Branksome Hall is building an Alumnae Walkway beside our new Athletics and Wellness Centre, and we want you to be part of it!
For $250 your name will be engraved on a paver on the walkway. You will also receive a charitable tax receipt. Funds raised will benefit the Branksome Becomes Campaign, in support of the new Athletics and Wellness Centre.
Secure your place on the walkway today www.branksome.on.ca/walkway
Branksome Hall Vision
To be the pre-eminent educational community of globally minded learners and leaders.
Branksome Hall Mission
Each day, we challenge and inspire girls to love learning and to shape a better world.
10 A Dream Come True
The new Athletics and Wellness Centre will transform our campus
16 Game On!
Squashed! Sport and school have combined to give the Gemmell sisters a great bounce in life
20 My Twin Sister Can do Anything Tara LAING ’88 is a successful mental health professional. But that’s just the start
22 The Outdoor Voice Erin BERESFORD ’96 champions healthy lifestyles as she expands a small-town YMCA
24 Adventurous Executive
A love of sport and internationalism make Lindsay GLASSCO’83
The READ Committee
Tanya Pimenoff, Editor
Julia Drake
Karen L. Jurjevich
Zahra Valani
Contributors
Berton Woodward, Editorial Advisor
Michael T. Bello
Marissa BRONFMAN’04
Glenn Brown
Jamie Day FLECK’00
Jeff Kirk
Brigitte KOPAS’88
Tena LAING’88
Celia HORE Milne’78
Lesley ADAMSON Skelly’79
Dominique SOLECKI’01
Caley Taylor
Alumnae, Employees and Friends of Branksome Hall
Design & Production
Atlanta Visual Communications Inc.
Branksome Hall
10 Elm Avenue
Toronto, ON M4W 1N4
Tel: 416-920-9741
www.branksome.on.ca
Email: tpimenoff@branksome.on.ca
Volume 53, Number 1
Canadian Publications Mail Agreement #40010445
The polybag containing this publication is made from recycled materials and is 100% biodegradable.
Correction Notice
Winter 2012–13 issue of The READ
P. 35, Rachel PENNY’07 was incorrectly identified as Head Girl in a class photo. The Head Girl was Monique MILLER’07.
P. 41, under 1997, Theo James is the correct name of Betsy HILTON’s son. The editorial committee apologizes for these errors.
by Karen L. Jurjevich
MANY OF US are familiar with author Sheryl Sandberg’s acclaimed book, Lean In, which examines why women’s progress in achieving leadership roles has stalled and offers compelling solutions that empower women to achieve their full potential.
Am I leaning in too much?
This is the question I asked myself after reading an interview with Katrina Alcorn, author of Maxed Out: American Moms on the Brink, in which she challenges us to look at how we treat each other in the workplace.
“If we want to see women rise in their careers and be leaders, we have got to challenge this idea that to be a leader you must work long hours and you can never take any extended time off. Let’s let go of this idea that the people working these insane schedules are heroes, because often they are not.”
Insane schedules? Not unfamiliar to many of us. Most recently, we heard this notion described in the feedback we gleaned
from the survey research conducted as part of our strategy development work at Branksome Hall. Many people offered comments about workload and well-being.
As I absorbed this feedback, I was struck by an additional comment that was consistently reflected in the survey results: maintaining academic excellence is non-negotiable.
One might call this a Catch 22.
In other words, maybe it’s good to lean in…but not too much. As I review the results of the surveys taken last spring, I see two emerging themes:
• Branksome Hall should not change or alter its challenging academic program.
• Branksome Hall should strive to create an environment that allows for a balanced life for students and employees.
I find this feedback so interesting, as it signals what happens in high-achieving communities where participants both demand and desire to participate in every opportunity, even as they recognize that their life has become that very same schedule that Alcorn refers to as “insane.”
This topic, and the dialogue that accompanies it, is not new for us at Branksome Hall. In fact, I have been contemplating this challenge both personally, and as Principal, for many years. We want to live a balanced life while, at the same time, we hold high expectations for ourselves and our children to “lean in” and take advantage of every opportunity that comes our way. Many experts are writing and speaking on this topic and this fall, many of us at Branksome had the opportunity to gain from their insights, experience and knowledge.
“We want to live a balanced life while, at the same time, we hold high expectations for ourselves and our children to ‘lean in’ and take advantage of every opportunity that comes our way.”Principal Karen Jurjevich enjoys a light-hearted moment at the Athletics and Wellness Centre Topping Off Ceremony on September 19.
Dr. Marla Shapiro, author, physician, and health and medical expert for CTV, is a recognized name nationally and internationally. When “Dr. Marla” speaks on women’s health, people listen. On November 13, 2013, she opened her speaking engagement at Branksome Hall with one word: “Stress.”
“If you feel it, you own it. If you are overtaxed, overburdened and/or under pressure, you are stressed,” she said. One solution that Dr. Marla offered is straightforward, and she illustrated it by asking a member of the audience to juggle three pieces of fruit, each representing three highly held values: work, family, self. Once the juggling began, it didn’t take long before two pieces of fruit fell to the ground. “Good,” said Dr. Marla. “You just put down, temporarily, two of your highly held values, so you could concentrate on only one. You know you will return to the other two and give them the love, attention and energy that you always do—you just can’t give 100 percent to all three values right now. And, that is OK.” In other words, you have permission to give yourself a break and put down a ball or two!
It is my steadfast belief that the question of balance is deeply personal. Many things can contribute to a balanced and happy life, including healthy, loving relationships; gratifying work that stimulates and motivates; and an environment that is healthy and inclusive. It is only through a deep understanding of self and a commitment to self-management of our personal lives that we are able to navigate the multiple demands on us in a manner that not only feels balanced but also fills us with optimism and strength.
It is time to count the balls in the air, put down one or two, and take joy in the outcome, knowing that you have made a personal choice and that you will manage that choice in a way that works best for you.
And, don’t forget to lean in…but not too far! I
Our weekly workout day is a testament to Branksome’s commitment to health
by Tanya PimenoffLast fall, when Principal Karen Jurjevich announced at a faculty and staff meeting that Branksome Hall was going “fit” on Fridays, the news was met with applause and happy nods all round. “Wear workout clothes and take time during lunch to do something physically active,” was the mandate. For someone who is not alone in longing to wear running shoes every day of the week, I did not doubt this campus-wide initiative was going to be a hit.
One’s health, both physical and mental, is a wonderful thing. It’s really the only thing that matters. But, as we all know, physical health can take a turn for the worse and things can go very wrong from time to time.
My particular ordeal happened early one morning last fall. Experiencing severe abdominal pain that had rapidly progressed from mild discomfort the night before, I managed to shuffle through the emergency doors at Sunnybrook Hospital, incredibly, on my own two feet. Other than the admitting person, there wasn’t a soul to be seen, so I was attended to immediately.
I had already self-diagnosed what the problem was, but that meant nothing to the good medics who took on my case. After a battery of tests and ultrasounds (the latter quite painful by this time), and all other due diligence, surgery for appendicitis was booked for that afternoon. I was lucky, the skilled surgeon said, that things were quiet in “emerg” that day.
My gratitude to the many professionals who restored me to good health runs very deep. And also to our medical system, which is more often criticized than not. Needless to say, after several weeks of “no strenuous activity,” that first workout at the gym was a momentous and happy occasion.
In this issue, we are focusing on health and wellness, and I am proud of a school that is walking its talk as we see the magnificent Athletics and Wellness Centre rise up on the west campus. “Fit Fridays” is a testament to Branksome’s commitment to encouraging good health for everyone. This is “Keeping Well the Road” in the truest sense. I
First, it was the Korean architecture that impressed Branksome student Kate Macmillan. Ultimately, it was the people who cemented Kate’s love of South Korea.
Kate was part of the first group of Grade 9 exchange students to travel to Branksome Hall Asia last March. Kate and her classmates spent two weeks in South Korea, first visiting Seoul. They toured a palace and travelled north of the capital to the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), which separates North and South Korea.
Next, they flew to Jeju Island, to stay and study at Branksome Hall Asia. Prior to her trip, Kate had never been to Asia.
“I really enjoyed the time in Seoul, because there was a lot of traditional Korean architecture there as well as modern buildings that interested me,” says Kate, who is now in Grade 10. “In Jeju, the school was amazing and the girls were really nice, and I loved getting to know them and creating friendships there.”
Weeks after Kate returned to Toronto, her family then hosted two visiting Branksome Hall Asia students. The exchange experience, says Kate, left her with a better understand-
ing of Korean culture and of the importance of being warm and welcoming to visitors.
“It increased my interest in working globally and studying abroad, and maybe even moving to different places around the world when I’m older,” she adds.
Branksome Hall Asia opened in October
As students of the late Marie Hay would agree, it was her love of travel and adventure, combined with her flamboyant wardrobe and engaging personality, that made her a unique and much-loved teacher. And, had Marie Hay been at Branksome on September 23, she would certainly have been moved and inspired by guest speaker Spencer West.
Spencer’s legs were amputated at the knee at the age of two, due to a genetic disorder. At the age of five, his legs were then amputated at the
2012 on Jeju Island, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site on the southern tip of Korea. The international campus aligns with Branksome’s commitment to being globally minded and it enriches our programs through student exchanges and learning opportunities for faculty.
pelvis. He was told he’d never walk, sit up or be able to care for himself.
Now a motivational speaker working with Me to We, Spencer defied the odds. In 2012, he created the Redefine Possible campaign and climbed Mount Kilimanjaro for charity.
Branksome Hall is grateful for the donations received in memory of Marie Hay and for the opportunity for students, employees and alumnae to hear firsthand about Spencer West’s inspirational journey.
Read the full story at branksome.on.ca/news (October 2013).
is on-line at www.branksome.on.ca/supportbranksome.
The 2011–12 Donor Report, Making an Impact, won the 2013 Prix d’Excellence Bronze Award from the Canadian Council for the Advancement of Education (CCAE). Competition in this category included submissions from universities, colleges and independent schools across Canada.
This year’s Installation guest speaker knew from an early age that her life work would lead her to understand and help those whose lives are far less fortunate than hers.
As Head Girl in 2006–07, Monique Miller was a scholar who was committed to commu-
nity service. She was a tutor in the Horizons Program, a mentor to elementary school students at Derrydown Public School in Toronto and a volunteer at the GQAP School in South Africa.
Monique attended the University of Guelph, where she earned an Honours B.A. in
International Development. She was the recipient of numerous awards in honour of her academic achievement and contributions to the community, including the prestigious Lincoln Alexander Chancellor’s Scholarship and the university’s International Development Award.
Soon to graduate with an M.Sc. in International Migration and Public Policy from the London School of Economics and Political Science, Monique hopes to gain work experience abroad.
“My starting point will likely be in comprehensive health care reform in Africa,” she says. “And beyond that, I am considering work with the Canadian Foreign Service.”
Deputy Principal Karrie Weinstock says proudly, “Monique is remarkable for the breadth of her abilities, the depth of her intelligence, and for her qualities of compassion and human understanding.”
On October 11, Installation saw the school’s incoming leaders—including Prefects, Clan Chieftains and Heads of various clubs—commit to performing their duties. The tradition was introduced decades ago by then Principal Edith Read, who recognized the importance of strong leadership.
AT THE UNIVERSITY FAIR on October 1, Grade 12 students met with university representatives from Scotland and Canada, as well as five alumnae, at the Week Without Halls University Fair. Alumnae answered students’ questions about university living and program offerings. “I’m very pleased by the interest shown by our students and by our alumnae who volunteered their time for this event,” said Andrea Stoeckl, Director of Guidance and University Relations, who is already planning next year’s fair.
Representing University of Toronto, McGill, Concordia, Queen’s and Nottingham (U.K.) respectively are, from left, Sarah SIDKY’09, Annie DONOLO’09, Natasha AQUIN’09, Melanie ARGIROS’08 and Alison BISCO’09.
Hall as one of our participants. In fact, Laurie Kuchirka’s Environmental Science class participated in recent years. Her students sampled Yellow Creek in the nearby Don River watershed and their data are available on our online map (ecospark.ca). Not only does this program connect students to nearby nature through experiential education, it also provides teachers with a meaningful and efficient way to deliver the Ontario curriculum.
Where students wade into environmentalism
by Joyce CHAU’00In 2005, I joined EcoSpark as an intern. An environmental charity, EcoSpark empowers communities to take an active role in protecting and sustaining nature. I was immediately drawn to the concept of citizen science and the ability to make science fun and accessible to everyone. I’m still there.
One program that exemplifies our mission is Changing
Currents. We take students from across the GTA to their local stream and assess its water quality by examining the bugs that live in it. It is often a student’s first time visiting the local stream, putting on waders and doing real Environmental Science. It sparks a greater sense of connection to their local stream and a will to protect and preserve it.
I was proud to see Branksome
“You have added so much to my program and helped me meet the demands of my curriculum,” Laurie wrote to us. “I truly don’t know a more meaningful way for students to learn about eutrophication, water pollution, and indirect and direct monitoring.”
Witnessing the program’s impact on teachers and students was what got me hooked on EcoSpark. I dedicated myself to the organization and quickly climbed up the ranks from an intern, to a coordinator, to a manager. In 2012, I proudly became the Executive Director. In this role, I look forward to working more closely with Branksome and fostering the students’ connection to nearby nature.
Jacqui SZETO Meiers’87, seen here with Deputy Principal Karrie Weinstock, spoke to students during a senior assembly last April as part of the Branksome Means Business initiative. Having a career in capital markets, as well as her own successful online business (goneshopping.ca), Jacqui spoke about business careers for women.
Branksome Means Business invites women leaders to speak about choices and their path to success—an initiative that shows girls that, as globally minded students, they will have myriad opportunities and choices, and it will be important for them to understand and weigh their options.
Career panels, of course. On February 28, 2013, Grade 11 students were fascinated by the life stories presented by our five panelists, all of whom have followed interesting career paths.
Charlotte LaFayette shares a family passion for sport by Gillian
MinskyTHE TENACITY AND DRIVE to win is unexplainable,” says Grade 7 student Charlotte LaFayette when describing what she loves about sports. “It’s those moments when you hit the game’s winning shot and your team cheers, or when you miss it and your team is still cheering.”
Charley, as she is known to family and friends, is passionate about sports and has mastered the art of team spirit. “When you are on a team, you win together and you lose together,” she says. “That’s how I was trained. But when you win, it’s something magical.”
In her years as a competitive athlete, Charley has enjoyed plenty of team experience, and has played on Branksome’s basketball and volleyball teams. And, thanks to encouragement from Physical Education teacher Sharon Crawford (see page 9), Charley and a few of her friends even competed on the cross-country team while still in Grade 5.
Growing up, inspiration was all around. With her dad, Justin, and her uncle, Nathan Lafayette, both former NHL players, she was exposed to sports, team spirit and the drive to win at an early age. “My dad has always been very encouraging,” she says. “He never critiqued my playing; he always just encouraged me.”
Charley also cites her sister Ariel as a major source of inspiration and guidance over the years. Ariel, now in Grade 9, was captain of Branksome’s volleyball team when in Grade 7 and 8, and continues as a successful athlete today.
Today, Charley enjoys supporting other students in finding their confidence in athletics and building their skills. “I love helping and encouraging younger girls to play sports, because I’ve always had older girls as role models,” she says.
Charley’s dedication and love of sports was recognized by Branksome last year when she was awarded the Ross Family Athletic Award. The award recognizes a student who shows commitment, passion, sportsmanship, leadership and skill through her participation in the Junior School athletic program.
Off the court, Charley is academically well rounded, winning six awards last year, including the McLean
Looking ahead, Charlotte is especially excited about Branksome’s new Athletics and Wellness Centre, which will provide so many girls with great opportunities. “I’m very happy that there will be more than enough gym space to go around,” she says. “I should also work on my stretches, so the yoga centre will be great for that.”
Now a Middle School student, Charley is going to continue with her love of sports. “When I’m playing, I feel very free, like nothing else matters,” she says. “I can just let go and focus on the game.” I
OARS AWAY! Alumnae rowers participated in their first ever Head of the Trent rowing regatta, held on October 5, 2013 in Peterborough.
Branksome’s Head Coach, Scott Fleming, provided coaching which, in addition to two Saturday practice sessions, left the keen rowers (some of whom hadn’t held an oar for years) prepared for the event.
The eight-oar crew finished in a time of 9:59 and placed 9th behind such university alumni crews as Queen’s, Western and McGill.
Thank you to Kathryn CAMPBELL Holland’80 for initiating this inaugural alumnae race with the help of Heather CARTWRIGHT’88. The event was a welcome opportunity to reconnect with past teammates while participating in the sport they love.
