More than half of Canadian households are now home to a dog or cat. And no wonder – our furry friends bring us much joy, companionship and comfort. But pet ownership also comes with the heartache and sadness that follows their inevitable passing. It was just such a loss that prompted counsellor and art therapist Stephanie Hartfield to launch her own program at the Kerrisdale Community Centre this fall. Ideal for anyone seeking connection, understanding and growth

As a shy child, Jessica Wampler discovered the power and magic of music. “I found through music I was able to express myself in ways I was too shy to do in my daily life,” says Wampler. “I felt the magic that music can bring, whether singing alone at home or finding the courage to somehow perform in front of a live audience.” Today, the West Side Music Together teacher helps babies and children up to

He has a master’s degree in computer science, and he’s worked as an Apple software engineer and UBC quality assurance team lead. Yet Nikhil Naidu’s career highlight stems from one small but moving moment while he was teaching. As director of Wize Computing Academy (Vancouver, Richmond and Burnaby), Naidu fondly recalls when one of his students created their very first game from scratch. “It was a simple project, but the pride they felt and the excitement they