TORONTO – Doc Walker is the head caretaker at Blaydon Public School in North York but he goes above and the usual daily duties of a caretaker.
“I usually come in early about 6 a.m. so I can get my work done and have time for other things,” Walker said.
When Walker gets a free moment, the “other things” include spending time reading to the children, coaching volleyball and finding teachable moments for the little ones.
“He is truly a caretaker and a caregiver for staff, students, parents and the community,” said Gayle Finless-Hall, principal at Blaydon Public School.
To say that Walker loves his job is an understatement. He arrives early each morning getting a head start on his responsibilities including checking the boiler system, cleaning up the schoolyard, even helping a nearby neighbour to shovel snow.
“He makes my heart feel like he’s always with me,” six-year-old Paloma Alvarado-Velasquez said.
All of this comes natural for Doc, which is no surprise to his Gr. 3 Teacher.
“It all made sense to me based on how I knew him as a child. That he was able to succeed and fulfill his belief system which was to make sure that everybody and everything around him was organized and taken care of,” retired elementary teacher Cecile Press said.
Ask anyone from Blaydon and they will tell you that Doc Walker has become the heart and soul of the school.