Office Sought: Butler Elementary District 53 (Vote for 4) Is there a particular issue that motivates you I am running for District 53 board because I am deeply committed to our schools and community Having lived in Oak Brook for over 16 years I've been actively involved in the community and as PTO vice president My experience and dedication allow me to understand the strengths and challenges of our schools and I want to continue contributing to their success As a parent of children with diverse learning needs I value differentiated teaching and learning approaches and my firsthand experience navigating different learning styles gives me insight into how we can best support all students thoughtful leadership that prioritizes long-term success My approach is rooted in rational common sense My goal is to offer my expertise and experience to ensure our schools continue their path of excellence balanced decisions that serve all stakeholders keeping our schools strong and our community thriving What is the role of the school board in setting and monitoring the curriculum The school board’s role in curriculum matters involves setting clear educational goals and policies that define the district’s purpose and desired outcomes The board delegates the implementation and management of the curriculum to the superintendent and staff ensuring they have the authority to pursue these educational objectives effectively the board engages in ongoing monitoring of district performance requesting necessary information from the superintendent and staff to assess whether the curriculum aligns with the district's goals and complies with established board policies Are there curriculum issues within the district that you feel need particular attention from the board Butler School District 53 maintains a strong commitment to educational excellence To meet the evolving needs of our students By leveraging the expertise of our Student Learning Department the board ensures that our curriculum remains dynamic and responsive This collaborative approach aligns with the district’s dedication to continuous improvement and innovation I believe that integrating academic content and social-emotional development fosters a holistic educational experience How do you view your role in confronting policy or curriculum controversies: provide leadership even if unpopular give a voice to constituents — even ones with whom you disagree I am dedicated to representing our community by actively listening to all stakeholders and making informed engaging in thoughtful discussions and ensuring every voice is heard We recognize that confronting policy or curriculum controversies requires the courage to engage in difficult conversations and address disagreements constructively While adhering to state mandates is essential we advocate for local control and policies that best serve our students' unique needs Our commitment to consistent leadership provides the stability necessary for effective governance ensuring decisions are made with rational common sense and a focus on long-term success By maintaining a steady and reliable approach we aim to build trust within the community and create an environment where students The RCKK slate's dedication to these principles of good governance makes us well-equipped to navigate challenges through a fair Describe your experience working in a group setting to determine policy What is your style in such a setting to reach an agreement and manage school district policy Explain how you think that will be effective in producing effective actions and decisions for your school board I have extensive experience working in group settings with parents and administrators to develop policies that prioritize the best interests of our students respectful dialogue to ensure all perspectives are heard I am also committed to standing firm on key principles when necessary This balanced approach ensures decisions are thoughtful and actionable I believe this style will be effective in managing school district policy The combination of these values will lead to effective actions and outcomes for the school board and community My style is further complemented by the other members of the RCKK slate who bring a diverse set of leadership qualities and experiences we are well-equipped to provide the strong consistent governance needed to keep our district moving forward What is your assessment of the school district's diversity and equity efforts Do you support the continuation or enhancement of such programs drawing strength from its inclusive and welcoming spirit Our district should be committed to ensuring that all students have access to high-quality education Equity means providing the right resources to help every student succeed I support initiatives that promote academic success for all these efforts must be balanced with academic excellence and remain free from political or personal agendas What makes you the best candidate for the job I’m honored to be running for the board to ensure all children in District 53 receive a well-rounded With years of corporate management experience and strategic planning skills that will benefit our schools and administrators to drive meaningful change fostering open dialogue while standing firm on key principles My priorities reflect our community’s values: ensuring a safe thriving environment for students and staff maintaining financial stability through responsible fiscal management and investing in both academics and extracurriculars to support the success of every student I believe in a whole-child approach — one that nurtures not just academic excellence Every child deserves the resources and opportunities to reach their full potential I’m committed to providing the experienced leadership and stability needed for continued progress in D53 What’s one good idea you have to better your district that no one is talking about yet A well-rounded education is about more than just test scores — it’s about developing the whole child Our students need opportunities to grow academically and emotionally while exploring their unique interests and talents That means prioritizing not just core subjects and social-emotional learning to help every child reach their full potential One initiative I’d advocate for is integrating more life skills development into our curriculum Schools do an excellent job preparing students academically but real-world skills like financial literacy By incorporating these lessons into existing coursework we can better prepare students for success beyond the classroom This teaches students how to manage and navigate life beyond academics It gives them lifelong tools for personal and professional success I will champion policies that support the whole-child approach ensuring our schools equip students with the academic excellence Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker Fire at Bailey Road shopping mall doused Some banks hit by capital squeeze Air purifiers for Dhaka: hope or hype? Chinmoy shown arrested in Saiful murder case From working as a content creator to making her debut on the silver screen with "36-24-36", Kaarina Kaisar's transition happened by chance. Nevertheless, she confidently stepped into the role of Syra, using it to highlight an important message of body positivity.  The bubbly and energetic influencer-turned-actress dropped by The Daily Star office to enjoy some delicious pasta, while sharing insights about her new film, which is now available for streaming on Chorki. Kaarina, who is known for her hilarious skits and comedic chops, had to step out of her comfort zone to portray Syra, a character whose life was marked by a series of emotional tragedies. "As I was involved with its script-writing process, I used to find ways to remove the emotional scenes but Reza, our director, made sure that I definitely essay those scenes," giggled the actress.  In reality, Kaarina has no insecurities about her appearance; self-love is very important to her. Syra, on the other hand despite being hardworking, lacks confidence. "I had to put in a lot of effort, even creating a character bio to understand the roots of her insecurities," she revealed. While talking about her favourite scene, the actress shared, "In this particular scene, my character has an emotional breakdown and starts crying out of anger, driven by the deep self-hatred instilled by the society that made her feel unworthy. She tries to cleanse herself of this feeling—repeatedly washing her hands, and her face, and spraying herself with perfume—as if trying to wash away the negativity. But then, she finally snaps."  "With a perfume bottle in hand, she screams at her reflection and breaks the mirror. It was such a raw and powerful moment, and I managed to do it all in one take." She continued, "The emotions portrayed on screen were completely authentic. No one believed I could pull it off, but I'm incredibly proud that I could. It represents a major character arc for her story." While fans have been showing love for Syra, some of them are wondering whether Kaarina would stop making social media content. Addressing this, the actress shared, "If you check my page now, you will notice I haven't been posting much lately. Even when I'm not working on films, I'm focusing on screenwriting, which is a demanding but also deeply fulfilling job."  "Writing is a passion of mine, and seeing my ideas come to life on screen brings me immense joy. For now, I'm keeping my content creation on hold to focus more on acting and screenwriting." As Kaarina continues to earn praise for her acting, the question remains about the showbiz industry's fixation on beauty standards. Will she be typecast when it comes to roles in the future? "I know, for a fact, that given how I look, I will only be approached for specific characters," the actress admitted. "While it doesn't bother me much, I do believe it's time for greater diversity and inclusivity in body types and skin tones on screen."  "As a content creator, I've received countless messages from people who found confidence in themselves after seeing how I carry myself. This has shown me how important it is to have representation for someone like me in media. We often idolise 'picture-perfect' individuals, it's high time the industry starts showcasing real women," she asserted. When Chorki released the first look of "36-24-36", Kaarina faced immense trolling as some netizens made derogatory remarks. "There is a certain crowd who have hated this movie just because I starred in it. Numerous comments were like 'Why have you taken such a fat actress', 'Oh you have taken Kaarina. The poster should be titled '48-48-48'," she shared. Despite the trolling, Kaarina was determined to tell the story. "They thought they could break my spirit, instead, they fuelled my determination to combat this mindset. These are the mass representatives of society. They make you feel inadequate for not fitting into a certain body standard."  "Through the film, we aimed to portray this reality and show how Syra ultimately learns she doesn't need anyone's validation to recognise her own worth." |বাংলাদেশঈদুল আজহার ছুটি ১০ দিন: প্রেস সচিবউপদেষ্টা পরিষদের সভায় সাইবার সুরক্ষা অধ্যাদেশ ২০২৫-এর খসড়া অনুমোদন দেওয়া হয়েছে। Please enable JavaScript to view this page correctly The family of Karen (aka Kaarina) Evelyn Poole created this Life Tributes page to make it easy to share your memories It is with deep sadness we announce the passing of .. Share and view memories of Karen (aka Kaarina).. Sign in Join now, it's FREE! Surrounded with the love and support of her family Raija Kaarina Saarela (nee Huhtala) passed away peacefully on Monday September 2 Devoted and loving wife of Rainer Saarela for 62 years Raija was born in Metsamaa Finland to the late Vaino and Laina Huhtala Dear sister of Ilmi Ohlson and the late ( Jean ) of Sweden Brother Osmo ( Riita) and the late ( Irmeli) Huhtala of Finland Sister Paula and the late (Timo) of Finland Nephew Harri Huhtala (Teija) and Niece Hanna Huhtala (Mika) also of Finland Beloved mother of  Aija Maria Keating (Dale) Cherished Mummo of  Late first Grandchild (Erika Laina Keating) Zakari Mikael Keating of British Columbia and Joshua Johannes Keating (Emily) of Huntsville Beloved mother of Joan Tuulikki Phillips ( Curtney) Cherished Mummo of Danika Maija Phillips (Troy) of California Isaak Mikael Phillips ( Julianna) of Barrie Beloved mother of Michael Johannes Saarela ( Alana ) Cherished Mummo of Emma Tuuli Saarela ( Brady) of Midland,  Kai Michael Saarela (Avery) of Parry Sound Finland and as a young adult she moved to Helsinki for work Raija met Rainer there and the rest is history If Rainer tells the story it was pretty much love at first site They married soon after in February of 1961 In the winter of 1967 with a 5 year old in tow Raija and Rainer made the bold decision to leave their beloved Finland and move to Toronto They came in search of a new adventure and over the next several years they grew their family found employment and learned a new language In 1976 they moved to Barrie Ontario and this has been their home ever since Raija and Rainer built a very successful business (Rainers Siding inc 1979) They spent their summers with the kids on Catchacoma Lake in the Kawartha Highlands where they enjoyed nature They spent their winters in Lake Worth Florida and also in Harjavalta Finland with Raija’s family She followed all of their accomplishments with immense joy She would have loved to have seen what more the future held for them Raija’s personality was larger than life One of her favourite pastimes was shopping and her kids new just where to find her if she wasn’t at home.  She taught all of us the importance of knowing our Finnish language and heritage.  Mostly she was a shinning example of what it means to have SISU Raija battled her last five years with Cancer and dementia She and Rainer made their home at Victoria Village seniors residence and Raija eventually transitioned to Victoria Manor long term care Rainer became a regular fixture on the 3rd floor where he visited every day and lovingly fed Raija lunch and dinner as well as taking her out on the patio for daily sunshine and fresh air Raija received exceptional care at Victoria Manor caring and compassionate from top to bottom We would like to thank the Windsor 3rd floor Nurses PSW’s and other support staff from the bottom of our hearts and the peaceful transition you provided in her final days As per Raija’s wishes cremation has taken place and there will be no funeral service.  Raija wanted her family to remember her in private ( this was in keeping with how she lived her life) Donations can be made to the Victoria Manor Long term care Condolences can be shared at www.marshalldrivercremation.ca YOU FOUGHT FOR US ALL IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER YOUR LOVE IN OUR HEARTS WE’LL ETERNALLY KEEP Senior Tynan O’Donoghue and sophomore Kaarina Williams of Walt Whitman High School both struck gold at the 2024 Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association (MPSSAA) State Diving Championships Whitman is just the fourth school to sweep the boys and girls titles in one year since diving became an official MPSSAA sport in 2012 O’Donoghue and Williams are Montgomery County’s first-ever co-Athletes of the Week the Montgomery County Sports Hall of Fame is partnering with Montgomery Community Media to honor an Athlete of the Week from the county’s more than 40 public and private high schools O’Donoghue (left) and Williams celebrate 1st place finishes at the 2024 MPSSAA State Diving Championships at the University of Maryland They both work really hard and they both deserve it,” head coach Theresa Vaghi told MCM “It’s so fun to see how far they can push themselves and then succeed.” O’Donoghue finished with a score of 488.20 with less than seven points separating Williams’s 395.95 from the silver medal Whitman also took bronze in both classifications Coach Vaghi was not surprised that four of the top six divers in the state were Vikings “Any one of them would be a top diver at another school,” Vaghi said “We can always count on a lead going into the swim portion of meets because dive is always first.” O’Donoghue is committed to dive for Duke University Vaghi is excited to see what’s in store for the next two years great work ethic and she’s always willing to try more,” Vaghi said keep practicing and doing what she does.” Cooper is a junior journalism student at the University of Maryland interning at MCM for the Spring '24 semester He is pursuing a career in sports journalism and has experience in local news and features Colossal Finnish artist Kaarina