This is a personal story. One which I thought I might never get to write. It's about being inspired to do great work for others and also wanting those close to you to benefit from that great work. Three years ago I started working with Natural Pod, which based on Vancouver Island just a ferry ride away from Salt Spring. Our CEO of Play, Bridgitte Alomes and I met at the annual Social Venture Institute (SVI), of which we're both proud alumni. This 'chance' meeting forged a tremendous working collaboration and great friendship. As the Director of Marketing and partner in the company, together with the Natural Pod team, we've transformed the business over the last few years from a consumer focused natural toy company to an educator focused, sustainably made, better learning environment business, and we've proudly helped put 25,000+ kids in play at over 700+ early learning centres, preschools, kindergartens and daycares. And while I'm incredibly proud of that accomplishment, som…

Take a look around you. Ten thousand Salt Springers going about their business with varying degrees of success, mostly fit, mostly healthy, mainly happy. And why not? Salt Springers live longer. Between 2009 and 2013 the average life expectancy of a Gulf island woman was 85.44 years compared to 83.87 for the poor souls on Vancouver Island. (We also have the peculiar distinction of having the highest percentage of births to older mothers in the province, elderly gravida as the statisticians so charmingly put it. Elderly in this case is a lithesome 35!) We have schools, a library, an arts centre, clubs, pubs and churches. We have sports teams and rescue teams, painters, potters and photographers, children who dance and sing, men who work lathes and women who weave. And vice versa. So Salt Spring is a community—and a pretty successful community for the most part. Yet we know that it’s not perfect. Poverty, mental health issues and the lack of affordable housing are formid…

Governor General Announces 100 New Appointments to the Order of Canada - His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, announced today 100 new appointments to the Order of Canada. The new appointees include 2 Companions (C.C.), 11 Officers (O.C.) and 87 Members (C.M.). These appointments were made on the recommendation of the Advisory Council for the Order of Canada, including our very own Salt Spring Island resident Bill Henderson. The Order of Canada, one of our country’s highest civilian honours, was established in 1967, during Canada’s centennial year, to recognize outstanding achievement, dedication to the community and service to the nation. Over the last 45 years, more than 6 000 people from all sectors of society have been invested into the Order. Congratulations Bill!

We are pleased to recognize the ongoing hard work and dedication of our students from first semester through our Honour Roll and Principals List. Congratulations to all! Principal’s List Criteria 90% average of marks in all courses taken in a full course load (8 courses). Term marks are used to calculate Principal’s List. Achievement in all courses must be 60% or higher (no incompletes). Work habits must be S ,G or E. Honour Roll Criteria 80% average of marks in all courses taken in a full course load (8 courses). Term marks are used to calculate Honour Roll. Achievement in all courses must be 60% or higher (no incompletes). Work habits must be S, G or E.