The Sheila Bailin North Saanich Currents Community Impact Fund
“Created with care by neighbours, for neighbours.”
North Saanich Currents (NSC) proudly endeavours to create a space to celebrate local storytelling and promote the sharing of community resources through a free quarterly community-led newsletter. By providing an accessible resource to their neighbours through the newsletter, NSC aims to strengthen community connections while foster learning, belonging, and appreciation for the unique character and beauty of the peninsula.
Students from all disciplines are encouraged to apply. Whether you're interested in fostering belonging and education through community-led publications, exploring local history or news, celebrating local legacies, or developing your storytelling skills, your voice is welcome at North Saanich Currents.
About the placement
The successful applicant will complete a one-term placement supporting the development of the newsletter (minimum of 35 hours).
This flexible placement encourages students to bring curiosity and creative ideas to contribute to the seasonal newsletter. Possible activities may include creating content, updating the website, conducting journalistic research and interviews, writing articles, photography, and other storytelling-related projects.
See the most recent publication.
Resources and supports for the successful applicant include:
- access to the Brightspace Course, Foundations in Community Engagement
- a copy of the Student Guide to Community Engagement
- an invitation to the on-campus bi-monthly peer meetings with other community-engaged students (snacks provided) where you can meet with other like-minded students and learn from the various projects they are engaged in
Expectations of recipients
- Complete a minimum of 35 hours (remote with occasional in-person events and meetings) to contributing to the activities of North Saanich Currents
- Meet with the North Saanich Currents team to define objectives, activities, timeline, deliverables, and protocols
- Maintain strong communication with the NSC and attend scheduled progress check-ins
- Attend a final celebration and showcase with a cohort of CEL grant recipients in the following September
If there are any concerns about not being able to complete the above requirements, please note that in your application.
Application deadline
Applications close on October 27, 2026.
Funding timeline
- August to September: Open call for applications
- October 27: Deadline for applications
- Mid-to-late November: Adjudication results announced
- December: First conversations between student and North Saanich Currents
- January to August: Student completes service-learning placement during the Spring or Summer semesters on a schedule decided in consultation with North Saanich Currents
- Between first and second half of placement: Honorarium distributed in two instalments
- April or August: Student completes an exit interview for program evaluation
- September: Student showcase and celebration of community-engaged learning across campus
About Sheila Bailin
This fund is made possible thanks to the heartfelt generosity of Sheila Bailin, resident of North Saanich and co-founder of North Saanich Currents. Sheila is deeply dedicated to the unique peninsula community she calls home and to telling stories that connect people to the land, waters, plants, animals, and to the communities in North Saanich.
Sheila and the members of North Saanich Current hope this opportunity will inspire students to explore wha community-building can look and feel like, honouring people and place, exploring their creativity, and supporting the mission of the publications they create.