Adminfo - and Vice Principals

Reflections/In appreciation of Sir Edmund Hillary (1919-2008)
The beekeeper who did
A BC principal travels to New Zealand and
meets the man who climbed Everest.
by Velma Sutherland
In the summer of 2005 I
was fortunate to find myself
traveling to New Zealand
with three other British Columbia
educators as part of a
UBC School Leadership Center
exchange. It was a country I
had always dreamed of visiting.
So many things interested me there
… Maori immersion programs, its
climate, history, oceans and mountains
and Sir Edmund Hillary.
I have always had a fascination with
mountains. I would read books about
the great explorers and then head into
the hills behind my home in North
Hatley to climb a few ‘large’ hills that
I would pretend to conquer and name.
Sir Edmund and Tenzing Norgay always
stood out in my mind as amazing
climbers for reaching the top of the
world, the peak of Mount Everest.
As I grew I learned more about Sir
Edmund and was tickled that he was
a beekeeper, which further endeared
me to him, especially when I would
get stung as I helped my dad look
after our own hives. As I became an
educator I learned about the work he
had done for education in Nepal and
hospitals that he had helped start. He
became my hero and here I was on a
plane to his homeland.
As soon as I learned I had been chosen
for the exchange a longing formed
that I wanted to meet Sir Edmund.
Once in New Zealand, and billeted
with my colleague, Gayle Bedard, I
started to think about Sir Edmund
and found his address in the phone
book. It happened to be on a street
we passed everyday on the bus to the
University of Auckland.
One day I suggested to Gayle that
we walk to town because our meetings
didn’t start until later in the day.
I memorized Sir Edmund’s address
and had a gift for him … just in case.
We got to his street and there was his
house. I looked at the address on the
modest home and froze.
I looked at Gayle and said, “Oh
my goodness, What do I do now”
“Ring the door bell,” was her brilliant
response. I nervously followed
her instructions and a charming elderly
woman answered. “You must
February 08 • Adminfo • 8
be June,” were the first words I
uttered. Her beautiful smile immediately
put me at ease. I explained
that Sir Edmund was my
hero and I had brought a present
for him from Canada. She
turned around and called, “Ed,
Ed … we have visitors.” As he
came up the stairs I was in awe. Thank
goodness Gayle could still talk.
We had a lovely visit and took some
pictures. Sir Edmund and June were
interested in our exchange and spoke
highly of Canada. I left them with a
signed copy of Jane Smith’s Gitxsan
Legends — Returning the Feathers.
Sir Edmund’s humility, wisdom and
kindness affirmed why he was my
greatest hero. As we were leaving I
noticed a large framed photograph of
the top of Mount Everest hanging in
their living room. At that moment,
thanks to Sir Edmund and June, I too
felt on top of the world.
Hagwili yin Sir Edmund ansiipinsxw.
(Walk softly and may the wind be
at your back).
Velma Sutherland is principal of John Field
Elementary School in Hazelton. This is her first
article for Adminfo. She can be reached at Velma.
Sutherland@cmsd.bc.ca
June and Sir Edmund with Velma Sutherland.