The READ magazine (Summer 2024) by Branksome Hall

THE MAGAZINE FOR THE BRANKSOME HALL COMMUNITY SUMMER 2024

INSIDE THE TRANSFORMATIVE ERA OF PRINCIPAL KAREN JURJEVICH, WHO INSPIRED A GENERATION OF ALUMS NOW BLAZING NEW PATHS AROUND THE WORLD PAGE 6

WE CONTINUE TO RAISE THE BAR AND WE’RE NOT DONE YET

Generosity runs deep at Branksome Hall. Our donors’ collective impact anchors every step of our students’ journeys, enabling access to best-inclass facilities, elevated programming and co-curricular activities, or the ultimate gift of opportunity—a life-changing scholarship.

The Make Way Campaign’s unprecedented success is testament to the power of our community, as alums, parents, grandparents past and present, and employees come together to support the future of girls’ education. Every gift matters. Every gift has impact. We are a boldly united community—and this campaign belongs to us all.

MAKE WAY CAMPAIGN PILLARS

The Innovation Centre and Studio Theatre (iCAST):

This This 34,500-square-foot facility merges arts and STEM for JK to Grade 12 students, setting them up with skills to thrive in tomorrow’s workplaces.

Financial Assistance:

Unlock opportunity and enrich the school culture for all by removing ﬁnancial barriers.

Please support the Make Way Campaign and break barriers for our girls’ limitless futures.

Opportunity Fund:

Take the Branksome experience from great to exceptional to enhance curricular and co-curricular programming and resources.

Together, what we will achieve for our students will truly raise the bar.

Learn more about the role you can play in the future of girls’ education through the Make Way Campaign and iCAST. Contact Campaign Director Claudia Metelsky at 416-920-6265, ext. 324; cmetelsky@branksome.on.ca. branksome.on.ca/MakeWay

The Evolution of Karen Jurjevich

Inside the stellar career and personal journey of Branksome’s transformative Principal.

A Force like Karen

The Principal I served is a risk-taker and an inquirer at heart.

Pioneers in a Learning Revolution

Kenda SHAHEEN’06 was one of the original 11 graduates of Branksome’s International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme.

Incubating Imagination

Angela LAU’05 has experienced Branksome in both Canada and Asia. Now, she inspires kids’ creativity at her studio on Jeju Island.

Where Sport and Human Rights Meet

Alison BISCOE’09 works for a UN-backed agency in Geneva that involves two of her great passions.

Branksome’s Enduring Spirit

Together we have built a legacy of excellence and resilience

By Karen L. Jurjevich

As I pen this farewell message, my heart is ﬁ lled with a profound sense of gratitude. Over the past 26 years, it has been my great honour to serve as your Principal, guiding and growing with this remarkable community. Together, we have built a legacy of excellence, resilience and unwavering support that I will cherish forever.

The relationships I have established within our school community—with students, faculty and staﬀ, parents (past and present) and alums—have been the cornerstone of my journey. You have touched my life in ways that words cannot fully express, and you have been my inspiration and my driving force. Watching thousands of Branksome Hall students grow, overcome challenges and achieve their dreams has been the most rewarding experience. To our dedicated faculty and staﬀ, your passion and commitment to nurturing young minds have been the bedrock of our school’s success. Your partnership and camaraderie have made every challenge surmountable and every achievement sweeter.

To the thousands of alums who carry a piece of this school with you in your hearts, I am humbled by the impact we have made together. Your memories, successes and

“Although I may be stepping away from my role, my heart will always remain here, within this wonderful community.”

stories are a living testament to the enduring spirit of our school. Your achievements in the wider world are a source of immense pride for us all.

I am deeply honoured to share this photo of me and my son, Michael, who painted a portrait of me that will hang in the school for decades to come. Th is portrait is not just a likeness of me, but also a reﬂection of my pride in and contentment with 26 years of accomplishments and memories made within the halls of Branksome. For me, the composition hints at the grandeur of 4 Elm Avenue and our beautiful campus, grounding my identity in a place where I have been fully embraced and where I have raised my son, who was only six years old when we ﬁ rst moved onto campus. We called Branksome Hall home. For me, this portrait conveys my personal connection to the enduring spirit of Branksome Hall, which has shaped our school for 121 years and will continue to do so, long into the future. I hope it serves as a reminder of our strong foundation and that it inspires future generations to continue our mission to “inspire girls to love learning and to shape a better world.”

As I step into the next chapter of my life, I do so with personal courage and with conﬁdence in the future of our school. I know that the foundation we have built together is strong and will continue to thrive. While I will dearly miss the daily interactions and the vibrant life of our school, I am excited about the new journeys ahead, both for me and for our beloved Branksome Hall.

Thank you for the incredible journey, the shared successes and the deep bonds we have formed. It has been the privilege of my life to lead, learn and grow with you. Although I may be stepping away from my role, my heart will always remain here, within this wonderful community. R

Karen with her son, Michael Murton, artist of the portrait that will now be displayed at the school.

EDITORIAL COMMITTEE

EDITOR

Sarah Baumann

EDITORIAL ADVISOR

Berton Woodward

ALUM RELATIONS

Neetu White

Cristina Coraggio

Karen L. Jurjevich

Liisa Stephenson

Karrie Weinstock

CONTRIBUTORS

Sarah Baumann

Brian Bethune

Maud Bodoukian

Melanie CHANDLER Jackson’74

Roy Cruz

Diane Jermyn

Karen Jurjevich

Sofia Kirk

Christian Peterson

George Pimentel

Kiana ROMEO’17

Liisa Stephenson

Alexandra STEVENSON’03

Caley Taylor

Luisa Trisi

Mirza Tursić

Karrie Weinstock

Neetu White

Berton Woodward

Alums, employees and friends of Branksome Hall

DESIGN AND PRODUCTION

Michael Cherkas + Associates

Branksome Hall

10 Elm Avenue

Toronto, ON M4W 1N4

Tel: 416-920-9741 www.branksome.on.ca

CONTACT

Neetu White in Alum Relations nwhite@branksome.on.ca

SUMMER 2024

Volume 63, Number 1

Canadian Publications

Mail Agreement No.40010445

Tribute to a Visionary

Summing up the career and impact of our just-retired Principal

By Sarah Baumann

Although an alum usually graces the cover of The READ, this time we are featuring a woman who has just become an honorary alum—former Principal Karen Jurjevich, who retired at the end of June. Photographed at the school in May 2024 by renowned Toronto-based photographer George Pimentel, these portraits, like the rest of this issue, are our tribute to this outstanding leader who guided Branksome Hall with such vision and curiosity for 26 years. You will learn about her evolution in a personal profi le and experience the magnitude of her impact through alums who graduated during her tenure and whose paths in cities around the world have been shaped by her mentorship and signature school achievements. It’s impossible to truly capture what Karen Jurjevich has meant to Branksome Hall, but we hope this issue offers a fitting fi nal thank-you as our new Principal, Grace McCallum, takes the lead. As we say, this is not goodbye, but see you soon—down “the road.”

Contributors

Brian Bethune Writer

Since earning his doctorate in medieval studies from the University of Toronto in 1987, Brian Bethune has written extensively about books, ideas, business, economics, religion and culture for Maclean’s magazine and other Canadian publications.

Melanie CHANDLER

Jackson’74 Writer

Melanie CHANDLER

Jackson’74 has worked in journalism and corporate communications. Also an award-winning children’s author, Melanie lives in Vancouver with her husband and their orange cat. Visit Melanie’s page at the Writers’ Union of Canada website.

Diane Jermyn Writer

Diane Jermyn is a freelance journalist and regular contributor to the Globe and Mail, Report on Business and other major Canadian publications. She has twice been nominated for a Canadian National Magazine Award.

Alexandra STEVENSON’03 Writer

Alexandra Stevenson is a foreign correspondent for the New York Times and currently covers China from her base in Hong Kong. Before the New York Times, Alex worked for the Financial Times in London and New Delhi. Her favourite food is dumplings.

Luisa Trisi

Writer

Luisa Trisi is a Toronto-based writer and communications consultant. Since launching Big Picture Communications in 1999, she has worked with an array of clients, including Artscape, ATMA Classique, Koﬄer Centre of the Arts and Tafelmusik.

Berton Woodward

Writer

The READ’s editorial advisor started in journalism in Vancouver, then worked in Hong Kong for 16 years at Time Inc.’s Asiaweek magazine. Returning to Canada with his Filipina wife and two children, he served at Maclean’s and York University and is now an editorial consultant. R

SchoolScoop

All Th ings ‘the Jurv’

Saying a very fond farewell to Principal Jurjevich

This spring, the Branksome Hall community came together to say a heartfelt thank-you to Principal Karen Jurjevich. From a glamorous send-off with toasts and stories at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel to student-centred ceremonies, including Graduation, Junior School Closing and Green Carpet, and fi nally the “Soo Do’’ with employees, past and present, celebrating all things ‘the Jurv,’ the conclusion of the school year was fi lled with memories, well wishes and fun.

Graduation 2024

Green Carpet Celebration

Junior School Closing Celebration

The “Soo Do” farewell party with employees

Philanthropy

A Historic Gift

Branksome’s largest donation ever will honour Karen Jurjevich

It is the largest donation in the history of Branksome Hall and among the largest ever to a Canadian girls’ school. On May 5, 2024, Branksome Hall Board Chair Mona Malone announced that Branksome had received a record-breaking $5-million gift, which will be used to honour retiring Principal Karen Jurjevich.

