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A GNS alumna who once practised as an international lawyer has now made a name for herself as a well-known food blogger, photographer and cookbook author.
Christina Loucas’ academic life began at GNS in Grade 1. Raised by Greek-Cypriot parents who valued education, Christina led with the academic side of herself from a young age.
“I have really good memories of GNS. Teachers were very supportive and encouraging and there were always a lot of opportunities at GNS, lots of extracurricular activities and you always felt like anything was possible.”
Among the faculty, Mrs. Chatterton stands out in Christina’s mind as she reflects on her time at the school. Her approach to teaching, especially debate, left a lasting impact. “Debating is the skill that has served me really well. In my academic writing I would always go back to how I would write a debate speech,” she said.
The introduction of the International Baccalaureate (IB) Program to GNS during her Grade 11 year was also a defining part of her life as a student. “IB was pretty pivotal for me because it was introduced for the first time when I was going into Grade 11, so we were literally the first group of people to do it at GNS.”
This is where the role of teachers became crucial for Christina. When she considered quitting the IB Program, it was Mrs. Hicks who persuaded her to persevere. “She somehow said something magical and I turned around and didn’t quit, and because I did the IB Program I was able to get into the London School of Economics because they looked at my IB grades. They weren’t interested in my provincial grades.”
Christina said that she has always been really grateful to the teachers because they always took that extra step to make sure she got into good universities.
“We had to do so much independent work in IB, and that really sets you up for university, particularly the English schools where you do everything on your own.”
Her time at GNS broadened her horizons through opportunities for travel, debate and interactions with individuals from diverse backgrounds. Although GNS did not yet have Round Square when she was at the school, these experiences primed her for university life, where she was able to integrate into a predominantly international student community.
After GNS, Christina was then accepted at the London School of Economics before moving on to Oxford University where she pursued a law degree. At Oxford, she found a supportive community and ample resources, allowing her to engage in a variety of activities, including formal events, sports and rigorous academic studies.
“After university, I applied to work in London and started with a law firm there, and travelled a fair bit with that firm. I also worked for the Canadian Embassy for an internship, that was actually because of a GNS connection, Michael Matthews.” Michael Matthews was a former headmaster at GNS and he wrote one of her reference letters since he’d also attended Oxford.
After that, Christina began to notice that she was really tired. “I was really burnt out from London and decided to make a change, so I moved to Cyprus and I was working as a lawyer there as well, but I was still really tired and didn’t know what was going on.” That’s when she was diagnosed with thyroid cancer that would change the trajectory of her life.
Christina stepped away from being a lawyer to prioritise her health, and instead began to focus her attention on a passion project—compiling Cypriot family recipes into a blog. As the blog gained popularity, Christina began writing for magazines and collaborating with various companies in Cyprus. Subsequently, an Italian publisher approached her to write a book, which was released in Germany and Italy before making its way to Canada and the US.
After dedicating four years to her passion project in Cyprus, she made the decision to return to Vancouver Island, where she has resided ever since. It was here that she met her partner and started a family. Now, Christina has reached a stage in her life where she takes pride in balancing her career accomplishments with focusing on her family and children.
Her daughter, now in First Steps at the Junior School, has an abundance of opportunities that Christina has been able to witness as she watches her daughter follow a similar, yet different, GNS path.
“The school has changed a lot since I’ve been here. We had so many opportunities back then, but now that I look at the school and what is on offer today, with the campus changes and the extracurricular activities, it just really continues to stand out to me. They have access to music, art, French, technology. I’m able to communicate easily with the teachers, and I’m just grateful to see her flourishing.” Being a part of the GNS community today with the teachers, students and other parents is something that Christina deeply values.
Afrodite’s Kitchen, Christina’s successful blog, and her book became a place where she could celebrate the rich culinary heritage of Cyprus and blend it with her talented eye for photography. Through her work, Christina shares the vibrant tastes of Cypriot cuisine and connects with an international audience, bringing a piece of her heritage to the table.
Looking back, Christina attributes much of her success and resilience to the foundational experiences at GNS. The school’s nurturing environment equipped her with the skills and confidence to navigate the unexpected in life.
