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30 Years in the Making: How a 17-year-old started Pass it On

September 2, 2025

As The Circle Education approaches its 30th anniversary in August 2026, we’re taking this year to reflect, honour, and celebrate the people and moments that brought us here. Over the next ten months, join us on a journey into our 30th year. Each story we share is a point on our circle that has shaped who we are becoming. We start with Natalya Alonso who started Pass it On as a student in high school.

Natalya Alonso was just seventeen when she created a mentorship program in high school to support middle school students. It was the start of our Pass it On program that is going into its 16th year in September. 

Natalya conceived the idea of a mentorship program during her Grade 11 year. “It could be the end of Grade 10 as well”, she recalls, trying to remember the details as best as she can. “I have a younger brother who was in middle school at that time, and one of his friends attempted suicide. That was so shocking to me, and it got me thinking that kids in middle school could use some extra guidance and support.” 

For Natalya, middle school wasn’t a great experience. “Nothing absolutely terrible happened to me, but it was not a time in my life that I was thriving, and most of my friends felt the same. You are transitioning from being a child to a young adult and have to figure out who you are. There is so much going on in that stage of life, on top of the evergreen issues that teenagers often face, like bullying or harassment.”

People you can trust

She started thinking of ways to make middle school a little bit easier, and envisioned a mentorship program, where middle schoolers are paired with a high school student, as a helpful additional source of guidance and support. “It's so much better when you have someone looking out for you that you can trust and help get you through that time.” 

Natalya took her idea to the high school principal, who connected her with the middle school counsellor, and from there, the ball started rolling. She reached out to friends to recruit mentors, put up flyers, made announcements at school, and launched the first year with seven mentors paired with seven middle school buddies.

“It was pretty unstructured that first year, to be honest”, she looks back. “I think we just connected the mentors with the mentees, and we gave them a lot of freedom in terms of what they wanted to pursue in their relationship. We had a couple of meet-ups with the entire group, but we mostly let the mentors facilitate the relationship with their little buddy.” 

Natalya took her buddy out regularly for ice cream, or a walk around the park. “We would just hang out and chat about everyday life. I let her guide the conversation. I was the person she could discuss things with, if she wanted to. It was hard to see the impact at the time, but I think it was a good experience for both of us and we stayed in touch for quite some time after I graduated and left for university.” 

Summer student

After two years, The Circle Education (then known as SWOVA) took over the program. “I remember that I worked as a summer student for SWOVA, helping map out what the program could look like before I left.” After that summer, Natalya, who now lives in Vancouver, wasn’t involved with the program anymore. “It wasn’t hard for me to leave the program behind at that point. I felt it was in good hands, and I was ready for my new life and had a million things going on. I have to say that I didn't have lofty ambitions for the program when I left, but I was happy to hear that Pass it On is now well-established, with a program for boys as well, and that it is expanding to Victoria in the fall.”   

Natalya thinks that Pass it On is as relevant now – if not more so- when she started the program in 2007. “A lot of the problems middle school and high school kids have to deal with now are still the same, but there are also new challenges. When I was in high school, most kids didn’t have a mobile phone, and TikTok and Snapchat didn’t exist yet. Social media brings on a whole set of different challenges for young people. The internet seems to be posing more risks than ever, with predatory online communities targeting young people. Everything is much more polarized as well, so yes, these kinds of programs are still needed.”   

Help from friends

Natalya graduated in 2008 and left Salt Spring Island to attend business school at Queens University in Kingston, Ontario. After finishing her PhD at the University of British Columbia, she started working as a professor at the SFU Beedie School of Business, where her research is aimed at solving problems on the work floor, related to diversity, equity, and inclusion. 

Looking back at her time as a high school student and setting up a program to help younger kids to navigate school life, she is most proud of “the willingness of both the mentors and the mentees to come together and do this.” She adds, “It was really neat to see participants putting themselves out there in a vulnerable way. That is what stayed with me the most. This program is not there just because of me, other students thought the same way and wanted to support the initiative. Maybe it’s because Salt Spring is such a small island that we care about each other.”

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New to Salt Spring, Devon is excited to engage with the local community. As a certified teacher and registered counsellor, she works with students both on Salt Spring and across BC, offering social and emotional instruction, support, and skill development. Her extensive experience in both educational and recreational settings has given her a strong appreciation for the critical role that meaningful connection with others plays in the development of children and youth. A strong advocate for social-emotional learning, Devon views it as the foundation for all other areas of growth and is particularly inspired by the programs offered by The Circle Education.

