Ashbury News – Spring/Summer 2021 by Ashbury College

Ashbury News

Spring/Summer 2021

TOGETHER AGAIN ENCORE ENSEMBLE

COVID

Creations

Alumni

Profiles

Meet the

Alumni Executive

Ashbury News Spring/Summer 2021

Table of Contents

Ashbury News is published twice a year and sent to over 4,000 alumni, parents and friends.

News & Notes

Submit news or story ideas to: Ashbury College Communications Office 362 Mariposa Avenue Ottawa, ON K1M 0T3 communications@ashbury.ca Phone: 613.749.5954

Student leader reflections 6

COVID creations

Front cover: Grade 12 graduates throw their ties in the air to mark the end of their time as Ashbury students. Provincial regulations allowed for small, distanced, in-person graduation events in June. Photo: Matthew Williamson Inside front cover: Boarding students observed the memorial on Parliament Hill following the discovery of unmarked graves at the site of a former residential school in Kamloops, B.C. Photo: Brian Storosko

To Grade 12 graduates

Bidding adieu

More than words 8

There’s no place like home

Back cover: Two ice rinks on the Ashbury campus received lots of use in January and February, with students learning to skate—some for the first time ever—and perfecting their ringette and hockey skills. Photo: Chris Miedema

Ashbury Alumni

Virtual connections

Design and layout by AN Design Communications Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram!

Presiding over a pandemic 12

Master craftsman

@ashburycollege @ashbury.alumni

Taking a bite out of the pandemic

Meet the Alumni Executive

29 MOVING? Update your address. alumni@ashbury.ca

Chatter

In Memoriam

NEWS & NOTES

Head of School

From the

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n a year of being distanced, finally we were together again. After months of uncertainty about what graduation ceremonies might look like in 2021, a last-minute decision by the provincial government in early June allowed for the provision of small, distanced end-of-year ceremonies to celebrate both graduates and all students who have persevered through a truly challenging year. We acted quickly and escalated our planning to allow for three days of in-person gatherings for Junior School students, Senior School award winners and TAGs (Teacher Advisory Groups), and finally, Grade 12 graduates, in a series of four Closing ceremonies. With the on again off again approach to in-person learning in 2021, it was wonderful to see so many of our students and teachers from Grades 4 through 12 back on campus to say goodbye and celebrate their achievements at the end of the year. It had been far too long in seeing each other and, however brief our interactions may have been, there is a sense of renewal and optimism as we plan for a campus re-opening in September. Of course, any celebrations were tempered by the painful news that permeated much of this year. The Ashbury flag was lowered to halfmast on more than one occasion in memory of victims, both present and past, affected by tragedy and loss in communities across Canada. The stories prompted important conversations and much reflection by students and staff alike. It is a difficult time for many, and we have made resources available to students who require guidance in processing these events, and we will continue to have weighty discussions on these topics going forward. With our continued work around pluralism and Indigenous education, it is clear that our community is committed to condemning all forms of hate and racism, to reconciliation and positive change, and to remembering those impacted by these tragedies.

Quelle année scolaire que nous avons vécu — je félicite notre communauté encore une fois pour vos efforts et votre capacité d’adaptation. This past year required flexibility and adaptability, and both were exemplified by our students, teachers, families, and alumni here in Ottawa, and around the world. I remain grateful to the faculty, staff and services at Ashbury who expertly front-lined our operations at every level, and of course to all those in healthcare and essential services who have provided for us all in these challenging times. For now, we hope that all will take in a well-deserved summer break, and we look forward to being together again in the months ahead.

Probitas, Virtus, Comitas, Norman Southward Head of School–Directeur

NEWS & NOTES

Close Knit W

Boarding students form unique bonds living communally during COVID Over the holidays and long weekends, travel limitations meant that many boarding students remained on campus over school breaks. Close to 30 students spent some of the Christmas and New Year period at Chateau Montebello, about an hour outside of Ottawa, enjoying festive c elebrations and sampling Canadian winter pastimes such as ice skating and dogsledding. Other weekend activities included visits to a trampoline park, in-residence cooking, painting and crafting lessons, movie nights and themed-dining experiences, including visits from food and ice cream trucks! In all seasons and weather, boarding students safely explored the outdoors and around campus and the National Capital Region. Many experienced skating and cross-country skiing for the first time on the Ashbury rink and snow-covered athletic field. Warmer temperatures prompted an increase in neighbourhood walks and bike rides, along with group activities like tie-dying, field games and fun, such as the improvised slip and slide. Throughout the year, Ashbury’s boarding students showed remarkable resilience in dealing with safety guidelines, navigating international travel during ap andemic, and adapting to hybrid learning. Kudos to them and to Ashbury’s residence staff for developing such strong community bonds in the midst of a pandemic.

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hile most Ashbury students were off campus more than they were on this year, the opposite was true for boarding students, who lived and learned on the school grounds throughout the pandemic. While COVID travel restrictions kept some from returning to Canada in September, those international students who could attend began to arrive to residences at the end of the summer and, as regulations allowed, continued to arrive until early 2021. Each arriving student completed a quarantine, following public health guidelines, before integrating with the rest of the boarding community. Even then, masks still had to be worn in common areas and physical distancing, sanitizing and hand washing were the norm. Boarders were the only diners in Maclaren Hall, with students eating their meals behind Plexiglass-divided tables. Two of Ashbury’s three residences, Matthews House and Gillin Residence, opened to students, who were cohorted as a group. While the number of boarders on campus fluctuated from September to June, numbers peaked about 70, just slightly below full boarding capacity of 109. During the periods where in-person learning was permitted, boarding students joined their day counterparts in class, and when the province dictated a shift to remote school, boarders learned from a distance in their residence rooms.

NEWS & NOTES

Reflecting on School Life

In a Pandemic I n a year when students in Ontario were out of school longer than any other province in Canada, Ashbury’s student leaders share their memories of hybrid learning in 2020–2021.

In 25 years, I will remember the amazing group of student leaders I was fortunate to be a part of. Although we were faced with many challenges, I will remember how we rose to the occasion and how we were determined to make the most out of every opportunity. I will remember that we found new ways to show school spirit and engage Ashbury students during challenging times.

This year was full of challenges, but I think the greatest challenge for me was staying motivated academically amidst everything going on in the world. Uncertainty regarding IB, university and COVID, mixed with online school and a postponed spring break all made it difficult to keep my focus. Nonetheless, we were all able to push strongly to the end. I will always remember the support from my teachers, friends and family…we made it through together. BRENDAN O’NEILL, GRADE 12

TAY L O R A G E S , G R A D E 1 2

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First day of school 2020–202 grade doo 1. rs, summ er dress fo Masks, year. Pictu r the who red: Beatr le ice Moen, Luke Alla Lauren Ho n, , Santi Go mez

One thing about this year that was really challenging for me was staying motivated throughout the whole year. I found that once you take the fun aspects out of school, such as seeing your friends, playing sports, having activities during lunch or after school, and only focusing on the academic side, it can get very unmotivating. Constantly being in front of your computer screen and never knowing when you’ll be able to go back in person gave me a very hard time this year, but working with the student leaders, my council, and going to school whenever possible, pushed me to stay motivated and create a welcoming environment for other students, and to keep them motivated as well!

Something I am sure to remember about this school year in 25 years’ time are the house competitions we ran as a group of House Captains. House competitions are an important part of Ashbury; they foster healthy competition, build a sense of community and allow students to be engaged in more than just academics and athletics. Having to make every event virtual was challenging, but with the help of our councils, we were able to demonstrate resilience, creativity and enthusiasm despite the circumstances. We hope those lunchtime MS Teams calls were able to bring a bit of joy to those who played, watched and cheered during this difficult year!

