News and Events

ISABC Conference – Aberdeen Hall, Kelowna

Recently I headed up to Aberdeen Hall Preparatory School in Kelowna, host to the ISABC Conference for Marketing, Communications, Advancement, Alumni and Admissions colleagues. I joined over 40 attendees who convened in Kelowna on September 27th and 28th for this robust professional development opportunity. I decided to drive and enjoyed a gorgeous, sunny trip up, enjoying the bright fall colours throughout the landscape. The welcome dinner Thursday was held at the Kelowna Yacht Club, a stunning location, where Braden Douglas, Keynote Speaker, Author, Strategist and Founder of CREW Branding, delivered an engaging presentation titled “Institutional Excellence: what we say, what we write, what we do.”

On Friday, we toured the Aberdeen campus, which is right beside the UBC Okanagan campus. Our student guide told us how great it was that the university is so close, as he frequently attends lectures and events at the UBC campus, and has already decided to continue his studies there once he graduates! Aberdeen’s campus is stunning, with huge playing fields, outdoor playgrounds and a huge air supported soft sports dome.

In the afternoon we participated in breakout sessions and roundtables by departmental area. We also heard from a Heads’ Panel of Christopher Grieve, Aberdeen Hall, Glenn Zederayko, Glenlyon Norfolk School and Sharon DeVries, UBC – Okanagan. Leaders from ISABC schools, Csek Creative & KelownaNow and the Okanagan College Foundation led the break out sessions on topics ranging from capital campaigns, market analysis to crisis communications and admissions assessment. As one attendee noted: “together ISABC schools are stronger through collaboration, networking and support in all educational endeavours.”

On the drive down I encountered the first snow on the Coquihalla – it had turned to winter in the few days that I’d been in Kelowna!

Now my head is swimming with new ideas, the first one I’m starting to implement now, which is creating a repository of stories, all of your stories – parents, students, alumni and extended families. So please, call me to meet for a personal interview over a coffee or contact me if you’d like to talk about your experience with IPS. We love your stories!

Julia McCaig
Director of Development and Alumni Relations
(604) 947-9311 or julia@go.islandpacific.org