THE DRAGON'S PEN
/by Henry MacDougall
(click images to enlarge)
As June rolls around at King George, it’s time for final tests, report cards, and graduation! This June issue of “The Dragon’s Pen” will go over such end of school traditions, as well as a student spotlight, a school play recap, and an update on the “vandalism situation” at KG.
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT - GABRIEL DALTON
King George is a school that is full of creative and artistic thinkers, so I’d like to start highlighting students with unusual, interesting, or creative passions and pursuits in a Student Spotlight, which will hopefully become an occasional feature in this column.
This month, I’d like share my conversation with Gabriel Dalton, an entrepreneur and grade 11 student at KG who is passionate about technology and sustainability.
Henry MacDougall (HM): How would you like to introduce yourself? What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
Gabriel Dalton (GD): My name is Gabriel. I’m 16 years old and an entrepreneur based in Vancouver, Canada. I run a nonprofit called Oasis of Change, where I help organizations reduce the energy use of their websites by making them more efficient and sustainable.
Gabriel, upon realizing the energy use of the entire internet – roughly equal to that of the UK.
I’m also part of The Knowlege Society (TKS) - a global innovation program for young people who want to solve the world's biggest problems (see Related Links below). Through TKS, I’ve explored frontier technologies, worked on real-world projects, and surrounded myself with like-minded young people. We’ve even had the chance to work alongside organizations like IKEA, where we developed a conversational AI support agent called Sven, and Microsoft, where we promoted the switch to hotspot-aware cooling in their AI data centres to improve energy efficiency.
In my free time, I enjoy learning about languages (I’ve studied over 20), practicing Buddhism, coding, hiking, boxing, and investing in assets like gold and silver. I’m always interested in solving hands-on problems where technology can support both people and the planet.
HM: How would you describe your work? What does your day-to-day look like?
GD: I balance my schoolwork with running Web-Ready, a digital agency under Oasis of Change that helps nonprofits and small businesses improve their websites, focusing on energy efficiency, accessibility, and better online performance. I also serve as a national coach through The Dais at Toronto Metropolitan University, mentoring over 20 Youth Champions across Canada on responsible screen time and digital well-being. Recently, I’ve been working locally in the West End with groups like the Stanley Park Ecology Society, the Denman Place Mall, the Pendrellis Society, and St. Paul’s Anglican Church to upgrade their digital systems and provide hands-on tech support. Last month, I had the opportunity to present to the TransLink executive team and board of directors at their Open Board Meeting on March 26. I wrote a 30-minute case study on how to optimize their website for better performance and sustainability, and shared key highlights during the presentation. I'm also attending Web Summit this year in Vancouver to connect with other innovators in tech and sustainability.
HM: Who/what are you most inspired by?
GD: Mainly, I’m inspired by people who make a difference with limited resources — whether they’re youth leaders, local organizers, or everyday people supporting their communities. I also admire those working behind the scenes to improve digital sustainability. Buddhist teachings shape how I approach life and work: staying calm, thinking long-term, and being of service to others.
I’m especially grateful for Pranav Menon, my coach at TKS. He’s been a huge influence on how I think, lead, and challenge myself. His feedback has pushed me to develop high agency — to take bold action, stay focused, and not shy away from the uncomfortable work that leads to real growth. That mindset has helped me approach problems with confidence and take ownership of my learning and impact.
At the same time, I’m also inspired by my own progress — by how I keep learning, keep pushing forward, and how I stay resilient, even when things get challenging. I’m proud of that drive to grow and figure things out on my own, as it has gotten me through challenges and shaped who I am today.
HM: What are your goals/plans for the future?
GD: I want to grow Oasis of Change and Web-Ready so we can support more organizations in using technology sustainably. We've already planted nearly 9,000 trees across 30+ countries (including Madagascar, India, the US, Nepal, and Tanzania), and our goal is to reach 1,000,000 in the coming years. I’d also like to expand our partnerships across Canada and continue advocating for low-energy digital practices. Personally, I want to keep learning, travel more, and eventually hike to Everest Base Camp.
