Seven Oaks School Division stalwart set to retire
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This article was published 27/04/2022 (404 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
After 38 years as a senior official in the Manitoba public school system, Wayne Shimizu, secretary-treasurer of the Seven Oaks School Division, retired at the end of March.
The secretary-treasurer is the chief financial and communication officer of the school division, along with a series of additional responsibilities.
Wayne’s stellar career begun in 1984. Fresh out of the University of Manitoba and armed with an honours bachelor of commerce degree, he was hired by Seven Oaks as its payroll officer.
Wanting to further his career, after two years of additional studies Wayne received his chartered management accountant (now CPA), designation.
Shortly afterwards, Glen Hanson retired from his position as assistant secretary treasurer and Wayne was appointed to the job, working side by side with secretary-treasurer Ed Johns until 2000, when the always affable and professional Wayne was recruited by the St. Vital School Division to be secretary-treasurer.
School division amalgamations meant Wayne then became assistant secretary-treasurer of the new Louis Riel School Division. When Johns announced his retirement from Seven Oaks, Wayne returned to assume the position.
During his career with Seven Oaks, Wayne has been responsible for audits, budgets, collective bargaining, payroll, legal matters, enrolment projections, capital projects such as new schools and major additions, school site acquisition and disposition, accounts payable and receivable, overseeing construction of the division’s fibre optic network, implementation of the division-wide composting program, and working with the members of the school board. He also volunteered his time as a member of the boards of the Kildonan Youth Activity Centre, Maples Youth Activity Centre and he continually supported the Seven Oaks Education Foundation, which awards over 100 scholarships annually to graduating SOSD high school students.
‘We have been very fortunate to have Wayne Shimizu as our secretary-treasurer. He’s helped plan and respond to the challenges of expanding enrolment and been integral to everything we’ve done,” said Brian O’Leary, SOSD superintendent of Seven Oaks Division.
In retirement, Wayne will continue to volunteer with the Seven Oaks Education Foundation, have more time to play old timers’ hockey, tennis, golf and spend more time with his parents and family.
Derek Dabee
The Maples community correspondent
Derek Dabee is a community correspondent for The Maples.