I began the third session of the day with the statement, “Good morning – I have the honour to live and work in the traditional unceded territory of the Lheidli T’enneh First Nation (Prince George). I am an Elementary Teacher Candidate in SD#57.” Little did I know, the presenters had intended to ask us as participants to share our local stories of self. Place is as important to one’s development as family. Not only are we influenced by the people around us, our character is built upon the ground we stand on. Our experiences, interests, means of expression and reflection, and our paths in life are greatly influenced by our place.

We were asked to participate in breakout groups, sharing our stories of place and what resonated with us from our own K-12 education. Honestly, I am unsure if I was just desperate for human interaction (COVID-19 has taken a toll on many of us), or if I was just high on caffeine, but I loved every second of the session. I loved hearing the stories, seeing the flash of youthful energy in my peers’ eyes as they recalled their favourite places and spaces. It was a wonderful way to connect the topic to our own lives and experiences.

But I fear I may have jumped too far ahead. The morning began with an important welcome and update from Teri Mooring, BCTF. She informed us that she had just had her first meeting with Dr. Bonnie Henry, Provincial Health Officer, yesterday. Yesterday! I was shocked by this news. It was surprising to me that the BCTF had not been consulted at any time during the planning and implementation of the 2020 Restart Plan. Despite this, it is hopeful that continued discussion is planned for the future.

I learned about so much during the day’s sessions. From the value of place to the importance of mental fitness, I was truly impressed with the quality of the presentations. I learned about myself as a person, educator, and learner. Never have I had so much self-exploration as I have in the past few weeks. I truly am honoured by the opportunities created by the School of Education at UNBC.