ANGELINA PERRIN, GRADE 12

B E AT R I C E M O E N , G R A D E 1 2

NEWS & NOTES

In 25 years, I think I will remember the challenges of hybrid learning and being part of a committed group of student leaders who worked hard to help make the year as memorable as possible. One good thing about half the school learning from home at any given time is that it was a lot easier to find a parking spot! HANNAH LAQUERRE, GRADE 12

I found a lack of connectivity to be the biggest challenge I faced this year. Being unable to attend school alongside all my classmates, see through my final sports seasons, or simply be with people face to face was incredibly disheartening. Much of what I’d normally rely on for support during a difficult period was off limits, which at times made things feel all the more overwhelming. Funnily enough though, this pandemic has forced people, myself included, to pour more effort into relationships, which I believe has strengthened many of mine. ISY STEVENS, GRADE 12

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202

0–2 Hou 021 Wo o se C oun llcomb e cil

Throughout the year, Woollcombe House held exhilarating, school-wide events, made possible due to the House Council. Although some may view weekly, one-hour meeting commitments on Wednesdays as a burden, every week, I looked forward to House Council meetings with great anticipation and excitement! Not only was the council composed of diligent workers and talented students, but also compassionate, funny, and overall wonderful Ashburians, whom I am proud to call my friends. I cannot count the number of times my face has hurt on Wednesday evenings because I couldn’t stop smiling during my council meetings on Wednesday afternoons. In 25 years when I look back to the 2020–2021 school year, I am sure to remember Axelle, George, Hallie, Jeremy, Keelin, Miriam, and Mr. Cameron, Woollcombe’s House Council, who facilitated an unforgettable year for Woollcombe students and who could never fail to brighten my day! LAUREN HO, GRADE 12

Skating

on the

Ashbu ry

rink

What I will remember the most in 25 years from this school year is seeing all the students wearing house colours and merch in the halls every day. Normally, everyone would be wearing uniforms, but during this special year many students and teachers wore house merch instead and that was definitely memorable. JÉRÉMY OLIVIER, GRADE 12

In full honesty, I’ll probably remember this school year as the year I got to wake up at 9 a.m. instead of 6:30 a.m. I will, however, also remember this year to be the year I was able to co-lead the academic council. I met some amazing new people and learned even more about some old friends. I am very proud of what we have accomplished and will miss leaving such a gifted group of learners. JARRY WU, GRADE 12

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The

NEWS & NOTES

Creations

COVID

Pandemic-inspired art from students

cross all grades, art students were inspired by the reality of life in a pandemic and used their creativity to capture what a year at home meant to them. Here is a sample of their work.

Emile Hamzo, Grade 9

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Elaine Wang, Grade 4

Gabriel Wan, Grade 9

NEWS & NOTES

Karen Li, Grade 11

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Tamar Bedrosyan, Grade 10

Ella Brewer, Grade 8 Rebecca Abarbanel, Grade 12

Congratulations, Grade 12 Graduates

You made us all proud

Dear Grade 12 students,

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I’m sorry that we aren’t able to spend our final class together in the same room. The virtual space just isn’t the same, is it? Still, I’m glad that you’re safe and that the end of the pandemic appears close. But the fractured time we’ve spent together this year has limited the opportunity for us to talk and, having just helped my own son’s transition from university to work, I wanted to share some advice.

Although you would never have chosen a Grade 12 year quite like this one, recognize and take pride in your accomplishments. You’ve learned independence and initiative because you’ve been challenged in unique ways. You’ve learned about the value of good government because you’ve seen what happens both when leaders succeed and screw up. You’ve learned resilience. If you can graduate from high school during a global pandemic, what can’t you do?

For me, the sign of an educated person is that they approach every situation with humility and an open mind. Scratch the surface of just about any field and the limits of knowledge are quickly apparent. Live with curiosity. To be human is to search for meaning. You’ll make new friends soon. Get to know their parents too. They have more life experience than you. Watch them. Talk to them. Learn. I didn’t do this enough when I was young but the role models I did encounter have played a significant role in the choices I’ve made. Keep in touch with people, young and old. A rich network of friends and acquaintances makes life rewarding and will be invaluable when you start your career. Everyone can benefit from a leg up. Speaking of careers, ignore the media message that success comes easily. The reverse is true. Behind every basketball star is an eternity of unglamorous, off-camera graft. Do the work. But when you do start a career, prepare for a quick start. I’ve noticed that twenty-somethings in their first jobs are now expected to perform at the level of pros pretty much from day one. Explore widely—but also develop expertise. I’ve seen people change organizations or careers hoping that a fresh start will miraculously yield the success they desire. Sometimes it does. Often it just sets them back. Establishing anything new takes time and we only have so much of that limited, unrenewable resource. Be kind. People will remember how you made them feel more than your actions. Also, kindness to others feels great: brain scans show that good deeds activate the same pleasure points as eating chocolate. Approach new situations confidently. We all feel like imposters sometimes. If you’re nervous about trying something new, ask yourself, is anyone better suited for this than me? The answer is often “no, no one.” Finally, consider trying meditation. Even five minutes a day of sitting quietly, returning your attention to the breath, will train you to step away from the chaotic mind and focus on the here and now. I find it centring. You might too. Class of 2021, in the last year you’ve witnessed reporting on the murder of George Floyd, the storming of the U.S. Capitol and the discovery of the bodies of 215 Indigenous children in British Columbia, all while living through a global pandemic. Although your high school years have been disrupted, you’ve had quite the education. Draw upon what you’ve learned. Build upon the strength, w isdom, creativity and empathy you’ve already shown. The world in all its beauty, sorrow, suffering and promise needs you. Congratulations, high school graduates! I’m proud of each and every one of you. Sincerely, your teacher John M. Richardson is Head of English at Ashbury and Adjunct Professor at the University of Ottawa Faculty of Education. This letter originally appeared in the Ottawa Citizen.

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NEWS & NOTES

Adieu

Bidding

Three long-term faculty members sign off from Ashbury

fter a remarkable 28 years teaching physics in Ashbury’s science department, Matthew Wearring retired in June.

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What have you enjoyed most about working with/ teaching students at Ashbury? I most enjoyed witnessing the growth and development of students at Ashbury, both over the course of a single school year, and throughout their high school career. It was also rewarding to observe the further progress of the students after their graduation from Ashbury when I had the opportunity to attend alumni events. What has been your favourite aspect of your job? The variety of experiences during my teaching career at Ashbury has kept things interesting and rewarding. I have worked with students in classrooms, science laboratories, residence flats and at camps. I have coached students in gymnasiums, curling rinks and on the water (in rowing shells). My travels have included basketball tournaments, curling bonspiels and Science Olympics

Photo: Chris Miedema

competitions, as well as field trips to university labs, Canada’s Wonderland, and the Huntsman Marine Science Centre. I have even attended IB teacher workshops in Savannah, Seattle, Rio de Janeiro, and New Orleans. Each passing year has brought a new group of students and new prospects for adventure. Another source of variety has been the many changes on the Ashbury campus over the years. During my first year of teaching, the library and attached wing were built and my daughter was born. As my family grew, the school added new gymnasiums, Maclaren Hall, and the boarding residences. My son was actually born on the Ashbury campus when our family lived at 330 Mariposa. What will you miss most about Ashbury? I will miss the friendly and supportive colleagues that I have worked with over the past 28 years. The members of the science department (past and present) are my closest connections, but I have many other friendships from coaching, boarding, fitness classes, and social events within the close-knit community of the Ashbury staff.

NEWS & NOTES

What have you enjoyed most about working with/ teaching students at Ashbury? Ashbury students are full of surprises, energy and spirit. They bring their diverse backgrounds from around the community and across the world to their studies and enrich our discussions. With all this, perhaps the brightest moments in my day are when a student realizes they have just accomplished something that they once thought was too hard. What has been your favourite aspect of your job? It is a privilege to play a guiding role as each student brings their individual stories to their learning, builds on what matters to them most, and takes those important steps forward into the world around them.

Photo: Edge Imaging

Marilynne Sinclair wrapped up teaching at the end of the 2019–2020 school year after 26 years of service at Ashbury but remained active on a part-time basis this year supporting the college’s IB program, debating clubs and the TEDx speaker program.

What do you admire most about Ashbury? What initially attracted me to seek a position at Ashbury College was its prominent place as a very early IB World School. What I more recently came to admire are its dynamic and meaningful community partnerships that extend teaching and learning into local and global contexts, embracing pluralism and engaging with anti-racism in all its forms.

