THE SCHOOL TIE December 2015

BHS Alumni Association (Toronto) Chapter

Volume 22 Issue 1

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Three decades of friendship and support … hooray! How wonderful it is that our Association has reached this milestone in its mission to sustain the ties of friendship and give back to our alma mater and Guyana! Kudos to our founding comrades who made the Association a trailblazer in the Guyanese-Canadian alumni community in Toronto! Hats off to all fellow alumni who, over the years, took on responsibility as Presidents and Directors of the Board, paid membership subscriptions, or became actively involved through various event planning commit-tees, community service initiatives, and membership support. We honour them all! Anniversaries are for celebration. We celebrate being there for each other, no matter what - in good times and in bad times. We have been there to laugh and to cry, to mourn and to rejoice, to sing and to dance with one an-other. We have learned from, and have encouraged one another. We have been challenged by one another and, at times, frustrated by one another. Occasionally, we have been disappointed and sometimes, pleasantly sur-prised by one another. We are also celebrating 30 years of association because a number of alumni stayed the course, though becoming “tired” and wanting to withdraw or “take a back seat,” yet continuing to serve or be involved. We honour these ‘old-timers’ whom we can always count on - for their dedication, perseverance, unique gifts and talents. They are the “unsung heroines” of our Association. Though some might say that we have become stuck in a time warp, resistant to change, and doing “same old, same old,” nevertheless, thanks to our stalwart members, we have made significant financial (over half-a-million Canadian dollars) and other contributions over the years to support educational excellence at BHS. What difference have we made?....Talk to all the BHS students who became computer literate and highly skilled … talk to a student who gets a lunch meal three times a week during the school year … whose transportation subsi-dies prevent drop-out, … who received school and personal supplies that ensured regular attendance … whose mind has been opened to new horizons through internet access and a contemporary library collection! More im-portantly, talk to the student who is motivated, inspired and successful because those who were there before them at BHS still remember and care! In addition to the School, we celebrate that our activities allowed us to award annual bursaries (for the past 18 years) and encourage the pursuit of higher education by 31 children and grandchildren of alumni and other stu-

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dents of Guyanese heritage. We are also grateful to make annual donations in support of Canadian char-ities for over 20 years and counting. Collectively, we can take pride in our Chapter’s con-tributions to Guyana and within Canada – a clear demonstration that the life lessons that we were taught at our alma mater live on. Anniversaries inspire reflection to assess our success-es, challenges and vision for the future. We have been instrumental in making a difference at BHS and within the Guyanese community here in the Greater Toronto Area. There is much more that could be ac-complished. Some issues from years ago remain the same in 2015 with alumni feeling isolated or choos-ing to disengage themselves, for various reasons. We are challenged by the issues of leadership suc-cession, active member involvement, and attracting graduates from more recent years - including male alumni. We need to “move into the 21st century” as to how we promote our events and contributions, use social media and e-commerce, and find activities that are lower in effort and high in returns, given the busy lifestyle we all lead and the changing ‘seasons of our lives.’ Questions that offer food for thought: How do we bring alumni in, or back in to the circle of friendship and support? Can we step “outside of the box” to adjust or follow a different path in carry-ing out our objectives? If we are alumni on the fringes, in the spirit of friend-ship, can we rise to the challenge of supporting fel-low alumni who are involved and become true part-ners in achieving our objectives - keeping alumni up-to-date about present-day BHS; supporting the ed-ucational opportunities offered for students in Guy-ana? Anniversaries draw attention to the future. In 2012, we undertook a process to re-imagine and re-articulate our vision. Prevailing issues suggest that we need to open this kind of dialogue again for the coming era. Back then, new statements of mission, vision and values emerged. Action on a membership development plan in 2013 to attract BHS graduates from more recent years was suspended due to de-mands on time and other factors. Two new fund-raising events were introduced and an overall evalu-ation of activities is pending. We have unfinished business that should be part of the agenda going forward. Perhaps there are new horizons and poten-tial partnerships to be explored. There may be enter-prises that can well be vehicles for attracting the in-terest and participation of certain alumni. We also

(Continued from page 1) need to continue promoting BHS as we partici-pate within the Guyanese-Canadian community, by using our skills and background to enrich our-selves and the society at large. Our mission of friendship and service is worth-while and should be enhanced and not be al-lowed to diminish. We need to work with the oth-er Chapters to maintain the ties of friendship worldwide and to engage in projects that support educational excellence in Guyana. The next mile-stone will be the 150th anniversary of BHS when, as hoped, we will gather to celebrate with fellow alumni in Guyana. What will the story of BHSAA Toronto be? It has been an honour to serve for the past six years as a Director of the Board and the last three years as President. I have strengthened and de-veloped friendships that I truly value, especially with my Board colleagues. I applaud them for their commitment and service in various roles. When I see and experience what we, who are connected, do for each other and for the Associa-tion, it never fails to touch my heart. Our Associa-tion is made up of a remarkable group of folks; we are very fortunate and I am proud to be with-in this circle. Happy Anniversary! … Onward we go! May the New Year be filled with many blessings! In Friendship, Peggy (Ashby) Edwards President “May each to each prove ever, true comrade and true friend!”

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MEMBERSHIP CONTRIBUTIONS ……. Our Thanks and Invitation We thank all current members for your continuing support of the Toronto Chapter through your annual subscriptions. Your contributions strengthen our efforts to build on the achievement of 30 years of assistance to our alma mater in maintaining excellence in education and a good learning environment for students. A new fiscal year began on May 1, 2015. We invite all alumni to affirm the mission of our Chapter as a Full Member by remitting your subscription for the year 2015-2016 - $25.00 for non-seniors and $10.00 for seniors, 65 years and over. We welcome as Associate Members all alumni who live outside of Ontario or Canada where there are no Chapters. The annual subscription for Associate Mem-bers is CAD$25.00. Please complete the Membership Enrollment and In-formation Update form, as needed, and send it in with your fee. You may download the form from our web-site: www.bhstoronto.com. Thank you for helping to encourage and inspire the students who follow us. Peggy Edwards  

January 11, 2016 12th Night Dinner Dance Sts Peter and Paul Milner Avenue, Scar-borough March 20, 2016 General Meeting Location TBA April 2016 Casino Trip Location TBA May 14, 2016 May Hatters’ Tea Party Location TBA June, 2016 Annual General Meeting Location TBA June 25, 2016 Bottom House Fete Location St. John the Divine Church Hall August 1, 2016 Last Lap Lime Location Woodbridge Fairgrounds September, 2016 An Evening of Music Location TBA September, 2016 General Meeting Location TBA October, 2016 Literary Event Location TBA November, 2016 General Meeting Location TBA December, 2016 Seniors’ Christmas Cheer Location TBA

Are you interested in play-ing Bridge Did you know that there is now a Bridge Group in the Toronto Chapter? If you would like to join us—usually on Friday nights - let us know. We are happy to have players of all levels—expert to novice. Call or email Denise Archer. We would love have a few more tables.

