While sympathizing with the concerns of parents regarding the school’s proximity first to the tent city and now to the planned housing for the hard-to-house, I encourage them to take advantage of this immensely valuable educational opportunity.
For many years, our family attended St. James’ Church in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. We and the children were involved in various church activities, and often our teenagers went without their parents to the DTES via public transit. They witnessed much that was distressing.
Distress was all right. Respect was better. Disgust was not all right, and neither was fear. There were many questions and conversations.
Now I see the sort of caring and capable adults our children grew into, interested in and open to others, and I know we were right to lead them outside their comfort zone.
I encourage the parents of Christ Church Cathedral School to share in their children’s experiences, to talk and question, and not to be afraid.
Phyllis Reeve
Gabriola
