The Forum Supports Local Youth
Lauren Shea (second from left) during her fundraising row across the Atlantic.
Since its inception, the Salt Spring Forum has been committed to youth engagement and leadership. Through our partnership with Gulf Islands Secondary School (GISS) we have over the years offered many exciting events and opportunities for youth.
Lauren Shea addressing GISS students in February 2024.
The Forum and the GISS Student Council have brought a number of speakers directly into the school for Forum-style events during school hours, many of them moderated by recent GISS graduates. Speakers have included:
- Scientist Jennifer Grady, co-host of CBC’s Nature of Things
- Astrophysicist Moriba Jah, former mission controller for NASA
- Xeni Gwet’in First Nation chief Roger William who was instrumental in obtaining a landmark decision from the Supreme Court of Canada on aboriginal land title
- Mary-Ellen Turpel-Lafond, BC’s first independent Representative for Children and Youth
GISS students have regularly volunteered at Forum events, both in the community and at school. The Forum has also from time to time been able to fund student-initiated projects, such as a province-wide campaign to involve students in the B.C. Proportional Representation referendum. And we have frequently funded scholarships for graduating students who have a keen interest in environment or public affairs.
DR. Tanya Harrison talks to GISS students about her role with NASA and the Mars Rovers in 2023.
“Volunteering with the Forum has given me the opportunity to understand, explore, and challenge my understanding of the world.”