August 15, 2012: Celebrating Day 3 of the Spirit of Wellness Canoe Circle; service providers of the Sunshine Coast meeting together on canoes to talk about mental health and addictions. To be a part of these events, such as this one, has been one of my greatest pleasures as school trustee of the SD46 Board of Education. Day 3 of this innovative initiative has been the best attended day. Trustee Lori Dixon met the fleet at the beach of Porpoise Bay and Principal Dan Galazga pulled in one of the canoes. All 3 canoes were full and many others greeted us at Porpoise Bay for salmon dinner. Much conversation. As you can see, it was a very hot day. So hot, many of us stood in the water to converse during dinner and participate in the large circle. A follow-up session will be held next Wednesday at 5pm, August 22nd, with a potluck dinner at the Sechelt Indian Band Hall for all participants to reunite and collate our thoughts and ideas so that we can move forward. Looking forward to this final event.
Written by Christine Ho Younghusband, August 19th, 2012 | Comments Off on Continued Conversations
This blog entry is something I had composed for the “Voice and Presentation Bootcamp” I am participating in today and tomorrow. This 2-day intensive workshop focused on voice-body-space is facilitated by Kathryn Ricketts and Sarah Turner from the Teacher & Learning Center at Simon Fraser University. For homework, we had to prepare a 2.5 minute presentation. I had one topic and changed my mind. I decided to write and present about one of my favorite memories of Pulling Together 2012 “Return to Sliammon.” The entry starts off as a continuation of today’s presentation. We had to prepare a 1-minute presentation about a prize possession to tell another person a little bit more about us. This clip has been on my bag for months and Pulling Together has been an important part of my life for the past few years. Enjoy.
My prize possession – Voice-Body-Space BootCamp 2012
Yesterday, I spoke about this object. It’s a gift from one of the Pulling Together Canoe Journeys I participated in 3 years ago. I paddled in the SD46 Spirit Canoe s-yéwen s-néxwílh and have been invited for the past 3 years. The purpose of Pulling Together is to build relationships between Aboriginal Youth and Policing Agencies.
This year we paddled in the Sliammon territory in Powell River. Even though I am a teacher by trade, I often leave the Journeys feeling like a learner. One thing I have learned is to NEVER call a canoe a B-O-A-T. On the journey, it’s a 4-LETTER WORD.
I knew about the B-word from previous journeys. Any violation would cost people $5 or 10 push-ups. This year, the stakes were higher. Violators were thrown into the water. Ironically, the youth this year were “policing” the B-word very closely.
Courtney (aka. the Bow Princess)
During the Journey, I paddled in the Dimitri, the Cadillac of canoes. The “Bow Princess” was a youth from my hometown. Apparently, I said the B-word several times that day. The Bow Princess and fellow youth in the canoe were not pleased.
At one stop, the Bow Princess confiscated my cell phone while another youth picked me up from behind and almost threw me into the water. Due to water safety, they were not allowed to throw me in. As a result, the Bow Princess kept my cell phone for the rest of the day and said I would have to pay up in some other way.
That evening, the entire Pulling Together fleet, that is approximately 250 people, formed a large circle on the field. The Bow Princess stepped up to announce that I had said the B-word and insisted that I do push-ups in the middle of the circle. Luckily, other people who said the B-word too were asked to join me in the circle.
More than 2-dozen of us stood in the middle of the circle prepared to do push-ups. Instead, we did the Eagle dance doing push-ups intermittently throughout the song. After several rounds, the dance was over and I got my phone back.
Lesson learned. Do not call a canoe a B-O-A-T.