Kaikkonen (previously) transforms old consumer products into sculptural works that are presented both in galleries and as sprawling site-specific installations lines of shirts hang in orderly lines above city streets while in smaller pieces like “I Feel Safe” (2015) she creates an angel-like formation with spread shirt sleeves as wings the artist built a site-specific installation in Tempere Finland using Finnish cross country skis to create a colorful support for an angular building Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member now Join more than 200,000 subscribers and get the best of art and visual culture from Colossal Copyright © 2025 Colossal. See our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy A higher cumulative genetic burden for depression is associated with an increased risk for relapse and worsening disability in people with multiple sclerosis (MS) the current analysis used polygenic risk scores for depression which summarize the estimated effect of genetic variants to determine the potential association with MS disease activity so results are less likely to be explained by reverse causality This study increases awareness of the link between depression and MS assistant professor at the College of Pharmacy in UM’s Rady Faculty of Health Sciences,  told Medscape Medical News. “We’re starting to understand how depression affects relapses and disability progression in MS,” she said To read more, please visit News Health , , The University of Manitoba community is saddened to learn Dr , Research from graduate students in the College of Nursing was the inspiration for the theme of this year’s Helen Glass Research Symposium , , , , When Bryan Kwak was a UM undergraduate student he sat in on a dental school info session that left a lasting impression , , , , View All Stories This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Finnish artist Kaarina Kaikkonen creates site-specific installations by recycling secondhand clothing The artist suspends the garments like a line of laundry hanging out to dry Who would have thought that clotheslines would make such intriguing and eye-catching art In an interview with Liverpool Daily Post Kaikkonen reveals her personal connection to each of these clothing-based art projects that are the apparel artist worked with men's jackets finding inspiration from memories of her late father Kaikkonen has turned her attention onto the memory of her late mother Holding on to clothing is a way of holding on to memories of people hanging the articles of clothing high above is freeing Kaikkonen's large-scale installations have lined many streets and fields across the world She began her creative apparel adventures in the 80s and has grown to master the art of lined clothing installations Her pieces really transform any space they inhabit Want to advertise with us? Visit My Modern Met Media Celebrating creativity and promoting a positive culture by spotlighting the best sides of humanity—from the lighthearted and fun to the thought-provoking and enlightening After losing her father at a formative age Kaikkonen would embrace herself in his shirts to retain his presence around her.  I like to think that a little bit of this love My first large-scale installation - Concession Already Made - created out of jackets similar to my father’s An architect resides in the mind of Kaikkonen who likes to create architectural forms through her art. When she designs new installations in public spaces, it develops into a dialogue between visual art and surrounding urban architecture The installation Are We Still Going On is conceived specifically for the former factory of Max Mara Fashion Company accompanies the compositional structure of the building from the 50s The artwork was made of old used shirts that were collected from the local area In this work female and male shirts are on opposite sides of the boat Every person is important to keep the structure of a boat together.  For Kaikkonen the form of a ship made of shirts is a symbol of our life in this society “It poses a series of questions to us,” mentions Kaikkonen so each shirt carries memories of unique life and love.” it shed a light on the function of the buildings that carry the visual rhythms – an attribution to material and colour.  Francesca Miglietti, the curator of Kaikkonen’s ongoing show Tied Together at M77 in Milano, Italy “Kaikkonen knows that recreating experiences is remembering thereby showing the other side of a presence: the clothes contain the presence of the wearer and her work confronts the viewer with something new yet unfamiliar but at the same time extremely familiar and intimate.” In the summer of 2023, Kaikkonen will make two outdoor installations in Italy: Bergamo and Brescia. At both the cultural capitals in 2023, she is invited to make art installations for public spaces together with a small theatre group. The visual artist does not refrain from accepting that consumption of contemporary art is rooted in personal experience where a context – be it private or public - plays a significant role “I think that a viewer is also a small artist when interpreting art it has more to say than my little brain can imagine Dilpreet Bhullar shuttles between New Delhi and Mumbai With an MPhil in Comparative Literature (University of Delhi) she has been the recipient of the Alliance for Historical Dialogue and Accountability Fellowship (Columbia University New York) and International Centre For Advocates Against Discrimination Fellowship she is the Editorial Manager of the magazine TAKE which is dedicated to South Asian contemporary arts When a famed Indian artist used a protest poet’s words without credit it raised a deeper question: who gets to speak The veteran curator on the Sharjah Biennial 16 and collection-building as history-writing This selling exhibition has been conceived as a collaboration between WWF to further ocean conservation initiatives across the UK A museum at Cambridge University examines Britain’s role in the transatlantic slave trade between 1750-1850 Exclusive preview for subscribers. Learn More Make your fridays matter. Learn More © Copyright 2019-2025 STIR Design Private Limited Please confirm your email address and we’ll send you a link to reset your password All your bookmarks will be available across all your devices Password must be 8 characters long including one capital letter By creating an account, you acknowledge and agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy by STIR Select the Conversation Category you would like to watch Please enter your details and click submit Single account access for STIRworld.com,STIRpad.com and exclusive STIRfri content Verification link sent to check your inbox or spam folder to complete sign up process by Dilpreet Bhullar | Published on : Jan 16 The exhibition arises from a collaboration between Collezione Maramotti (owner of the works) and K11 Art Space It displays two installations by Finnish artist Kaarina Kaikkonen who has exhibited her pieces all over the world and is famous for her creations where the boundaries between sculpture architecture and nature tend to blur and disappear Kaarina Kaikkonen works directly on spaces such as for example jackets and shirts which are her plastic tools of choice Installations made of second-hand garments become devices preserving collective and personal memories which should not be lost The two titles of the works on display stress the notion of community The monumental features of her pieces are blended in with a soul linked to impermanence and fragility of materials evoking the fragility of humankind ”I like creating a dialogue between myself I also like the idea of bringing my works closer to people that usually do not visit museums or art galleries… I often pick garments as material has been commissioned by Collezione Maramotti and crated by the artist for the former garment manufacturing facilities of Max Mara (now housing the Collection): it was exhibited for one year in the Collezione with a relevant success With this work the space is redefined as an inhabited and habitable place recalling the hull of a ship The simple lines of the hull are divided in two parts that expand from the ceiling to brush the floor with an even semicircular compositional rhythm given by shirts knotted together evoking a dialogue between