Justine Backlund
English, Arts
B.F.A. (SFU), M.St. (Oxford)
Ms. Backlund is from BC’s Lower Mainland but has spent as many summers as she can remember exploring coastal waters by sailboat. She completed her B.F.A. at Simon Fraser University, receiving the Praxis Centre for Screenwriting Award for her final project. By her love of storytelling, Ms. Backlund was propelled to complete a Masters in Creative Writing at the University of Oxford. She is most interested in the power writing has to connect us and hopes to share her love of language arts with her students. In her spare time, she enjoys gardening, creative writing, reading, and cold-water swimming.
Jim Ganley
English, Photojournalism, Yearbook, BEAT Sponsor
B.A. (Trent); B.Ed., M.A. (University of Toronto)
Parents with a sense of adventure took Jim Ganley from his childhood home in Peterborough, Ontario, to encounter adolescence in Kingston, Jamaica and Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania. Along the way, he attended or taught at the International School of Tanganyika, Lakefield College, Trinity College, and Shawnigan Lake School. In between, he developed a passion for travelling backwards over water in narrow shells which he pursued energetically for 30 years. Jim his wife, Jillian Napier, an economics teacher and girls basketball coach, are raising their three children – two Brentwood alumni – in the peaceful beauty of the Cowichan Valley. Growing concern for the environmental legacy we are leaving our children and grandchildren has led Jim to enthusiastically lead the Brentwood Environmental Action Team (BEAT).
Cody Gibson
Social Justice & Social Studies teacher; Climbing Coach; Graphic Design
B.Ed., IB, TESOL,
Mr. Gibson, is an experienced world educator and traveller with thirty-four countries and counting; mainly in Vietnam, Guatemala and Mexico. His time overseas provided constant challenges and joys and he hopes to bring his experience to students here at Brentwood.If you can’t find Mr. Gibson on his standard rounds on campus, then seek him outside in the forest—climbing rocks, looking at moss, hiking the west coast trail and generally galavanting around the island that he grew up on and loves. He is excited to offer classes that deliver an exciting time, lots of debate, and a widening of horizons.
Media Arts
The Media Arts Program encompasses a variety of artistic traditions, team settings, and tools—giving students several options to choose from. Students interested in digital communication can choose from one of five unique programs to develop highly transferable skills in Graphic Design, Yearbook, and Photojournalism.
Broadcast
Students will be a part of a dynamic broadcast team that will document—through video, podcasting, and livestreaming—the many activities that take place in the Brentwood community. Several different roles will be available, including but not limited to camera operator, editor, livestream producer, host, reporter, and announcer. Students will work with the instructor to schedule coverage of events throughout the school year. Students will need to demonstrate excellent time-management skills and will be required to complete assignments outside of class time. A computer (preferably Mac) will be required; video equipment will be provided by the School.
Creative Advocacy Leadership
In Creative Advocacy Leadership, we will develop your practice of effective leadership and your ability to make creative solutions. Once we identify and understand a problem, we will use creative media to inform, motivate, and activate the Brentwood and wider communities to take action to address issues of the environment, gender, race, and wellness. If you have a passion to improve your world, from Brentwood, to community, and the globe, this is where you should be. And it will be lots of fun!
Filmmaking
Students will explore the art of filmmaking from pre-production to post. They will experience the demands of a writing room with simulated pitching sessions and table reads through to shooting and editing films of their own. Several different specialization pathways will be available, including but not limited to cinematography, editing, and effects, producing, scriptwriting and directing, and performing for the screen. They will manage their film sets through a variety of skill-building activities and film projects. Students will need to demonstrate excellent time-management skills and will be required to complete assignments outside of class time.
Graphic Art & Design
This course is offered to students who are interested in expanding their means of creative expression via digital art and design. By learning and working with Adobe’s Creative Suite, such as Illustrator and Photoshop, students will explore image development, graphic design, advertising, digital photography, book arts, and more through both collaborative and individual projects. Students will learn about digital artists of our time and graphic designers of the past and present. They will have the opportunity to build a digital art portfolio over the course of the year.
Photojournalism
Photojournalism is offered to students who are interested in chronicling a Brentwood school year in print and photos. Photojournalists publish fortnightly news stories about school events for the Brentwood website. Students interested in this course must be able to work independently to deadlines and to cover assignments outside of regular class time. Successful applicants must be able to demonstrate a superior level of written English and a proven record of meeting deadlines. Experience with publishing and an SLR digital camera are assets.
Yearbook
This course is offered to students who are interested in capturing and chronicling a Brentwood school year in pictures and print. The Yearbook team photographs academics, athletics, fine arts, and other school activities. Students interested in this course must be able to work independently to deadlines. Experience with an SLR digital camera is an asset.
Where Students Choose To Be
+1 (250) 743-5521
admissions@brentwood.ca
info@brentwood.ca
2735 Mount Baker Road
Mill Bay, BC, Canada V8H 1K8