The North Park Student Newspaper Since 2023
Mrs. Gignac not just a teacher but an inspirational role model
PROFILESSTAFF PROFILES
Arleen G, Divyana S
6/11/20262 min read
What starts as a simple question, "Why?" can turn into something way bigger. For Mrs. Gignac, that question shaped her journey into chemistry and teaching. Mrs. Gignac is a dedicated chemistry teacher who’s been teaching chemistry for the past 10 years at our school. She has a strong passion for helping students every day, whether it’s about life advice, during labs, or in creating strong relationships with her students.
Mrs. Gignac has lived in Brampton all her life; she is a Peel alumna and completed all her education in Brampton. During her early years she used to be a representative player for Brampton's soccer team; however, during her time playing, she unfortunately tore her ACL, which led her to take a break and eventually stop playing. Teaching was always a part of the plan for her; she was first inspired by her elementary school teachers, which later led her to sparking a passion for chemistry in high school. “Chemistry clicked when I realized that it explains the why behind everyday things,” she said. Mrs. Gignac really likes understanding the meaning behind why things happen, whether it’s biology, chemistry, or just life in general.
As kids we really don’t know what we want to do with our lives, what career we want to pursue, where we want to work, and many other things. But Mrs. Gignac knew who she wanted to be from a really young age. While talking about her childhood, Mrs. Gignac reflected on how she used to play teacher with her siblings as a child, foreshadowing her future.
Students surprise Mrs. Gignac when making insightful observations or connections during labs. You may not be the greatest when it comes to calculations, but saying something so profound about what you observed or understanding what reaction happened can definitely earn you a better reaction than the chemicals in the lab.
Overall, Mrs. Gignac is an excellent chemistry teacher who is always open and dedicated towards helping students out with chemistry problems and real-life situations. She is a teacher who tries her best to make sure students are well prepared before entering university, and all we can say is that we are so grateful to have Mrs. Gignac at our school.