Brentwood College School - Brentonian Yearbook (Mill Bay, British Columbia Canada)

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REMARKS TO THE GRADUATING CLASS June23, 1978 First, may I thank you, Mr. Ross, for the privilege of spending the day with you. We are well aware of the outstanding reputation of this institution and we are honoured to be part of this special day. At the outset, may I say how fortunate you are to have as the Chairman of your Board, one of this Province ' s most outstanding citizens, Mr. Hugh Stephen. In delivering Remarks to the Graduating Class one must make a choice: does one ignore the parents, friends and teachers, to address the graduates; or does one seek a more general plane for one ' s remarks. I have chosen to speak for a few minutes directly to the graduates. Others may wish to listen or to doze as they see fit, but may I share briefly some thoughts with those of you who are leaving today, and by your very graduation are facing exciting and dramatic decisions. In preparing these remarks I have given a good deal of thought to what I should say, although this may not be apparent today. Your chairman has also been kind but explicit about the 15 minute time limit, although as a law teacher I am programmed for 55 minute periods! When I shared my dilemma with my three sons (11,13, 15) they suggested that the most dramatic, effective and certainly the most popular gesture would be to wish you well — and sit down; however, rarely can a lawyer pass by the opportunity to hold a stage for a few minutes and I decided to press on. Naturally, I turned to my law students, several of whom are spending the summer working with us as research assistants; and over our coffee hours in the last few weeks we have worked on these remarks. Therefore, what I have to say is a compilation of their suggestions refined somewhat by my own thought processes. First, and very briefly, let me congratulate you upon reaching this stage. Second, in my view you are ex- tremely privileged not only to have the education you have experienced here but to be in a position to make choices with respect to your personal and professional careers that are not available to many persons in this country. Third, the choices you will make in the next few months and years are important, tough, but not irrevocable; they will take you in directions far beyond what you imagine today. Let us explore the type of world you are entering. It is a time for optimism and excitement - a time for creativity and leadership - a time for good humour, goodwill and tolerance among all people. Wherever we turn we face problems - of an economic, political or social nature. Recent developments in my own profession of law reflect changes in the mood and ex- pectations of society over the past five or ten years. For example, only recently have there been major changes in property laws to recognize the contribution of a wife to the development of the family estate. The law is con- cerned with the right to privacy. It is also concerned about freedom of information, particularly that gathered about us by governments in hundreds of computers in various centres. Our criminal law is constantly under revision; witness the recent changes proposed by the Minister of Justice with respect to commission of sexual assaults. We hear a great deal today about the formal changes in the Constitution proposed by the Prime Minister. We are concerned about the environment and how to protect our natural resources but also how to permit the continuation of economic development that is essential to our nation. The rights of native peoples are paramount in the minds of many. Technology is changing so rapidly in many areas that what is accepted today is attacked tomorrow and replaced next week. As you assume responsibilities in this type of a world I believe you will, like me, want to seek security - the known is so much better than the unknown. But perhaps we have come to the point where security exists only in having confidence in one ' s self to adapt to change, re-think, re-train and take different directions. Security can only be found within oneself. In making your decision to proceed with further education, to pursue training or to take a job immediately, I do not believe you are making an irreversible decision. This is reflected, for example, in the composition of our law classes. Let me tell you about some of the people who, at an average age of 27 , have come back for a second or third career. We have a banker in his mid-thirties with a family who gave up a promising position as a manager to return to university. He has led our class for three years and will now join a large law firm in Edmonton. We have an engineer who has given up a position with a large cor- poration; we have a forester, a tug captain, teachers, nurses, musicians, former recreation directors, and Ph.D. ' s in philosophy and biochemistry. All of these people have had successful careers and all of them have chosen for some reason to return to study and to develop the possibility of a new career. To me it is indicative of the changing world in which you will be absorbed for the next fifty years. It is a positive factor - one which says we can grow in many directions and will not find ourselves in one- way streets unless we deserve to be there. I do not believe that the traditional three or four year university program is for everyone - even for all of you. Now may be a time to travel, or to learn a trade; it may be a time to take technical training - or to go to university to pursue a broad education, regardless of the economic situation or the job market. 5

