Sheridan’s community donors have a long history of giving

In the spirit of “it takes a village to raise a child,” it is also worth noting that it takes a community to educate a student.

There are several community organizations that providing funding – for scholarships, bursaries, or grants – that facilitate the postsecondary careers of Sheridan College students.

Whether it’s through fundraising, sponsorships, or money raised through sales, these organizations provide an invaluable service to Sheridan, allowing students to focus on their studies and achieve their best.

Here are just a few:

Rotary Club of Oakville

Lynn Childs admits "she didn’t know what Rotary was" when she first got involved with the club in 2024. But she soon found that the group’s focus on giving back aligned well with her own desire to have an impact in the community.

“I’ve donated to a lot of different charities over the years,” she says, “but you don’t really hear how it might have impacted (an individual) and you’re certainly not there for the impact itself.”

Today, as president-elect of The Rotary Club of Oakville, she sees how her club’s efforts can change lives. Oakville is just one of several local chapters -- including Rotary Oakville-Trafalgar and the Rotary Club of Brampton -- that supports Sheridan. The Rotary Club of Oakville, which just recently celebrated its 100th anniversary, has created bursaries that provide funds for full-time students who self-identify as Indigenous and need extra support to fund technology essential for their studies. Since 2019, they have supported 30 students.

“When you get to see how much you've impacted somebody and how it's made such a difference in their life, you get this sense of 'I want to do one better now.'”

– Rotary Club of Oakville President-elect Lynn Childs

“Without (the Rotary Club’s award), I would be under a great deal of financial stress and it would impact my academic focus," said 2024 recipient Alexis. “But more importantly, receiving this award has made me feel more connected to my spiritual beliefs and heritage.”

Childs says seeing the way their efforts open doors is one of the key reasons they continue to support Sheridan.

“When you get to see how much you’ve impacted somebody and how it’s made such a difference in their life, you get this sense of ‘I want to do one better now. I want to do that again,’” she says. “It’s very fulfilling to have someone speak to our group and say, ‘I couldn’t have got through school if I had not received that bursary.’”

That’s not the only thing a Rotarian gets out of the work, however.

“You’re basically building gratitude,” says Childs, “which is something we could all do with a little bit more of.”

IODE

There is a little thrift store at 432 Kerr St. in Oakville that is easy to miss if you aren’t careful. But if you take a minute to step inside, you’ll find a treasure trove of items, with everything from dishes and kitchenware to toys, books, and clothing.

What you’d really be missing if you just walked by the two-storey, red-brick building is what that shop represents.

IODE Thrifty Finds is the very heart of a local chapter in a national charitable organization called IODE Canada, led by women who, over the last 92 years, have donated their time and effort to raising funds for the community.

Gail McDiarmid is one of those women, having first joined IODE in 1964. Since then, she’s served in at least four other IODE locations and has been with the Oakville group – known as Angela Bruce Chapter IODE, after the wife of a former Lieutenant Governor of Ontario -- since 2007.

“Our members want to do something to give back to the community. Not only will they have fun doing it, but it will help others.”

– IODE volunteer Gail McDiarmid

IODE bills itself as “women dedicated to a better Canada.” The members of the Angela Bruce Chapter work toward that goal by supporting a number of initiatives, including homeless and women’s shelters, several food banks, and a hospice, amongst others. They also support education by offering high school bursaries and send supplies to a First Nations School in Labrador.

At Sheridan, the IODE’s support currently funds four awards and two bursaries for students. As well as supporting the Office of Indigenous Engagement and Education with the creation of two wampum belts – which help promote truth and reconciliation efforts. All of it thanks largely to the proceeds generated by the thrift store, where the staff are all volunteers and Angela Bruce Chapter members.

“One of the reasons the thrift shop has survived is because a lot of young people are thrifting,” says McDiarmid who, at 87, confesses she is not even the oldest at the store, with three women in their mid-90s on the staff. “We’re much busier than we used to be.”

“Our members want to do something to give back to the community. That's a big driver for many people. They want to do something that's going to help other people. Not only will they have fun doing it, but it will help others,” she says.

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If you would like to support Sheridan students, please consider donating at sheridancollege.ca/support/donate