TFS - Canada's International School

TFS 57 My experiences at TFS helped me acquire leadership skills and encouraged me to be an engaged citizen, to embrace new concepts and to advocate for new ideas." A True TFS Champion From rolling up her sleeves and manning a booth at Kermesse to helping guide the evolution of our school as a member of the TFS and TFS Foundation boards, Nancy Cohen '78 has had an incredible impact on TFS. Since she first stepped foot on campus as one of the school's earliest students, she has given her heart to TFS. To commemorate her outstanding dedication, not only was Ms. Cohen selected as the inaugural recipient of le prix du service distingué, but the award was shortly thereafter renamed in her honour, as le prix du service distingué Nancy S. Cohen. There are few people who know their way around our school as well as Ms. Cohen; a member of the school's third graduating class, her involvement spans over six decades. Before retiring from the TFS Foundation Board in 2023, Ms. Cohen sat down with Entre Nous to reflect on her time at the school. TFS: Over the years you have given so much to TFS. Thank you! Why was it important for you to be so connected to the school? Nancy: It was never really a conscious decision; it was just what felt right. The school has been part of me for my whole life. My experience at TFS has always been rewarding and has brought me together with wonderful people. When I was a student, parents did many of the jobs that are now taken care of by staff – writing newsletters, managing the library, welcoming teachers into their homes when they first arrived from overseas. I considered my volunteering as a continuation of the work that was done by our parents. TFS: What was your first role as a volunteer? Nancy: I first got involved as an alumna in the early days of the Alumni Association. For me it was all about the relationships – there were just so many fantastic, interesting people. Then, I was recruited to be the alumni representative on the Parents' Association in 1995, and I started getting involved in all kinds of activities. I was a class representative and supported Pizza Day and fundraisers. I was also Chair of Kermesse, which was so much fun! TFS: As a volunteer you have helped achieve many great things, from the creation of the TFS Archives to the establishment of the Alumni of Distinction Awards. Which projects did you find most fulfilling? Nancy: Definitely the archives! The school has such a unique story, and it is really important to preserve it. Over time, I have seen how useful that information is in helping establish a strong foundation and in helping guide the evolution of the school. It was really gratifying to see the archives open in 2003. Another one is the evolution of the Terry Fox Run. When my kids were at school, the staff organized it every year, and it took a lot of time – so much so that they were considering only doing it every other year and limiting which grades could take part. As volunteers, we established a large committee and worked hard to make it an important annual event at the school. It became huge, with every kid from every grade participating. TFS: How did your days as a TFS student shape you? Nancy: In some ways the school was still inventing itself in those early years. We were given a lot of leadership opportunities. We started a lot of clubs. We started the student council. Somebody started a newspaper. My experiences at TFS helped me acquire leadership skills and encouraged me to be an engaged citizen, to embrace new concepts and to advocate for new ideas. TFS: How has the school evolved over the decades? Nancy: Thanks to the amazing community around it, the school has really been able to realize its ambitions and build on its idea of what makes a great education – and to deliver that unparalleled experience to students. In my generation, we used to go next door to York University's Glendon Campus for gym and swim classes and come back to school with frozen hair. When they did a huge renovation in the early 2000s, they were able to install a beautiful new gym and a pool. Now when I look back and see all the things that renovation enabled – how much of a difference it made to the kinds of programs the school can offer and how positively it has impacted the experiences of both students and staff – I am astounded. And now TFS has just announced the new facilities they are going to put up: the auditorium at the Toronto campus and the new gym at the West Campus. It has been rewarding for me to see how things have evolved in a very positive way over time. They don't just happen overnight. It takes a lot of different people and a lot of time to build out great ideas.

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