Hadden Hall

On Saturday, October 18, 2008 Trustees gathered at Lakefield College School for the first joint meeting of School and Foundation Trustees, further marked with the opening of Hadden Hall, its new student recreation centre, the Paul and Hélène Desmarais Family Outdoor Education Wing, and the Phelan Family Learning Commons. His Royal Highness The Duke of York “cut the ribbon” in celebration of the $13.8M LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold project with over 600 trustees, special guests, students and staff looking on.

The day began with the annual meetings of the school and foundation, followed by reports from the Boards of Directors and School Management. Trustees had the opportunity to learn of David Thompson’s first few busy months as the new Head of School. Trustees joined the students of the Grade 12 Leadership Class for guided tours of Hadden Hall and the Paul and Hélène Desmarais Family Outdoor Education Wing.

At noon, the trustees and community guests gathered on the west side of Hadden Hall for the official opening of the building. It was a magical moment, punctuated by the sincere thanks of David Thompson, David Hadden, HRH The Duke of York, and Paul Desmarais ’73 to all the donors, staff, and construction crew who made the project a reality. Following the blessing and the ribbon cutting, the guests were invited to tour the new facilities and enjoy lunch in Hadden Hall.

After a very full morning, trustees returned to the Chapel for the afternoon program “Celebrating Endowment” highlighting the impact that the generosity of our LCS community has had on so many of our alumni. Bursary recipients were united with individual donors and provided the opportunity to share their personal stories and to express their deepest gratitude. After a very moving session (and several boxes of tissue), trustees of the school and foundation gathered for the traditional group photograph.

A reception was held in Hadden Hall, followed by dinner in the newly named McEwen Gymnasium. His Royal Highness recognized faculty and staff for the important contributions they make to the lives of LCS students. The evening concluded with the awarding of the prestigious Jeffery Page Rein Wadsworth Award for Volunteerism to Paul Desmarais Jr. ’73, honorary Chair of the LCS Foundation.