Due to overwhelming donations from our community, we were not able to showcase all the purses in the online auction, so we have decided to have a Grab Bag Day at our office.

Did you miss the silent auction, or couldn’t find a bag you liked? This is your chance!

Come in and browse our purses that can be yours by donation! Cash only!

What: Grab Bag Day

When: Tuesday, April 28^th, 9 am – 5 pm.

Where: 125B #100 Rainbow Road, Salt Spring Island

The Purses with Purpose auction was sponsored by:  Bohemia Consignment, Rhubarb Designs, POD Contemporary, Mouat’s Clothing, Twang and Pearl, Fjällräven Victoria, Osisi Boutique and Country Grocer

Photo: Our Pass it On facilitators Lyyli and Patrick with the famous watering can bag and an evening clutch.

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The auction features a broad collection of designer bags, around-town bags, backpacks, evening purses and clutches. Save the date, check in on April 16 th, bid on fabulous items, and support a non-profit that does important work for young people in our community.

The Circle Education delivers innovative, evidence-based social-emotional programs for children and youth on Salt Spring Island as well as the Outer Islands. All the proceeds will support the organization’s in-school programming.

Why a Purse Auction?  The purses in our auction symbolize the practical toolkits that our programs help participants build - stocked with essentials for healthy relationships with self and others.

You can find our auction page here:

www.can.givergy.com/thecircleeducation2026

Thanks to our sponsors: Bohemia Consignment, Rhubarb Designs, POD Contemporary, Mouat’s Clothing, Twang and Pearl, Fjällräven Victoria, Osisi Boutique and Country Grocer

Photo: Band, Music and PE Teacher Brandon Bronson with a selection of the purse auction bags.

The post Purses with Purpose auction: April 16 – 19, 2026 appeared first on The Circle Education.

Do you have a high-quality, new or lightly used purse that you once loved but are no longer using? Or did you get one as a present, but it is not quite your style? Consider donating them to our Purse Auction. All proceeds will go to The Circle Education’s In-School Programs.

The Circle Education has been providing social-emotional programming in our school district for almost thirty years. Our curriculum equips children and youth with tools to communicate respectfully, be empathetic, and build healthy relationships; all the way from elementary school through high school.  

The purses in our auction symbolize the practical toolkits that our programs help participants build - stocked with essentials for healthy relationships with self and others - for when they head out into the world to study, travel, or work.

Do you have a purse that you are willing to donate? Purses can be dropped off at our office (100 – 125B Rainbow Road) on Tuesday and Thursday morning between 9 am and 1 pm. Or email us at info@thecircleeducation.org to set up other arrangements    

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Communities across Canada gather every December 6^th to honour the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women. On this day, we remember the 14 women murdered at Montréal’s École Polytechnique in 1989, and all the other women, girls and gender-diverse people whose lives have been taken by gender-based violence.

Gender-Based Violence Remains a National Emergency

Every 48 hours in Canada, a woman or girl is killed in an act of gender-based violence. In 2024, 240 women and girls were murdered, a 54% increase over pre-COVID levels. 93% of these homicides were committed by a male intimate partner or family member of the victim. 46% of victims were killed in rural or small-town communities - places much like the Southern Gulf Islands.

Support and prevention

In 2024-25, IWAV provided safety, housing, and support to hundreds of people across our region. The transition house, providing safe emergency housing for up to 30 days for women and children of all genders, supported over 50 women and children, and the organization answered 457 crisis calls.

The Circle Education delivers in- and after-school social-emotional learning programs to over 655 students in the school district. The programs focus on prevention by teaching youth to regulate emotions, communicate respectfully, and build healthy relationships. 

Join the December 6 Memorial (4.30 pm in Centennial Park) to remember, to grieve, and to stand with survivors. Please bring a candle. All are welcome.

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Eric Ellis joined our board six years ago after he retired from his job as a child psychologist in Manitoba and the Northwest Territories. Eric had just been on our board for a year when he was asked to step up as a board chair.

“It is unusual for someone to do that after just one year, but it speaks to the person Eric is that he rose to the occasion,” says executive director Janine Fernandes-Hayden. “Eric is a extremely loyal and conscientious leader. I’ve deeply appreciated his unwavering support - thorough, diligent, encouraging, and always there to back me up. We are very grateful to have had him as our chair for this long”.