Gabriel Dalton (right) and I, following our interview.
HM: What is your advice to a student who wants to start their own business/fulfil their own entrepreneurial vision?
GD: Start before you feel ready. I find that most people wait for permission, the “perfect idea,” or for everything to fall into place, but real progress comes from just getting started. You’ll learn way more by doing than by overthinking.
Don’t be afraid to fail. In school, we’re taught to avoid failure at all costs, like it’s something that could ruin our future. But in the real world, failure is one of the best ways to grow. Google even has a company called X, the Moonshot Factory, where they work on bold ideas like self-driving cars, and a lot of their projects fail. They reward failure by giving raises to the employees who take big risks and learn from what didn’t work.
Also, use what you have. I started with free tools and built my first websites from scratch, reinvesting every dollar back into my projects. You don’t need a big budget — you need resourcefulness, consistency, and a reason that’s bigger than just making money.
Most importantly, stay aligned with your values. Build something that matters to you, even if others don’t understand it at first. That’s how you create real impact — not just income.
The playbill for She Kills Monsters, which completely sold out. Bravo!
SHE KILLS MONSTERS
This Year’s School Play
The King George Drama Department presented She Kills Monsters, a play by Qui Nguyen that follows Agnes, a girl who reconnects with her dead sister through a Dungeons and Dragons campaign created before her passing. The play explores themes of grief, family, and acceptance.
The performance was a great showcase of the passion and enthusiasm of the KG drama students, with proceeds going back into the department.
She Kills Monsters was performed from Tuesday, May 6 through Friday, May 9. Tickets for the show completely sold out, with tickets for Thursday and Friday showings disappearing on Wednesday, May 7.
INTERACT CLUB CULTURAL DIVERSITY WEEK
This May, the KG Interact Club celebrated the global Week of Cultural Diversity by handing out snacks during lunch from May 20 to 23. These snacks originated from all over the world and reflect the multicultural nature of King George and the West End.
Students were invited to learn about the cultural background of these snacks and their countries through trivia and an information sheet. Snacks included Mochi (Japan), Pica Goma (Mexico), Turkish Delight (Türkiye), and Stik-O (Philippines).
KG ROCKS
KG Rocks, our school’s annual concert, is coming up soon! KG Rocks is a two-night music show headlined by bands from the KG music program. Tickets will be sold up until the concert itself, which will be happening on two nights, June 4 and 5. These two nights will include unique performing acts, with different students from different grades and levels of experience.
Tickets are $5 for students and $10 for adults, and are available for purchase through students performing in the concert, as well as at the door on the night of the performance.
Buy a ticket and support music at KG!
STUDENT COUNCIL ELECTIONS
As it’s now the end of the school year, the King George Student Council is once again holding elections.
Students running for a position were required to submit their campaign videos and forms by the end of May. Campaigning will go until June 12, when voting will happen. The results will be announced the next day.
Students are running for positions that include president and vice president, secretary, treasurer, and representatives for each grade. Good luck to all who are campaigning!
A recently vandalized poster, encouraging students to report their peers for things like vandalism.
VANDALISM UPDATE
In April, posters had been put up to condemn vandalism in school washrooms. In May, new posters were put up, further condemning the vandalism, and asking students to inform on their peers.
It seems to have been taken badly, as some students vandalized the anti-vandalism poster.
Interesting to me is the use of the large eye that seems to be peering at students, as well as the use of almost Orwellian language. Obviously, this poster touched a nerve for some students, judging from the graffiti scrawled on it.
IMPORTANT DATES IN JUNE
KG Rocks Concerts: KG Rocks will be taking place in the gymnasium at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, June 4 and Thursday, June 5.
Semester 2 Final Report Cards: The final report cards will be published on Thursday, June 26. Make sure to study hard before then!
Last day of school: Thursday, June 26 is the last day that students are required to show up. Congratulations on another year!
Thanks for reading, and have a great last month of school, KG!
