Blog

A Change in Executive Director

July 23, 2019

In May 2019, Ms. Kiran Dhingra, Executive Director of SWOVA, who had been on parental leave for the previous seven months, decided not to return to her work with SWOVA, and she has resigned her position.

The members of the Board are very appreciative of Kiran’s hard work over the past three years and wish her and her family the very best. Kiran’s leadership through a time of transition has left the agency able to look toward its future. Thank you to Kiran for her commitment to and caring of this organization.
 
The Board is pleased to announce that Janine Fernandes-Hayden, Acting E.D., has agreed to accept the position of Executive Director of SWOVA. We, the Board, believe the agency is very fortunate to have someone of Janine’s ability and vision ready and willing to lead SWOVA into the future. Please join us in welcoming Janine Fernandes-Hayden as our new Executive Director.
Max Akerman Reflects on Diverse Salt Spring Family History

Max Akerman Reflects on Diverse Salt Spring Family History

This is the last interview in the Connecting the Dots series to celebrate World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development. In the weeks that bookend this important day, The Circle Education talks with young people to celebrate different backgrounds....

You Are Worthy, You Are Valuable, You Are Seen… Pass it On

You Are Worthy, You Are Valuable, You Are Seen… Pass it On

We don’t always know what impact our programs have on people’s lives until later, sometimes much later. We found out on a spring evening in a beautiful barn at Stone Bridge Farm where thirty former participants joined a reunion of our Pass it On Girls program. Kate...

From Beijing to Salt Spring Island; Rachel’s Culture Shock

From Beijing to Salt Spring Island; Rachel’s Culture Shock

Rachel Xie had just turned fourteen when she moved from Beijing, a city with more than 21 million people, to Salt Spring Island. All by herself. After four years at GISS as an international student, she reflects on the cultural differences she has experienced while...

Canada and Mexico Both Feel Like Home for Sanchez-Wickland Sisters

Canada and Mexico Both Feel Like Home for Sanchez-Wickland Sisters

Zoe and Sashi Sanchez-Wickland were born in Canada, have a Mexican father and a Canadian mother, and live on Salt Spring Island. Every year, the two sisters go to Puerto Escondido, the place where their dad grew up, to live there for a few months and connect with...

Cultural Curiosity and Compassion

Cultural Curiosity and Compassion

Today is World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development; a day to celebrate different backgrounds. In the weeks that bookend this important day, The Circle Education is connecting the dots between similarities that blend us together in a shared humanity...

Welch Siblings See Multicultural Background as a Bonus

Welch Siblings See Multicultural Background as a Bonus

Keshua, Levi and Zyah Welch have a Grenadian dad and a Canadian mom with Dutch roots. They had a Canadian upbringing on Salt Spring Island, with the Grenadian humour of their dad and a touch of Dutch from their great-grandparents. Last year they had the chance to get...

Name(Required)
Email(Required)
Please let us know what's on your mind. Have a question for us? Ask away.
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.