Community Builder: Monica Sillje

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Between her job as an educator and helping local animals, Monica Sillje is always ready to lend a hand
A common theme in Monica Sillje’s life is the urge to help. Born in New Westminster, B.C., to a nurse and teacher, she grew up surrounded by those giving back to the community.
Since first moving to Fort St. James with her family in the 1980s, she has made the area home. Despite moving multiple times for school and work, Sillje finds her way back, eager to lend a hand.
Now a teacher herself at Fort St. James Secondary School, Sillje works as part of the inclusive education department to help students who may need additional support in their learning journey.
“I’m just super passionate about it. I always gravitate to our inclusive [education] department and our learners who just need that bit extra,” she said.
“I enjoy work every day, like it’s weird, because a lot of times people don’t want to go to work, but I really enjoy working and I love what I do.”
Spending roughly 25 years in the school district, Sillje often gets to see her former students.
“I just love when I see my kiddos who have learning differences working in the community or surrounding communities, I am just so happy,” she said, adding that some of her very first students now have children of their own enrolled at the school.
But Sillje’s kindness and passion aren’t limited to humans. She also spends her time outside of school making sure furry friends in Fort St. James and surrounding areas have what they need.
Sillje began working with the Fort St. James Humane Society around 2011, helping animals get medical care, food and shelter. After the closure of the Humane Society, she became a founding member of the society’s successor, the Fort St. James Animal Care Team Society.
The team works tirelessly to provide monthly vaccination clinics, raise money for animal supplies, such as food, and pair animals with their forever homes.

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