Submitted by Byron Trask

Ahhh…the month of June where longer, sunny days & barbeque beach-front times are now on the horizon! What a perfect time of year, as we celebrate our next wave of Graduates across the Columbia Valley, the country, extending all the way around the globe!

Breton Trask’s official photo at the UBC faculty of dentistry grad photo 2021

As the 2021 Classes prepare for such celebration, the challenges they have faced have been amplified with the reality of what we all have lived thru this past 16 plus months; yet what triumph and leadership has been revealed by many in dealing with a Life with COVID-19. Praise to our students and the many dedicated people around them, making the adjustments, sacrifices and commitment in creating a winning, healthy, learning and resilient future!

In this very same light of celebration and challenges, one of our own 2012 DTSS Graduates has also now graduated in 2021 from the University of British Columbia’s Faculty of Dentistry.

Breton Trask started his education locally under the pre-school guidance of Christine Bidinger. After the following years at EMP, J.A. Laird and part of two years in the National Sport Academy in Calgary, Trask graduated here at DTSS in 2012. 

2012 DTSS Grad

To list the many great individuals who assisted in his journey would be vast, yet a few now need highlighting. Anne Futa was an amazing home-care and early-year tutor for Trask and his two siblings. Next, hockey was Trask’s passion, and Ross Bidinger stands out as one coach who continued to open doors leading to the National Sport Academy, which ultimately lead to even greater cultured independence, perseverance and reaching for the stars! 

Copper Point and Parks Canada’s Radium Hot-pools Aquacourt were major employment providers, summer after summer, helping this student reach financial goals along with honourable mention of the Arnold Ellis Foundation and Invermere Health Care Auxiliary’s student bursary. Pat O’Sullivan has been an on-going mentor, always willing to share his office and skilled insights and writing letters of recommendation through the varying phases of dental schooling. These are the sample accolades that parallel our 2021 DTSS Graduates, as they too look back now at the many fine people and businesses here in our valley, all of which have assisted them in their path and desires to keep their future hopes and ambitions high!

Congratulations go out to all the families, friends, educators, employers and all those who have been ‘the front-line’ on making our 2021 Graduates’ dreams come true!

To the Graduates of 2021, take time now to reflect on all you have accomplished and on all those special people along your own unique and memorable adventure and be sure to give them a “Cheer!”

Cheers to the Graduates of 2021 – now let’s go out there and safely soak up the summer!