In gratitude for Gail Schellenberg’s lifelong commitment to education, Initiatives for Just Communities (IJC) is naming the renovated training space at the El’dad offices the Gail Schellenberg Training Centre. Gail served as the executive director for Initiatives for Just Communities from 2014 to 2020, when health issues intervened. She passed away on December 4, 2020.
Gail was both an educator and an administrator. She brought multi-disciplinary creativity, humour and a belief in second chances to her many years of teaching and leadership in junior and senior high schools in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario, and through her work as executive director at Initiatives for Just Communities.
Located in Mitchell, Manitoba at IJC’s El’dad program office, the training centre is a newly renovated 884 square foot space and will be equipped with tables and chairs that can be moved around for specific learning milieus. The facility will have state-of-the-art technology, including a projection system for teaching purposes. A small seating area will be available for side conversations and a renovated kitchen in the adjacent room will enable groups to enjoy a meal if they are in an all-day training session, allowing conversations to continue informally over food and refreshments. The space will be used for IJC staff training, day program participant activities, and will also be available for rent, providing an additional income stream for IJC.
A plaque honouring Gail will be placed in the room, and signage on the entry doors will include the name of the centre.
Renovation work is nearing completion, and IJC welcomes donations as a way to honour the memory of Gail. Donations will be used to provide furnishing and equipment for the space. Furnishing will be completed through the summer and we are hopeful that restrictions will allow for a dedication of the centre in the fall of 2021.
To donate:
- Visit CanadaHelps (Initiatives for Just Communities page) and apply your donation to “Special Fund – Gail Schellenberg Training Centre”; or,
- Mail cheques to Initiatives for Just Communities, 315 Hwy 52W, Mitchell MB R5G 0Z2. Make cheque payable to “Initiatives for Just Communities” and designate to “Gail Schellenberg Training Centre”.
Photo of Gail Schellenberg by Mariette Koop; photos of training centre by Hank Dixon
