It is with heavy hearts that Kwayaciiwin Education Resource Centre announces the passing of friend and coworker, Monika Orzechowska.
After a lengthy and courageous health battle, Monika passed away Monday, March 23, 2020.
Monika was an integral part of the Kwayaciiwin team and family and will be remembered as the leader and advocate for health, growth, sharing, community, friendship, and caring for the earth, that she was. She wore many hats over her many years as an employee at Kwayaciiwin, but most recently she was the Special Projects & Performance Measures Lead.
Monika brought a unique perspective, a creative outlook, and innovative ideas to every project she took on. Those projects include KERC's recent partnership around self-regulation, Non-Violent Crisis Intervention Training, First Nations Student Nutrition Program, First Nations Inuit Youth Employment Strategy program, Many Paths initiative, traveling Interactive Career Fairs, and the Anishinaabek Voices archival project.
She was a shining example of positivity, grace, patience, compassion and kindness, principles she employed regularly and with everyone she interacted with. She exemplified a true passion for life, learning and education through her work.
She was a leader of change, the change she wished to see in the world. The good work she did through and with KERC and its partnering communities will be honoured and continued well into the future by the staff she mentored and closely worked with.
She will be deeply missed by all at Kwayaciiwin and our hearts, loving thoughts and prayers go out to her family and friends at this time.
Updates will be provided at a later date regarding a Celebration of Life ceremony being held in her honour, by her family, which is prospectively set for the summer of 2020.
Keep scrolling for additional photos and memories of Monika with coworkers and Community members.
Some people come into our lives and leave footprints on our hearts and we are never, ever the same.
Flavia Weed