Th is transformative donation, given anonymously, serves as both a recognition of Principal Jurjevich’s leadership at Branksome Hall and a substantial investment in the school’s new Innovation Centre and Studio Theatre. Set to be completed in the fall of 2025, the centre will now be named The Karen L. Jurjevich Innovation Centre and Studio Theatre (iCAST).

“We are deeply grateful for this historic donation in support of girls’ education at Branksome Hall,” said Malone. “Naming iCAST after Karen is reﬂective of her trailblazing spirit and relentless pursuit of breaking barriers for girls, making it a ﬁtting legacy for a building that will do the same.”

An Apple a Day

Competitions

A World-Class Debater

On April 19, after four days of intense competition, Grade 12 student Anna Gage was named this year’s overall World Champion of the World Individual Debating and Public Speaking Championships held in Canberra, Australia. Her ranking is based on her results across four categories; this is the ﬁ rst time a Branksome student has won since 2010, when Zeenia FRAMROZE’11 took the top spot. Reﬂecting on her experience at Worlds this year, Anna said, “Public speaking and debate have improved my resiliency and my critical thinking, teaching me how to clash with ideas instead of people. My only regret? Not having started competing earlier.”

Branksome has been recognized as an Apple Distinguished School for the 2023–2026 program term. The Junior School was selected for this distinction based on its commitment to continuous innovation in education and using Apple products to create exemplary learning practices. “Being an Apple Distinguished School supports Branksome Hall’s aim to join a global network of visionary educational institutions,” notes Emily MacLean, Head of the Junior School. “By connecting with other schools, our faculty aspire to exchange best practices and acquire valuable insights. In the same way, Apple technology allows for students to create, collaborate and connect their learning to the outside world.”

GEORGE PIMENTEL

Grade 12 student Anna Gage (left) and Grade 11 student Helen Ziomecki competed at Worlds in Australia.

Principal Karen Jurjevich and Board Chair Mona Malone (centre) on May 4 with former Board Chairs and Foundation members (l-r) Prem Watsa, Jean Cloutier, Wendy Cecil, Peter Singer, Jim Christie, Raj Chandaria, Tim Price and Anthony Graham.

Inside the stellar career and personal journey of Branksome’s transformative Principal

By Berton Woodward

he has called herself “CanDo Karen” for decades, since well before she began her phenomenal 26-year leadership of Branksome Hall. It was always her no-nonsense, let’s-get-on-with-it game face, born of a northern Ontario childhood with some tough challenges and her own legendary positivity, vision and drive. But now, as she enters a new life away from her school, her often 12-hour workdays and her Principal’s House across the street, Karen Jurjevich is very aware she has evolved, professionally and personally.

Arriving at Branksome in 1998, she says, “I was almost in overdrive. The word ‘vulnerability’ was not in my sphere— either saying it or demonstrating it.” Contrast that to her ﬁnal speech at Installation 2023 last September, when she talked about her childhood in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, and teared up when she mentioned her Croatia-born father, who died in 1966 when she was 10, leaving her and her older sister to take care of two younger

brothers and support their mother as she entered the work world. Her vulnerability was on show to both students and colleagues, she acknowledges. “That is why it was an important speech for me to give.”

Unquestionably, she became more comfortable over the years. “When you’ve had a career as long as mine, you just start to enjoy it more. You relax a little bit, because that’s the gift of conﬁdence, and also you have a lot of trust in the people with whom you work most closely. As a result, I think you can just bring your shoulders down a little bit and be truly who you are, as both a leader and a person.”

Her personal journey has included raising her artist son Michael (“Spike”) Murton, who was six when they moved on campus, a difﬁcult divorce, and a longtime, long-distance partnership with Boston-based Canadian financial executive Richard Nino. At the same time, her professional journey has been nothing short of stellar, reshaping Branksome

(continued on page 8)

Left: Karen at her first Installation as Principal in 1998.

GEORGE PIMENTEL

“When you’ve had a career as long as mine, you just start to enjoy it more. You relax a little bit, because that’s the gift of confidence, and also you have a lot of trust in the people with whom you work most closely.”

(continued from page 6)

Hall academically, architecturally, strategically and ﬁ nancially. These achievements have led this former physical education and health teacher to realize that her next evolution will be to open an international consultancy focusing on business and strategic growth in the ﬁeld of education.

It’s hard to overstate the importance of her tenure. Her standout accomplishments are very clear— the introduction of the International Baccalaureate (IB) for all students, the establishment of Branksome Hall Asia in South Korea, construction of the awardwinning Athletics and Wellness Centre and the future-focused Innovation Centre and Studio Theatre (iCAST). Tucked in between, of course, have been countless enhancements and innovations, including the Chandaria Research Centre, the Centre for Strategic Leadership and the creation of a framework for Branksome Hall’s four key values. Together these accomplishments have made Branksome what many consider the leading girls’ school in Canada and one of the best in the world.

How this all came about is truly the story of Karen—through her vision, her personality, her ability to recruit top talent and loyal colleagues, and some happy happenstances that really amount to the kind of “luck” you make for yourself. “I’ve been driven in my life, I would say, by humility and curiosity,” she says. And truly, those characteristics are fundamental to the Karen who evolved at Branksome. That is, humility to look for the best ideas from the best people and places you can ﬁnd, and a natural-born curiosity that has made her look even further and more deeply than most others would. “That’s my secret sauce,” she says.

Before reaching Branksome, she had worked in both public and independent schools after graduating from the University of Western Ontario. She ﬁ rst taught in Tillsonburg, in southwest Ontario, taking time out to get her master’s in education at the University of British Columbia, before marriage brought her to Toronto. Her friends pointed her to a teaching position at Havergal College, but when she couldn’t gain the career traction she wanted, she re-entered the public system as a vice-principal and then principal in the pre-amalgamation North York Board of Education. By now, she was clearly gaining traction—a Branksome-retained search consultant came calling. Karen took the plunge and, seven months later, she was announced as Branksome Hall’s seventh Principal, the successor to Dr. Rachel Belash.

Then came one of the things Can-Do Karen can do best: bring people along with her. As a selfdescribed “curriculum, teaching and learning geek with a graduate degree,” she wanted to ﬁ nd the best possible academic program for Branksome— “I always questioned what we were teaching and, more importantly, how we were delivering curriculum.” Backed by an experienced Board Chair, Anthony Graham, she established a year-long task force to develop criteria for an academic program, followed by extensive research into three options: the Ontario curriculum, Advanced Placement and the IB. Karen had ﬁ rst come across the IB as vice-principal at Victoria Park Secondary in the mid-90s, and was inspired by its impact on students there. At Branksome, she says, “we knew we wanted graduates to have a global mindset, develop critical-thinking skills and appreciate multiple perspectives.” In a quickly evolving world, adds the ever future-minded educator, “all indicators were that technologies were advancing and people were

Karen is a visionary organizer and fearless leader who simply does not have the word “can’t” in her vocabulary. When I met her as an 18-year-old, I was immediately inspired by her thoughtfulness, her confidence, her generosity of time, spirit and ideas, as well as her brilliance and incisiveness. She was a formative mentor during my last year at Branksome, and I was beyond fortunate to have the opportunity to work alongside her and learn from her. As we have become friends over the past 25 years, she has remained a mentor, a trusted advisor and a thoughtful sounding board for ideas, aspirations and goal-setting.

DR. SARAH PSUTKA’99

Surgical oncologist and first Head Girl under Karen

Karen and the 2022–23 Prefects at the Assembly where she announced her retirement.

Karen at her first Installation with Head Girl Sarah PSUTKA’99 and Board Chair Anthony Graham.With Junior School students.

looking beyond their borders for business, for education, for opportunities.”

Step by step, she and the IB prevailed. “The IB approach to teaching and learning is a far superior option to the Ontario curriculum,” she says. The research-based process was crucial. “I think that got the buy-in, in a much less emotional way, for the faculty, the community and the Board. It was truly a game-changer for our school.”

She also needed buy-in on oﬀering the rigorous IB program to every student in the school, which the IB task force report had shown was the preferred approach. But could all students handle it? Parents were worried. Aware that Upper Canada College already had the IB as its single oﬀering for boys, she raised these questions in response: “‘Is this program not suitable for girls? Can only boys do a rigorous academic program?’ We had to overcome a protective attitude from parents toward their daughters,” she says. “Their sons could be thrown into the IB and survive, but they questioned having their daughters in the same program.”

Karen went with a fi ve-year phase-in so parents and teachers could get used to the shift to the IB. She also introduced a comprehensive learning strategies program, the first of its kind at the school, so that any child could build on her own unique learning style. “We all learn differently. So we designed a program that would give students agency over their own learning.”

Thus was Branksome transformed academically, receiving accreditation as an IB World School on February 3, 2003, one of just eight in Toronto at the time and the only girls’ school. “When I arrived, Branksome had always had the reputation as a

school with well-rounded girls—you know, friendly, welcoming, we do sports, we do academics, we do co-curricular and community service,” says Karen. “The IB was the perfect alignment. An IB liberal arts education speaks to well-roundedness.”

What was becoming clear was Karen’s willingness to jump on an idea or opportunity and run with it, going all-in. With the IB well-established, she one day in 2008 noticed a piece of mail promoting an obscure city-building project on Jeju Island, South Korea. “I wonder who builds cities these days,” she thought casually, and put it aside. Months later, a larger, follow-up package came. Th is time she looked more closely and, increasingly intrigued, talked about it with a student boarder, Jisu OH’09, from Jeju Island—“I had never heard of Jeju until Jisu introduced me to it”—and began corresponding with Jisu’s mother, an artist there.

