I miss my mom. Like many families in Ontario with loved ones in long-term care homes, we’ve been unable to visit her for many weeks. As if that weren’t challenging enough, her telephone stopped working and it will require a visit from a repair person. (That’s not happening.) A cell phone isn’t a viable option […]

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference. The Serenity Prayer. I’ve been leaning on it a lot these days as I try my best to support our community in the here and now while preparing for the […]

My daughter, having spread her wings and moved out on her own, is back home again, electing to self-isolate with more space, a fully stocked fridge, and the benefit of our school’s beautiful and open campus. (I guess living in a castle beats the 8-by-10-foot bedroom in her Toronto apartment.) My husband and I are […]

As news of COVID-19 began to unfold earlier this month, I thought to myself, “Well, this is a first.” Nowhere in any Head of School handbook that I’ve read was there a chapter entitled “Managing A Global Pandemic.”  So I’m sure you’ll understand when I say that I’m writing this chapter as I go. Last […]

“When your headlights aren’t on, the best rear-view mirror available isn’t likely to improve your driving.” I love this quote by Martha Rogers, Professor of Business at Duke University. To me, it speaks to the challenge of shaping education in the 21st century. It was a quote I thought a lot about when we were […]

This month at the Castle we’re celebrating 25 years of black history in Canada. Actually, we’re celebrating more than 150 years of black history but it was 25 years ago when Jean Augustine, or to be precise The Honourable Jean Augustine Queen’s Privy Council, Companion of the Order of Canada, introduced a motion in Parliament […]

“This is the time for facts, not fear. This is the time for science, not rumours. This is the time for solidarity, not stigma.” These words from Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization are helpful at a time when global concern over the coronavirus is mounting. The Public Health Agency of Canada […]

Is it quintessentially Canadian to curl up on the sofa with a blanket, a cup of tea, a stack of newspapers, books and an iPad when winter winds begin to howl and snow begins to fall? Canadian or not, it’s how I spent much of my Saturday. And as there was no point in shovelling […]

It was a miracle that saved two teenage girls from the trap of human trafficking, and I do literally mean a miracle. American Airlines ticketing agent Denice Miracle called in backup when two girls presented themselves at the Sacramento International Airport ticket counter with no proper luggage, no parents to see them off and no […]

Dr. Leanne Foster’s Address at this year’s Holiday Dinners: At this time of year, social media ramps up stories of holiday cheer and kindness. I admit to being a bit of a softie when it comes to those “tug at the heartstrings” commercials and videos of cute puppies climbing clumsily out of a box wrapped […]