What have you enjoyed most about working with/ teaching students at Ashbury? We have so many amazing students at Ashbury. They work hard, are committed to goals, love being involved in this community and are caring. I often had the great privilege of working with a student and their parents over many years, watching them come to understand themselves and grow into fine young men and women.

Photo: Matthew Williamson

After 12 years as Ashbury’s learning strategist, Cathy Hodgins retired in December. She reports that she is now working part-time as a psychometrist, part-time at a bookstore and spends the remainder of her time gardening, cooking, exercising and with her family.

What will you miss most about Ashbury? There is so much that I will miss. Witnessing student growth, teacher excellence and professionalism, the care the administration takes, the leadership team, the amazing food, the wonderful maintenance team—everyone. It felt like being part of a very well-tuned orchestra with each person playing their very best to make a grand symphony together.

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What has been your favourite aspect of your job? I will most miss meeting with students and families to discuss their unique learning profiles and how they could use their strengths to support their weaker areas. We are all a mix of both. Sometimes conversations were delicate and challenging, but they were always authentic and rewarding.

More Than Words Letters of gratitude from student to donor

ebecca Muscant and Nikola Ruddy have never met in person. In fact, they do not live in the same city, nor are they the same age. That said, they are connected in a way that is enduring and impactful. Their correspondence has evolved over the four years Rebecca attended Ashbury and will likely continue for years to come. From her start in Grade 9 through to her graduation, Rebecca was the student recipient of the

bursary Nikola established at Ashbury. Rebecca was seeking an unparalleled educational opportunity; Nikola, an alumna from the Class of 2009, was seeking a way to give back to Ashbury and make a lasting impact. Nikola’s sister, Sonya, from the Class of 2011, also e stablished a bursary at Ashbury; both sisters believe in s upporting financial a ssistance for deserving students with demonstrated need.

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Rebecca Muscant, Class of 2021, centre, helping facilitate a student vote initiative.

Participating in a debating tournament.

NEWS & NOTES

Sisters Nikola ’09 and Sonya Ruddy ’11 believe in supporting financial assistance for deserving students with demonstrated need. Grade 9… When it came time for high school applications, I started researching, in search of an academic challenge. I discovered the International Baccalaureate (IB) program, and I knew this would provide a much-needed challenge in high school. From here, I found Ashbury. The one-of-a-kind opportunities at Ashbury came with a large financial cost that my family would not be able to afford. Reading more about it, I discovered the financial assistance program, and figured that it was a chance worth taking. When I received my acceptance letter into the school, I was ecstatic. The rest of the day came, with me telling the news to anyone I knew, not being able to stop smiling.

Grade 11… I continue to participate in every club I can possibly make time for, including World Affairs Club, Model United Nations, Debate, Centre for Science & Innovation special comms team, organizing a tree planting initiative as part of my full IB Diploma commitment, and playing bass in a small band. These activities and initiatives are some of the highlights of my Grade 11 year so far, but they do not even scratch the surface of the true value of my experience at Ashbury. Whether it be my amazing teachers, the support network Ashbury creates, or the close friendships I now have with people I never would have met, I cannot begin to express my appreciation for your role ensuring that I can be a part of the Ashbury community. It is truly an invaluable opportunity that I will always be grateful for.

Grade 12…

Grade 10…

Although this will be my last formal letter to you, please know that the gratitude I hold for the opportunities that you have made possible for me will carry through my entire life. It is impossible to express how much your help truly means to me, but I hope that my experiences can speak for themselves in that they would not have happened without you. Thank you once again for everything you have done in allowing me to attend Ashbury for these past four years!

This year, I went to NASA for an aerospace engineering workshop. This was without a doubt one of the most memorable experiences of my lifetime. I was able to build rockets, design Martian habitats, build a Mars rover and go SCUBA diving to experience neutral buoyancy, all while learning from NASA engineers themselves. This was a dream come true about 20 years early for me. I look forward to every opportunity coming my way over the next few years.

Rebecca graduated in June 2021. She will be moving to Toronto where she will be studying physical and mathematical sciences at the University of Toronto, Victoria College with plans to major in physics and philosophy. She has also been accepted into the Schawlow stream of the Vic One program. Rebecca and Nikola hope to connect, in person, for the first time in Toronto this fall.

What is a bursary? A bursary is a sum of money awarded to a student who has demonstrated financial need (as determined through an application and review process managed by a third party). The student recipient must go through the standard Ashbury application process and meet the entrance criteria. Ashbury’s financial assistance program is designed to support student recipients throughout their time at the school, or until they no longer require tuition assistance. Most donor-supported bursaries are invested in the Ashbury Endowment, which currently stands at $14.8 million, where they will exist in perpetuity. The principal sum is invested in the Endowment and the investment income is awarded to students, which provides a sustainable source of financial assistance. Currently, one in ten students are receiving financial assistance at an average of 50% fees. The gift of an Ashbury education is limitless. Please contact Stephanie Young, Director of Development, stephanie.young@ashbury.ca for more information.

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Below are excerpts from Rebecca’s annual letters of gratitude to Nikola.

There’s No Place Like Home

The Ashbury Guild celebrates community

n December 9, the Guild presented the inaugural 2020 There's No Place Like Home virtual holiday celebration. Led by Gen Chanteloupe and presented by Jill Dickinson, the distanced production celebrated the holidays around the world, featured beautiful and fun p erformances from our students and staff and marked the Guild’s 70th anniversary. Even from a distance, the event was a great opportunity to connect students, parents, alumni, past parents, staff and friends of the school.

The Guild also sold wreaths and holiday baskets to raise funds for student programs and financial assistance. The many Ashbury doors decorated for the holidays were a festive sign of community connection. This event raised over $50,000. Thank you to the Guild and to our loyal sponsors, supporters and volunteers for their help in making this initiative such a success.

Presenting Sponsors: • Sezlik.com • Mercedes-Benz Ottawa Downtown and Star Motors of Ottawa

Supporting Sponsor Tier 1:

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• • • •

Excel HR Hickman Specialist Group Scotia Wealth Management, The Fallis Group The Taggart and Parkes Families

Supporting Sponsor Tier 2: • • • •

Brown’s Ottawa Medispa Orleans Smith, Petrie, Carr & Scott Insurance Brokers Smith & Reid Insurance

Supporting Sponsor Tier 3: • • • • • • • •

Avenue Lock & Security Brad White Dilawri Auto Dinardo Homes Howard Fine Jewellers Prime Benefits Group Renren Bai, Capital VIP Realty Richcraft

In-kind Sponsors: • Allegra Marketing • Embassy of Belgium • Jacobsons Fine Food

NEWS & NOTES

Inclusion

Diversity and

shbury’s commitment to fostering inclusivity, embracing pluralism and condemning all forms of racism and discrimination continues. In the summer of 2020, Ashbury’s pluralism project began to ensure the inclusive, safe and respectful environment that we seek for all in our community. This has been a collective effort involving over 80 students, staff, alumni, parents and board members working on five design teams focused on various aspects of school life. This work is part of a continuum of dialogue and improvement that will support Ashbury’s strategic goal of fostering an inclusive school community that builds on the strength of its diversity and school motto Probitas, Virtus, Comitas— Honesty, Courage and Kindness. Join us as we learn about, from and with each other to ensure that all students, staff, parents and community members feel welcomed, appreciated and respected. Interested in learning more about what we do to promote pluralism? Engage with us at pluralism@ashbury.ca or visit ashbury.ca/diversity-and-inclusion/

Pluralism involves taking decisions and actions, as individuals and societies, which are grounded in respect for diversity. The goal of pluralism is belonging.” — Global Centre for Pluralism

People

Education & Training

Spaces

Community & Culture

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Programs

ASHBURY ALUMNI

Connections

Virtual

Alumni relations go the distance

and learn more about financial planning, taxes, and estate planning relevant to different stages of life: early career, major milestones (marriage, children, retirement), and legacy planning. The event was moderated by Paul St. Louis, past parent, vice-president at Doherty & Associates Investment Counsel. Panelists included Sahir Khan ’88, executive vice-president at the Institute of Fiscal Studies and Democracy at uOttawa, Aimy Bryden ’98, CFP, financial consultant with IG Wealth Management, Nazaam Charania ’05, division director at IG Wealth Management and Gregory Sanders, past parent and partner at KPMG Law, specializing in tax and estate planning. Junior School students learned about various career options with the creation of a Middle School Speaker Series that took place during chapel time for Grade 7 and 8 students. Alumni speakers included: Teddy Taggart ’11, sales representative at CBRE, Meghan Boyd ’12, assistant consultant at Hill+Knowlton Strategies and Cameron Morrison ’12, associate at Boyden Executive Search.