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Christina Adair is a dedicated professional serving as a District Child and Youth Worker for SD64. With an extensive background spanning over 15 years, Christina has acquired substantial experience working with children and youth in diverse capacities. Her unwavering commitment lies in fostering youth leadership and advocating for their rights. Christina has demonstrated her dedication through 13 years of volunteering with Scouts Canada, where she successfully led youth groups and facilitated adult meetings. Christina takes immense pride in her role as a caregiver and mentor to countless young individuals, with her two grown children serving as a testament to her nurturing capabilities.

Dan has been working in the credit union system for over 22 years, the last 8 with Island Savings, a division of First West Credit Union.  His latest role is as a Branch Manager for the Salt Spring branch.

He has a long-time passion for giving back to his community, particularly where children are concerned.  He has been a scout leader for the last 19 years and has taken part in 2 Pacific Jamborees.  Once as a participant and the latest one as the treasurer.

He also volunteered for 12 years with the PACE program in Victoria.  PACE is a musical theater program through the school system for children ages 5 – 17 that puts on two shows every year.

While new to Salt Spring, having moved here in the spring of 2021, he is excited to get involved with the community and proud to be involved with The Circle Education.

Lisa grew up in Cochrane, Alberta, and has recently come to live on Salt Spring Island, after having lived abroad for 25 years.  She studied fine arts at the Wackers Academie in Amsterdam, had a son in Denmark and a daughter in the UK. She served as Chair of the PTA of Holy Trinity Primary School in Wimbledon for 5 years, which was a registered charity entity separate from the school. She learned about the Pass it On Boys program when her son showed an interest in joining it. Being new to the community she asked fellow parents about the program to find out how it was viewed. After hearing only good things about it, she registered her son and the next logical step was of course to join the board, as she always strives to be an active member of the community by providing support based on her broad life experience.

Lyyli Kennedy was a Pass it On mentor at Gulf Islands Secondary School and has been drawn to the idea of working with The Circle Education for a long time. She had been waiting for a facilitator role that aligned with her schedule as head baker at Francis Bread, and this role with the Pass it On Program is the perfect match. With her background leading diverse kitchen teams and working as a classroom education assistant, Lyyli (pronounced Loo-Lee) is committed to fostering respectful relationships and inclusive spaces.

Patrick Howlett moved from Australia to Canada in 2019. Nine years earlier, he switched careers from communications to outdoor education. He worked with young people at The Great Aussie Bush Camp and Camp Tanuga in Michigan, USA, and helped students run their Senior Leadership Challenge at Camp Summit in Squamish. His work with youth taught him the value of patience, the ability to see the best in people, the importance of clear communication and empathy.

Marcia is our Communications and Event Coordinator since July 2021. She moved with her husband and two daughters – who are both attending high school in SD64 now – from the Netherlands to Salt Spring Island in 2012

As a swim team coach for the Salt Spring Stingrays, Marcia knows and understands youth realities of living on a small island.

Marcia has 25+ years of experience in writing and communication for Dutch and Canadian media outlets – most recently the Driftwood – and non-for-profits.

Kate 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 various age groups.

Students consistently praise Kate for her compassion, attentiveness, and ability to create a warm, welcoming atmosphere.

Nick MacKinnon has a background in cancer research and biomedical engineering and in working with medical device startup companies as a founder and director. As a former educator, Nick has a strong commitment to STEM advocacy. He has served as a director and advisor on multiple boards and advisory committees, including the biomedical engineering programs at BCIT and UBC and professional associations in both BC and internationally. Nick has also been involved with non-profit cooperatives in British Columbia, particularly in the housing and car-sharing sectors. Notably, as a director, he helped lead the development and construction of the 54-unit Arbutus Housing Co-op in Vancouver. Now retired, Nick continues his longstanding dedication to education and social justice. As a director with The Circle Education, his interest is in governance, financial management, and fundraising.

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Janine started her career with the Ministry of Education in Victoria, B.C. in 2000 as an education officer in the area of accountability and system performance. Since moving to SSI, Janine has taught as a teacher-on-call with School District #64, delivered parent support sessions as a trained Virtues Project Facilitator and worked for Volunteer and Community Resources Society (VCR) in support of the island’s not-for-profit sector.

Janine is a dedicated member of the Salt Spring Island community. She sat on the Board of The Lady Minto Hospital Foundation for six years, served as chair of the SSI Foundation Grants Advisory Committee for six years, coordinated the local Terry Fox Run for eight years, served as a board member and then president of the Salt Spring Island Aquatic Society for a total of eight years, and in 2018, she founded the local chapter of 100 Women Who Care.