PROGRAM
Jennifer Toews was inducted as a Rotarian with the Rotary Club of Lincoln in June 2024. However, she was no stranger to the club because of her substantial contribution as a community volunteer member of the Lamplighter Tour Production Team since 2010. In her classification talk, Jennifer eloquently delivered her story - a tale of intriguing challenges and significant accomplishments elsewhere in the world and continuing with her new engagements since coming to live in our community almost 20 years ago.
Editor’s Note:
Normally, I would select highlights to record in this newsletter but I really didn’t know where to begin with Jenn’s fascinating story, which she so thoughtfully scribed for us. So, here is her “classification reveal” in its entirety. ENJOY!!! MA
CLASSIFICATION TALK
JENNIFER LEE TOEWS
Good morning!
I am the, now almost a 70-year-old, only child born to, and raised by, John and Elizabeth Toews, in “Klean as a Kitchen” Kitchener, Ontario. There, I attended 3 local educational institutions. I graduated from Eastwood Collegiate which, fittingly, was transformed into an Arts high school. An enthusiastic and very talented group of us made a name for the ECI over many years, laying the groundwork for this outcome. While contemplating my next steps after school, I immediately embarked on a “temporary” career in women’s retail, starting on the ground floor ironing tissue paper and making boxes. That stop-gap employment turned into a 13-year stint with that organization. Over time, I became the owner’s right hand, culminating in my promotion to a supervisory and HR position. We grew the chain from 3 to 13 stores, extending it well beyond its Kitchener and Guelph origins. In 1986, my professional theatre career began. I was invited to join the Charlottetown Festival season. And I jumped at the chance!
My stage debut took place at age 5 after being chosen to do a Christmas recitation. It was, as I recall, very well received and the applause hooked me, I suppose. I became known for my soprano solos in local churches, at weddings and for my comedic roles in high school musicals and local community theatre. Starring with KWMP, akin to Garden City Productions, really fuelled my passion. The ability to work and train with professional directors, musical directors and stage designers was incredible. It is a true honour to count the late Alan and Blanche Lund as my primary mentors. In his 25th and final year as Artistic Director for the Charlottetown Festival, Alan offered me a 3rd and final, professional offer. I was cast in two musical productions - “Babies” and “Anne of Green Gables”. “Anne” was also scheduled for a Cross-Canada tour, including a stop at Vancouver’s Expo ’86. Toronto beckoned when the tour closed and I moved there, intending (of course!) to become Canada’s next reigning musical theatre comedienne with an eye on Broadway. Sadly, given the cancellation and lack of arts funding at that time, audition opportunities went cold. And, so, most of the professional theatres never got a chance to see my brilliance (ha,ha). Nothing daunted, I took up temp work and those experiences led me to successful Executive Assistant positions in a variety of corporate environments.
Fast forward to 1992. I got the chance of a lifetime to demonstrate and grow my multi-tasking strength. ICS was an SAP tech startup consulting firm based in Chadds Ford, PA. I was the 4th employee of the Canadian branch and I was in heaven - allowed to learn, create and excel! It was a playground for me - from sourcing and opening 10 offices across Canada as Executive Assistant, Administration and Facilities Manager and HR and Recruitment liaison. A takeover by Deloitte Consulting, about 2 years in, propelled me into the position of HR Director for Canada.
Wow! Who’d a thunk it? This position was amazing. It allowed for work on global teams and international travel. I assisted in creating, implementing and supporting a rollout of a new Career Development Program. In Canada, my role encompassed personnel development, HR programs and hands-on support of 100’s of consultants. Ultimately, my last project included the cross-functional teaming of Consulting’s Accounting and HR departments and the Tax and Audit Firm – 2 distinct entities at that time. I led an effort to save over $1,000,000.00 in previously unrealized US and International Tax filings. And that was accomplished in one year. Our ability to create a mechanism to capture those monies will always be one of my proudest achievements.