Written by Christine Ho Younghusband, August 14th, 2012 | Comments Off on A Four Letter Word
This story is getting old. I am still working on my dissertation and finding comfort running in the hamster wheel. You know how some people are math-phobic and have a personal mantra of “I was never good at math.” I am that person, but replace the word math with reading and writing. “I was never good at reading and writing.” I took an ESL course 20 years ago to pass English 100 and English is my first language. Now, I am trying to write a thesis. For a person who does not prefer to read or write, pursuing a doctoral degree would be the last thing to do. Thank goodness for the dissertation intervention. A good friend of mine recently completed her dissertation. We had coffee the other day and it was intervention time. She gave me the straight talk, encouragement, and tough love. She said, (1) it will never be perfect; (2) you are an expert in your field; and (3) it takes about 4-hours per day. Makes sense. Onwards and upwards…
Written by Christine Ho Younghusband, August 13th, 2012 | Comments Off on Dissertation Intervention
The Spirit of Wellness Canoe Circle – Day 2 – August 8, 2012
Another wonderful day on the water paddling with familiar faces and new additions on the second day of the Spirit of Wellness Canoe Circle organized by Eleonora Molnar from Vancouver Health. It is truly an honour to be invited to this partnership event as school trustee of the SD46 Board of Education. This is a picture of the SD46 Spirit Canoe s-yéwen s-néxwílh skipped by SD46 Principal Kerry Mahlman. The Spirits of Our Grandmothers Canoe s-yéwens ihems sila skipped by Fred Stark and the shíshálh First Nation Canoe skipped by Andy Johnson and Shyanne Watters were also present on this glorious day.
This was our second day for service providers who work with those in our community with mental health issues and addictions to paddle together in Porpoise Bay. We meet once again in three canoes to discuss our present situation, possibilities, and programming to best serve those who require services. Topics ranged from looking at drug usage as an illness to the healing powers of the canoe. The conversations amongst service providers were dynamic, organic, and engaging. The Board of Education Chair Silas White was also able to attend Day 2 of this event among many others from organizations such as Arrowhead, the Salvation Army, the Sunshine Coast Employment Centre, and the Sechelt Indian Band. Building relations amongst service providers and the shíshálh nation with the canoe is nourishing, inspiring, and liberating. Participants are able step away from the board room and reflect on their own practice as individuals but also take the opportunity to dialogue and share ideas with others.
Porpoise Bay Beach – Traditional Fire Roasted Salmon
Finally, I would like to thank the aboriginal youth and Tammy Saigon from SD46 for taking the time, effort, and care to prepare a wonderful salmon dinner for the paddlers. First, the dinner gives the paddlers a mid-journey destination, something to look forward to. All three canoes will raft up before and after dinner to talk with one another about mental health and addictions. Second, the food nourishes the body, mind, and soul. Somehow food promotes mingling and dialogue amongst participants. Finally, the salmon was prepared traditionally over an open fire by the aboriginal youth. The love and leadership expressed by the aboriginal youth was outstanding. And, I would like to thank the Sechelt Indian Band for generously donating the salmon to the Spirit of Wellness Canoe Circle for all three days. The food has been excellent. Your generosity is acknowledged.
One more day of paddling with the Spirit of Wellness initiative on August 8th, 5pm at Porpoise Bay along with a follow-up meeting. Thank you to all those who are volunteering their time to take part in this initiative to make connections with various service providers on the Sunshine Coast. It makes me hopeful that we are all in it together, working together, to achieve a common goal of wellness. All my relations.
Written by Christine Ho Younghusband, August 11th, 2012 | Comments Off on Making Connections
Just came back from an awesome camping experience at Hotel Lake. I guess you would call this a “stay-cation.” Hotel Lake is one of many lakes in the Pender Harbour area. I live in Sechelt, only a 50 minute drive away. Living in Sechelt is pretty spectacular… the nature, the views… it is a bit of an oasis. However, going to Hotel Lake to camp with my family was absolutely phenomenal. I feel kind of lucky to have the opportunity to camp at Hotel Lake. First of all, you need a year in advance booking. Second, there is a seniority list. Third, how do I get on this list and how long is the wait? Nonetheless, our friends were unable to fulfill their 7-day reservation and we did not hesitate to take over the last 4-days of this very poshy camping experience. What do I mean by that? There are electrical outlets at every campsite, fresh water taps bordering each campsite, and we had lakeside property. This is a picture of our lakeside view. It was pretty amazing to say the least.
Before departure, my friend said, “You’ll never regret it. We’ve been coming up here for years. Your daughter will love it.” Well, I can confirm that all three statements are true. No regrets. We’ll be coming up for years to come. My kid loved it. There were so many people at Hotel Lake. It was like a little community. We met our neighbours and my daughter met their kids and every other kid at the campsite ranging from 5-25 in age. She had a great time… ping pong, swimming, volleyball… this is not to mention the campfires, hot dogs, and smores. It was all good. I tried to get some reading done and possibly some writing. No such luck, but I did reunite with some familiar faces and got to know our neighbours a bit better. Honestly, I was a bit spooked but I was meant to have these conversations.