male and female An evocative work which - although figurative and sculptural in its approach - moves towards the dimension of an “emotional landscape” through the use of the delicate tones of the shirt fabric and the presence of light inside an airy and suspended composition From Generation to Generation rests on the ground: it recalls a large skeleton where the plastic sequence of jackets hints clearly at the passing of time Men’s jackets have become a central item of Kaarina Kaikkonen’s work since the late Eighties; their choice as means of expression is linked to the death of the artist’s father when she was ten: wearing her father’s clothes was at the time an attempt to feel his presence longer their artistic elaboration has come to represent a sort of catharsis which came to embrace a much wider reflection on separation and loss are inseparably intertwined and recall a feeling of transiency also evoked in the titles of the pieces From Generation to Generation thus becomes a metaphor for life so that they become part of us; a relational system between generations enabling us to know who we are and strengthening our individual and collective identity In essence Kaarina Kaikkonen’s sculptural installations represent a concert of voices passing by and dialoguing with social spaces they are the story of each of us and everyone; a story that openly conveys a universal feeling which everyone can identify with and glean what each of us experiences most strongly The exhibition also features a video made in 2012 by Beatrice Marchi during the ten days of the installation of the work at Collezione Maramotti by the artist with the help of a team of young women who is no stranger to creating environmental art that deals with the significance of recycling the large-scale presentation draws the viewer in to further observe each leaf be it leaning against a wall or haphazardly piled amongst other leaves given an ant's perspective of descending Autumn leaves paving the way for inevitable seasons to follow View upcoming auction estimates and receive personalized email alerts for the artists you follow A leading artist on the international scene, Kaarina Kaikkonen (Iisalmi 1952) has exhibited in some of the most prestigious museums in the world such as MAXXI (2012) and the Centro per l’Arte Contemporanea Luigi Pecci (2014) as well as having been a guest at the Collezione Maramotti with the large-scale installation Are We Still Going On The artist is known for her environmental projects and impressive installations made of clothing elements which represent a set of voices in dialogue with social spaces As the title of the exhibition—Tied Together—suggests her installations reflect a precise vision of the world: that of a common human journey in which the closeness of the other is an indispensable factor Kaikkonen weaves poetics capable of questioning and dialoguing with the surroundings giving a new lease of life to garments that reassuring and disturbing all at the same time Their presence irrevocably evokes an absence in the antithetical coexistence of concepts such as covering and unveiling z2o Sara Zanin Gallery is pleased to present the third solo show by the Finnish artist Kaarina Kaikkonen Kaikkonen’s alphabet is composed of fragments of everyday stories and existence These fragments are everyday discarded clothes and objects that bear the traces of their previous lives jackets and cutlery become monuments to past existences and trustees of traditional social ethical and political values in communication with the environment in which they return to life Apparently fragile as a cloth fluttering in the wind Kaarina Kaikkonen’s work is starched and stiffened until it attains the solidity of a weighty monument The clothes are a sensitive film that separate and relate the human being to the surrounding environment propagating the individual’s identity in society the garment is a guardian of its owner’s secrets Using it as raw material is a way for Kaarina Kaikkonen to involve people’s lives in her work and lend them a universal dimension Each of the works has its origins in Kaikkonen’s artistic sensibility and capacity to listen to the place Her creations are born of a process which is a premise for their existence; through the involvement and participation of the local inhabitants called to donate their old clothes or to collaborate in the installation of the works the artist activates relational dynamics in order to restore the traditional cohesion between the individuals and their social surroundings The single sculpture becomes an installation invading the architectonical space or natural landscape and is the outcome of theaesthetic and ethical bond between art in which each element is connected to the other in which the individualsare bound together in a community with its particular place The overpowering immediacy of Kaarina Kaikkonen’s works resides in their universal anthropological meaning that can tell a story or be read without captions as the landscapes created by the artist are nothing less than landscapes of persons,each with their own interior geographies ceramicist and glasswork designer explains how working with buildings informs her creative process on a smaller scale Hanna-Kaarina Heikkilä originally trained as an architect and has spent the past three years working with Finnish practice OOPEAA Office for Peripheral Architecture which represented Finland at the 2014 Venice Architecture Biennale she retrained as a product designer on the ceramics and glass course at Aalto University and has already earned widespread praise for her luminous hand-blown glass pieces which were presented earlier this year in Milan Icon met up with Heikkilä in Helsinki to talk about designing at different scales ICON: It’s fascinating that you originally trained and still work as an architect but are now also moving towards product design my background is originally in architecture I studied in Tampere at the University of Technology there are actually only three places where you can study architecture I haven’t yet completed my master’s thesis I’ve been working for about six years and I really need to complete it HKH: Either Japanese tea-house culture or modular facades I’d really like to apply my knowledge of ceramics to make a more modern facade using ceramic or brick modular systems ICON: How does one get from architecture to ceramics It was so fascinating to work so directly with the material When I came back to Finland I worked for another two years but eventually I decided to apply for a course so I could do something with materials OOPEAA is a very material-oriented practice but I also wanted to work with materials on a small scale to experiment and try to figure things out ICON: What kind of work do you do at OOPEAA I do architecture across many different kinds of projects Sometimes I do urban planning; I’ve been involved in housing projects The Puukuokka apartment complex in the Jyväskylä suburb of Kuokkala ICON: Your interest in materiality at small scales – with glass and ceramics – and then in the larger scales of architecture must inform each other in an interesting way … any project is always grounded in conceptual thinking so it’s the same principles in the design process even when working at different scales different materials are used at different scales and there are various kinds of details to consider for different materials but there are similarities in terms of the creative processes I also think that when you understand a certain material really well at a small scale you know what you have to do to gain that same knowledge of any other material ICON: Your Keshini range suggests you have a very good understanding of glass Can you talk a bit about the process of making those HKH: The idea was to study the materiality of glass I had been making watercolour paintings of landscapes and I wanted to simplify the landscapes But it took a lot of testing and many different kinds of experiments with the colour to eventually get the glass to resemble the watercolours.  