Charlotte Diamond’s memories of New West continue to shine bright

These days, you can find children’s singer Charlotte Diamond enjoying the wonders of nature outside her Sechelt home. Whether it’s birds or flowers, she’s always finding inspiration steps away from her place.

And it’s that lifelong thrill of being inspired that’s kept her memories of New Westminster top of mind, having taught at New West Secondary School (NWSS) for nearly 10 years, beginning in September of 1969.

“When I first came out of UBC and I had my degree and was going to go into teaching high school, [New West Secondary] just snapped me up to be a French teacher, and that was so much fun,” she recalls with a laugh, adding that prior to this, she’d been teaching in Abbotsford. “I had a broad spectrum of teaching: math, science, French. Even phys ed!”

Days at NWSS were exciting; Diamond often found herself running from the Pearson wing to the Massey wing trying to teach multiple classes. She says that, at that time, there must have been about 3,000 students there. But even with the volume of students, Diamond says the staff found time to get to know and learn from one another.

“What was really significant about being there was the camaraderie in the staff. In the staffroom, people tend to get into groups, but you could cruise around and be in one group one day, and another group another day,” explains Diamond. In fact, it was some of that camaraderie that allowed her to get to know other teachers in the other departments – like music.

“I do remember being very jealous that the band program was well-loved and well-supported, and there was no choral program,” she explains. This led Diamond to take matters into her own hands, and with the encouragement of several students, a mixed choir called the New Westminstrels was born. “The New Westminstrels were the start for me branching out and working with music in greater depth,” she says.

Folk music Diamond had previously learned in English, French and Spanish also played an integral role in shaping the songs many children from coast to coast to coast have grown up with. “It was really interesting for me to just grow along with my students. I’d not been a music major at UBC. I played guitar and I did play piano, so I knew quite a bit about music, but just getting busy and writing harmonies, even competitions, that was very exciting for me.”

That work led to a request for workshops, developing a preschool music program in her community, and eventually concerts. More than three decades worth of work, and Diamond says it’s still as fulfilling and rewarding as it was decades ago.

“At all levels of teaching, I think music should be part of the curriculum, I think it’s crucial for the full development of children,” says Diamond, adding that while she’ll be taking the summer off to rest and recharge, she’ll be preparing for some workshops in the fall to help BC’s primary grade teachers incorporate music into their plans.

“When you’re singing or playing a musical instrument, or in a group like a choir, or an orchestra, you’re using more of your brain than any other activity. That includes physical activity…because you have to listen, you have to coordinate, you have to look, and take it in,” explains Diamond.

As our conversation draws to a close, Diamond says she’s grateful for all the connections she made during her time teaching in New Westminster. Those important connections are something that she hopes people will take away from this city – in fact, she closes out our interview with lyrics from a new song called “Connections” which you can find on her latest album.

I need my teachers, my community, to watch my steps as I grow.Take my hand, let’s go together, for there’s so much I want to know.