The lesson-planning and grading is all put away, but the whistle will remain securely around his neck.
After 33 years of teaching — of which the last 30 came at Vic High — Walt Christianson has retired, Friday being his last day on the job.
The Victoria Shamrocks Wall of Famer remains in the game of coaching, however, behind the bench with the Junior Shamrocks who began the 2016 B.C. Junior A Lacrosse League season with a 13-11 win in Nanaimo on Friday night. They’re at The Q Centre for their home-opener today against Delta at 5 p.m.
“After 33 years of teaching, I’m excited about that. I’m ready to retire,” said Christianson, who has taught physical education, history and social studies at the school.
Christianson earned his teaching degree at University of Victoria, moving to the Island from Rossland. He then began his teaching career at Tumbler Ridge, where he spent his first three years in the profession.
“I came to Victoria to play basketball for UVic,” said Christianson. “I ended up not making the team, played a few years of junior varsity and got turned on to lacrosse and made a career out of it.”
He spent more than 20 seasons with the Victoria Shamrocks, winning Mann Cups in 1983 and ’99 as a player and adding two more in 2003 and ’05 as a coach before stepping down in 2011. Not bad for a guy who hadn’t really become interested in lacrosse until he was 19.
“If you would have told me in Grade 12 that I would be playing and coaching for the Shamrocks, I would have said, ‘Yeah right,’ ” Christianson said with a laugh.
He returns to the game as the Jr. Shamrocks’ head coach, back under the pressure.
“Yeah,” he laughed. “Now I have time to plan.
“Like I said before, we’re optimistic about the year. We’re going to be good. We have a lot of talent. I’m not going to lie, when I look down our depth chart we have real talented kids, but the key is to see how they perform at the next level,” added Christianson, who also coached in the National Lacrosse League.
As for teaching, Christianson will continue to perform those tasks, only on the lacrosse floor.
“He’s been so good with the kids,” said Vic High principal Randi Falls, who spent 30 years together with Christianson at the Victoria school. “He’s one of those master teachers, so comfortable in his work. Confident without being arrogant.
“I’m happy for him. Loyalty wouldn’t even be a strong enough word for him,” she added. “It’s time for him to enjoy the other pieces of the world.”
As a sendoff, Christianson was serenaded with the Na Na Na Na, Hey Hey Hey, Kiss Him Goodbye song on the intercom at Vic High.
