Making It ALL the Way!

The Tung Family was inspired to give to iCAST to put hands-on learning centre stage for their daughter, SK student Chloe.

You can be in school–and also on the beach! 

That’s what SK student Chloe loves about her experience with green-screen technology in the Junior School iHub. A natural performer who loves ballet lessons, Chloe can’t wait to take centre-stage in iCAST’s new Studio Theatre. But her family, who recently made a gift to Make Way to support iCAST, has other reasons to be excited about this unprecedented space. 

“Kindness and philanthropy are core values for us,” says Phiona Leung. “And that is where our support of iCAST started.” But it doesn't end there.

With family members well-situated within the technology sector, Phiona knows the skills iCAST will teach—adaptability and a problem-solving mindset—are key traits for future success, regardless of academic pursuit or career. 

“iCAST will provide a unique combination of arts and technology learning,” says Phiona, “and this is our chance to invest in girls.” She is also excited about the inimitable way hands-on opportunities can ignite specific interests. “There’s a huge difference between watching a video or listening to information, and doing, and iCAST is set to pave the way.”

The Tribute to Karen Jurjevich has raised $1.23 million. Pictured at Karen's Principal Installation in 1998 are: Karen L. Jurjevich, Principal; Sarah PSUTKA'99, Head Girl, and Anthony R. Graham, Board Chair 1996-2001

How do you say goodbye to such a visionary educator and leader? Let’s just say it’s a long goodbye, with many special occasions for community members to pay tribute to Karen Jurjevich.

Former Chair Tony Graham led the search committee that hired Karen 26 years ago. A reception at his home in November, 2023, provided guests with the opportunity to share stories about Karen’s impact on Branksome and reminisce about their time with the inspiring leader.

It also provided an opportunity to help raise awareness about the fundraising tribute campaign launched publicly on Giving Tuesday last November in Karen’s honour. 

“Karen brought an unbelievable enthusiasm and energy to this role and was ready to get things done,” says Tony,

counting Branksome Hall Asia and the Athletics and Wellness Centre among her long list of accomplishments. "She reinvigorated the school and took us to places we’d never dreamed of. None of this would have been possible without her integrity, energy and ability to create cohesion.” 

The Tribute to Karen Jurjevich will see a group of donors match funds up to $500,000 to leave a permanent legacy in Karen's name at Branksome. With an incredible outpouring of support to date, we are currently at $1.23 million. 

“Karen has left her mark at Branksome Hall in so many ways,” says Tony. “It falls to us to properly recognize her contributions by giving back in her honour.”

You can learn more about Karen’s Tribute Campaign here.

Jackie NIXON Gowdy'03 and sister Trish NIXON'05

For Jackie NIXON Gowdy’03, Branksome Hall was a stepping stone into a successful career in the male-dominated finance sector. The most recent member of the Make Way Campaign Cabinet and a Branksome Foundation board member, Jackie is Managing Director, Equity Capital Markets at Goldman Sachs.

To express her appreciation for Branksome’s foundational impact on her life’s path, Jackie chose to direct her support for iCAST through the Stepping Stones program. This beautiful art installation will be located within iCAST’s main lobby. Donors are able to choose the colour, location and inscription on the stone. Her parents, Gordon and Janet Nixon, and sister Trish NIXON’05, also contributed to name another stone.  

Clearly, Jackie is a role model for tomorrow’s ceiling-breakers and her commitment to iCAST is a way of living her values. “I’m here to reinforce our support of our students’ ambitions,” she says. As a parent to three young daughters, Jackie is a keen ambassador to spread awareness about iCAST and all it will do to set up students for success. 

“Branksome Hall gave me the confidence to thrive and helped me develop the problem-solving mindset you need in investment banking,” she says. “Karen is an incredible and charismatic leader. She has done amazing things for Branksome during her tenure. Now it is time to help build iCAST and leave her an incredible permanent legacy.”

Learn more about reserving your legacy with the Stepping Stones program.  

