Educating a Community – Maggie Shaw

A visual arts teacher at Twin Lakes Secondary School for more than 15 years, Maggie Shaw has deep-seeded roots in Orillia and chose to return from university to teach and live her passion by giving back to her hometown community.

Ten white, human-sized sculptures are strategically placed in front of a red brick wall connecting with laptops and cellphones instead of each other.

This art installation from Twin Lakes S.S. students titled ‘Generation Isolation’, was conceptualized by Maggie to depict the effects social media & technology are having on today’s youth.

Twin Lakes Secondary School teachers spend a lot of their own resources making sure everyone has an optimal learning experience. A tight-knit community connects students to important members, especially those in Rama First Nation, providing a very enriched culture.

Who is Maggie Shaw? (captions available in both FR and EN). Enjoy this video with a transcript (En).

Maggie noticed big changes over the years, particularly in the way students learn and interact. Not knowing how to limit their digital use and expecting immediate gratification – a lot are addicted to social media. So much so, that Shaw came up with an art project called ‘Generation Isolation’, which really opened their eyes to the effects social media is having on them.

Maggie Shaw – Generation Isolation (captions available in both FR and EN). Enjoy this video with a transcript (En).

With many incredible memories, one emotional story sticks out. After giving birth to her daughter who was born with a rare immune deficiency, students and teachers from the high school and the community coordinated a fundraiser for her family. Afterwards, Maggie received an email from a student sharing how much he enjoyed giving back, and that the extra time she’d taken to help him in school stopped him from committing suicide.

Maggie Shaw – Favourite Teaching Moment (captions available in both FR and EN). Enjoy this video with a transcript (En).

The generous community is what Maggie loves most about Orillia. Blessed to be surrounded by lakes and land, she finds it priceless she’s guaranteed to run into at least one person she knows while taking a stroll downtown.

Maggie Shaw – Change in Orillia (captions available in both FR and EN). Enjoy this video with a transcript (En).

…you walk downtown and you’re guaranteed
to run into at least one person you know.

Learning a Community – Griffen Horsley Honouring a Community – Becca Shron