Smiths receive Speirs Medal 2013

School NEWS

Lisa and Mark SMITH receive 2013 SPEIRSMEDAL

Selwyn House parent volunteers extraordinaire Lisa and Mark Smith received the 2013 Speirs Medal during the school’s Founder’s Day celebrations on November 28.

Lisa has been a powerhouse of organization for many school events, heading up a cast of volunteers that staged unforgettable evenings such as 2008’s Latin Nights and this year’s Gryphon Gala, which, together, raised an amazing sum for school development and needs-based bursaries for deserving students.

Mark has served on the school’s board of directors for 10 years, and has spearheaded major capital campaigns that not only financed the construction of the Speirs Building and the renovation of the Lucas and Macaulay Buildings, but also have enlarged the Selwyn House bursary program, effectively opening the school’s doors to many deserving students who would not otherwise be able to afford full tuition.

“You have been an inspiration to us,” Lisa told the Founder’s Day audience. “Selwyn House is a community, where the faculty, parents and student body all come together as a team. I have personally never witnessed a staff who are so passionate and dedicated about what they do every day and who individually inspire each and every one of us to reach our goals and aspirations.”

The Smiths have put three sons through Selwyn House: Michael Smith 2010, David Smith 2012 and Patrick Bourque 2014.

“I want you all to know that the memories we have all made here will be some of the best of our lives, and for that I thank you all,” Lisa concluded.

Paying tribute to the two headmasters with whom he has worked, Mark described Will Mitchell as “the epitome of decency and integrity.” Mr. Mitchell retired on January 1, 2009. “We knew it would be nearly impossible to find someone of his calibre [to replace him],” Mark recalled.

Somehow, we did, and Mark praised Headmaster Hal Hannaford for his ability to engender self-esteem among the students. “I don’t think many of you realize how lucky we are to have him,” he said.

Mark also expressed his gratitude to some “incredibly capable men” such as: former Board Chairs Ted Claxton and John Hallward, Advancement Director James McMillan, Capital Campaign Co-chairs Scott Jones and Allan Rossy, and Honorary Co-Chairs André Desmarais and Vince Guzzo.

He also credited France and André Desmarais for showing him the importance of investing one’s time and effort in the school, because “our greatest friends, our best times, our most genuine relationships come from people they met through our boys and through the school.”

Mark concluded by urging every member of the Selwyn House community to “get involved in any way you can. It’s had a massive impact on our lives.”

The Smiths received the Speirs Medal from Michael Denham, Chairman of the Selwyn House Board of Directors. The Speirs Medal is named in memory of Dr. Robert Speirs, who served as headmaster of Selwyn House School from 1945 to 1971. ■