When Mohinder Sehmbey retired in 1994, after teaching high school math and physics in Chester for 28 years, he almost certainly didn’t expect that career to be followed by another 31 years as a supply teacher.
“But he really wasn’t ready to stop teaching,” says his daughter, Camille Sehmbey. She adds that her dad “is too modest to be interviewed” about his contributions: “He was always motivated by his love for his
subject and his students.”
Mohinder and his wife, Harjinder, came to Canada from India in 1966. Wanting to give their children the opportunity of a better life and more education, Mohinder had responded to an advertisement inviting qualified teachers in India to move to Canada. The Sehmbeys chose Chester, becoming the first Indian and first Sikh family in the community. By the time Mohinder retired the second time, a year ago this month, aged 90, he was teaching the grandchildren of his first students.
“I don’t think we have another example of an educator who put as much time and love into teaching,” says André Veinotte, a Municipality of Chester councillor and one of Mohinder Sehmbey’s former students. Veinotte says it was “such a pleasure” to honour his former teacher and neighbour last
year by presenting him with a special service award from the municipality.
“Because he knew and loved his subject so much—and because he is such a patient person—even
students who weren’t confident in math and physics gained confidence, thanks to him,” says
Veinotte.
He adds, “I’m grateful that he taught me, which helped me toward an engineering career.”
Erin Gore, a retired teacher who taught with Sehmbey for many years, says, “He cared.
As much as he cared about his subjects, he cared even more about his students’ well-being.
And they knew it.” Gore says he also cared about girls gaining confidence in math
and science and he didn’t show any favouritism toward boys as learners: “That wasn’t common
back in the sixties and seventies, especially for a teacher who came originally from a patriarchal
culture.”
Mohinder and Harjinder Sehmbey now live in Ottawa and appreciate being with daughter
Camille and her family. Veinotte and Gore agree that Sehmbey’s nearly six decades of teaching excellence and the way he cared about his students, colleagues, and neighbours have been tremendous gifts to the community.
Says Gore: “I think Mohinder Sehmbey is the most universally respected person in Chester.”
by Sharon Jessup Joyce