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espite COVID-19 restrictions limiting in-person gatherings, alumni events remained an integral part of alumni relations this past winter and spring. With the ability to connect with alumni across the globe, a variety of events took place online for alumni, staff and students. Adrian Harewood ’89, Canadian television and radio journalist and professor at Carleton’s School of Journalism and Communication, gave a thought-provoking and informative lecture to an audience of alumni, faculty, staff, and former faculty in February. Guests tuned in from across Canada and around the world to hear Adrian’s comments on the rapidly-changing landscape of journalism and media, the shared responsibility of both journalists and those who consume media to think critically, consider different viewpoints, and take note of underrepresentation—of which there is a long history— of different voices around the table. Alumni and staff attended the virtual panel, Planning your Financial Future, in May to hear from expert panelists

Teddy Taggart ’11, Cameron Morrison ’12, Meghan Boyd ’12 spoke to Junior School students.

ASHBURY ALUMNI

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Adrian Harewood ’89 spoke about the changing media landscape in February.

A panel of alumni experts shared advice on financial planning in May.

ASHBURY ALUMNI

Presiding Over a Pandemic

Josephine Yang ’92 on leading a global pharmaceutical branch during COVID

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pringtime in Paris. It’s the stuff of novels and atmospheric movies. But for Josephine Yang (now Comiskey) ’92, the reality is a little less romantic. “I like to be able to see everything in bloom, but the pollen is not great for my allergies,” says Yang, from her home in France. Adding to her seasonal plight is the fact that she is chastised by her father, an Ottawa allergist, on her prevention and treatment techniques. “He tells me I am doing everything wrong,” she says, with a laugh. Yang is based in Paris, where she is the President, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) France, a research, development and manufacturing global healthcare company. She is the first woman—and first non-French citizen—to hold the position. It’s her latest role in a career in pharmaceuticals, starting with the company then called Glaxo Welcome in Raleigh, North Carolina over two decades ago. It’s a path that has taken her from Raleigh, North Carolina to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and to the U.K. and Denmark, prior to arriving in France and her current position since April 2018. Following her graduation from Ashbury, where she participated in the IB program, Yang attended the University of Toronto, completing a Bachelor of Science. With an initial interest in medicine, her career concentration turned towards business, so Yang opted to do an MBA at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. It was there that she saw an opportunity to combine her interests in science and business to pursue a career in the pharmaceutical industry. “I was attracted to the innovative nature of the business and 21 years later, I’m still there,” she says. “I’ve been fortunate to have had many rewarding opportunities and I’ve never really thought of doing anything else.”

Josephine Yang ’92

Work for Yang is about family, too, as her husband works for the same company in finance and the couple’s two children have enjoyed the opportunity to experience life in different countries as a result of their parents’ jobs. Yang grew up in Ottawa and attended Elmwood School prior to joining Ashbury in Grade 10. Seeking a change in

ASHBURY ALUMNI

environment and a desire for larger class sizes, she became part of a small cohort of girls at the school at that time. “I was looking forward to a change,” she says of her first impressions of Ashbury. “I loved the school immediately and I have such fond memories of those years.” Some of the Ashbury rules of comportment stick with her to this day. “ I can picture now Mr. Niles holding his ruler stick as we headed into chapel, checking our skirts were at the right length and our socks were up,” she says. As part of New House, Yang remembers enjoying many house competitions and the house run around the Rockcliffe neighbourhood. She completed the IB Diploma and particularly liked her science and math classes with Mr. Stableford and Mr. Hopkins. She credits her French studies with M. Pelletier for helping her in her current role. “Even though I had not used French in about 20 years, I now communicate exclusively in French to most of my employees,” she says. “My first year, I was a bit rustier than I am now, but it has generally come back to me.” Outside of class, Yang was a part of the Ashbury choir, under the direction of Mr. Tanod, and enjoyed travelling to various performances. She was also an avid tennis player, competing both for the school and independently. Tennis remains a major focus of her life today, with her passion for the sport handed down to both of her children, who study at the American School of Paris. Yang’s 14-year-old daughter is currently training in Paris and her son is a competitive player as well. She credits the sport as having a grounding impact on her children through the various family moves.

“Employees can feel disconnected in the current environment and I see it as my duty with my leadership team to more frequently engage with them. The reward for doing so is a more productive organization who are in it for the long haul.” A bright spark emerging of the pandemic’s challenges have been the rapid gains in vaccine development. GSK recently joined forces with pharma and biotech partners to create a COVID vaccine using various technologies, a few of which are in the late-stage trial phase with results expected in the near future.

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Preparing dumplings with family in Muskoka (2018).

“Tennis has been their sense of wider community and it’s been their point of familiarity,” she says. “It’s a language we know, and it helps us to always feel at home, no matter where we are.” While tennis has been a common thread running through her home and personal life, so too has been the development of management skills at work. After leading teams in the U.S. and Denmark, her move to France means Yang is responsible for directly overseeing close to 800 employees as well as the executive teams for GSK’s 3,500 workers across France. Some of her time in the past year has been spent doing regular check-ins with her employees as they transitioned to working from home and life in general during a pandemic. “There have been significant changes due to COVID,” she says. “For those employees who work in the field, meeting with experts and visiting pharmacies and doctors every day, that work has been drastically limited. And for those who can work from home, they’re often doing so in small flats, dealing with restrictions. So, looking after their personal safety and well-being is always at the top of my mind.” Throughout it all, Yang says she still needs to drive performance, particularly as GSK France is a key contributor to the overall results of the company globally. “We’ve had to realize that the new version of doing well looks different than it did in the past,” she says. “I’ve had to work on my resilience and think about being progressive to propel the business forward.” One of the tactics on which she has leaned heavily is communication. Yang says that during the pandemic, with employees distanced from each other and their normal routines, she initiated one-on-one virtual coffees with staff members and impromptu small team meetings to engage colleagues in more informal ways. “Having transparent discussions has been a real shift for employees here,” she says.

ASHBURY ALUMNI

Yang presenting virtually to the vaccines’ organization of GSK France.

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“We’re also working with COVID therapeutics for people who test positive and are at risk for getting moderate to severe symptoms,” she explains. “We are developing medicines to protect against multiple variants.” While pandemic-related work will keep her occupied for the foreseeable future, Yang is eager to return to Canada to visit family sometime soon. Her parents still live in

Celebrating 20 years of marriage with husband Justin Comiskey.

Ottawa, but the entire family, including brother Jimmy (Ashbury Class of 1997) more frequently meets up in Muskoka at the cottage. “My colleagues in France don’t understand the concept of going to the cottage, but it’s a real treat for us,” she says. “And my kids would rather be there than any other place.” Yang says her family managed to embrace a unique piece of Canada during the pandemic. “We got a COVID dog from Quebec,” she says. “My husband flew from Paris to Montreal and right back again to pick her up so we could surprise the kids for Christmas. It was a lot of effort, but so worth it.” With her links to Canada and Ottawa still strong, Yang is grateful for the connections she has maintained with Ashbury alumni around the world. She has attended an Ashbury reunion in the past and hopes to again in the future. “I haven’t always been the best about staying in touch with people, but when I have, it has been wonderful,” she says. “Ashbury to me was all about really good friendships and those experiences are the glue that holds us all together.”

