It began when Parm* started to have trouble sleeping. The 17-year old Surrey student had experienced anxiety before, but when her grandfather passed away right before an important final exam period, racing thoughts, sleepless nights, and a sense of dread began to make it hard for Parm to do simple things, like leaving the house, or […]
Author: Jinny Sims
Surrey Coming Together to Keep Students Learning
As the world faces the challenge of navigating the COVID-19 pandemic, parents in Surrey and across the province are facing an unprecedented challenge of their own – the challenge of helping their kids learn at home during a pandemic, in many cases while working from home themselves. As a parent, grandparent, and former teacher myself, […]
Transforming mental health services to empower youth and inspire hope
Watching someone you love struggle with mental health or addiction issues are anyone’s worst nightmare. This especially true for parents and caretakers watching their own kids suffer – not knowing how to help. On more than one occasion, parents have come to my office, frustrated and feeling helpless. I’m reminded of one family who told […]
Ensuring Our Communities Have the Infrastructure They Need
British Columbia is a geographically large province, with diverse and important infrastructure needs. From transportation to education, healthcare to housing, public infrastructure allows us to provide the services people need, all while building our economy. Government has a responsibility to invest in provincial infrastructure, apprenticeships and skills training and we know communities from the coast […]