Éy Swáyel,

My name is Violet George, and I am honoured to serve as the Resident Elder at the Sqwá First Nation Adult Education Centre.

I originally come from Ch'íyáqtel (Tzeachten) First Nation and later moved to Sqwá First Nation with my husband, Gerald George. I have proudly called Sqwá my home since 1974.

Although I first trained and worked as a chef, my career path shifted in 1990 when I became an administrative assistant with the Nation. In time, I joined Council, where I served our community for 20 years. Today, I continue to support our people through my work on the Elders Advisory Committee and the Chilliwack School District Indigenous Advisory Committee.

To each and every one of you:
Do your best. Keep trying, even when things feel hard. You can achieve your goals.

I hope you will drop by to visit. My door is always open, and I am always here to listen, to support, and to share a conversation.

I am very pleased to have the opportunity to set up Skwah First Nation’s First Adult Education Centre. I have developed similar programs in Mission School District, Gold Trail School District, and at Seabird Island Band. My education includes a Bachelor of Arts and Teacher Training from Simon Fraser University and a Master of Arts in Education from the University of British Columbia. Most of my career has been spent working with students, of all ages, who require alternate pathways to success, and they are my passion. 

Greetings, I'm Shaun Beveridge, the dedicated Chilliwack District school Teacher overseeing Adult Upgrading Courses at Sqwá Adult Education Centre. I live work and play  on the ancestral territories of the Stó:lō unceded traditional territories of the Sqwá, Pilat, Sema:th and Ts'elxwéyeqw tribes. I earned my Bachelor of Arts from York University and my Master of Teaching from the University of Toronto. I bring over seven years of teaching experience from Toronto, Calgary, to Chilliwack. My teaching philosophy revolves around nurturing student success by tailoring education to individual needs and abilities of each individual. I'm passionate about collaborating with students to unlock their full potential and I am excited to contribute to the educational journey of individuals here at Sqwá Adult Education Centre, providing valuable adult education opportunities to this vibrant community.

My name is Penny Williams, and I currently serve as the Education Assistant & Support Worker, providing support to the Director of Education at Skwah/Sqwá First Nation. I reside on the ancestral, traditional, and unceded territory of the Stó:lō Coast Salish Peoples. My ancestral background is Métis Red River from Northern Manitoba, and I have been connected to Skwah/Sqwá First Nation for over 15 years. I bring a diverse and multidisciplinary professional background, often described as “jack-of-all-trades,” with experience across education, administration, health and safety, and community service. I am currently working toward my Bachelor of Education at the University of the Fraser Valley (UFV). I have also completed Farm School through Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) and recycling training with IZWTAG. My education and work experience include volunteering as an Education Assistant with School District 33 at Chilliwack Middle School, earning a Certificate in Computerized Bookkeeping with a practicum at Stó:lō Nation, and providing technical service support in an inbound call centre supporting Dell and other organizations. Earlier in my career, I completed over 500 hours of First Aid training with St. John Ambulance Brigade, for which I received a service award. I was also recognized as Employee of the Year by the Chilliwack Coast Hotel for my dedication and exceptional customer service. In addition, I assisted in developing a Health & Safety program and served as Acting Human Resources for a pet food manufacturing plant. I have spent over 10 years studying Criminology and Forensics at UFV and BCIT, which led to an internship with the Canadian Association for Security and Intelligence Studies (CASIS) – Vancouver. I am deeply committed to community work and look forward to continuing to support and strengthen the Sqwá (Skwah) First Nation in ways that honor its people, values, and future.

My name is Lianne Paul. I'm the Office Administrator for Sqwá Adult Education Center. I reside on the traditional ancestral and unceded territory of the Sto:lo Coast Salish peoples. I have over 20 years of experience working in various government agencies; Ministry of Forests, Ministry of Children & Family Development - Aboriginal Services, and BC Assessment to name a few. I feel good about helping people to the best of my ability. I am excited to be here to support you on your journey. Whether it is supporting you through the enrolment process or your wellbeing, I am here for you.

My name is Jade Mussell and I am the administrative assistant here at Sqwà Adult Education Centre. I reside on the ancestral, traditional, and unceded territory of the Sto:lo Coast Salish peoples. I have worked with the Adult Education Centre for the past two years. My hope is to help students feel comfortable and confident during their learning journey here at Sqwà. I am here to support you!

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