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BHSAA Toronto celebrates its thirtieth anniversary through the dedication of alumni volunteers who have served in vari-ous roles as its Officers and Directors over the years. We acknowledge and honour them for their role in maintaining the Association’s legacy of friendship and service that preserves and promotes our mission to support quality education at our alma mater.

Past Presidents

1985 – 1995 1995 – 2005 2005 - 2015

Aileen Morgan Fay Mendoza Denise Archer

Marte Bannister Derek Moses Sharena Annamunthodoo

Jennifer Singh Lynette Spence Peggy Edwards

Directors of the Board …. as our collective memory goes !

1985- 2015

Hema Anganu Jennifer Dewar Esther Inglis Audrey Nichols Sharena Annamunthodoo Waveney Duarte Judy Isaacs Marva Parkinson Denise Archer Sarojini Duncan Denise Jeffers Gloria Ann Persaud Asepha Bacchus Peggy Edwards Taren Khargie Susan Persaud Barbara Bacchus Floreen Forde Jeremy King Nancy Rickford Roslyn Baichoo Cheryl France Olive King Maureen Robinson Marte Bannister Jennifer Francisco Beverly Kissoon Andrea Scarlett Rochelle Boodie Daphne Fung Ardyne (Merrie) Lee Jennifer Singh Claire Bowen Carole Garraway Margaret McDoom Claudia Small Sumintra Bromley Cheryl Grandsoult Vijaya McDoom Lynette Spence Hazel Campayne Aileen Granger-Sherrett Lynette McKenzie Beverly Stephenson Jennifer Cave-Williams Agnes Griffith Peta McRae Verna Thomas Zaleena Chellapah Barbara Hazlewood Fay Mendoza Aileen Morgan-Thomasson Adela Crossley Elaine Daune Hector Angele Mongul Berl Thompson Salomie Cunje Sandra Holder Patricia Moore Ornette Willis Carmel DaSilva Denise Hunte Derek Moses Alicia Woon-a-Tai

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Maintaining the Ties of Friendship

* General meetings held three times annually. * Occasional social gatherings hosted by individual alumni. * Hosting two BHS International Reunions – in 1987 and 2008. * Creating the Circle of Support in 2003 – providing ongoing assistance and encouragement to alumni and Guyanese Seniors, particularly during illness or bereavement, holidays and special cheer at Christmas. * Establishment of BHS Singers - for over 23 years performing folk and national songs at various community events. In 2012, the BHS singers joined with St. Rose’s Alumni singers and formed THE ENSEMBLE. In 2014 we produced a CD entitled “Memories in Song”.

Contributions to BHS Guyana * Establishment and on-going maintenance of a fully networked Computer Lab with support for internet access and software. Security system for the lab is installed and sustained. Computers are also provided for staff room and library, with yearly supply of books.

* Annual contributions to the School’s Lunch Program, (as of 2013), and alumni donations to the special Transportation Appeal (2013-2014). * Gift to the school of a multi-function Panasonic Photocopier donated by Rudolph Singh of RJ Business Systems, Mississauga, Ontario. * Support for an Interactive Volunteer Program whereby alumni voluntarily return to the School and share their experiences and skills to motivate and mentor current students. Fundraising Events

* Co-hosting the annual Last Lap Lime since 1995 with Queen’s College, St. Joseph’s High School, St. Rose’s High School and St. Stanislaus College Alumni Associations. * Co-hosting the annual Twelfth Night Dinner and Dance since 2000 with Queen’s College Alumni Association. * Hosting the annual May Hatters’ Tea Party since 2005. * The Ole’ Time Bottom House Fete, introduced in 2013.

Cultural Events * Annual Literary Presentations for over 26 years. * Theatrical Productions: A Christmas Story (1988) and A Wedding for Miss Jane (1990).

HONOURING THE MISSION OVER THREE DECADES

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* Art Exhibition of Guyanese Women Artists (1994). * Variety Concert - Musical Memories (1997). * Co-production of the play, The Last of the Redmen (2007) with Queens’ College A.A.

Contributions to the Community

* Annual Bursary Award Program, 1997 to present. * Annual donations to charities (directly and through funds from Last Lap Lime). * Participation in activities of other alumni associations and community organizations.

Community Recognition

* Guyana Award for Community Service (2010). * Ontario Newcomer Champion Award (2010). * Awards for Outstanding Community Service and Leadership – given to individual members of the BHSAA who have utilized their personal and professional expertise to perform volunteer work within the Guyanese/Canadian wider society.

“LABOR OMNIA VINCIT”

30th Anniversary song: “To Alma Mater”

From a land of sunshine and laughter Where the lovely spurwing calls Of savanna, mountains and rivers And majestic waterfalls, Came we all to another land of beauty - To the True North, Strong and Free. And we all pledge our love to Alma Mater The source of all we'll be. And we all pledge our love to Alma Mater The source of all we'll be! Composer : Carole (Knight) Garraway

BHS Steel Orchestra  

The Bishops’ High School has a very  talented and vibrant Steel  Orchestra.  They  play  at  all  kinds  of  events  and  are very well– known. One of their members is highly regard-ed and had been  featured on TV and  in  the newspapers. They are tutored by Cary Gillis.  Here is the band’s blog h p://bhspangy.tumblr.com/   And on YouTube h ps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3jci0oa-hw h ps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-Krne_jw4Y h ps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSut88up214&list=PLl_qVwGgDcJNvS6xn53-gdTMldQ3TPapr www.youtubev=bsQfzokLpf8&list=PLl_qVwGgDcJNvS6xn53-gdTMldQ3TPapr&index=1