An American consultant to the South Korean government said in the package he’d be coming to Toronto, and Karen told her assistant, “If he tries to get in touch with me, I’ll take his call.”

It turned out that the Seoul government had hired the Boston Consulting Group to make a list of top schools in North America and the U.K. that might be candidates to build oﬀshoots in the Jeju Island free economic zone. In part, the schools would oﬀer an international education to the children of foreign residents, but more importantly, they would encourage South Korean parents to educate their children in South Korea rather than send them overseas, frequently with their mothers, and perhaps lose key talent. “Often it tore families apart,” says Karen.

And yet, she notes, “I’ve never met another school principal during that time who said they even opened the package.” Woe to them because,

(continued on page 10)

As far back as I can remember, my mom has had an intense curiosity, an exploratory nature and a compelling vision. As a child, I noticed something special about her relationship with herself and her work. I’ve come to understand that what I saw was the energy that comes when you work toward things you consider existentially important. She has inspired me to identify and pursue the things I care about and pursue them with passion.

MICHAEL MURTON Artist and Karen’s son

Karen has a genuine affection for those around her, which she demonstrates in special ways. One is how she focuses on the person she is talking to, leaning in or moving closer. It makes me smile every time I witness it. There really are no words to express how much I will miss her. Each day has been an adventure—full of hard work, long hours, learning from and teaching each other—with loads of fun on the journey. I am truly blessed to count her as a friend.

JENNIFER NARJES

Executive Assistant to the Principal since 2015

Opening the Athletics and Wellness Centre with Ribbit.

Karen and her son, Michael, in Principal’s House on the Branksome campus.

In Karen, we were truly fortunate to have found exactly the right person at absolutely the right moment in the school’s history. She brought energy, enthusiasm and commitment to the role.

(continued from page 9)

in addition to the academic beneﬁts, the revenue potential from this proposal was extremely attractive—“a windfall for the school,” she says. She pulled in then Board Chair Jim Christie for a dinner with the consultant, “and Jim said, ‘You have my support to take this to the next level, Karen— let’s go for it.’ He never hesitated.”

“Next level” meant a feasibility study and multiple trips to South Korea. Drawing on her wide range of international connections, Karen hired a veteran Asia-based IB educator and leader, Australian consultant Peter Kenny, to lead the process. She also created a new senior role at the school by promoting Karrie Weinstock to Deputy Principal, giving added strength and consistency to leadership at Branksome Hall Canada. “I knew it was critically important to not take my eye oﬀ the ball during this period of international expansion,” says Karen. “There was no one better to partner with than Karrie.”

A year of negotiations followed, and Branksome emerged with a very good deal. Karen calls it “the Four Seasons model,” where the ownership and management are separate. With the annual royalty and other income from Branksome Hall Asia, Branksome Canada is able to support student and faculty interdisciplinary experiences in Korea and fund major capital projects on the Toronto campus. Branksome Canada appoints the principal, both sides appoint the chief ﬁnancial oﬃcer, and the majority of board seats are held by Branksome Canada.

Karen credits Jim Christie and Peter Kenny as critical to the launch of the project—“The three of us together built that school.” And they can take credit for adding millions upon millions of dollars to Branksome’s reserves. “That was the beginning of me seeing myself as an educator and a businesswoman, to be honest,” Karen says.

She was also excited from the start about the academic side, which includes the IB, and the opportunity for a study-abroad program. “Th is was the next step in being internationally minded.” She imagined sending Branksome Canada students there for a year, but, she says with a laugh, “Others went, ‘Slow down, Karen.’ ‘OK,’ I said, ‘we’ll go for a term’—I was oﬀ to the races!” In reality, all Grade 9s go to South Korea for two to three weeks, where they explore Jeju Island and Seoul and undertake a week-long, interdisciplinary unit of study with their Branksome Hall Asia counterparts.

There was another reason Karen had extra time for the Korea project. The end of her marriage in 2009 brought an evolution in her personal life and made her more reﬂective. “I learned to treat myself with kindness and more compassion than perhaps I had ever done in my life previously. And in order to do that, you do have to allow yourself to be somewhat vulnerable. I think I became a better leader, a better friend, a better mother and all those things. Because I ﬁ nally just started cutting myself some slack.”

It was also during the Branksome Hall Asia period, when negotiations with the South Korean partners were in full swing, that Karen had her reckoning with the business side of education. Given that she was also in the early stages of a new building and capital campaign, Board Chair Raj Chandaria, a past parent and longtime supporter of Branksome, suggested she enter a major executive program. “Research and apply to the best schools in North America,” he advised. She kept that advice in mind, and in 2016 she entered the Executive Program at the Stanford Graduate

She had a wonderful sense of curiosity and willingness to explore other methods of teaching. She also had, and still has, the most wonderful and contagious smile. Mother Teresa said, “If you smile, you open the world to you.” And Karen has.

ANTHONY GRAHAM Branksome Board Chair 1997–2001

Karen has been an ideal Principal for her board chairs. Her vision, her leadership skills and her drive are stellar. She and I developed a strong professional relationship that has grown into an even stronger friendship. My own two daughters benefited tremendously from her example during their time at Branksome. In modelling strong female leadership, Karen inspired all of our Branksome girls to be confident and excel in whatever they choose to do in life.

Jean Cloutier Branksome Hall Board Chair 2019–2022 and Governor, Branksome Hall Asia, since 2017

Karen at Branksome Hall Asia with Grade 9 students from both schools in March 2024.

Hosting feminist icon Gloria Steinem in 2017.

School of Business in Palo Alto, California, and came out—again—transformed. “Living in Silicon Valley for two months, you don’t come back the same,” she says. “Everybody’s an entrepreneur, or at a minimum, they have the mindset around innovation and entrepreneurship.”

From that experience, you can directly trace her strategic focus on a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship at Branksome, including the Noodle program—the school’s start-up accelerator for student business and tech ideas—and the iCAST project with its emphasis on creativity, innovation and the arts. At the same time, she was building the Athletics and Wellness Centre, thanks to the money ﬂowing in from Branksome Hall Asia. Donors provided about $16 million of the $40 million cost, and the rest came from the school’s burgeoning reserves. “We opened the AWC on time, on budget, no debt,” says Karen.

It’s also no surprise that the AWC, a project that this former basketballer, varsity rower and now certiﬁed yoga instructor had imagined for many years and oversaw closely, makes money every year from outside uses of the facilities. Her demonstrated business acumen led to an invitation to join the board of Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd. in 2017 as one of two newly appointed ﬁ rst female directors. She’s proud to be a role model for aspiring young businesswomen, and adds: “Anytime I have a learning opportunity in front of me, I am excited and highly engaged.”

There are plenty more of those opportunities to come. Sometime this summer, she will set up a home in London, U.K., an ideal base for her to consult internationally and still stay connected to Canada.

Her other current fascination is Croatia—she’s working on gaining citizenship from the birth country of her father and of her mother’s parents. Characteristically, it’s both an emotional journey and a practical one. There’s the excitement of exploring her heritage. “I have the time now when I can travel there and go to the places where my ancestors were born.” And, of course, Croatia is part of the European Union, meaning its passport will allow her to work in Europe.

It’s going to be a more measured chapter. No more 12-hour days—“absolutely not the least bit interested,” she says. “I want to continue to enhance my health and ﬁtness. I’ve got an amazing son, fabulous friends and colleagues all over the world. Rick and I both see the world very similarly. We are excited about the next chapter. There’s so much to learn, to contribute and to explore.”

Words to live by for Can-Do Karen. R

A Force like Karen

The Principal I served is a risk-taker and an inquirer at heart

By Karrie Weinstock

Some of the most impactful decisions at Branksome have started with a conversation in Karen Jurjevich’s kitchen. This is where, in 2008, Karen asked me to be Branksome’s first Deputy Principal because she had taken on the huge challenge of establishing Branksome Hall Asia. Being Deputy Principal to a force like Karen turned out to be a life-altering adventure and a wonderful partnership, founded on our shared belief in building each student’s capacity and in inspiring our faculty to know each student deeply. Thanks to Karen, Branksome is now internationally minded and expansive in its vision for our students, who see themselves as learners and leaders on a very large stage.

Karen is a bold, decisive risk-taker and an inquirer at heart. Always curious to understand, Karen is passionate about making a difference in the world. When Branksome was invited to participate in the Triangle of Hope and partner with the Get Ahead Project (GAP) School in Queenstown, South Africa, Karen didn’t hesitate. We built a partnership that impacted the lives of hundreds of GAP students as well as our Grade 11 students who went each March to teach at the school. One year, Karen joined us in South Africa and her insights as an educator guided the school to adopt state-of-the-art technology and uniquely define its mission.

Always curious to understand, Karen is passionate about making a diﬀerence in the world.

Embracing opportunity is Karen’s legacy. Always confi dent that, for Branksome, anything was possible, in 2017, we invited Ms. magazine co-founder Gloria Steinem to speak at Branksome. She mesmerized an auditorium of enthralled young feminists who, in her presence, felt “linked, not ranked.” Karen was proud to have Branksome be the first school in Canada to host the World International Debating and Public Speaking Championships. For this historic occasion, she invited the deputy prime minister, the Hon. Chrystia Freeland, to be our opening speaker. Karen always surrounded the community with the best minds, refl ecting her insatiable desire as a leader to learn and understand.

