ALMA – A local public school teacher involved in a fatal collision is being remembered by parents and longtime friends for the lives of those he touched and the impact he had on his students “just by being himself.”
Robert Bachuk, a Grade 4/5 teacher at Alma Public School, was identified as the deceased driver of an SUV involved in a collision with a school bus on the afternoon of April 13 at the intersection of 14th Line and Sideroad 21.
Bachuk, 48, of Elora, leaves behind his wife and two children.
“This is a terrible situation, and our thoughts are with the teacher’s family and loved ones, students, and the entire Alma Public School community,” said Upper Grand District School Board (UGDSB) director of education Peter Sovran.
“We will do whatever we can to support the family, students and staff.”
UGDSB spokesperson Heather Loney said the board has its Crisis Response Teams at Alma Public School to provide additional support for students as well as trauma support for school staff.
“We are communicating with staff, students and parents directly and ask if parents feel their child needs additional support, to please contact their school principal,” Loney wrote.
“We will continue to do whatever we can to support the family, and the staff and students at Alma PS.”
Cari Whitelaw, a parent of four children who have attended Alma Public School, three of whom have been Bachuk’s students during their time there, remembers Bachuk for going above and beyond as a teacher.
“Mr. Bachuk didn’t just have a passion for teaching, he had a passion for the students,” Whitelaw said.
“He was full of life, always encouraging, always hopeful – a glass-half-full kind of guy.”
She said it was evident that Bachuk really took the time to get to know the interests, passions, strengths and weaknesses of his students.
“He would learn who they are, and what made them tick, and he would incorporate that into their learning,” she explained.
“He treated his students as though they had already achieved the level of success he was setting them up to attain.”
Bachuck (left) stands with Owen Whitelaw (middle) and Jake Ladner at Whitelaw’s Grade 6 graduation ceremony in 2019. Submitted photo
Whitelaw remembers Bachuk for his creative approach to helping her children learn, noting he was even creative in his discipline.
She explained her oldest has a learning disability and struggled all through grade school.
“When he reached Mr. B’s class in Grade 5, it quickly became evident to me that Rob had a heart for the kids who weren’t cut out for academics,” she explained.
“He poured into my son more than any other teacher had before.
“One of the things I noticed that year was that the lessons Mr. B instilled in his students weren’t so much about academics and good grades, but about life skills, good work ethic, and seeing their own potential.”
In each of the subsequent years as her children made their way through grade school, Whitelaw watched as Bachuk went out of his way to establish and develop relationships with his students.
“Even if you didn’t have a student in his class at the time, he’d happily take the time to chat, and always with that infectious smile on his face,” she said.
“He loved to brag about his students, and it was obvious how much he valued them and how proud of he was of each and every one of them,” she added.
“He truly was the kind of teacher that a student, and parent, never forgets.”
Thinking about Bachuk’s family and what they might need right now, longtime friend Mark Kenny has initiated a GoFundMe page in Bachuk’s memory.
“The intent behind the GFM page was really so people could contribute to something meaningful in Rob’s memory looking forward past this tragedy for Rob’s wife Lois and children,” he said.
As of press time, the GoFundMe page set up in Bachuk’s name had raised $14,100, surpassing its $10,000 goal.
With things like this, Kenny said some people may not know exactly what they can do, but by raising money this way, donors will know they are helping directly.
“I really like the idea of creating a legacy for things that are important to me,” Kenny said.
“At the end of the day, for those that are left behind when tragedy happens, we only have our memories to go on but creating a lasting legacy helps others remember to and keeps us all connected.”
As an employee at the University of Guelph, Kenny said he’s well aware of what education costs.
He said his initial thought for Bachuk, as a teacher, was that the funds could help his children’s future education but he noted it will be completely up to Bachuk’s wife to decide what to do with the donations.
“I am just one friend of Rob’s but seeing the outpouring of donations and individual notes in the fund speaks to how much of an influence in the community Rob was,” Kenny said.
“He touched so many people’s lives – friends, family, students – in so many different ways just by being himself,” he added. “He shone outwards and that is what people remember; that’s what people need today.”
