On a wall, in an unassuming portable classroom near 43^rd and Clarendon St., is a painting of unicorn against a backdrop of a school and a large rainbow. Over the past 35 years, when walls needed to be refreshed with a fresh coat of paint, VSB painters know not to disturb the unicorn. Recently volunteers retouched the mural to bring it back to its original glory.

To know why the unicorn is so cherished we must know more about Frank and his students.

In 1985 Frank arrived at VSB with a specialization to teach Physical Education just when PE 11 and 12 were no longer required to graduate. With less demand for PE teachers, Frank worked as a substitute teacher and a counsellor, before teaching at the Alternative Programs for the next 35 years.

Just a month into his new position, as the new Alternative Programs teacher, Frank struggled with how to approach the students in class. Despite their tough exterior, Frank noticed that many of the students were incredibly talented artists. With that in mind, Frank had an idea.  He found a picture of a horse, added a horn to make it into a unicorn, projected the image onto the wall, then proceeded to tell his students Daniel and Mike to complete the picture.  The outcome was a schoolhouse in the middle, a rainbow and the leaping unicorn.

“The two students who were difficult, softened right up over the course of the program,” said Frank. 

Frank further explains, “the colours of the rainbow are the different sides of humanity. This is our little school and the unicorn represents a fantasy of whatever you want life to be. In the beginning, I decided to take a leap to work here, and it’s been one of the greatest gifts I’ve had in my life”

On June 13, 2024, the West Alternative program held a graduation ceremony to celebrate student achievements as well as Frank’s retirement. Each student award was named after a VSB staff for the special quality they embody which made a difference for education.

Awards included High Attendance, Future Forward Award, Honour Roll, Perseverance Award, Citizen Award and Spirit Award.  Frank’s humour, warmth and attention to each student’s talents and strengths was apparent as students spoke about their experience at West.

Chris, a graduating student from West Alternative shares his accomplishments – a testament to the community the program – and people like Frank – create to support students’ learning and life journeys.

After the awards, the celebration moved outside where past and present students and staff continued the graduation celebration in their new outdoor garden, a joint West community effort by students and staff. Victor Guerin, Musqueam band member and elder blessed the garden with a hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ parting and greeting song that calls for the spirits of the ancestors to bless the garden.

Youth and Family Worker Dragana Hajduk played the flute, while West students performed the song, Over the rainbow as a serenade to Frank.  Watch the short clip to see the surprise at the end.  

--

For a list of our current job opportunities, please visit our Make A Future page.