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30 years is a significant stage in the life of an organization…so it was time to come together and celebrate good times…not once but twice. Alumni, friends and families came together on July 25, 2015 for a Service of Thanksgiving at St. Margaret in-the-Pines Anglican Church in Scarborough. On this sparkling summer afternoon in a service officiated by Rev. Karen Hatch, voices that once filled the Oswald Parry Hall, were raised to bless our Chapter and the school through a glorious selection of songs of praise – house hymns, school hymn and a dramatic rendition of the Te Deum. For many celebrants, the highlight of the service was the reflection delivered by Adrian Isaacs, son of the late Zick Isaacs and alumna Judy (Morrison) Isaacs. He shared with the congregation how helpful the school and chapter’s values and principles were to him personally and professionally.The reception that fol-lowed concluded a joyful event with a roomful of hugs and laughter. Three months later – it was a sparkling fall afternoon this time – we came together again at Petticoat Creek Community Centre in Pickering to enjoy Terry Headley's delightful eats, tell stories of our collective history, thrill to the soprano spell of Gillian Grant and finger snap to the vocal stylings of Faith Amour. Piano Man, Martin Grimmond sang his ballads and Bill Newman, The Crooner, emceed and entertained us with calypsos that had us falling off our chairs with laughter. Memorable moments included a video history of Chapter events and recognition of past presidents and alumni who are mainstays of the chapter. The closing mix and mingle amid Merrie Lee’s amazing decorations was a flurry of hugs and warm good feelings. 30 does feel GOOD!!! Lynette Spence

3O for T.O….The Toronto Chapter Celebrates

30 Years of Friendship and Service

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30th Anniversary Celebration

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Life at BHS in 2015

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Joshua Broomes, Tyreke Wilson, Brandon Samaroo, Randy Puran

BHS TECHIES 3rd Form IT Project on email Delivery

Former Bishop’s High School student admitted to Local bar JANUARY 4, 2016 | BY KNEWS | FILED UNDER NEWS Last Tuesday another young Attorney was admitted to the local bar after a petition was presented on his behalf before Justice Sandra Kertzious in the Georgetown High Court. Twenty five-year-old, Timothy Millington of Agricola, East Bank Demerara, is the newest addi-tion. His petition was presented by Attorney, Paul Braam. Millington vowed to uphold the principles of the noble profession and promised to always be professional. Millington obtained his Bachelor’s Degree in Law from the University of Guyana (UG) in 2012. He then went on to attend the Hugh Wooding Law School, Trinidad & Tobago where he grad-uated with his Certificate in Legal Education (CLE) in 2014. The former Bishop’s High School student has also been admitted to the bar in the Twin-Island Republic. In an interview with this publication, Millington said that he is currently practicing in both crim-inal and civil matters. “I wanted to empower myself and find my voice,” he said, adding that it was his valiant choice to become an attorney with support of his mother Marcelle Higgins. Millington aspires to become a Corporate and Commercial Lawyer and Litigation Specialist. (Timothy is a former Head Boy of the Bishops’ High School.)

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BURSARY AWARDS 2015

Honouring Student Excellence … In Toronto: In tribute to this 30th Anniversary year, the BHSAA Board approved the Bursary Commi ee’s recommenda on to grant bursaries to four deserving students.     We celebrate and extend congratula ons to the winners of our 2015 Toronto Bursary Award – Benjamin Freemantle, Sharay Dennis, Me-gan Williams and Joel Lee.   The award cheques for $1,000 were presented at our Associa on’s General Mee ng which was held on Sunday, October 4, 2015 at the Coach House of the heritage O’Connor House Estate on Rowena Drive in North York. We were pleased to welcome three of these young recipients with their families, and Benjamin’s mom, Lisa Freemantle and grandmother, alumna Berl Thompson.    Benjamin was sponsored by his grandmother. He graduated this year from Sacred Heart Catholic High School with a grade average in the high 90s.  He has been an Altar Server for 10 years and was an ac ve volunteer and tutor within his school. Benjamin is a ending New York University where he is pursuing a course in Film and Television. We were very pleased that his mom could accept the award on his behalf.  We look forward to mee ng Benjamin in the near future.     Sharay  graduated  this year  from Blessed Mother Teresa Catholic Secondary School; her grade average was  in  the high 80s.    She was sponsored by alumna, Cheryl Grandsoult. Sharay is a ending Seneca College where she is pursuing a course in Travel Tourism. Sharay vol-unteered at Malvern Resource Centre and was involved in the community’s Ac on for Neighbourhood Change ini a ves.    Megan was sponsored by Cheryl Grandsoult.  She graduated from Lester B. Pearson Collegiate Ins tute with a grade average in the high 80s. Megan is a ending Ryerson University where she  is studying Social Work. Her  involvement  in the community  included 9 years as a volunteer with the Malvern Presbyterian Church.  Joel graduated from Newtonbrook Secondary School with grade average in the high 80s.  He was sponsored by Carol Paul. Joel is a end-ing Ontario College of Art and Design  University studying Cross-Disciplinary Art Publica on. He was a volunteer at Willowdale Pentecostal Church.  BHSAA Toronto is very happy to provide support to these four young students as they pursue a higher level of academic achievement.  We encourage them to con nue to strive for excellence and to be of service  in their communi es. We sincerely wish them every success  in their studies and future endeavours.    Patricia Moore Chair Bursary Awards Commi ee 

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In Georgetown - at BHS: We are pleased to announce that Jubilante Joanna Cutting is the recipient of the special anniversary bursary award at BHS. Jubilante entered Bishops’ High School in 2008 and was in Dewar House. She is past Head Pre-fect, graduating in 2015. Jubilante is pursuing Bachelor of Law studies at the University of Guyana. Jubilante was highly recommended by the School for this honour because of her academic accomplishments and con-tributions to the School and community. She gained five (5) subjects at the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations (CAPE) – Law, Sociology, Community Studies, Economics and History. In school, she volunteered in the area of dance as a choreographer and participant. She was a member of the Debating Team and the Impromptu Speech Team (2012-2013) and a second place Winner of The Caribbean Climate Change Essay Competition in 2013. For her diverse contributions to the School, BHS honoured Jubilante with the Hilda Seeraj Medal for Thoroughness at Work & Play (2011), the Service Medal (2013) and the Fidele Collier Medal for Outstanding Contribution to School (2015). In her community, Jubilante has been a volunteer with Come Alive Network Inc. (CANI), participating in shoes, clothing and food drives, and organizing youth conferences. She was hon-oured by CANI as Outstanding Volunteer of the Quarter in April 2014. Jubilante is also a volunteer with the REDBandaid Foundation - at the Red Cross Convalescence Home, as an Executive Personal Assistant. She is an active Member of the First Assembly of God Church, Wortmanville in its Youth Min-istry and as a Worship Dancer. BHSAA Toronto salutes our alumni sister, Jubilante Joanna Cutting. We wish her all the very best in her career and per-sonal aspirations. The Bursary award of $1,000 was presented in November to her by BHSAA Toronto Past President, Denise Archer while she was on a site visit to the School. Peggy Edwards President

Ten years ago I wrote an article called “What is it about BHS that keeps me going back”? I still have not found the answer to that question. Last October I went back home, back to Guyana. I spent 3 weeks at BHS and became totally engaged with life at BHS in 2015.

