High school days.....9 of the most amazing takeaways !

No matter what age, we all have fond memories of our high school years.

When i think of my high school years, I think about the close relationships with my friends,

I remember all the basketball games, cosom hockey, gymnastics club, greek club, art club, music club and the student council. There was always something to do and somewhere to be. I loved it.

The ping pong matches during recess and lunch, the fashions show, the science club the outside hockey games, quebec trip.   We had so many interests and talents - there was something for everyone.

I remember our classes, classmates, the funny ones, the silly ones, the quiet ones and the goofy ones - we had all kinds of classmates that were special to each of us.

Our teachers that not only taught us academically, taught us about life.

The sock hops......waiting for that first slow dance - stairway to heaven....

The crushes,  the first loves and steady relationships.

Today after so many years, if we are a part of each others social network and lives - we are incredibly lucky that we can actually keep those close relationships. Baron Byng was a special place and everyone that was a part of it, feels a connection - we were family.

Like every young student, we had an idea of what we wanted to do after we finished high school, but did not know for sure what our dream job looked like or what major to study in. And sometimes, you have to try different areas, and that is okay. Even if we did not have it all figured out, we knew we would follow our talents and interests.

After graduation, we wondered if we will see our classmates again.  Looking at the yearbook and all our messages to one another, it reminded  us all of a time in our lives that will forever be a big part of who we are today.

It was a time to work hard, have fun, learn new things before we all go our different ways.

A time to stay on top of homework, even when sometimes we slacked, we had to get back on track quickly.

After high school - no one looks back, that is just the way it is. The great memories will always be there, never forgotten. It is a time to focus on the future, the career opportunities and our adult life.That special high school I am referring to was Baron Byng, located at 4251 St. Urbain Street, in Montreal, Quebec, part of the Protestant School Board of Greater Montreal. It was a special place, ask any Bynger and they will swear it was.

Baron Byng High School

 
Some facts on wikipedia about the high school to share with you - It was named after Julian Hedworth George Byng, 1st Viscount Byng of Vimy, the Governor General of Canada from 1921 to 1926. Byng was a World War I hero at the battle of Vimy Ridge, an important battle that many historians, like Pierre Berton, believe formed Canada's national character. Byng was also involved in a political scandal dealing with the succession of the Canadian Government, the King-Byng Affair in 1926.

From the 1920s through the 1950s, the school predominantly catered to Montreal's lower-income Jewish population. From the 1980s onwards, the building became the home of the non-profit community organization Sun Youth (Jeunesse au soleil).

Some of the notable members of the alumni back then included...

Mike Boone, Montreal Gazette reporter

Abie Budman, born April 24, 1937, Canadian businessman, founder of Bud Products, Ltd.

Morris Fish, Supreme Court of Canada judge

Sam Gesser, record producer and concert promoter

Louis Horlick, cardiologist and medical educator

A. M. Klein, poet

Irving Layton, poet

David Lewis, Rhodes Scholar, labour lawyer, Leader of the New Democratic Party of Canada 1971-75

Frederick Lowy, medical educator and president & vice-chancellor of Concordia University

Rudolph A. Marcus, Nobel Prize in Chemistry 1992

Louis Nirenberg, mathematician

Simon Reisman, civil servant

Mordecai Richler, author

William Shatner, actor

Philip Seeman, schizophrenia researcher

Lorne Trottier,business owner

This was truly a great place where the staff, teachers, counselors and principal worked really hard as a team to organize student activities and foster an environment to promote participation, teamwork.
and encourage students to continue their education.

So, what happens after high school ??  here is some advice...

• As a young student, you have your entire life ahead of you, make it count, make the right choices - this could probably be the hardest thing, but build your character, do not get influenced by others, do what is right for you

• Never underestimate your capability and potential, you can do anything you put your mind to it - dream and dream big ! you are competent...practise lifelong learning !