Images: Aki-Pekka Sinikoski; Mikko Auerniity ICON: It’s interesting talking about experimentation because compared to London or Eindhoven where design schools are often driven by conceptual the approach in Helsinki feels very pragmatic Many people here aren’t really thinking about the culture of design they do much more conceptual work than we do in Finland And the way they make architecture is so different We have very strict building regulations in Finland and many times when I was working in Japan I just thought ICON: Do you plan to continue with architecture or will you now focus on product design When I applied to study again on the glass and ceramics programme at Aalto everyone thought I was giving up on architecture I like the projects and I like working in the office I’ll definitely be contining to work with architecture projects ICON: Any other exciting projects on the horizon to develop a table lamp drawing on the Keshini pieces I’m also involved in a couple of projects for Helsinki Design Week [in September] who are launching a new concept at Habitare Not least of which is to finish my architecture thesis Arte Povera – A New Chapter explores the work of women artists inspired by the Arte Povera movement Artwork featuring hundreds of donated shirts hung up in part of Jersey will be reimagined in a new exhibition later this month Down Иorth: North Atlantic Triennial and CHART suggest a model of regional exhibition-making that teases out threads of particularity to refute essentialism common in contemporary art Irish Gaelic speakers, at ease with one of the oldest languages still used in the British Isles, have long enjoyed the work of Derry O'Sullivan but that has been less easy for those us with English only and maybe a smattering of something to help on holidays along with other award winners in four categories which attracted entries from poetry translators aged between eight and 86 The range is impressive; the finalists in the under-14 section alone translated poetry from French Dr Rollo's choice was O'Sullivan's Marbhghin 1943: Glaoch ar Liombo an elegy on his stillborn brother by the 68-year-old poet a former priest who is now married with three children and teaches at universities in Paris The poem has previously been translated into English by Michael Davitt and O'Sullivan himself has translated Irish poetry into French and collaborated with a Mexican artist in Latin But Hollo's work was rated by the judges as exceptional and especially welcome The poem is described in The Cambridge History of Irish Literature as: one of the most achingly beautiful Irish poems of the twentieth century My own family background is German, Finnish, Latvian and Kashubian so I have never considered myself someone with a fixed mono-cultural identity I could perhaps see myself as a bit of a translation People are sometimes surprised to find out that I have no family connection to Ireland but the Irish language and the literature and culture associated with it are so rich and interesting that there is really no reason for that Kaarina Hollo; teacher at Sheffield University and The Grapes.I first got into the language through listening to Irish music as a child, particularly the Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem. I didn't actually start studying it until I was 13 or so when a friend of the family gave me a copy of Teach Yourself Irish You can read her translation Stillborn 1943: Calling Limbo, see the poem in the original Irish and check out the judges' comments at length on the website of the Stephen Spender Trust here Maine resident Debra McKenna received item in post after it was unearthed by metal detectorist An American woman’s high school class ring, which was lost in Maine in 1973, has been found in a forest in Finland Debra McKenna lost the item in Portland when she was a student at Morse high school, the Bangor Daily News reported She said the ring was largely forgotten until a metal detectorist found it buried under 20cm (8in) of soil in a forested Finnish park 47 years later Read moreMcKenna said she cried when the ring arrived in the mail at her home in Brunswick last week The ring was buried in a Finnish forest Photograph: WGME“It’s very touching in this world of negativity to have decent people step forward and make an effort,” McKenna said A Finnish Ilta-Sanomat news organisation reported in January that Marko Saarinen was using a metal detector in a park in Kaarina He noticed its inscription “Morse high school” and contacted the school’s alumni association It identified Shawn as the owner because it also bore the 1973 graduation date and the initials “SM” Associated Press contributed to this report Helen Kaarina Doda (nee Jokinen) lived a full life with Fashion; with Dance; with Poetry; with SISU Born in Sault Ste Marie to Jenny and Urho Jokinen Helen spent her first 10 years on her Grandfather Nestor’s farm in Wabos It was here Helen developed her love of fishing and hunting Helen married Gordon Stewart in 1946 and had a son In 1953 - 1963 Helen married Len Ciaschini a local artist and Big Band Leader of Len Ciaschini & The Continentals In 1964 - 1992 Helen married Casey Doda and became Step Mother to Donna Helen renewed her love of the outdoors and refined her skills as a great Fisherwoman and hunter - a mother who dropped her kids off at school - after the morning hunt She was known for getting the biggest Moose in town They spent their years dancing at the Legion; road tripping to Florida; and frequenting Finn Fest events throughout Ontario Helen modelled for a women’s boutique in Burlington and studied Gemology Helen’s love of Lake Huron brought her to Balm Beach where she lived out her final days with Family As per Helen’s wishes cremation has taken place and there will be no funeral services Memorial donations can be made in Helen’s memory (payable by cheque or online) to The Ontario Finnish Rest Home Foundation “Do not think of me as ‘DEAD’ — I have a gift card in my pocket and I have gone shopping!” - Helen Please Remember Her More In Memoriam > Switch to the dark mode that's kinder on your eyes at night time Switch to the light mode that's kinder on your eyes at day time by 2012-03-08, 9:37 PMupdated 2017-12-05, 7:34 PM 5 Comments Report I just wrote an incredibly long comment but after I clicked submit my comment didn’t appear Grrrr… well I’m not writing all that over again It’s really a cool and useful piece of info I’m satisfied that you simply shared this helpful information with us Just wanted to say I love reading your blog and look forward to all your posts Everyone loves it when folks come together and share views Unleash your creativity and share you story with us Enter your account data and we will send you a link to reset your password To use social login you have to agree with the storage and handling of your data by this website Here you'll find all collections you've created before Tokmanni, Finland's largest variety discount retailer, is expanding its store in the Piispanristi area of Kaarina by approximately one thousand square metres by taking the business premises next door to its store into use which are in the same building as the store will first house an outlet department in which discontinued items from the variety discount retailer’s assortment will be sold at very low prices the Tokmanni store in Kaarina will be comprehensively refurbished and the outlet will make way for the refurbishment of the store and an expanded assortment The expansion work began in the Tokmanni store in September and the aim is to open the outlet to customers in October “Our customers in Kaarina have been asking for assortments that are even wider than we have now The outlet department that will be opened in October and the expansion of the assortment in connection with the store refurbishment at the beginning of next year will enable us to respond to our customers' wishes," says Harri Koponen Store Network and Concept at Tokmanni which serves customers alongside the temporary outlet will continue to offer a comprehensive and an interesting assortment of especially beauty as well as non-perishable foods at very low prices the store’s garden department will sell a wide selection of yard and garden products such as plants and flowers and seasonal tools And there will be even more next year when the store is modernised in accordance with Tokmanni’s newest store concept that emphasises quick and easy shopping The store’s already diverse assortment will become even wider in connection with the modernisation will continue to serve its customers also during the expansion work Tokmanni’s store chain is growing and modernising Tokmanni aims to expand its store network to more than 220 stores in Finland Tokmanni has 195 stores throughout the country Kaarina Valavaara spent a year in an Indigenous youth internship program in the British Columbia Public Service where she was surrounded by amazing Indigenous leaders and mentors who instilled in her the importance of using her privilege in education to serve their communities “I know many Indigenous Peoples do not have the ability to complete post-secondary education so I have always felt a sense of responsibility to use that education in a way that benefits Indigenous communities,” she says As a student at the University of Alberta's Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine she joined the Occupational Therapy and Indigenous Health Network where she says at the time “I was the only self-identified Indigenous student and didn’t always see my experience reflected in the curriculum.”  