Members of the Courtenay Elementary school community might have noticed two new benches at the front of the school. These benches were custom-made in 2024 by the carpenter at Deep Forest Furnishings in Parksville and have been in storage up until now.
Courtenay Elementary Community School Society (CECSS) received a grant in 2023 to upgrade the outdoor spaces at the school. This included updating the garden and pouring a concrete floor for the outdoor classroom. The society also had plans for an unused patch of grass at the end of the access ramp.
The school district had initially agreed to a gazebo or pergola in the space. The idea was to create more space for parents and students to sit outside. But after some thought about what a structure would look like in the space, the idea was scrapped as a structure would look awkward.
The idea for the benches came from Masako Thir, current the Food Services Program Worker at Courtenay Elementary. Benches made more sense for the space, and the timing was right to dedicate them to Nong Chang, who lost her life in 2022.
Nong was the ultimate volunteer at Courtenay Elementary, working for over a decade in the school. She is perhaps best know for doing hotdog day every Friday. (Readers may not know that Nong didn’t like hotdogs and nobody who volunteered with her ever saw her eat one! For her, it was all about the kids, not the food.)
Nong initially did hotdog day by herself, but people just gravitated to her, and it wasn’t long before there was no shortage of help on hotdog day.
On May 18, 2025, Nong’s family and friends were invited to an unveiling of the benches.
No gathering would be complete without some refreshments, and everyone got to enjoy in a hotdog!
Catherine Manson, former principal at Courtenay Elementary and current director at CECSS recalled, “I think she really influenced the way I thought about volunteering and dedication. She was so dedicated and so happy to be at the school no matter what. It was incredible.”
Masako Thir added,” She invited me to help her in the kitchen, and I guess that’s when I started volunteering in the school. For her, if the kids were happy, that’s all that mattered.”
We are grateful to Deep Forest Furnishings for the stunning benches and to the school district for the concrete pad and anchors for the benches. The space is still a bit sparse, but there are plans to beautify it. We know Nong liked hydrangeas, so we will find one that’s not too big or bushy. Planter boxes along the edges would also help define the space. If you would like to get involved or have an idea, please contact CECSS.
We miss Nong but take comfort in knowing that her spirit, dedication, and enthusiasm lives on in the school. If she were with us today, there is no doubt she would be in the kitchen with Ms. Masako cooking up lunch for the kids.