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Branksome Hall News

Peter Oliver's Uplifting Leadership

The Branksome Hall community is saddened to learn of the passing, on September 21, 2022, of Peter Oliver, Oliver and Bonacini co-founder and longtime Branksome Hall friend and partner. We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family and to the Leacock Foundation community, with whom Branksome shares a more than 20-year history.
The Branksome Hall community is saddened to learn of the passing, on September 21, 2022, of Peter Oliver, Oliver and Bonacini co-founder and longtime Branksome Hall friend and partner. We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family and to the Leacock Foundation community, with whom Branksome shares a more than 20-year history

We acknowledge Peter's leadership, which has had a positive impact on thousands of lives, both in Toronto and South Africa. His vision deeply impacted Branksome Hall, creating opportunities for us to have meaningful connections with communities both in Toronto and South Africa.

Peter believed in a Triangle of Hope, where all children would learn and benefit. As part of this vision, Branksome Hall connected with The Get Ahead (GAP) School in Queenstown, South Africa and Rose Avenue Public School in St. James Town, Toronto. Branksome students of all ages have participated in this program, and, along with our staff, have been enriched and impacted by these relationships. Our programs also expanded to include The Wandering Spirit School, where the Reading Buddies Programs flourished, and The Leap into Literacy summer camp (run at Branksome by the Leacock Foundation), which continues to grow.

For the past 15 years, Branksome students and staff have visited the Get Ahead Project (GAP) School in Queenstown, South Africa to deliver programs, share learning and form friendships. Peter Oliver came regularly to speak to the Branksome students and staff who were traveling to the GAP School. He inspired them with his educational vision and his belief in their potential to make a difference in the lives of others.

Peter will be greatly missed and his legacy will continue.
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LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT
We wish to acknowledge this land on which Branksome operates. For thousands of years, it has been the traditional land of the Huron-Wendat, the Seneca, and most recently, the Mississaugas of the Credit River. Today, this meeting place is still the home to many Indigenous peoples from across Turtle Island and we are grateful to have the opportunity to work and go to school on this land.

Setting the new standard for girls' education everywhere takes collective action. From all of us.
 
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