The significance of the occasion was not lost on Brian Jordan.
At the Annual Representative Assembly, the chief financial officer of the Alberta Teachers’ Association was made an honorary member of the organization to which he has dedicated more than 38 years.
Jordan understood the esteem and distinction connected with the Association’s highest honour because he had attended ARA most of those 38 years with the ATA and witnessed the likes of Peter Lougheed, Lois Hole and Larry Booi receive it before him.
“I would like to sincerely thank President Henderson and members of Provincial Executive Council for voting to offer me this award,” Jordan said in his typical understated, sincere manner. “I realize what a step away from tradition this is and it makes it doubly important to me and doubly meaningful.”
Carol Henderson, in her presentation of the award to Jordan, commended him for all he has contributed to the Association and to teachers over the years. She noted his commitment, knowledge and even temper, and the integral role he played in providing a high quality of service to members of the Association. She spoke of his incredible work ethic, citing his willingness and ability to take on the additional responsibilities of business manager earlier this year when the position was vacated on short notice. “No one will ever say Brian coasted into retirement,” she said.
Both Henderson and ATA Vice President Sharon Armstrong worked closely with Jordan when they chaired the ATA Finance Committee. In her remarks, Henderson referenced a statement made by current chair Armstrong that prompted a good laugh from the Assembly, but also pinpointed the essence of Jordan. “Brian was not the typical accountant who was often a little anal in their outlook,” Armstrong was quoted as saying. “Brian was welcoming and accommodating. Perhaps we should have been paying him for both his accountant skills and his human resource skills.”
Honorary membership is reserved for members of the Association or other persons who have given meritorious service to the teaching profession or to the advancement of education, and requires the approval of at least two-thirds of Council. Jordan is the first noncertificated member of Association staff to receive honorary membership, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if he were the last.
Anyone in attendance at the Assembly—and all of Jordan’s staff from Finance were—could see that Jordan was genuinely humbled by the honour. And, true to his character, he shared the credit with others.
“Whatever I have managed to contribute to the Association, to teachers or to education over the years, I have not done alone,” he said. “I have worked with very many fine people, particularly on the staff of the Association, and I sincerely appreciate the cooperation they have afforded me.”
No doubt, every staff member at the Association would pay Jordan that same compliment.
