A Gala Under the Sea

“It had that connection to the musical, and we could also use some of the props from the musical,” he related.

 

Guests dined on scallops or a feta salad as appetizers, then surf and turf or vegetable Wellington as the main course. Hors d’oeuvres were served before dinner, with dessert in Mitchell Hall accompanied by music performed by students. Executive chef Mr. Dustin Setso and the Stag Café team prepared the food with the assistance of chef and teacher Mr. Rowan Bezeau from Royal Bay Secondary School in Victoria.

 

The gala is always popular with students and staff, but this year’s event attracted a record number of parents, with some travelling from as far away as Alberta.

 

Jackson was inspired to organize the fundraiser following his student exchange trip to Hilton College in South Africa last year, where he volunteered with the organization Angels Care at a local primary school along with boys from his boarding house and encountered people in extreme poverty.

 

“One of the things I remember so vividly is that they were burning tires for heat to cook food,” Jackson recalled.

 

The students didn’t have shoes, either, and Jackson witnessed them playing cricket and rugby in bare feet – along with all their other day-to-day activities – so he set the goal of changing that.

 

When he returned to Shawnigan, Jackson kept in touch with Mr. Kingsley, who leads community outreach at Hilton College, and worked with his exchange counterpart from South Africa to raise money. Hilton held a 24-hour run, with 48 students each running half an hour to raise money, while Jackson organized the gala.

 

Jackson set the goal of raising $10,000 to purchase shoes for every student at the primary school. He grossed $8,000 through the sold-out gala. Further donations can be sent to the Head’s Fund – please specify under “Gift Instructions” that it is to be designated for Angels Care.