(l-r) Brooklyn and Noodle Jr. teammates Sherlyn and Joanna

According to her mother, Ann, when Lindsey DELUCE’99 was just five, she sold her original musical compositions to her parents–when she wasn’t running a home-kitchen “restaurant,” complete with menu, that is. 

So it’s no surprise that Ann’s grand-daughter, Brooklyn, currently in Grade 6, has inherited an entrepreneurial mindset from her mother, Lindsey, and thrived within the inaugural Noodle Jr. This Junior School feeder program for Noodle, Branksome Hall's business incubator program is now open for Grades 4 to 6. And that’s why Ann chose to make a generous donation to Noodle. 

“Noodle aligns with my personal belief in the importance of encouraging original thought and the value of team participation in young entrepreneurs,” says Ann, who comes from a long line of self-made business people in a family of seven girls with one brother.

“Noodle enables young girls to be creative in thought, active in execution and rewarded and recognized by their peers.”

Brooklyn participated in the first-ever Noodle Jr. Tradeshow last June, discussing her team’s venture with poise and pitch-perfected confidence. Brooklyn’s team, Foodtainability, addressed food insecurity with a website to facilitate donation distribution to shelters. 

Ann is thrilled with the success of Noodle and its rippling effect in real life: “This program has kindled within Brooklyn valuable skills she didn’t know she had and I see in her a much-appreciated renewed excitement about learning. Noodle appears to me to be a program that supports developing actively engaged minds and teamwork in a safe environment. That is why I'm happy to be able to support it.” 

Former Financial Assistance recipient Alexa LAENGERT'18, now a donor, spoke at Circle Reception on Nov. 6 and caught up with Karrie Weinstock, Head of the Centre for Strategic Leadership. 

Financial Assistance: "Dreams Do Come True."

Here is an excerpt from a speech Alexa LAENGERT’18 gave at the Circle Reception on November 6. A Financial Assistance recipient who started at Branksome in Grade 9, Alexa works part-time at Branksome in operations and summer camps, while also pursuing a degree in English literature at the University of Toronto.

"I had a deep desire to attend Branksome. At the time, my dream seemed impossible due to financial challenges, but I gathered up the courage to contact the school and explore any possible way to make it happen. Luckily, a door opened for me in the form of the Hallward Scholarship, offering me an incredible opportunity to fulfill my dream. Although I didn’t receive it, the committee offered me another scholarship.

And still to this day, I can’t believe that everything aligned for me in such a remarkable way.  

I finished Branksome with such pride, and I will always cherish my experience and memories at the school.

I received more than just an education. I gained a family. As Ms. Jurjevich says, “Branksome Hall will change your life.”

I arrived as a quiet and reserved Grade 9 and graduated as a confident, independent leader and critical thinker.

That scholarship proved to me that you should never give up on your dream because my dream came true.

As I reflect on how Branksome Hall has shaped me into the person I am today, it has had a ripple effect on everything I’ve ever done. I want to give back in every way possible, and that includes being a donor myself and one day making another girl’s dream come true." 

Your generous contributions to Financial Assistance close the financial gap and make it possible for students like myself to have their life changed by Branksome. I will never forget and I will be eternally grateful for this opportunity of a lifetime."

In Appreciation 

Brian and Joannah Lawson, with Principal Karen Jurjevich, attended the Circle Reception on Nov. 6. The Wendy WILSON Lawson'52 and Gillian LAWSON'22 Scholarship supports Financial Assistance.en

Immersive Impact was the theme for our annual Circle Reception, celebrating our donors who’ve given $1,000 or more. Guests did a 360-degree circuit of the Athletics and Wellness Centre gymnasium, wining and dining, and enjoying our students’ presentations of innovation in action.  

From our Drone Zone to our Robotics Arena and our Noodle teams’ pop-ups, it was an exhilarating display of how donor generosity invigorates our students' experience.

Here’s a photo gallery recap. 

Student Achievement Highlights

Branksome Hall

10 Elm Avenue, Toronto, ON M4W 1N4