Commencement Ceremonies held for Barriere Secondary School on May 27 included the inauguration of two recipients to the Barriere Secondary School Wall of Distinction, Ern Gammel-Therrien and Dan Riest.
Chair of the Wall of Distiction Committee, Barry Brady, said it gave him great pleasure to introduce these two individuals who attended Barriere Secondary and have gone on to excel in humanitarian work and athletics.
Brady read an impressive list of accomplishments for both Wall of Distinction recipients which included:
• Erin Gammel-Therrien – Athletics, Class of 1998
1999 - World (SC) Bronze Medallist in 100 backstroke
2003-2004, 2006-2007 - CIS Female Swimmer of the Year
2003-2008 - Canadian Record Holder in 100 backstroke
2004 - Olympic Swimmer
• Dan Riest – Humanitarian,
Class of 1971
1994 - 2000 - Chief Executive Officer Association of Substance Abuse Programs in B.C.
2000 - 2001 - Chair of Addictions Task Group for the Province of British Columbia
2001 - 2004 - President Kaiser Foundation
2009 - present - Founding member, Canadian Drug Policy Consortium
2004 - present - University of Victoria Assistant Director (Knowledge Exchange), Center for Addictions Research of B.C.
Principal Jonathan Brady welcomed Gammel-Therrien and Riest back to the school, and presented each with a commemorative certificate.
Plaques with a photograph and list of accomplishments for each of the recipients will be hung on the Wall of Distinction at the high school.
Barry Brady encouraged anyone who would like to nominate a past Barriere Secondary School graduate to be considered for the Wall of Distinction to contact the school for information.