North Vancouver School District
the natural place to learn©
Mar 06
From Adversity to Diversity speaker series – students’ reflections

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North Vancouver RCMP Superintendent Ghalib Bhayani.

By Parween Irani, Teacher, Carson Graham Secondary

Students in my English 8 class took part in the North Vancouver School District's From Adversity to Diversity speaker series on December 8, 2020 and January 26, 2021.  We connected the personal stories of North Vancouver RCMP Superintendent Ghalib Bhayani, District of North Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services' Assistant Fire Chief Haida Fortier, and North Vancouver City Fire Department's Captain Sam van Born to themes of fairness, compassion, justice and power.  

For students, compassion was key in understanding Superintendent Bhayani's journey. His honesty, bravery and willingness to be vulnerable in retelling key moments from his childhood, including his family losing everything as refugees after fleeing their home in Uganda and his mother's premature death shortly after the family resettled in Canada, made a significant impression on students. 

Several students connected his success in adulthood to the mentorship he received from one of his high school teachers in the Surrey School District; this was at a time when his own family had given up on him and had very low expectations for his future. Students were impressed that Superintendent Bhayani learned from his teacher's mentorship and now, endeavours to do the same for others in his professional life. 

His story was especially powerful because he was not afraid to share his very personal experiences. He demonstrated strength through his willingness to be vulnerable in front of so many students across the School District. One student succinctly stated, “You have to justify why you are here," in response to Superintendent Bhayani's refusal to allow bitterness over past tragedies influence his decision-making process. The students were also impressed with his determination to use his position within the RCMP to foster positive change in our community. 

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District of North Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services' Assistant Fire Chief Haida Fortier.

Students were studying The Outsiders when Assistant Fire Chief Fortier and Captain van Born spoke to the class in January. Many students focused on the sense of fairness and were shocked to learn that women only make up 2% of firefighters today. 

Students also recognized that without mentorship, it would have been much more difficult for both women to achieve their positions of leadership, regardless of their skills and determination. Several students compared the experiences of Assistant Fire Chief Fortier and Captain van Born to those of the characters in the novel and reflected on barriers that exist due to stereotypes and the limited perspectives held by others.   

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North Vancouver City Fire Department's Captain Sam van Born

Overall, the speaker series meshed well with the themes we had studied as a class, but the best part was the opportunity for students to express their unique perspectives, including their insights and understanding.  

About the Adversity to Diversity speaker series

Through the collaborative efforts of the North Vancouver RCMP, North Vancouver School District, City of North Vancouver Fire Department, District of North Vancouver Fire and Rescue and TD Bank, secondary students in business classes, social justice courses and other disciplines will hear from senior industry leaders who have overcome 'adversity through their diversity.'

 




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