4 minute read
Executive Director's Message
Philanthropy lies at the heart of strong communities. It is about using our resources and applying them to improving the wellbeing of those living in our local community—by doing so, it is our goal to create a diverse, kind and nurturing place that we can all call home. As part of our COVID-19-related Strategic Guiding Principles and our focus on building for the future, Shawnigan Lake School has committed to stepping forward to support the local and surrounding community with our resources wherever possible. We help make this vision a reality by leading the development of new community partnerships; by forming year-round relationships with local government and business leaders, local community-based organizations, advocacy groups, and individuals; and by facilitating Shawnigan’s student community outreach opportunities through Service Club initiatives.
Most recently, our outreach has taken a number of different forms. We joined the THINKShawnigan Advisory Group to support the development of a new community design plan that offered our students an opportunity to work with MVH Urban Planning & Design and the Cowichan Valley Regional District. In partnership with the Shawnigan Residents’ Association and our Area Director, we also established the Shawnigan Hearts Campaign that supported Nourish Cowichan in their work to feed hundreds of local families living with food insecurity issues exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. We established partnerships with First Nations artist Arthur Vickers, and the Malahat Nation and Cowichan Tribes, which led to hosting our first ever Orange Shirt Day event where students and staff were able to meaningfully connect with our Indigenous neighbours. This connection then led to professional development opportunities for our staff and other teachers within ISABC schools, themed around Indigenous Ways of Knowing. Finally, we created a partnership with those independent and public schools connected by the Shawnigan Creek, where the Heads meet monthly to support one another and help guide our schools through these challenging times.
We are proud to contribute to the health and development of our surrounding communities, and to share this important work with our students so that they, too, will act as community contributors and leaders in their future.
Sara Blair Director, Stewardship & Community Partnerships sblair@shawnigan.ca (250) 743-6202
Ihope you have enjoyed the profiles contained in this year’s expanded Philanthropy Report. These are just some of the inspiring stories that make Shawnigan the dynamic school community that it is today. We are deeply grateful for everyone profiled and listed in this Report, and for the many others whose volunteer contributions are happening outside the spotlight.
Our philanthropic community of parents, alumni, staff, and friends has given us the confidence and strength to respond to the crises of 2020 with innovation, progress and growth. Now, as Headmaster Lamont points out, we find ourselves in an unprecedented position of strength.
You, our supporters, have made all of this possible and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
The future is inevitably uncertain, though, and Shawnigan’s plans are at once ambitious and inspiring, just as they should be. Our recent Alumni Survey confirms the immense amount of pride that our community takes in its School, and we look forward to engaging with you to deliver Project Future. Once again, as has been the case through previous defining times in our School’s history, our community of supporters will be the engine of our progress.
If you are interested in finding out more about Project Future, or would like to get more involved with Shawnigan, please do reach out to us. As Bob Murdoch points out in his Long View, there are countless ways to contribute philanthropically to Shawnigan’s mission, and we welcome your interest and engagement.
With appreciation for the past and excitement for the future,
Greg Stevenson Executive Director, Advancement & Community Engagement gstevenson@shawnigan.ca (250) 743-6487
Thank you to all our sponsors:
Individual sponsorship by: Individual sponsorship by: Roy McIntosh ‘59, John Coffeng & Jeanette Wong-Coffeng Roy McIntosh '59, John Coffeng & Jeannette Wong-Coffeng
To our volunteers...
The Shawnigan Lake School community thrives through the commitment and contributions of countless people who support our mission of leading young people in the pursuit of personal excellence through the challenges of a well-rounded education. Volunteers, from our Shawnigan Parents Association and our Governors, Directors and Officers, to those that help as fundraisers, mentors, Alumni Ambassadors, and supporters of our programs and events, are essential to the quality experience that Shawnigan provides to its students. Thank you to everyone who has volunteered their time and talent to our School community. We look forward to working with you again in 2020-2021!
