Somos El Barco 4th Year Award

Awarded to two full-time students who self-identify as indigenous, Metis, or Inuit enrolled at the Orillia campus in their 4th year in any undergraduate program demonstrating financial need and in good academic standing. Students who have received the Somos El Barco 2nd or 3rd year awards are eligible.

Jane Ball was born and raised in Vancouver and gained a B.A degree at UBC followed by an M.S.W. degree from McGill in Montreal. The second degree opened up many opportunities. She worked as the E.D. for Big Brothers in Orillia, then as a student counsellor with Georgian College and finally as the Counselling Coordinator in the Simcoe County District Board of Education’s Career Centre. Along the way she had some very rewarding volunteer affiliations, including with the boards of Big Brothers, The Sharing Place Food Bank, the Orillia and District Literacy Council, Mariposans for Refugees, and The Couchiching Conservancy. She met her husband Gordon Ball at McGill while completing their M.S.W. degrees. He then went on to OISE (Ontario Institute for Studies in Education) and completed a Master’s and Doctoral degree in adult education. He has always worked as an organizational learning consultant. His volunteer endeavours have included the Mariposa Folk Foundation, the Orillia and District Arts Council, the Sunshine Initiatives, the Couchiching Conservancy, the Sustainability Network and Sustainable Orillia. Their two children and their spouses are all educators teaching at the elementary, secondary, college, and university levels. The entire family – grandparents, children and grandchildren – LOVE to read and learn and teach and are thrilled when people have a chance to pursue their educational dreams.

Somas El Barco is a favourite song by Peter Paul and Mary with lyrics like “we are the boat, we are the sea. I sail in you, you sail in me” that speaks to the Ball’s inspiration to give back to the community and especially their focus on education.