Linda McQUAIG’70 has enjoyed a stellar career as a journalist, author and, most recently, NDP political candidate in the Toronto Centre riding. On November 18, one week prior to the by-election, Linda (seen here by her name on the honour boards) attended Senior School assembly and witnessed a mock student debate on “the future of the Canadian Senate.” Linda was so impressed by the students’ quality of debate and reiterated how her Branksome education had prepared her for the challenges and opportunities she has faced in her career. On November 25, Linda lost to Liberal candidate Chrystia Freeland.
Christie PRESTON’06 is passionate about fitness and inspiring others. On November 4, at Senior School assembly, Christie—owner of Preston Fitness—provided students with a sampling of one of her fitness classes. While at Western University, Christie and her friends were getting tired of their regular workouts, so they created the Bod Squad—free weekly workout routines attended by up to 75 people each time. A business grew from this and so did Christie’s blog, Beauty and the Bod, which she updates daily. Christie teaches at two different gyms in Toronto, while acting as a Lululemon ambassador.
Sharon Crawford builds students’ self-esteem through fi
by Robert ShawFEW PEOPLE ARE aware that Junior School Physical Education teacher Sharon Crawford has competed in 13 marathons. In fact, the modest cross-country coach actually won two of them: Toronto (1985) and Bermuda (1986).
Marathon training was a passion that the soft-spoken educator spent years working at and only recently put behind her, to focus on recreational activities. It helps drive the message that she passes on to the hundreds of students she has taught over her 22 years at Branksome Hall: a love of sport.
And it’s a love she believes will continue to blossom once the Athletics and Wellness Centre opens its doors to the Branksome community.
“There’s such a buzz about it,” says Crawford. “I was walking with one primary student who said to me, ‘It’s really coming along!’ Everyone is so excited.”
What does she think the new centre will mean for the school? “It will enhance the community in terms of learning, competing and exercising,” she says confidently. “I’m proud that Branksome is taking on this initiative.”
Growing up in Peterborough, Ontario, and later attending both Western and York universities, Crawford began her school career as a Physical Education Coordinator for the primary years in York Region before teaching in Toronto.
Over the last two decades, she has noticed an increase in the popularity of female athletics. “Girls’ sports are doing great,” she says. Among her devoted team of Branksome co-workers and coaches, there is strong emphasis on providing girls with a lot of minutes during the day for activity. This, she believes, helps them develop leadership skills both on and off the campus, as well as other strengths. “They are learning valuable lessons about teamwork, cooperation and camaraderie,” she says.
More recently, Crawford moved to a floating house on Lake Ontario where the things she loves—kayaking, running and yoga—are only steps from her front door.
“I’ve always believed there is a direct correlation between athletics and improving one’s self-esteem,” she says.
It’s something she feels will become more enhanced with the opening of the new centre.
The state-of-the art Athletics and Wellness Centre, set to open in late 2014, will house myriad athletic opportunities for the Branksome community, including two pools, a dance studio, fitness centre and gymnasium.
“I’m glad that I’m going to be here to see it. It’s very exciting,” says Crawford. I
MISS EDITH READ would be proud. She might even be (uncharacteristically) stunned speechless by the magnificent structure rising on the northwest corner of Mt. Pleasant Road and Elm Avenue. As Branksome Hall’s 75,000-square-foot Athletics and Wellness Centre—scheduled for occupancy in late 2014—takes shape, excitement about this campus transformation grows, from JK to Grade 12 students as well as among teachers, parents and alumnae.
Branksome Hall’s second and longestserving Principal, Miss Read—presiding from 1910 to 1958—would surely proclaim the Athletics and Wellness Centre a marvel of elegant design and leading-edge technology. She might, rightly, note her own foresight in purchasing the land it occupies, the site of the former residence and dining hall, MacNeill House, which opened in 1964.
The Athletics and Wellness Centre,
funded by the $15-million Branksome Becomes Campaign, will serve as a hub for the development of strong, confident young women, with spaces for fitness, healthy dining, study and socializing.
“The new Athletics and Wellness Centre is a dream come true,” says Principal Karen Jurjevich. “It will be a healthy lifestyle centre that can be used by every member of the Branksome community. As a teacher, staff
member, parent, or alumna, you are sure to find a fitness and dining venue that speaks to your life and your preferences.”
Designed by MacLennan Jaunkalns Miller Architects to mirror LEED Silver standards, the building features seamless interior, exterior, and elevated areas in a light-filled glass and masonry structure that harmonizes beautifully with Branksome’s heritage buildings and ravine.
“THE NEW ATHLETICS AND WELLNESS CENTRE WILL BE A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE CENTRE THAT CAN BE USED BY EVERY MEMBER OF THE BRANKSOME COMMUNITY.”
Principal Karen L. Jurjevich
The beautiful new facilities will encourage students of all ages and stages to develop their own fitness and wellness routines. A full range of athletics activities will be offered in the large gymnasium, which will include volleyball, basketball and badminton courts. Rowers will hone their skills in the 24-seat ERG room and the fitness centre will feature state-of-the-art equipment. The two saltwater swimming pools are designed to accommo-
The Athletics and Wellness Centre encompasses:
• A gymnasium with viewing space for spectators
• Two-level, high-performance fi tness centre
• Dance and yoga studios
• Two saltwater swimming pools: a 25-metre competition-level pool, and a graduated-depth teaching pool
• Rowing centre ERG room, featuring 24 ergometers
• Dining court that seats 300, with a bistro and outdoor terrace
• Rooftop garden and deck for receptions, concerts and other events.
Find out more at www.branksomebecomes.ca
date students of all levels, from our youngest girls learning to swim, through to participants in competitive swim meets. Dance and yoga classes will be a feature of the studio spaces, as well as other programming that will help our students achieve balance between body and mind.
The Athletics and Wellness Centre includes a spacious dining area that will be used by all members of the Branksome community.
“This new building will connect sport, health and nature,” reflects Olga Pushkar, an architect of the Athletics and Wellness Centre. “It will combine athletics and health in a beautiful ravine setting.”
Adds Branksome’s Director of Athletics, Nanci Smith: “These new facilities will enhance both curricular and athletics programs, with dedicated spaces for dance, yoga and dry-land rowing training, plus more
time and space for our athletic teams to practise and develop their skills.”
Construction has proceeded at an intensive pace. Just one year after the ground-breaking ceremony on October 11, 2012, all concrete has been poured—some 4,000 metres worth—the footprint of the two swimming pools is evident, and the entire structural shell is complete.
The massive tower crane has been
dismantled—an engineering feat in itself— and interior work will soon commence: placement of skylights; installation of electrical, mechanical, plumbing, heating, and air exchange systems; drywall, carpentry and tile work; plus the myriad finishing details that will make the Athletics and Wellness Centre a stunning mid-Toronto landmark.
It is anticipated that, by Reunion 2015, alumnae will be invited to tour the centre and
celebrate in the new dining hall and on the rooftop terrace. The doors will open to spring breezes, with a spectacular view of a Branksome campus full of fond memories, and the promise of a space uniquely designed to empower girls and young women.
The spirit of Edith Read is no doubt beaming with delight. I
Janet Sailian is a freelance writer and editor.
LONG BEFORE THE DAYS OF MANDATORY community service hours and Branksome’s current mission—to inspire girls to “shape a better world”—Mary Lesslie had the drive to make a difference.
As a Grade 5 student in the 1960s, Mary wrote about local issues and typed up her own newspaper, which she then peddled, along with her recycled comic books, to classmates for 5 cents per copy. The budding journalist amassed the grand sum of $2 per week, which she then donated to the Bloorview Children’s Hospital, called the “Home for Incurable Children” at the time.
The trouble was, Mary’s entrepreneurial and philanthropic efforts had not been sanctioned by the school. For that, she was chastised by a Junior School administrator—“I was nearly expelled,” recalls Mary—until Principal Jennie MacNeill stepped in to save, and praise, the student who was far ahead of her time.
“It was a very different Branksome Hall back then,” says Mary. “Forty-five years ago, a field trip might be to St. Paul’s Church to go bowling!”
Today, student excursions might involve building a school in South Africa, restoring a nature preserve in Costa Rica, or tutoring Toronto youngsters through the Horizons Program. Over the years, Mary was impressed by accounts of the community service initiatives of Branksome students.
Now a committed volunteer—Chair of The Branksome Hall Foundation Board of Trustees, Co-Chair of the current Branksome Becomes Campaign, and a former member of the Board of Governors—Mary LESSLIE Hallward’74 is proud of her affiliation with Branksome Hall. She commends the school for its
academic excellence and the opportunities it provides students.
“When I say I’m a Branksome graduate, it means a lot,” she says. “People recognize the value of my education.”
Mary is enabling others to benefit from a Branksome education through a gift that she and her husband, Graham Hallward, have made to the school. Funded by this $500,000 gift to the Branksome Becomes Campaign—the largest donation made by an alumna in Branksome Hall’s history—the couple have established the Hallward Scholarship.
Launched in the 2011–12 school year, this generous scholarship provides full tuition, books and additional expenses for a promising and exceptional student entering Grade 9, 10 or 11 in Branksome’s day program.
Despite Mary’s early interest in newspapers, journalism was not her chosen career path. She did, however, thrive in the world of finance. After serving in executive positions with McLean Budden and Nesbitt Thomson, Mary established Troon North Capital, where she is President and Chief Investment Officer. Perhaps a reflection of her all-girls education, she caters to a female clientele.
Mary comments that today, more and more women are becoming financially astute, investing successfully, building thriving businesses, and managing their money well.
As an entrepreneur and philanthropist, Mary sets a great example and is a mentor to many. I
WHEN THE HOLIDAY season approaches, it’s a time of parties, slowing down, regenerating the batteries. Right?
Not if you grew up a Gemmell.
If you’re a Gemmell girl, you love the fast-paced game of squash. It doesn’t matter if your name is Jennifer’07, Laura’09 or Michelle’12. You not only love it, you’re really, really good at it. You’ve won a lot of national championships. Lost some heartbreakers too. And your parents, Robert and Cynthia Gemmell, are with you every step of the way, every whack of the racquet.
For the Gemmells, Christmastime during the Branksome era was the most stressful, yet exhilarating, season of the year. In the game of squash, December through New Year’s is the period of junior tournaments. And all three girls competed in them. Hard.
On the first weekend of December, the Gemmells would pile into their car in Toronto’s Willowdale neighbourhood and head for Niagara-on-theLake, where the Canadian Junior Open is played. Laura won her age-class championship there six times, including four years in a row, while Michelle, three years younger, won five times. Jennifer, the eldest and an Ontario provincial champion, reached the top four.
On the second weekend, they would head for the airport and fly to whichever American city was hosting the U.S. Junior Open. Laura won that one five times.
(continued on page 18)
(continued from page 17)
They’d get home a little before Christmas, have a nice family celebration on the day, then head for the airport again, on Christmas night. This time, they were bound for Edinburgh, Scotland, where the Scottish Junior Open is held. In 2009, Laura won her championship and Michelle made it to the final.
After that, they’d get on the train and head for Sheffield, England, for the final weekend of the season—the prestigious British Junior Open, attracting the best in the world. Laura placed third in 2009.
Then, counting up their wins and losses, the family would head home and the girls would be back in school at Branksome, still training two to three hours a day. There were plenty of regional tournaments as well as the biennial World Junior Championships for
national teams, which took Laura to Chennai, India, in 2009 and Michelle to Cambridge, MA, in 2011.
The girls loved being on the close-knit squash circuit. “Especially in Canada, it’s very small, so you develop friendships with a lot of people,” says Jennifer. “I knew everyone. And it’s a great sport—it’s extremely athletic.”
There turned out to be another, quite unexpected, benefit. As the girls graduated from Branksome, one by one they were recruited to top Ivy League universities, where squash is huge.
That’s where their schooling really helped. All three are “sandbox alums,” having put in, as father Robert quickly counts, a total of 41 years from JK or SK to Grade 12. And all three credit their time at Branksome, with its emphasis on academic excellence, as critical
to their success. “You have to pass the academic bar,” notes Laura about their Ivy League entry. Adds Michelle: “There are countless amazing squash players who did not have the grades.”
Jennifer accepted a spot at Cornell University in New York State, where she was named most valuable player and, in her final year, captained the squash team, reaching seventh place in the country. Now she’s studying law at Fordham University in New York City, hoping to become a high-powered Manhattan attorney. There is a larger pool of opportunities in the U.S., she says. “There’s also more competition, but I like competition.”
Laura finished pre-med last spring at Harvard University and, thanks to squash, won the Radcliffe Prize as Harvard’s outstanding female athlete. Currently she is spending a year at the University of Oxford in England, working on a master’s degree in clinical embryology. She wants to become an obstetrician-gynecologist specializing in fertility. “It’s such an innovative science right now,” she says. “In the next 20 to 30 years, the research side is going to be very cool to watch.”
Michelle, meanwhile, is in second year at Harvard, still thinking about her major while crushing them on the squash court. She’s looking at studying government and international relations with a minor in history. Like Laura, she did the International Baccalaureate at Branksome, and it sparked her interest in current affairs. “The IB Program does a really good job of educating you on global issues and relations between governments,” she says. “In IB Geography we
(left) Michelle Gemmell, front, in action for Harvard at the 2012 Women’s National Team Championships. (right) Jennifer Gemmell, front, playing for Cornell at the 2011 event.covered a lot of topics, like international oil. I was always intrigued.”
Super athletes. Super students. How did this all begin?
It helped that they lived near Toronto’s elegant Granite Club, where Robert Gemmell, a now-retired investment banker, had a membership. Mom Cynthia, a former medical research scientist, wanted Jennifer, just 6, to try as many sports as possible. Jennifer tried tennis, gymnastics, swimming and skating. But she really liked squash.
Laura was 4. She followed in her sister’s footsteps, and got serious about squash when she was 8. By the time Michelle, three years behind Laura, was ready, her sisters were going to tournaments, and it was a fait accompli what she’d do.
SQUASH IS a fast, high-sweating game. Played inside a court with four walls, it’s all about using a shorthandled racquet to whip a small, hollow ball against any of the sides within marked lines. As the ball gets squashed against the hard surface (hence the name), it ricochets at high speed, and opponents must sprint and twist to whack it back again while taking care not to collide.
“It’s very difficult to play,” says Jennifer. “It looks really easy, but people are surprised at how hard it is to move all over the floor, and actually hit the ball.” Laura notes that it’s a game of strategy. “There are so many different shots in the game. It’s been called the sport version of chess. I was really drawn to that puzzle-solving aspect.” Michelle agrees, downplaying the absolute need for speed. “Because it’s a very tactical and smart game, you can go really far just on brains.”
The girls insist they have little in the way of sibling rivalry. “We never fight,” says Jennifer. For one thing, their age differences meant they did not compete directly in tournaments. And they acted as training partners for each other. “I loved it. I always had someone to play with,” says Jennifer.
While Cynthia got them started, the girls say their father was their main coach. As a junior hockey player, Robert was himself recruited by Cornell, and he loves sport. But these girls were stars. Robert set them up with top coach Mike Way in Oakville, Ontario, who coached 1998 world squash champion Jonathon Power. Robert stresses, though, that “nothing was given to them— they worked extremely hard.”
In the United States, university recruiters were beginning to see how strong the Canadian players were. Jennifer got her call from Cornell, Laura from Harvard, and then, as fate would have it, Mike Way was appointed coach of the Harvard squash team, where Laura was already a first-year standout. Michelle soon followed to wear the Crimson. “It was kind of shocking,” says Laura of the triple recruitment. “We didn’t plan this at all when we started playing squash.”
Only Michelle still plays competitively now, but all three girls feel strongly about the continuing benefits from their sport regimen. To begin with, they had to learn time management skills in order to balance training and homework. “School always came before squash,” says Michelle. “It was a very tight schedule, and I feel like that’s helped me a lot in university and probably for the rest of my life.”
And there is sport itself. “It’s a very character-building experience for students,” says Laura. “You learn a lot about yourself being put in these situations and seeing how you handle pressure, how you respond to losing. There are a lot of life lessons.”
They all support the idea of the new Athletics and Wellness Centre at Branksome. “It looks like it will be amazing—another gym, new cafeteria, dance centre, swimming pools,” says Michelle. Jennifer believes it’s very important to enhance what were already good facilities. “Sport doesn’t just help you in terms of being fit and healthy, it teaches you skills like teamwork, dedication, being committed, leadership.” And, echoing her sister: “Being able to take losses gracefully, without freaking out.”
Their proud dad couldn’t be happier with his dual investment in sport and Branksome. “Branksome Hall provided a lot of skills and experiences that allowed the girls to succeed in athletics, and athletics provided experiences that allowed them to succeed at Branksome.” I
All three are “sandbox alums,” having put in, as father Robert quickly counts, a total of 41 years from JK or SK to Grade 12. And all three credit their time at Branksome, with its emphasis on academic excellence, as critical to their success.Laura Gemmell won the 2010 Women’s U.S. College Squash Individual Title, capturing the Ramsay Cup.
