Land Acknowledgement
Weyt-kp! I want to respectfully acknowledge the land I call home, the unceded traditional land of the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc, members of the Interior-Salish Secwepemc-speaking peoples of British Columbia. The Secwépemc people have maintained deep relationships with the Land, Water, Plants, and Animals, and continue their stewardship today. As an uninvited guest on Secwepemcúl’ecw, I recognize my responsibility to learn from these teachings and to uphold values of respect, reciprocity, and care.
The spiritual aspect of the Land I connect with most is when I am hiking in the area and learning about the plants around me, including their Secwépemc names and traditional uses. In my role as an educator, I am committed to teaching students both about the impacts of colonialism and about the responsibilities we share in building respectful, reciprocal relationships with the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc people and the non-human beings of this Land.
About Me
Hi, I’m Lauren!
Originally from Kamloops, I am a high school science teacher who loves bringing curiosity, creativity, and enthusiasm into the classroom. My educational journey began at the University of Victoria, where I graduated with a Bachelor of Engineering in Biomedical Engineering, before returning home to earn my Bachelor of Education at Thompson Rivers University.
By blending scientific inquiry with artistic expression, I encourage my students to ask big questions, think critically, and embrace mistakes as a natural part of learning. My goal is to help them develop a lifelong love of science and discovery. Alongside teaching, I am involved in research focused on microbiology learning tools for school-aged children, constantly exploring new ways to make science more accessible, engaging, and meaningful for young learners.
When I’m not in the classroom or diving into research, there’s a good chance you’ll find me out hiking with my golden retriever, Sage (yes, named after our gorgeous, local sagebrush). Indoors, I love curling up with a good fantasy novel, experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen, or working on an art project. If I’m not doing those things, I’ll most likely be rewatching my favourite Studio Ghibli movies or Pride and Prejudice (2005 of course) with a big bowl of popcorn for dinner.