In 1994 construction began on the General Purpose building and Cultural Centre at Lansdowne, which was later renamed in memory of college instructor, social worker and donor Wilna Gratia Thomas.
Wilna Thomas came to Camosun in 1974 to set up a program for social work assistants. Her ability to touch peoples lives extended throughout her career. She was the first female Canadian chaplain in the Second World War before returning to university at age 50 to get her Masters in Social Work.
When she retired in 1982, she left a planned gift to Camosun to establish a centre to foster the academic, social and spiritual education of students – the Wilna Thomas Cultural Centre which opened in 1996.
