Iona Campagnolo, lieutenant governor of B.C., encouraged Chatelech Secondary School students to aim high when she visited the school Feb. 10.
"I think we are one of the most privileged people on the face of the Earth," Campagnolo told the students. "Grab onto all the good things here. Make yourself larger In the next 80 years, give your very best to this country. Give your very best to the whole world."
Campagnolo's speech to the assembled Chat students and staff was part of a busy official visit to the Sunshine Coast. During Feb. 10 and 11, the lieutenant governor also visited Halfmoon Bay and Roberts Creek Elementary schools, attended receptions hosted by the municipalities of Sechelt and Gibsons and visited residents at two seniors' care homes. Campagnolo said when she was appointed lieutenant governor in 2001, she set out a plan to visit every community in British Columbia during her five-year tenure. She couldn't fit in Pender Harbour during this trip but plans to visit there next Remembrance Day.
Campagnolo said, "When I was at Halfmoon Bay Elementary, they said, why are you here? I said I spent all my life in the north and nobody ever came to visit us. That's why I'm in Halfmoon Bay."
Campagnolo told students she made 357 public appearances last year and writes all her own speeches except for the Throne Speech, which she delivers "in the voice of the state." But for a woman who spent her career as an outspoken broadcaster, feminist and politician, the most difficult part of her present job is that she cannot make political statements.
Whenever maintaining her role as a non-partisan head of state for the province becomes difficult, said Campagnolo, "I think of the Queen."
"I appreciate Her Majesty's restraint over the years," she said.
Campagnolo explained to students the distinction between the head of government and head of state.
"I have no power," she said. "I'm supposed to have a bit of influence the power to be consulted, to advise and to warn, but it's all in absolute secrecy."
When asked to name her heroes, Campagnolo chose two mentors from her years in parliament: Quebec Senator Thérèse Casgrain and Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, in whose cabinet she served.
Campagnolo shared the podium with Hetty van Gurp, president of Peaceful Schools International (PSI), who was there to welcome Chatelech as the first B.C. school to join that organization.
A teacher from Nova Scotia, van Gurp described the personal tragedy that led her to found PSI. Her 14-year-old son was repeatedly bullied by a classmate and died after the bully knocked him down in the school gym.
"I started teaching differently to teach young people how to live well together," said van Gurp.
She described how her dream of creating peaceful, safe schools led to the reality of PSI and encouraged the students to dream as well.
"No one can do everything, but everyone can do something," said van Gurp.
The lieutenant governor's visit was an occasion for pomp and protocol at the freshly renovated high school. School trustees and administrators, principal Jim McGowan and student representatives Danica Sita and Aaron deJong welcomed Campagnolo and formally escorted her to the gym, heralded by piper John Webb.
The school band played the Vice-Regal Salute (the first six bars of God Save the Queen, followed by the first four and last four bars of O Canada).
Chatelech's foods students, led by teacher Cathy Gordon, catered a formal luncheon in the school's new theatre following the assembly. While student musician Jamie Weeks set the ambiance with keyboard improvisations, the lieutenant governor and guests enjoyed "rockin' Moroccan" soup, savoury chicken wraps with asiago cheese, zesty carrots and "rice on the wild side," followed by blackberry cheesecake and blackberry crumble.
Campagnolo was impressed by what she saw at local schools.
"The quality of the teachers and school system seems to be exceptionally good," she said. "The student questions show a strong concern about the environment and a sense of responsibility at a very young age."