She found a sense of purpose in connecting with other OTs interested in Indigenous Peoples’ health and found some amazing mentors who continually pushed her outside of her comfort zone to participate in presentations “I was the only self-identified Indigenous student and didn’t always see my experience reflected in the curriculum.” I started to believe that I had something to contribute to the profession and could combine my undergraduate knowledge lived experience as a Métis woman and occupational therapist to help educate those who may not know much about the ongoing impacts of colonization on Indigenous Peoples’ health and help co-create strategies for reconciliation within OT,” she says In 2011 Kaarina graduated with an MSc in Occupational Therapy she stepped up to volunteer to chair the Occupational Therapy and Indigenous Health Network I had no idea how to organize a teleconference (I’m that old…no zoom then) I know I made mistakes and had a huge learning curve but hope I kept some momentum going,” she says But things got better through collaboration “I found my voice and role as an educator and advocate,” she says Kaarina has been advocating with the Occupational Therapy and Indigenous Health Network for 10 years In response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC): Calls to Action “I have seen a substantial and optimistic shift in increasing awareness that occupational therapy needs to turn a lens on itself to understand how the ‘status quo’ may be oppressive to Indigenous People There is still much work to be done in terms of translating that awareness into practical meaningful changes in our day-to-day work as occupational therapy education research and practice but I feel that the scales have tipped We are fortunate in Canada that overwhelmingly occupational therapy leaders and educators recognize the importance of responding to the TRC Calls to Action but now the hard work begins when we look at changing how we practice As a clinician Kaarina finds her job rewarding “when I can use our skills in activity analysis to collaborate with a client to break down what feels like an overwhelming task to them into something manageable even if it as simple as a bath seat so someone can feel safe going home from the hospital I find it rewarding that I can make a small difference during a challenging time for someone.” students or colleagues feel disrupted and full of ideas that they can’t quite put together “Any work around reconciliation and decolonization are inherently uncomfortable and challenging and if we get too comfortable as health care providers then we are not open to learning from Indigenous Peoples and communities.” Having worked ‘off the side of her desk’ advocating for changes in the OT profession to be more equitable for Indigenous Peoples her entire career Kaarina hopes her lecture will encourage and maybe even challenge other clinicians who may not feel they have the skills or clout to make a change I hope to challenge those in leadership who have influence to make space and support future Indigenous OTs so they can see their experiences reflected in occupational therapy curriculum and practice and don’t feel they have to compartmentalize their culture and experience to be an effective “I think students and clinicians who see the need for equity in their practice area but may not ‘see’ a path or may feel intimidated in taking the step to tackle big challenges of equity and reconciliation may benefit from hearing my story and some ideas of how to get involved — without a Ph.D Kaarina values the importance of finding and working in community when you are seeking to advocate for change She will share ideas and the importance of how the OT profession can make meaningful progress on reconciliation and justice alongside Indigenous Peoples “I become an advocate out of necessity — not because it was a conscious choice but because I had a sense of obligation to my community to improve how occupational therapists practice and support Indigenous Peoples and communities we are very pleased that Kaarina can provide the lecture in person but it will also be live streamed for the larger virtual community The 18th Kelly Bang Lectureship is scheduled on Thursday, November 18, 2021 from 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm AST. Register now to attend the in-person lecture or to receive a link to our virtual livestream. The Kelly Bang Lectureship celebrates the memory of Kelly Bang, a nationally known occupational therapist, lecturer, writer, artist and counselor for survivors of child and sexual abuse. The memorial lecture was established by her family to honour those whose research, practice, teaching and advocacy advanced opportunities for women and other marginalized adults within their communities. On Sunday, Kaarina and Jay Gorham and their families will celebrate the first birthday of their daughter, a little girl who is the picture of health thanks to a big brother who was sick at an opportune moment and her mother's intuition. Alyssa Gorham was born at Health Sciences North on March 16, 2013, several days early and by caesarean section. She had a hemoglobin level so low, she required two blood transfusions within hours. She remained in hospital almost a week before she could go home to start her life. As Kaarina sat down a month before Alyssa's birthday to write her story for her baby book, she came across news coverage of a baby born in December 2013 in California — Hope Juarez — whose story is similar to that of her daughter's. Baby Hope was dubbed the "ghost baby" in hundreds of stories after being born without 80% of her blood as a result of fetal maternal hemorrhage, a condition in which the fetus's blood flows into the womb of its mother. Baby Hope's mother noticed days before she was born that her baby had stopped moving. Hope was also delivered early by caesarean section. Baby Hope's case has fascinated Kaarina, who has been trying to determine what percentage of blood her daughter was missing when she was born. She's not doing it to seek the limelight or to be written up in medical journals. Gorham wants to better understand Alyssa's condition at birth and how it may affect her development. Her daughter was followed in her first year of life by the neonatal unit at the hospital and met all the targets for development. Alyssa doesn't appear to have suffered neurological or other damage. Just last week, her mother took her to her pediatrician when her hands and feet were blue, concerned she might have circulatory problems related to a heart murmur at birth. Kaarina has received Alyssa's blood and medical reports, but hasn't been able to determine what percentage of blood her daughter was missing and it has been frustrating. Ghost baby or not, Alyssa is a miracle baby. Just days before Kaarina was to see her obstetrician, her son, Landon, then 20 months, suddenly came down with a serious bout of asthma. His parents took him to the emergency department at Health Sciences North. While pregnant for Landon, Kaarina had experienced high blood pressure, but she hadn't while pregnant with Alyssa. While waiting in emergency with her son, she felt unwell, but put it down to the exhaustion of being pregnant and caring for a toddler. After Landon was admitted, she asked a nurse to check her blood pressure. It was high. Kaarina was admitted and it