clip credit - @namao_school on Instagram
Following the rapid growth of the Ben Stelter School Fundraiser (BSSF), the organization announced that the Principal of Namao School, Iain Jamieson will be joining its Advisory Board for the 2026 fundraising year.
Aariz Mawji, Director of the BSSF, notes his past involvement with the BSSF and his community.
“We’re super excited to have Iain join us on the board. His school has been a crucial part of the development of the BSSF for years […] He is someone that loves to be involved in the community and do everything he can to make others smile.”
The organization still makes a clear statement of being exclusively student run in its goal to fund the Ben Stelter Centre for Proton Therapy and Neurosciences. While maintaining the staple model, the BSSF has also strategically involved an adult Advisory Board since 2025.
Their Advisory Board consists of professionals across the city of Edmonton. The board currently includes Mike Morrison (Principal, Lillian Osborne), Jason Smith (Principal, Ottewell), Leanne Moncrieff (Principal, Constable Daniel Woodall) Ziyah Karmali (Media Relations & Communications, Explore Edmonton), Henry Madsen (Former Principal, Nellie Carlson), Tara Jones (Teacher, George P. Nicholson).
The board has a central focus on developing insights to expand the fundraiser’s outreach, strengthen student leadership, and enrich the fundraising experience.
The board provides the student-led initiative with expertise and certain unique abilities that come with their school or communications-based roles.
Namao School raised $16,000 in 2024, the most out of the fundraising year’s 10 schools, and a just as impressive $15,000 in 2025, the second highest number in the fundraising year, hosting 50 schools. As the leading role in his success, Iain Jamieson continues to play a significant role as Principal.
Namao school had exemplary results from being in the BSSF, as per Jamieson, which is partly because of his outstanding leadership
“Students were genuinely inspired by the foundation’s mission and by the story behind it. It helped them connect fundraising and service to something very real — supporting children and families who may one day benefit from access to proton therapy treatment here in Alberta.”
Jamieson has a record of excellence, starting out as a high school math and CTS teacher before taking on multiple successful positions as principal and vice principal across multiple schools.
Mawji recalled Jamieson’s excellence and passion from when he made a campaign speech at Namao School.
“I personally met him when I went to speak at his school, and after talking to him I knew that I was going to invite him to the board for 2026.”
Jamieson saw the BSSF with its own unique identity as he joined its Advisory Board.
“What moved me most was the story of the wonderful young boy whose life inspired this foundation. Out of such profound loss, his family and supporters chose to create something that could help others, and I felt compelled to support that effort in whatever way I could.”
Jamieson also explained the respect he had for the BSSF’s passion for community as the Principal of Namao School when joining the fundraiser.
“One of the most inspiring aspects of the foundation’s work has been seeing people rally together around a cause greater than themselves. Fundraising became more than simply collecting donations — it became an opportunity to build compassion, connection, and purpose within our community.”
Jamieson noted that “The vision of bringing proton therapy to Edmonton represents hope for countless children and families across Alberta and Canada who deserve access to the very best care close to home.”
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