• Be an inspiration to others, your actions inspire others, even when you think no one is watching

• Make others feel like a million dollars, make them feel special

• Once you have made a committment - stick it out, make it work, be true to that committment

• Find the courage to do things you never thought possible

• Your attitude will make all the difference around you, if you're happy, others will be, if you're passionate, others will be, if you are positive, others will be - create that energy contagious to others

• Stay connected - nurture those relationships, nothing more rewarding than to be in the same room with old friends, how many people can say that...be surrounded by people you want to be surrounded by and shared a past

• Most important - set the example, be the example, lead by example

If you are in your last year as a senior, make it your best one,  for those that have graduated, feel free to share your most amazing takeaways....always love to hear your comments !

To all my high school friends - and you know who you are....cheers to you, cheers to great friendships,  cheers to great memories !!!!

To all high school seniors - make it count !  this is your opportunity of a lifetime !

Gymnastics Club 1977

 

May 5, 1978
Graduation Ball

Proud to be a Baron Byng graduate !

Do you have what it takes to volunteer ??? yes you do....

　
At any age, you have something worthwhile to offer.  It's true.  All you need is a big heart, a helping hand and some time. Volunteerism comes in many forms - each one is special - whether
you visit seniors' homes, work with teenagers, be part of not-for-profit organization, work with  disadvantaged children, mentor young children in local schools, help a food bank, support a shelter, volunteer at a hospital or school or offer financial support. You would be supporting a community organization or charity that would be very appreciative of your efforts.  What is special is that young or old, you can put your skills to work. So, how does someone get started ? Easy - you find something you want to get involved with, get involved, share your ideas and offer your help. This exact action leads to volunteer led communities.  I have not met anyone who is not interested in being a good citizen.

I have seen first hand what type of impact a dedicated team of volunteers can have to raise money for a charitable organization.  Words cannot describe their energy, their passion and their perseverance.
Take a close look in your neighborhood and you will see all around you the valuable contributions volunteers make. I am really inspired by every single person, that pays it forward.

So, if you ask yourself...

how can I make a contribution in my community ?
what role can I play in making my community stronger ?

 What comes to mind ??? For me, right away, I cannot help but think - If you are anything like a Pink in the City volunteer, you are totally engaged and involved to spark results, drive and make a whole lot of difference.

You are probably wondering  Why Pink in the City ? What makes the volunteers of Pink in the City so special ?

Aside that this charity is close to my heart - I also can validate the incredible warmth and genuine interest they bring to the team.....if i was to sum up what they do best, it would be....

• They are the role models of the community we look up to. A team who has come together to share their experiences, knowledge, expertise and all on their own time.  They have taken a personal interest to be active in their and contribute to this wonderful cause that will benefit many.  They are an inspiration . After  I personally spend a few hours with them - I leave feeling pumped, energized and ready to climb a mountain !

• This pink in the city team of dynamos reach out to family, friends, breast cancer survivors and community partners. Work every day to find new sponsors and help in the fight to save lives.

• Hardly a day passes without a member working on making Pink in the city known, share our story and talk about how special it is. That is true love.

• The most rewarding is to be able to work with our local hospital and raise funds where they can be put to good use, and be able to see for ourselves - how we can make a difference for that one patient.

• Each member puts in a tremendous amount of time and many hours every day.- No one said it was going to be easy, but ask any member the electricity you feel in the room when everyone is together.  

• It already has started - action packed, getting ready for the big event in Spring.  The next 5 months will be critical.  All hands on deck.

• Pink in the City works together to make this breast cancer a distant memory -  celebrate each day, our breast cancer survivors and honor those that have lost the fight. 

So, if you are still wondering, how you can make a difference, young, old, single, married....it does not really matter what age group - what really matters is to get the courage and consider these options .....

