When Cathy Beglau first arrived at St. Michaels University School nearly 26 years ago, it wasn’t with a long-term plan in mind. Fresh out of the Horticulture Program at Camosun College, she had been working at Thrifty Foods, first in the deli, then in the floral department, when she realized something important.
“I wanted to work outside,” she said.
That realization set her on a path that has since shaped the landscapes of both SMUS campuses.
Through a family connection, Cathy learned the School was looking for a part-time gardener. At the time, much of the campus was in transition, with construction projects underway and spaces evolving. Like most on the grounds team then, she started on weekends, collecting recycling from classrooms and hauling bins down staircases, one by one.
“It was just part of the job,” she recalled.
From those early days of two weekend shifts and three weekdays as a gardener, Cathy steadily grew into her role. By 2003, she had moved into a full-time position, and over the years, she has taken on increasing responsibility. Today, in her ninth year as Grounds Supervisor, she oversees the care and planning of the School’s grounds across the Junior and Senior campuses, as well as the site on Derby Road.
Her work touches nearly every corner of campus.
The Work Behind the Landscape
From field preparation and line marking to garden design, irrigation systems and construction coordination, Cathy and her team manage a complex and ever-changing landscape. Beyond the main campuses, the team also supports the bus yard and oversees the maintenance of the grounds of 14 School-owned houses.
Despite the scale of the work, it’s often the quieter transformations that stand out most.
Over the years, Cathy has helped create and reshape many of the gardens across SMUS, often reimagining spaces that weren’t functioning as intended. Areas once dominated by soggy grass have been redesigned with plants better suited to the conditions. Mature plants are carefully relocated and reused elsewhere on campus, ensuring both sustainability and continuity in the landscape.
“It’s about finding what works in each space,” she said. “I have a lot of dreams of doing even more on the campuses.”
Recent projects reflect both that practical mindset and a growing vision for the future. From drainage and irrigation upgrades on playing fields to the development of a rain garden and the Japanese garden near University Counselling, the work blends functionality with beauty.
One area of particular excitement is the integration of Indigenous plants across campus. Working alongside Elders, Cathy and the team are beginning to reimagine certain spaces with a focus on ecological stewardship and education.
“We have some really good plans for that,” she said. “At SMUS, we have an incredible variety of plants and green space. It’s more than people might expect from a school.”
Cathy sees opportunity in the School’s natural features, from the Garry oak ecosystem at the front of campus to underutilized areas that could become outdoor learning spaces.
That mindset of always looking for the next improvement is something Cathy considers both a strength and a defining trait of her profession.
“There’s always something more we could do,” she said with a smile. “Gardeners are never really happy because you can always change something or move something. Often you finish and wish you could move it a few feet over.”
Grounded in Community
It’s a perspective rooted in both care and attention to detail, qualities that have been essential throughout her career. As Grounds Supervisor, Cathy is responsible for balancing long-term planning with the daily needs of a busy school environment, prioritizing projects, responding to weather events and ensuring that students, staff and visitors can move safely through campus.
In the winter, that can mean early mornings clearing snow so buses can run and emergency vehicles can access the grounds. At other times, it’s about preparing fields for play or maintaining the many natural spaces that define SMUS.
“I hope people realize we do our due diligence,” she said. “We take everything we are doing very seriously, and ‘for the good of our students’ is really our everything. We are here for them.”
That connection to students is one of the aspects of the job Cathy values most.
“The energy they bring, I do love it when they come back in September,” she said. “They’re really sweet. They will come and compliment something or ask what a plant is. There is genuine curiosity.”
It’s a full-circle moment for someone whose connection to the natural world began early. Cathy grew up spending significant time on Pender Island, where her family has owned property since the late 1930s. Summers and weekends were spent surrounded by grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins, often with as many as 17 family members gathered into a small two-bedroom house.
“My time as a child up there definitely shaped my love of nature and animals,” she said.
Exploring forests, beaches and the island’s natural spaces helped spark a curiosity that would eventually become a career.
That curiosity has only deepened over time. Cathy continues to attend conferences and industry events each year, keeping pace with advancements in horticulture, from evolving equipment and robotics to new approaches in fertilizers, irrigation and turf management.
Colleagues speak to both her work ethic and the care she brings to the role.
“Cathy is the engine behind so much of what happens here,” said Colin Craveiro. “She’s always thinking ahead, planning and pushing things forward. The care and effort she puts into this place, day in and day out, is something I’ve always had a lot of respect for.”
Her work is also shaped by the team around her. Cathy is quick to acknowledge colleagues Colin Craveiro, Morgan Besant and Mike Finnemore for their dedication and willingness to go the extra mile, noting the shared sense of pride in caring for the School’s spaces.
“Everyone really loves this place and the community around it,” she said.
After more than two decades, Cathy has seen the campus change in significant ways, through construction, growth and even shifts in the natural environment.
“I always said I would leave if I was bored,” she said. “But I can’t say that I’m bored yet.”
With new projects, evolving landscapes and a vision still taking shape, it’s clear there is more to come.
Cathy Beglau was recognized for her 25 years of service and contributions to the school on April 30, 2026 at the annual Staff and Faculty Appreciation dinner hosted by the SMUS Board of Governors. Alongside Cathy, the school highlighted the 25-year mark for Becky Anderson, Director of the Junior School, Eliot Anderson, Deputy Head and Director of the Senior School, and Jolanta Robertson, Junior and Middle School Library Technician.
