A teacher and volleyball coach is retiring from a West Shore high school after serving for 32 years.
Although Ken Lowe is parting ways with Belmont Secondary School after the 2023/2024 school year, he says his time there has gone by in the blink of an eye.
"It's never felt like work to me and the years have just gone by so quickly but I knew this was the right time."
Lowe wears many hats at Belmont. Not only is he a teacher, but he's the athletic director and a coach to many of the school's sports teams including volleyball which he has coached for 26 years.
He's watched his junior girl's volleyball team bring home many Island Championship banners in 2016, 2015, and 1999. He also led them to win provincials in 2015. The coach says he is going to miss seeing his team's success spike over the season and getting to experience the excitement it's brought him.
"Just to see the kids play the games, the practices, going out there and playing with them, those things I'll miss a lot. Staying in shape is something I'll actually miss a bit too because I won't be able to work out as much," joked Lowe. "Beyond that, it's just been fun and I'll miss the fun."
Lowe also has fond memories of coaching Belmont's senior golf team and winning the Vancouver Island AAA Golf Championships in 2016, 2011, 2009, 2008, and 2001.
With Lowe's combined 32 years as a teacher at Belmont and Spencer Middle School plus his 12 years in grade school, and six years in university, he's been in the education system for 50 years and says he's ready for the next step.
"I don't want to call it a retirement. To me, retirement seems like you're phasing out, but it's just that it's a new phase where I'm doing different things."
The coach is looking forward to the change of pace as he and his wife have their hearts set on travelling across the globe. However, he's going to miss his colleagues, the culture and his students.
"I'm just really going to miss the interactions with the students on a regular basis. Being able to play volleyball, basketball, badminton, football, soccer, or working out in the gym with them. I truly believe that's kept me younger."
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