Out with a Bang

John Perpich - Retiring Principal, Charles Dickens Elementary

dickens.vsb.bc.ca

by Jennifer Croll

photo by Jaime Kowal

On a recent sunny afternoon, John Perpich has just one problem: “My hands are green and sticky; I’m having the engineer find me some paint thinner!” John’s painting-related mishap is, in some ways, fitting; he’s the man responsible for making Charles Dickens Elementary (and his own hands) green.

A few years ago, the East Van school was slated for reconstruction for reasons ranging from seismic instability to accessibility. But John saw the opportunity to revamp it in other ways. “We thought it would be cool to have this as a showcase for what current technology they could put in, and it would be the standard for what-ever buildings were built in the future.”

A top-notch geothermal heating system and classrooms equipped with motion-sensor lights ensure the school’s draw from the grid is low. Reclaimed wood from the old building has been integrated with the new structure, and old, crumbled bricks from the exterior will top schoolyard pathways.

“We have a rooftop garden,” John adds. “We’re having self-watering barrels out there, and the kids are going to plant vegetables and flowers and that kind of stuff.” As well, a cistern the size of a swimming pool collects rainwater for flushing toilets. Beyond the garden, the rest of the landscaping is a smart mix of self-sustaining indigenous plants.

John is proud of his green legacy, but is looking forward to some hard-earned relaxation—and the grand reopening of Charles Dickens.

“After 37 years I’ve kind of gone out with a bang,” he chuckles. “They can call me to cut the ribbon when they have the official opening.”