Looking back on our 26-year partnership, I see Karen’s defining feature as her warmth, positive energy and the unique way in which she makes every person feel seen and heard. In the words of David Brooks in his book How to Know a Person, Karen is an “Illuminator.” She makes people feel “bigger, respected and lit up.” For the past 26 years, Karen has been Branksome’s illuminator and it has been my honour to accompany her. R

Karrie Weinstock is Head of Branksome’s Centre for Strategic Leadership.

SPioneers in a RevolutionLearning

Kenda SHAHEEN’06 was one of the original 11 graduates of Branksome’s International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme

By Diane Jermyn

ometimes you just know where you were meant to be.

When Kenda SHAHEEN’06 entered Branksome Hall as a Grade 9 student, she wore her uniform proudly. A serious ballet student, Kenda made a graceful ﬁgure in the Hunting Stewart tartan kilt and green blazer she and her mom had picked up at the tuck shop before the school year began. Even that occasion had felt “almost ceremonial”—another chance to see the campus, walk the halls and soak it all up.

“I was like a kid in a candy store looking at all the things I could do,” says Kenda, who recently became a partner in the corporate group at Dentons, a global law ﬁ rm, in Toronto. “I remember thinking, this is a school that has a 100-year-old swimming pool and a proud rowing team. Then, as a dancer, I was in awe of the school’s theatre, with stage curtains, lighting and a sound system, instead of a gymnasium with chairs. It felt like every resource was at my ﬁ ngertips and I could start my own legacy at Branksome.”

Two years later, Kenda got the chance to be part of another, historic

legacy at Branksome. Principal Karen Jurjevich had introduced the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme at Branksome in 2003, the ﬁrst Toronto girls’ school to do so. Kenda and her parents saw it as a further opportunity to enrich her academics in a way that fulﬁ lled her love of learning.

The IB is premised on a well-rounded education, and the two-year Diploma Programme for Grade 11 and 12 students would embed a global perspective, inquiry-based instruction and international standards in the Branksome curriculum. There would be courses in humanities, mathematics and sciences, plus arts and electives, as well as requirements for community service and a 4,000-word essay.

Kenda thought it all sounded awesome. Branksome had ﬁ rst piloted the IB with selected courses a year before, then oﬀered the full Diploma Programme to student volunteers in 2004.

Kenda jumped in, and became one of the ﬁ rst 11 IB graduates in 2006.

Today, the school oﬀers the Diploma Programme to all students in Grades 11 and 12.

“I found new conﬁdence in myself by participating in the IB Programme,” says Kenda. “I planned my course load for two years and built relationships with the same group of teachers and like-minded (continued on page 14)

Kenda (right) with fellow Class of 2006 DP pilot students Priya JAIN, Laura ASHTON, Joyce HO and Allison CARSON, as well as Carolina CARO and Kaitlin HARRIS.

Alums & Karen

“Because we were pioneers for IB, we were suddenly at the forefront. There was a sense we were all part of something bigger, and that if successful, we would carry that legacy forward.”

(continued from page 12)

students who were prioritizing academia but also interested in this more well-rounded and global approach to learning. For example, in Higher-Level history, we didn’t just read about history in our textbooks, we had opportunities to immerse ourselves in the stories, to act them out, such as negotiating the peace deal to end a certain civil war.”

The Socratic style of self-learning suited Kenda well. The idea that students would no longer just be regurgitating information but asking questions, thinking critically and coming to their own conclusions felt much more meaningful to her.

“It was a very diﬀerent approach from what I was used to and was much more collaborative,” she says. “What I realized later was how much we were also learning about ourselves as learners and leaders—to think independently and take a position conﬁdently. I’ve often found

myself problem-solving in a way that IB taught me, which has provided a framework for other parts of my life, including my career as a lawyer.”

It would be a balancing act between school and dance all through her Branksome years. Kenda pursued ballet as an extracurricular but in the way that some people commit to hockey or gymnastics—with three hours a day every day in the studio. For Kenda, ballet was very much a real career prospect, with classes at the National Ballet School and with a private coach.

“There were days with competitions where I’d have to miss classes, and because my poor toes would be blistered from performances, I often wore my green knee socks with Birkenstock sandals—a uniform infraction,” says Kenda with a laugh. “All of the teachers understood. There was this idea that whatever you pursued as a passion was supported. Th is was a place where I could be my whole self.”

Aﬁ rst-generation Canadian, Kenda is the youngest in her family and the only girl, with two older brothers. Her parents are Palestinian citizens of Israel who immigrated to Canada in 1978. She grew up in Scarborough, moving to North York when she was in Grade 6 where she attended the local Catholic school and then a private co-ed one, but felt uncomfortable due to social bullying—an experience that would later inspire her to lead Peer Support at Branksome.

Kenda says she was the ultimate decisionmaker on choosing Branksome as well as on entering the IB Programme, choices her parents agreed with whole-heartedly.

While that fi rst IB class of 11 girls supported each other and bonded over workloads and deadlines, Kenda felt there was an unspoken understanding that they were different from other students in another way—that there were greater expectations for them, especially since many had parents who had made sacrifices so they could attend Branksome.

“When I looked at the students around me, several were also immigrants or firstgeneration Canadians, often students who

didn’t quite ﬁt the typical mould, in that we didn’t have the same legacy as some of the other girls did. But because we were pioneers for IB, we were suddenly at the forefront. There was a sense we were all part of something bigger, and that if successful, we would carry that legacy forward.”

Now spread throughout Canada, the United States and Europe, all 11 alums of that fi rst IB Diploma class have flourished in a diverse range of careers, including law, investment banking and medicine, as well as contributing to multiple causes. For instance, Laura ASHTON Edwards’06, a doctor, worked with patients on life support during the early days of COVID-19 in the U.K., and Gladys OSIEN’06, an associate at Gowlings law fi rm, is also a Black legal mentor in residence for the University of Ottawa.

Sohani AMARASEKERA’06, a doctor and clinical assistant professor of ophthalmology at the University of Pittsburgh, is another of those 11 graduates. In addition to her job as an ophthalmologist, Sohani has worked on clinical and surgical projects in India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Kenya.

“I think the international component of the IB really fostered being able to see yourself as a global citizen and having responsibilities to a larger community,” says Sohani. “That’s something I’m passionate about and have carried through with my work in developing countries to provide or improve access to health care.”

Sohani chose the IB because it oﬀered the most comprehensive and rigorous academics

Kenda’s red graduating year tie, featuring pins from school academics, activities and exchanges, including the IB, Multi-Cultural Society, Outward Bound, AIDS awareness and one for her Grade 10 Australian exchange to Sydney.

Right: Kenda pictured for her first solo ballet performance en pointe (on pointe shoes) in a piece from the ballet Paquita

and she was planning to apply to competitive universities in the United States. “The IB has a known international standard and reputation, so it’s easier for universities to understand what your achievements are, rather than relying on a school’s grading system,” she says. “When I ultimately went to the University of Pennsylvania, I had conﬁdence in my skills because I knew where I stood relative to an international benchmark. Also, certain things like the Extended Essay prepared me for the longer investigative work I did in undergrad.”

Sohani also recalls how Principal Jurjevich supported the students in the IB Programme as well as in extracurriculars such as the debating team and Model UN. “Branksome was the ﬁrst time I had a principal who was female, so seeing her leadership from the top down was wonderful,” says Sohani. “I felt empowered in an all-female environment to really use my voice and speak up, which again gave me conﬁdence when I was tackling new challenges in university.”

Kenda, too, saw Karen as a force—as a busi-

The First 11 Branksome IB Diploma Grads

Sohani Amarasekera

Ophthalmologist, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Laura Ashton Edwards

Anaesthetic registrar, London, U.K.

Allison Carson

Research director, CIBC Capital Markets, Toronto

Kaitlin Gray

Tax lawyer, Calgary

Kaitlin Harris

Toronto

Joyce Ho

Mom and registered dietician, Zurich, Switzerland

Priya Jain

Interdisciplinary artist, educator, yogi, mental health advocate, Toronto

Gladys Osien

Lawyer at Gowlings, Ottawa

Chanelle Ramsubick

Doctor focusing on mood disorders and ADHD, Oakland, California

Kenda Shaheen

Corporate lawyer, Toronto

Mia Tukulj

Investment and finance executive, London, U.K.

nesswoman as well as school leader—excelling, promoting excellence and literally paving the path forward for the next generation of young girls. “What I admire most about Karen is this ability to see what’s happening in the world and where Branksome is on the dial,” says Kenda. “Her greatest legacy is ensuring that Branksome was always one step ahead.”

Looking back, Kenda says that when people ask about her early influences, she always says Branksome and ballet—her ballet teachers for inspiring discipline and dedication to an art form and Branksome for giving her the resources to figure out who she was and for fostering that growth. “A big takeaway of IB for me was definitely going into university feeling a lot more prepared to tackle university life,” she says. “A massive component of being able to navigate undergrad was having that independence and the ability to rely on oneself.”

Kenda would go on to graduate from McGill University with a BSc in psychology and education, followed by York University’s Osgoode Hall Law School. After articling with Dentons in Toronto, she joined the Dentons corporate group in Dubai, working with local and international clients before returning to the Toronto office. Her current practice is predominantly in corporate transactional work involving venture technology, which is a harmonious intersection of her interests in mentorship and entrepreneurial matters.

“Helping others has been very much a core

component of who I am and what I do,” says Kenda. “As a lawyer, I support clients every day, as a mentor and a problem solver. That’s who I am.”

Dance also continues to be part of who Kenda is, but now as an appreciative audience member, frequently visiting the ballet in Toronto or when travelling around the world. Sometimes, it’s also her refuge.

