Good teachers change the lives of children in so many positive ways and anyone who has heard me speak knows that I'm always happy to sing their praises (sometimes literally). One such teacher is Peter Mason. Peter was a student of mine many years ago. He was a good student, quieter than most, and was someone I might have predicted would have moved through the educational hierarchy until he worked in central administration or maybe become a professor like his father. But Peter's joy was in teaching and he remained in the classroom teaching mathematics, while quietly sharing his passion for the outdoors and climbing as an extramural activity.

Peter has guided hundreds of students on a four-day climb to the top of Mount Albert Edward, which is the 4th highest peak on Vancouver Island.

A distant view of Castlecrag on the way to Mount Albert Edward

One year he was asked by a grade 11 student named Ryan Heuman if it would ever be possible for him to be included on the annual climb. Peter said he would see what he could do. The problem for Peter was that Ryan had cerebral palsy and his way of getting about was in a power driven wheelchair.

Peter realized that physically challenged children faced mountains on a daily basis be they steps, curbs, buttonholes or transportation. There had to be a way for Ryan to climb Mount Albert Edward. I've seen the video of Ryan's ascent many times and many times I've cried. It doesn't get any better than watching Ryan achieve the 'impossible' with the help of a great teacher and the support of his friends and fellow students.

Click on Ryan's picture to open
quicktime movie of his journey to the top
in a separate window.

I'm including a video clip of the climb here. If you are unable to access it on your computer or wish to see a more complete version you can purchase it by sending $20 for a DVD to Speakwell (see details below). The money raised will go toward paying for the remarkable climbing boulder and climbing wall that Peter has had constructed on the grounds of Stellys High School, where he remains a teacher.

Mount Albert Edward is located in Strathcona Provincial Park.
Elevation 6870 ft. (2094 meters)

With the mountains and wilderness out of reach on regular school days, Peter decided he would have to bring the mountain to Mahomet (or the students). He first created a climbing wall, which has seized the imagination of many students for whom a traditional Phys. Ed. program held little interest. Hanging on became a great alternative to hanging out.

[ Click here ] for the fundraising video to open in a new window. Note that this quicktime movie runs 6 minutes and measures 15.3MB.

Click on the boulder to visit
the climbing wall site

The current project is more ambitious and has involved the creation of a massive 2 1/2 story climbing boulder on the school grounds.

The boulder was created by Allen Fischer of The Edge Climbing Systems. Allen has constructed faux rock for movie sets, town halls and recently for Google Headquarters in New York. His attention to detail extends to creating fake 'fossils' and replicating the quartzite appearance of granite. The boulder has become a magnet for a huge range of students from kindergarten to grade 12, and from special needs kids to athletes.

As it says in Field of Dreams, "If you build it they will come" and people are coming. But, like Ray in Field of Dreams, paying for the project is a major challenge. For the past year I have donated the sales from my booklet, "The Little Book of Lifestyle Artistry" to "The Boulder" and in this way have been able to supply a steady infusion of money to the project. There are great teachers to be found everywhere and they are worth supporting. As Pat Conroy wrote in 'Prince of Tides' "There is no word in the language I revere more than teacher."

I will leave the final word to Peter:

"The program with the special needs kids continues to move along with great success. What a great group of people to work with. I will include at the end a brief article about them that I wrote for our website and school newsletter. I hope you are inspired as I have been.

The Special Ones

I stood by the entrance door and watched. I watched James sit on the floor and work with determination to wrap the daisy chain (a piece of webbing attached to the climbing wall floor and used as an anchor) around the ankle of one of the high school student belayers and secure it with a carabiner. He smiled to himself and looked up to see the reaction to his captured prey. James was between turns on the climbing wall and this was how he chose to amuse himself.

James, an elementary school student, was one of 16 special needs children who used the climbing wall as part of a six-week therapy program in the spring of 2004.

Andrew didn't climb at all the first week. Even getting him to wear a harness was a challenge because it felt so strange to him. His mother asked to take one home for the week so they could practice wearing it for a short time each day. It helped and Andrew was able to try climbing in the weeks that followed.

Ben, always encouraged by his mother, tried to climb to the top but just couldn't overcome his fear of height. He said the wall was too easy and he didn't want to climb. I found it interesting and sad that he was already developing skills to cope with his inability to succeed at some things.

I watched Darcy struggle to make the fingers of her right hand wrap around a good climbing hold. Her face was set with determination and focus as she forced her body to do what most of us take for granted. As I witnessed her struggle, I could not help but see this as a metaphor for a lifetime of struggle -- not just against physical obstacles but also against a society that has not totally come to terms with how it deals with and embraces those who are different.

I felt her pain but also rejoiced in her accomplishments. It felt good to see healthy grade 11 students immersing themselves in helping these younger students. It warmed my soul when a mom said to me, "I haven't seen my son smile this much in a long, long time."

In this life, our primary goal is not to create, collect, or control things but rather to love our neighbours as ourselves. We need to be involved in people's lives, giving and helping where and when we can. We need to be people who are willing to stand in the gap. It is this kind of caring and giving that make a community special. It makes it the kind of place we want to live and raise our families.

Are you looking to make a difference in your community? Look no further than helping out with our 'special ones'. It will open your heart like no other volunteer opportunity. It did for me.

Two great Christmas gift ideas for you:

1. Purchase a copy of the full 1/2 hour version of "Ryan's Climb". It's a great gift, it will inspire any class or group who view it and all the profits from its sale will be donated to Stellys Climbing Program.

   Please send a cheque for $20 made out to Speakwell for "Ryan's Climb" DVD to:

   Speakwell

   2572 Arbutus Rd

   Victoria, BC V8N 1W2

   Or call our office toll-free at 866-721-6940 to charge to your Visa or MasterCard.

2. Give a gift towards the completion of the climbing boulder.

   Send cheque made payable to 'School District #63 Scholarship Fund' and in the memo section 'Climbing Facility' to:

   Peter Mason

   Stellys Secondary School

   1627 Stellys X Rd

   Saanichton, BC V8M 1S8

A tax receipt will be mailed to you.