With each person I spoke to during my brief 4 days camping in Pender Harbour, I realized that we all share a common story. My story is not unique. I share commonalities with other people’s experiences. First, I bumped into Lana. She is from Pulling Together. We chatted a bit about camping at Hotel Lake, ourselves, and education. We talked about my academic studies and she said, “You just have to do it and get it done. You need that paper to make a difference in education with your career in politics.” That resonated with me. Next, I met Joey, a former Math 8, Math 12, and Calculus 12 student. We briefly chatted about what’s happening in our lives and I learned that he too is attending SFU studying physics. I inquired why he had chosen that major and he said, “Ya. It’s kind of hard, but I like it. If you study and work at it, it’s not as bad as it seems.” Twang… That seemed to resonate with me too.
At the campsite, I chatted with my neighbour Linda and Dave who are both professionals and self-employed. They love working from home, being their own boss, and taking an active part in their kids lives. I get that. Then I met Daniel, off for the summer to work at Hotel Lake with his wife and family. He and his wife are teachers. His wife works in public schools and he worked in international education. We chatted and shared our journeys. Loved it. There are no absolutes and we all make decisions for the right reasons at the right time. Finally, I met LaVerna. This was at the very end of our camping experience at Hotel Lake. We packed up our camp, signed up for next year, and headed off to Garden Bay for some fish & chips at LaVerne’s Grill. I read her bio and she said her life changed 11 years ago on September 11th. She believes it was meant to happen. I believe her too. BTW: the fish & chips were awesome!
I met some pretty wonderful people at Hotel Lake. We are all interconnected. We share the same stories. We have common experiences. At one point in time, I truly thought my lived experience, my pedagogical journey, was unique. On the one hand, it is. All of our lived experiences are unique. On the other hand, they are not. We have more in common with each other than we think and if we are different then we can only learn from it.
Written by Christine Ho Younghusband, August 07th, 2012 | Comments Off on A Common Story
Who doesn’t love a wedding? I love weddings. They are the best way to bring family and friends together to celebrate the love between two individuals. This wedding was the marriage of my husband’s cousin to his best friend. The wedding was absolutely beautiful. We were in the middle of nowhere… well, Abbotsford… and it was a barn wedding. It was sooooo awesome. First of all, I loved the pseudo family reunion (of course), but I adored sitting on bails of hay to witness the ceremony and eating BBQ in a beautifully decorated barn. The wedding ceremony was brief, humourous, and absolutely joyous. The little touches I liked too… Addy the dog, the candy buffet, the $2 bar, and my kid giving dancing tips to others. My family had a tonne of fun at the wedding. Thank you Tara & Scott for a memorable experience. We loved being a part of it. We’re looking forward to the next family wedding… hint, hint.
Written by Christine Ho Younghusband, August 02nd, 2012 | Comments Off on Friends and Family
As an SD46 school trustee, I had the greatest pleasure of canoeing tonight with various service providers from the Sunshine Coast who support community members with mental illness and addictions. Those who participated in The Spirit of Wellness Canoe Circle come from different agencies and the intention of building relationships amongst service workers and the Sechelt Nation. This canoeing event is part of a proposal known as the Community Action Initiative (CAI). The canoe is a wonderful metaphor for leadership and working together towards a common goal. There were three canoes immersed in Porpoise Bay this evening: the SD46 Spirit Canoe, The Grandmother’s Canoe, and the Sechelt Nation Canoe. It was an amazing experience to share stories, make connections, and feel inspired. The Spirit of Wellness Initiative is scheduled for August 1st, 8th, and 15th @5pm. Looking forward. All my relations.
Written by Christine Ho Younghusband, August 02nd, 2012 | Comments Off on It’s About Relationships
The Dimitri – Pulling Together 2012 – Return to Sliammon
This is the Dimitri Canoe. On the Pulling Together 2012 Canoe Journey – “Return to Sliammon” – I had the fortune of pulling three times in the Dimitri. It was pretty luxurious. I would call this canoe the Cadillac of Canoes. I am pretty proud of myself for paddling in a different canoe. For the 2010-2012 Journeys, I have been part of the SD46 Spirit Canoe Crew. Two years ago (or even last year), I would not have considered pulling for another canoe, with another skipper and another crew. This year, I enjoyed pulling in a different canoe, meeting new people, and experiencing new leadership. Why is this year so different?
