The Prince Edward County community is mourning the loss of a champion for education 

Dr. Charles "Chuck" Pascal, a former Deputy Minister of Education died on Monday at the age of 79 after complications from surgery.  Pascal was a university professor and co-creator of the Ministry of Education’s full-day kindergarten initiative.  Locally Pascal was vocal on the need to save Sophiasburgh Central Public School from closing in 2018 and worked with a team to transform it into a community hub.

"He became a trusted and very important friend for our work at the soon-to-be minted County Food Hub effort, and he was a consistently central figure in the story of this great community-led success story," Mike Farrell, Sophiasburgh Hub committee member wrote in a tribute to Pascal on Facebook.

"I will miss his enthusiasm for just causes, his rapier wit, and his passion for all things education," he wrote.  "Our world, especially the province of Ontario, and the island nation state of Prince Edward County, has lost a visionary, and a great human...We all owe a debt of gratitude to this man."

Pascal's efforts were recognized by Sophiasburgh Coun. Bill Roberts during the council meeting on Tuesday night.

"The idea of saving our rural Sophiasburgh Central School from closure was born in my sunroom," Roberts recalled.  "It was Chuck's philosophical, political and strategic leadership that brought that notional idea to fruition in the form that is today the very impressive County Food Hub."  

Roberts said his friend Chuck will be remembered for many things such as the Order of Canada, leading the Atkinson Foundation, breakthroughs in early education and for being a mentor to social democrats at all levels of Canadian political life.

"[He will be remembered] for his unwavering devotion to every aspect of public education and public service," Roberts expressed.  

But what many didn't know, Roberts revealed, is that Pascal was originally from Chicago and he loved baseball.  Pascal was a White Sox pro catching prospect after graduating from the University of Michigan as a star baseball catcher.  

"Chuck led a life well lived and he definitely ran all the bases," Roberts said.  "Through his passion, drive and intellect - he definitely left it all on the field."