StellyB次元官网网址檚 annual Global Gala was extra special this year, as the school celebrated its 40th anniversary and recognized a group of former students who gave a classmate the trip of a lifetime.

When Ottalie Garvin was in Grade 11, she asked if it was even possible to join the StellyB次元官网网址檚 Outdoor Pursuits class on their annual journey up Mt. Albert Edward. Garvin has cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair, but the following year, 19 students, 6 teachers and four support staff brought Garvin up the IslandB次元官网网址檚 sixth-highest peak. The class was given a plaque from the Lisa Huus Memorial Fund recognizing their efforts.

B次元官网网址淭his is a great accomplishment and I know our Lisa would have loved ever minute of this special adventure. To me, that is true integration,B次元官网网址� said Annie Huus, who spoke at the event.

Lisa Huus was the first physically disabled student in B.C. to enter the public school system with a support worker. Her mother Annie manages the Lisa Huus Bursary, which provides money to support university-bound students with physical disabilities. Garvin, who is now a creative writing student at the University of Victoria, is a recipient of this bursary.

The Grade 12 students that accompanied Garvin up the mountain were experienced, having already done the Mt. Albert Edward trip and the West Coast Trail.

During the four-day trek in May 2016, students used shovels to even out paths and ropes to pull her (and her special sled) up the mountain. B次元官网网址淲hat they learned on that trip was how to love, how they could give of themselves to take care of somebody else,B次元官网网址� said Paul Ledet, who teaches the Outdoor Pursuits class.

Several weeks before Garvin went, sections of the terrain were evaluated as risky, and they got more treacherous when Garvin did go, so they chose not to summit.

B次元官网网址淚n the last day, she was in significant pain,B次元官网网址� said Ledet, B次元官网网址渂ut she continued to laugh and joke and smile through it all.B次元官网网址�

Garvin herself said it was B次元官网网址渁n amazing spiritual experience that I could not believe,B次元官网网址� and that she appreciated B次元官网网址渆very secondB次元官网网址� of the work students put in to carry her with them.

Ledet said he was moved by what happened on the third and final night of the trip.

B次元官网网址淲e got to Croteau Lake and after supper [the students] asked if it would be possible to take her away to where they have the best viewpoint of the sunset and the mountains. And so the Grade 12s just left and as adults we just stayed at the camp and hung out and were amazed by what they were doing to give her the best possible experience.B次元官网网址�

He stopped several times in his speech to the crowd, saying B次元官网网址淚 came prepared,B次元官网网址� as he blinked away tears while Garvin teased him with laughter.

B次元官网网址淪heB次元官网网址檚 laughing at me because she knows the tears come,B次元官网网址� said Ledet.

These days, Garvin is writing a lot of horror stories, and she had a simple explanation as to why that appeals to her.

B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 know, because theyB次元官网网址檙e fun, thatB次元官网网址檚 why! Because I want to get as rich and influential as Stephen King!B次元官网网址�

Whatever her future successes, though, she will not forget the friends who made her trip of a lifetime possible.

B次元官网网址淚 love them from the bottom of my heart,B次元官网网址� said Garvin. B次元官网网址淪eriously, there are few people I love more than these kids.B次元官网网址�

reporter@peninsulanewsreview.com
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