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Hal Hannaford: known and loved by all
Retired Selwyn House Headmaster Hal Hannaford reviewed the highlights of his career at Selwyn House when he received the Speirs Medal—the school’s highest honour— at Founder’s Day celebrations on November 26.
The presentation was part of an online celebration that was viewed from 213 homes, and included Old Boys, students and staff, plus family and friends.
Headmaster Mike Downey opened the ceremonies with a salute to Lieutenant Algernon Lucas, who founded the school in 1908, as well as to his two predecessors present at Founder’s Day, Will Mitchell and Hal Hannaford.
“One thing I have witnessed during my time at Selwyn is that it is the people, the community—in other words, everyone here tonight—who makes this school great,” said Mr. Downey.
“Our community is an important one, and our actions have a direct impact on others,” he said. We’ve learned during the pandemic that the world is a very small place and that we’re in this together.”
“One thing I have witnessed during my time at Selwyn is that it is the people, the community—in other words, everyone here tonight—who makes this school great,” said Mr. Downey.
“Our community is an important one, and our actions have a direct impact on others,” he said. We’ve learned during the pandemic that the world is a very small place and that we’re in this together.”
Minna Shulman
Last year’s Speirs Medal recipient Minna Shulman gave a heartfelt introduction for the man she described as, “My boss, my mentor, my hero, and my dear friend.”
“I am thrilled to represent the hundreds of faculty, students and families who find Hal Hannaford compelling, creative, competent, compassionate, and charismatic,” she said. “He is so deserving of this honour.”
When Hal arrived at Selwyn House in 2009, he inherited what Then-Board Chair Ted Claxton ’73 called “the school that Will built,” and he made this house a home, she said.
“Hal worked to…fill the school with increased heart and soul that reflected his strong values of community, connectedness, relationships, resilience, love, laughter, and, of course, music.”
“Hal pushed us all to greatness. His keen observation, clever mind and huge heart helped define our vision and mission, reinforcing VERITAS, a brand that we all could embrace and embody.
“Hal has one of the quickest and sharpest minds, and his ability to see the big picture, his strengths as a visionary and his business acumen are so impressive. Hal’s leadership was transformational for so many of us as he sought to understand, embrace, enhance and help us build upon our own strengths.
“Hal introduced to us the concept of ‘Known and Loved’ as a goal for all of us, which made our experiences at Selwyn House deeper and richer, and aligned with our true mission, to fill all our students and all our community with love and support so that we all become truly great people.
“Like so many of you, I will always treasure these years with him,” Minna concluded. “Hal has enhanced all of our lives, made our days more meaningful and fulfilling, made our professional growth and development more focused and more fun, paved the way for deeper and more loving relationships with the boys, the faculty, our families, and the community, and left our beloved school with so many lasting and meaningful gifts borne of his vision, dedication, intelligence, creativity, and his heart and his soul. I thank Hal for this wonderful honour and opportunity to pay tribute to him and to remind him that the entire Selwyn House community truly knows and deeply loves our Hal Hannaford.”
Hal Hannaford
Mr. Hannaford began his acceptance speech with a tip of the hat to the four Board Chairs with whom he has served: Ted Claxton ’73, Michael Denham, Jonathan Goldbloom ’72 and Michael Avedesian ’88.
Hal’s legacy at Selwyn House begins with his development of the VERITAS brand, which, he said, is based on the original traditions of the school, “Our founding principle has now become something that is really current and modern,” he said. Today, VERITAS is founded on three truths (being true to one’s self, to others, and to the school), a motto that has now been enlarged to include a fourth: being true to the world.
The second pillar of Hal’s legacy is the concept of being a relational school. “Becoming a relational school is everything,” he said.
The third, which he calls the “glory of education,” consists of “taking boys and molding them into…great men.”
The fourth is faculty culture. “Teachers and staff are number one,” he says. “It’s a great faculty at this school, and I was honoured to be able to work with them.”
Raising a boy into a great man also requires four things, he said: “First, boys must be exposed to strong and effective male role models. Second, boys must also be exposed to a substantial female influence. Third, we must let boys be boys. “In order to become a truly great man, you must be a boy first,” he said.
Last—and perhaps most important—are friends and family, he concluded, punctuating his remark with a kiss on the cheek of his wife, Susan Doherty.
“You cannot do this thing alone,” he said. “Susan has been just as big a part of Selwyn House as I ever was.”
“We’ll miss you, but we will never forget you.”
Other Honorees:
In addition to Hal, five other staff members retired this year after having served 25 years or more at the school. They are: James McMillan, Brad Moffatt, Christine Krushelnyski, Carol Manning and Roman Pylat. Together, their time at Selwyn House totals almost 200 years.
These same staff members were also inducted as Honorary Old Boys at Founder’s Day, except for Christine Krushelnyski, who, along with her late husband, Marc, was inducted as an honorary Old Boy in 2012.
Also at Founder’s Day, Selwyn House Parent and Parent Volunteer Association member Roula Rossy received the Nancy Pitfield Memorial Award for volunteerism.
To watch videos of the Founder’s Day evening event, click on the links below:
Hal Receiving Award
Evening Presentation
Evening Cocktail
