In a fitting close to his presidential term, Henry Paetkau announced that Conrad Grebel University College’s new Community Education Room will be funded by a $500,000 gift from RBJ Schlegel Holdings Inc..
RBJ Schlegel Holdings Inc. is committed to promoting professional development, life-long learning and community education. This priority is manifest in a variety of ways, including its funding of the Spirituality and Aging program which is hosted at Conrad Grebel University College as part of the Schlegel-University of Waterloo Research Institute on Aging (RIA).
The company’s founder, Ron Schlegel, served on the Board of Governors at Conrad Grebel from 1972 to 1982. He, his wife Barbara, and other family members are supporters of the college and have a clear desire to enhance the community impact of the college through the new facilities in the proposed building plan. Education, faith, leadership development, and life-long learning are priorities for the Schlegel family.
We are pleased to make this contribution to The Next Chapter campaign,
noted Ron and Barbara.
Our sons’ names, Rob, Brad and Jamie, combine to make the ‘RBJ’ in the company name, and with this gift, we have made a collective commitment as a corporation to enhancing the broader community.
The RBJ Schlegel Community Education Room will be used primarily by the Conflict Management Certificate program which is part of the Peace and Conflict Studies department. Its manager, Susan Baker, reports that
this continuing education program is growing steadily and new, more professional looking space will be a welcome enhancement.
The Next Chapter campaign grows out of the college’s strategic plan to address urgent space needs in the current academic building. In addition to theRBJ Schlegel Community Education Room and revamped main entrance, the $6.3 million building project includes an expanded library that will greatly enhance the learning environment for our students and provide additional teaching and learning resources for all of our programs. The space for the Mennonite Archives of Ontario will triple and become more accessible to the community. The Music program will enjoy new and expanded practice and teaching facilities. Additional space for graduate programs in Theology and Peace and Conflict Studies will be imperative for future growth.
This gift, along with generous support from over 270 donors, has pushed The Next Chapter campaign over its minimum goal of $3.7 million.
What a wonderful investment in the college’s future! This is a great way to begin my term as president,
remarked Susan Schultz Huxman, who started her position on July 1.
We will continue to push toward raising $4 million. This will reduce the mortgage needed as we complete this exciting building project designed to grow Grebel’s mission.
