David Suzuki

The School was honoured to welcome Dr. David Suzuki to speak in the Chapel this week. The world-renowned scientist and environmental activist was introduced by another special guest, Miles Richardson, past leader of the Haida Nation on the Queen Charlotte Islands, and uncle of Grade 10 student Sienna R.

Dr. Suzuki credits his introduction to the Haida people in the 1980s, as an "eye-opener" to the different attitudes peoples have toward the planet. "We are not separate from the environment," he said, then animatedly tracked how one breath travels across the globe and through time. "We humans consider ourselves intelligent. So why would we dump toxins into everything we consume . . . the air, water, and the earth where we get our food?" he asked.

In response to a question from a student, Dr. Suzuki said he felt that the current economic situation might "give the planet a bit of breather" as people reduce consumption, but said, in the long-run, a basic attitude must change. "From the ancient Greek, ecology means the structure of home, and economy means the management of home," he said. "For too long we've placed priority on management, or the economy, above structure," he said, concluding that if ecology isn't made the priority, there will be nothing left to manage.