The Annual GNS Grad Retreat—Combining Adventure, Education and Community

Last Thursday and Friday, Ms. Nielson, Ms. Green and Mr. Marthaller once again pulled off an amazing grad retreat to Vancouver, a long-standing GNS tradition. Students in Grade 12 plus Theatre 10 and 11 students started the day by arriving at the Pemberton Woods Campus at the early hour of 7 a.m and travelling by bus to catch the ferry. Upon arriving in Vancouver, we headed off to the University of British Columbia, where students participated in a fun scavenger hunt and had the opportunity to visit several campus destinations, including the Belkin Art Gallery and the Pacific Museum of Earth. 

The visit to UBC is a recent addition to the trip, with this year being the second time it was included. Many students appreciated the opportunity to visit the campus. Reese Suntok ’26 said that it was her favourite part of the trip. 

“UBC is a highly possible university where I could receive my BComm,” shared Reese. “ I really appreciated getting the chance to explore the campus and visit the business fair with my friends.”

The group then headed to Grouse Mountain, where they took the Skyride gondola up the mountain (contrary to the rumours that floated around pre-trip where students had to hike up the mountain) for some team-building activities and a presentation by an Indigenous elder at the híwus Feasthouse. 

For Clio Milwright ’26, the highlight of the trip was the gondola ride. “I am not the biggest fan of heights, so it was a bit of a leap out of what I was comfortable with, but it ended up being a beautiful view and a nice adventure. I would love to do it again!” she shared. 

Students and teachers stayed at a Holiday Inn Hotel in downtown Vancouver for the night, where it was believed that Mr. Marthaller camped in the hallway until 1 a.m. to ensure no students snuck out of their rooms. 

On the second day, we visited Granville Island, then headed over to the Bard on the Beach, where they watched the comedy Much Ado About Nothing by Shakespeare, a text that Grade 12s will have to study for their final exams. 

Many students found the Vancouver retreat to be a healthy blend between educational opportunity and the chance to relax in Vancouver and hang out with friends. For Reese she felt that the grad retreat is important because it allows students to experience time with friends without exam pressures (yet). 

Shreesha Ramandev ’26 also appreciated the opportunity for the Grade 12s to have time outside of school to relax and connect with one another. “It definitely brought me closer to my friends by letting us share experiences we don’t normally have during the school day,” she said. 

Clio agreed, saying, “It was definitely a great excuse to spend time with friends outside of school, in a way that we are not often able to because of time restraints and school assignments. I felt really connected with my friends, and enjoyed being able to spend time together.” 

This trip could not have happened without the organization and planning skills of our teachers, especially our trip lead, Mr. Marthaller. The success of this trip is a direct result of their superb skills, and we wanted to thank them all, teachers and staff, for making this trip happen.