Myrna Ingalls has never been afraid to tackle new challenges and new ideas. Her career in mathematics has taken some sharp turns, but never veered off course.
Myrna grew up in Brantford, attending Cainsville P.S., Agnes Hodge P.S. and Brantford C.I. Her degree is from the University of Waterloo.
Her first teaching post was at Victoria Park S.S. in Don Mills, and from there she went to Napanee H.S. for four years.
In 1973, motherhood took precedence over mathematics, and Myrna left teaching until 1977. She was lured back by another Descartes Medallist, Don Attridge, and returned to Thornlea S.S. in York Region. She later moved to Unionville H.S. where she soon became department head.
Myrna retired from the classroom in 2000, but not from mathematics. She’s now with the Curriculum and Assessment Policy Branch of the Ontario Ministry of Education and has worked on a number of key mathematics projects.
Sailing is Myrna’s great leisure-time passion. She and her husband have a boat they sail on Georgian Bay, and have chartered boats in the Caribbean, in the Gulf Islands, and in Greece.