Ian Phillips,

Dip. Tech., B.A., M.Ed.

From an early age, I was involved in Scouting in England, eventually becoming a Queen’s Scout and, as an adult, completing the Wood Badge training course which made me a member of the 1st Gilwell Park Scout Group.

On coming to Canada during 1967, I worked for a while in Toronto before moving first to Woodstock and then to Amherstburg to take up a teaching position at the newly opened Sandwich Secondary School. After a stint as Technical Program Consultant for what was then the Essex County Board of Education, I was appointed Vice Principal at Belle River District High School and then at General Amherst High School. I completed the circle by returning to Sandwich Secondary School as Principal before retiring in 2005.

I married Madeline, the love of my life in 1971, along with her five boys. Although I lost her in 2012, our family has grown with ten grandchildren and a list of great-grandchildren which gets longer each year!

My spiritual journey has continued, first at Wesley United in Amherstburg until it closed, and then at Tecumseh United where I am a member of the church board. Along the way, I completed the training to become a Licensed Lay Worship Leader, and I am currently a member of the LLWL Resource Team in the Antler River Watershed Region of the United Church of Canada.

For many years I have been a member of the board of the Amherstburg Non-profit Seniors Housing Corporation (Wesview) where I am now vice-chairperson.

Once a week, I visit the offices of the River Town Times where I volunteer as a proofreader before it goes to press.

Recently, I was privileged to be invited to join the board of directors of Community Living Essex County and have come to appreciate the tremendous work they do in supporting over 700 persons with intellectual difficulties throughout the County.