Gifts to College and 13th Principal from Classes of 2020 and 2021
Michelle Voss Roberts' first worship service with Emmanuel College in September 2018 as principal.
During the interfaith welcome back service held virtually on September 15, 2021, at Emmanuel College, two gifts were presented by the graduating classes of 2020 and 2021.
$125 was donated in honour of Michelle Voss-Roberts, 13th principal of Emmanuel College (2018-21), to each of the following organizations:
- Indian Residential Schools Survivors Society https://www.irsss.ca/
- Legacy of Hope Foundations https://legacyofhope.ca/
- Orange Shirt Society https://www.orangeshirtday.org/
- True North Aid https://truenorthaid.givecloud.co/
This gift was chosen with the intention that this act of giving reflects Voss-Roberts’ warm generosity, as well as her dedication and work towards justice, care and understanding between communities.
The 2020 and 2021 graduating classes also presented “Blessings” by Sharifah Marsden to Emmanuel College. Marsden is an Anishnaabe artist from the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation. The artist explains, “This image represents our blessings that we hold in our everyday lives. Holding up all the good things we have, our hearts, our health, our loved ones and friends. Also our opportunities and our failures. All of these are our blessings and we honour them by acknowledging how blessed we are to have them in our lives.” (from artist’s website)
This piece was chosen to help us be mindful of the blessings and life-sustaining activity that support us in our work at Emmanuel College and beyond. It was also chosen out of a wish to have Indigenous representation in the physical space of the school and our wish for Emmanuel to continue to grow as a space for diversity and inclusion.
These gifts were made through the Emmanuel College Student Society (ECSS), under the guidance of current ECSS chairperson, J.J. Viviers, and chosen through a vote of graduates of the 2020 and 2021 classes.
Story submitted by Joanne Yuasa Emm 2T1