by Milan Streit

A memorial to missing and murdered First Nations women.

LOOKING BACK AT BLACK HISTORY MONTH

February was Black History month and King George Secondary was one of many schools across Canada to take part in this important annual event. Students discussed the meaning and history of this date on the calendar while displays of art and famous Black athletes were set up around the school.

A lot of local Black history education in the school surrounded Joe Fortes, whose name you have probably seen all over the West End. A library and a restaurant are named after him, plus there is a memorial at Alexandra Park. We learned more about Vancouver’s most famous lifeguard. Despite having taught an entire generation to swim in the early 1900s (he was given a home by the city as a “thank you”), Joe is almost unknown by kids today.

Other prominent black figures in history discussed were U.S. civil rights legend Martin Luther King and basketball icon and community activist Lebron James.

It was also announced that more education surrounding Black and First Nations history is being rolled out by the Vancouver School Board and the province after recent pressure from the public and student activists.

KG students also created and dedicated a memorial to all murdered and missing First Nations women in Canada.

POLICE SCHOOL LIAISON REVIEW

Will police school liaison officers (SLO) be back in our hallways next year?

The Vancouver School Board is expected to hear and discuss the results of a student/parent survey this month. In an email, the VSB requested “stories, experiences, and insights to inform School Trustees of the SLO program’s impact. Trustees would like to hear about your understanding of the SLO program, your experience with it, and how the program could be changed.” All feedback from the online survey will be included in a ‘What We Heard Report’, which will be presented to trustees this month.

PERSONAL PROJECT FAIR CLOSED TO PUBLIC

The annual Middle Years Program Personal Project Fair at KG looked very different this year. Because of COVID-19 health orders from the province and VSB, the public was not allowed to come to the school to view the incredible Grade 10 student creations, only parents and elementary students were permitted. Instead, school hallways (rather than the gym as in past years) were filled with the My Personal Project displays and each project had a QR code to link to an accompanying video presentation.

Excerpt from a new KG Student Council video.

STUDENT COUNCIL ON SOCIAL MEDIA

The USSR fell back in 1994 but in recent years its classic symbols and logos have experienced a revival, becoming popular memes online along with other themes related to communism in general.

King George Student Council picked-up on the idea and created a rather interesting video.

Council leaders are seen speaking in full Russian accents with a fake ‘KGUSSR’ flag flying in the background as they discuss how to spend a $10,000 WE Choose Memorial Grant. Ideas include a full revitalization of the school hallways, ergonomic furniture, a new seating area and a new water fountain on the second floor.

MORE BUS TROUBLES

Anyone who commutes from Yaletown knows the pain of the #23 Bus (formerly C23). It is full 65 percent of the time on weekday mornings according to Transit app Rocketman. That is partly due to heavy use by KG commuters.

TransLink has added more frequency to the #23 routes over the years, but cut five trips to the route last December. The southbound portion of the 23 has also been quieter recently due to the route now running along the #6 bus route, however northbound is still a major problem.

Students are calling on TransLink to add bigger buses seen on most bus routes and to replace the small community shuttles.