Notre Dame honours Alan Charlton for journey of education and arts

In the 70-year history of Notre Dame Regional Secondary School, one name stands out for his commitment to education and passion for film and the arts: Alan Charlton, who taught in Catholic schools for 55 years. He has been a film and theatre critic for The B.C. Catholic even longer, writing his first reviews in 1962.

Now, as the school marks its 70th anniversary on Saturday, it will pay tribute to Charlton with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his services to the Notre Dame school community. The evening’s guest of honour will be Sister Bernice Vetter of the Sisters of Charity of Halifax, the religious order that founded the school in 1953 for 10 Catholic parishes on Vancouver’s east side and in Burnaby.

Charlton’s teaching career spanned 55 years, starting at St. Anthony’s Elementary in West Vancouver, and continuing at Notre Dame from 1964 until 2016.

While at Notre Dame, Charlton taught a diverse range of courses, including Christian education, English literature, Western civilization, social studies, and film appreciation – even instructing Grade 12 students in ballroom dancing to prepare for their prom. He directed more than 40 concerts, plays, and musicals, from Our Town and The Sound of Music to A Man for All Seasons and Guys and Dolls. He also directed four productions with casts of alumni.

Beyond his teaching responsibilities, Charlton played roles in the educational and church community as a founding member of the Vancouver Catholic Schools Teachers Association as well as a member of St. Helen’s RCIA team.

Charlton’s journey, as he describes it, was a fortunate series of happy accidents. During a time in the U.K. when few were able to attend university, especially among the working class, Charlton – a postman’s son – achieved high academic merit and went on to university on full scholarship, as did all 16 other students in his graduating class.

In 1957, Charlton earned his master’s degree in English from Oxford, where in his final year he converted to Catholicism, influenced by his friendship with Father Hugh MacKinnon, SJ, who was pursuing his PhD. 

Father MacKinnon, who had family ties to Vancouver, told Charlton of the city’s beauty, which led to a serendipitous opportunity when a friend of Charlton’s who was planning to sail to Canada changed plans. It was a time of mass emigration to Canada, and ship passage was difficult to obtain. On a whim, Charlton purchased his friend’s ticket and headed to Canada. 

With no post-graduate plans and through Father MacKinnon’s Vancouver connection, it was arranged for Charlton to enter the Seminary of Christ the King.

After completing his degree in philosophy and beginning studies in theology, Charlton realized that his calling was not to the priesthood. With no alternative plans, he accepted a teaching position at St. Anthony’s, beginning his decades-long teaching career.

Reflecting on his passion for film, Charlton attributes it to his formative years in wartime England, where he avidly embraced the escapism offered by the “flicks.” Encouraged by his parents, he attended numerous theatre productions. As a teenager, he spent his summer vacations in London, often attending two productions a day in the “nosebleed” seats, financed by his paper route earnings and supplemented by his sacrificing parents.

Now 88 years old, Charlton reflects on all those experiences as integral to his life, which he embraces to the fullest. He’s particularly grateful to the Notre Dame community, maintaining regular contact with more than 100 former colleagues and students who offer continuous support.

And since Charlton’s impact extends to many thousands of lives, from former students and their parents to readers of The B.C. Catholic, it’s no surprise that he’s looking forward to many joyful reunions at Saturday’s dinner.

Share your thoughts with us. Send a Letter to the Editor and contribute to the ongoing conversation.