Family Ties

For faculty member and donor Penny Lawson-Cameron, her family’s ties to Pickering College are not only intertwined, but they also run deep.

Penny began at Pickering College 28 years ago when she was hired to teach Grade 6 for what she thought would be one year to gain experience as a newly minted teacher. “That year has turned into many years since—I have really grown up here,” she says. Living on campus for her first 12 years allowed Penny to forge strong bonds with all members of the PC community. “They became like family,” she shares. Pickering quickly felt more like home than Ottawa, Ontario, where she was born and raised. When she and her partner, Scott, were deciding on a venue to be married, it was an easy decision to choose to be married on campus, with Charles Boyd graciously agreeing to officiate the ceremony. Following the birth of her two children, Penny transitioned into the role of learning strategist, a role she says is incredibly rewarding.

From living on campus to teaching to giving back to the school through consistently volunteering at the annual golf tournament and Holiday Home Tour since they began, Penny’s commitment to Pickering College has included time, talent, and treasure. As a longtime donor to the school’s annual fund, Penny says she has always been inspired to give.

Penny’s two children, Erica ’22 and Owen ’24, grew up on campus and attended Pickering College for Senior School. “Both children understood that it was a privilege to attend Pickering. To demonstrate their gratitude for the opportunities for which they were being provided, it was up to them to find ways to positively contribute to the school community.

Erica became actively involved in the athletic program and student committee, taking on numerous leadership roles including Student Committee Day Chair in her Grade 12 year. Erica continues to be involved with the school by serving as Director of Pickering’s Hilltop Discovery Summer Discovery Camp for the last two summers.

Owen was actively involved with the music program and was a proud member of the Senior Jazz Ensemble. Owen’s passion for earth and space science led to the design and building of a space shed for the Blue & Silver Farm. He actively sought out donations from family and friends to gather telescopes, binoculars, and other educational resources that will be used between Junior Kindergarten and Grade 12. For his effort, Owen graduated with Distinction from the Global Leadership Program.

To mark their special connection and graduation, the Lawson-Cameron family recently dedicated two Dining Hall chairs which now feature plaques with Erica and Owen’s names and class years. “I smile every time I see the name of a former student that I’ve taught, a family that I know or somebody who has contributed to the school through a Dining Hall chair dedication,” she says. “It’s nice to be able to continue to give back in various ways.”

That commitment to giving back extends beyond Penny’s immediate family to include her parents and sister. Her father James, himself a graduate of Trinity College School, left a significant contribution to Pickering College in his will when he passed away in 2016. “He felt very connected to Pickering College through watching me in my career,” she says.

As a family, they decided her father’s donation would fund the elevator in West Lake House. “We could not help but think about all of the grandparents who come for Grandparent and Special Friends Day and other school events, and the students who have had broken limbs and been on crutches—we thought it would be a meaningful contribution,” Penny explains.

In addition, Penny’s mother Patricia chose to make a gift of securities because she felt such a powerful connection to the school, particularly watching her two grandchildren thrive in the Senior School. When Patricia passed away in 2022, Penny and her sister Pamela decided to do something special to honour her by contributing to the Puck and Blade Wall in the Eric Veale Memorial Arena. “My mother would travel from Ottawa to see the children at their skating lessons in the arena, and at the family skates on Sunday. My mother was also a big figure skating fan.”

Penny feels tremendous gratitude for the years she and her family have been a part of the Pickering College community. For Penny and her family, leaving the school “greater, better, and more beautiful” is especially important.