Biography:
My name is Breckin Erichuk. I was born in Knutsford, BC and grew up on a farm there for 10 years, but did all of my early education in Kamloops, BC. I grew up chasing the dream of becoming a professional hockey player, but I was also aware at a young age that if hockey didn’t work out, I would need something else to pursue. Coming from a family of people who have been part of the education system, I had always thought about going into teaching, but I also wanted to pursue other opportunities after high school. I was very fortunate enough to play junior hockey in some amazing towns across BC and Vancouver Island, which consisted of Kamloops, Salmon Arm, Revelstoke, Osoyoos, Chase, Vancouver, and Campbell River, where I finished my Junior. Being Métis, I have also had the opportunity to represent Kamloops and BC in many national and regional Indigenous Tournaments. Throughout my years of hockey, I have been extremely fortunate to have some amazing coaches and teammates who helped show me the importance of teamwork, communication, resilience, adaptability, and leadership that directly correlate to things that I hold key to implementing in my classroom.
In February of 2020, the emergence of COVID had shut down my last year of Junior hockey. I decided I didn’t want to continue with hockey and thought it was time to enroll at Thompson Rivers University to pursue an education at home. Still, I didn’t have a good idea of what I wanted to pursue, so I began my journey by taking general arts courses. I began my schooling in 2021, but being out of high school for four years, I was nervous about going back, so I only started a few courses to regain my confidence in my abilities. Over those years, I took a variety of courses, including Psychology, History, Sociology, English, Physical Education, Business, Sciences, and Social Work. During this time, I was a volunteer coach for several minor and junior hockey teams. I began to discover a passion for working with and coaching kids and adults, so after I reached 60 credits at TRU, I decided to apply to the Social Work Program because I was interested in helping and teaching people. After a few months in the program, I decided that Social Work was not the profession I wanted to pursue, but my passion for coaching and teaching remained. I went back to work for a while, contemplating what I wanted to do, and one day, my mom suggested I come volunteer at the school where she taught to see what I thought. In November of 2024, I spent a couple of weeks observing and helping in a variety of classrooms around the school. I instantly fell in love with the profession. The school had some amazing staff, and I was lucky enough to teach, read, and support students at every grade level. I knew this was for me. Later that year, I officially applied to the program in 2025 and was thrilled to be accepted to the TRU Bachelor of Education Program the following semester; the rest is history.
My favourite pastime is playing and coaching sports, especially hockey. Sports have been a prominent part of my upbringing, so getting the chance to help teach and support kids within a learning environment is something I really enjoy. I also enjoy hiking, fishing, movies, golfing, skiing, and anything that really involves hands-on activities. Spending time with my friends, family, and pets has always been something I enjoy, and incorporating that sense of self-worth and family into my classroom is a huge part of my philosophy. I’ve learned through the years that learning is a journey and involves all areas of life, and I hope that as I become an educator, I can support colleagues and students not only in the classroom but also in all aspects of life.