Have you heard of Saturna Island? It is one of the prettiest of the Gulf Islands that lie off the coast of British Columbia, and is the south-easternmost island in the Salish Sea within the Canadian border.

Did you know that the marine ecosystem that we now call the Salish Sea was recognized, and named something else, some 200+ years ago?

Our neighbour John had lived in Cabo for many years and was part of an organization called Amigos de los Niños or “Friends of the Children”. He insisted that I needed to come to a meeting to hear about the social issues facing the local people. And so I did.

The naming of the “Salish Sea” began with a proposal to call the combined waters of the Puget Sound, the Strait of Georgia and the Strait of Juan de Fuca the Salish Sea—first submitted to the Washington State Board of Geographical names in 1989.

“Humans can accomplish incredible things working together,” said Dave Williams, Canadian Astronaut. His words speak of human possibilities, the power of community and the amazing efforts to be realized by people of vision working together.

New approaches to philanthropy strive to strengthen communities in a manner that is sustainable—even after aid transfers end.

This is Farmers’ Markets season! We’re out there with our reusable bags, filling them full with fresh vegetables and homemade goodies. Bright orange carrots and deep red beets, tender heads of lettuce and luscious strawberries. It’s the beginning of the season of plenty and we are thankful to live in a part of the world that offers such bounty.

We did not go expecting to hear words of hope, or to be rallied to take action, or even to receive advice on how we can “make a difference”. We went because here was a person who was willing to speak the truth.

Reflections from Cutting Edge Founder, John Katovich, on the NYU Grunin Center for Law and Social Entrepreneurship Conference I recently attended the NYU Grunin Center for Law and Social Entrepreneurship’s Annual Conference on Legal

The Salish Sea has been formally named...TWICE. Initially by First Nations and Tribal governments in 2007 and then by the US and Canada in late 2009 and early 2010.