Retired West Vancouver teacher donates estate to West Vancouver Community Foundation

In the fall of 2016, the West Vancouver Community Foundation received a significant donation from the estate of Mary Margaret Sheridan, who passed away on February 1, 2014.

Mary Sheridan taught at Sentinel, Hillside and West Vancouver Secondary School. Records show that she lived in both Point Grey and Kitsilano areas before moving to West Vancouver.  She also taught in the United Kingdom for two years but we do not know whether that took place before or after her arrival in Canada.

Miss Sheridan received a Bachelor of Arts (Political Science & English) from the University of British Columbia in 1955. She took a leave of absence in 1969 to pursue graduate studies (possibly at UBC but not confirmed).

I was a student of hers at Hillside Secondary school, says former student, lawyer and local community leader Mark Sager. “She was a popular English teacher fondly known as Miss Sheridan. I particularly remember my time with her in grade 8. Having just moved up from grade 7 at West Bay School to Hillside, which was a bit intimidating, she managed to get everyone in the class to know one another, which really helped. She also managed to create a course which encouraged participation and discussion. For one project she had us pick a song which we liked and make it into a story and share it with the class. It seemed a bit off the wall at the time, but it worked! She loved Hillside, West Vancouver and her students.”