The Greater Victoria School District wishes to acknowledge the retirement of a long-time employee, Paul Thomas. Paul, whose traditional name is Pah’yu h’uts stun, has been a counselor for Indigenous children and youth for 50 years as part of the Indigenous Education Department.

In his first five years, Paul was a student advocate based at the Victoria Native Friendship Centre. In his last 45 years, he was as an itinerant Indigenous Student Counselor based in elementary, middle and secondary schools in the Greater Victoria School District.

Paul has ancestry from the Lyackson and Songhees Bands and has been a valuable member of the Greater Victoria School District’s learning community, this includes the Indigenous Education Department and all the schools he supported. Over the years, he has supported countless children, youth and their families and has had the honour of watching generations of students come into the school system, graduate, and send their own children into schools. He has even welcomed some of the grandchildren of his students from his early years.

Paul carries the history of the Indigenous Education Department and has witnessed the growth of Indigenous education and student successes over five decades.

The Greater Victoria School District extends its deepest gratitude and staff raise their hands saying Hay’sxw’qa Siem to him for an incredible lifetime of service.