I Bet on It DONOR PROFILE
Joel, Jordan ’03, & Paul ’06 Ross
Written by John Sandham ’13
For the Ross family, St. Andrew’s College was always the best choice.
Long before the Ross brothers, Jordan ’03 and Paul ’06, set foot on campus as students, Joel, their father, had already formed a connection to SAC. In the early 1970s, he was a frequent visitor, skating on the Macdonald House triangle rink with his friend, Andrew Dalton ’78, and other boarders.
“Many lifelong connections have been made through the community,” Joel says. “It’s part of my fabric.”
Years later, when it came time to decide where to enrol his sons, that fabric mattered. The timing coincided with Joel’s office relocating north. “Between that and always thinking ‘I’d love to send my boys to St. Andrew’s,’ it motivated me.”
He believed the school would help shape the kind of men he hoped his sons would become. He believed in the return on that investment.
“The school forced them to get outside of their comfort zone, and to try all these different things. I always said to them: ‘You get out of it what you put into it, so jump in,’” Joel says.
Jordan spent four years at SAC and was a member of arguably the most successful First Football team in school history, the OFSAA-winning 2001-2002 Saints. Yet when he reflects on his experience, championships are not what define it.
“You go [to SAC] for everything else – the facilities, Cadets, Pipes & Drums, the quality of arts programming – you cannot find that stuff elsewhere.
“The intangible value of the discipline [SAC] instills – you can’t put a price on that. There’s no better testament to the school than when you look back at your fondest memories, and they’re all related to St. Andrew’s.”
With his brother a few years ahead, Paul took little time to adjust to SAC.
“I was a bit nervous at the forefront,” he admits. “I enjoyed it from the second I walked through the doors for the first time.”
Paul went on to win the MacPherson Tournament in 2005 with the First Hockey team and later served as Captain of First Rugby, capturing the CAIS National Championship in his final year. But like his brother, what endured most was the connection.
“I reach out to people in business I wasn’t even friends with, but I see we’ve both gone to St. Andrew’s. They always have time for a fellow Old Boy.”
Joel agrees. “I make it a priority,” he says.
Over time, that priority extended beyond staying connected. It became a commitment to ensuring that future students would have the same experience.
Jordan ’03, Joel, and Paul ’06 posing in the CLIP link with both brothers sitting on chairs with their year of attendance and names engraved.
Through speaking with another Old Boy, Joel learned about the insurance program offered through the Advancement Office. In 2019, Joel established a policy for Jordan, naming the St. Andrew’s College Foundation as the beneficiary. In 2023, he did the same for Paul.
"The way it is organized, I said, 'Who shouldn't do this? People need to understand that you don't have to wait 40, 50 years to realize a gift," Joel says.
"When I learned about the program, it was not a question of why, it was a question of why not."
For the Ross family, legacy giving is a natural extension of gratitude. It reflects a belief that what shaped one generation should be preserved for the next. It is not about waiting until the end of a lifetime. It is about acting with intention now.
“You’re giving back to a place that created some of your best memories in the world,” Jordan says. “You can only hope that someone in the next generation is also afforded that same opportunity.”
Looking back on his decades of association with the college, Joel’s pride still shines through.
“I thought St. Andrew’s would build the type of individual I wanted my sons to be. I bet on it, and it did just that.”
Let’s Talk
If you are considering a legacy gift to St. Andrew’s College or would like more information, we would be honoured to speak with you. Please contact Marla Lambert, Associate Director of Advancement, at 905-727-3178, ext. 381 or marla.lambert@sac.on.ca. You may also visit www.sac.on.ca/support-sac/legacy-giving.
We always encourage donors to consult with their financial planner, lawyer, accountant, or insurance advisor to ensure their planned gift aligns with their personal goals and financial plan.
Make Your Legacy Gift Today
Planning your legacy is one of the most meaningful ways to support SAC’s future.
St. Andrew’s College has engaged Epilogue, a secure, trusted Canadian online platform that lets you create or update your legal will from home in just minutes.
With Epilogue, you can:
• create or update your will quickly and securely
• easily include a legacy gift to SAC
• gain peace of mind knowing your wishes are documented
Members of the SAC community receive 50% off using promo code SACLEGACY50 at checkout.
Why Your Legacy Matters
Every legacy gift, large or small, strengthens SAC’s future. Your support helps:
• sustain exceptional academic, arts, and athletic programs
• fund scholarships and bursaries that open doors for talented students
• maintain and enhance our historic campus
• launch new initiatives that prepare students for the future
When you share your plans with us, you’ll be welcomed into the 1899 Andrean Legacy Society, which recognizes and celebrates donors who have made a lasting commitment to SAC.
Voices of Legacy
“I feel so fortunate to have attended St. Andrew’s. It made me who I am today.”
- Jonathan Thomson ’07
Jonathan views his opportunity to attend SAC as borrowing something precious with the responsibility to give back. Through his legacy gift, he is now paying it forward.
“It allows me to make a larger impact and see the results,” he says.
Deeply influenced by his time at SAC, Jonathan thrived both in the classroom and in athletics. He envisions his life insurance gift supporting students who, like him, require financial assistance to make attending SAC possible.
“The best thing that ever happened to me was coming to St. Andrew’s. Creating a legacy gift felt like the best way to say thank you.”
- Sandy Munro ’70
“St. Andrew’s College was more than just a school – it was a turning point,” Sandy recalls. “The day I received my acceptance letter was the happiest day of my life. SAC gave me confidence, discipline, and a sense of belonging that shaped who I am today.”
Grateful for all the school gave him, Sandy found a meaningful way to give back. Drawing on his professional expertise, he helped launch the life insurance legacy program, which has since become a cornerstone of the SAC Foundation, ensuring that future generations of Andreans can share in the same transformative experience.
Leaving a Legacy – Making a Difference for the Future of St. Andrew’s College
The 1899 Andrean Legacy Society recognizes individuals who have made a confirmed planned gift to St. Andrew’s College, such as a bequest, gift of life insurance, gift annuity, or charitable remainder trust.
St. Andrew’s is honoured by the vision and generosity of these individuals, whose leadership will have a lasting impact on future students and staff. We thank them for their exceptional dedication and commitment to the school.
Members of the 1899 Andrean Legacy Society receive:
• an invitation to our annual 1899 Andrean Legacy Society brunch
• recognition on the Andrean Legacy Society Donor Wall
• an official 1899 Andrean Legacy Society pin
• invitations to special campus and community events throughout the year
A legacy gift is a meaningful and lasting way to support St. Andrew’s College. Gifts may be made through your will, life insurance, securities, RRSPs/RRIFs, annuities, or other planned giving options.
By informing us of your intention to include St. Andrew’s College in your estate plans, we are able to record your wishes and recognize your generosity. If you choose, we would be honoured to welcome you into the 1899 Andrean Legacy Society.
