Molly Duignan '98 | Alumni Profile

Molly Duignan '98 Groves' returned to Shawnigan for Founder's Day/Reunion Weekend in October 2008 and commented, "It's only in returning now that I can appreciate that I lived in Paradise for five years, despite any personal ups and downs along the way. We breathed fresh air, were conveniently far away from the 'real world' distractions and I don't think I realized how beautiful it was until I left and can go back and say, I was so lucky." In recalling those days, Molly indicated that her fondest memories are the people. Favourite teachers, friends and staff members are near and dear to her heart. It was these relationships that she felt complimented her formal education here at Shawnigan. Molly feels that the lessons she learned about relationships here have benefited her many times over in her career. "It's not just important to create relationships with the "high ups" -- respecting and creating relationships with people at all levels is always good as you never know where you'll end up and you can't burn bridges before they're built. Every job I take or place I travel for work, I think about that. I always say, make friends with the security guards...make friends with the secretaries...because they count the most when it comes down to it. If they don't like you, you'll never get that meeting, that interview, that phone call you need when you're under pressure." More on Ms. Duignan in her own words...

After Shawnigan (93-98) I went to the University Of Western Ontario and did an Honours English Lit. degree. I Played rugby and was the captain of the rugby team there, but who knew i'd fall in LOVE with working at the daily student newspaper there (The Gazette) andbalanced my time between class, rugby, work at the paper and plenty of hours socializing! : P -- time management has always been important! When I graduated it seemed only natural (because i couldn't fathom getting a J-O-B) to go to Journalism School to become a print journalist...went to Ryerson University (Toronto) and got a post-graduate journalism degree there, but fell in love with Radio and TV and pursued that path... Did a brief stint as a reporter for CBC in Yellowknife, then landed a job as a librarian at CBC in Toronto. Worked as a researcher for news and current affairs for two years (doin' my time!). Then I helped start Test The Nation (interactive quiz show that ran a couple times a year) and worked on Test the Nation and Dragons' Den for two seasons. Now I'm the producer on Dragons' Den from about April - Dec, and I produce a show called Canada's Next Great Prime Minister (one time special - airs in late March). With Dragons Den I do the cross-Canada audition tour (24 cities in 7 weeks April-May last year) I choose all the people who will be on the show, help develop their pitches for TV, then help piece the show together shot for shot, putting the "real" in reality TV as i say.