Laura moved to Salt Spring in 2020 after spending the previous years in Toronto and Moncton. She has grown her family on the island and now has two young kids, her son having attended Little Rainbows and now at ELC. Laura studied Marketing and International Business as UBC and has worked in digital project and product management, currently with Shopify. She is passionate about serving her community’s need for early learning support and is excited to make a difference for the next generation with this role on the GIELS board.

Jessie moved to Salt Spring in 2023 but has been spending time on the island her entire life, as it’s always been home for her extended family. She now lives here with her son and partner, building their life and family. Jessie studied business at UVic, spent many years working in operations for non-profits, and has settled on Salt Spring to carry on the family business, Mouat’s. Jessie believes in the power of community and is honoured to support the amazing work of our educators at both ELC and Little Rainbows.

Tesja O’Malley moved to Salt Spring Island from Tofino in April of 2022. She is a mother of two, has a Bachelor of Commerce from Royal Roads University and a career background in Restaurant Management. She joined the Gulf Islands Early Learning Board of Directors this year in hopes of helping support the centre and the families of Salt Spring Island.

Jesse moved to Salt Spring in 2019 with her husband, and since 2023 they are a family of three. She grew up on Saturna Island and lived in Victoria for many years before moving to Salt Spring. She studied Liberals Arts and obtained her Chartered Accountant designation, and currently works as the Secretary Treasurer for the School District. She has joined the Gulf Island Early Learning Board and looks forward to being apart of the board to ensure there is affordable, quality child care for the community. 

Christine Popovich moved to Salt Spring in 2021 after spending several years in Toronto. She studied urban development and sustainability at UBC and has worked closely with founders and executive teams to scale and improve businesses. Having spent the first half of her life in small, rural communities across BC and Alberta, she was eager to return to a slower pace of life. On Salt Spring, she became a mother of two and is committed to supporting the community in meaningful ways. By joining the Gulf Islands Early Learning Board of Directors, she hopes to empower education leaders and parents alike.

Kelli moved to Salt Spring Island in 2022. She is an Associate Creative Director/Copywriter for WestJet's in-house agency. As her son moves into his second year at ELC, she's joined the GIELS board to connect with her community and support the wonderful centre that looks after him while "mom works."