Meet the Teacher (Location Statement)
A little about myself…
While I was born in South Shields, England, I have been incredibly lucky to have grown up in Canada on the the unceded ancestral lands of the Stó:lō, Saik’uz, Sylix, and Lheidli T’enneh peoples.
Growing up I spent at least a week up at Sxótsaqel (Chilliwack Lake) Provincial Park, where my time was spent adventuring around the remote, by Fraser Valley standards, woods surrounded by family. Swimming in a glacier fed lake, and taking in the surroundings deeply rooted a sense of peace that to this day brings a calm to my bones.
My elementary and secondary years were spent between the Stó:lō, and Saik’uz unceded ancestral lands, as well as surrounding areas where my appreciation for the beauty of our province grew.
The beginning of my post secondary journey was at UBCO (University of British Columbia Okanagan) and on the Sylix ancestral lands. The city of Kelowna is right on the shores of Okanagan Lake, another incredible body of water that shaped my early adult life.
Returning to the north, and onto Lheidli T’enneh land, brought a lot of change in my life. While there are ups and downs as with all of us, the biggest up was graduation with a Bachelor of Arts- English degree from UNBC (University of Northern British Columbia) and entering the Bachelor of Education program the following autumn. In the face of my mother’s sudden and tragic passing at the very end of my BA, it was only with the help of my community in Prince George that I was able to persevere and continue my journey in education.
In saying all that, I look forward to educating learners on the land of the Lheidli T’enneh for years to come!