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IN MEMORIAM JACK KEMPSTER Jack Kempster died this Spring after a year of illness. Not only was he an artist of considerable personal talent who could carve, draw, paint and engrave, a teacher who could gradually lead the most inartistic student to the point of pride in accomplishment, but also he was a warm, generous man of great wit and charm who was regarded with enormous affection by us all. Every staff member who knew Jack and every student who was taught by him is richer for the experience. We shall miss him very much. ARTHUR CHARLES PRIVETT Members of our school pay respect to the memory of Arthur Charles Privett, teacher and Headmaster of Brentwood College School in its original location in Brentwood Bay. Mr. Privett joined the Brentwood staff in 1929 and served as an English teacher until 1932, at which time bursarial duties were added to his teaching load. In 1939 Mr. Privett assumed the role of Headmaster which he carried until the school was unfortunately razed by fire in 1946. Upon the opening of the new school in Mill Bay in 1961 , Mr. Privett, with his customary strength and encouragement, added greatly to our growth in the early years, continuing to remain a loyal supporter and friend until his death in 1978. We respect his memory sincerely and shall miss his presence in our midst. 4

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You are entering a world in which the role of women is changing rapidly - in fact you may have already ac- commodated yourselves more than some of us to the emergence of the woman as a full and equal partner in the activities of society today. This requires not only the recognition of the role of the woman, but also an adap- tability by men in accepting the implications of this new status. I mentioned the possibility of travel. I would encourage you to travel in Canada; to forego that trip to Europe or Australia, and, for the moment, if you are serious, and are concerned about our country, to take the opportunity to explore Canada: to discuss, to debate, and to listen to other Canadians who, you will find, have many of the same concerns you have expressed with different em- phases but genuinely held and sincerely believed. Surely we are at a point in our history where much can be derived by learning in this way. Now let me pull together, in a final few words, some of the things I have attempted to say and indicate in. a few phrases the points my law students would try to tell you were they here today: - maximize your options - be flexible - learn something new from each experience - retain your interest in learning - never consider that you are in a rut - have the self-confidence to make changes - discipline yourselves to carry out your objectives - be optimistic - keep your sense of humour - accept that service to others is the most rewarding experience - it can be accomplished in many ways: you may have the key to open the door to a better life for many people - use it; don ' t put it in your pocket. Finally, may I tell you something that happened to me a few years ago. I had lived in Halifax for many years and, apart from time in England and some parts of Ontario, I had spent my life in that city. I was familiar with all the streets and because I had driven for a number of years, ! didn ' t even bother looking at street signs or the stop signs. I knew where I was going by instinct, by reflex action. One year we moved to Ottawa to work with the Law Reform Commission. A new city was a refreshing and stimulating experience. At first, it was rather terrifying as well because I found that when I drove in Ottawa I couldn ' t see the street signs clearly - I couldn ' t read the directions - I didn ' t know where I was going and I discovered that I needed glasses for driving the car. I got them and when I put them on I saw a lot more. I saw ex- pressions on people ' s faces on the street. In large meetings I wear them and I see the instinctive reactions of individuals. I look at movies and paintings and works of art and I see a good deal more. For me that incident was a significant lesson. What I would like to leave with you is the thought that one should always keep one ' s eyes open — one should always be prepared to put on the glasses, to take a closer look, to get out of the rut, - and how refreshing it is when one does that. I wish you difficult times as well as smooth sailing. I hope that each of you will always look afresh at things you have seen for years. In seeking new experiences through service toothers I am sure life will be a rich and rewarding experience. Thank you. F.M. Fraser, Dean and Professor, Faculty of Law, University of Victoria, Victoria, B.C. 6