As all surviving Jewish persons did in those days, they applied to immigrate to various countries, and while it took quite awhile Sweden eventually accepted the family. Bernie's parents, his brother, and he lived in the eastern city of Eskilstuna where Mr. Praw senior labored as a lumberjack for three years.

Bernie's parents were neither happy nor planned to remain there and continued to apply for immigration to various other countries, and when Canada opened her doors for new immigration the family sailed aboard the SS Stavangefjord, reaching Halifax, NS on May 12, 1951, but then continued on to Montreal where they settled.

Bernie commented “We lived in what was then the Jewish Ghetto of Montreal, now called The Plateau and I attended a small Jewish School on Duluth Street, followed by Bancroft School and then Baron Byng High School (which now houses Sun Youth) on the famous St. Urbain Street. Here I played almost every sport that Baron Byng had to offer, eventually earning my 'Big B'.

He was in the Science-One class and found math to be his favourite subject, mainly because he was very good at it and also had an exceptional teacher. He was a member of the school band, playing the French Horn.

Bernie clearly recalls that in grade 10, he did some student-teaching at Sinclair Laird elementary school in Park Extension. He says he loved it, and “from then on teaching was in my blood.”

In 1964, he was accepted for entry to McGill University, but unfortunately his father became ill and could no longer work as a milkman, thus he started to work at the CNR in order to support the family while continuing at Sir George Williams University (now Concordia University) at night. He graduated in 1969 with a BA in Psychology and English.

In 1969 Bernie attended McGill University's Faculty of Education in St. Anne de Bellevue, Quebec (now John Abbott CEGEP) where he studied how to teach Mathematics and English.

In September, 1970 Bernie was hired to teach Mathematics at CCHS. This was the year when a Sex-education course was being introduced. He asked Vice-Principal Bertha Wilde if it would be possible to also teach in this course, having had sex-education and counseling courses in his background, as well as being a qualified Family Life Educator. Course timetables were rescheduled and in addition to Math he undertook teaching Personality and Social Development, PSD 320B and PSD421G at the Grade 10 level.

In 1971, Bernie became the school's guidance counselor. He continued counseling, teaching PSD, and Math for several years. In the mid-1980's he switched to teaching only Math, and eventually became the Head of the Mathematics Department.

In 1974, following Peter Hibbs return to England, Bernie began teaching Math courses during Summer School, and continued until he became the Principal of Summer School in 1999, and in the following year was appointed Principal of Chambly Academy.

Bernie remarked “Yup I taught summer school for 24 years. I also taught math at Adult Education for too many years to remember, and during most of these years, I also coached badminton teams to several championships. I also tried to coach a Senior Girls' Volleyball team with limited success but a whole lot of laughs.”

In retrospect, Bernie recalls; “I must have organized probably 20 Variety Shows and musicals over the years, and in 1989, Dave Bornstein, Marie France Power, and I started organizing trips to Europe. I still find it difficult to believe that I have had the privilege of roaming all over Europe and China with our students, and numerous adults who were brave enough to go on these trips with our students.

Through those years he was the syndical delegate to the Teachers' Union and became its Chairman for a period of 7-years.

In January, 2000 Bernie became Principal of Chambly Academy with a mandate to have the school become a member of the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO). He states “due to the unbelievable hard work of our teachers, we became a member of the IBO – Middle Years Programme in only two years. They were great”.

In 1968 Bernie married his high school sweetheart, Annie Teichman. In 1973 their first son Jason was born and in 1999 he married Pamela. They have given Annie and Bernie two wonderful grandsons Jonathan who is 9.5 and Matthew who will be 7 in November (2011). In 1976 Mitchell was born and in 2009 he married Naomi. They will be presenting the Praws with another grandson at the end of December. Robbie, their third son, was born in 1980 and is engaged to Lauren with a November, 2012 wedding being planned.

Bernie says “To no ones surprise, I became very active in our sons' education by participating on various committees at their schools. In 1990 I was elected as the Chairman of the Central Parents' Committee of the Protestant School Board of Greater Montreal (PSBGM) and the Parent Commissioner representing the High Schools of the PSBGM. I continued in that position until 1997. In 1998, when the English Montreal School Board was created, I was elected as one of two Commissioners representing St. Laurent. I have been re-elected in subsequent elections, and am presently the Chairman of the Education Committee of the EMSB.”

Bernie has also worked for the Minister of Education on various mathematics committees. From 2006-2009 he represented the Ministry on a committee with High School and CEGEP Math and Science teachers on the “Reform”.

He retired in July, 2005 and is spending much time still organizing Chambly trips as well as adult trips. Bernie was active as part of the Organizing Committee for Reunions 2005 & 2010 and is a Life Member and Director of the CCHS & CA Alumni Association.

Over the years Bernie & Annie have visited Italy, France, Greece, Spain, China, Vietnam, Cambodia, England, Israel, Jordan, Czech Republic, Austria, and Hungary. They have also enjoyed various cruises throughout the Caribbean.

Bernie and Annie Praw during the reception following the wedding of their son Mitchell.