Fall 2021 BEAD Convocation Prize | Thor Stewart YNTEP

Thor Stewart graduated from the Yukon Native Teacher Education Program (YNTEP) with Great Distinction and was the recipient of the Fall 2021 Bachelor of Education After Degree (BEAD) Convocation Prize. The Yukon Native Teacher Education Program (YNTEP) offers a University of Regina B.Ed. (elementary education) in cooperation with Yukon College in Whitehorse, Yukon Territory.

While a student, Thor was also a recipient of the Academic Silver Scholarship (2020 Fall). Early in his adult life, Thor began working with youth and building community through skateboarding and this turned into working with diverse groups of youth at summer camps and guiding outdoor pursuits. In 2012, Thor completed the University of Manitoba’s Inuit and Environmental Science field course in Pangnirtung, Nunavut and in 2019, Thor returned to Nunavut with some high school friends and climbed Mount Thor, an experience documented in the film “Ocean to Asgard.” (Source: Thor Conquers Thor). One of the goals of this expedition involved engaging with the community in Pangnirtung and taking some local youth on a day of rock climbing on the cliffs that overlook the town.

While studying at Yukon University, Thor worked as a substitute teacher, giving him opportunities to apply the skills he learned in the classroom. Thor provided constant academic support to his classmates in the YNTEP program and would go out of his way to ensure his peers would thrive in the classroom. Thor has fond memories of teaching the program supervisor how to ‘ollie’ for a special skateboarding Phys-Ed class!

Following his graduation, Thor is continuing to substitute teach in Yukon and BC, acquiring experience in all kinds of classrooms.