Betty Burroughs (1935 – 2016)

Betty Burroughs, beloved MISSA volunteer (1935-2016) was born and educated in Burnaby, BC, graduating with a B.Ed. from UBC. She taught school for several years in lower mainland locations and in Victoria. Having majored in art in high school and always interested in various art and craft media, it was not until 1973 that she fell in love with clay. She participated in numerous pottery courses and workshops and has been a student at MISSA almost every year since it began. She had the privilege of studying with such top ceramicists as Robin Hopper, Les Manning, Tom Coleman, Steven Hill, Vincent Massey, Bill Shinn, Gordon Hutchens and many others. She worked mainly in white stoneware and, besides wheel-work, enjoyed hand building slab forms and, most recently, extruding.

Betty was a founding member of Pacific Rim Potters, South Vancouver Island Potters’ Guild, and Muddy Women. MISSA has been a big part of her life, first as a student and later for many years as a Board member and co-ordinator of ‘Friends of MISSA’.

Betty said of her pottery, ‘my work is functional as well as decorative. I am always thinking how I can improve on what I do and so my work is always changing. There are just so many possibilities to try that I get excited just thinking about them! I just wish there were more hours in a day… week…year!!’

Betty is greatly missed by all at MISSA.

Special Thanks

We owe our success over the past 36 years to the dedication and support of our wonderful volunteers and donors. Donations of all denominations make a huge difference to the fiscal sustainability of MISSA. Thank you for considering this model of direct support of our charitable work in arts education.

Please click here is you’d like to make a donation.

In addition, MISSA could not run without the amazing beyond-the-call-of-duty contributions made by the Pearson College staff year after year; from the kitchen and dining hall, to maintenance, housekeeping and administration, the staff help to make our students’ stay on campus a rewarding and memorable one. Thank you!