Not to dwell on my past life, but two years ago I was a different person. To put it bluntly, I trusted no one. If you get burned a few times by a few people, you start to give up. You start to believe that the only person you can trust is yourself. This is an isolating experience. Betrayal, lying, or abuse will lead anyone to a flight of fight situation. If you choose to fight, you will burnout. If you choose flight, you have to give up on the battle. Being in a situation when doing what you love does not surpass the negative crap, it’s tough to move forward.
I feel fortunate to be a part of the SD46 Spirit Canoe crew in 2010. This was the beginning of my healing process. The blessing is in the breaking. I had to be broken in order to rebuild. In 2010, I learned how to trust others, to see the good in others, to rely on my canoe family to pull together. This was a powerful life lesson to be awakened to. In 2011, I was in a state of change. I was trying to find my way with the help of my canoe family, once again. I am truly grateful to know that my canoe family supported me and I supported them. My trust was being restored. The 2012 Journey was a litmus of my transformation and healing. Because I knew that my canoe family was there for me, I was able to leave the canoe. It’s like a child leaving home for the first time. It felt good. I felt confident. I felt loved. It was meant to be.
Pulling Together is about building relations. It’s about building trust. I am thankful to the SD46 Spirit Canoe and crew, to the Sunshine Coast Pulling Together Family, and to all those who are a part of the Pulling Together Canoe Journey.
Written by Christine Ho Younghusband, July 25th, 2012 | Comments Off on Building Trust
It’s been 4 years since I have started my Doctor of Education program at SFU-Surrey Campus. I am part of a K-12 Education Leadership 2008 Cohort and 6 of us are currently completed the program. I am still in progress. That’s OK. My coursework and comprehensive exam were completed in 2009 and since then I have been mulling over my research question and dissertation proposal. Seems excessive but I have been learning about higher education, educational research, and the learning process. All in all, it’s been a humbling journey.
For years, my masters of education program included, I’ve been told what to do, when to do it, and why. Being a doctoral candidate, I determine what to do, when to do it, and why. This, in itself, has been troubling. First of all, I have to acknowledge that I’m in charge. Second, I need to be open to feedback from others. Finally, I learned that you never know unless you try. A month ago, I put in a proposal for the SFU Summer Institute. This event is hosted at the Surrey Campus by the Faculty of Education. Student work is highlighted and invited speakers address the theme of the conference as it relates to educational leadership. Four years ago, I was a graduate student attendee wowed by each speaker. This year, I was a presenter. I also presented at the EGSA (Education Graduate Students’ Association) Seminar Series 2011 and at the EGSA Sasamat Retreat. That is now THREE peer-review events I have presented at as an education graduate student. Four years ago, I would not have thought that would have been possible. Who knows what’s next…
All I can say is… I am making revisions, I am open to change, I am exceeding my expectations, I am excited for the future, and I am going to finish my dissertation in a timely manner. Feeling good. Feeling strong. Looking forward.
Written by Christine Ho Younghusband, July 21st, 2012 | Comments Off on SFU Summer Institute 2012
BCAMT Executive Geocaching at Simon Fraser University
Near the end of each school year, the BC Association of Mathematics Teachers (BCAMT) congregate and team-build at Think Tank. For many years, this event was held at Bowen Island. Times changed, costs increased, and decisions made, the 2012 BCAMT Think Tank was held at Simon Fraser University (Burnaby Campus). What I truly enjoy about the BCAMT Think Tank is that it’s an opportunity to work with and dialogue with like-minded people who all want to improve mathematics instruction in BC by finding ways to support the professional learning of practicing K-12 mathematics teachers. Also, it’s a unique opportunity to listen to people tell math jokes, play music trivia, and geocache for fun. This was my first experience geochaching and it was an awesome learning experience. This is something that math students of all ages would enjoy that incorporates outdoor/environmental education with mathematics. It also promotes collaboration, teamwork, and problem solving. Finally, it makes a connection to a “real-life” activity that happens around the world. Apparently, there are over 3 million geoboxes to be found. I had no idea. Thank you BCAMT Think Tank for introducing me to geocaching. I may have to go geobox hunting on the Sunshine Coast. Learning something new everyday… Cool.
Written by Christine Ho Younghusband, July 21st, 2012 | Comments Off on BCAMT Think Tank 2012
