Hepburn Hall: The Heart of Our Community First Vision

Republished from Together for Lakefield. Our Community. Our Stories. Our Impact. 2024/25

Located at the heart of campus and designed with seating for 600 to accommodate our entire student and staff community, Hepburn Hall will serve as a central hub for relationship-building and transformational experiences at The Grove for generations to come. This new 14,000-square-foot building represents the culmination of many years of planning, and its grand opening in September 2026 will mark a significant milestone in the history of our school. Much more than a dining hall, Hepburn Hall reflects the school’s enduring commitment to bringing our community together and nurturing a spirit of belonging, and was the focus of an extended feature article in the most recent edition of Grove News.

We are deeply grateful to John ’68 and Jane Hepburn for their incredible vision and steadfast support in making this project a reality, through a leadership donation that is among the largest in Canadian independent school history. We look forward to honouring the Hepburns as well as the other community members who have supported this project at the grand opening dinner on September 26, 2026.

Dining Tables, Flags, and Chairs Campaign
In the lead-up to the Hepburn Hall grand opening dinner, we are focused on securing sponsorships for tables, flags, and chairs, and have been inspired by the enthusiastic response from our community.

• Tables are where stories are told and traditions passed down. To date, we have secured sponsorship for 30 of the 60 available dining tables (50% of our goal) at $50,000 each.

• Flags celebrate the rich diversity and global reach of our school. So far, six families have sponsored the flag of their home country or province (40% of our goal), each at $50,000. The flags will be displayed on a striking new map-based plaque in our global kitchen, an installation that we can continue to add to over time.

• Chairs remind us that every student has a place at LCS. To date, more than 115 dining chairs (58%+ of our goal) have been sponsored at $2,500 each, creating a lasting legacy. These funds are being directed equally toward the dining hall project and endowed tuition assistance, helping future students find their seat at the table (literally!).

Together, these acts of support are weaving personal and family legacies into the daily rhythm of school life. When the community gathers for the first time in Hepburn Hall, each meal will reflect a shared sense of purpose, identity, and belonging. We extend our sincere appreciation to the many alumni and families who have supported the tables, flags, and chairs campaign this year.