THERE’S SO MUCH to say about someone you’ve known and loved since before you both were born. But this story picks up in 1987, when Tara and I arrived at Branksome after our parents had decamped to England, and we had selected Branksome as our 11th school. Boarders welcomed us warmly, which had a lot to do with Tara’s ability to connect. Over the year, we bonded with the international girls, broadening our horizons well beyond our Newfoundland and Toronto roots.
Branksome raised Tara’s expectations for herself. Academically, it elevated her game. A debate team debutante for the Fulford Tournament, Tara can still, 25 years later, convincingly argue both sides of: Be It Resolved That “capitalism is digging its own grave” and “getting there is half the fun.”
People are drawn to Tara both personally and professionally. She is an artful, valued occupational therapist (OT) and a passionate advocate for those with mental illness. When asked how Branksome influenced her career as an OT at Toronto’s
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), Tara has a very full list: “A solid science grounding, plus noticing what was going on in the world. Thinking outside myself and being thrown into a cauldron of young women going through universal struggles. Coming out, depression, eating disorders.” She adds: “At that time in the 80s, I didn’t have tools or even language to talk about this stuff. But looking back now, I’m glad to see how far the conversation has come and that I get to be a part of it.”
Tara works in early intervention for mood and psychosis. It’s an energizing window of opportunity to meet people wherever they are on their recovery journey. She collaborates with clients on moving forward, as they work on day-to-day goals, wellness, and returning to work, school and life.
“It’s never boring,” she says. “I work as an OT and psychotherapist. I’m involved from the initial adjustment after diagnosis. I also have the privilege of seeing people get well, and get on with what’s really important to them.”
Tara works in early intervention for mood and psychosis. She collaborates with clients on moving forward, as they work on day-to-day goals, wellness, and returning to work, school and life.
OTs consider the act of doing as fundamental. “We encourage doing to feel a sense of belonging, much like at Branksome,” Tara explains. “We address the everyday things people do for self-care, pleasure, productivity and participation.”
Tara’s days include cognitive and functional assessments, employment or education supports, addressing risky substance behaviour, helping plan meaningful activities, goal setting, psycho-education, psychotherapy, chairing a scholarship committee, linking to community resources, facilitating groups,
or teaching at the University of Toronto as a part-time lecturer.
She’s always learning, and recently travelled for a month to Ethiopia to teach psychiatry residents and help develop a rehabilitation program through the Toronto Addis Ababa Academic Collaboration (TAAAC.ca).
“I started at CAMH as a new grad in 1999, a year after it amalgamated,” says Tara. “We’ve grown up together. There’s been
a promising shift in public perception since I arrived. These days, people are interested, curious, and actually think it’s cool that I work at CAMH. It was once rather taboo. Kind of like being from Newfoundland and being queer. What was once stigmatized and considered lesser than, is now the place to be.”
Focusing on early intervention has become more than a job, she says. “It’s like a vocation. I’ve had some of my personal biases challenged.” This work inspired her film.
Tara’s 2010 documentary, Beyond Psychosis: Exceeding Expectations from First Episode to Recovery, debuted at the Rendezvous with Madness Film Festival, and she was honoured by her colleagues with the Ted Tremain Award of Excellence for creating it. Produced for CAMH, it features five young people talking about their experiences with psychosis and recovery.
In case you think she’s all work, Tara definitely likes to have fun. She even married a standup comedian, Dawn Whitwell.
“Working with young people keeps me playful, grounded, a little irreverent, and more or less pop-culturally relevant,” she says.
And if you know Tara at all, you realize she doesn’t just dip her toe into things, she dives in “face and eyes,” as we say in Newfoundland. She has completed a novel-writing marathon, climbed Gros Morne, and gone an entire year without buying anything new, while blogging about the experience. She has even experimented with standup, and is known for her ease behind a microphone.
More recently, she whittled 22 percent off her weight, and became a part-time Weight Watchers leader. She’ll even begin her third degree, a master’s in Rehabilitation Science, on the side, in January.
I sometimes have to remind her of what a wise co-worker once told her: “You can’t do everything, but you might be able to do anything.” I
BERESFORD CHAMPIONS HEALTHY LIFESTYLES AS SHE SUCCESSFULLY EXPANDS
A SMALL-TOWN YMCA by Brigitte Kopas
IT’S A FITTING location for meeting Erin BERESFORD’96: a Collingwood coffee shop with views of an outdoor playground and sparkling Georgian Bay just beyond the windows. Erin relishes activity, particularly “anything outdoors.”
“Growing up I was always into camping and sports,” she says. At Branksome, she rowed for five years. “It provided me with an opportunity to stay active and to figure out what was going on with me.” She was also a Prefect, which she credits with honing her leadership skills.
For 15 summers, she went to the YMCA’s Camp Pine Crest in Ontario’s Muskoka region, first as a camper and then on staff as a counsellor. “I always thought I would be a camp director,” she chuckles. “I accidentally fell into the field of health and fitness.”
Or should we say naturally? It was her combined camp and leadership experiences that paved the way to her current role as General Manager of the Innisfil YMCA, where she promotes healthy and active lifestyles on a daily basis.
Upon graduating from Branksome, Erin attended Acadia University’s Outdoor Recreation Management Program. She started with the Y’s summer daycamp program straight out of university, and soon found herself moving into permanent positions of steadily increasing responsibility—indoors—at YMCAs in Toronto and Wasaga Beach.
When she arrived at the Innisfil Y in 2010, the facility was two years old and presented many challenges.
“The community of Innisfil has never had a YMCA before,” she explains. “Each centre is unique and you cannot use a cookie-cutter approach when managing the facilities. There was a lot of education to be done within the community about what the Y has to offer, as well as identifying what they needed and wanted.”
Today, in a town of about 32,000, the facility boasts 6,500 members. Half of them are children, and aquatics—one of Erin’s specialties—is a major draw.
And since it is the Y, the focus is on accessibility. “Not everyone realizes how inclusive our centres are and that our doors are open to
“I always thought I would be a camp director,” she chuckles. “I accidentally fell into the fi eld of health and fi tness.”
everyone,” says Erin. “Eighteen percent of Innisfil’s membership is assisted financially.”
In fact, she and her team have strived to remove barriers of all kinds. “Access to recreation in a small town is different,” says Erin. “Public transportation is not as readily available. We have worked hard to offer various programming opportunities for family members at the same time and ensure we offer the support the members are looking for when they walk through our front doors.”
She has created meaningful partnerships with the Town of Innisfil and with local business owners who offer donations and sponsorships. She promoted to the town council the idea that public transportation should go to the Y, while the YMCA of Simcoe/Muskoka took in $410,000 last year in donations to the Y’s Strong Kids Campaign. What does health and wellness mean to Erin? She sits back, not really sure where to start, then dives in. “To me, it is both activity and what you put in your mouth. It is about having fun, trying not to be too serious—my personal downfall,” she laughs, “but also about how you feel and not how you look. To accommodate personal goals, you need to involve the right experts, and that is what we try to match with our members at the Y.”
Erin feels very aligned with the values of her organization. “The YMCA has shaped me as a leader and I am happy to pay it forward to the staff, volunteers and members that I work with.” She also shares her leadership skills outside of work. For the past
four years, she has been part of the Rotary Clubs of Innisfil and nearby Wasaga Beach, and chairs the regional Rotary Youth Leadership Awards Committee.
The desire to be active has led to some special personal accomplishments, such as running her first marathon. “I still consider it to be one of the most rewarding things I have done,” she says. Two full marathons and six half marathons are now under her belt.
Erin continues to find the personal balance she promotes by leaving work behind on camping trips. Most recently, she canoed the French River, the informal boundary between northern and southern Ontario.
As for the future, Erin wants to expand the Innisfil programs off-site to allow accessibility to an even greater group, especially children and youth. “I believe I have contributed to a transformation in culture at the Y and have allowed people to grow and develop in a way they may never have known,” she says.
Call it Camp Beresford. I
Brigitte KOPAS’88 lives in Collingwood and, as a former employee of Branksome, continues to freelance for the school.
Marissa Bronfman
VERTICALLY ENCASED eight feet down in snow packed like concrete, Lindsay GLASSCO’83 knew she only had 20 minutes to dig herself out of the ice cocoon to save her own life and that of her former classmate, Janice WRIGHT’83. The pair were caught in a sudden slab avalanche in the unchartered terrain of snowy British Columbia backcountry. In a gruelling ordeal, Lindsay managed to extricate herself, then searched for an unconscious Janice and dug her out as well. Miraculously, both women survived.
For Lindsay, that 2003 episode is a testament to the benefits of being fit and strong—as well as breaking through barriers, literally. Her love of sport ultimately came to define her adventurous and unconventional career path, a journey that’s seen her circle the globe innumerable times.
She was a sport pioneer even at Branksome. “I was on the first soccer team,” she says proudly of her three years at the school.
“We had a great coach, a student’s ex-European soccer star father, and it was really fun.” She also played volleyball, softball and badminton at Branksome.
Later, doing her B.A. at McGill University, she was part of the ski and rowing teams. Then adventure took hold, and she set off to backpack through Southeast Asia. Arriving back in Toronto, she was hired by International Management Group (IMG), a top sports marketing firm. “I had an awesome first job—I was developing sports marketing strategies for corporations and writing feasibility studies for the SkyDome,” she says. “I was incredibly lucky.”
But it wasn’t long before she boldly changed gears and decided to spend the next two years teaching English in southern Africa. “Those were the best two years of my life!” she exclaims about her time in Lesotho as a paid volunteer with the World University Service of Canada. “I loved my job. I could see the immediate impact of my hard work. I was in the most picturesque mountain village and spent all day hiking when I wasn’t working. And the people were just amazing, so kind and full of life—it put so many things into perspective for me.”
Those perceptions would inform her next two decades. After Lesotho, she got her master’s in International Development at the University of Sussex in England, and started her own global consultancy in food security, based variously in Geneva, Rome, Bangladesh and Ottawa. In 2000, she began a series of leadership roles in Canada’s federal civil service, handling policy around foreign workers, disability and global health issues.
So it seems natural that, with her love of sport and passion for social development, she would land next at Right to Play, the Toronto-based international organization whose mission is to use sport and play to
educate and empower children and youth to overcome the effects of poverty, conflict and disease. As Global Director of Policy and Strategic Initiatives from 2008–12, Lindsay was responsible for ensuring leaders around the world understood the power of sport. “It was incredibly rewarding,” she says, “speaking to governments, the UN and international agencies, and encouraging them to invest in sport for social development and peace.”
The challenges could be intense. “In the Middle East we faced the most reluctance but saw the greatest change,” she says. She credits convincing powerful local community leaders and influencers about the value of sport and its role in empowering young women for being able to change attitudes. “You have to figure out who the real influencers are,” she says. “In Canada, it might not be Stephen Harper, it might just be Justin Bieber!”
Creating safe and accessible play spaces for girls, designing appropriate uniforms, engaging female coaches as role models and ensuring the availability of running water and sanitation facilitations were a few of the other major factors Lindsay says enabled Right to Play to involve girls in sport.
Now, in her most recent evolution, she is deeply involved with the Olympic movement. She served as president and CEO of Special Olympics Canada, part of the global organization that promotes sport for people with intellectual disabilities, until December 2013. “I was recruited because of my work at Right to Play,” she says. “By providing opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities and also shining a light on their abilities, we are able to shift norms and attitudes. In that way, it’s no different than shifting gender attitudes in the Middle East.”
She was busily working through her five-year plan for Special Olympics Canada to expand its 35,000 participating athletes when a sudden opportunity arose with the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the world’s pinnacle of sporting achievement. So she is packing her bags again to move to Lausanne, Switzerland, where she will become the IOC’s Director of International Cooperation and Development.
The role description seems designed precisely for Lindsay: responsible for bringing to life the IOC’s fundamental principle of placing sport at the service of humankind, and youth in particular, by creating and implementing policies of development through sport. “It was too good to pass up,” she says.
Through it all, she feels the roots of her success are embedded in a very special school. “When I think back to my formative years and where I was really influenced, it’s Branksome. Giving me opportunities to be interactive, to participate on team sports and to innovate—that was huge for me.” I
Marissa BRONFMAN’04 is founder and president of Moxie Media, a boutique digital media agency based in Bombay, India. Marissa writes for The Huffington Post, Vogue India, Conde Nast Traveller and more.
“It was too good to pass up,” says Lindsay, of her new position with the International Olympic Committee.
HOW FAY MELING VON MOLTKE-PAO’95 BECAME A PR ACTITIONER OF WELLNESS METHODS WITH A 3,000-YEAR HISTORY
by Celia MilneFAY MELING VON MOLTKE-PAO. She has a big name and some large responsibilities.
Her distinctive name comes from a confluence of monikers from her father’s Chinese family and her mother’s German heritage. Meling, as she’s known, is a wife, a mother of three little girls, and also a practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine, helping patients with problems such as stress, anxiety, poor digestion, eczema, infertility and pain.
She attributes much of her personal confidence, curiosity about the world around her and caring nature to her years at Branksome.
“The teachers were supportive and looked for evidence of where our strengths lay. They were all so generous with their time, and they were such caring, motivating and bright people,” says Meling, who attended Branksome from JK to Grade 8.
Meling has many stories of how Branksome helped shape her. She remembers being a small child who was intensely shy and quiet, and “the only girl in the class with Asian features.”
Each year, Meling found more confidence in her abilities. In Grade 7, she overcame her shyness by auditioning for a part in the play Pinocchio. “I really wanted to be part of that production. I was terrified, but I somehow got through the audition and was given the part of Jiminy Cricket,” she says.
Nancy Olfert and the late Wendy WrenRosch, the directors of the play, inculcated her with lessons that resonate today. “They taught me how to rise above my insecurities and learn new things.”
Meling’s most memorable teacher was the late Audrey Bunting. In a science experiment, the girls took care of two seedlings—one that they would water every day and also talk and sing to, and the other that they only watered. “The plant we gave love and attention to grew stronger and taller than the one that was only given water,” Meling remembers.
“I was filled with a sense of wonder and excitement about science and especially nature, but also about how we care for ourselves and our surroundings.”
“I was filled with a sense of wonder and excitement about science and especially nature, but also about how we care for ourselves and our surroundings.”
Meling’s high school years were spent at Northern Secondary School and, upon graduating, she went to University of Toronto to study biomedical ethics.
She wasn’t sure what to do next, but getting hurt helped her decide. With a passion for endurance sports, Meling sustained a tenacious rowing injury. She tried several therapies, but nothing gave her relief.
Exasperated, Meling sought out an elderly practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), which is based on the 3,000-yearold belief that when the mind and body are obstructed by physical blockages to the flow of energy, illness can result. The way to resolve the obstruction is to free the flow of energy, so the body heals itself.
After three TCM treatments, Meling’s sports injury disappeared. “I was so amazed by this, and by Traditional Chinese Medicine,” she remarks.
Meling’s future was set: she enrolled in a four-year program at the Michener Institute in Toronto, earning a bachelor’s degree in Health Science in Complementary Medicine, with a diploma in Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine.
In her last year of study at the Michener, she became engaged to Andrew Leslie, whom she had met on the U of T cross-country ski team. They have three daughters—Julia is 6, Roslyn is 4 and Gratia is one year old.
Now 37, Meling runs a practice in Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine in the trendy Carrot Common in mid-town Toronto.
Her healing methods include acupuncture, herbal therapy, massage and nutritional counselling. Her practice is focused on women’s health, enhancing fertility and pediatrics, but she treats anyone in need. “People are amazed by TCM. But all we are doing is helping you to heal yourself,” she says.
Meling strives for balance in her own life, but with a young family and busy practice, it’s challenging. “I am my own worst patient right now,” she says, laughing. “I am definitely adamant about reserving the time to do one round of Qi Gong or yoga per day before the girls wake up.”
As an athlete and a caregiver, Meling is excited about Branksome’s initiative to build its new Athletics and Wellness Centre. “I look forward to seeing it when it is completed,” she says. I
Celia HORE Milne’78 is an award-winning freelance medical journalist. She lives in Toronto.
SCHIZOPHRENIA. It’s surely one of the scariest diagnoses you could ever receive. Not because you think it’s a death sentence, but because you don’t have any idea what it means. That’s how I felt when, after only 20 chaotic minutes at the hospital, my son was diagnosed with it. Visions of Sybil and psychopaths danced in my head.
My son Kit was a healthy, happy and very smart boy. He had a few great friends whom he hung with all the time. In Grade 10 that changed. He spent less time with them and more at home playing video games, his guitar or the piano. He didn’t seem unhappy, just to be taking a different path than his sports-oriented friends. We thought it was adolescence and a shifting of interests.
After high school, he went to the University of Guelph. He didn’t have a great first year but agreed to work harder in year two. When he came home at Thanksgiving, he seemed okay, if a bit more argumentative than usual. He had some different, interesting philosophies, but he was 19. We didn’t think much of it.
On November 8, 2009, he called with an urgent plea to come get him. We raced to Guelph. He met us at his door. He was clearly in bad shape—confused, unkempt, his room dirty beyond imagining.