• get your children involved...encourage volunteerism, encourage them to give back, model the way ....
• be present to celebrate May 1, 2015 and what it represents
• everyone has been touched by this devastating disease and other types of cancer in one way or another - help raise donations through sponsors and sponsorships.
• take an active role in increasing volunteer participation and leadership within local schools and canadian communities
• In-kind contributions such as donations of food, the venue, or entertainment helps considerably
• Sponsorships play a critical role in the overall income we generate to donate - be one of our sponsors
•  event publicity, ad in our program book and company logos are all ways to display and promote your business - get visible signage day of the event
• Silent auction/live auction - contributor/sponsor for auction items - always looking for items
• Program Ad books - will be given to each guest attending. The ad book is made up of paid advertisements and includes information about the nonprofit. We encourage local businesses, vendors, entrepreneurs, sponsors and individual donors to support us with an advertisement, in memoriam and special messages to support our target of 125,000$
• Become one of the participating schools to model the way and receive a Pink in the City scholarship
• Join our events - make the connection with us and our cause, be there as our supporters and bring your network of acquaintances to introduce them to our organization
• sign up to volunteer for our events throughout the year - contact our pink in the city organizing committee to see how you can help
• Corporate charity programs -  become one of our partners, join our list of corporate partners
• become an attending corporate sponsor
• Sponsor our guest handouts
• Community visibility - Pink in the City is available for media interviews - radio, articles, tv and any PR related methods -share our story -  contact us !

Visit Pink in the City facebook page for more details: https://www.facebook.com/PinkInTheCityCanada?ref=hl

　

So the next time you think you can't possibly make a contribution - think again, think about
Lawrence - at the age of 11, founding member who wanted to make a difference for someone going through breast cancer -  even if he did not know them personally - he just knew that his contribution would change someone's life....help change a few lives !

Please make sure to share your volunteer experiences and what drives you to make a difference !


 

　
　　


 





　







 

Guilty of wanting it all perfect ? .......all moms do !!!!

　
Every young mom has to do some serious juggling to make her crazy life balanced ......what is balance again ??? it is really different for every woman, and every woman has their own advice on what works for them. I guess what's important in the end, is that you are happy with your life,with your priorities and your family. If you are like me, you really want to be involved -  in your children's life -you will be a lot happier, you will get the satisfaction you are seeking.  It's about making time for things that are important to you. It applies to all women, whether you are working moms or not, you are juggling equally !  All moms have a plan - that's just the way it works.  That plan includes running a household that will keep everyone on their toes, energized and performing at their best. Yes, you will come across many challenges, but my best years were having a successful career and raising my family. You can really make that happen and it is all possible. Remember your outlook will make all the difference. You can complain or take pleasure in the ordinary little things like car ride talks, road trip family fun, soccer nights with parents drinking coffee and watching our kids play, hockey nights in cold arenas, chit chat while getting dinner ready, A+ marks or not, these are some of the things that come to mind.  I chose to enjoy the ordinary things moms do - I will always treasure.

So as a working mom all my life - i have never known any other way - so when asked the question - can you be a good mom and have a work-life type of balance you enjoy ?  I don't have to think hard about that one. Yes, you can - absolutely - remember it is the choices we make and work with. Everything we do is important in trying to create that work-life balance.  I was extremely fortunate that the company I chose to grow up with had the same values and beliefs that were important to me, was right for me and my family - it was a good fit.

I won't lie, coordinating schedules so we can fit in everything we need to juggle can be overwhelming like karate, soccer practises, hockey practises, games, kumon, handball, scouts, homework, parent teacher interviews,  and carpools. Not including family celebrations  birthdays, holidays and the list can go on and on.  So much to plan and  probably have not included everything on this list - but gives us all a good idea that a moms life is somewhat busy and this does not include any down time or walking the dogs....yes, it can get insane, but I love it and would not change a thing.  Except maybe take a holiday monthly !!!!

