Chronicle 2020

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Connection despite distance

JUL I E CROTHERS 1993 President, Havergal Old Girls Association

Thanks to the Chronicle team led by Alex Howard for producing another thought-provoking and informative issue. “Balancing Act” was chosen many months ago as the theme to focus on how Old Girls spend their time apart from their responsibilities relating to work and family. With the COVID-19 crisis, this equilibrium has received a serious jolt, and we have had to create and adapt to new ways of finding our footing. While change can be uncomfortable, many positives can result, including a refocus on what is most important: health, family, friends and community. On behalf of the Old Girls community, I extend a warm welcome to our new Old Girls, the Class of 2020. We were overwhelmed with the response from Old Girls outside of Toronto when asked to deliver grad gifts to our graduating boarders. Five women from Jamaica quickly responded; one even offered to drive to the other side of the island to deliver the gift. They coordinated to deliver the gift together. Another five women in Hong Kong gathered to deliver the gift to a graduate in that city. A key part of our new strategic plan is to connect more frequently with Old Girls living outside of Toronto, so we were excited to find such enthusiasm.

The big news for HOGA this year was the launch of Connections, our new alumnae platform. It allows you to reconnect with classmates around the world and use the Havergal community to expand your professional network. I encourage all Old Girls to join (connections.havergal.on.ca). Although our connections remain largely socially distanced for the time being, I urge Old Girls to seek support from friends in the Havergal community during this unsettled period. Several classes organized Zoom calls, and the team in the Old Girls Office called hundreds of our “older” Old Girls to personally check in and see if the Havergal community could do anything to help. We are stronger together, and I look forward to the days that we can be united in person again. Finally, I’d like to recognize the critical work and sacrifice of Old Girls working in health care and other essential services during this pandemic. You can read some of their stories on pages 50 and 51. We sincerely thank them for their service.

Be well, Julie

PHOTO: NIAMH BARRY 2009

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