Welcome

List of 9 members.

• 

  Michael Wolfe 

  Executive Director Advancement & Community Engagement

  250-743-6487

  Bio

  Mike Wolfe to Shawnigan as our new Executive Director, Advancement & Community Engagement. Mike comes to us from Stanstead College in Quebec where he was Head of School. His involvement with Stanstead College began in 1991 when he directed the school's successful 21st Century Capital Campaign. Working for Ketchum Canada, he then directed the fundraising planning study for Shawnigan Lake School in 1993 before returning to Stanstead College as Director of Development, teacher and coach. Mike then began a five-year term as vice president at the Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation, where he was responsible for the national campaign that raised $15 million for the new Canadian War Museum. In 2000, he was appointed executive director of ORBIS Canada, an international charity dedicated to preventing blindness in developing countries using the world's only flying eye hospital. Mike remained an active member of the Stanstead College Board of Trustees, chairing the Development Committee and acting as vice president of the school's Red & White Foundation. In August 2003, he again returned to Stanstead College as Director of Advancement and was appointed Head of School in 2005. He retired from the position this past June.

   
  Mike holds Bachelor of Arts and Master of Political Science degrees from Western University, and a Master of Management degree from McGill University and is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE).
  An avid athlete, sports fan, reader and traveller, Mike is greatly looking forward to immersing himself in the Shawnigan Lake School experience. Mike's wife Amy will continue to live in Stanstead while the youngest of their three children completes her Grade 12 year. 
• 

  Greg Stevenson 

  Campaign Director

  250-743-6487

  Bio

  Greg was born in Sherbrooke, QC and attended Bishop’s College School, an independent school with similar roots as Shawnigan, and McGill University.
  
  Where he completed his Bachelor of Commerce with distinction and competed as a championship Varsity rower before moving to Vancouver Island to train with the national rowing team. A two-time Olympian, Greg represented Canada at the 1992 Barcelona and 1996 Atlanta Games and subsequently worked in amateur sport fundraising as VP Corporate Development for Foundation 2000Plus. Concurrently volunteering in the public school system near Victoria, BC, Greg worked with his wife Corinna to develop sport and outdoor education programs with a focus on youth at risk. Together, they went on to establish the Outreach Adventure Society and CanAdventure Education Ltd, organizations that engaged hundreds of struggling youth in healthy outdoor pursuits, experiential education, and life choices while maintaining progress toward graduation. Through his work and Corinna's Métis heritage, Greg has become a passionate Indigenous ally, environmentalist, and advocate for cultural awareness, respect, and diversity.
  
  

  In 2013, as their son Dakota reached high school age, the Stevensons returned to Bishop’s College School, where Greg took up the Director of Advancement role. Missing the beauty of their Vancouver Island home, however, they transferred to Shawnigan Lake School in 2017, where Greg now serves as Executive Director of Advancement & Community Engagement.
  
  Greg is eager to connect those that are passionate about Shawnigan with the exciting plans in place for the School. A deep believer in the positive impact that philanthropy can have on future generations, he is eager to support the development of Shawnigan’s programs, scholarships and financial assistance, endowment, and beautiful campus through the support and contributions of so many in the School community.
  
  Please reach out to Greg if you would like to learn more about Shawnigan’s ambitious plans, and how you can get involved: gstevenson@shawnigan.ca or 250-743-6487.
• 

  Rhodri Samuel 

  Director of Alumni Relations

  250-743-6229

  Bio

  Originally from a coal mining village in Wales, Rhodri completed his undergraduate degree at Cardiff University, Wales, and his post graduate teaching degree at Exeter University, England. He taught biology and chemistry in England and in Wales.

   

  Rhod moved to Canada in 1984. His first eight years in Canada were at St Michael's University School, Victoria, where he was a housemaster and a science teacher. Rhod and his family came to Shawnigan in 1993 where he very happily ran Ripley's House for 17 years. During his tenure at Ripley's, he taught science and ran the rugby program. After house directing he moved into administration where he oversaw tone and discipline at the school. Rhod is now involved with the gap and intern program, Alumni Relations and Admissions. He is married to his childhood sweetheart Gaynor, who runs the Admissions team at the school. They have two sons, Dafydd (Ripley's '08) and Owain (Ripley's '09). In his spare time, Rhod enjoys hiking and pottering around the garden.
• 

  Joanna Robinson 

  Director of Development

  250-743-6206

  Bio

  Joanna Robinson is a cause-oriented professional bringing over 20 years of experience in the non-profit sector, with a strong commitment to philanthropy and children's education and health. As Director of Development, Joanna leads engagement and fundraising activities with parents, alumni, staff and friends of Shawnigan Lake School, focused primarily on raising resources to deliver important 'Project Future' strategic plan initiatives including capital projects, scholarships and endowment.