My husband and I attempted to clean up, but Kit was so agitated we had to leave. We drove him to Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto. On the way he was telling us the trees were talking to
him, that there was a conspiracy against him at university, and many other strange things that made no sense. All we could imagine was that he was high on drugs. We were scared for him.
Once in the emergency room, he became more agitated and tried to leave, causing security and police to become involved. He was beyond scared. He was taken from me, his clothes were cut off, his blood was drawn, and he was put in four-point restraints and sedated. All this happened before my husband came back from parking the car. Then the doctor came in and told us, “Your son has something under the schizophrenia umbrella.”
The years following were a repeating tale of being on medications and doing well, then going off the meds, because he didn’t like them and didn’t think he was sick, then
living on the street and coming back to the hospital. It was an ongoing nightmare for us and our daughter, who was 13 when Kit was diagnosed.
In December 2011, Kit was admitted to the hospital again for almost seven weeks. When he was released, he was doing quite well. He rented a basement room in our older son’s house and lived on disability. He wasn’t well enough to work. But he fed himself, budgeted his monthly disability cheque and seemed to be okay. We knew he was still hearing voices, but we didn’t know how much they tormented him until very early in the morning of March 9, 2013.
That is when he ended his life.
I’ve learned a lot about schizophrenia. I’ve learned it is associated with the worst stigma of any mental illness, and no one wants to talk about it. Yet one percent of the population has it. Doctors don’t know a lot about it, but they are pretty sure it’s a chemical imbalance in the brain involving dopamine. There are genetic factors at play as well, but they know even less about that. It’s often triggered by smoking weed and extreme stress.
We need to talk and tell our kids the facts about this illness—that people with schizophrenia aren’t always violent or aggressive and, in fact, are more likely to be the victim of a crime than commit one. They are, per capita, less violent than the “normal” population.
Here in Ontario, The Jack Project, the legacy of a Queen’s University student who also took his own life, is doing amazing things in promoting a national conversation among young people about mental illness. Dr. Anthony Levitt at Sunnybrook Hospital is spearheading The Family Navigation Project to help families like ours find their way through the overwhelmingly confusing mental health system.
What you can do is also talk about schizophrenia and support families who live with it. Many still feel alone. We have to stop the stigma. I
ONE OF THE REALITIES OF THE 21st century is that young people experience significant levels of stress. It is important to recognize that stress is part of the human experience and can be a powerful motivator or driver for adaptability; however, when stress moves a person to “distress,” it is no longer helpful. When young people experience elevated levels of stress over time, it creates an environment where mental health issues such as anxiety disorders and depression can take hold.
As part of our focus on wellness, Branksome Hall supports girls in managing everyday stress. We create opportunities to talk about, model and practise wellness and self-care skills. Efforts have been made to promote healthy sleeping routines through our sleep research and the operationalizing of our findings with a sleep-in recovery hour in our timetable on late-start Wednesdays.
This year, we are piloting a school-wide fitness initiative called “Fit Fridays,” as an opportunity for girls to practise physical activity as a means of managing stress. In addition, our faculty and staff are reading and discussing Dr. John Ratey’s book, Spark, the Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain, highlighting the link between fitness, good mental health and preparedness for all types of learning.
Teaching students the skills they need to manage their academic stress can sustain mental health and wellness. Through conversations, faculty assist students to set realistic expectations. This year, Branksome Hall has revisited our homework policy and practices, clarifying homework expectations. In particular, we are establishing clear time guidelines for homework. In order to do this, students practise prioritizing and planning skills, recognizing where time and effort is best spent.
Mental and physical wellness within our school culture is a shared responsibility and ongoing work. Students, teachers and parents need to work in partnership to create this essential foundation for learning. Wellness is the bedrock for all that we aspire to at Branksome Hall. I
ALUMNAE EXECUTIVE
2013–14
Allison ROACH’51
Honorary President
Tenley GIBSON’94 President
Members-at-Large
Heather ADAMSON Wicken’99
Kathryn CAMPBELL Holland’80
Jamie Day FLECK’00
Norah DEACON Matthews’98
Dana DELUCE’96
Lindsey DELUCE Ball’99
Barbara DUNLOP Mohammad’70
Laura GIBSON’00
Alex GILLAM’08
Christie GORRIE Chapman’96
Carolyn HELBRONNER’79
Melanie LANGILL’03
Katie McCABE’03
Deena PANTALONE’95
Gabriella SICILIANO’06
Jennifer SULLIVAN Willmot’95
Melanie WALKER’96
Jessica ZACKHEIM Hurwitz’95
Ex-Officio
Karen L. Jurjevich
Andrea McAnally
Tanya Pimenoff
Zahra Valani
Catherine Stratton, Advancement Student Rep
The Executive Welcomes Eight New Members
Norah DEACON Matthews’98
Norah is a multi-faceted artist by profession and has exhibited in Canada and the United States. She holds a B.A. (Hons) in Studio Art and Art History from the University of Guelph, and specialized in fibre arts at Sheridan College. Norah is enjoying being at home with her son, Henry, 1, and baby Samuel.
Dana DELUCE’96
Dana is a marketing strategist at Volo Strategy Group. She holds a B.A. in History and Sociology from Queen’s University and an Associate’s Degree in Merchandising Management from the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City. In 2014, Dana, husband Dave, and children Audrey, 1, and Liam, 2-1/2, will relocate to Las Vegas.
Lindsey DELUCE Ball’99
York City. She has a B.A. in Film and Sociology from Queen’s University.
Laura GIBSON’00
The Alumnae Association is 5,700 members strong. Both grads and non-grads everyone who attended Branksome for at least one school year is an alumna. The Branksome community is thriving and the message to all alumnae is to “Stay Connected” to each other and the school.
Lindsey is the news anchor for CP24 Breakfast and for CP24’s morning news on weekdays. She holds a post-graduate diploma in broadcast journalism from Seneca College at York University and was the recipient of its award for best overall radio and television newscaster.
Passionate about the arts, Lindsey studied drama at Oxford University, England; at Rodean School in Johannesburg, South Africa; and at Circle in the Square Theater School in New
Laura works as a non-profit strategic marketing communications specialist. She started Branksome in Grade 4 and was a keen member of the swim team. Laura received a B.A. in Humanistic Studies and Socio-Cultural Anthropology from McGill, and an M.A. in Museum Studies from the University of Leicester, U.K
Alex GILLAM’08
Alex is an executive assistant/ office manager at the advertising agency Capital C. She has a B.A from Rollins College in Winter Park, FL, where her studies focussed on Critical Media and
Cultural Studies and Communications. Alex has had a variety of internships in the television industry, most notably at Broadway Video in New York City. With a passion for travel, she has climbed Mount Kilimanjaro and backpacked through Europe. This winter, she will teach skiing at Craigleith in Blue Mountains, ON.
Melanie LANGILL’03
Melanie is an investment advisor at RBC Dominion Securities. She has a B. Comm. (Hons) from Queen’s University School of Business and, after graduation, worked in brand management at Cara Operations Ltd. and then as a strategist at Volo Strategy Group. Melanie enjoys contributing to her local
community and has been on the Board of Directors at Peacebuilders International (Canada) since 2011.
Deena PANTALONE’95
Deena is the Marketing Director of National Homes. From knowledge gained first through her studies in urban planning and then marketing and advertising design at the University of Toronto, she was partner and marketing director for Living Life Retirement Residences (luxury seniors housing) for the past 12 years. Deena’s daughters Ava, 8, and Sabrina, 7, are in the Junior School at Branksome.
Melanie WALKER’96
Melanie is a consultant in the global media development and membership organization sectors, with an emphasis on diversity and the advancement of women. She spent four years at the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA), where she oversaw media development and press freedom programs with a focus on Africa and Asia. Melanie then took a marketing and operations role with a newspaper consulting group, iMedia Advisory Services Ltd, based in Ireland. Upon returning to Canada, she joined the Women’s Executive Network
(WXN), an organization dedicated to the advancement of women in the workplace. After four years as VP, International for WXN, Melanie launched her own consulting firm, and works with clients such as the Canadian Board Diversity Council and WAN-IFRA, overseeing initiatives that target capacity building, diversity and media development.
alumnae association mission statement
We build and maintain alumnae relationships while raising funds in support of Branksome Hall’s mission and vision.
For more information, visit branksome.on.ca/alumnae
Catherine Stratton Advancement Student Rep
Catherine came to Branksome in Grade 7 and is a member of the Campbell Clan. She recently participated in the Senior School production of Legally Blonde and is Head of Vocal
Ensembles. She is also a peer supporter and an admissions ambassador. In Grade 11, she was the first student in her grade to receive the Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award. During March Break last year, Catherine was a camp counsellor at a special arts camp at Holland Bloorview, a rehabilitation centre for children with physical and developmental disabilities. I
Moving On The Alumnae Association has been built on the strength of many dedicated volunteers who have devoted hours of their time over the years. We thank these retiring executive members for their service to Branksome Hall.
Kathryn began volunteering at Branksome in the late 1990s. She chaired Reunion Weekend for three years (2002–04), which included the 2003 Centennial Weekend. Kathryn recalls this event fondly as “a truly incredible time to celebrate the school and its storied past.” Kathryn served as a member of the Plaid Tidings Committee over four years and as its co-chair in 2008 and 2009. She then took on the role of Vice-President of the Executive in 2009–10, President from 2010–12 and Past President from 2012–13. While President, Kathryn was instrumental in spearheading a $200,000 donation to the Branksome Becomes Campaign, which is the largest gift ever made by the Alumnae Association. Kathryn’s
years of untiring commitment proved invaluable and we remain indebted to her for her strong leadership and for generously donating her time to so many projects over the years.
Heather served on both the Alumnae Association Strategic Planning Committee and the Alumnae Awards Committee. She was one of the reps for the Class of 1988, who celebrated their 25th reunion last spring. Most recently, she shared her coaching expertise and co-chaired the Branksome Hall alumnae participation in the Head of the Trent Regatta.
Shannon co-chaired Reunion Weekend in 2011 and 2012 and served on the take pART 2013
Committee. Her expertise in the fields of communications and strategy assisted the Alumnae Association Executive in revamping its communications strategy.
Dana was a member of the Plaid Tidings Committee from 2008–12, and eventually served as its co-treasurer. She volunteered on the Golf Day Committee in 2008, and chaired the Sentimental Appeal, which raised over $15,000 from the sale of the school’s old wooden desks and chairs. Dana played an integral role on the newly formed Networking Committee in 2012 and, for the past two years, has served as Vice-President on the Alumnae Executive. Her support and commitment have been incalculable.
This local delicacy was highly recommended by our Newfoundland alumnae who met for lunch in St. John’s on June 7. In this oldest Canadian city, everyone chatted for hours about their Branksome days and their shared admiration for “The Rock.”
Held at the Grand Hyatt on November 8, the event was attended by parents, alumnae and prospective families. Alumnae guests signed this colourful poster (below), designed by branch co-chair Po Ping TSO Lo’73, which will be framed and hung in the new Athletics and Wellness Centre next year.
Alumnae and guests from the Vancouver area met and mingled at the home of Lisa DAWICK Hudson’92, who graciously hosted the event.
Branksome past parents Angela and Bryan Gransden hosted a reception for Canadian friends of Sherborne School for Girls (SSG) at their Toronto home. The event was attended by Jenny Dwyer, Headmistress of SSG. Here, Angela Gransden, second from left, chats with Bridget GREGSON Lawson’42, Charlotte EMPRINGHAM’63 and Roz Heintzman (mother of Molly, a Branksome SSG exchange student).
March 5
Three panelists from various backgrounds and industries opened up with stories about their lives and experiences to an intimate group of 30 women.
Lindsey DELUCE Ball’99, news anchor with CP24 Breakfast and Morning News, led the discussion.
Ania RUSSOCKI Lindenbergs’88, Senior Executive Director, Advancement Communications and Marketing at the University of Toronto, spoke of how a linear career is unnatural, and how she feels her life has been like a series of chapters. As more women reassess, change, and return to the workforce, they are “leap-
frogging,” starting over, or taking a few steps back. Our decisions are shaped by our experiences, each impacting the next.
Sarah WILEY’84, the Executive Director of Outward Bound Canada, said Branksome was where her journey began.
The community and relationships she formed while in school are those she still relies on today. Her love of travel also came into play when she found her passion in Kathmandu.
Andrea STAIRS’93, Country Manager at eBay Canada, joked about eating Lean Cuisine at 11 p.m. and calling that “the best time of my day,” before realizing
The event was hosted by the Branksome Hall Alumnae Association in partnership with Women In The Now, a Toronto networking group for professional women.
Guest speaker Susan Kim-Kirkland, President and CEO of JWT Canada, explained how a person and a company both have “product” benefits, or skills, to offer. Both companies and individuals can identify what they are good at, why they’re useful, their traits, their characteristics, and finally their “essence.”
The evening was attended by 80 professional women who left with new ideas of how to evaluate one’s personal self and the importance of growth and change through the course of one’s life. I
Read the full stories of both events at www.branksome.on.ca/news
Enjoying social time prior to the panel discussion:
(top photo) Lindsey DELUCE Ball’99, Deputy Principal Karrie Weinstock, Andrea STAIRS’93 and Katie McCABE’03.
(lower photo) Laura GIBSON’00, Karen NESBITT’00, Robin McCABE’00, Kelly DRINKWATER’00 and Caitlin GOSSAGE’01.
she was headed in the wrong direction career-wise. A thirst for challenges led Andrea to switch from a major in industrial relations to medieval history, before entering a career in finance and then marketing. I
Women from three different decades tell why they support Branksome
Jennifer MILSOM Stephenson’63
Branksome is where I learned to be my true self,” says Jennifer MILSOM Stephenson’63, reflecting on the school’s supportive environment, which helped her to develop confidence and many lifelong friends.
As one of two class representatives, Jennifer was very active in bringing these friends together to celebrate their 50th reunion last year. They rejoiced in seeing each other, sharing memories and catching up on the unique paths their lives have taken. Jennifer calls them a “spirited group,” who got up to many adventures when they were at Branksome.
The school’s commitment to public service is important to Jennifer. “When I was a student, the philosophy of community involvement reinforced my family’s values,” says Jennifer, “and those lessons have had a lasting impact. I’m happy to see that volunteering and community service are still an integral part of the school.”
While Jennifer enjoys seeing Branksome’s traditions and ceremonies continue, she is very supportive of the way the school is growing in new areas, such as the establishment of the Branksome Hall Asia campus on Jeju Island, South Korea.
“I’m an active proponent of Branksome and will continue to stay involved so that my connection to the school remains strong,” she says. I
How many 20-something women can boast driving a 26-foot truck across Canada?
Katie REIFFENSTEIN’04 has done this—not once, but twice!
When Katie entered Branksome in Grade 10, she connected instantly with the place that nurtured her free spirit and enabled her to gain an amazing group of wonderful friends. “I call on my Branksome experiences every day,” says Katie.
“On graduation day, I remember the thrill of accomplishment and the sense of camaraderie at what the future would hold for the Class of 2004. I took that energy with me to Guelph University, and later, took on challenges and risks I never thought I would.”
Ever the adventurer, Katie has travelled widely, taking exciting opportunities to connect with Branksome’s community throughout the world. Backpacking through Italy, she met up with Vittoria SOLANO’84; she was welcomed into Vittoria’s home and learned how to prepare an authentic Italian risotto—accompanied, of course, by Italian wine and great conversation.
Katie is now Brand Experience Manager at Vibrant Ideation & Marketing in Toronto, and is a Reunion Rep for the Class of 2004.
“It’s natural that I support the school because the Branksome community has given me so much,” says Katie. “I am thrilled to be part of this community and excited for the school’s future.” I
When I heard about Branksome’s expansion into South Korea,” says Evelyn HOWDEN Tomlinson’48, “I knew right away that I wanted to support this new endeavour and to be a part of an exciting new era in Branksome’s history.”
In the summer before Grade 10, Evelyn attended camp with a group of Branksome students who were war guests from England. She was so impressed with their character that she immediately asked her parents if she could enrol at
Branksome. Evelyn gets excited thinking back to that time: “What a wonderful decision that turned out to be!” she says. “I met so many incredible young women and received an excellent education that prepared me for years to come.”
While Evelyn’s classmates have taken different paths, their Branksome experiences “provide the glue” that binds them together.
“I’ve continued to follow Branksome with great joy and I’m impressed with how the school has grown,” says Evelyn. “My education at Branksome played a crucial role in helping me develop my personality, and I love to help a new generation of girls enjoy the same experience.” I
take pART lived up to its reputation of being an “evening of culture and surprises,” as art lovers mingled at the popular event hosted by the Alumnae Association.
The show was held on October 9 in the modern venue of Snell Hall in downtown Toronto. Art enthusiasts lined up well before the show opened in the hope of being the first to purchase one or more of the artworks on display.
