I can imagine the magnificence of a pristine and clean and nutrient-rich Horseshoe Bay/ Ch’axáý teeming with such enormous schools of herring chased up to break the surface of the water by hunting salmon that the whole lively process makes a “CHUCK-hi” sound.

Is the “hi” from “CHUCK-hi” pronounced “high” – rhymes with “sky”, “fly”, “my” – or “he” – rhymes with “she”, “me”, “be”?

Be that as it may, great that we’re celebrating pre-European Aboriginal culture and have added the Aboriginal name for Horseshoe Bay to our school.

I attended Gleneagles-Ch’axáý Elementary School from 1967 to 1970. It was a great growing experience. Most salient is Mr. Grant’s music classes – we sang Hey Jude, House of the Rising Sun and Get Back – and he introduced us to the flowing glories of classical music – Tchaikovsky, Bach, Beethoven – and we got to try out a variety of musical instruments. Also Mr. Walsh, straight out of university with quite an unorthodox style but great at instilling inspiration and enthusiasm towards questioning, learning and appreciating the wonders of life, nature and the universe. Also Mr. Wren, the school principle, to whose office we were sent when we had been especially rough and tumble and/or our exploratory expeditions went too far.

A beautiful setting beside the high snow-capped purple mountain majesties, above the deep blue sea and among the tall green pines.

Thank you Gleneagles Elementary School! Thank you British Columbia! Thank you Canada!

A great introduction to the robust New World for a boy from urbane Old Europe.