  
  

  Joanna offers extensive experience in managing projects from both the funder and grantee sides, including: relationship management with donors and partners; guiding technical direction of programs; data collection, analysis and research; performance assessments; program reporting; and financial oversight. She is known for her strong interpersonal and communication skills, diplomatic approach, and expertise working with diverse stakeholders including governments, multilateral organizations, private corporations, foundations, community partners, non-profits, and universities. Joanna has worked throughout the world, in Zimbabwe, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, India, China, Georgia, Macedonia, Poland, Romania and Russia.

  
  

  Selected examples of Joanna’s experience include leading the day-to-day management of the UK-based Children's Investment Fund Foundation's (CIFF’s) $50 million investment under the Accelerating Children’s HIV/AIDS Treatment (ACT) initiative, an ambitious $200 million public-private partnership with the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief across 9 countries in sub-Saharan Africa, and overseeing the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation's (EGPAF's) multimillion-dollar private donor funding portfolio, including awards from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Johnson & Johnson, and Abbott Fund. 

  
  

  Joanna earned her Master of Science from the London School of Economics and Political Science, with a specialization in international development and child rights. She is married to Rob Armstrong, Shawnigan's Ice Hockey Program Skills Coach, and mother to two teenage boys (Emmitt and Sidney) who are students of Shawnigan Lake School.
• 

  Sheryl Nicholas 

  Associate Director, Advancement & Community Engagement

  250-743-6236

  Bio

  Sheryl started her career in Hotel Management in London and then moved back to Wales to work with Laura Ashley plc in their Head Office. Her next role was as a PA/EA to the CEO of a public company where she travelled extensively. She joined Marlborough College in 2005 and served 3 Heads over 17 years as PA / EA. She is married to Bill and together they ran co-educational boarding houses at Marlborough for 15 years before he was promoted to Second Master. Their son, Jonty, has joined Lonsdale’s in Grade 11 this term and their daughter, Georgie, is 23 and is employed by the National Health Service in the UK as a trainee Psychologist.
• 

  Gemma Atkinson 

  Associate Director, Annual Fund & Data Management

  250-743-0498

  Bio

  Born and raised in New Zealand, Gemma is a proud New Zealand Maori.  She relocated to Shawnigan Lake with her wife Carly in 2016 to be a part of the first Female Hockey Team. Gemma and Carly are Assistant House Directors for Ripley's house. Gemma is also the SOGI regional lead, a member of Shawnigan's Be A Jedi committee and the preschool liaison. In her free time Gemma enjoys chasing her young sons, Charlie and Joshua, hiking, exploring BC and spending as much time as she can with her family and friends.
• 

  Hilary Abbott 

  Advancement Associate

  250-715-8565

  Bio

  Hilary recently returned to the Advancement Office at Shawnigan after a 20-year hiatus. During those intervening years, Hilary, along with wife Patty, created a successful artisan cheese-making facility with two separate retail outlets in Cowichan Bay and Victoria. Now that he's back, Hilary is excited by the opportunity to grow the Legacy Gift program at Shawnigan. He looks forward to engaging those who will consider making a legacy gift that will enable future deserving students to attend Shawnigan, regardless of means.
• 

  Bonnie Walker 

  Advancement Associate

  250-743-6267

  Bio

  Bonnie joined the Advancement and Community Engagement team in 2023. Bonnie comes to Shawnigan Lake School with a degree in Global Stewardship from Capilano University, 9 years of professional experience in nonprofit development and community engagement, and a steadfast faith in the power of education. 

   

  Bonnie began her professional career supporting schools and families to engage with and support causes close to their hearts. For five years, she traveled across the United States, Canada, and as far as the Maasai Mara in Kenya to support transformative educational programs and student leadership. 

   

  Following this, Bonnie supported the development and resource generation of a youth support centre and associated programs in Vancouver, BC for a local family foundation. 

   

  Before joining the team at Shawnigan, Bonnie acted as Development Manager for the Wildlife Rescue Association of BC. In this role, she provided leadership for all aspects of fundraising, communications, and community engagement for the organization during a time of outstanding growth and impact. 

   

  When not in the office, Bonnie can be found exploring her new home on Vancouver Island with her partner, James, or snuggled up with her animals and her nose in a book. 
• 

  Erin Hutchison 

  Advancement Coordinator

  250-743-6235

  Bio

  Erin has been in the field of advancement and donor relations for over 14 years. Her expertise ranges from managing donor relationships; leading events; project management; planning, creating and delivering impact reports; database management; and building and implementing donor recognition and acknowledgment programs for not-for-profit organizations.

  
  

  Most recently, Erin spent seven years working with a boutique consulting company working with several non-profit organizations to create sustainable fundraising and advancement programs, processes and systems. Erin also worked with the University of Calgary for over four years providing strategic, proactive leadership in planning, developing and implementing plans, tools, structures,, policies, procedures and information management relating to recognition and stewardship practices across campus. During her time at the University of Calgary, Erin led a team who oversaw the institutional stewardship program with a focus on delivering events and impact reports for the Principal Giving level donors.