Saroya Strong: Inspiring women to overcome struggles
It was not an easy road to success for hockey player Saroya Tinker. On April 28, Tinker joined Upper School students and staff to share her experience and the hurdles she has overcome, leading her to where she is now. Growing up in Oshawa, Tinker began her athletic journey with gymnastics and dance but eventually […]
Are We There Yet?
It’s been a couple of decades since my own graduate work in sociology and education had me analyzing the world around us. This past weekend’s events almost caused me to pull out the old textbooks to read up on social change theory. I didn’t (to the great relief of my family) so let’s just agree […]
Phil Stamper: Fixing the world one novel at a time
“Headphones on, I fix myself, so I can go back to fixing the world.” A sentiment echoed by the best-selling author Phil Stamper. Mainstream literature is catered mainly for cis-gendered and straight audiences, but Stamper is “fixing the world” of publication. He is accomplishing this by creating inclusive Young Adult novels, bridging the gap of […]
It’s Complicated
It’s complicated. That’s what the Toronto District School Board failed to appreciate when it made a pro forma decision to remove two books from a TDSB supported book club for girls, thereby setting off a spectacular social media firestorm of debate. I find it ironic that a public board that talks a good equity game […]
A Place for Joy
Last week, I listened to Parts 1 and 2 of the four-part podcast Test Kitchen. Hosted by Sruthi Pinnamaneni and produced by Gimlet Media, the series investigates accusations of a toxic and racist workplace culture at Bon Appetit magazine. Before Part 3 could be produced, it was announced that Sruthi Pinnamaneni and fellow Host PJ […]
The Shine Collective Logo Design Challenge
Over the past several months visual arts teacher Ms. Welbourn has worked hard on a partnership with The Shine Collective. The Shine Collective is a non-profit that’s mission is to “[revolutionize] the workforce by giving talented high school graduates the chance to shine in professional roles at partner companies who advocate for equity, diversity, and […]
The Things That Unite Us
Over the Thanksgiving weekend we welcomed a new generation into our family as my nephew and his wife gave birth to a beautiful little girl – Evelyn Weerin Foster-Duffy. It was a time of celebration, so we cancelled the planned turkey dinner in Whitby and congregated at the hospital instead. We brought food for the […]
A Season for All
We celebrated a wonderful event in my family recently. It was the wedding of my nephew, Aidan and his now bride, Paan-Mei, or Penny, as she is known. Penny is originally from Thailand and met Aidan when they were both studying in Toronto. He proposed to her this fall while on a trip to visit […]