Finding his early 1970’s government accounting job wasn’t providing the satisfaction he wanted, Don Lindsay started looking for a career change. He loved coaching sports, particularly with young adults, so he looked for something that would combine his business and coaching skills; and in January 1974, he found it! That winter, he drove from Winnipeg to Victoria to join Camosun’s growing Business Division, teaching courses in Accounting, Investments and Auditing. As a person whose learning skills didn’t blossom until he started his professional accounting studies, he understood the challenges that adult learners face as they return to school. The job at the college was a perfect fit.
Golf Professional Craig Rencher (next to Don) – Arbutus Ridge Golf Course
Don’s contributions to the School of Business, and the college at large, are many and varied. He taught Entrepreneurship at William Head Penitentiary, both firsts for the Business Division. He pioneered the Career Entry initiative, a precursor to the college’s prior learning assessment. He created practical learning experiences for students, such as Camgro Investment Club and Tax Services for Seniors. The scholarships and bursaries he put together over the years have benefitted so many students.
On top of this, in 1995 Don created the Golf Management program, still going strong after all these years. And he started the college’s Golf Team, winning titles at the provincial and national levels, with members representing Camosun at the world university competitions in Ireland and China.
Don’s can-do philosophy has always been, ‘let’s find a way to make this work’; and the initiatives he has put into place are testament to his success. For Don, it was always a joy to be at the college, to be with a great core of students and colleagues. Every day was going to be a great day!
Submitted by Alec Lee, CCARE Retiree