“Ballet ﬁ nds me in times of stress,” she says. “Sometimes my ﬁancé, Adam, will catch me twirling around between meetings when working from home, knowing very well that this is my ‘release.’”

It’s a skilful balance in a well-rounded life. Kenda continues to lead both in her job and in the community as a member of the Law in Action within Schools program, mentoring inner-city youth, and most recently as a board member for ParticipACTION. She recently received the Mentorship Award at Dentons for her work to support junior lawyers navigating the early stages of their careers.

She also plans to volunteer for Branksome’s Noodle mentorship program for young entrepreneurs, acting as a judge at their competitions. And she often participates in career panels at Branksome to support girls in the decisions they make about their next steps, helping them to navigate, particularly around undergrad decisions.

“I hope to one day inspire others to pursue their own legacy at Branksome,” she says. “And if I were to have a daughter, I would love her to go there. For me, the experience was remarkable.” R

Incubating Imagination

Angela LAU’05 has experienced Branksome in both Canada and Asia. Now, she inspires kids’ creativity at her studio on Jeju Island

By Luisa Trisi

W“hen was the last time you felt the urge to play and let your mind run free?”

It’s the question at the heart of the innovative Pilco Studio (for “Play, Inspire, Learn”), founded by Angela LAU’05 in 2019. The children’s creativity incubator is located on South Korea’s volcanic island of Jeju, which boasts walking trails, lush forests and spectacular mountains—not to mention Branksome Hall Asia.

Angela’s immersive learning oasis is all about stimulating children’s creative juices. Steering clear of textbooks and formal lesson plans, Pilco’s inventive workshops are designed to free the imagination. Outdoor activities might include forest photography or ocean ecology, while indoor projects explore areas like podcast-making or galot, a traditional Korean dyeing technique.

“Children discover their own relationships with nature, which is the starting point for our creative projects,” she says. “For example, kids who are fascinated by insects might write whimsical stories on how bees dream.”

Alums & Karen | Branksome Hall Asia

ROY CRUZ

Born in Hong Kong, Angela began studying piano at age seven. A visit to Toronto in 2001 led to an admissions interview and acceptance at Branksome Hall, a place she remembers for the “warmth and friendliness of the atmosphere”—a far cry from the strict formality of her Britishstyle boarding school back home.

Branksome’s supportive Boarding environment was key to nurturing a sense of independence in the teenage newcomer. “You become very close to the teachers and Boarding supervisors and learn to invest in those relationships because there’s no family present. It’s a great environment for growing and learning. Branksome helped me develop conﬁdence during those pivotal adolescent years.”

Equally important was the mentorship of Principal Karen Jurjevich, who led weekly check-ins with students—cozy group sessions focused on building a sense of community, especially among those who were far from home.

It’s no surprise to hear that Angela’s friendship with her former principal is one that she cherishes to this day. “Karen has such a special place in my heart as a mentor. She has this amazing ability to make someone feel seen and heard and understood. She is an extraordinary, inspiring human being.”

Following high school, Angela continued her music studies at the University of Toronto and later at New York University, where her master’s degree focused on the intersection of music, learning and technology.

A chance encounter at a Branksome alum reunion in Hong Kong eventually led Angela to a job in 2012 as music specialist at Branksome Hall Asia, the new sister school launched that year on Jeju Island. “It was one of the best learning experiences of my career because I was part of the foundational faculty, and everyone quickly pulled together to problem-solve,” she says. Borrowing from beloved Branksome Hall Canada traditions, such as Plaid Tidings, helped kindle a sense of community at the newly minted school.

The biggest diﬀerence between the two schools? “Branksome Hall Canada, with its century-plus history, gave me a sense of belonging and a deep connection to its enduring traditions. I fondly remember the sound of bagpipes playing at graduation and other important ceremonies,” she says. “On the other hand, Branksome Hall Asia is the convergence of many cultures, from its international faculty to its student body in the setting of Jeju Island, with its unique history and localities.”

Cue the summer of 2017, which paved the way for a major personal turning point. Angela found herself volunteering at a refugee camp in Serres, Greece, where she ran music workshops for displaced Yazidis from northern Iraq. But her formal training felt irrelevant against the backdrop of the unfolding humanitarian crisis.

In fact, it was the raw emotional power of music that swept over Angela when a group of refugees sat in a circle and began singing beloved songs from their faraway home. “The Yazidis were singing in Arabic and Kurdish, and though I didn’t understand the words, I

A chance encounter at a Branksome alum

reunion in Hong Kong eventually led Angela to a job in 2012 as music specialist at Branksome Hall Asia, the new sister school launched that year on Jeju Island. “It was one of the best learning experiences of my career.”

was moved to tears—they sang directly from the heart. That experience really opened my eyes to the fact that music is participatory; it doesn’t always have to be high art. Music is such a simple human interaction— it’s part of our stories and memories.”

Invigorated by her epiphany, Angela taught at Branksome Hall Asia for one more year before deciding that it was time to focus on her own version of nurturing children’s creativity. “I asked myself, what does creative learning look like? Does it need to happen in a traditional classroom setting? And what is the role of nature in learning? That was the very beginning of Pilco.”

Today, Pilco is thriving. More than 200 children from Jeju, mainland South Korea, New York and Singapore enrolled last year in seasonal workshops, and there are plans to expand Pilco’s network of partners in other countries, including Japan.

“Our goal is to connect with creative educators and build partnerships around Asia in order to bring unique learning experiences to children and families,” says Angela. “Th is journey has taught me to trust my internal compass to help me ﬁ nd my path. It’s the experience of being curious, asking questions, being observant. It’s the process of making something.” R

Opposite: Angela at Pilco Studio, Jeju Island, South Korea. Below: Angela with the Junior Orchestra at Branksome Hall Asia.

Where Sport and Human Rights Meet

Alison BISCOE’09 works for a UN-backed agency in Geneva that involves two of her great passions

By Brian Bethune

Alums & Karen | Athletics & Wellness

Alison BISCOE’09 arrived at Branksome Hall in 2001, a month shy of her 10th birthday, drawn by her family’s early interest in the International Baccalaureate curriculum Principal Karen Jurjevich was preparing to launch. Alison soon developed an IB-influenced interest in different places and different cultures, she says, almost as quickly as she embraced Branksome’s numerous sports opportunities.

“I can tick those oﬀ,” says Alison, who now lives in Switzerland, where she’s head of program development and partnerships at the Geneva-based Centre for Sport and Human Rights. “Basketball, volleyball, baseball, whatever—I signed on for the whole gamut,” she says, “but I was most involved in rowing.” Alison’s twin interests were what she and Karen would chat about when they encountered one another at school events. “The IB, of course, but she was always very big on sports, too,” Alison continues. “Her Athletics and Wellness Centre was still a project when I graduated—my parents bought one of the fundraising bricks—but I would have lived in it during my time.”

Balancing her love of sports and her academic interests became a central part of Alison’s focus as she moved through higher grades. “When I got to Grade 9, ﬁgure skating, which I did outside of Branksome, was my main sport,” she says. “In Grade 10, I joined one of Canada’s junior national synchronized skating teams, but that was so intensive that I had to cut down on rowing and also consider the demands of the two main IB years. So, I pulled back on the skating front, which let me row in Grades 11 and 12.”

And concentrate on the world at large. “Th rough Branksome I did all the model UNs, including the main one, The Hague International Model United Nations [THIMUN] in the Netherlands, in Grades 11 and 12,” Alison says. “I also took part in one of Branksome’s exchange programs in Grade 10—a couple of months at the Diocesan School for Girls in Makhanda, South Africa—but THIMUN was what really introduced me to the whole international system, which I then went on to study at university. All that came out of the programs I was involved in at Branksome.”

After graduation, armed with her IB and a certain let’snot-waste-time attitude, Alison headed off to the University of Nottingham in the U.K. because of its highly regarded international relations program and the way it compressed a BA and a master’s degree into four years of study. There, a pre-graduation internship that focused on microﬁ nancing sparked her interest in business and human rights in the developing world. After leaving Nottingham with a MSci in international relations and global issues, Alison worked

“We

take international human rights principles and apply them to sports issues,” Alison says, whether the issue is trans athletes, sexual abuse or migrant workers’ rights.

at a London-based investment network, Principles for Responsible Investment, for three years, before moving to the Institute for Human Rights and Business (IHRB).

“They’re a think tank that applies international human rights principles to how businesses operate,” Alison says. “They do it by looking at sectors or issues no one else is considering, and that’s how sports came into it. A happy coincidence for me, when two worlds I never thought would come together in this way actually did.”

Backed by two of the largest UN bodies—the Oﬃce of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the International Labour Organization—the idea quickly gained traction at the institute. “When we started, it was just me and two colleagues wondering if anyone would take us seriously,” says Alison. “Now we work with major sports federations, UN agencies, governments and the private sector.”

In 2018, the IHRB spun out the new Centre for Sport and Human Rights and moved it to Geneva, a city Alison and her boyfriend love. The centre’s founding patron is Mary Robinson, Ireland’s ﬁrst woman president and former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Alison is deeply involved in some of the most pressing needs at the intersection of sports and human rights. She has worked on projects that range from supporting the integration of human rights in the governance of international sports federations to engaging UN agencies on sports questions. A major part of her work has been convening international stakeholders to focus on challenges at events from Tokyo to Qatar to the upcoming Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris. In April this year, the Canadian Olympic Committee became the ﬁ rst national Olympic committee to join the centre as an Engaged Organization.

