"My Heart Soars" Bench
This beautifully carved First Nations bench is in the foyer of the Chief Dan George Middle School in Abbotsford, B.C. The school was named in honour of Chief Dan George, a chief of the Coast Salish Tsleil-Waututh First Nation band. He was an actor, and was in many films and TV series in the 1970's and 80's including the Outlaw Josey Wales with Clint Eastwood. He received an Academy Award Nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his role in the film, Little Big Man. He was also an author and his book My Heart Soars is highlighted on the bench. A passage of poetry from the book was read by Donald Sutherland at the opening ceremonies of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver:
"The beauty of the trees,
the softness of the air,
the fragrance of the grass,
speaks to me.
And my heart soars."
The school is a special place for me as both my children attended there when it was an elementary school and my daughter, after completing her degree in Education, taught there for a time, the first student to return as a teacher.
"My Heart Soars" Bench
This beautifully carved First Nations bench is in the foyer of the Chief Dan George Middle School in Abbotsford, B.C. The school was named in honour of Chief Dan George, a chief of the Coast Salish Tsleil-Waututh First Nation band. He was an actor, and was in many films and TV series in the 1970's and 80's including the Outlaw Josey Wales with Clint Eastwood. He received an Academy Award Nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his role in the film, Little Big Man. He was also an author and his book My Heart Soars is highlighted on the bench. A passage of poetry from the book was read by Donald Sutherland at the opening ceremonies of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver:
"The beauty of the trees,
the softness of the air,
the fragrance of the grass,
speaks to me.
And my heart soars."
The school is a special place for me as both my children attended there when it was an elementary school and my daughter, after completing her degree in Education, taught there for a time, the first student to return as a teacher.