This year, with all proceeds going to support Branksome’s new Athletics and Wellness Centre, exhibits included work by prominent Toronto artists such as Michael Adamson and Charles Pachter.
“The new, curated section added an exciting aspect to the event,” said Sarah MERRY’89, the show’s Curator and Art Liaison.
Dozens of mystery artworks, featuring smaller works by local artists, were also flying off the wall.
Guests bid on silent auction items, which included the latest luxurious textiles donated by interior designer Sarah Richardson, a weekend escape package to Chicago, compliments of Fairmont Hotels International, and travel to New York City on Porter Airlines.
“We are just thrilled by the success of the event,” said Christie GORRIE Chapman’96, event co-chair. “It is our mission to bring together Branksome’s diverse and accomplished community of alumnae while supporting the school. I think we accomplished that through this year’s event.”
A huge thank you to the organizing committee, the sponsors, the silent auction donors and everyone who contributed to the success of take pART 2013! I
Read more and see the video/photos at branksome.on.ca/news.
take pART has become one of Branksome Hall’s signature fundraising events and, this year, raised over $37,000 for the Athletics and Wellness Centre.
01 Geeta SAINI’95, left, one of take pART’s Presenting Sponsors, chats with classmate Deena PANTALONE’95.
02 Richard and Angela Colterjohn (parents of Annabel, Grade 12).
03 A trendy raincoat by Trout Rainwear, textiles donated by Sarah Richardson, a Hudson’s Bay blanket and travel to New York City on Porter Airlines were some of the silent auction items.
04 Moms and daughters, from left: Katie McCABE Cheesbrough’03, Robin McCABE’00, Carol McClelland McCABE’68, Melanie LANGILL’03 and Caroline Langill.
05 Classmates from 2003: Grace LEUNG, Melanie LANGILL, Rita STUART and Amy SISAM catch up with Branksome’s Andrew Koshurin.
take pART COMMITTEE
Christie GORRIE Chapman’96, Co-chair
Jessica ZACKHEIM Hurwitz’95, Co-chair
Sarah MERRY’89 Curator and Art Liaison
Jamie Day FLECK’00
Shannon LEWIS’96
Sally PITFIELD’84
Geeta SAINI’95
Jennifer SULLIVAN Willmot’95
THANK YOU TO OUR CORPORATE SPONSORS!
AND THANK YOU STUDIO SPONSORS…
Heather CARTWRIGHT’88
Emma LOEWEN’88
Laura LOEWEN Patton’84
GRAPHIC DESIGN SPONSOR
WYC Creative
PATRONS
Cawthra Burns
Chalcraft Custom Builders
Barb DUNLOP Mohammad’70
Christie GORRIE Chapman’96
Sarah Grant
Lisa HALLISEY Orr’97
Eileen McCONNELL Farrow’81
Olga Melnyk
Gwen Morgan
Deena PANTALONE’95
Zuzana Pederson
Sally Pitfield Interiors Inc.
Julie Soloway
Zahra Valani
Nancy C. Vincent
Suzanne Winton
Caroline Young
Jessica ZACKHEIM Hurwitz’95
Branksome Hall
Advancement Office
Norah DEACON Matthews’98
Dana DELUCE’96
Lindsey DELUCE Ball’99
Kelly DRINKWATER’00
Laura GIBSON’00
Judi Gray
Dana POSTROZNY Mitchell’99
Jeannette SEYMOUR’94
Andréa Tufts
Melanie WALKER’96
Hubie YU’08
PARTICIPATING ARTISTS
Michael Adamson
Katherine Bellman
Amy Billinghurst
Maggie Broda
Ian Busher
Brendan Cathcart
Radha Chaddah
Deb Chaney
Carrie Chisholm
Angie Colalillo
Nicole Crellin
Judy DePassio
Lorraine Dycke
Pauline WAIT Ferguson’92
Rosanna Filazzola
Jamie Day FLECK’00
Pamela Franks
Lynn Fraser
Melanie Gausden
Sara Golish
Christine Griffiths
Laurier Harrison
Beverley Hawksley
Jon Jarro
Amy Jones
Anja KARISIK’05
Ciba Karisik
Melody-Blue Klassen
Leanne Lang
Susan Lapp
Marie-Andree Lasalle
Eric Laurin
Lisa RAEBURN Laurin’90
Elizabeth Lennie
Ellyn SENNEMA Lusis’95
Lorette Luzajic
Alison Lynch
Juli Lyons
Gillian Marr
David Marshak
Marjan Mazaheri
Christine Mazzulla
Robert McAffee
06 Interior Designer and TV Host Sarah Richardson, left, chats with Tara Fingold and Richard Librach.
07 Greg McLeish, left and Sarah McLeish (far right), parents of Scarlett in Grade 1, chat with Heather CARTWRIGHT’88 (second from right) and her partner, Hilary Wyche.
08 Principal Karen Jurjevich catches up with alumnae from 1999. From left: Ruth DORFMAN, Darci MacPHEE and Lindsey DELUCE Ball.
09 take pART artist Diane Volgyesi and Angelo Zaccheo enjoy scrumptious hors d’oeuvres provided by Daniel et Daniel Catering.
10 Classmates from 1989, from left: contributing artist Pauline WAIT Ferguson, Melony JAMIESON, Katie LITTLE Roland and Jane TAYLOR Durno.
11 From left: Tim Matthews, contributing artist Norah DEACON Matthews’98, Ashley GORRIE Ayers’99 and Fraser Chapman.
David McDonough
Mehrad Meraji
Sarah MERRY’89
Betsy Miller
Lisa Ng
Rhonda Nolan
Charles Pachter
Lisa Perlman
Andrew Peycha
Rundi Phelan
Ali PITFIELD’07
Adrienne Marcus Raja
Allison ROACH’51
Jeffrey Robinson
Kim Rodenkirchen
Sharon Ruttonsha
Christel Scott
Stephanie SEAGRAM’88
Pixie Shaw
Beverli Shearer
Jodi Shuster
Ana Silva
Marie Stauch-Sweeny
Robin Styba
Siobhan Sweeny
Tyler Tilley
Ordo Tinmagus
Michael Toole
Diane Volgyesi
Kerry Walford
Jennifer Wardle
Ron Wild
Alice Zilberberg
2013 Allison Roach Alumna Award: Miranda de PENCIER’87
ONE NIGHT DURING GRADE 10, MIRANDA de Pencier was playing the part of Anne in a Branksome Hall production of the stage musical Anne of Green Gables. In the audience, not by chance, was Diane Polley, a prominent Toronto casting director (and mother of actress/director Sarah Polley), who was looking for young actresses for the upcoming film version of the classic Canadian novel. Polley asked Miranda to come to an audition, which she did, dressed in her Branksome uniform (“That’s what I wore everywhere,” she laughs). Miranda was cast as Anne’s “mean girl” classmate, Josie Pye, in Kevin Sullivan’s 1985 hit TV movie, and later reprised the role in two sequels.
So began, at Branksome, a stellar career in the arts in which Miranda has moved from successful actress to high-powered independent film producer. In 2012, Beginners, an acclaimed movie she produced, served up an Academy Award for her friend Christopher Plummer as Best Supporting Actor. Her latest production, Thanks for Sharing, was released in September starring marquee names Mark Ruffalo, Gwyneth Paltrow, Tim Robbins and the singer Pink. And she made her directorial debut with a 17-minute short based in the Canadian Arctic, Throat Song, which won a 2013 Canadian Screen Award— Canada’s equivalent of an Oscar.
So what, exactly, does a movie producer do? “I never know how to answer the question succinctly,” she says. “I feel a producer is an editor, an artist, a parent, a union boss, a lawyer, an accountant, a friend, a promoter— it just goes on! I’m an independent producer, so my hands are in every part of it. My biggest job is to serve the director’s vision, but there are a million things I do to make that happen.”
Her performing credits include a season on TV’s Street Legal and a spot at 19 in the original Toronto cast of Les Misérables, as well
as parts in theatrical and TV movies. But in the mid-1990s, she turned to stage and film producing and by 2000, her path was clearly set: Robert Redford’s production company hired her to run development. Two years later, she started her own firm, Northwood Productions. She has teamed up with such A-list Hollywood producers as Steven Soderbergh and George Clooney and, like them, she favours movies with substance. “I like to think I’m making stuff that’s entertaining first. But I also want them to be inspiring
films that create awareness and, hopefully, social change.” Her productions have tackled such compelling topics as loose nukes, addiction and Asperger’s Syndrome (in the award-winning feature Adam), as well as poverty and domestic abuse.
Miranda, who volunteers as an advocate for foster children in Los Angeles family law courts, feels she developed a strong sense of duty, purpose and responsibility at Branksome. She’s especially delighted to receive an award named for former principal Allison Roach, whom she regards as a mentor and trailblazer. “She was such a force when I was there, such a strong-minded, smart woman who is very much her own person.” In other words, a lot like the profile of a successful independent film producer. I
2013 Young Alumna Achievement Award: Dilnoor PANJWANI’01
INDONESIA, MASSIVE FLOODING IN PAKISTAN, catastrophic earthquake in Haiti—Dilnoor Panjwani was there.
Not quite when the storms were raging or the earth shaking. As an expert in disaster recovery and resettlement, Dilnoor assesses the local and international response. On the ground, she has helped entire villages function better after a terrible event. And in her academic work, she is reshaping some traditional thinking about how governments and aid groups should deal with a disaster.
Dilnoor takes a holistic approach, looking at all the factors that make a successful, sustainable and more resilient post-disaster community. “Traditionally, recovery is more about the physical—rebuilding the houses, rehabilitating the buildings, getting the economy moving,” Dilnoor says. “I’m looking
at it as also reconnecting the social fabric and reviving the essence of communities. It’s just as much about rebuilding the human spirit as it is the buildings.”
So what is one of the most underused resources she taps into to learn about the needs of a group of survivors? No surprise: the women.
Dilnoor finds that women’s views are often overlooked or ignored in societies where men hold sway. But when it comes to re-establishing a community, it’s the nurturers who tend to have the most sophisticated insights. “A woman’s perspective of recovery is very different than a man’s,” she notes.
Take Banda Aceh, the city in northern Sumatra where the horrific Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami of 2004 hit hardest. In 2011, she met a group of women who had
taken the lead in finding new land to settle on. “They essentially rebuilt an entire community, which is now quite tight and prosperous, because people bought into it rather than being arbitrarily sent there.”
In northwest Pakistan, where in 40-degree heat she dressed fully covered save for her eyes, Dilnoor found that women needed much more information about security risks and possible hazards than they were getting—“women are the first responders.”
Culturally, she is sensitive to the supportive role of religion in the approach people take to coping with disaster. She also makes good use of her linguistic talents, in work with non-government organizations that has taken her from Tajikistan and Afghanistan to Haiti and a stint at the World Bank in Washington, DC. In addition to English, she speaks French, Hindi, Urdu, Indonesian and Arabic.
Dilnoor’s work in Pakistan for the United Nations in 2012 was her second trip there for a disaster effort. Her first, in 2005, was sparked by her younger sister, Dilshaan, then a Branksome student, who wanted to help in the aftermath of an earthquake in their mother’s native country. All four Panjwani sisters have attended Branksome: Dilnaz’99, Dilnoor, Dilzayn’05 and Dilshaan’10, who was Head Girl.
Dilnoor, who was yearbook editor, says Branksome has given her a strong foundation in creative thinking and leadership. “The idea of women becoming leaders was a big aspect of the Branksome environment that I have taken with me wherever I have travelled,” she says. “And coming up with new solutions, thinking outside the box. No idea is a bad idea—that’s what Branksome taught me.”
The Queen’s University grad, who did her master’s at the London School of Economics and Political Science, recently defended her own ideas in a doctoral dissertation at the University of British Columbia; she now holds a PhD in risk management planning. Currently based in Toronto, she and her husband will soon decide where to go next in a very risky world that badly needs her skills. I
Congratulations to Flavia ELLIOTT Redelmeier, who received the Distinguished Service Award last May—the highest honour Toronto’s Royal Ontario Museum can bestow on a volunteer for “extraordinary and meritorious service.”
Joan LANGLOIS King and husband Michael held an afternoon open house at a local hall to celebrate their 60th anniversary with residents of Englehart, ON. Later, a champagne dinner with family included her sister Grace LANGLOIS Kammerer’54 and her husband Henry. When holidaying at Lake of Bays during the summer, Joan and Michael had the
Stephanie MACDONALD Liversidge’64 (Bristol, England) was in Toronto last spring for her mother’s memorial service. She visited Branksome on May 2, 2013.
Getting caught up at take pART on October 9 are, from left, Carol McCLELLAND McCabe’68, Elizabeth RUSE Deacon’68 and Penny PLANT
pleasure of spending time with Mary Louise EDMONDS Clements’49 and her husband Jack. In November, after 56 years in Englehart, the Kings sold their home and moved to a condo in Kingston, ON, where her daughter Kathryn and family live.
Luci DECK Shaw emailed: I have written over 30 books of essays and poetry and have two new books scheduled for publication this winter: Adventure of Ascent: Field Notes from a Lifelong Journey
(InterVarsity Press); and SCAPE, new poems (Wipf and Stock). In April 2013, I was awarded the Denise Levertov Award from Seattle Pacific University for “sustained engagement in creative writing in the Judeo Christian tradition.” I continue to travel widely to lecture at universities and writers’ conferences. I remember my Branksome days with fondness and am grateful that I was made to learn all the irregular verbs in French class! I am thrilled to see the expansion and fruitfulness of the
school and its alumnae. www.lucishaw.com
Senator Nancy RUTH’60 has joined forces with Margaret Atwood, Kim Campbell, Sally Goddard and Senator Vivienne Poy to make our national anthem gender inclusive. You can find, on Facebook, soprano Allison Angelo performing the anthem (the genderinclusive version) at the Canadian Arab Institute’s gala, held on October 30, 2013, at the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto. For
Murch’66. Classmates from 1968 at a mini-reunion dinner in Pickering on April 15 are, from left, Shelley LAMBE, Judy BEDFORD-JONES, Marywinn MILNE, Sue DEACON Potter and Marnie McKENZIE Bracht. Annabel BEGG Stokes’61, right, and Patricia ELLIOTT Smith’61 met for lunch in Sun City, Palm Desert, CA last year. They had a lot to catch up on, as it had been over 50 years since they graduated.1943 Alumnae celebrate their 70th reunion at the luncheon on April 28.
Standing: Elizabeth FALCONER Brooke, Eleanor COATSWORTH Kerfoot, Marion COSFORD Holley. Seated: Elspeth ABBEY Johnson and Brenda CRUIKSHANK Reid.
From left: Flavia ELLIOTT Redelmeier, Marion COSFORD Holley and Francesca HARRISON Fullerton.
more information, visit www.restoreouranthem.ca.
Suzy YARKER Yocum and Sherry GRIFFITHS are the coordinators for the next catch-up luncheon at the Miller Tavern in May 2014. A firm date will be emailed in January. To make sure you are on the email list, please contact Sherry at sgruffydd@sympatico.ca, or Suzy at suzyyocom@ hotmail.com.
What an exciting year for the class of 1963—our fabulous 50th! Thirty ‘sweet young things’ gathered at the school for the celebration—and what a great group of fabulous women it was, all sharing wonderful tales and memories! Can you believe that Patricia STOCKS Nicholas travelled from the UK and Faith HARRINGTON Garriock came from Vancouver to be with us—we were honoured!
As you know, to celebrate this milestone reunion, our class donations went to refurbish the Donna FRENCH’63 stained glass window located in the Senior School, and to spruce up the bench, in memory of Sue THORBURN Hutton’63, which is located on Ribbit’s Path leading to the lower field. It was very moving to see both the window and the bench as it brought back very fond memories.
1948 Alumnae enjoying their 65th reunion at the luncheon on April 28 are, from left, Muriel STEWART Beatty’48, Marg Ann ROBERTSON Van Wyck’49, Muriel’s daughter Christina, Sally DALTON Wallace’48 and Naomi INGLIS MacDonald’48.
At the pre-dinner reception on April 27, are, above, from left: Terry TAYLOR Mactaggart, Dorothy DAMON Abbott and Linda AMES Whitfield.
Above, right: Gillian DAVIES Mason, left, and Donna GRAHAM Munro.
Taking in the tranquility of Ribbit’s Path during reunion weekend and seated on the bench named in memory of classmate Sue THORBURN Hutton’63 are, from left, Penny LOWNDES Elliott, Jennifer MILSOM Stephenson, Patricia STOCKS Nichols and Elizabeth McLEAN.
At the Sunday luncheon on April 28 are, from left, Patricia STOCKS Nicholas (Etchilhampton, England), Nancy SAVAGE Martin (Victoria Harbour, ON), Beverley RUSSELL Burton, Penny LOWNDES Elliott, Dorothy DAMON Abbott, Jennifer MILSOM Stephenson, Judy MOORE MacIntosh and Elizabeth McLEAN (Sutton West, ON).
