# September 2025 newsletter Canonical URL: https://gabrieldalton.com/writing/newsletter/september-2025 Date sent: 2025-10-02T18:16:51.220Z Author: Gabriel Dalton Original Substack URL: https://gabrieldalton.substack.com/p/gabriel-daltons-september-newsletter [All newsletter issues](https://gabrieldalton.com/writing/newsletter) 02 Oct 2025 3-Min Read Received the City of Vancouver’s Impact in Innovation Award (2025 Awards of Excellence), spoke on an Intergenerational Panel in Toronto, and reached 1.7M+ views through Google Maps contributions. ## **Hi Everyone,** I’m excited to share a quick update on some recent milestones and adventures. From being recognized here in Vancouver to speaking on a national stage and reaching a global audience online, it’s been an inspiring month of growth and connection. ## What I’ve Been Up To 📈 - Took two back-to-back trips to Ontario in a week to visit family, a busy schedule but a meaningful one. - Participated in an undergraduate information session at the UBC Sauder School of Business, gaining insight into their programs and the opportunities for continued learning. ![UBC Sauder School of Business and Robert H. Lee Graduate School signs outside the glass-fronted building.](https://gabrieldalton.com/img/newsletter/september-2025/5108b6824c46046f.webp) - I built a custom GPT — essentially a specialized AI assistant I designed — that helps me be more intentional with my communication. It analyzes the words I use in both writing and speech, highlights when I’m using lower-energy or less empowering language, and then suggests more positive alternatives. The framework behind it comes from David Hawkins’ Map of Consciousness, which offers a way of understanding how different words and emotions carry different levels of energy. This tool has already been helping me shift my language toward more uplifting and effective expression each day. ![David R. Hawkins’ “Map of Consciousness” chart ranks emotional states from shame to enlightenment, the framework behind Gabriel’s communication tool.](https://gabrieldalton.com/img/newsletter/september-2025/75967ba855e6d115.webp) ## Achievements & Highlights 🏆 - **🏅*****Impact in Innovation*****Award** Honoured to be selected as the recipient of the ***Impact in Innovation Award*** from the **City of Vancouver**! This award recognizes outstanding contributions to science, technology, and sustainability. I’m also grateful to have received a $500 bursary in recognition of this achievement. ![Email congratulates Gabriel on being selected for the City of Vancouver’s Impact in Innovation Award.](https://gabrieldalton.com/img/newsletter/september-2025/4ebf2d602db18eec.webp) ![City of Vancouver “Awards of Excellence” banner shows a wooden trophy held outside City Hall.](https://gabrieldalton.com/img/newsletter/september-2025/334c27fb354ae97f.webp) - **🎤 Youth Speaker at URL to IRL** Represented youth on the Intergenerational Panel at the *URL to IRL* event, hosted at [TMU’s Ted Rogers School of Management](https://www.torontomu.ca/tedrogersschool/) in Toronto. I spoke alongside a school principal and a parent/[Unplugged Canada](https://unpluggedcanada.com/) member — it was an incredible opportunity to share my perspective and learn from others. I connected with so many inspiring individuals, including: – **[Katherine Hay](https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathy-hay/)**, Senator, Senate of Canada – **[Elizabeth Dowdeswell](https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-dowdeswell-b3a73b3/)**, Former Lieutenant Governor of Ontario – **[Sabrina Cruz](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sabrina_Cruz)**, YouTuber and educator –**[Daunte Hillen](https://www.linkedin.com/in/daunte-hillen-b154932aa/)**, Indigenous School Chair – **[Amber Mac](https://www.linkedin.com/in/ambermac/)**, AI keynote speaker … and many more amazing individuals! ![Gabriel speaks on a panel at URL to IRL, alongside event portraits and a screen showing Elizabeth Dowdeswell’s closing remarks.](https://gabrieldalton.com/img/newsletter/september-2025/12f6210777a728ff.webp) **📸 Media Coming Soon:**I’ll be sharing more photos and videos from the event once I receive them from the photographers: stay tuned for next month’s newsletter! - **📍 1.7M Views on Google Maps** Excited to hit 1.7 million views on Google Maps — thank you to everyone who’s explored my contributions across so many different countries! ![Google Maps dashboard reports 1.7 million contribution views and 1,290,572 all-time photo views.](https://gabrieldalton.com/img/newsletter/september-2025/d1b840ec06acd0b6.webp) ## Quotes 💬 > "It's those who lie outside ordinary experience who have the most to teach us." > > — **Malcolm Gladwell** > "Work hard on what comes easily." > > **— James Clear** > "He who chases two hares catches neither." > > **— Desiderius Erasmus** > "Politicians are the same all over. They promise to build a bridge even where there is no river." > > **— Nikita Khrushchev** **Curious about my past adventures?** Catch up on all my previous updates in the **[newsletter archive](https://gabrieldalton.substack.com/t/monthly-updates)**. You never know what gem you might find! ## Shoutouts 👏 - **🎤 The Dais Team** Thank you for inviting me to Toronto and giving me the chance to speak on the Intergenerational Panel. It was such a meaningful experience! - **💖 My Mom** Endless gratitude to my mom for all her support — especially for practicing with me early in the morning and late the night before the panel! - **🏙️ City of Vancouver** Grateful to the City of Vancouver for creating the *Impact in Innovation* award, which recognizes sustainability and technology and for including youth in the process. It matters deeply, since we are the future leaders of the world! - **🚗 Uber Drivers in Toronto & Ottawa** Shoutout to the many Uber drivers who were incredibly helpful and shared some truly amazing conversations with me during my travels. ## What’s Next? 🚀 - **🏆 Award Ceremony in Vancouver** Attending the award ceremony for my *Impact in Innovation* award from the City of Vancouver! - **💼 Internship with Dream Company** Starting an internship (company reveal coming soon!) focused on **AI SEO**. [Here’s a quick intro to what AI SEO means.](https://nightwatch.io/blog/ai-seo/) - **📊 Oasis of Change Annual Report** Creating the **2024–2025 Annual Report** for *Oasis of Change*, showcasing our impact across multiple areas: – Trees planted – Clients supported – Computers responsibly recycled – $X in-kind tech grants secured for nonprofits - **🎓 UBC Sauder Application** Preparing to apply to **UBC Sauder School of Business** when applications open, with hopes of pursuing a degree in commerce. ## Quick Ask 🙏 Know someone who’d enjoy following a young entrepreneur’s journey? Please forward this email and invite them to subscribe — every new reader helps me grow and keeps the adventure going. Best, **Gabriel Dalton** P.S. Want more behind-the-scenes? For more in-depth discussions, check out my **[LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabrieldalton/)**or **[Medium](https://gabrieldalton.medium.com/)**profiles. [Read this issue on Substack](https://gabrieldalton.substack.com/p/gabriel-daltons-september-newsletter) [Subscribe on Substack](https://gabrieldalton.substack.com/subscribe)