So why do moms do all that they do and more ?? they do what they do because they adore their kids - they find that balance to make it all happen and make them happy - yes.....the wonder women of the world are very powerful, smart, thoughtful, passionate, compassionate, eager and simply incredible ordinary women that can be great moms, have great jobs and enjoy the best of both worlds. You can have a work-life balance ! I am no expert on the topic of work - life balance, but one thing that I always strive is to be the best mom I can be.  I will try things that work and things that don't. It is up to me to make the changes necessary that I can be happy with.  Like many moms out there, and you will agree - we want only the very best for our family life. I am sure many of you ladies out there can relate,  so here are some of the things I did as a working mom that you might find helpful and most probably are already doing :

• Home cooked meals - a must and tried out different recipes - i took a few hours a month to plan for meals monday to thursday, menu of the day was posted in our kitchen calendar, knowing what to shop and cook for the week made it so much easier for groceries and planned home cooked meals. When you don't know what to cook, it can make it complicated and will just encourage you to just order in or pick up something ready on the way home - and if that is okay with you, then that is totally fine as well !

• If you are working, have a good plan in place to pick up kids at daycare, school & after school programs, homework time, dinner and take them to their games and practises. Even though I was working, and my time was limited - I always made it a point to be a part of their activities and always had dinner together - we just worked around our schedules and made it work. You find the way. You will be amazed what you can accomplish when you make it a priority ....and some planning. No regrets.

• Be available to help your kids with spelling tests, projects and down time to cuddle ! Every night, i would read a book to them - that was so precious and realized that spending time together like that was invaluable - priceless. So make this time a priority. Don't ever be too tired to read a book together !

• Maternity leaves in the 80's was 4 months ? can you imagine ??? Spending those 4 months as a new mom and getting settled was new for me and my husband. We had to think about a good family routine when I was back at work. Again, having a good plan will really determine your long term success - my routine included feeding times, bedtime routines, introducing & preparing different baby foods, appointments, and all the hoopla that comes with a new baby. Let's not forget to coordinate play dates. A very important factor in all of this was staying positive and being happy. That can make all of the difference.

• Make some time and do things you enjoy doing ! I always made community involvement a big part of who I am. I enjoyed learning new things and adding value to someone's board or team. I remember when I first joined the Board of Directors for Coaches of Canada - I learned so much about a variety of sports and coaching community. I was part of a team that it's main objective was to promote the professions of coaching and the value of a coach. It was no surprise the valuable role coaches play and their involvement with athletes dedicated to advance their sport performance in the olympics. You need to come out of your comfort zone and get involved in areas that will teach you new things and expose you to new possibilities. It is also important to truly do things that will make you happy - whatever that is.

• Invite your children's friends over, be the hangout place, it's okay to pick up after everyone, feed them and play with them -  given them chores that come with all this fun - these are the best times.....when they are all grown up, you will not only have fond memories, but you will be admiring them.  Get to know your son's or daughter's little friends. Moms always like to know everyone and everything about them !

What do you do to achieve work-life balance ??? pls share, we can all learn from each other.  I would love for you to share your experiences , tips or advice !!! 

We remember...

Every year, we are reminded of those brave souls who lost their life fighting. And every year when I spot the first poppy, I cannot help but be reminded of what an inspiration they were to us and continue to be.

Every picture, every activity, every rememberance day image is a celebration of their life and their contributions.

As a young girl scout, I remember participating at rememberance day memorials, and remember fondly the poems and drawings we hang in our class, and all the activities that were planned each year to honor our heroes. Everyone wore their poppies and remembered. To this day,  I am inspired by these individuals who sacrificed their lives.  We are reminded on November 11 to pay tribute to them for all that they did for their country.

Although there was no book written on what they had to do, they knew in their hearts what they had to do....so when I see that poppy, I am reminded over and over of what they stood for and how much of an inspiration they were and continue to be to all of us. They were and always be remembered for.....

• rising above and taking action for what they believed

• living by their values

• caring and acting with compassion

• sacrificing their life

• inspiring others

So today we remember all our heroes with great honor. We thank them for their actions,  and we are proud. Should you be lucky enough to know of a veteran that is still with us - make the time to sit and talk with them. It will be an unforgettable experience for them to share their story and a greater experience for you  - you will be inspired ! !  On this day, we remember.  Wear your poppy proudly, lest we forget....