The Queen Alexandra (QA) Foundation works to support children, youth and families in communities throughout Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands.  Laurie Fisher, QA Foundation North Island Community Relations, works out of the Comox Valley and helps to provide a connection between Central and North Island communities and the QA Foundation.  Laurie can be reached by email at  lauriefc@telus.net, or by phone at 250-339-9576.

Early Learning Framework

From left to right, workshop presenters, Shelley Sanderson,
Vlasta Grant, Teresa Louden, and Kim Reid with Laurie Fisher.

The Queen Alexandra Foundation's North Island Representative, Laurie Fisher, contributed to the workshop "Introducing the Early Learning Framework: by providing funding for a lunch for the early childhood community members who attended.  The new document - Early Learning Framework - developed by the Ministry of Education in partnership with the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Children and Family Development, outlines a vision, principles, and practices for providing rich, early learning experiences for children from birth to kindergarten that are specific to British Columbia.

Up Island Update ~ Fall 2008
The Power of Force

by Laurie Fisher, QA Foundation North Island Community Relations

This past summer I was approached about a fundraising event that centered around a Star Wars theme.  Seeming simple enough, a group of young people, passionate about Star Wars, wanted to host a gaming event to raise funds for a local charity.  The Comox Valley Child Development Centre had identified that youth attending their programs could use a WII game...a great fit between a group of gamers and a group of youth who want to be gamers!  I didn't know at the time that the true power of the force I wold be experiencing in the weeks to come was in the relationships that this event would create.

Young people, under the banner of the QAF, promoted their event throughout the community; building new partnerships and expanding the understanding of the role of young philanthropists.  Committed to their opportunity to help a group of peers, not because they felt bad, but because they could see the value in sharing their passion.  I watched this group of young leaders with interest as their understanding of how they could help deepened as well as their awareness of the difficulties and challenges of running such an event.  Without knowing it, they became mentors to the young people attending as well as to youth now enjoying the WII game.

What seemed like a simple event in the beginning turned out to be a great learning experience for everyone involved.  In the future, these youth will join forces - become empowered as decision makers in their communities...the power of the forces was the actions some amazing young people took to help the dreams of others come true.  Truly, a force for the greater good with young people from the Comox Valley learning that together they have the power to change the world!