2024: A Personal and Professional Update

As we enter the dawn of 2024, I want to take a moment to wish each one of you a Happy New Year filled with joy, growth, and abundant possibilities. It has been a reflective time for me, and I’ve been largely off Facebook and other social media platforms for the past two months. This intentional break allowed me to focus on being a present partner and dad during these precious early months after our baby was born in late October.

In the professional realm, I’ve been grateful for the opportunity to have spent the fall working as a Career Guidance Counsellor on a 60% teaching contract in my hometown.

As this contract concludes at the end of January, I find myself at a crossroads, getting ready to explore new opportunities that may arise. Having sold my house in Fort Qu’Appelle this summer and fully embraced life in Regina with my growing family, I am excited about the possibilities that lie ahead.

I’m planning to re-apply to Regina Public Schools, and am ready and willing to join the substitute teachers list and explore potential contracts that come up within Regina Public as well as with Prairie Valley School Division, who’ve employed me for the last three years running.

The prospect of pursuing further education is also on the horizon. Two Master’s of Education programs have captured my interest that I am considering applying for—one with the University of Regina’s M.Ed in Teaching, Learning, and Leadership, and the other through Cape Breton Island University, who offer an M.Ed in Sustainability, Creativity, and Innovation. I will decide in the coming days which of these two M.Ed programs I would like to pursue.

Over the holidays, I’ve been delving into some research around the idea and feasibility of creating makerspaces in schools and communities. This aligns seamlessly with the vision for Creative Classroom Connections—to facilitate access to the resources needed to establish such creative hubs. I’m considering developing a series of blogs exploring my inquiries and seeing where it leads me.

In personal news, Alison and I are eloping to Hawaii in February to exchange vows on a beach on Valentine’s Day. It will be an intimate ceremony with just the three of us—Alison, our baby, and me! We promise to host a gathering next summer for friends and family to come to celebrate with us. Meanwhile, Alison is diligently completing her final two courses to earn her university degree in Therapeutic Recreation. With her background in TR, we are excited about the prospect of working together on Creative Classroom Connections, potentially evolving it into a family business enterprise.

The comic strip on the right was created as a Christmas gift by Alison’s son Nick, who is a grade 12 student at Cambell Collegiate. He will be performing in Cambell Collegiate’s upcoming musical production of the Drowsy Chaperone, running January 17-20th.

As we embrace these personal milestones, it’s impossible to ignore the global challenges we face—rising global conflicts, climate change, and the impending elections in numerous countries, including our American neighbours to the south. It can be overwhelming, and the temptation to retreat into a smaller world is understandable in the face of all the uncertainty. Despite the apprehension and the feeling that things may become more dire, let’s strive for lives of deeper purpose and resolution to remain connected. Together, we can focus on the love for our families and our communities and the actions needed to persevere through the present.

In the face of uncertainty, let’s anchor ourselves in the present and commit to positively impacting our various social spheres. Here’s to a year of growth, resilience, and collective hope.

Wishing you all a wonderful year ahead!
Stay warm:)