The Donna FRENCH’63 stained glass window was created in 1964 and refurbished 50 years later by her classmates.
OVER THE PAST several years, my daughters have enjoyed competing around the world. Most recently, they all qualified for the World Triathlon Championships in London, England, held during the weekend of September 14–15, 2013.
We headed off to the U.K. and, together with a Canadian team of 400 athletes, four of my five daughters competed in Hyde Park at the site of the 2012 Olympics.
The police closed off downtown London (Horse Guards and all) while the athletes swam in Serpentine Lake, cycled around Buckingham Palace and Westminster, and ran in Hyde Park. Everybody was wearing their red Canadian track vests. Lots of cheering for Canada!
All four WILEYs (Jane’77, Kate’81, Alison’82, Sarah’84) finished in the top ten of their respective age groups. Daughter Bridget’78, who is preparing
to run the Boston Marathon next spring, flew over to surprise us all at our Paris celebration dinner.
Many colleagues have asked how we managed to build a “family track team.” It was pure coincidence. We had children close in age and, with the assistance of the girls’ brother Hugh, who at the time was a student at Upper Canada College, all six shared an interest in track and competition. The girls received tremendous support from Branksome Hall in their formative years and they all had excellent coaching from Rodger Wright at Upper Canada College, who advised and mentored them.
That weekend last September was a shining moment for my family.
Dr. Murray Wiley remains connected to Branksome through granddaughter Kate (daughter of Alison), who is in Grade 8.
We now look forward to 2018 and seeing even more of us at our 55th!
Lynda MALCOLMSON Mitchell
Jennifer MILSOM Stephenson
1969
Coline DAY Bettson emailed: Having led a very full life, I neglected to nourish friendships. Now, at 63, I find I was foolish. I lived outside of Toronto since
1980. Now, I will never live anywhere else. The city dazzles. We are in a Harbourfront condo and I feel like a queen! Please contact me if you are in the area. cebettson@gmail.com
When attending a party in Mexico City in October, Chantal RAMSAY had no idea hostess Jane MASON’84 was an alumna.
Carol PIERCE’79 and Andrea SVENNINGSON Fraser’79 take in the Calgary Stampede last July, just weeks after the worst flooding in the city’s history. Days after the flooding, which did not directly impact either alumna, Carol emailed: I have never been more proud of this city’s tireless civic spirit than I am now…and, at the end of the day, there is no one better able to move dirt than a cowboy from Alberta! Our boys will git ’er done!
Through conversation, she learned that Samantha SHARPE’89, another of Jane’s guests, had also attended Branksome. See photo opposite.
Marian MACBRIEN McCormick became a first-time grandmother with the birth of Finnley Paige Guyrek last May 6. Marian and her immediate family have lived for over 30 years in Saskatchewan, and the former Branksome Sports Captain is still into sports coaching in her spare time, along with volunteering on the boards of Saskatchewan Volleyball and Regina Volleyball.
Theresa KEMP lives in Nassau, Bahamas, and was
appointed to the Caribbean Women’s Entrepreneur Network by the Secretary’s Office of Global Women’s Issues, U.S. Department of State.
Fashion designer Brynda KNOWLES has promoted Bahamian culture and tourism as a People to People host for 30 years. See her on YouTube at Brynda Knowles People to People.
Andie DUNCAN emailed: I have a humour column in Village Living Magazine called Mum’s The Word, which is fed by my blog of the same name. andieduncan.com villagelivingmagazine.ca/ mums-the-word/
Rebecca UPJOHN Snyder’s new book for children, The Secret of the Village Fool, is the true story of an unexpected hero and has been nominated for the
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Katie TRUSLER Ward lives in Aurora and enjoys a thriving sterling silver jewellery business that she started eight years ago. She is involved in numerous craft shows and private parties as well as ladies’ day events at all the private ski clubs in Collingwood. katewarddesigns.ca
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2014 Ontario Library Association Forest of Reading readers’ choice Silver Birch Express and Golden Oak Awards. The story is about Anton Suchinski, a man living in a village in Poland, who risks his own life to save the lives of two Jewish boys, their parents and two orphaned young Jewish women during the Holocaust by hiding them in a hand-dug hole underground. It is recommended for Grades 3 to 6 and includes a section about what happened to everyone after the war. www.rebeccaupjohn.com.
Cecile OLAH Sly’83 is passionately devoted to making her dreams come true. With the networking help of Senator Nancy RUTH’60, she connected with Helen Kennedy at EGALE Canada to work on creating a Canada-wide accredited LGBTQ
journalism program. Together with Diane Heffernan, President of the Quebec LGBT Council, and Leonard Jordaan of the LGBT Association of Baie-des-Chaleurs, Cecile is working to launch a Canada-wide bilingual LGBT magazine. Cecile looks forward to living in Gaspésie with her spouse and teaching feminist lesbian writing.
Mèreadesso, owned and operated by Linda SCHABEREITER Stephenson, has entered into a unique partnership with iconic Canadian brand, Roots. What began as an in-store Mother’s Day promotion quickly developed into a
limited edition co-branded vintage leather wristlet that contained samples of some of Linda’s star products. Watch for another exclusive Roots and Mèreadesso offering—you never know when the next one may be! www.mereadesso.com
Jane MASON has a B.A. from McGill and an M.A. from the University of Toronto. In 1990, she moved to London, U.K. and completed her M.B.A. at the London Business School in 1993. Jane worked as a strategy consultant and was a partner at Monitor Group from 2000–05, then went freelance. In 2010, she set up Virtuous Bread, which is a “social enterprise” that uses bread as a catalyst for positive social change. She became a professional bread baker and has published two cookbooks—All You
Knead Is Bread and The Book of Buns. For the past two years, Jane has lived between London and Mexico City, running her business and doing consulting work in both places. She is married to
LINDSEY HALL YESKOO’78 has had many homes: her husband Paul is a U.S. diplomat. In 2003, while the family was posted in Shanghai, their daughter Emily became ill and was medically evacuated back to Washington. There, she was diagnosed with a rare neuro-degenerative disease known as MLD. The white matter in her brain had begun to disintegrate rapidly, leaving her mind intact but rendering the rest of her body unable to respond properly to messages from her brain. She could not swallow, eat, drink, speak or be mobile. Yet through it all, says Lindsey, Emily maintained an incredible spirit.
In 2005, Paul gained a threeyear posting to the U.S. Consulate in Toronto. The State Department accepted that Emily—a Canadian like Lindsey and the couple’s other two children—would be able to receive topnotch care at the renowned Hospital for Sick Children.
In 2008, Emily came the closest ever to losing her life. But her incredible will brought her through, says Lindsey. Amazed physicians at SickKids offered Emily an unusual and medically risky feeding system to try to keep her alive. She responded so well that she began to thrive again. Now 20, she lives happily at home with her family and receives round-the-clock care, primarily from Lindsey.
Emily’s seemingly miraculous story has inspired people all over the world, and her name now graces Toronto’s first home for children with
life-threatening illnesses. Emily’s House, which opened last June, is a state-of-theart hospice on the redeveloped grounds of the former Don Jail in Riverdale. It spaciously accommodates 10 children and their families in a nurturing, stimulating environment, working in cooperation with the Advanced Care Team at SickKids. Lindsey says Emily wells up with joy every time she visits. Because Emily’s treatment is available only from SickKids, the family remains in Toronto while Paul continues with his international postings, currently in convenient Ottawa. Lindsey regularly speaks and writes about Emily, and recently took up yoga as a means, she says, of caring for herself as well.
www. philipazizcentre.ca/emilys-house
Paige AUSTIN, husband Corey Tucker and their three children love life in St. John’s, NL, where Paige works in medical speech pathology. Last summer, the family backpacked through Scotland and spent several days on the remote Isle of Iona.
Tori BARTON, husband Cam and four kids moved back to Toronto from London, U.K. Tori started her own executive search firm, MorinBarton, and is loving it. Tori lives blocks from Trish and Fuffie, whom she sees all the time.
Karen BHATT has been living in Orillia for the past 10 years. After an incredible career with Disney, Karen left the corporate world behind in 2012 to pursue a dream of owning her own bakery. The Tea Cozy is doing well and she is a fixture at the Orillia Farmers’ Market. Last summer, Karen went camping with Stacey EVANS’89 and their respective children.
Melanie BRIGHT lives in Guildford, U.K. (about 35 minutes south of London), where she is Head of Marketing and Communications for an infrastructure services firm. She is mom to Abigail, 12, and Mathilde, 8. Melanie has been a local borough councillor for six years and also sings in a folk and country band.
Barbara BROWN continues to run her chiropractic business in Bloor West Village, but has also opened a practice in Collingwood. She is an avid cyclist and enjoys spending time on the escarpment.
Pippa AIRD has returned to Toronto after living and working in Holland. She is quickly climbing the corporate ladder at BMO. She’s a huge talent (no surprise) and has two kids.
Susan ARCHER Taylor lives in Toronto with husband Michael and their three kids (Alexandra, 14, Robert, 11 and Andrew, 7). Susan has a home business as a medical editor/writer and has been very lucky to have travelled a lot in recent years. Mike and Susan enjoy cycling and running.
Nicola BLEASBY is in Cologne, Germany, working at Deutsche Telekom, where she arranges commercial terms and business model innovations for companies that want to enter the mobile space with their own mobile proposition. Lots of travel, challenges and loving the German autobahn with no speed limit, but, even with all that excitement, her heart is still in Amsterdam, where she has lived since 1999.
Betsy BROWN is a senior finance professional who is currently managing segment strategy for a large U.S. pension business. She lives in Toronto with her six-year-old daughter in the same neighbourhood where she grew up but spends weekends at their farm outside of Peterborough. Betsy also has a small residential landscape design business when time allows. She will be on a Caribbean getaway this February with a group of Branksome friends.
Wendy CLUBB lives in Montreal with her son Henry, 6. She is the Office Manager for Datacratic, a software company. She is on the board for Repercussion Theatre, which is Montreal’s version of Shakespeare in the Park. Wendy and Henry like to spend weekends in the Eastern Townships, especially skiing in winter.
Caroline CUMMING went to McGill for a B.Sc. and York University for an M.Sc. in Physics & Astronomy but ultimately ended up working in finance. She moved to New York in 1999 for a job in market risk management at Goldman Sachs but “retired” two years ago to spend time with the kids.
Caroline and husband Scott Jacobson live in Summit, NJ with kids Luke, 7, Chloe, 4, and Hannah, 4.
Helen DEMPSTER and her family live in Muskoka year-round. Helen is still practising rural family medicine in Huntsville and husband Anthony is an ER doc in Bracebridge. They have a busy household—Graham started high school this year, and Fiona and Ben are 11 and 8 respectively.
Last May, Carolyn DENNIS left Dundee Capital Markets, where she was a senior equity analyst covering the mining and fertilizer sectors, which allowed her to travel across the globe. On a trip in the NWT in 2011, the float plane she was on crashed in Yellowknife and Carolyn suffered a shattered pelvis. After a few months in hospital in the north, she returned to work for a while but is currently taking time to recover properly before making her next career move. Beyond the gym and physio, Carolyn enjoys time with friends and family and doing a bit of travelling.
Tori DOUGLAS Newall and husband Dave have two boys and a girl, and all can be found at the rink during the week and on the slopes on the weekends. Tori co-chaired the Toronto Toy Tea for three years and is busy with other volunteer activities across the GTA.
Ali DRUMMOND, her partner Katja and their daughter Luca Bella spent the first half of 2013 in the Philippines and Thailand, and the rest of the year in BC, mainly Salt Spring Island. They look forward to settling down in rural Ontario in 2014. Ali is expecting a second baby in March.
Kendall ELDER Peart and husband Jeremy live in Toronto’s west end with their boys, Lincoln, Sawyer and Miller. Kendall is climbing the corporate ladder in the insurance industry and enjoys boxing and swimming. She
participated in her first team triathlon last summer, as the swimmer.
Melissa FELDMAN lives in Tel Aviv and left office life to start her own business as an independent educational writer/editor and a pedagogical consultant. Having been long enough in the field to develop a decent reputation, she now works for several educational publishing companies from the comfort of her own home. She is considering a move back to Toronto in the future.
Jacquie FENNER Harnack and husband Nick have been in England for 17 years and have three girls and a boy (ages 12, 10, 7 and 5). For several years, Jacquie has been developing her novelty cake business (sugarpastefairy.com) and loves this creative outlet while the kids are at school. She doesn’t return to Canada very often anymore
(six plane tickets!) but is hoping to make it to the reunion.
Stacey FOX lives in Toronto’s west end with two rescue cats. She is an online coordinator at Gaggi Media.
Stephanie FULFORD moved to Burlington with her husband Martin. She recently changed positions and loves her new role in communications with Mackenzie Investments.
Andrea GARE is a Riverdale resident with both kids in grade school. She is managing renovations big and small, after spending the last 10 years working part time. Andrea loves her travels to California and New York to visit family and friends.
Sarah GARROW and husband Philippe live in downtown Toronto with their son, Anton, 7, who is flourishing at UCC.
Lisa GIBSON Titley lives just down the street from Branksome and works as a wealth advisor at Scotia McLeod. She has been doing a fair amount of travel which generates new subject matter for her photography hobby.
Sara HANCOCK Charlton is a home decor designer/buyer and mother of Abigail, 12, Sam, 10, Lucy, 7, and Wyatt, 5. She married Ian Charlton in 1999 and lives in Richmond Hill. She is carrying on her late
mother’s business and legacy within Candym Enterprises out of Markham. Sara travels regularly to China and the Far East for work, which keeps her connected to and grateful for the life she knew growing up as an expat family in Hong Kong. Sara loves being an art/ hockey/dance/soccer mom.
Kathy HASLETT Salter and her husband Greg live in the Yonge/Lawrence area with their son and daughter. Kathy works full time and enjoys running to stay fit.
Jodi HEARD Seguin and her husband Roger will be married 20 years next year and have moved to Stouffville, ON with their two kids, now 17 and 13. Jodi is the Executive Administrator for Trimark Sportswear. In 2013, Jodi and her daughter Lauryn appeared on Dragon’s Den to pitch their clothing line called “Skirts on Top.” While the line is still in its infancy, the experience of working on this project with her daughter has been invaluable.
Katie HEWAT lives in Toronto’s west end, where she was born and raised. She is thriving in her role as a senior project manager at Blast Radius. She is passionate about tennis and is a crazy basketball fan, attending as many games as she can. Katie is looking forward to an upcoming sabbatical and planning a trip to Africa.
by Ann DOWSETT Johnston’71
DeeDee HUGHES keeps in touch from Ireland, where she is mom to Olivia, 18, and doing her A levels, and Nathaniel, 9, and attending P5 at a primary school in Carrickfergus. DeeDee completed a post-graduate diploma in Health Psychology and went to London to work on producing her song, Long Time Coming, with veteran record producer and audio engineer Stuart Epps, who has worked with Elton John and George Harrison, among others. She is halfway through a three-year contract for five demos with music licensing company Music of the Sea in Chicago. Meantime, DeeDee is writing new songs, working on the production of the existing songs, and looking for other media opportunities for them. She hopes to move back to Toronto some day.
Debbie HUMENIUK and husband Shawn Whitham have two daughters, Tristanne, 16, and Savannah, 12. For 11 years, Debbie has worked for Ashley Oaks Emporium, a builder selling new homes and condominiums in Oakville, ON. She also sells re-sale properties with Town City Realty Ltd. Debbie has achieved her Level II Reiki certification and attends regular meditation classes. She loves her two dogs and the horse she part-boards and rides. Debbie’s family enjoys skiing in the winter and her girls are active in downhill racing.
YEARS AGO, I started having one or two glasses of wine in the evening. I was a busy journalist and a mother of a young son. Racing in from a long day at the office, laden with groceries, about to chop vegetables and prepare dinner, I would pour myself a glass of wine: an unhitch-the-shoulders-from-theearlobes drink to ease myself into the second shift.
Gradually, as my responsibilities grew, two glasses morphed into three. After a hard day, wine helped me make the transition from one role to another. It numbed my burgeoning anxiety and depression. And it helped me fall asleep.
And then, in a time of crisis and deep loneliness, three glasses became four. Falling asleep became passing out. And when that happened, I blew the whistle on myself: I quit drinking. I was a high-functioning alcoholic who never crashed a car, never missed work.
Kim IONSON Taylor and husband John have two daughters, Brooke and Jaime, who are in Grade 4 and Grade 1 at Deer Park Public School. Kim is a sales rep with Chestnut Park Real Estate and runs her own relocation company relo-to ltd. Kim
Still, after years of daily drinking, I was in serious trouble. I was in my fifties when this happened, going through menopause. As they say, the full catastrophe.
For a long, long time, alcohol was my able partner, providing welcome support. Many women will identify with this to some degree: how many of us have a nightly drink to unwind?
