It’s hard not to feel cynical these days. Every time we turn on the evening news or browse social media, it seems as if yet another accusation of sexual harassment is being revealed. The sheer number and frequency of the accusations and the diversity of the aggressors, from producers to actors to comedians to politicians […]

“Dear Dr. Foster,” the email began. “These past few weeks, the grade six class has been learning about what it means to be a Canadian in Social Studies.  As a part of this unit we visited the Ajax Welcome Centre to further our knowledge about immigration.” Understanding.  Like all good schools, we believe in taking […]

Albert Edward Foster, or Bert as he was known, was my grandfather.  He was born in England, immigrated to America, married, and had a family in Cleveland, Ohio.  In 1940, telling Evelyn, his wife (and my grandmother) that he was going north on a fishing trip, he drove to Toronto and enlisted in the Canadian […]

In 2010, Olivia, my then 15-year-old daughter was interviewed for an article in Maclean’s magazine that examined how a post-feminist generation of adolescent girls understood the meaning and value of feminism.  Like many other girls at that age, Olivia saw feminists as irrelevant to her life’s circumstances – a dying breed no longer required in […]

Dr. Foster’s Chapel address, November 6, 2017 What does it mean to belong? How does it feel to know that you’re a part of something bigger than yourself? Why does it matter that young girls and young women came before you in these halls of the Castle? Belonging is one of our most fundamental needs […]

“Have you ever had a spiritual moment?” That was the simple question posed by Dr. Lisa Miller in a session with our Grade 5 and 6 girls.  Dr. Miller is a Professor of Psychology and Education at Columbia University where she researches the relationship between children’s spirituality and mental health.  She visited Trafalgar Castle last […]

“Twinkle, twinkle little star.  How I wonder what you are.”  Those words, so familiar to my ears, bring to mind the wonderment of childhood, the magical time when the early question of “What is that?” slowly matures into the universal question, “Who am I?”  This exploration of one’s self and one’s connection to the world […]

“What gets counted gets done.” That’s the thinking behind this year’s theme for International Day of the Girl Child, recognized on October 11th. The push to increase investment in “collecting and analyzing girl-focused, girl-relevant and sex-disaggregated data” is seen as essential if the barriers girls face in realizing their potential are to be identified and […]

One day, a girl ran up to three friends and said, “You’ll never guess what I heard about Jane?” One of the friends held up her hand and said: “Wait.  Before you say another word, tell me, is it true?” “Well, I don’t know for certain,” the first girl said. “Is it a kind thing […]

Invictus. Latin for “unconquered.” Its meaning was on full display this weekend in Toronto as the 2017 Invictus were opened by His Royal Highness Prince Henry of Wales. Amidst the splendor of the ceremony came a procession of heroes –men and women from countries around the world, each having made great sacrifice in the service […]