was found her baby wasn't moving in utero. Kaarina had told her mother that a couple of days earlier and they both thought it might be because the baby was cramped. After being observed on a monitor for several hours, the decision was made to induce Kaarina's delivery. But when the baby's heartbeat was found to be irregular and she was under stress, it was time to perform a C-section. Jay and Kaarina recall Alyssa didn't cry when she was born, nor did she move much. "I remember saying, 'Is she OK, is she OK?' " said Kaarina, and that Alyssa was "white, white, white." Doctors and nurses didn't seem to be alarmed at first. Alyssa quickly latched onto Kaarina's breast and nursed for half an hour. But when nurses couldn't get a proper pulse reading from her hands and feet, and her hemoglobin level was 44 when it should have been 180-220 for her weight of 6 lbs., 6 oz., it was clear something was seriously wrong. The pediatrician on call phoned Sick Kids Hospital, who ordered a Kleihauer-Betke test on Kaarina that showed a large percentage of Alyssa's blood had flowed back into her mother. Her obstetrician later told her Alyssa would not have lived until Kaarina's appointment three days later. Alyssa had two blood transfusions, the first 14 hours after she was born. After the transfusions, "she was like a completely different baby," said Kaarina. "She was pink, she was plump, she almost looked like she gained weight." Other than Hope, according to U.S. news reports, there is one baby in the United Kingdom in 2012 who survived birth with a significant percentage of blood loss. After a month of trying to determine the severity of her daughter's condition, Gorham says perhaps she isn't meant to find out what percentage of blood her daughter was missing at birth. Her overwhelming feeling as Alyssa turns one is gratitude. When asked if she's spiritual, Kaarina said she is starting to believe "somebody out there is looking out for us because (Alyssa) wouldn't be here if it wasn't for the way circumstances happened. "I just think it's crazy how everything happened and how incredibly lucky we are to have both of our kids healthy and happy." She appreciates every single moment with them because "what if? What if we didn't go" to hospital with Landon? Landon and Alyssa are too young to understand the role the boy played in saving his little sister's life, but Kaarina said they share a special bond.
From the moment her daughter was born, her son would say: " 'Lyssa loves me.' Their bond is really cute." transmission or republication strictly prohibited This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy You don't have permissions to access this page The motivations for Dr. Kaarina Kowalec’s research are both professional and personal Kowalec, a new assistant professor in the College of Pharmacy chose a research path focused on multiple sclerosis (MS) and psychiatric illnesses in part because her mother has MS and others in her life have had mental health issues “It’s important to understand who these people are what they live with on a regular basis and how we can improve their quality of life,” she says Kowalec is interested in personalized or precision medicine – the cutting-edge idea of tailoring treatment to the individual based on their genetic profile and risk factors Genomics – the study of genomes – as well as biostatistics and epidemiology play roles in her multi-disciplinary research The professor and her lab team are analyzing population-based health data and genomic data to learn how to identify patients with MS or psychiatric disorders who are at high risk of experiencing poor outcomes a poor outcome can be a serious adverse reaction to a drug Kowalec has previously published on how a particular genomic variant is associated with drug-induced liver injury in MS patients She is currently co-investigator for a study of genomic variants that make some MS patients more susceptible to lymphopenia (an abnormally low level of a kind of white blood cell) caused by the drug dimethyl fumarate The study is funded by a National Multiple Sclerosis Society grant of $64,020 a poor outcome can mean that the illness is poorly controlled Kowalec compares the data for patients who have poor outcomes with that of patients who have better outcomes The end goal of her MS research is to one day have people with the disease give a saliva sample for genetic analysis and a few days later find out whether they are likely to have a serious reaction to a particular drug Patients with schizophrenia would find out from a saliva test whether they are genetically likely to be treatment-resistant so doctors could follow them more closely and they could be placed on more intensive drug treatment “I really don’t want to do research that’s only going to be one line in a textbook,” Kowalec says “I’m not into doing research for the sake of science – it needs to help someone.” she is interested in why drugs just don’t work well for some psychiatric patients “Between 30 and 60 per cent of people with psychiatric illnesses respond poorly to therapy,” she says bipolar disorder and anorexia nervosa often run in families and have overlapping genetic architectures clinical and demographic risk factors associated with poor outcomes in these disorders.” started her MS research while earning her PhD in pharmacogenomics and pharmacoepidemiology at the University of British Columbia Her schizophrenia research began while she was a CIHR Banting Fellow and European Commission Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions Fellow in medical epidemiology and biostatistics at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden Kowalec says she misses the Swedish tradition of fika a daily break for coffee and a sweet treat with friends or coworkers But she’s excited to be back at the U of M where she earned her bachelor’s in microbiology in 2008 and her master’s in medical microbiology in 2011 “I always wanted to come back here,” she says so I knew the quality of the research I did was identical to the quality of research I did in other places people here are trained to the same rigorous level as at the larger universities.” , , Sign In Subscribe Now Dialogue and debate are integral to a free society and we welcome and encourage you to share your views on the issues of the day. We ask that you be respectful of others and their points of view, refrain from personal attacks and stay on topic. To learn about our commenting policies and how our community-based moderation works, please read our Community Guidelines When Multiple Sclerosis (MS) comes calling “People with MS tend to have high rates of psychiatric disorders like depression and anxiety,” explained Dr. Kaarina Kowalec, assistant professor in the College of Pharmacy at the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences naming just two of the most common comorbidities you’re at an age where you’re at the beginning of your career or you’re starting your family and you don’t know if you’re going to be totally disabled tomorrow or 20 years from now For patients who have a mood disorder like depression alongside their MS – either as a pre-existing condition or one that develops as their MS progresses – it can compound an already difficult situation “Depression has been found to be associated with a faster progression of disability,” Kowalec explained that makes it doubly important to learn as much as they can about the causes and connections between the two disorders That’s why she’s been exploring the human genome to try to understand which patients have the underlying factors that might contribute to an MS patient developing depression – hopefully before the situation arises In a recent paper published in Neurology Kowalec and a team of researchers from Canada analyzed genetic data from a large group of individuals with European ancestry to investigate the relationship between depression and MS They used information from individuals in Canada with some having MS and others serving as healthy controls “What we wanted to do with this study was use genetics to see if we can identify people that might have a high risk for depression hopefully before they have depression,” she said By identifying MS patients likely to develop mental health conditions Kowalec said those patients can be targeted for an early intervention