and Technology, was so impressed she offered Bear a scholarship on the spot.
The Free Press published a story yesterday about Bear, who has been trying to scrounge enough money for air fare and accommodations.
Williams read Bear's story and called him at work to offer him two open train tickets to Ottawa, including return fare.
"I think he thought I was kidding. I had to press him. I said, 'This is not a joke,'" said Williams, a service manager at VIA.
Whenever Bear is ready, he can make arrangements for the tickets with Mark Pradine, a former Winnipegger and marketing co-ordinator for VIA Rail in Vancouver, said Williams.
Quiring read the paper yesterday morning and jumped at the chance to help.
She contacted Bear at work and offered him a pass that would allow him to fly a return trip to Ottawa.
"I do feel the need to do something. Maybe it's because I've always had a feeling inside about Metis and aboriginals. When I see the good that they do, it makes me proud," said Quiring, a fifth-generation Metis.
Quiring said she was a single mom working four part-time jobs while completing two university degrees in science and education. She said she wants to go back to school for another degree in medicine.
Bear said he's still in shock and hasn't decided which offer he's taking.
melissa.leong@freepress.mb.ca
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