“We take international human rights principles and apply them to sports issues,” Alison says, whether the issue is trans athletes, sexual abuse or migrant workers’ rights. “It still feels like a start-up— it’s my baby,” she says. “It’s been seven years, building momentum, but I can feel things starting to change, and I deﬁ nitely want to see that through however long it takes.”

That determination, as much as her love of sports and international aﬀ airs, has roots that grew out of Branksome Hall, Alison believes. “Branksome fostered and cultivated a lot of who I am,” she says. “I think of its international-mindedness and its emphasis on female empowerment. I remember the speakers who came to give talks, alums or others, always women doing really cool and innovative stuﬀ.” And now Alison herself is one of those women. R

AlumLife

New Chapters

Alums reconnected in Seoul, London, New York City and Hong Kong

Seoul

Branksome Hall

Canada and Branksome Hall Asia alums gathered at the Grand Hyatt Seoul, raising a toast to Principal Jurjevich and reliving memories from their time at each school.

London, U.K.

With the school’s largest global alum base, London did not disappoint! Excitement and energy were felt at the Royal Automobile Club (along with a few renditions of “Keep Well the Road”) as toasts to Principal Jurjevich were shared by Vivian HO’04, Claire ANGUS’83 and Karrie Weinstock. Stay tuned for details on a new London Alum Chapter and update your contact details at alum@branksome.on.ca.

New York City

Big Apple alums got together at the New York Athletic Club for an evening of laughter and memories, featuring a vocal performance by Elizaveta KOZLOVA’15, heartfelt toasts to Principal Jurjevich by Louise PRICE Doyle’98, Bridget HORNE Colman’87, Perry GULOIEN’19 and Karrie Weinstock. Branksome is excited to be starting a NYC Alum Chapter this summer. Update your contact information at alum@branksome.on.ca to learn more.

Hong Kong

Branksome returned to Hong Kong after ﬁve years to bring the BH Canada and BH Asia communities together again. Alums reconnected at the Grand Hyatt Hong Kong and oﬀered their well wishes to Principal Jurjevich on her retirement.

Full coverage of Reunion 2024, celebrating classes ending in 4 and 9 and honouring the Classes of 1974 and 1999 will come in the next full issue of The READ, in Winter 2025.

ClassNotes

Some updates have been edited from emails, letters and social media posts.

A Legacy of Friendship

Remembering Nancy ADAMS MacDonnell and the Class of 1962

The engraved bricks on the long and winding Alum Pathway are almost as solid as the love Sally ADAMS Medland’66, Jane BARBER’62, Pixie BIGELOW Currie’62 and the Class of 1962 have for the late Nancy ADAMS MacDonnell’62 and their classmates. At the 2024 Reunion Decades Lunch, a brandnew bench was unveiled, bringing to this space renewed beauty and a legacy for a woman and graduating class who truly loved Branksome Hall.

Although she graduated in 1962, Nancy never truly left the school. Her deepest passion was for Branksome Hall—she had been a Prefect, parent, employee and Board member, using each unique position to inspire generations of women and create a better Branksome.

“Nancy ADAMS MacDonnell was our friend and our leader. She was always fuelled with high-octane, positive energy and a passion for Branksome,” says Pixie. “She was always ready to listen and oﬀer help. She really cared.” As Head Girl from 1961–62, Nancy is credited by her classmates with uniting them in friendship and spirit.

It was no surprise that the Class of 1962 asked Principal Karen L. Jurjevich to be the ﬁrst to sit on the new bench with Nancy’s sister, Sally ADAMS Medland’66. Karen, who assumed the role of Principal in 1998, worked closely with Nancy until her retirement in 2005. Much like Nancy, Karen is a natural leader who has dedicated so much of her life to Branksome Hall to make it the inclusive, world-renowned independent school that it is today. Nancy’s friends adore Karen for sharing Nancy’s beliefs and values, continuing to carry them on beyond her passing.

Sitting on the Alum Pathway, surrounded by chirping birds and sprawling greenery, the Class of 1962 hopes that this bench will serve as fertile ground for “lifelong, loving and supportive friendships for years to come.” May this beautiful memorial for Nancy and her late classmates serve as a reminder to all who visit it to, as Nancy would always say, “Keep well the road.”

1960

Sheila MORRISON Collins, like many alums, gained an appreciation of music during her time at Branksome, so much so that she has subscribed to the Toronto Symphony Orchestra since graduating in 1960. While at Branksome, Sheila always wanted to be an angel in the Carol Service, held at St. Andrew’s—but it was not to be. (Being asked, in Grade 13, to read the Scripture squashed any last hopes!) Now, each Christmas season for Sheila includes the TSO concert at Roy Thomson Hall and a visit to St. Andrew’s, which

continues to hold a wonderful Christmas carol service.

1980

Cynthia PETERS and her husband have turned an 1827 stone manor in Eastern Ontario into a culinary destination with accommodations. Cynthia was in her 40s when she decided to leave corporate life to go to chef school, subsequently opening a cooking school in Prince Edward County. That school is now housed in Maison Maitland, the manor on the banks of the St. Lawrence River. “Changing direction can

1966

Class of ’66 Christmas luncheon, Oliver & Bocaccini, 2023

Fondly remembering our classmate and dear friend Janet CHAMBERLAIN Williamson (July 1, 1948–August 21, 2023) are Barbara BICKLE, Felicia HOUTMAN, Janet’s daughter, Julia Nuttall, Sally ADAMS Medland, Heather-Anne STUART Warcop and Francis FRASER Laws.

Janet’s vivacious effervescence and fun-fi lled spirit will remain in our hearts forever. Her personal motto, “Onward and upward” exemplified her outlook on life. At our memorable gathering, unique Christmas ornaments were gifted to remember an extraordinary friend.

happen at any stage in life,” she says. “While many others are retiring, I’m growing!”

1989

In April 2024, Catherine MICKELSON Bedford was appointed senior partner at Harbottle & Lewis in the U.K. A highly respected lawyer, Catherine joined the ﬁ rm in 2017 to lead its family law team. She is known for her work advising on high-proﬁ le, high-value and complex cases in the family courts, those often facing public and media scrutiny.

1991

Kate HILTON’s latest book, co-written with Elizabeth Renzetti and published in March 2024, is a smart and funny whodunit that’s already become a bestseller.

Bury the Lead follows Cat Conway, a very relatable heroine, as she attempts to solve a murder at a small-town theatre, with its inevitable roster of quirky characters.

1998

Taylor HEINTZMAN Green relocated her family to Collingwood, Ontario, in 2022 to foster their love of the outdoors. After a year of settling into the community, acting as fundraising chair for one of the schools and fundraising through

2008

Friends and Babies

Left to right, top to bottom: Lindsay STRANSMAN and daughter Daphne, Ciara PENDRITH and son Theo, Jillian GARNER and daughter Sadie, Francie MACLELLAN and son Alec, Melanie ARGIROS Breder and daughter Scarlett.

multiple avenues, Taylor is thrilled to embark on a new adventure. Before starting a family, Taylor had a successful sales career at Medcan, a private preventative healthcare clinic. She is pleased to return to Medcan after an 11-year hiatus to help launch and run its clinic in Collingwood, its ﬁ rst clinic outside the GTA.

1999

Former Bay Street lawyer and Arteria AI founder and CEO Shelby AUSTIN Cooper was awarded the 2023 Bold Future Award in recognition

of her innovative business contributions. Arteria AI is a ﬁntech company that helps banks overcome certain data challenges. And it doesn’t stop there. Maclean’s magazine included her on its 2024 Power List of the 100 Canadians shaping the country.

In September, Caillianne BECKERMAN and Samantha BECKERMAN attended the 2023 Women Empowerment Awards Gala at Toronto’s Park Hyatt to celebrate the achievements of 10 Canadian women entrepreneurs. A highlight of the evening was a performance by soul and R&B singer Jully Black.

2010

Sarah ROSENBLAT, as part of WiRE (Women in Renewable Energy), joined Grade 9 Interdisciplinary Unit (IDU) students in February with teacher Edith Louie. Sarah currently works with a team of renewable energy professionals at SWEB Development on community-scale renewable energy projects, including solar and wind projects in the Atlantic region of North America. She spoke with the Grade 9 students about how she got into this ﬁeld of work, starting with her Geography HL course at Branksome, and her career pathway, ahead of the

students departing for their trip to Jeju, South Korea. Sarah also shared what she has learned from her windpower projects, as well as tips that would help them on their IDU project.

2023

In her fi rst year at Western University, in London, Ontario, Nia SHAH is keeping busy as the Ivey Business Review Podcast host, director of community on W5 and director of external affairs for the Pre-Business Students’ Network (PBSN). She is also the vice-president of Student Affairs for PBSN.

Sarah ROSENBLAT (second from right) at Branksome Hall with Heather Friesen, Edith Louie and Grade 9 students.

Nia SHAH (far right) with her teammates after their 2024 Business Foundations Case Competition win.

Passages

Retirements & Departures

Celebrating our valued employees who left the school this year

Lily Gambin (2001–2024)

Health and Physical Education Teacher

Lily retired in June after 23 years at Branksome. A dedicated educator, her commitment to the Athletics program through years of coaching, particularly with the cross-country, badminton, volleyball and track teams, fostered athletic excellence and instilled values of teamwork and perseverance in countless student-athletes.

Lily inspired students to lead active lifestyles beyond the classroom through innovative practices, and her long-standing involvement in the CAIS Student Leadership program made a diﬀerence in the lives of students at Branksome and beyond.