Most of my time was spent in the Computer Lab repairing and up-dating workstations. I was ably assisted by 5 students – all computer geeks. Like most young men the fun was in taking things apart and then trying to put them back together. Through the entire process I again realised that I am a teacher at heart and that I still love being in a school environment all day.

During my days at the school I was able to watch the students carry out their day to day activities. I went to General Assembly, watched them prepare their IT project, looked at them in the Labs, watched them playing Table Tennis and Badminton. Every day at lunch and after school there were lots of boys playing basketball on what was, in my time, the netball court. The court is now made of concrete set up for basketball.

One of the wonderful things about living in Guyana is that we cele-brate all religious holidays. I really like the idea of everyone celebrat-ing everyone else’s religious days. I happened to be there in time for Diwali. There was a celebration at the school, including an elaborate cultural presentation. It is amazing what the students produce on their own.

There was also a presentation by the Sixth Form on the influence of Europeans on the history of Guyana – something we never gave much thought to during my time at BHS.

BHS has changed over the years. Some of the changes are great, some are very disturbing and I guess, a reflection of life in Guyana in 2015. There are many children at Bishops who come from poor homes and this is very obvious at lunch time, when they have no food to eat. I was also there when the 5th formers had to pay their fees for CXC. The Headmistress spent a lot of time trying to get the fees paid and had a really hard time collecting – the children just did not have the money. My GCE fees were $85; now the typical fees are about $60,000. If you earn $80,000 a month, that’s a month’s pay. A well-paid domestic helper makes about $50,000 a month and some children have mothers who are maids. The government offers mini-mal support for this – a couple thousand dollars if you qualify.

What bothered me the most was the number of children without lunch every day. I don’t remember this during the 1960’s. I do not doubt that the problem may have existed back then but it certainly was not that glaring. Lunch costs about $500 – at the canteen or at “Red Tent”. “Red Tent” is a roadside canteen set up on the eastern side of Carmichael Street, right opposite the school. It gets its name from the fact that it is set up under a tent with a red top. The food is quite tasty and you get a balanced meal. The menu is the same eve-ry day but who’s complaining.

It’s time for old students to assist. Those who live in North America give money to charities that help disadvantaged people all over the world. It’s time to also help people in your own country, at your own school. Children can’t learn on empty stomachs.

So ten years later, the question remains unanswered. What draws me back to BHS and Guyana?

Denise Savory Archer

An unanswered question

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Bishops’ High & Sco a Bank spread Christmas joy to Joshua’s House DECEMBER 14, 2015 | BY KNEWS | FILED UNDER NEWS It’s the season of giving, and in this momentum, the Bank of Nova Sco a  along  with  the  Bishops’  High  School  Environmental  Club made considerate dona ons to the residents of the Joshua House Children Center.  A er  a  brief  and entertaining  interac on with  the  residents,  nu-merous gi s were given to the children. It was a warm and fes ve moment of song and dances and smiles were seen on all the chil-dren’s faces.  A Sixth form student of Bishop’s High School, Surujdai Mukhram, related that the undertaking was the ingenuity of the Club as they were  tasked with bringing  about  a  sense of  joy  and  the  spirit  of Christmas by giving to the less fortunate children of the home.  She related, “As the President of the Bishops’ High School Environ-mental Club, we are not only protec ng the trees and preserving environment,  but  also  helping  our  fellow  kin  play  an  important part.  Thus,  this  gives  us  a  great  pleasure  and  privilege  to  come here  today  (Friday)  to  give  to  the  less  fortunate  ones,  to  help spread the Christmas spirit and to bring that bright smile to their faces.”  Mukhram informed that there are 55 members in the Club, all of whom volunteered to make the dona ons possible. Another stu-dent of the Bishops’ High School, Kobe Smith, expressed his hope that  their  school  has  set  an  example. He  said  that  other  schools and  organiza ons  should  follow  and  give  to  the  less  fortunate during this Christmas season.  He  said,  “While most  children  are  blessed  to  have  their  families and an abundance of food and goodies at Christmas, the children at the Center are not as lucky. And as such we should remember them and give what we can to make their  lives be er, and bring them happiness around this  me.”  The dona ons were met with much apprecia on and excitement. Gladys  Accra,  the matriarch  of  the  home,  explained  that  in  this season  the  children need kindness  like  that which was displayed by  the  students.  She  further  explained  that  the majority  of  chil-dren  came  from  broken  homes,  and  the  season  of  Christmas, which is one celebrated among family can be especially challeng-ing for them.  Accra  stated  that  there  are  55  children  currently  residing  at  the home.  These  children  are  from  ages  three  to  17  years  old.  She expressed her gra tude to all the organiza ons that have donated to the Center to make the children’s Christmas a good one.  She greatly thanked Sco a Bank for dona ng a significant amount 

of groceries, goodies and toys to the home. 

A child of Joshua House receives a dona on from a Bishops’ High School student  

Last Lap Lime 2015 took place on August 3rd.   This  was  a  milestone  year—the  20th  Last  Lap Lime.    It was  me to celebrate!  It  is an amazing accomplishment!  