Looking back on his career, Eric wished that there had been an organization like The Circle Education, he wrote in our Annual Report in 2024. As a former child psychologist in Manitoba and the Northwest Territories, he worked directly with children who had been neglected or physically and sexually abused.  Additionally, he served as an expert witness for lawyers and child protection services, advocating for over 200 children and youth, participating in cases some reaching the Supreme Court.  

“The hardest part of my job was not being able to reach all the kids who needed help. While I conducted one-on-one sessions with kids, their parents, foster families and group home staff, I couldn’t change the environment these kids were in. Sometimes I advised a teacher when a child had problems in school, but that was just one kid, in one class, in one school.”

That’s how he became attracted to the work The Circle Education does. “Our programs teach kids essential skills that would have benefited my young clients or helped prevent their situations from worsening. Our facilitators create a safe environment where kids learn how to regulate emotions, set boundaries, advocate for themselves, recognize bad situations and reach out for help. Basically, skills that help to deal with life.”

“The best thing about The Circle Education programs is that they happen in the schools, where kids spend their formative years and a third of their time until they graduate,” he continued.  “While I saw one kid at a time, doing the best I could, the Circle Education programs reach kids in multiple school classes year after year. That creates immense potential for impact.”

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• For new students: It’s a great way to meet friends, build important life skills, and make a smooth transition into high school.
• For returning students: It’s an opportunity to grow leadership and mentorship skills, strengthen connections, and keep building positive experiences through high school.

Facilitated by The Circle Education, Pass it On uses cross-peer mentorship, group activities, and connection to help teens thrive in a supportive, brave space.

Pass it On starts in October. Meet us Tuesdays after school at GISS from 4:10 to 6:30. Snacks included!

Try it out. Bring a friend. Pass it on.

Email us to sign up (or for more information): info@thecircleeducation.org

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This workshop will equip you with practical strategies to:

Facilitate meaningful circles that encourage open dialogue and mutual understanding.

Use games and activities that build trust, engagement, and a sense of belonging.

Whether you work with youth in schools, community organizations, or other settings, this session offers fresh insights into creating spaces where every young person feels valued and heard.

About Your Trainer:

Kate Nash has been working with The Circle since 2010, serving as a facilitator and contributor to program development. Her extensive experience in developing and implementing curricula has supported the organization's ability to address youth needs effectively. Kate's unique approach combines her background in theatre, play building, and improv with a deep understanding of youth development. This blend of skills allows her to create engaging, interactive experiences that resonate with young people across different age groups and contexts. Participants consistently praise Kate for her compassion, attentiveness, and ability to create warm, welcoming spaces that empower youth to share their voices authentically.

When:

Monday, September 8th (6 - 9 pm)

Wednesday, September 10th (6 - 9 pm)

Monday, September 15th (6 - 9 pm)

Wednesday, September 17th (6 - 9 pm)

Where: The Circle Education, 100-125b Rainbow Road

Costs:  $225

You can sign up here

More information: info@thecircleeducation.org

The Circle Education is a non-profit organization on Salt Spring Island, offering in-school and after-school programs on Salt Spring Island and Victoria.

The post Deeper Connections with Youth:  Empowering Adult Facilitators appeared first on The Circle Education.

The Pass it On Boys program is designed specifically for boys – including cisgender boys and trans males – who are exploring what it means to be male in today’s world. The program supports participants in navigating the challenges and expectations of being seen as a male, and in developing a healthy, positive sense of masculine identity.

Facilitators of this program help create a safe, supportive and welcoming space for learning and personal growth, and will be guiding engaging activities and conversations that encourage boys to think about who they are and how they fit into our communities.

The Circle Salt Spring Education Society is a not-for-profit promoting healthy, violence-free communities. We offer evidence-based social-emotional programs for youth and train teachers that foster positive mental health and respectful relationships. Our goal is to empower young people with life skills and environments where they can grow, build connections, and contribute to their communities.

Compensation:  $27/hour (6 hrs a week)

Deadline:  July 25^th, 2025

Are you ready to make a positive difference in the lives of children and youth in your community? To apply, please submit your resume along with a brief Expression of Interest (1-2 pages) that explains your relevant experience, your motivation for applying, and how you see yourself contributing to our youth programs.

Please send your applications to: Executive Director, Janine Fernandes-Hayden at executivedirector@thecircleeducation.org

You can find the full job description here

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