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

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JANET BRACKENBURY: A TRIBUTE There are those people in every institu- tion who make a great splash and are al- ways to be found in the limelight, and there are those who quietly go about their busi- ness and in the end do as much, if not more, for the welfare of that community. Such a one is Janet Brackenbury, or Mrs. Brack as she is affectionately known to us all. Coming from a pioneer family of the area, Janet ' s first connection with Bren- twood was as a volunteer worker in what was then the Queen Alexandra Solarium, later to become the main building of the re- vived Brentwood College. Shortly after the re-opening, her husband Hugh joined the staff as a member of the Math department, and a few years later Janet joined the Fine Arts department as our first teacher of typ- ing. It was not long, however, before Janet ' s extraordinary talents as an academic teacher became recognized. Any boy, for then we were a school for boys only, who was lucky enough to have Janet as his grade eight teacher, not only ciune to know Eng- lish, but to appreciate and enjoy it also. Janet ' s students were always reading; in fact I suspect that they still arc. Those of us fortunate enough to take over a grade nine class that she had prepared in the previous year were grateful and very impressed. Janet was eventually persuaded to take over the Library, a job she tackled with typical thoroughness and good sense. It did not take long for it to become an oasis where students went to spend a quiet hour reading, or simply to talk to Mrs. Brack; and this takes us back to my opening lines about the person who goes about quietly doing good in the community. There is something about Janet that draws young people to her in a very real way. It comes, I think, from their recogni- tion that she really cares for them; that when she is strict it is because she is show- ing them that in life there is a proper way of doing things which they need to know; that manners and simple courtesy iire impor- tant; that a quiet word of encouragement and a smile are touches that fulfill a univer- sal need. 1 think tlial tl)c sludcnls have also reacted to the fact that she is, quite obvi- ously and simply, a got)d person. We shall miss Janet for herself and for llio cxanipio she has given us of what a Christian lilo can be. She plans now to spend more time with Hugh, now retired, and to en joy their beau- tiful home at Whiskey Point. We know that she will be back to see us and will continue to give us some help in the Library, but it is here and now that we pause to give her our thanks. RVL Postscript: Awards Day, 1988 It seems to me that truly effective teachers develop a unique personal style. The personal style of our Librarian would never pemiit panic, the raising of a voice, yet order was always present. The ambi- ence created by the personal style had to be attractive, peaceful, pleasant, but always energized and prcxluctivc. Mrs. Janet Brackenbury created and maintained such a learning environment in our library. Next yeitr, I hope to persuade Janet to work with us on a part time basis, but she divs wish to spend more lime at home after 37 years of teaching. Janet, you are a master of the art of leaching. Brentw(.xxl has Iven greatly en- riched by your work. I haiik you. W.T. Ross 11

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SALVETE DENIS BEAUVAIS Denis came to Brentwood this year from Manitoba where he had been employed as a media adviser for the Provincial Government. For the last fifteen years he has worked as a photographer with the Canadian Forces and the newspaper industry in Canada, Western Europe, Cyprus, the Middle East and South Vietnam. Denis attended the University of Winnipeg where he majored in Political Science and History. He has now settled in Victoria where he Uves with his wife Sylvia, an employee relations consultant, and his cat, Charlotte. Welcome to the West Coast, Denis! BRIAN CARR Brian spent his childhood and youth at Brentwood when his father, Tony, was Housemaster of Rogers. After serving his time at Shawnigan while finishing off his degree at U.Vic. , Brian was keen to return to Brentwood to teach P.E., coach Colts Rowing, Rugby and Soccer, and work as an Assistant Housemaster in Whittall. As a five year man , Brian probably knows the campus as well as anyone. The new boat house, however, will help relieve him of any feeling of deja vu. Welcome back, Brian! RICHARD FURBACHER Richard began his academic life as a scientist, receiving his B.Sc. in Biochemistry from McGill in 1972. His artistic passions, however, led him to a Bachelors and then a Masters degree in Fine Arts from Concordia, where he specialized in Sculpture. He has been exhibiting his own exciting work ever since. Richard was attracted to Brentwood because of the importance of Fine Arts to the curriculum. When he is not teaching Scuplture here, Richard works in the lab at the local hospital, or sculpts at his home in Cherry Point. Soie le bienvenu, Richard! DAVID McCarthy After graduating in the Natural Sciences from Queen ' s College, Cambridge, David taught in Wigan where he met and married Lisa, a Northern lass who had returned to her childhood haunts from her new home in West Vancouver. Attracted by Lisa ' s tales of Lotusland, David accepted a position at Brentwood to teach Science, assist residentially, and coach Rowing and Rugby. Lisa and David have settled into the old Finnegan house with their lovely little daughter, Laura. Welcome, all three! CAROLYN SHILLINGTON Bom in Ireland, Carolyn came to Canada as a child. After high school, she studied for six years at the University of Alberta, graduating with a B.Ed. P.E., having speciaUzed in Athletic Therapy, Dance, Physical Education and English. She then taught at Riverbend Junior High in Edmonton. After a hectic year of housemistressing in Mackenzie, running the Dance Programme, and teaching English and P.E., she thinks she is still married to her computer whizz husband, John. She is, and we welcome them both to Brentwood. VALETE STAN COPLAND To mutilate his f avourite quote, Stan was hurled headlong flaming from the ethereal sky ....down to bottomless perdition when he retired from the Vancouver School District to write poems and stories in his log house overlooking Mill Bay. Hearing of Stan ' s impeccable credentials, a B.A., M.A. and M.L.S. from UBC, Mr. Ross persuaded him to come down from his hill to teach literature at Brentwood. After two interesting years, Stan now wishes to spend more time writing,gardening and being with his family: his wife, Betty, sons, Michael and Richard, and daughter, Beth, who has made Stan a proud grandfather of Jennifer, the loveliest baby in the world . All the very best, Stan - we ' ll miss you. LESLIE REID After two plus years of teaching French and Spanish, coaching squash and tennis, and being Assistant Housemistress in Alex, LesUe now leaves us to become the first Housemistress at Shawnigan Lake School, formerly for boys only. Leslie says she will miss the smiles, hugs and laughter at Brentwood, but looks forward to the fresh challenges of her new position. Au revoir, Leslie, et bonne chance! DAPHNE JACKSON We say goodbye to Daphne later in the Fine Arts section of the Annual. Fair winds and great sailing. Daphne!

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FACULTY AT WORK Just let me check the 8 times table. And then Daddy Bear growled, Someone ' s been sitting in my chair.