ASHBURY ALUMNI

Craftsman

Master

Internationally acclaimed Akwesasne carver Ben Benedict ’77 creates works of art from wood

New Brunswick, spending summers as a park warden at the St. Lawrence Islands National Park. He went on to pursue certification as a millwright and later acquired a diploma in mechanical engineering at St. Lawrence College in Kingston, Ontario. Seasonal work complementing that program turned into a permanent position after graduation and a 20-year career as Maintenance Supervisor on the Seaway International Bridge—the same bridge he used to walk home from school. He then had a brief run as the owner of a water bottling company, winning the Ontario Global Traders Award for export excellence. Benedict has been a volunteer firefighter for the past 33 years for the Hogansburg Akwesasne Volunteer Fire Department and captain of Station 2 for 12 years. Today he is the Tenant and Maintenance Manager for the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne, where he manages 172 dwellings in the community where he lives. He is also completing a First Nations Housing Certification certificate, and as part of his course work, recently spoke to 250 employees at Canada Mortgage and Housing Canada in Ottawa on passive housing, a voluntary standard for energy efficiency that reduces a building’s ecological footprint. Citing sports and a love for his community as major passions running throughout his life, a new obsession emerged when Benedict was in his early 30s: wood carving. Benedict says he grew up in and with an artistic family, with his mother, aunts and wife Barbara being

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en Benedict’s ’77 decision to attend Ashbury was closely linked to his love of sports. As a teenager, attending school in Cornwall, Ontario, participating in after-school athletics meant a long walk across the Seaway International Bridge to his home in the Akwesasne Mohawk Territory. “My father was an avid fan of education and he found a way to send me to Ashbury,” Benedict says. “He asked me if I wanted to go to a private school. I thought about it and realized I wouldn’t have to walk home to do sports, so I said yes.” It was a decision Benedict says he never regretted. He arrived at Ashbury at the age of 15 as a boarding student in Grade 9 and stayed until graduation. “I thought it was an amazing adventure,” Benedict says of his Ashbury experience. “It wasn’t until later on that I realized what a prestigious school Ashbury is and where it stands in the world.” At Ashbury, Benedict developed his love for football and says that being part of the team was special, particularly the undefeated streak that hadn’t been achieved for 30 years. He was the youngest recipient of the Charles ‘Tiny’ Hermann scholarship for academics and football in Grade 11, named after the Ottawa Rough Riders player and Ashbury coach. “It was a surprise when they gave it to me,” Benedict says of the honour. Benedict says he has fond memories of his time at Ashbury, including the school tuck shop and the food in the dining hall, forging friendships with international students and people like Headmaster Joyce and housemaster Ray Anderson in boarding, among others. “All of them left a mark on me,” he says. “They were amazing people and I respected them. They certainly left positive impressions on me.” After graduating from Ashbury in Grade 13, Benedict had planned to attend university in New Brunswick, after receiving a football scholarship. But in the summer after leaving Ashbury, he tore his ACL playing lacrosse— an injury that ultimately grounded his plans. (Benedict would later be inducted into the Akwesasne Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 2018, alongside his father and uncle.) “I called Hugh Penton [Ashbury teacher and coach at the time] and he was beside himself when I told him about the injury,” Benedict remembers. The injury ultimately caused him to lose the scholarship, Benedict went on to study forestry at the University of

ASHBURY ALUMNI

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gifted oil painters. He took art classes at Elmwood while he attended Ashbury and was always surrounded by friends who liked to draw and create. When he was 13, Benedict’s father purchased a lacrosse stick factory from the family of Benedict’s now wife. As a young man, he would spend time on the production floor, playing with scraps of cedar and hickory wood. One day, he remembers getting up on the bench with a jaw knife and carving a duck. He still has the sculpture today. Fast forward a couple of decades and searching for a creative outlet, Benedict signed up for a college class on wood carving. His natural talent quickly progressed and soon, he says, he was helping the instructor impart techniques to fellow students.

“A lot of my friends say I have something,” he says of his natural ability to create sculpture from wood. “They see it in me, and say I see something in the wood, but I don’t quite know what it is. It may be a sense of feeling what is imaginable.” Eventually, perhaps due in part to a lingering addiction for competition from his days as an athlete, Benedict entered the world of professional wood carving, signing up for shows across North America. He chose to specialize in birds, a favourite subject matter among professional wood carvers.

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Each carving can take several days up to several months to complete, or as Benedict says, “more than an hour and less than a lifetime.” I get in the twilight zone when I carve, and the next thing I know, it’s 2 or 3 in the morning,” he laughs. Benedict’s favourite material is tupelo wood, which grows underwater, usually in swamps, and is famed for its ability to show great texture. He also carves in black walnut, which he often harvests himself from the woods close to his home. While the pandemic put a temporary pause on his competitive life, with the cancelling of in-person carving championships, Benedict is hopeful he can resume going to shows in 2022. In the meantime, he’s keeping busy and honing his skills in his workshop outside his home. “Everything new is a challenge to me and I always say, you get better the more you carve,” he says. “There’s so much I want to do and my life on Earth is probably not that long. I wish I had another 50 years to carve.”

Ben Benedict ’77

The beginnings of a new piece.

Benedict’s carving of a Canvasback drake. (Photo: Barbara Benedict)

Benedict’s carving station in his Akwesasne workshop is surrounded by some of his championship ribbons and awards.

Benedict holds one of his carvings of a long-tail duck. Photo credit: Chris Miedema

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Benedict claims a natural admiration for waterfowl, but each of his carvings involve a great deal of preparation. He meticulously researches photos of birds, and sometimes uses taxidermy mounts for reference, including some rare finds borrowed from museums. He pays careful heed to elements such as length of wingspan and skeletal structure before he even cuts into the wood, making each mark with precision. “The anatomy has to be perfect in carving,” he says, “or the judges will know.” His attention to detail became an asset and Benedict quickly excelled through the ranks of various carving competitions for creations ranging from water and wild fowl, to songbirds and raptors, winning best of show at competitions in Maine, Connecticut, Montreal and more before progressing to the world championship south of the border. He entered at the intermediate level, and won, moving him up to the advanced level, where he says he remained for several years. In 2019, he attained his secondbest in division—interpretive sculpture, putting him into the Master’s Division at the 49th Annual Ward World Championship of Carving in Ocean City, Maryland, where he competed against the very best carvers from around the world. “I hope to soon win best in the world,” he says. “That’s one of my goals in carving.” Benedict’s creations are sought after by both private collectors and museums, and while he still captures primarily birds, he has dabbled in other wildlife, such as bears and turtles, and has recently turned his sights to walking sticks. “If somebody gives me a request, I’ll do it,” he says. He also carves traditional masks, used in cultural ceremonies, forging a tangible link with his Indigenous heritage.

ASHBURY ALUMNI

Pandemic

Taking a Bite Out of the

Emma Campbell ’05 and Caroline Murphy ’05 turn their popular restaurant into thriving food store during COVID-19 crisis

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uch like with the COVID vaccine supply, the owners of Corner Peach know how hard it is to keep up with demand. That’s why Emma Campbell ’05 and Caroline Murphy ’05 are in the process of taking over the vacant storefront immediately adjacent to their existing establishment, thereby doubling the size of their loveable little corner store nestled in the heart of Ottawa’s Chinatown district. The space opened up last fall when the former tenant, a bike shop, moved to a new location. The expansion will allow the small businesswomen to run a larger, more efficient commercial kitchen that can satisfy the demand for locally prepared food. “We’re pumping out as much as we can right now, but it never seems to be enough,” said Murphy in an interview with Campbell at Corner Peach, located on the southwest corner of Somerset Street West and Booth Street. “It’s really tight in here and I just can’t wait to have the space to do things properly.” The business first opened in early 2019 as a small but bustling neighbourhood bistro. At just 850 square feet, it was hitting restaurant capacity on a regular basis. Then, the COVID-19 pandemic arrived, settling in like that customer who lingers far, far too long at their table. The women went from being very busy to bouncing off the walls with frustration and boredom during the first

lockdown.They resented being at the mercy of government orders; they wanted to be the ones in control. “We needed to take our future into our own hands and bite the bullet,” Campbell explained of their decision to reinvent Corner Peach as a corner store that sells food, wine and beer. By changing their business model, they were able to serve their loyal customers again, along with new customers, and slowly bring their staff back while still maintaining the same level of revenue. At Corner Peach, it's common for customers to line up outside the store (currently, they can't have more than two visitors inside at a time). Products are often in limited supply and sell out quickly. Particularly popular are the freshly baked pastries,

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i ncluding donuts and sourdough bread, as well as the beer and wine. The store also sells prepared foods, frozen items, pantry staples and some of the ingredients that Corner Peach uses in its own cooking. As well, it offers a small take-out menu. It’s been a gruelling 13 months for the owners, who have been working long hours without proper holidays, and who continue to spend a good chunk of their free time focused on their expansion. “We’re pretty exhausted,” Murphy acknowledged. “Yeah, it’s hard,” Campbell agreed.