 We  spent  a  lot  of  me  adver sing  in  print  and  social media and we were rewarded with an increase in a endance.  The weather was  great!  The  rain  fell  the evening before  and the accompanying wind storm blew away half of the tents we had erected early in an effort to save  me on the Monday.   We  were  privileged  to  have  in  a endance  this  year  several Guyana Government Ministers.  In 2016 Guyana will mark  the 50th Independence Anniversary and they were at the Lime to promote the celebra on and to encourage Guyanese to return home to visit.  There was  lots of great music and  lots of hugging and kissing and taking of photographs.   If  you have never been  to  the  Last  Lap Lime do not miss  the opportunity in 2016.    We  thank  all  who  came  from  near  and  far  to  support  this event this year.   Congratula ons  to  the  folks who worked hard pu ng  this all together.   A  big  thank-you  to  the  BHS  alumni  and  their  friends  who helped in our Tent and at the Lime.   A job well-done! See you all on August 1st, 2016!  Denise (Savory) Archer 

LAST LAP LIME 2015 

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Christmas Cheer 2015 was held on Sun-day, December 6th. This year we used a new location, Tropicana Community Ser-vices Centre, on Huntingwood Ave. It was a bright, fresh room, nicely decorat-ed, as usual, by our talented alumna, Merrie and daughter et al, and there was really a warm glow in the room, suitable

for the season. Over 40 of our male and female Seniors were able to attend and spent a won-derful afternoon with delicious food, entertain-ment by The Ensemble, Victor Shim’s one-man band and DJ Susie. There was even time and space for spontaneous dancing. Dessert was a delight (old-fashioned home-made, churned on-the-spot, ice-cream), and everyone had a good time. Christmas came again, and has gone again, but the memories and the reason for the season, linger in the hearts of all who attended. A big Thank You to ALL Alumni and Friends who helped to make the afternoon a huge success.

Circle of Support

CHRISTMAS CHEER 2015

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My 4 darling children decided to give me a trip to Guyana for my 60th Birthday. It would be my first time there in 35 years. To say I was excited would be putting it mildly, especially when my second daughter Teri decided to come with me. Teri is the adventurer in our family. She has travelled to Spain, England, Nigeria, Argentina, Columbia, Mexico and the Philippines to name a few countries, and is always willing to try something new. As soon as our tickets were booked, she went out and bought a book on Guyana and then proceeded to plan our week’s stay. At the top of her to-do list was a trip to Shell Beach. Where the heck is that, I asked? I was not alone. For every Guya-nese person I have mentioned Shell Beach to, no one to date has ever heard of it. It is no wonder the place is totally unspoiled, untouched, and absolutely beautiful.

Shell Beach is located on the Atlantic coast of Guyana in the Barima-Waini Region, near the Venezuelan border, and it is the only place in Guyana where four of the world’s eight endangered species of marine turtles, Leatherback, Green, Hawksbill and Olive Ridley, come to lay their eggs. These massive reptiles usually arrive under the cover of darkness from March to August every year. One hour in an 8-seater plane takes you to Mabaruma – an Amerindian village where I spent many summers as a child. From there we took a boat (a very small boat) up the Waini River for an hour and then on to the Atlantic Ocean (in the very small boat), for another 30 minutes. Getting ashore was an adventure in itself as the entire village had to wade out into the ocean to pull the boat in.

We were introduced to everyone, including about 12 Amerindian men who were there to take a course on monitoring the turtles. 9 out of the 12 shared a bungalow with us and were quite friendly and informative. They took us on a little tour of the surroundings.

Turtle Wardens such as Romeo DeFreitas, who is originally from the Santa Rosa Mission, live on the beaches for the entire six months during the turtle nesting season, patrolling and monitoring the sea turtle populations to ensure nothing harms them on his watch.

(Continued on page 16)

SHELL BEACH

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On our first night at Shell Beach, Romeo took us out on his watch. Just a few steps from the village, we saw a Green-back excavating a hole with her back flippers. Once her flippers cannot touch the bottom of her nest, she falls into a trance-like state, gummy tears streaming down her face and begins to deposit approximately 100 soft-shelled, ‘tennis ball’ sized eggs. It is at this moment that Romeo tags her in a traditional way on the right flipper, then injects tags in the front of the left shoulder. This nesting tradition lasts from 1 to 3 hours and ends with the female’s long journey back into the Atlantic Ocean. She will follow the currents from Guyana to the Gulf of Mexico, across Canada to her feeding grounds as far as the West Coast of Africa, returning some 2 to 3 years later to Shell Beach. It is a long walk down the beach in the pitch black of night. We didn’t see any others that night, and after a while I gave up and turned back. Teri was determined to see the big Leatherback (over 6ft long) so the following night she set out again. She claimed she would spend the entire night on watch, but fortunately didn’t have to. On the first outing she got her wish.

A 6-foot Long Leatherback—look at the joy on her face! It was well worth the trip.

(Continued on page 17)

Our bathroom and toilet Our home away from home And the guys who fetched water

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Romeo holds classes at Shell Beach for those wanting to learn how to be a Warden. While we were there, there was a class of about 12 who took turns every night to patrol the beach in 3-hour shifts. We spent the early evenings conversing with those that were sharing the bungalow with us. It was a lovely experience to just sit and listen to these young Amerindian men chatting about life in Guyana. What a different perspective they have! The three days that we spent at Shell Beach were absolutely wonderful and I would encourage anyone going to Guyana to make the trip. You can contact Romeo at 592-686-8951.

Peta McRae

(Continued from page 16)

Special Appeal – BHS Lunch Program

Once again, I take this opportunity to appeal to individual alumni and Class groups to assist in meeting the personal needs of students at BHS. It will make a huge difference in the lives of these young people. Thanks to your personal donations and quarterly contributions from our Chapter we are already ensuring that about 10 students are getting a meal three days per week. The current Program only serves about 20 students and is supported by personal resources from teachers, and with assistance from individual alumni locally and abroad, as well as Chapter contributions such as ours. Denise Archer (aka Susie) was able to observe and gain firsthand knowledge about student needs and the lunch service while she was on a visit to BHS in October 2015. She was on site over a three-week period to undertake needed maintenance and repairs of the Computer Lab which is sponsored by our Chapter. Susie was distressed about the number of students who did not have a proper meal at lunch time and could not be served by the existing Lunch Program. She is ready to take steps to ensure the provision of meals to more students, five days a week. We encourage you to make pledges for this worthy cause, however you are able and in whatever way you can. Financial contributions can be made through the Chapter at any time throughout the year. Peggy E.

