Parent Podcast

Listen to The Parent Project Podcast Series

In the Spring of 2022, The Circle Education invited an assortment of parents and grandparents to come together to share their unique experiences of parenthood. Every week, we delved into themes to explore how we each have navigated the challenges and successes that arise on this journey. At The Circle Education, we believe that by sitting together and listening to one another, we are supporting growth and a deeper connection to ourselves in our homes and within our communities.

Episode 1: Building Relationships with our Children

What does it look and feel like to be truly connected with our children? We dive into our personal successes and challenges building connection within our families. Listen to learn more about the tools we can use to foster deeper relationships.

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Meet the Parents

Episode 2: Creating Agreements for Healthy Relationships

How can we use agreements as a tool to navigate the needs and desires of everyone in the family? We discuss the agreements we build to foster responsibility and care amongst all members and share the tools we use to develop them.  Listen to learn how agreements differ from rules and how you can create them within your family.

Episode 4:  Strengthening the Empathy Muscle

How do you role model empathy with your kids? We dive into our personal experiences of practicing and fostering empathy in our families. Listen to hear how you can help your children build their empathy muscle.

Episode 6: Communication to Connect

What does positive communication look like in your home? We share our communication challenges and successes with our kids, what it looks like when it works, and when it doesn’t. Listen to gain insights into how to overcome communication barriers to improve relationships within your family.

Episode 8: Consent within the Family

How do we, as parents, navigate consent within our families? We speak of the fine line between holding up boundaries, expectations and responsibilities within the family, while offering our kids the opportunities to practice consent. Listen to gain insight into ways that you can bring the language of consent into your family life.

Episode 3:  Cultivating Respect within the Family

How can we learn to respect each other within family?  We dive into our personal successes and challenges with creating respectful home environments.  Learn tools to build your home as the ideal place for your children to learn respect for all people.

Episode 5:  Mindful Families

How do we practice mindfulness in the day-to-day of our busy family lives? We talk about our personal experiences of practicing and fostering mindfulness in our kids. Find out how we can foster more opportunities to pause and be in the present moment.

Episode 7: The Importance of Boundaries

Setting boundaries is so difficult but so important! We share how boundaries can bring our families closer. Listen to parents share how setting healthy boundaries within the family can lead to deeper relationships.

Episode 9: Nurturing Gratitude in Our Families

How can gratitude be used as a tool to connect our families? We share why we use gratitude as a practice to foster connection, especially in the face of challenges. Listen to find out more about using gratitude as a way of validating and strengthening the bonds within your family.

Enjoy now on either Spotify or Apple Podcast.

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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.