"We always go back to asking ourselves, ‘What would we want if we were the customer living in this neighbourhood?’" They say they’re constantly coming up with new ideas, reassessing them and adopting a trial-and-error approach to running their business. “We always go back to asking ourselves, ‘What would we want if we were the customer living in this neighbourhood?’” said Murphy. The co-owners, both 34, became friends while students at Ashbury College. They each acquired extensive experience working in the industry with the dream of running a small restaurant together. Once they decided upon 802 Somerset St. W. as the spot for their business, neither was afraid of taking a hands-on approach toward turning the space into a place they could call their own. You name it—plumbing, electrical, painting, drilling, demolition, tiling—they were ready to do their part. They remain equally involved in the "bare-bones" retrofit and renovation work currently being done to their adjoining space next door. They're also working closely with the building owner, with whom they have a good relationship. “We’re used to hustling and to doing everything ourselves,” said Campbell. “It helps because, when something does go wrong, we’re not relying on somebody else to fix the problem.”

From left, Caroline Murphy and Emma Campbell are co-owners of Corner Peach, a restaurant-turned-food. (Photo: Caroline Phillips)

Corner Peach sits at the corner of Somerset West and Booth streets in Ottawa's Chinatown district. (Photo: Caroline Phillips)

Campbell and Murphy are doing much of the labour themselves for their new expansion.

Credit: This article, written by Caroline Philips, originally appeared in the Ottawa Business Journal.

The women’s willingness to do physical labour and grunt work is all part of their prudent approach to running a small business. They also made sure they had a financial buffer to fall back on when they first opened, in case the business didn’t take off. “You don’t know what’s going to happen. You might unlock your door and nobody comes through,” Campbell explained. The owners will use the additional space as room for both their kitchen and food store. Their current store space will be reverted back into a restaurant, for when people once again find small spaces to be cosy, not dangerous. Corner Peach is an inviting place to walk into, filled with curious knick-knacks that the owners have either picked up over the years or have been gifted, in anticipation of their plan to start a business together. They used to have homemade canned peaches in stock, made with a recipe passed down by Murphy’s grandmother, but their supply sold out at the start of the pandemic and they haven’t had time to prepare more. The women have a huge following on social media and have made efforts to give back, specifically to Cornerstone Housing for Women. Somerset Street Chinatown BIA executive director Grace Xin says Corner Peach has been a “delightful addition” to the neighbourhood. “The community-friendly mindset, unique and authentic offerings, creative and solid business approach demonstrated by the Corner Peach are so inspiring to all of us,” Xin stated in an email. “Yes, a pandemic can slow our life down, but it will not diminish the strength, spirit, and smartness of the main-street small businesses. Corner Peach's growth during the most challenging time epitomizes the resilience of these entrepreneurs of whom we are so proud and grateful to have.”

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Caroline Murphy — co-owner of Corner Peach

ASHBURY ALUMNI

Meet Ashbury’s Alumni Executive

Dedicated grads committed to connecting alumni around the world

shbury’s Alumni Executive is made up of a group of dedicated alumni volunteers who seek to foster a strong alumni community. This is accomplished by connecting alumni with one another, keeping alumni informed about Ashbury College, and creating a range of events and opportunities to encourage alumni to maintain connections with the school community. Read below to learn more about the Executive members.

JAMES KENNY ’02

P R E S I D E N T, M A R K E T I N G A N D C O M M U N I C A T I O N S M A N A G E R A T F E R G U S L E A P R O P E R T I E S

What do you enjoy most about your role as President? I truly enjoy connecting with the Ashbury community and supporting the school in creating events and initiatives that add value to the lives of our alumni. The COVID–19 pandemic prevented us from holding our regular alumni events, so I'm looking forward to in-person events returning to the school. I'm also really excited about Ashbury Connect as a tool for alumni who are interested in connecting with old and new friends within the global alumni network.

ROB HALL ’83

P A S T P R E S I D E N T, C E O O F M O M E N T O U S

How do you think Ashbury helped you get where you are? It provided me with the discipline, work ethic and public speaking abilities I have today. Sure, I learned algebra and calculus, but it was about everything else that I still use every day that I value the most.

MEGHAN KENNEDY ’95

S A L E S R E P R E S E N T A T I V E A T F I R S T C H O I C E R E A LT Y O N T A R I O

How do you think Ashbury helped you get where you are? Overall, I believe that the school prepares people to focus on the individual strengths and instills a confidence and strong work ethic that helps people throughout their lives, in both personal and professional experiences. There are so many great people I met from all over the world during my time at Ashbury, many I still consider good friends.

ALEX CHARETTE ’02 26 | Ashbury News

S E N I O R W E A LT H A D V I S O R A T S C O T I A M C L E O D

What do you enjoy most about your role on the Executive? Making a difference—be that through connecting with old alumni, re-imagining what the Executive means/does, innovating on our already well-attended events.

If you’re interested in being involved in the alumni association, contact us at alumni@ashbury.ca

ASHBURY ALUMNI

SHAMIR DAYA ’03

B R O K E R AT D A Y A R E A L E S TAT E / R E M A X H A L L M A R K R E A LT Y G R O U P

What made you get involved with the Alumni Executive? It really starts with a deep-rooted appreciation for our school. Since graduating in 2003, I always looked to maintain a close connection to Ashbury staff and students. Whether it was continuously networking with fellow proud alumni members or enjoying the weekly basketball games on Friday nights, being an active member of this community was always a priority for me. A few years ago, I made it my mission to get involved with various organizations looking to make a difference. Joining the Alumni Executive was a no-brainer.

AMANDA SHORE ’03

H O N O U R S A N D A W A R D S P R O G R A M C O O R D I N AT O R AT R O Y A L ARCHITECTURAL INSTITUTE OF CANADA

Do you have a favourite memory from your time as an Ashbury student? Off the bat, I’m going to say I do not like to pick favourites, but I will always love my memories of cross country running and track and field trips. Riding on the bus to the running course, sitting huddled in a tent, or in someone’s car to keep warm prior to a race, hanging out with students from different grades will always stand out for me. As a sometimes shy, quiet(er) student, these moments were some of the best.

ANNIE BERGERON-OLIVER ’07

C T V N AT I O N A L N E W S PA R L I A M E N TA R Y R E P O R T E R

What made you get involved with the Alumni Executive? I decided to get involved with the Alumni Executive as a way to give back to the school that provided me with the skills and values that guide me today. I had a great four years at Ashbury and I want to ensure recent graduates receive whatever assistance they need to pursue their professional goals.

JULIA (FOTTINGER) MILLS ’11

S E N I O R G O V E R N M E N T R E L AT I O N S A N D C O M M U N I C AT I O N S M A N A G E R , SERVICES @ SAP CANADA

How do you think Ashbury helped you get where you are? Ashbury provided me with a tight-knit community where I was not only able to access a wonderful education, but also develop key skills and seek out opportunities beyond the classroom. My peers and teachers were instrumental in developing my self-motivation, team-working skills, and self-confidence, all of which have played an important role in my success.

CAMERON MORRISON ’12

A S S O C I AT E , B O Y D E N E X E C U T I V E S E A R C H

RAYMOND-ELIAS RIZK ’14,

I N V E S T M E N T A S S O C I AT E AT S C O T I A M C L E O D

What made you get involved with the Alumni Executive? I became involved with the Alumni Executive because I wanted to stay connected and give back to a community that has given so much to me. My time at Ashbury was some of the best years of my life and I made a promise to myself to reconnect with the school once I completed university. It is a great feeling being able to be a part of the Ashbury network again.

