Saskatoon elementary school honours late caretaker with run

SASKATOON – Colleen Foster struggles to hold back tears when describing the joy her brother Terry Elliot got from his caretaker job at John Lake School in Saskatoon.

“This was his other family,” she said of the school’s staff and students.

“He took a lot of pride in what he did, he took a lot of pride in his job,” she added.

Elliot, 62, passed away this summer following a battle with cancer. Students and staff at the elementary school dedicated their annual Terry Fox run Tuesday to Elliot. They took turns running a special flag around their school grounds with the goal of completing a combined marathon.

“We decided that we wanted to simulate a marathon, so our flag is running a marathon,” said John Lake teacher Jeff Elliot, who isn’t related to Terry.

READ MORE: 35th annual Terry Fox Run in Saskatoon

Students rang cow bells and shouted encouragement as groups handed off the flag to their classmates. Organizers said they asked every class to book off 15 to 20 minute segments in order to keep the flag moving for the entire school day.

“Some people run, you know, to win or they run because its fitness, but we’re hoping to run from our hearts,” added Jeff.

Those who continue to walk the halls of John Lake say Elliot made an impact on students and teachers during his time there. Grace Horsnell, a Grade 6 student, said Elliot would tell her stories when she assisted him with tasks from time to time.

“It was sad,” said Horsnell of Elliot’s passing.

“Every day I walk by his house and I look at it and think about him.”

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Physical education teacher Brant Matheson led the school in the day’s first lap around the school. He says he was close to Elliot and has never seen a Terry Fox run like Tuesday’s during his 17-year teaching career.

“It says a lot about the school as a community,” said Matheson.

“We’re like a big family, from the staff all the way down to the kindergartens,” he added.

Tuesday’s collective effort wasn’t lost on Foster, who is still mourning her brother’s death.

“I’ll remember this, it’s very special,” she said, holding back tears.