GRANT AYERS Alumni Family Interviewed by Michelle Noble | December 2016
A
t first glance, you might not guess that Mulgrave’s deep roots trail all the way back to a
portable in North Vancouver - but for Grant Ayers, one of the school’s founding families, these roots are what make Mulgrave the unique, humble, and tight-knit school that it is today. For such a small school to grow into a world-class school is testament to the endless love, support and generosity from our original families who took a chance on Mulgrave. Grant had two children graduate from Mulgrave and has been a pillar of support for the school since the early days. (He actually moved the school from that little portable to its new home in West Vancouver!) For many years, Grant lived close by and would be the first one on site if assistance was ever needed at the school. He was at every community event and jumped at any opportunity to lend a hand - whether it was offering his moving company’s (Edgemont Moving & Storage) services, restoring power to the building after a snowstorm, or providing the floats for the Canada Day parade. Even after his children graduated, Grant continued to sit on Mulgrave’s Board of Directors for a total of eight years. Always flying under the radar, Grant quietly and unconditionally supported the school and has been instrumental in shaping Mulgrave’s history. We are very excited to Spotlight this unsung hero, and officially thank him for everything that he has contributed to Mulgrave.
ABOVE: Grant’s children, Shelby (left) and Brandon (right) holding their Mulgrave swim meet ribbons.
As one of Mulgrave’s founding
Why did you initially choose
and engaging for children, and that
families, you have given back to
Mulgrave school for your two
was always one of her best qualities.
the school in more ways than can
children, Brandon and Shelby?
be counted, but particularly with respect to your company, Edgemont Moving & Storage. What are some of the ways you have supported school initiatives with your company? At Edgemont Moving & Storage, we always wanted to support Mulgrave in anyway we could. In the beginning, Mulgrave was such a small school that it relied a lot on
How did you, along with the other
When Mulgrave first opened, it
founding families, work together
was very small with a low student/
to ensure Mulgrave kept its strong
teacher ratio, which was really
community as it grew?
attractive to us. But in the end, it was our meeting with Linda Hamer that sold us.
Coming from modest beginnings, the school relied a lot on its community. Everyone seemed to work together
What were some of the qualities
to do what was best for our children
that you admired most about Linda
and for the development of the
Hamer, Mulgrave’s founder?
school. It was always a very tightknit community and we all worked
community involvement and support
Linda was incredibly driven. She had
from its families. We contributed
this unique ability to connect with
by providing movers for events like
the students and she remembered
Gala, vehicles for the parade floats,
not only every child’s name, but also
and we also moved Mulgrave to its
their individual educational needs.
new location in West Vancouver.
Through her professionalism and
Wherever we could help, we would.
leadership, she was able to create an
How did you come to be a host
atmosphere for learning that was fun
family for Tsering Dorje, the student
together to support a common goal. I think because it was ingrained in Mulgrave’s culture since day one, the community has, and always will be at the heart of this school.
GRANT AYERS
ABOVE: Grant with his wife, Karen, on a motorcycle trip.
ABOVE: Brandon at the airport with Tsering going to Nepal.
ABOVE: Brandon and Tsering in Nepal.
ABOVE: Greg Cusbert in his famous bear costume dancing in front of the Canada Day float.
from Nepal? While I was on holiday with my family in the Interior, I received a phone call from the school asking if I would be interested in hosting a student from Nepal. I thought it would be a great way for my family to learn about another culture, so we accepted. I really enjoyed learning about Tsering’s Buddhist culture while he stayed with us. My son, Brandon, had the opportunity to travel to Nepal to visit Tsering’s family in return, and it was an amazing experience for him. What did Brandon gain from his exchange to Nepal?
Nepal was an eye-opening
about what you do at Edgemont
experience for Brandon and it
Moving & Storage. What does a
gave him the chance to see what
typical day at work look like for you?
it was like to live in a different culture; it truly gave him a better understanding of the world. He made memories that he will never forget and friends that will last him a lifetime. During his stay, Brandon worked and lived at the SMD school in Nepal. He gained so much knowledge and insight from this opportunity that he otherwise would never have been exposed to, had we not met Tsering. Brandon left as
I never know what to expect when I arrive at the office. A typical day generally involves bookkeeping, HR, IT, finance, fleet maintenance, purchasing, repairing, and basic management. I wear a lot of different hats and am exposed to all aspects of the company, which is why I enjoy my work so much. Craziest moving story?
teenager and returned and a young
From working with the Federal
adult.
Government assisting all of the Royal
We want to know a little bit more
visits to Vancouver and Victoria, to moving a 9ft plasma television
ABOVE: Edgemont Moving delivering a dining room table to a penthouse in downtown Vancouver.
ABOVE: Tony Macoun and Shelby on her graduation night.
through a house window, to moving
Your wife, Karen Pinchin, is also a
moving to the new school back in
Native Affairs’ 700 workstations in
cherished member of the Mulgrave
2001. I have enjoyed being part of
one weekend, Edgmont has had a
community. She worked at the
an ever-developing environment
lot of exciting moves. With that said,
school for 10 years, and this year,
and I’m grateful to have been given
I think airlifting a 12ft glass dining
she became a Mulgrave alumni.
the opportunity to be involved
table to a penthouse in downtown
What is your favourite activity to do
enough to see the outcomes. The
Vancouver using a helicopter, might
together?
school has gone through a lot over
take the cake. We actually had to close off two blocks to do it!
Karen and I both love to go on outings and adventures on our
How have you stayed connected
Harley Davidson trike. We love
to the school since your son and
walking, exploring, and visiting the
daughter’s graduation?
Sunshine Coast. We also love the
After my kids graduated from
oysters at Joe Fortes.
the years and I admire the job that Tony Macoun did to hold the school together through trying times. Every member of the Mulgrave community has played a role in the development of the school and I will always look back with respect and enjoyment
Mulgrave, I continued to sit on the
What is one of your favourite
for being part of a team of amazing
Board of Directors for a total of eight
Mulgrave memories?
contributors.
years. I also continued to offer my services through Edgemont Moving, whenever needed.
One of my favourite Mulgrave memories was the excitement of
Grant Ayers, 2016