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Do you have a favourite memory from your time as an Ashbury student? My favourite memory from my time at Ashbury was when we beat St. Pete’s in football on our home field after they missed a last-second field goal. After the miss, the entire Ashbury team ran to the middle of the field and started belting out the school hymn.

ASHBURY ALUMNI

Getting Shots in Arms

Tony Li ’16 steps up to help Canadian vaccine rollout

n a year where physical distancing has been the norm, Tony Li ’16 has been getting closer than 2 metres for an important reason—he’s helping to administer life-saving COVID vaccines. As a second-year med student at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, Li is getting first-hand experience delivering healthcare during a pandemic. When Canada’s vaccine rollout ramped up in early 2021, hospitals and health units in Kingston put out a call for assistance to help get needles in arms. Li, who is also president of the Queen’s Aesculapian Society, the medical student society at Queen’s University, mobilized students to support the community vaccination effort, with 200 medical students jumping in to help. Li had clinical experience doing intramuscular injections previously in his studies but had never encountered anything on the mass scale of what he experienced at the vaccine clinic at Kingston General Hospital. Prior to administering the shots on his first volunteer shift, he received some brief, specialized training from an experienced doctor or nurse before hitting the ground running.

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Medical student Tony Li ’16 speaks about Kingston’s vaccination effort on Global News.

“After the first few injections guided by a partner, we were on our own,” says Li. “The actual process of giving the shot is pretty quick and straightforward; the more complex piece is the initial intake, screening, and walking the patient through the list of contraindications and side effects.” In spite of being put feet first into his volunteer vaccinator role, Li says he found the experience both positive and memorable. “I was impressed as to how efficient everything was,” he says of working at the clinic. “It’s a non-stop process with

everyone from the vaccinators to the clinical support workers just getting to work and the hours just flying by. It’s an experience that will stay in my mind for the rest of my career.” Also memorable, says Li, are the human interactions he’s had at the clinics, including some unique encounters with professors. “It’s always interesting when you’re vaccinating someone and they say they taught you or will be teaching you,” says Li, who received his own first vaccine dose along with the other volunteers working at the public clinics. “Seeing your profs and peers is fun and everyone has been extremely grateful, which makes it even more rewarding.” Li says he’s aware of how fortunate he is to be getting hands-on experience in one of the biggest health crises in Canada—and the world—has ever faced. “It’s been a great learning experience in so many ways,” he says. “From a practical standpoint, it’s helped with my education and has also provided a nice change from virtual classes on Zoom.” Queen’s is one of a handful of medical schools across the country whose students have been deployed to assist with the vaccine program. Li says he’s certain more medical students will be called upon to pitch in as efforts to quell the pandemic continue. “I only expect an increased realization of how medical students can be deployed to support patient care as the pandemic response goes on,” he says. “Hospitals are overcapacity and understaffed and we are a great untapped pool of person power and energy ready to help.” Li is no stranger to public service in general. After graduating from Ashbury, he completed his undergrad at Western University in London, Ontario, where he studied biology and economics and also ran as a candidate for the Green Party in the 2019 federal election. As he continues to balance with studies and clinical shifts, Li says he is committed to helping out with COVID efforts for as long as necessary, wherever he’s needed. He says the medical student community at Queen’s has received requests from various sites, including rural regions, dialysis units, and Indigenous communities, to help administer needed vaccines. “A lot of clinics are reaching out for support and they’ll likely need assistance into the summer, fall and the new year,” he says. “We’ll be happy to help for as long as it takes to ensure communities get vaccinated so we can return to normal.”

ASHBURY ALUMNI

Chatter

Ashbury

arry Cooper ’66 and his spouse, Laine Cooper, recently welcomed a new grandson. Grayson Parker Cooper Moyes was born on May 5. The proud parents are Karolyne and Jason Moyes.

onald Paterson ’74 was recently awarded an honorary Doctor of Commerce degree from Lakehead University Thunder Bay for his distinguished achievements. Don was one of five people honoured at the convocation ceremony for d edicating his life to making Northwestern Ontario better for everyone. Following g raduation from Ashbury, Don received a bachelor’s degree in history and political science from the University of Toronto. Don then returned to his hometown of Thunder Bay where he joined his family business, ending his career with Paterson GlobalFoods as Chairman of the corporation. He went on to chair the newly formed TBayTel Corporation and was instrumental in transforming TBayTel from a city department to a fully independent corporate entity with a modern governance structure.

Ean Higgins ’76, award-winning journalist at The Australian, recently published a book titled The Hunt for MH370. Ean has led the world media's coverage of this incredible saga and draws on years of interviews with aviation experts, victims' families, air crash investigators and professional hunters across land, sea and sky to dissect the riddle of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370's fate.

drian Harewood ’89, Canadian television and radio journalist, joined Carleton's journalism school as a full-time faculty member, starting in July. He will continue to contribute to CBC Ottawa. (Photo: Carleton University)

icholas Eden-Walker ’96 and Deirdre Clark welcome the birth of their first child, Dylan Michael Eden-Walker. Dylan was born in Toronto on May 17, just in time to sleep through the entire Habs/Leafs playoff series. He also just went for his first walk on the boardwalk in The Beaches and predictably, slept through it too. Daddy and mommy are in love with their delightful son!

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eter Croal ’74 is part of a national reconciliation project to promote the creation of Healing Forests where survivors and families of residential schools can come together to heal, reflect, talk and meditate. The initiative promotes identifying green spaces as places for healing and to connect with nature. Anyone interested in starting the process of c reating a h ealing forest can contact Peter directly at peter.croal@bell.net or visit the National Healing Forest website at nationalhealingforests.com

ASHBURY ALUMNI

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r. Ben Barry ’01 was named Dean of Fashion at Parsons School of Design in New York. Currently, Dr. Barry previously served as the Chair of Fashion, Associate Professor of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, and Director of the Centre for Fashion & Systemic Change at Ryerson University in Toronto. He formally joined Parsons on July 1, 2021. Dr. Barry received his BA with Honours in Women and Gender Studies from the University of Toronto, and holds a master's in Innovation, Strategy and Organization and a PhD in Management from the Judge Business School at Cambridge University.

Patrick Welsh ’02 and his spouse, Pamela Sidey, welcomed their third child, Riley Richard Sidey Welsh, on May 25, 2020. Pam and Pat, along with Riley’s siblings Theodore and Willa, have been enjoying getting to know their new addition! Patrick also spoke to students this winter as a panelist for the Environmental Careers Panel that took place during Earth Week. Patrick is a partner and environmental lawyer at Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP in Toronto.

mily Shore ’03 and her spouse, Adam Gold, welcomed Zoe Allen Rose into the world on April 7. Baby Zoe is named after Zev Schorr, whom we remember after having perished as a child in the Holocaust, and whose name bears the Zev Schorr bursary at Ashbury. The new family of three is settling into a groove.

Julianne Zussman ’04, retired international rugby player, was selected as a match official for the Olympic Games in Tokyo. Julianne was one of 22 officials selected to oversee the women's and men's rugby Sevens competitions at the delayed Olympic Games. Julianne is a three-time Rugby World Cup veteran and became the first Canadian test player to referee at the international level on the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series in 2019.

ASHBURY ALUMNI

athieu Sly ’08 started as a social media officer at the National Gallery of Canada in December 2020. Previously he was the official videographer for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's team.

nita E ’09 recently acquired Beechwood Dental, located just blocks away from Ashbury. After receiving her Doctor of Dental Surgery from University of Toronto in 2017, she has practised all over Ottawa and has decided to build her own dental practice in the neighbourhood where she grew up. Anita is so grateful to be serving both familiar and new faces in her new clinic and encourages teachers, students and alumni to stop by and visit.

Laurent-Olivier Villiard ’08 and his spouse, Brittany Daigle Villiard, welcomed their daughter Charlotte (Charlie) Ann-Marie Villiard on December 24. They currently live in Montreal and are settling in well to life as a family of three.

Danial Taggart ’05 and his spouse, Hayley Magermans, welcomed their first child, Helena (Nellie) Mae Taggart in November 2020.

ayley Karklins ’09 gave birth to her son, Kalix Noble Karklins on May 10. The final member of the Karklins’ family is adored by big sister, Lux, and big brother, Jax.