For years, I didn’t think I had a problem because my drinking didn’t look like my mother’s. But if she was the poster girl of the 70s, mixing Valium and cocktails, I am the modern poster girl: a well-educated professional who soared at work and used alcohol to downshift at night.
Turns out, I am far from alone. The new face of risky drinking is female. In fact, the richer the country, the smaller the gap between male and female consumption.
We live in an alcogenic culture. Walk into most social gatherings and the first thing you will be asked is: “Red or white.” We are expected to know our wines, and we are expected to handle our liquor.
Fair enough. But how many of us have really absorbed the low-risk drinking guidelines? How many of us appreciate that our gender has become the target of alcohol marketers? We have our very own feminized drinking culture, with wines like Girls’ Night Out, Mommyjuice and Cupcake. How many of us appreciate that alcohol is a carcinogen, implicated in 15 percent of breast cancer cases? And how many of us appreciate that we are closing the gender gap on risky drinking—fast?
This is why I wrote my new book. Drink: The Intimate Relationship Between Women and Alcohol is part memoir, part journalistic examination of a global epidemic in women’s drinking. This is why I launched the National Roundtable on Girls, Women and Alcohol this year, along with the Canadian Women’s Health Network. Are we having an adult conversation about our favourite drug? I don’t think so. As intelligent, educated girls and women, it’s time we started.
is also director of client relations at Oxford Learning’s Rosedale and Forest Hill locations.
Vanessa IRWIN Watson is married and has two girls. The family lives in Alconbury, Cambridgeshire, U.K. and recently enjoyed a
visit with Sarah WALKER Mander’s family in London.
Consuelo JACKMAN is raising four children, Frank, Arthur, Josephine and Harry, right across the street from Branksome! The family spent last winter studying abroad at
the Green School in Ubud, Bali, Indonesia—a life-changing experience for all of them.
Melony JAMIESON passed her name along to her son, Jamieson John “JJ” Power, 9. He is a sporty boy and Melony has enjoyed coaching him in crosscountry, track, t-ball, soccer and particularly hockey, in which they won division championships with Melony as the only female coach. Melony runs her own communications firm, Get It Done.
Aimee JOY Dearing lives on the waterfront in Windsor, Ontario with her husband of 16 years, Shawn, and their two children, William, 11, and daughter Grayson, 14. Aimee is a freelance makeup artist working in film, television and special effects.
Jennifer KELLIE has worked for the past 13 years with Canadian International Student Services (CISS), where she is Director of
Operations for the business of summer camps and language programs for international students coming to Canada. Following her dad’s passing in 2012, Jennifer received a sympathy note from an old crush from university days and they have been dating ever since. Jennifer and Bill Hawkins live together, spending as much time as possible with his two boys, ages 7 and 11, and looking forward to all the future may hold.
Katie LITTLE Roland and her husband Mike (“Mouse”) live in midtown Toronto with their two daughters, aged 10 and 8. They spend weekends up north in Mulmer and in the winter you can find them in their ski gear at Mansfield Skiways.
Jojo KIRKLAND Stephenson teaches Pilates and has her own business in the town of Cheltenham in the Cotswolds, U.K. Her husband Charlie runs a travel company called Red
Savannah. They have three kids—Felicity, 11, Alexander, 9, and Maxwell, 7.
Samantha MacDONNELL Sharp lives in Chapel Hill, NC with her husband Brian. The newlyweds live with her sons, Charlie, 13, and William, 11, and Brian’s sons, René, 17, and Ruben, 13.
Trish MAGWOOD lives in Toronto with her husband Bryce and kids Fin, 10, Liv, 8, and Charlotte, 5. Trish does commercials and endorsement work (watch for her in Target’s ads on Food and HGTV) and editorial projects for magazines such as Today’s Parent. Trish is always brewing new crazy entrepreneurial adventures—the latest is a pop-up to sell cool essentials.
www.trishmagwood.ca
Jody MacPHERSON renovated and sold her house and everything she owned, packed her things and left small-town BC to
begin a round-the-world journey. She travelled through Australia and Indonesia and is now pursuing her passion to become a yoga instructor at Yandara Yoga Institute in San Jose Baja, Mexico.
Kathy MAUCHNER is a downtown Toronto homeowner near Trinity Bellwoods Park. She works in digital media sales and loves travel and photography.
Noelle McLEISH works as an independent consultant specializing in outsourcing management. She lives in North Toronto with her little boys, Thomas and Bennett.
Sarah MERRY is an artist who works on private commissions as well as her own painting practice. She is director of Huron Street Studio, a small painting school in Toronto for all stages of artistic development and has curated the past three Branksome take pART fundraisers. Next
year, with the support and partnership of Canadian Consulates, Sarah is thrilled to be curating the second installation of parca, an exhibition of Canadian art in the United States, which she initially launched in New York.
Catherine MICKELSON
Bedford sent news from London, U.K., where she is married to Oliver and raising two daughters, Ella, 12, and Kitty, 9. Catherine heads up a family law department at a media/ entertainment firm called Lee & Thompson. The Bedfords live in the beautiful English countryside, where the girls attend Cumnor House School. They enjoy cottaging near Thunder Bay in the summer, skiing in North America and Europe in the winter, and the girls spend their spare time riding/ show jumping. (Ella would sleep in the stable if she were allowed.)
Louise MITCHELL has a successful law practice in Kingstown, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, where she lives with her children, James, 8, and Tai, 7, and stepson Chavez, 13. Louise volunteers as head of the National Trust and is passionate about preserving St. Vincent culture and heritage, including forts, petroglyphs, endangered parrots and other projects. She is also involved in an anti-whaling group with Canadian superstar Bryan Adams.
WHEN VALERIE NOEL’02 stepped onto the ferry for a 17-hour crossing from Argentia, Newfoundland to Sydney, Nova Scotia, she did not do so lightly.
“I’ve never liked boats,” she muses, reflecting on her achievement in overcoming a fear of open water she’s had for years. But, for Valerie, you have to say “yes,” especially to what scares you.
Valerie is starting a new chapter in her life. She accepted a position as a postdoctoral research associate at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire after earning her doctorate in Experimental Clinical Psychology at Memorial University in Newfoundland. Her dissertation
Catherine MOORE is an ESL teacher with a specialty in test preparation classes and drama class for advanced students. She and her husband live in Toronto’s Parkdale neighbourhood with three-year-old daughter Lils.
Anja NOPPER de Portocarrero is married and has lived in Caracas, Venezuela for eight years. In April, after a long wait, her son, Santiago
was on cognitive and behavioural variables associated with the development of depression in youth. And she passed her doctoral defence with distinction. It was at Branksome where Valerie’s passion for psychology blossomed. When asked to present a topic of her choice to her Grade 7 class, Valerie selected “The Human Brain.”
“To me, it was incomprehensible how the brain worked,” she says. “How do neurons firing lead you to see colour? How do we determine what a human face is?”
Throughout high school and into her undergraduate studies at the University of Toronto, Valerie sought out any and all information in relation to brain function and human behaviour. “I was interested in psychology without yet understanding what it really was,” she laughs, remembering when her friend showed her a psych textbook full of the kind of knowledge she hungered for. She promptly switched her biology major to psychology and hasn’t looked back.
Today she is analyzing correlations between risk factors and depressive symptoms in preadolescents. Having struggled with depression and anxiety in her teens, Valerie knew this was something she had to pursue for herself and others. “I kept my problems to myself and didn’t tell anyone, which added to the difficulty.”
She has made many interesting associations on what leads to depression. Factors such as low self-worth, a lack of good friends, poor parent and sibling relationships, or loneliness can all contribute. Stressors can compound at-risk feelings: for example, failing a test can lead a student to feel she is failing the school year. Parents and guidance counsellors can watch for signs and pursue help, if necessary.
Valerie’s humility and passion are contagious and you can tell that she loves what she does.
“My philosophy in life is you have to say ‘yes’. You never know where it will lead.”
Emmanuel Portocarrero Nopper, was born and Anja is now a full-time mom!
Darlene NORRIS and her partner, John, live together at Toronto’s Queen’s Quay and are joined by his daughters Norah, 16 and Rosy, 14 every other weekend. In August, Darlene began a fundraising job at Centennial College, raising funds for scholarships and capital projects for the Schools of
Business, Transportation, Communications, Media and Design. Dar is also a CrossFit Level 1 Trainer.
Sally OUGHTRED has been living in Squamish, BC for years. She is Head of Food and Beverage for GOLFBC, spends winters skiing in Whistler and summers golfing at Furry Creek. Sally shares her time with her partner Luke and her dog Olive.
Carmen PLESSE Duffy is living in Toronto’s Lytton Park area with her husband Paul and their boys Cameron, 15, and Cole, 12, both of whom attend St. Michael’s College. After 10 years looking after her family, Carmen now works at recruiting senior executives worldwide for Accenture Interactive. For the past five years she has been Latin dancing, and performed at the 2012 Canada Salsa Congress in front of 1,000 people. Carmen is working on a Latin Hustle routine to perform next year in Miami.
Melanie PUGLIESE lives in Aurora with her sons
Carston, 8, and Barrett, 6. She is an English teacher in Richmond Hill and has a side business in gift baskets. Melanie is interested in becoming a sommelier and has recently taking up cycling.
Iram QURAISHI has lived in London, U.K., for 15 years—working in the arts and enjoying her buzzing cultural life. She recently married a Brit, Babar Javed, and her mother says they are like “two peas in a pod.” Louise MITCHELL and Melony JAMIESON attended the wedding and agree wholeheartedly.
Leslie RICHARDSON enjoys country living on the outskirts of Dunnville, ON, with the one she loves the most, Kevin. She is a homemaker and enjoys spending time walking around their property with Brutus, a lab/husky, and Ellie, a wolf/husky. Leslie says she would never move back to the city.
Bay RYLEY is a lawyer with the Human Rights Legal Support Centre in Toronto, where she focuses on employment law. Bay and
husband Dave Seglins have two children, Amy and James.
Heather SHAW lives in an old Victorian home in Toronto with her partner Josh and their boys Sebastian, 10, and Griffin, 8. Since completing art school and for the past 20 years, Heather has had her own business, p i ‘ l o. She works out of an old coach house behind their home and feels blessed to do what she loves while being available for the boys.
Meredith SHAW Chisholm and husband David have just ended 15 years in London and, because of his work with Apple, have moved their family to Dubai. Their daughters Madeline, 10, Sydney, 8, Heidi, 5, and Elise, 2 are settling nicely into the sunny lifestyle. Visitors welcome anytime.
Patsy SMITH Bell and husband Johnny lead a healthy lifestyle in which running figures prominently. They have two children, Hadley and Hudson.
Susan SMITH is passionate about her job with the Children’s Aid Society. She, husband Jeff and children Olivia and Owen live in Toronto’s Leaside neighbourhood.
Mom to four-year old son Tej, Neysha SOODEEN is Managing Director of Toute Bagai Publishing Company, which publishes MACO Caribbean Living, the Caribbean’s retail magazine focusing on architecture, cuisine and travel. The publication is the first Caribbeanproduced magazine to be distributed internationally at major bookstores such as Barnes & Noble and
Indigo. In 2013, Neysha was the recipient of the 2013 Marcella Martinez award for her contributions to Caribbean tourism.
Kaija STEWART Pitt has worked in real estate for over 10 years, currently with Chestnut Park Real Estate. She also started a textile business with her Finnish cousin designing textiles, which Kaija sells here in Toronto. Mukula.ca will soon have a home collection that Kaija is working to get in retail stores across Canada in 2014. Kaija lives with her husband Kevin and children Dylan, 9, and Alexandra, 6.
Melissa SULLIVAN recently moved back to her hometown of St. John’s, NL.
Jane TAYLOR Durno lives in Toronto with husband Don and children Lexi, 8, Isabella, 6, and Fraser, 3. Jane is a senior development officer of major gifts and planned giving, at the Children’s Aid Foundation and works with Linton CARTER’86 and Nicole LEHOCZKY’88.
Robin TAYLOR spends summers in Muskoka, where she owns and operates a food market and home decor/gift store, theboom.ca. Toby and
Robin have two kids and have been married for 17 years. From September to June, they live in Caledon (just two minutes from the ski club), where Toby is a contractor and Robin works part time as a sales rep and buyer for the store. Robin has now fully embraced the casual vibe of country living.
Alexis THOMSON enjoys life in Kelowna, BC, where she runs a family medicine practice. Alexis and her husband Ernie and son Dylan, 9, all love to hike, bike, ski, run and camp.
Benedetta VAROLI Holmes has lived in Bedford, NS
for 10 years. She and her family love to escape to their oceanfront beach house in Fisherman’s Cove, where husband Reed surfs year-round. Their son Giovanni is 17, and daughters Emanuela and Serafina are 14 and 13 respectively.
Krista VILLIERS Flemington lives in Toronto with her husband of 17 years and daughters Hannah, 12, and Sarah, 8. Krista teaches elementary school with the Toronto District School Board and has recently published a book for teachers, entitled Journey to Literacy: No Worksheets Required.
Last summer, Lara VOLGYESI married a lovely Scottish woman at a beautiful ceremony which was attended by Heather SHAW (with son Griffin as her date) and Kelly DOBBIN.
Jane WADSWORTH Flynn, husband Matt, son Emmett and daughter Caitlyn are back in Toronto after several years living in San Francisco, Los Angeles and Calgary. Jane works as a management consultant and is enjoying her return to Branksome as a parent!
Pauline WAIT Ferguson lives in North Toronto with husband Ron and daughters, Taylor and Phoebe. Pauline is at home, but while living in New York City, she took art classes and fell in love with painting. She has contributed to Branksome’s take pART fundraiser over the past two years.
Sarah WALKER Mander and husband Richard live a bustling London, U.K., lifestyle with their boys Matthew, 5 and Charlie, 3. Sarah works full-time leasing stores in shopping centres for Hammerson. They enjoy their visits to Toronto and, last summer, Sarah and family, including Mom Marg KLEIN Walker’62 and sister Becky WALKER’93, enjoyed a trip to the east coast.
Heather WARREN Tanti and husband James live in Toronto and are busy with their children Allie, 9, Kate, 6, Matt, 5, and Emma, 2. Heather works
part time at the children’s school and volunteers with Suitcase Theatre, a not-for-profit children’s theatre group founded by the creator of Mr. Dressup.
Carolyn WEAVER has enjoyed reconnecting with Branksome friends on Facebook and crossing paths with many from her year at clubs and programs between rushing about with children’s lessons.
Jennifer WEISS lives in downtown Toronto with her partner Jorge Muniz and her daughter Olivia. Jennifer is a film producer and is building her company, The Film Farm.
Allison ZWINGENBERGER is married and living in California, where she is an associate professor teaching radiology at the University of California, Davis. She is on sabbatical this year, doing some travelling to France and Switzerland, and writing a textbook. Allison enjoys cycling and competing in triathlons.
Jennifer SYKES runs Steam Films and attributes her time at Branksome as a huge part of her success. Steam represents commercial and feature film directors from all over the world and produces TV commercials for Canada and international markets. Jennifer has run Steam for 15 years and it is recognized as one of the best companies in the world in commercial production.
Global campaigns include Nike, Louis Vuitton, Target, McDonald’s, and Budweiser, and Steam has won many international advertising awards.
Kate HILTON is Assistant Dean, Advancement, at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law. She has also written a novel, The Hole in the Middle, which recently came out in paperback. Her editor at HarperCollins is Jennifer LAMBERT.
Ros PRICE Minson lives in London, U.K. with husband Greg and children Eloise, 5, and Henry, 3. See photo on p. 48.
Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana.
Marisa WOSNICK Silver is Manager of National Programs with the Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada in the national office in Toronto.
Streisan CHAPMAN and husband Jason live in London, England. Streisan is Head of Retail at Facebook.
Preekamol KLANRIT is a lecturer in the Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Technology, at Khon Kaen University in Thailand. She has a Ph.D. in Plant Biology from
At Senior School Assembly on November 25, Lydia SKOURIDES’98, seen here with teacher Nancy Olfert, spoke about her early career in opera and treated the audience to the famous aria, Un Bel Di, from Madama Butterfly. At Spirit Sunday on April 28, as a feature of Reunion 2013, Lydia performed Puccini’s O Mio Babbino Caro to the delight of alumnae and guests in attendance. After many years abroad, Lydia is back in Toronto and teaching voice.
Bridesmaids at the wedding reception of Alex PENNAL’00 last May are, from left, Sally Baker, Jackie Pflaum, Josie L’HEUREUX Richardson’00, Stephanie Finkleman, the bride, Megan SNELL Page’00, Julia Cain, Meredith SHAW’00, Erin FLOM’00 and Ashleigh Eccles.
Alex PENNAL is a fourth year paediatrics resident at SickKids in Toronto. After this year, she will be doing a fellowship in paediatric dermatology and will be a general paediatrician with a specialty in paediatric dermatology.