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Joy O’Jon’s gentlewomanly speech and demean-our recall an era long past, and longed-for by many. Her almost fully-grey ‘afro’ seems a throwback to the nineteen-sixties and seventies, but she is very much a part of contemporary Guyanese life, at least where education and Christian discipline are concerned. She is the principal, and (along with fellow-educator Flor-ine Dalgety) co-founder of Dominion Schools,

on Regent Road, Bourda. Surprisingly, Ms. O’Jon was not born in Guyana, but in south central Africa in 1935, in the then British Protectorate of Northern Rhodesia, now Zambia. Her father, George, was an African with Guyanese con-nections, and her mother Lily, a native Guyanese. Having left Africa at the age of four, she understandingly has little recollection of life there. Ms. O’Jon declared that having come here, she never had the urge to go back to her homeland, that is, until she saw a video of South Africa a few years ago, and waxed nostalgic. “Oh, the beauty was so patent; in that moment I prayed the Lord, if there was an opportunity for me to go back to Africa, please open up the door,” she enthused. In 1940 Joy O’Jon was brought to Guyana by a Bermudian mission-ary friend, and taken to live with her Aunt Ivy, her mother’s twin sister, in the East Coast Demerara village of Buxton. Her parents and siblings came later, except for her youngest brother who died in Africa. Buxton is where her life story really begins. Ms. O’Jon attended the Buxton Congregational School, and admits that her schooldays there were relatively uneventful. She left the village school in 1947, having secured a government scholarship, and began a long and distinguished association with The Bishops’ High School, first as a student, then as a science teacher, and finally as headmistress of what was considered the premier high school for girls in the country. In reminiscing about her high school days, she remarked on my observation that she speaks in a very cultured and restrained man-ner. This she attributed to the expatriate teachers at Bishops’ who, she said, influenced by their own speech, both tone and diction in their charges. Ms. O’Jon’s secondary education lasted eight years, after which she left for the Mona Campus of the University College of the West In-dies in Jamaica. Having achieved her BSc., she went on to get her Diploma in Education right there, and in 1959, returned to Guyana, and started her career as a science teacher at her alma mater. Re-turning to Bishops’ just four years after leaving the institution was, in her words, ‘a lovely thing … coming back to your alma mater as a teacher.’ Ms. O’Jon revealed that Christian discipline has always been a part of her life. Her parents were both missionary workers, and members of the Christian Brethren Fellowship, an indigenous body started, by an Anglican clergyman in 1827. “So I grew up in a Christian home, got saved early, nine years, and baptized at 15,” she asserted. At Bishops’ she was a Bible Club member, part of the Inter-School and Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship, (IS/IVCF) an inter-denominational student ministry which facilitates the proclamation of the gospel, and which she describes as a ‘bulwark for many a Christian’. Still a part of the Christian Brethren Fellowship, she is also a member of Aglow International, Guyana, (formerly Women’s Aglow) which meets regularly to pray, essentially for the country, members’ spouses, and each other. Members also get involved in extra-church activities such as reaching out evangelically to street children. Ms. O’Jon left Bishops’ and joined the staff of the Ministry of Educa-tion’s Science/Math Unit (SMU), then a part of the National Centre for Education Resource Development (NCERD), as Science Education Coordinator/Teacher. She and SMU team members visited schools in several areas across the country, supervising and supporting

teachers. After leaving the Ministry of Education, upon retirement, Ms. O’Jon went to work in ‘the bush’ as it were. She took up an offer to teach Science voluntarily at a community school in Hauraruni, a co-operative village three miles off the Linden-Soesdyke Highway, founded by the Guyana Full Gospel Fellow-ship. When asked to teach there, she had intended staying just two years, but after a ‘revelation’ by one Prophet Conrad Jordan that ‘God would lift the curse of ignorance in Guyana’ she de-cided to stay on. Later, when the students did well, she took the examination results as a reward from God for what was done. After a seven-year stint at Hauraruni, Ms. O’Jon left the com-munity and turned her attention to helping Ms. Dalgety start her own school. Four years later, her colleague and friend (to whom she deferred as the one with the vision) opened the doors of Dominion Schools on Regent Road, with Ms. O’Jon assisting in administration. ‘God First’ was their guide, coupled with the motto ‘Knowledge with Integrity honours God’. The school admitted its first ‘batch’, two one-year-old pupils in September 2001. The institution now has an enrolment of 45 children, and a staff of nine. And plans are underway to establish Dominion branch-es in various parts of the country, hence the plural ‘Schools’ in the name. What does the future hold for Dominion? Ms. O’Jon responds that Ms. Dalgety is considering expanding the school to ac-commodate a secondary department, as both of them are sec-ondary-trained, and only ‘dabbling’ in primary education as she laughingly puts it; furthermore, they are setting their sights beyond secondary education to offer subjects at the university level since Ms. Dalgety has been trained in distance education, the vehicle to be used for the delivery of such a programme. Ms. O’Jon draws social and spiritual sustenance from present and past membership in a number of organizations including the aforementioned Aglow International, the Caribbean Mis-sions and Research Ministries, a pastor-mentoring organization led by Guyanese Paul Woolford, and the Valley of Decision Ministry, started by Trinidadian, Sister Gloria Gray, which holds faith-based ‘Fast Camps’ (no food, only water, for three days) periodically. She has received several commendations and awards for her educational and religious investment over the years. These include an Outstanding Service and Dedication award from The Bishops’ High School on its 125th anniversary, one from IS/IVCF in appreciation of sterling contribution to the ministry, and an SMU joint-prize awarded at a Commonwealth Associa-tion of Science and Math Educators competition. Ms. O’Jon is also a health enthusiast, and she is especially proud of an award she received from Golden Neo-Life Diamite, an international health-food corporation, for helping to sell a large amount of its Soft-Gel diet supplements. What about the age gap between her and her students? Never having had children of her own, she admits, “I am glad for the opportunity to interact with young persons, and to help to mould them; yes it was happening at Bishops’ but at that age (over 11) many of your mores are fixed; here our youngest is two years and our oldest is 10, and … I just see myself as devot-ed to this school.” Christ-centred, success-oriented, and an education pioneer in her own right, Ms. Joy O’Jon continues to seek excellence in her work, and in her charges. This, as much as anything else she has done, qualifies her to receive KN’s ‘special person’ sta-tus. By Dennis Nichols, Kaieteur News

Success-oriented educator, Joy O’Jon, is a ‘Special Person’

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OLE TIME BOTTOM HOUSE FETE

The Ole Time Bottom House was held on June 13, 2015 at St. John the Devine Church Hall. Good music, tasty food and plenty fun!

