b'Message from the President & CEODear friends,It may feel out of the ordinary to wish you a Happy New Year right now, but for so many reasons, the end of August and beginning of September truly embody the New Year spirit. The smell of freshly polished classroom floors and hallways, store shelves stocked with bright new backpacks, and the anticipation of a fresh start all indicate that significant changes are about to happen. The end of summer is a powerful season, and as we look ahead to the new school year here at Indspire, were reflecting on the power of HEAD OFFICEestablishing and sustaining connections. Box 5, Suite 100 50 Generations Drive In this issue of Indspiration, youll meet 2025 Indspire Youth LaureateSix Nations of the Grand River Ohsweken, Ontario N0A 1M0 Madelaine McCracken and 2024 Guiding the Journey Award recipientFax: 866.433.3159Charlene Smoke, two educators who are building those connections into aTORONTO OFFICE bright, future-oriented network. Youll also meet Amanda Muskego, founder555 Richmond Street West, Suite 1002 of SETSUN BEAUTY and a recipient of support through our Building BrighterToronto, Ontario M5V 3B1 Fax: 416.926.7554 Futures: Bursaries & Scholarships (BBF) program, whose entrepreneurialindspire.caparadigm is rooted in the principle of reciprocity. Published by:This issue also explores the necessity of creating those connections in a good way. Mike Hager, Indspires intrepid community outreach coordinator, shares his thoughts on the importance of relationship-buildingevenmediaedgepublishing.com33 South Station Street if it means taking multiple trains, planes and ferries to do it. Nikki Cupit,Toronto, OntarioM9N 2B2 Indspires manager of student success, shares her thoughts about theToll Free: 1-866-480-4717 ways in which the reinvention of the Rivers to Success program will enablerobertt@mediaedge.caIndspire to create connections with Indigenous students that are increas- NATIONAL DIRECTOR OF PUBLISHING ingly meaningfuland the ways in which this process has mirrored her ownMaurice LaBordeEDITOR professional journey.Roma IhnatowyczNATIONAL SALES EXECUTIVES Youll also get a behind-the-scenes look at the process which transformsBill Biber, Derek de Weerdt,paradigm into practice via an interview with Madison Johns and MariahAshley Huston, Pat JohnstonMeawasige, Indspires design talents who are instrumental in gettingSENIOR DESIGN SPECIALIST Indspires message, beautifully and with impact, out into the world. Marisa GiesbrechtDESIGN SPECIALIST So let me wish you a Happy New Yearand happy reading. Bethany GiesbrechtPRESIDENT Chi miigwech, Kevin BrownSENIOR VICE PRESIDENT Robert ThompsonMike DeGagn SALES / BRANCH MANAGER President & CEO, Indspire Nancie PrivPublished September 2025Publication MailAgreement #40787580All rights reserved. The contents of this publication may not be reproduced by any means, in whole or in part, without the prior written consent of the association.Printed on 10% post-consumerFSC certified paper using soya based inks. When necessary to mail an issue in an enclosure, we use an environmentally-friendly, 100% oxo-degradable poly-wrap.8indspiration2025'