Carlene Rotherham, Senior & Middle School Health & Physical Education teacher, said: “The HPE department will not be the same without her. I am just so thankful that our paths crossed, because I found a forever friend!”

“There have been signiﬁcant changes over my years at Branksome,” said Lily, “but the constant has been the calibre of people I have worked with. A huge thank-you to all of the students who have crossed my path in every Physical Education class or on a sports team. I feel immensely fortunate and grateful for my experiences at Branksome Hall.”

Jennifer Stumborg (1999–2024) School Counsellor

Jennifer retired in June after 25 years at Branksome. A warm-hearted and committed Counsellor, Jennifer was always available to listen and support students, assisting them with their university applications and life decisions.

Jennifer’s enjoyment of young people was also reflected in her co-curricular commitments. She loved coaching Middle School softball and was one of the first faculty members to accompany a group of Grade 11 students to teach at the Get Ahead Project (GAP) School in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Jennifer made a difference in the lives of her students, their families, her colleagues and the Branksome community.

Carolyn Mak, Director of Well-Being and School Counselling, observed: “What has struck me about Jennifer is her ability to make any student feel comfortable and empowered in their own journey to wellbeing and academic success. Her deep knowledge of Branksome, her mentorship, leadership and generosity of time and energy will be so missed on our team.”

Allison Campbell-Rogers (1999–2024) Over the years: Residence Don, Geography Teacher, Design Teacher, Service Learning Lead, Instructional Leader (Design)

Allison left Branksome Hall in June to take on the role of Innovation Program Educator at Havergal College. Committed to making a diﬀerence, Allison spearheaded, as Service Learning Curriculum Integration Lead, new partnerships with Canada World Youth/ACI Costa Rica, the Afghan Women’s Organization, Heydon Park Secondary School and SOLA (School of Leadership Afghanistan). She was also a member of Branksome’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Working Group, Ontario’s Cohort 21 Administrative Team and the Global Ideas Team at the Munk School of Global Aﬀairs & Public Policy.

Graham Porter, Instructional Leader, Individuals and Societies, remarked: “Allison’s positive encouragement and generosity of spirit have been inspirational. We will miss her terribly.”

“Th is extraordinary community has been my anchor and inspiration,” said Allison. “Here, alongside my incredible colleagues and students, I have learned so much. I am ﬁ lled with gratitude for these 25 years and the friendships forged within these walls.”

Carolyn Mak (2015–2024)

Over the years: Junior School Social Worker, Lead Social Worker, Director, Well-Being and School Counselling

As Director, Well-Being and School Counselling, Carolyn led the school’s team of school counsellors and social workers. With a steadfast commitment to well-being, Carolyn has counselled and supported students across all ages and has been integral to the development and implementation of socialemotional learning and skill building in the classroom. Carolyn is also passionate about diversity, equity and inclusion, collaborating with colleagues to start a BIPOC aﬃ nity group for employees. She was awarded the 2024 H. William Christ Educator Prize by the International Coalition of Girls’ Schools (ICGS) and was recognized by the Ontario Association of Social Workers (OASW) with the 2023 School Social Work Achievement Award.

Reﬂecting on her time at Branksome, Carolyn said: “It has been an honour to work with Branksome’s students and families, and to collaborate closely with so many wonderful educator, staﬀ and administration colleagues. I have learned so much and hope to have given as much along the journey.”

Jill Strimas (2007–2024)

Over the years: Instructional Leader, English, ESL and International Languages, Director of Boarding and Coordinator, Faculty Growth (Senior & Middle School)

Jill left at the end of June to take on the role of Director, Academics, at Upper Canada College. During her time at Branksome, she provided strong leadership in the Senior & Middle School and to the Boarding community, contributing in a number of key areas to enrich the student experience, support and champion her colleagues, and enhance and innovate student programming.

A longtime faculty member in the English, ESL and Mandarin Department, as well as the TOK and Film Departments, Jill helped students start the Elm Editor, shepherded the creation of a plaque honouring Portia White and served on the Transgender Working Group. A compassionate, mission- and values-driven leader, Jill was honoured in 2022 with the Prime Minister’s Award for Teaching Excellence.

Owen Williams, Instructional Leader, English, ESL and Mandarin, said, “Jill is a tremendous colleague, mentor and friend. There is no leader at Branksome who I have learned more from than Jill.”

Marriages

1997

Rei TASAKA to Rune Sollihaug on October 9, 2023, in Tokyo, Japan, in a traditional wedding ceremony at Nogi Shrine. An evening dinner reception in the Ginza district followed. They were joined by family and friends from Japan, Norway, the United States, Hong Kong and Australia.

Clockwise from top left: Nikki REINDORF, Liz Lambert, Veronica LIU, Camila Morris, Alison SCHWARTZ and Rei TASAKA.

2009

Alexandra DIMMER was showered with love by family and her best Branksome friends at her wedding to Antonino Altadonna on September 2, 2023, at the Lake House on Canandaigua, in New York’s Finger Lakes region.

2016

Rad HARSHVARDHAN is now Rad Fulgieri! She married Joseph Fulgieri on a beach in Costa Rica this past February. Rad met Joseph during undergrad at Cornell University. Standing by her side as bridesmaids were BH alums Priyanka DOGRA, Katya POLLOCK’17 and Yasmine ELKHOULY as well as Naomi Haber.

Deaths

Births

2009

Brittany SMITH Gallant , a son, Hugh Frederick Gordon Gallant, on March 19, 2023.

Notices and In Memoriams have been edited from emails and published obituaries.

1937

Elizabeth CHAMBERS Pearce, on October 7, 2023, at age 104. She was mother to Susan PEARCE’67 and Janet PEARCE Gamble’70. Early on, Betty was involved in the Women’s Association of the Mining Industry of Canada and a director of Northern Miner Press, her husband’s publishing company. She was a successful curling skip and a member of Toronto Hunt. When not volunteering, including for Toronto Rehab, Betty enjoyed wintering in Florida and cottaging at Cedar Point, Ontario.

1943

Eleanor COATSWORTH Kerfoot , on April 1, 2024, in Toronto, at age 99. Eleanor was mother to Constance (Connie) KERFOOT Dickson’67 and Mary Eleanor KERFOOT’72 She taught for the Muskoka District Board of Education and was a dedicated volunteer, including for Meals on Wheels and as board chair for South Muskoka Memorial Hospital.

1944

Patricia ROGERS McGeer, on August 21, 2023, in West Vancouver, at age 96. Her love of literature was evident while she was at Branksome: she was the editor of Slogan ’44, in which she published a play. She married in 1949, and raised four children with her husband. In later years, she spent time at Peter Pan, her beloved summer home on Bowen Island, B.C.

1945

Shirley SMITH Weis, on September 24, 2023, at Collingwood Hospital in Ontario, at age 95. Despite Slogan’s 1945 prediction that she would be a star singer at “Ruth’s night club,” she instead decided to raise three children with her husband in King City, Ontario. Widowed in 1992, Shirley (continued on page 26)

Left to right: Brittany SMITH Gallant, Isabelle SICILIANO, Alexandra DIMMER, Alisse HANNAFORD, Sarah REDINGTON and Lauren HALBERT.

Passages

Deaths

(continued from page 25)

kept busy playing bridge, travelling, hooking carpets, painting, gardening and visiting with family.

1947

Elspeth KER Helmcken , on November 6, 2023, in Vancouver. Elspeth attended Branksome for her final school year, and was an Opheleo Society Committee member and library representative. The 1947 Slogan noted about her: “Another of our blondes. She shines in typing.” After working for a Victoria, B.C., law firm, she settled in Vancouver, spending much of her time volunteering. Elspeth enjoyed golfing and skiing and, after moving to Galiano Island, boating, gardening and travelling.

1948

Sheila SMITH Davenport , on November 6, 2023, in London, Ontario, at age 93. Sheila was a volunteer and board member for various not-for-profi ts. From 1994 to 1997, she served as a London City Councillor. Europe and Australia were common travel destinations, as was her Bruce Peninsula cottage.

1949

Hester STRONACH Cowan, on August 2, 2023, in North Carolina. Captain of BH’s first basketball team, “Hes” went on to study physical therapy at the University of Toronto before moving to the United States to marry. She was an animal lover, raising golden retrievers for competition, and an enthusiastic gardener known for her roses.

1951

Lorna KEENE Firstbrook , on March 19, 2024, in Collingwood, Ontario. A BH Beta Kappa Society Committee member, she was sister to the late Joan KEENE Quattlander’45 and Kathryn KEENE McAllister’48, and mother to Kathryn FIRSTBROOK Trusler’79. Lorna was a longtime Oakville Historical Society volunteer and also taught swimming to children with disabilities.

1955

Patricia LOVICK Cox , on December 3, 2023, in White Rock, B.C. After spending time in the United States, Canada and Europe, she settled in West Vancouver, where she ran a photography and photo mural business with her husband, completing many memorable commissions. In retirement, she became an avid walker. She will be remembered as being fiercely independent.

Elizabeth G. WILSON, on February 27, 2024, in Guelph, Ontario. Stepsister to Flavia ELLIOTT Redelmeier’43 Described by friends as creative, artistic, smart and opinionated, Elizabeth attended the University of Toronto after graduating from Branksome, later settling in Guelph.

1956

Janet GARDEN, on December 20, 2023. Cousin to Carol NORSWORTHY Power’69 and the late Marina STURDZA’61, Prefect “Mongy” was editor of the 1956 Slogan and winner of the Ruth Caven Memorial Medal for Scholarship and English Prize, Form IV.