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Live Below the Line – Rising to the Challenge! In April 2015, I signed up take part in a global poverty awareness campaign called Live Below The Line. The LBTL campaign invited individuals, groups and communities across Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom and New Zealand, to eat and drink on just $1.75 a day (the Canadian equivalent of the extreme poverty line) for five days to demonstrate the problem in a concrete way, while raising money to address the problem. 1.2 billion people around the world currently live below this line lacking the basic choices and opportunities that most of us take for granted. Given my passion about international development, from the time I learned about LBTL, I knew that I had to put myself to the test. I was excited to take up this Challenge from April 27th to May 1st, in support of the work of the ONEXONE Foundation’s First Nations School Breakfast Program. The core of my meal plan was Quinoa, Dhal, Crackers, and Apple. Other items: oatmeal, chickpeas, eggs, coconut wa-ter. I saved money by purchasing the dried stuff from a bulk store. I calculated portion/costs per the budget - $8.75 for 5 days. Based on my plan, on Monday I cooked a pot of qui-noa and dahl. I started the day just drinking water. Early afternoon, I had my first bite. Late afternoon/early evening, I ate crackers; at night, I had my quinoa dinner. I drank wa-ter until bedtime. Interesting enough, as I drank water, I thought about how fortunate I was to freely and easily have clean water to drink. Monday: 1 egg, 1/4 of apple, 2 crackers with a bit of hum-mus, quinoa & dhal, coconut water (little less than half cup). Tuesday: Portion of oatmeal with a 1/4 apple, 3 crackers with hummus, quinoa & dhal, coconut water (portion). Wednesday's menu was: 1/4 apple, 3 crackers with a bit of hummus, chickpeas &cucumber, quinoa & dhal. Thursday: oatmeal with apple, some coconut water, an egg sandwich with lettuce and a bit of hummus; and, of course, water. Friday, final day, my menu was a cup of tea, 4 crackers with hummus, 1/4 apple, quinoa,& dhal with a couple pieces of broccoli and chickpeas. Throughout the week, I felt good. I am a late sleeper so the nights put me to the test. Water became my friend and was a good side effect. I must say that on the Wednesday night I had a craving for something else and it was difficult. I had passed by a food court in a shopping centre that I had visited that afternoon and I believe that stirred my eat-

ing sensors. I had a good talk with myself and I was able to stay on track. Thursday was a comfortable day right through to bedtime. By then, I felt that my mind and body had adjusted to the change and I thought about the amazing nature of the human body. I went to bed on an emotional high note. Friday night came with the satisfaction that I had done it. I learned important lessons about food por-tions and my levels of satisfaction as I returned to my regular diet that weekend. Heartfelt thanks to relatives and friends who sup-ported my fundraising campaign goal. In Canada alone, over $230,000 was raised "to empower some of the world's poorest communities." My congratulations to everyone who attempted the LBTL challenge! Peggy Edwards

  

CHAPTERS ON THE NET  

Some of our Chapters are now on the internet— 

 Toronto www.bhstoronto.com New York www.bhsnytristate.org Washington www.bhswashmetro.org Guyana www.bhsosa.org.gy London www.bhsukeurope.com Florida bhsflorida.org BHS Alumni Hub www.bishopshighschool.com 

POPULAR QUOTES My grandmother started walking five miles a day when she was sixty. She's ninety-three today and we don't know where the hell she is.- Ellen De-generes I can resist everything except temptation—Oscar Wilde You'll always miss 100% of the shots you don't take. - Wayne Gretzky

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Secretary-General Appoints Catherine Pollard of Guyana Under-Secretary-General for General Assembly and Conference Management

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today announced the appointment of Catherine Pol-lard of Guyana as Under-Secretary-General for General Assembly and Conference Management. She will succeed Tegegnework Gettu of Ethiopia, to whom the Secretary-General is grateful for his dedicat-ed service and able leadership.

Since 2014, Ms. Pollard served as Assistant Secretary-General for General Assembly and Conference Management, prior to which she served as Assistant Secretary-General for Human Resources Management from 2008 to 2014. She was pre-viously Chief of Staff in the Department of Peacekeeping Operations, and before that, the Director of the Peacekeeping Finance Division in the Office of Programme Planning, Budget and Accounts.

Ms. Pollard’s career in the United Nations began in 1989 when she worked with the United Nations Development Pro-gramme (UNDP) as the Chief of National Execution Projects. In 1993, she joined the Department for Peacekeeping Oper-ations, and then worked as Chief Budget Officer for the United Nations Operations in Yugoslavia and Central Headquar-ters. Thereafter, she served as Chief of the Budget and Finance Section of the United Nations Volunteers.

Ms. Pollard brings a proven track record of valuable experience in General Assembly and Conference Management mat-ters, financial, human resource and general administrative management. During her 26 years with the United Nations, she acquired a solid foundation of the United Nations culture, organizational and operational structures, global initiatives and reform efforts in accordance with the Secretary-General’s priorities and strategies. In each of her assignments at senior levels, she has helped to effect real improvements in management practices, moving away from the status quo.

Born in 1960, Ms. Pollard holds a master’s in accounting from the University of the West Indies, Kingston, Jamaica.

Catherine is a BHS alumna and the niece of Misses Mavis and Magda Pollard.

MAY HATTERS’ TEA PARTY Our annual May Hatter’s Tea Party was held for the second time at our new location – the Dorset Park Baptist Church. This year it was held on Saturday May 2. Our Tea Party was a resounding success. Tickets were sold out long before the day and many regulars were disappointed. There were quite a number of first-timers this year. The Tea Party served as the activity to launch our 30th anniversary celebration year. The tables looked resplendent with their alternating green and white tablecloths and napkins. The walls were brought to life by Merrie and her magic touch of decorating. The beautiful hats worn by attendees crowned it off. The little “favors” which were handed out to all at the end made it special. Many people left saying that they will be there again next year and all comments indicated that it was a very lovely af-ternoon. Rochelle Boodie