There seems to be a theme…expose me to something have little or no experience for and let me play, learn, create and develop - and I thrive! Sadly, shortly after the tax project, Deloitte Tax and Audit took over the Consulting arm. Many, including me were downsized. That instigated my next move. On July 15, 2005, I took another risk and moved to Beamsville. That transition led to employment in the local wine industry of which, again, I knew nothing, and Administration roles in the wellness and legal realms. Decades of experience in theatrical performance in my toolbox helped me to adapt and change.
When I decided to explore local acting opportunities, it came about because of a dare to audition with the Lincoln Rotary Lamplighter Tour in 2010. The rest is well-known history. Again, I was able to progress through the ranks as actor, director, assistant producer and, eventually, as Artistic Director for the final 2023 Tour. Since then, I have become involved in various artistic roles with Peninsula Players, Nelles Manor Museum and Firehall Theatre in Niagara Falls including actor, director, playwright and assistant stage manager.
So, onward to my Classification. Might I say it is, well, fluid, as most of my roles have always been. “Retirement” pushed me to choose Re-invention. Now, busier than ever, juggling many balls at the same time, I enjoy enormous challenges that fulfill and inspire me. But, heavenly days, I must admit, I get very tired. One of these days, I’m going to have to learn to understand the word “NO!” Yet, now I am able to pursue, full-time, passions that had to be put on hold for, sometimes, 70-hour work weeks. It’s exciting to realize that my past skills in people management and counselling, innovation and networking are transferrable - to whatever and whomever, I choose. Perhaps I have always avoided classification – either as a spoiled only child (I was not), as a “gifted” elementary school student (whose talents, sadly, did not extend to math and science), as a professional performer or as a low-on-the-totem pole salesclerk. It seems I always surprised myself and others by going above and beyond. I always want to re-define and refine things.
If I must classify my role in life, let’s say I’m an explorer on a voyage of discovery, a moderate risk-taker and an eager networker. Or even a hunter/gatherer who finds and brings together as many like-minded (or otherwise, sometimes) as possible. Perhaps I’m a promoter of the exciting realization that the sky’s the limit – that you can be and do anything you can conceive and that everything is an amazing opportunity. My aim, I suppose, is to share visions and aspire to dream. To assist others in realizing their full potential. In some ways, that’s what attracted me to serving on the Boards of OntarioGreen and my Niagara West political party. Time will tell if I make a difference.
My rationale for joining Rotary was simply a desire to remain part of that “family” of community members. The experience of Lamplighter ushered me to a place of acceptance and rewarded me with the group’s trust and friendship. Support from Rotary members and friends propelled me into an illustrious group being recognized as the 50 Faces of Lincoln in 2020. I was cited for my community involvement including the ‘Save the Fairgrounds’ committee, Lamplighter Tour, Ontario Green initiatives and for being active, vocal and helpful with local issues. It was truly humbling, as a relative newcomer, to be recognized for this and as a Paul Harris Fellow. I was also attracted to the opportunities becoming evident with the new WNSS theatre. Having been part of the original fundraising team for it, the Rotary interest in partnering in some way, pretty much sealed my decision to apply. I am eager to be part of the networking efforts and helping to maintain and grow a vibrant (and green) volunteer and Arts and Culture environment within the group and the Community. Lincoln Rotary is the best of all possible worlds for this! And I am brimming with ideas for more youth Arts engagement and, hopefully, seeing some of them come to fruition.
Any successes and notices I’ve received are thanks to those who instilled a get-to-it attitude, a “you can do it” belief in me. People encouraged me to see the best in others and myself. As a self-described pessimistic optimist, I expect the worst and am pleasantly surprised when everything turns out well. And I can’t be more pleased at how well my life has turned out. I am blessed by wonderful family, mentors and friends. Efforts I have made to be there for, and to inspire others, seem to have resonated. I will continue to strive to be the best that they believe I can be. Hopefully, that, and a desire to provide service above self, will be a legacy I can pass along.
So….there you have it! I thank you profusely for staying awake!!
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