She also became the 2006 Reunion Representative. A devoted schoolteacher and co-author of two biology textbooks, Janet was a figure skater and judge, working with the Olympics and World Championships.

1957

Isobel HARPER Fedosoff, on August 31, 2023, in Toronto, Ontario, at age 84. Branksome’s “queen of the blades” went on to travel throughout Canada and the United States with the Ice Follies before eventually landing at Port Credit Skating Club, where she coached for some 20 years when not wintering in Florida. She also loved spending time with her grandchildren and cats.

Donna BOOKER

Hoffman , on February 11, 2024, in Fort Macleod, Alberta. Sister to the late Mary Belle BOOKER Lautsch’49, Donna was a committed figure skater, skating well into her 60s. A lifelong adventurer, she camped, skied and travelled throughout the United States. She was predeceased by her husband and one son, and is survived by two sons.

Janet MacINTOSH Kingsmill, on August 12, 2023, at age 86. Raising her children in Willowdale, Ontario, Janet enjoyed spending summers up north. She was a passionate supporter of the Terry Fox Foundation and its annual fall run.

1959

Nadine GRIFFITHS Bell, on January 21, 2024, in Toronto, Ontario, at age 83. She was a Branksome Prefect and secretarytreasurer of the Opheleo Society. After raising a family, she earned a degree in gerontology, and also worked at several dental practices. Her retirement was spent at Gull Lake, Ontario—when not attending Blue Jays games in Toronto!

1965

Judy ORR Goldbold , on October 10, 2023, at age 77. Mother of Leigh GODBOLD’96 and sister to Katherine ORR’68, Judy was a dedicated pediatric RN with a knack for putting new mothers at ease. She considered Eagle Lake, Ontario, as her summer home, spending many happy times there with family.

1966

Janet CHAMBERLAIN Williamson, on October 10, 2023, in Toronto, after a short battle with cancer. An Art and Photography Committee member at Branksome, Janet went on to study at the University of Toronto before marrying and raising a family of six. An avid gardener, she won an award from the City in the early 2000s for having one of the “best gardens in Toronto.”

2002

Lara DI GREGORIO, on December 22, 2023. Ever positive and energetic, Lara was known for being the life of the party, even in her Branksome days. She

attended the University of Western Ontario before building a career in real estate investing. She was also an active advocate for mental health.

Former Staff

Elizabeth Chalmers, on December 18, 2023, in Toronto. In an era when women were supposed to pursue “sensible” careers, Elizabeth Chalmers started out in England, sensibly enough, as a nurse. Emigrating to Canada, Elizabeth pursued the true vocation of her heart by earning an English degree. As an English teacher at Branksome, she imparted and inspired with her passion for all things literary. Any former student might well quote the Bard: that though gone, Elizabeth is “in my memory lock’d.”

Marion Samworth , on October 15, 2023, in Toronto. Having emigrated from the U.K. in 1948 as a qualified physiotherapist, Marion joined Branksome Hall as a Physical Education specialist in the early 1950s. In 1991, she was awarded the Order of Canada, acknowledging her many years of volunteer service at numerous organizations ranging from the Oakville Red Cross, to the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Canada, to the Royal Ontario Museum.

In Memoriam

Focused on Higher Goals

David Mindorff

March 23, 1965–October 19, 2023

DP Coordinator and biology teacher, 2003–09

By Melanie CHANDLER Jackson’74

It’s not enough to cram your brain with knowledge just to score high marks.

International Baccalaureate (IB) educator David Mindorﬀ encouraged Branksome students to use knowledge to expand their critical thinking. Then, equipped to ask critical questions, they could work toward what David believed in: creating a better world.

When David joined Branksome in 2003, the school had already qualiﬁed for the IB’s Diploma Programme (DP). “It was David, as DP Coordinator, who helped us really understand the IB mission,” says Heather Friesen, Head, Academics and Professional Learning. “Many schools approach IB as a journey of examinations, but David engaged us in connecting with its higher goals: what it could mean to be an IB World School, grounded in developing internationally minded young people.”

And in turn, relates David’s wife, Michèle Mindorﬀ, “he received continuous support from the Branksome Hall team and from the signiﬁcant professional development the school provided.”

Michèle says David took the practice of involving, engaging and enlightening staﬀ “when he went on to head his next two schools. David ﬁrmly believed that we could always learn.”

Born in Stratford, Ontario, David grew up in Fort Erie. He earned his bachelor of arts and sciences degree at McMaster University, a B.Ed. at the University of Ottawa and a master’s in science at the University of London.

As Michèle notes, David himself was a true lifelong learner. He later obtained an educational doctorate in learning and teaching, with a dissertation on data mining in biology, from the University at Buﬀalo. “I think

it is signiﬁcant,” says Michèle, “that he was a published author and had most recently completed his eighth IB textbook in biology shortly before completing his doctorate.”

David’s most recent position was as Principal at Lyford Cay International School in the Bahamas. At Lyford Cay, says Michèle, “one of David’s students shared that he would ‘wander and wonder with you,’ which I thought was so powerful. David would also say to his leadership team that they must do research until all possibilities had been excluded, in order to have a full mind to make a sound decision.”

Sara AKBARI’09 remembers dreading science, “until I joined Mr. Mindorﬀ ’s biology class. A soft-spoken yet wildly intelligent teacher, he didn’t see my struggles and stubborn mindset as something to solve. He saw a frustrated student with the potential to do well if given a little more support and encouragement.

“Mr. Mindorﬀ cracked the code to help me understand, and dare I say enjoy, the subject

he held so dear. It was through listening to the joy in his voice when talking about a simple scientiﬁc occurrence that I learned not only about biology, but also what it means to be an educator.” Inspired by David, Sara now teaches at the Cambridge Friends School in Massachusetts.

For Hubie YU’08, “Mr. Mindorﬀ emphasized the importance of studying both the arts and sciences, as it would make me a more well-rounded individual and thinker. Thanks to him, my passion for both arts and science continued in law school.”

Hubie went on to achieve her “dream job” of commercial counsel at Toronto-based 1Password, which helps companies protect employee passwords and other sensitive business information. She also gives back to Branksome as volunteer Treasurer/Member at Large of the Alumnae Association.

David had another much-appreciated attribute: “He let us have fun!” says Alex MORTON’09, an RBC Capital Markets change manager specializing in technologyproduct rollout. Alex also volunteers as a mentor for young leaders, and as President of Branksome’s Alumnae Association.

The fun went both ways, she says. As Alex’s Grades 7–8 group Advisor, David wrote in her yearbook that they always kept him laughing.

“I was then fortunate enough to have Mr. Mindorﬀ as my teacher in my ﬁnal years at Branksome,” Alex says. “He believed in each of us. Whatever work you were doing, or struggling with, he’d be right there with you.”

David’s parents were signiﬁcant inﬂuences, says Michèle. “They taught their 11 children through modelling and by service to others. David, in turn, served others all the time, as a leader, teacher and someone who shared his vision, care and listening ear.”

Michèle adds that, with his combined humility and dedication, “David never missed an opportunity to help if he could. He always said that any interaction we have in a meeting or one on one should leave the situation better. David’s own presence made any situation better.”

Along with Michèle, David is survived by their sons Nicholas, Michael, Benjamin and Jonathan. R

A Day in the Life

Uncovering China

Reporting on Asia’s superpower for the New York Times has become ever more challenging for me and my colleagues

By Alexandra STEVENSON’03

As a foreign correspondent for the New York Times, my job is to go places, meet people and ask them questions. Getting to know people and to learn about their lives and their work is the greatest privilege of the job. It can also be challenging; people don’t always want to talk, and it is often the details they don’t share that are the most interesting and newsworthy.

Occasionally, doing the job can feel like an impossible task. I am currently the Shanghai bureau chief responsible for covering China, but until March of this year, I had not been able to travel there for nearly ﬁve years. It’s not because I don’t want to. And it’s not for lack of trying—I have applied for a visa to get me back at every opportunity.

Four years ago, Chinese oﬃcials kicked out most of my colleagues and my peers working for American publications. Since the expulsions, the New York Times has received only one visa for a position in Beijing.

I do my job as best I can, interviewing people who have everything to lose and little to gain by talking to a foreign reporter. It’s diﬃcult and often it’s frustrating. Communicating with people online can be tricky because the authorities monitor social media platforms.

For now, I work from Hong Kong, where I have lived for six years. But reporting in Hong Kong has also become much tougher since the summer of 2019.

That was when deep unrest brought more than a

million people into the streets, worried that their way of life would change as Beijing began to tighten its grip on Hong Kong, a former British colony that had mostly operated with semi-autonomy after the British handed it back to China in 1997.

It had been an arrangement that set Hong Kong apart from the rest of China, aﬀording its residents freedom of speech and assembly, and a boisterous and free press. It also allowed journalists like me to report freely.

Then a sweeping national security law enacted by Beijing in 2020 changed everything. It silenced dissenting voices. Many prominent protesters are now in jail or awaiting trial. The law has created an environment, just like in mainland China, where fewer and fewer people see any reason to speak on the record.

And yet, in spite of all the challenges, China remains one of the most important stories of this century. So when I ﬁ nally got a short, two-week reporting visa in March, I hopped on a plane to Beijing, and then a train to Shanghai, where I spent every waking hour reporting.

Before I left, I wasn’t sure what to expect. It had been so long and much had changed since my last reporting trip in 2019. I shouldn’t have been worried. When I got there, I found that people were just as willing as before to share their stories. R

Alexandra speaking with a source.