Alumni Parent Spotlight: Grant Ayers

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