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May Ha ers’ Tea Party 2015 

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What a task! As I sit here on a Sunday morning in February with the job of writing the President’s message for our newsletter it is sunny outside, but I bet that it is freezing cold. That’s how February and March in Canada are – when the sun is shining it is usually very very cold. Today and every day for the last six months I have been thinking of my friends. I think of those who are not well and I think how lucky I have been so far. At Reunion 2005 in Washington we “girls” (I like to refer to us as girls) who entered Bishops’ in 1964 got together for dinner on the Friday night after the cultural presentations. There were about 20 of us there. Some of us had not seen each other since we left BHS; others had kept in touch. It was really wonderful getting together again and the one night was not long enough, even though it didn’t end until 4 a.m. Just before the Reunion we heard that one of our classmates was fighting a serious battle with pancreatic can-cer. She had hoped to attend the Reunion but in the end she could not make it. She was constantly in our thoughts and prayers. A few weeks later a couple friends got together for breakfast and someone thought out loud “We should get together for a weekend.” So a plan was hatched and we decided to meet on the first weekend in November. In the meantime, the class of 1964 was again touched by news of someone fighting cancer. This time it was the brother of one of our classmates. He fought valiantly but unfortunately succumbed in September. He was only 53 – very close in age to all of us. At his viewing I ran into five of my classmates – I had not seen many of them for years even though they live here in Toronto! Fourteen of us met in Maryland that weekend. What a weekend we had! There was lots of laughter and lots of fun. We broke the faucet and flooded the kitchen; we almost burned down the deck trying to keep warm. We realized then how much our lives have been affected and influenced by BHS. Here we were – some of us seeing each other for the first time since high school – having so much in com-mon and being able to relate to each other almost instantly. I thought then that I would make sure we all kept in touch. We exchanged phone numbers and email addresses and decided that we would meet once a year in-between reun-ions. One of the “girls” said that she and a friend were coming to Toronto for our Christmas Brunch. This would be a great opportunity for those 1964 classmates who lived in the To-ronto area to get together. Nine of us got together on the Friday night before the Christmas Brunch. We had a blast. What wonderfully strong bonds we had developed at BHS! We met again at the Brunch that Sunday. We all agreed that we would get together again. My perspective on life has changed. We must celebrate each day. Let us count our blessings and always remember those who are fighting for their lives or facing other chal-

lenges. Let us not “sweat the small stuff”! Life is much too short. How lucky we all are to have attended Bishops’ High School! I have met, in the Toronto Chapter, some won-derfully supportive human beings. Most of them went to BHS at a different time than I did but we have so much in common including the love for the institution that brought us together and continues to keep us to-gether. I remember how they rallied around me when I was sick. It is wonderful to see how they support others when they are not doing well. I watch them support each other in times of great loss. This represents for me the best that being a member of this Chapter brings. So as I go forward as President I do not have any great philosophical ideas for where this Chapter should be going, although I welcome your ideas and suggestions. I do see it continuing to provide help to the School as it has over the last 20 years. But, most of all, I see the Chapter providing the support and love for its members who are, in the majority, now in the second innings. We must continue to be a close knit group who love being together having fun or working hard for our Chapter. Let us rally around each other in the true meaning of our School Hymn and be to each other “true comrade and true friend”. UPDATE: Several of my friends have since passed away. The ’64 group is going strong. We committed to finding time to get together once a month - sometimes we are 5, sometimes we are 12. We do it anyway, mindful of the fact that “life is short”. The Chapter is now 30 years old—quite an accomplish-ment! And 10 years later my views on its purpose re-main the same. Denise Savory Archer

Ten years ago

‘64’ers in Dec 2005

‘64’ers in Dec 2015

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LET US NOT FORGET

As we celebrate the 30th Anniversary of our Chapter we honor the memory of those members who are no longer with us - Olive Rodwell-Simon King Aileen Granger Sherrett Elaine Daune Small Hector Denise Giles Hunte Ingrid Dornford Rohee Bertley Farnum Betty Norma Annamunthodo Patricia Sobrian Lorraine Giles Phyllis Abraham Harris Ahilliya Naraine Sankar Khairool Yenkaya Daphne Leonore McWatt DaSilva

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If you have any comments or suggestions about the newsletter, please write to us at BHS Alumni Association (Toronto Chapter) 170-6A The Donway West Box 700 Don Mills, Ontario, M3C 2E8 or email us at dcarcher@sympatico.ca or cavewilliams@hotmail.com

Newsletter staff : Denise Savory-Archer

We remember alumni Daphne (Lennie) DaSilva nee McWatt Margery (Ting-A-Kee) Kirkpatrick Lorraine Giles – sister of Denise (Giles) Hunte, (deceased) Charlene Ogle Christobel (Deane) Hughes Marlene (Kwok) Crawford

We remember in our prayers Beryl St. Hill – mother of Hazel (St. Hill) Mar-shall Bernard Boxhill – brother of Camille, Myrna (deceased), Bernadette and QC alumni – Wal-ton, Lawrence and Roger. Carl Marshall – brother of Pansy Browne, Lur-lene Winter, and Dr. Cheryl Marshall; cousin of Lynsyd Holder, Paulette Gooding, Angela Rick-ford. Albert Eustace “Zick” Isaacs – husband of Judy (Morrison) Isaacs. Keith Anthony Nobrega - brother of Eve Nobrega and son of the late Cecile (Burgan) Nobrega; cousin of Maureen DeFreitas and hon-orary member, Joan Muss William Nichols – brother-in-law of Audrey (Knight) Nichols. Arthur Henery – brother-in-law of Mary Delph. Leslie Melville – father of Gillene (Melville) Nel-son Olga DaCamara – mother of Rose DaCamara and Pamela (DaCamara) Massiah Jonathan Clark – husband of Jennifer (Andrews) Clark Paula Ann Williams – sister-in-law of Beverly Stephenson

He who kneels before God can stand before anyone

A Prayer 

O God! Refresh and gladden my spirit. Purify my heart. Illumine my powers. I lay all my affairs in Thy hand. Thou art my Guide and my Ref-

uge. I will no longer be sorrowful and grieved; I will be a happy and joyful being. O God! I will no longer be full of anxiety, nor will I let trouble harass me. I will not dwell on the unpleasant things of life.

O God! Thou art more friend to me than I am to my-self. I dedicate myself to Thee, O Lord.

‘Abdu’l-Bahá

Thanks  to  all who have  taken  the  me  to write  us with comments about the newsle er.  However, we do need news from our membership about anything which would be of interest to our readers.  Please  do  not  hesitate  to  send  us  anything  you  have wri en or any  newsworthy items or ideas you may have. 

Quotes to think about “Don’t go into the new year holding a grudge from last year. Leave the hurts and disappointments behind.” - Joel Osteen “Life’s too short to spend it trying to keep others happy. You can’t please everyone. To fulfill your destiny, stay true to your heart.” – Joel Osteen “Encouragement to others is something everyone can give. Somebody needs what you have to give. It may not be your money; it may be your time. It may be your listening ear. It may be your arms to encourage. It may be your smile to uplift. Who knows?” – Joel Osteen