people need to live their lives,” said Kowalec “My focus is to find ways to help give people a little peace of mind help prevent poor outcomes and keep their mental and physical health strong.” , , , © University of Manitoba • Winnipeg, Manitoba • Canada • R3T 2N2 homoerotic drawings by artist Tom of Finland helped make him one of Finland's most famous artists of the 20th Century development board members in the town of Kaarina - where the artist was born - voted against renaming a street in his honour on Wednesday Open image viewerTom of Finland's birth town is not ready to name a street after him Image: Pauliina Karjalainen / YleYle News12.10.2017 15:30The southwestern town of Kaarina was not prepared to name a street after Touko Laaksonen who is widely credited for pioneering homoerotic art under the pseudonym Tom of Finland the town's development board on Wednesday voted 8-3 to rename an existing road after the philanthropist Oskari Hollmén who is credited with keeping Kaarina an independent municipality in the 1960s is considered one of Finland’s most famous artists internationally His highly stylised drawings of gay men only started to gain a mainstream following after his death in 1991 but his art had been revered by the gay community since the early 1970s a square in front of the cultural centre Logomo in Turku was named after Tom of Finland Indigenous occupational therapist teaches future occupational therapists the importance of Indigenous ways of knowing and cultural safety As an alumna and an occupational therapist Kaarina Valavaara was excited when the U of A approached her with an opportunity to help incorporate Indigenous content and cultural safety into the training materials for future occupational therapists Occupational therapy can be summed up in a few words: it helps people live their best lives injuries and the like rely on occupational therapy services to help them carry out their day-to-day activities cleaning and even moving around can be a hard task for some helps them learn how to do all of the things they once did But perhaps one of the lesser-known objectives of occupational therapy partnerships with individuals and communities who experience social justice issues and health inequities in hopes of removing some of the barriers these individuals may experience what is the responsibility and role of occupational therapists when it comes to these partnerships-when it comes to addressing health-care barriers and disparities that exist for many Indigenous peoples And how can these issues be addressed in a way that is culturally safe These are questions that Kaarina Valavaara asked herself when she was presented with a unique opportunity to teach future occupational therapists the importance of Indigenous health perspectives "I graduated from the University of Alberta's Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine with an MSc in Occupational Therapy in 2011 I was the only person who outwardly identified as Indigenous in my class and it was an isolating experience because there wasn't much information on the Indigenous ways of knowing history or health and well-being," says Valavaara Valavaara was excited when the U of A approached her with an opportunity to help incorporate Indigenous content and cultural safety into the training materials for future occupational therapists by teaching the module OCCTH 543: Indigenous Ways of Knowing and Occupational Therapy: Building Culturally Reflexive Practice alongside Calgary clinical instructor Michele Moon explored the impact of historical and current policies and practice on the health of Indigenous peoples "This course really gave students the chance to learn more about Canada's history with Indigenous peoples and the impacts that colonization has and continues to have on their health and well-being," Valavaara says "It helped them to reflect on their practices and see where they can change their practice to be culturally reflexive." Katelyn Favel, a second-year occupational therapy student at the Calgary satellite who also identifies as Indigenous can now describe herself as 'better equipped' to take on the potential barriers that Indigenous clients may face in the health-care system "I really think that being equipped with this kind of knowledge can translate into advocating better for the Indigenous population with hopes of trying to break down the barriers they experience with their health and daily lives," says Favel "I think occupational therapists need to be aware that our practice needs continual reflection and evaluation of the client process The Indigenous population is one of the fastest growing populations in Canada so it is important for occupational therapy students to be better informed on how to work with Indigenous peoples as allies and partners in a culturally safe manner in order to provide effective occupational therapy services." Fellow second-year occupational therapy student Ryan Quan feels much the same "Colonialism has and will continue to have an impact on the health and well-being of the Indigenous population-that's something I was able to take away from this module That and the fact that the aspects of occupational therapy and the concept of health held by Indigenous peoples are very similar in their holistic manner which allows occupational therapists to have a greater understanding of the health needs of this population." is the history of Indigenous peoples in Canada how colonization has and continues to negatively impact their health how clinicians can and should seek to be allies and partners with Indigenous peoples And with this course being created in the spirit of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada recommendations Valavaara also hopes students will take it upon themselves to be a solution "There's one part that the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada says best: reconciliation is a Canadian problem We need to be open and humble in order to learn from Indigenous peoples and their experiences We have to be curious and learn more in order to move forward with reconciliation Reflecting on and learning about the hard truths is a part of figuring out how to move forward I think this module gave students that knowledge."  (780) 492-2903  (780) 492-1626 labs and research stations are primarily located on the territory of the Néhiyaw (Cree) Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) and Anishinaabe (Ojibway/Saulteaux) lands that are now known as part of Treaties 6 The University of Alberta respects the sovereignty knowledge systems and cultures of all First Nations Kaarina Phyland began working with the City of Greater Geelong in 2019 FORMER City of Greater Geelong acting chief executive officer Kaarina Phyland is out the door with the city announcing her departure earlier today (Tuesday who started with the city in 2019 and was previously the city’s executive director of strategy Her tenure followed the resignation of Martin Cutter in July 2022 and preceded the appointment of new CEO Ali Wastie the city said Ms Phyland “served the community with determination and commitment” and “brought a focus on organisational design recognising the need to establish high-performing capabilities to manage and respond to the strategic cultural and performance needs of the organisation” “Kaarina has led the City through extraordinary challenges from protecting frontline jobs and supporting our many essential workers throughout COVID-19 to navigating financial pressures under one of our toughest budgets in recent years,” Geelong mayor Trent Sullivan said “I thank Kaarina for her passion and strong leadership and look forward to seeing where her career takes her in future.” Ms Wastie said Ms Phyland “initiated change that has made our organisation more strategic and working to common rhythms” “The city’s Annual Business Planning Cycle ensures that the entire organisation plans together towards common goals – no longer in silos “We will keep building on this so that we continue to make better and better decisions for our community managing our resources in the best ways possible.” Ms Phyland’s departure comes just over a week after she revealed her thoughts on the city’s financial position on her second-last day as acting CEO, comparing it to “an organisation heading into insolvency” in a post on LinkedIn.