A Journey Into the Astounding Roots of Brentwood!

“Imagine a world where there are no Iphones, no television. and no electronics.” This is exactly the world “Lifer” Mr Steve Cowie witnessed more than three decades ago years ago. Last Thursday Mr Steve Cowie introduced “History Bytes” a riveting way to explore Brentwood history and how it has influenced and shaped the amazing school we call home. It is essential to learn about the history and origins of our roots in order to succeed and move on in life. The first session began with an introduction of the longest serving and dedicated teacher Mr Cowie. Mr Cowie grew up in Kelowna, British Columbia and graduated from the University of Victoria majoring in English and History. He always had an enthusiasm for history and wanted to pursue a job that encompassed history. It was not only history that captivated Mr Cowie; rugby was a sport that he played as he represented the University of Victoria, Cowichan RFC,  and Vancouver Island’s Crimson Tide. He then joined the Brentwood faculty after a friend of his encouraged him to. He was 30 minutes late to his Brentwood interview after accidently driving to Brentwood Bay rather than Mill Bay. He then joined Brentwood and it’s been his home for more than 30 years! Throughout his Brentwood career, Mr Cowie has taught English, rugby, geography, tennis, golf and history. In our Thursday assembly, he described the evolution of our school through the implications of uniforms, new infrastructure and a more diverse and international student body.  Mr Cowie is a compassionate and passionate teacher who will always be caught smiling. His work ethic is evident in the class where he explores different methods to teach students and incorporate ingenuity to encourage us to think beyond the periphery of school. With his incredible introduction to “History Bytes”, I can’t wait to explore the life of different teachers! Areeb S, Rogers ‘20