51社区黑料

With roots and a doctoral degree in astrophysics from Australia, IT consulting experience spanning the U.S., Canada, and the UK, and now a notarial practice in B.C.鈥檚 Quadra Island, Sally Houghton鈥檚 journey is one of continuous growth across continents. 

Shortly after moving to Quadra Island, the largest of the stunning Discovery Islands situated between Campbell River and the Lower Mainland, a profound experience of grief and loss led Sally to reassess what she wanted from her life and career.  

Given the island鈥檚 small population of less than 3,000 people, it was important for Sally to explore a profession that could make a positive impact in her local island communities. Though she briefly toyed with the idea of opening a dog grooming business, she soon realized it wouldn鈥檛 make the most of her logical and analytic training and mindset.  

That鈥檚 when Sally recalled a fellow community member who passed away with a handwritten will, but whose estranged next of kin did not honour her wishes. In hindsight, Sally laments that the will could have been valid in court, but that she and her community simply did not have the knowledge to know what could be done about it. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 what really inspired me to become a Notary Public鈥攎aking sure my community was protected,鈥� she says. 

Seeing that there was a need for a Notary presence in Quadra Island鈥攖he local Notary who operated out of a home business retired years ago鈥擲ally set out to pursue her third university degree with SFU鈥檚 Master of Arts in Applied Legal Studies program (MA ALS). After graduating in 2020, she completed the necessary training and mentoring to become a Notary Public.  

In May 2021, Sally opened Quadra Notary, the first business Notary presence on the island, in a gift shop conveniently located in Quathiaski Cove near the ferry terminal. As Quadra Island is an accessible gateway to the Discovery Islands, Sally鈥檚 practice is able to serve both her own immediate community and the surrounding neighbouring islands. She has since delivered free presentations on Quadra, Cortes, and Read Islands, including speaking at Quadra Island鈥檚 Way to Go and the Cortes Island DeathCare Collective initiatives to encourage people to plan ahead on issues related to end of life. 

For Sally, the decision to become a Notary has been incredibly rewarding. 鈥淲ith my last career, I didn鈥檛 feel like it was good for my core and my soul,鈥� she says. 鈥淲here I am now, I can actually help people and prepare families so that things like estates don鈥檛 take decades of anguish and pain to resolve. Yes, it can be a stressful job, but it鈥檚 also very meaningful.鈥� 

Now years into her career change, Sally isn鈥檛 looking back and doesn鈥檛 plan to slow down. 鈥淲hen I was first looking into the legal profession, I read about a lawyer in Victoria who was working well into her 90s,鈥� she recalls. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 what I want to do鈥攖o keep going, keep my mind active, and still give back.鈥