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mma Campbell ’05 and Caroline Murphy ’05, owners of Ottawa restaurant Corner Peach, recently decided to expand their business. During the pandemic they shifted the focus of their restaurant to a corner store selling prepared foods. To keep up with demand, they decided to expand their space by taking over the storefront immediately adjacent to their current space. The expansion will allow them to run a larger, more efficient commercial kitchen that can satisfy the demand they’ve been receiving for their menu. Read more about this pair of entrepreneurs on page 26.

ASHBURY ALUMNI

fter receiving funding from the European Space Agency, Jacqueline Good ’12 was accepted into the International Space University to pursue her passion for space exploration and technology full time. Leaving her post at OMERS, she will head to Spain to complete the space education program with the intention of solving key issues facing the aerospace industry today.

onta Kamara ’16 was recently awarded the Trudy Bush Fund for her commitment to women's health. She was also awarded The Global Health Established Field Placement to work on the Evaluation of the African Health Diagnostics Platform in Nairobi, Kenya. She is currently pursuing a master of health science in Epidemiology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Jonta completed a bachelor of arts in Health Studies with a double minor in African Studies and Immunology at the University of Toronto in 2020.

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Katherine Boxall ’11 held her inaugural solo exhibition as a member of the gallery roster at Jerald Melberg Gallery in Charlotte, North Carolina. The exhibition featured 14 bold abstract expressionist paintings constructed of acrylic, pastel, spray paint and oil on canvas. The show was on view January 16 through March 6 and was a ccompanied by a published exhibition catalogue. The exhibition, titled Intelligent Abstraction, was featured in several editorial publications including a cover and story in Charlotte’s premiere lifestyle magazine SouthPark Magazine. Katherine lived and worked in Charlotte for several years after completing a Bachelor of Fine Arts at Queen’s University and a Master of Fine Arts at San Francisco Art Institute. She has recently moved to Austin, Texas and is working on future exhibitions with Jerald Melberg Gallery.

Charles St. Louis ’13 joined Ashbury’s Senior School Business Clubs as a special guest speaker, helping students and faculty make sense of blockchain and cryptocurrency. Charles is currently the COO of Element Finance, a governance advisor for MakerDAO, and an active contributor to Ethereum. Students had many questions for Charles, and he was so generous with his time and insight.

Rachel Kamel ’17 spoke to the kinesiology classes from the Clinical Exercise Physiology Lab at the University of Ottawa. The discussion touched on the topics of physical activity, wellness and exercise prescription for people with Multiple Sclerosis. Rachel recently completed a degree in biomedical science at the University of Ottawa and has been working as a Clinical and Exercise Physiology Research Assistant at the University of Ottawa since September 2020.

ASHBURY ALUMNI

ugh Roberston, former staff, was recently featured in the Manor Park Chronical for his involvement in climate change and the environment. For well over a decade, Hugh has been recognized locally as a leader, advocate and researcher for climate change and the environment. Hugh's contributions and achievements have been extensive, including thoughtful and well-researched essays. Hugh's published articles offer a timely, insightful and well researched platform for a renewed and reinvigorated e xploration of climate change and the need for action. You can find Hugh's collection of articles at ecologyeconomicsethics. blogspot.com

Staff transitions Over the past eight years, Tara Jackson, Ashbury’s Director of Communications & Marketing, has worked behind the scenes putting together the Ashbury News and other school publications with thoroughness, interest and care. As she embarks on the next step of her career, we wish her the very best and thank her for her many contributions to Ashbury’s print, web and e-communications.

Sophie Weider ’20 recently published her second book, Who? The book follows the journey of a Snowy Owl, Ukpik, in search of a new home, after her own is left uninhabitable by the impacts of climate change. This inspiring and informative arctic tale is a wonderful story about climate change and environmentalism. Sophie is currently pursuing a bachelor of arts and science in Environmental Studies at McGill University. Learn more about Sophie’s books at sophieweider.com

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Lauren Peters ’17 graduated in the spring from Cornell University from the College of Architecture, Art, and Planning. For Lauren’s thesis, she created the stunning piece shown in the photograph. Lauren’s work concentrates on her Indigenous heritage, ancestors and traditional storytelling, blending these topics with her specialization in pen and ink to create large-scale detailed drawings.

We also say goodbye and good luck to faculty members Ms. Amy Huang and Mr. Nathan Lackey and thank them for their six years of contribu tions to our school and boarding program.

Remembering

Michael Wyman ’99

ichael Wyman ’99, together with his two children, Anna and John, passed away tragically on January 3, 2021. Michael attended Ashbury College from Grade 5 to 10. His time at Ashbury was strengthened by the friendships he made over his six years at the school.

Michael’s experience at Ashbury came at a critically formative time in his life. It inspired him to excel academically and engendered critical thinking skills and an eclectic curiosity which made him a lifelong learner. Ashbury also gave him a family of friends that he maintained until his death, and a strong moral compass that made him a person with integrity and empathy for others. He was passing these values on to his children. Through the bursary, his legacy and that of his children, Anna and John, will include enabling others to benefit from the opportunity of the Ashbury experience.

–GEORGINA STEINSKY, MICHAEL’S MOTHER

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The Michael ’99, Anna, and John Wyman Memorial Bursary has been established at Ashbury College in acknowledgement to both a legacy and a commitment to learning. The bursary will exist in perpetuity, providing financial assistance to students with demonstrated need. Should you wish to make a memorial gift, donations can be made online at ashbury.ca/give or by contacting advancement@ashbury.ca.

Memoriam

Dimitri Paul Buergin ’48 William (Bill) Birbeck ’57 John Eaton ’55 Peter Gilbert ’53

Peggy Joyce, wife of W.A.J. (Bill) Joyce, former Headmaster Michael MacNeil ’56 Robert Wilson ’40 Michael Jonathan Wyman ’99

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Ole Book ’54

ASHBURY ALUMNI

Words of Wisdom Alumni share advice with Ashbury’s newest graduates

My recommendation is that you celebrate your achievements and get excited about what comes next but take the time to cultivate this new network. There is a kinship in knowing that at some point we all walked the same halls, even if separated by years if not decades. Andrew Nichols ’91

If I can give you one piece of advice for life after Ashbury, it would be to stay connected—with your own classmates and even with those who were there before and after you. You never know who might be your next business partner, real estate agent, mentor, or friend! Anita E ’09

The connections with Ashbury made it possible to meet new, and old, alumni across the world as I travelled, and I discovered firsthand how welcoming and helpful the Association is. Warm intros are always around, and the door is always open for help. Stef Scrivens ’07

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Even though it may not feel like it, I know that Ashbury has prepared you for the challenges you will face throughout your years and you are going to do incredible things! Things may get stressful at times, but your old classmates, teachers and fellow alumni are here to support you through it all. The only advice I have for you is to embrace the changes that come your way and be confident that you have made the right decision. Steph Black ’12

It’s tempting to dwell on all of the things that we have missed out on, all of the things that didn’t happen, and what could have been. But that’s not a productive mindset and it undermines the ways in which the challenges of the pandemic have led to selfimprovement and personal growth. I’ll spare you the platitudes that I’m sure you’ve heard from your parents, teachers, coaches, etc. and will simply say that your resilience to adversity over the course of the pandemic will serve you well in the future. Resiliency in the face of adversity is a superpower, and it will be your competitive advantage. Alex Patrick ’03

I can say with confidence that graduating from Ashbury was the ‘start of the rest of my life’ and that it was the launching pad for where I have ended up. I hope that your years at Ashbury have been rewarding and fulfilling, and even more, I hope that you are feeling ready and eager for the next adventure. It will be full of ups and downs, but these truly are the formative years of your life and ones you will look back on with fondness and nostalgia. Jane Scholes ’09

We look forward to welcoming you back soon

Ashbury College 362 Mariposa Avenue Ottawa, ON K1M 0T3 ashbury.ca Address errors and corrections can be forwarded to alumni@ashbury.ca Returns requested Address Correction Required