
May 2025

It was in the fall of 1983 that Mr. Brian Plett joined the staff at MBCI. Having started coaching volleyball here the previous year, it was upon the completion of his religious studies and theology degrees from the U of W and Mennonite Brethren Bible College, and his history degree from the U of M that Brian began his teaching career.
Over the 42 years that followed, Brian has had a truly generational impact on the MBCI community – now teaching the children and grandchildren of former colleagues and students, and working alongside those he used to teach.
After dedicating his entire working career in service to MBCI, it is a privilege to celebrate Brian’s retirement along with him and to honour the ways he has embodied living a Life Well Learned.
Brian’s legacy at MBCI, alongside his detailed memory, and his obvious enjoyment in sharing a good story, reflect back to us more than half of MBCI’s almost 80-year history.
Brian has taught students in Grades 7 to 12 in Biblical Studies, Social Studies, English, History, Geography, and PhysEd, and as a coach has provided leadership in pretty much every sport at every grade level. Together with his role as Athletics Director for over 17 years, Brian has had the opportunity to get to know students across grades and across areas of interest; always bringing his genuine care for each individual, his regard for their character and potential, and to each relationship his belief in that student’s value as a child of God.
In the classroom, Brian has demonstrated a commitment to teaching critical thinking and discernment regardless of the subject matter, taking particular joy in trying to help students understand certain biblical and spiritual truths. While his commitment to student learning hasn’t changed over the decades, he points out that “The way we approach education generally – the pedagogy has changed a lot. It used to be ‘The Sage on the Stage’ and we used to stand up in front of students and tell them what they Brian acknowledges, however, that it is the memories and experiences beyond the classroom that stand out as he reflects upon his tenure at MBCI. “It is my time in the gym, on trips, with students outside of the formal experience in the classroom that feel so rewarding – the connection with students and the daily engagement.”
It was the pursuit of this “outside of the classroom” learning that motivated Brian to lead students on hiking trips in the Rocky Mountains and on the American History study tour for many years.

Whether it was visiting meaningful sites along the eastern seaboard, or thrilling and sometimes harrowing adventures in the mountains, Brian has helped to nurture a love for travel, for being outdoors, and for pushing beyond the “comfort zone” for countless students.
When we add to the list the number of students that he has coached and mentored over the years, the circles of Brian’s legacy become even wider. His love for athletics and for competition is contagious, but his interest and care has always extended beyond the final score. Brian has cared for each student athlete as an individual and worked to nurture their growth in skill development as well as character – whether that was a personal best or support toward achieving national and international recognition in their chosen sport.

As staff, one of the things we will miss about having Brian on campus is his prolific memory related to the history and people of MBCI. When asked about the differences between “then and now”, his perspective helps us understand some of the significant institutional shifts over the past 40+ years. He highlights the building of the Jubilee Place wing as an important benchmark and the ways that those spaces have transformed the way we hold chapels and gather together, how they have shaped our music program and the practical arts courses we are able to offer. He cites the addition of the Blue Gym and the buildings previously belonging to Concord College for equipping us to add Grade 5 and 6: changes that, in a very positive way, shaped the character and social dynamics of MBCI. Brian has witnessed the introduction of computers to MBCI and the ways that technology has radically changed almost every aspect of school life including record keeping, communication and pedagogy. And just as meaningful for Brian, is the growing diversity of our student population, which he credits for shaping the MBCI experience in a wonderful way.
Thank you, Brian, for sharing your gifts, your time and your energy so freely with the MBCI community. You have modeled for us what it looks like to serve others with care and generosity from within your own commitment to serving God. You have modeled for us how to show up for our students as a coach and a cheerleader, believing in their God-given potential and their capacity to learn and grow. And you have modeled for us how to have a great deal of fun and adventure along the way.