Hanna CHOUEST lives in Washington, DC, where she practises freight rail administrative law at Sidley Austin.
Mony LAU is a legal secretary in Toronto. Last November, she was in Hong Kong and attended the Branksome reception.
Jessica NEWTON is a marketing manager at President’s Choice Financial. Branksome alumnae in her wedding party last October included Amelia CARTER Skoczylas’00 and Alana BLACK’01. Jessica and husband Blair Moffat honeymooned in Bora Bora.
Joanna GRIFFITHS recently launched Knix Wear, a Toronto-based high-tech women’s underwear company and, as founder and CEO, is “changing underwear for good.”
Last August, comedian Emma HUNTER was Toronto’s NOW Magazine cover story. Emma is currently on television as a judge in E!’s new game
show, Pop Quiz, which premiered in November.
Rachel KREHM received an M.Mus. in classical voice from McGill, then returned to Toronto to sing opera in and around the city. In 2011, she and two friends started Opera 5. Since then, they have produced three main stage productions of seven short operas at venues around Toronto. They have a web series called Opera Cheats, which deconstructs opera plots and opera-going rules with a humorous twist. The site has reached over 33,000 views. Last summer, Rachel performed in La Voix Humaine, a one-woman opera at the Ottawa Fringe Festival, and took home the Critics’ Choice Award. Opera 5 recently became a charitable organization. facebook.com/operafive
At Spirit Sunday on April 28 are, from left, Dilnoor PANJWANI’01, recipient of the 2013 Young Alumna Achievement Award (see p. 39), Pearl CHEN’00 and Giselle DEGRANDIS’01.
Yumana LAU is a teacher at Story Jungle Education Centre in Hong Kong.
Last November, she attended the Branksome reception held at the Grand Hyatt Hong Kong.
Karry NG is in marketing at L’Oreal Hong Kong.
Jaclyn PARSONS’s blog is JacGabs: The juicy bits you wish your girlfriends shared. In it, she explores the challenges and experiences of “20-somethings,” and writes about self-care, navigating adult relationships and other life choices. www.JacGabs.com
Virginia VEALE lives in Los Angeles and is busy in the film industry, having wrapped two independent
films last summer and having started production for a third. She plans to attend her 10th reunion in May.
Eva TAI is an officer in Global Custody at HSBC, Hong Kong.
Laurence RIVARD was Valedictorian for the Faculty of Engineering at McMaster University at her convocation on June 12, 2013. She won the University President’s Award and the McMaster Alumni Leadership Award. Laurence works at the City of Toronto’s Civil Engineering Department and emailed: My Branksome
education was exceptional and prepared me well for my [degree] and for the real world as a professional young woman. There wasn’t a week while at McMaster that I didn’t think about what I had learned at Branksome and how much it helped me get to where I am, especially with regard
Sisters
to the level of my education and extracurricular activities. Student leadership certainly was a large part of that.
Liz SOUTTER was in Chungju, South Korea, for the Rowing World Championships last
August. She took the opportunity to travel to Jeju Island, where she was invited to visit Branksome Hall Asia and speak to students during assembly on their first day of school. Her talk was titled “Passion in the Process.” As an outstanding rower, Liz described how, sometimes, the road you take to get to your destination is more important, and more formative, than the destination itself.
Caroline GILBERT was one of 20 Coady Youth in Partnership interns to be selected for an adventure
of a lifetime, when she left last June for Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. For six months, she worked with International Development Enterprises (iDE) Ethiopia as a communications and new business venture associate with a focus to empower rural farmers to use their own resources to earn a profit. With these newly acquired business skills, she plans to further enhance the image of iDE as well as learn and grow as a young professional. This opportunity was made possible by the Canadian International Development Agency’s funding of the International Youth Program.
Jenna ZERKER graduated from Dartmouth Phi Beta Kappa and works at the consulting firm McKinsey in New York City.
On September 4, YooNa KANG and her friends were visiting the green tea museum on Jeju Island. While there, YooNa saw a
girl in the Branksome Hall Asia uniform, asked her where the campus was, and ended up on a personal tour with Principal Glen Radojkovich.
Ariella MINDEN applied for, and received, the research assistantship to work at the Centre for Renaissance and Reformation Studies, Victoria University, University of Toronto. She will work on an
independent research project focusing on villa and palace decoration in Italy.
Marion DAVIES was one of 10 first-year students at the University of Guelph to receive the President’s Scholarship. The award is based on a student’s high school achievement.
Claire O’NEIL attends St. Lawrence University in New York State and, last April, became the first Liberty League Women’s Golf Champion, earning Player of the Year honours.
Carol DRUMM and Alexandra PAGE both received Honourable Mentions at the 2013 Mon Sheong Silver Jubilee Awards of Excellence. Given to high school graduates, the award recognizes commendable traits such as academic pursuits, sportsmanship and community involvement.
1984
1992
1989
1996
2001
2004
Kate HARTNETT, a daughter, Suzannah Rose, on November 22, 2012, in Airdrie, AB. A niece for Alexandra HARTNETT’90.
1989
Anja NOPPER de Portocarrero, a son, Santiago Emmanuel, on April 19, 2013, in Caracas, Venezuela.
1990
Lisa CHESWORTH, twin sons, William Geoffrey and Jack Matthew, on March 8, 2013, in Toronto. Nephews for Sarah CHESWORTH’90.
1992
Alison BORRAJO Feltin, t win daughters, Katherine Grace and Claire Amelia, on August 6, 2012, in Calgary.
1993
Andrea STAIRS, a daughter, Caroline Catherine, on April 18, 2013, in Toronto.
1991
1998
1988
2000
2013, in Toronto.
1995
Heather
on April 5, 2013, in Toronto. A nephew for Suzanne
2003
Lindsay
Jane MASON to Enrique Tames Munoz on June 20, 2013, in New Haven, CT. Samantha MACDONNELL to Brian Sharp on July 13, 2013, in Chapel Hill, NC. Iram QURAISHI to Babar Javed on Friday, January 25, 2013, in London, England. Donna WALLIS to Scott Jackson, on December 8, 2012, in Toronto. Ele WILLOUGHBY to Roger Hallett on June 8, 2013, on Ward’s Island, Toronto. Streisan CHAPMAN to Jason Bevan on December 15, 2012 in Chamonix, France. Erin LYNCH to Jonathan Millman on August 18, 2012, in Aberfoyle, ON. Alex PENNAL to David B aker on May 4, 2013, in Toronto. Megan SNELL to Michael Page on August 10, 2013, at Balsam Lake, ON. Grace DEACON to Morris Popowich on September 24, 2011, in Toronto. Jessica NEWTON to Blair Moffat on October 12, 2013, in Toronto. Sara PRIOLO to Gerry Manna on January 19, 2013, in Toronto. FLEMING to Paul Pembridge on August 10, 2013, on Ward’s Island, Toronto. Diana PERL to Chris van de Water on November 2, 2013, in Toronto. Katie McCABE to Gordon Cheesbrough on June 1, 2013, at Muskoka Lakes Golf and Country Club. Naomi JOSEPH to Peter Miller, on July 27, 2013, in Toronto. Sara COOPER Deacon, a daughter, Pippa Mae, on May 10, 2013, in Toronto. Jennifer SYKES, a son, Jake Spencer, on August 27,Fay Meling VON MOLTKEPAO, a daughter, Gratia Kirsten, on July 29, 2012, in Toronto.
1996
Elizabeth AIRD, a son, Graydon John Grant, on July 3, 2013 in Toronto. A grandson for Ginny BERTRAM Aird’74; a nephew for Ginny AIRD Low’01.
Lesley McCABE Dyer, a son, Charlie Robert, on August 20, 2013 in Toronto. A great grandson for Elizabeth MATCHETT McClelland’45; a grandson for Carol McCLELLAND McCabe’68; a nephew for Robin McCABE Cassaday’00 and Katie McCABE Cheesbrough’03.
Shelby AUSTIN, a daughter, Simone Darby Grace, on April 26, 2013, in Toronto.
A niece for Delayne AUSTIN Seton’96 and Blayr AUSTIN’98.
Sara DUNCANSON Pick, a son, Travis Francis, on June 27, 2013, in Vancouver.
In some notices, excerpts have been taken from published obituaries.
1934
Sarah GRIFFITHS Savolaine, with sons Grant and Lee Griffiths. Lee was born on February 8, 2013, in Toronto.
Wendy NEAR Smith, a son, Dylan Ronald, on May 29, 2013, in Toronto. A grandson for Joyce RAHAM Near’59.
Martha RAHILLY Weeman, a daughter, Natasha (Nina) Davis, on May 17, 2013, in Toronto. A granddaughter for Jeanie FRASER’66.
Maria WOSNICK Silver, a son, Zachary, in July 2012.
1998
Erin LYNCH Millman, a daughter, Philippa Susan, on July 27, 2013, in Toronto. A niece for Kelly LYNCH Power’03.
A grandson for Martha COCHRANE Shepherd’72; a great-nephew for Susan DUNCANSON Pigott’68.
Michelle MACDONALD, a son, Luke David, on April 18, 2013, in Calgary. A nephew for Lindsay MACDONALD Zolis’97. 2002
Helen WALKER Adams, age 98, on September 14, 2013, in Toronto.
Mother of Sally ADAMS Medland’66 and the late Nancy ADAMS MacDonnell’62; grandmother of Samantha MacDONNELL Sharp’89, Sally MacDONNELL Paradine’90 and Susie MacDONNELL Calder’92; great-grandmother of Grade 2 student Chloe Paradine.
Last May 14, the Branksome community lost a special friend. Marg Hambleton was a modest person who charmed those she encountered with her zest for life and sense of humour. On many Wednesday afternoons, from 2003–10, she volunteered in the Branksome Archives Office, where she would sort myriad historical documents, photos, keepsakes and news clippings—all contributing to her already vast knowledge of the school and its alumnae. Marg would often provide a helping hand at Branksome plant sales, Plaid Tidings and reunions. And, for years, one would find her enjoying the Saturday night reunion dinner with her friends; former kindergarten teachers Miss Sneezepickle (Dot Seixas) and Ruth HAMILTON Upjohn’29. Marg leaves behind her sister, Isabelle Hambleton.
—Tanya Pimenoff Associate Director of Alumnae Relations1935
Joan GOODERHAM Wyman, age 96, on August 18, 2013, in Toronto.
Ashley SUTHERLAND
Beatty, a daughter, Lauren Anne, on November 3, 2013, in St. Catharines, ON.
To the end, Helen received family and friends with engaging banter and good humour. A lifelong Toronto resident, Helen remained a devoted Branksome alumna throughout her life. She was an employee of the T. Eaton Company and the Canada Life Assurance Company. An avid sportswoman, golfer and sailor, Helen was a member of the Ladies Golf Club of Toronto and the Royal Canadian Yacht Club. She was the family historian, a talented knitter and had a great sense of style.
1936
Helen SPENCER Hughes, age 98, on September 19, 2013, in Toronto.
Mother of Lynn HUGHES Clappison’65; grandmother of Sarah CLAPPISON Claydon’92 and Susie CLAPPISON Blair’95.
Helen Hughes was graceful, witty and kind, and she had a wicked sense of humour. She was very proud of her education at Branksome Hall, her work with the Red Cross in London, England during World War II, and her affiliation with the IODE in Welland and Ottawa.
Helen was an avid Blue Jays fan, golf enthusiast, and dear friend to so many
around the world. A recent highlight was a trip in April to London, England to attend her grandson’s wedding. Helen had a great life surrounded by family and friends, and certainly had fun along the way.
1937
Catherine (Kay) BRYANS
Fallis, age 93, on January 22, 2013, in Toronto.
A graduate of University College at the University of Toronto, Kay devoted her life to family and the wider community. For a lifetime of volunteerism, she was given the June Callwood Award in 2010. She was a gentle, wise and unconditionally accepting friend to all.
1938
1939
Mary GALL Tweedie, age 91, on March 7, 2013, in Montreal.
Mary loved meeting new people and saw a room full of strangers as an opportunity to make new friends. Life threw a lot at her in the last few years, but her spirits never flagged.
Megan McNAUGHTON Lawson, on July 8, 2013, in Oshawa, ON.
1940
Ruth GIBSON Waaler, on April 8, 2013, in Oslo, Norway.
1941
Nancy WATSON Stewart, on December 21, 2012, in Toronto.
Kate BOSHER’93From a friend—
Kate BOSHER’93 died on March 23 in the hospital at Evanston, near Chicago, IL. She had been diagnosed with cancer in the previous fall.
Kate’s talents and passions, especially for classics, theatre and rowing, so clear from her days at Branksome, shaped her life. She was inspired by Mrs. Blake’s Latin classes to travel through Greece in her youth, and studied Classics at the University of Toronto, earning a B.A., an M.A., and then a Ph.D. in Classics from the University of Michigan.
In 2006, Kate joined the Faculty of Classics at Northwestern University (cross-appointed to Theatre) where she taught Greek and Latin courses and published an edited volume on theatre in the ancient Greek world outside of Athens entitled Theater Outside Athens.
As a teen, Kate rowed with Canada’s junior national rowing team, participating in the 1991 World Junior Championships in Barcelona, Spain. A competitive sculler in graduate school, she won the Royal Canadian Henley championship women’s single scull and the women’s elite single scull at the U.S. Rowing National Championship Regatta in 2004.
Kathryn (Kay) SHIRRIFF
Reid, age 93, on December 31, 2012.
Mother of former Grade 7 teacher Rosemary Iggulden (1973–79); grandmother of Katie HIGGINS’05.
Kay had three children, was three times a grandmother and a greatgrandmother to four. Known as KK by her grandchildren and ever-attentive nieces and nephews, she loved cooking and good food, music and dancing, travelling and entertaining. Above all, she loved her family. Kay lived a rich and full life with grace and dignity, with kindness and concern for others.
With a degree in physiotherapy from the University of Toronto, Nancy served as a lieutenant in the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps at a veterans’ hospital in Quebec City. Later she was posted at Sunnybrook Hospital, in Toronto, nursing soldiers returning from World War II with burns and other injuries. She leaves behind three children, four grandsons and one great-grandson.
1942
Jill MILLIGAN Chadwick, on February 4, 2012, in Poole, U.K.
1943
Joanne EDMONDS Hunt, date unknown.
Kate is survived by her husband LaDale Winling and three-year-old son Ernest. She maintained close friendships from her Branksome days and will be dearly missed.
—Ele WILLOUGHBY’92Kate was a fine teacher and scholar. She was also a talented actress and Scottish dancer. She seemed so quiet and reserved, but as I came to know her better, her interests made perfect sense. Kate shared the following with a few rowers: “One day, if and when you meet him, take our son Ernest for a ride in a double, will you? Or perhaps tell him something about [my rowing] days—they were a big deal to me and I’d like him to know a bit about them.”
To the end of her life, Kate was thinking of other people and how she did not want to burden them with her troubles. Her courage and concern for other people was at the core of who she was.
Shir ley YOUNG Jarvis, on February 1, 2013, in Oakville, ON.
A graduate of the University of Toronto, Shirley was stationed in Halifax during the war as a WREN. After the youngest of her three children entered high
school, Shirley became a social worker for the Family Services Association, City of Hamilton, until she retired in 1987. She then became very involved with the Oakville Senior Citizens’ Recreation Centre as well as serving as a lay Chalice Bearer at St. Jude’s
Anglican Church, Oakville. Shirley was proficient at sewing, smocking and calligraphy, was an excellent cook and hostess, and loved a good rubber of bridge.
1945
Joan PEAT Renison, former Head Girl, on January 26, 2013, in Wentworth Heights, ON. Sister of Barbara PEAT Wilson’43. Joan was a graduate of the University of Toronto and had a successful career in real estate, which spanned over 40 years “selling houses like hot cakes.” A mother, grandmother and greatgrandmother, Joan will be remembered for her warm smile and dedication to the community in which she lived.
Margaret TROW, on August 3, 2013, in Toronto.
1946
Mary MILLAR Miller, on D ecember 2, 2012, in London, ON.
Joan SOUTHAM Lyon, on May 20, 2013, in Toronto. Half-sister of Susan STRICKLAND Grainger’55.
1948
Wanda HUTCHINGS
Philpott, in March 2011, in Ottawa.
Barbara KEELER
Gustafson, on May 28, 2012, in Calgary.
—Excerpts taken from Erin’s obituary. Erin lost her fight with cancer on July 24. Selfless, thoughtful and compassionate, she made friends everywhere she went and they were all friendships that endured.
When at Branksome, Erin excelled in athletics and was cowinner of the Wiley Award for top athlete. An outstanding role model, she offered encouragement and support to all and was a Prefect in her graduating year.
An avid traveller, Erin spent time working in Hong Kong upon her graduation from Huron College with an honours B.A. in History and Political Science. She then spent two years earning her M.B.A. from the Graduate School of Business at the University of Chicago and, in 2006, joined the Boston Consulting Group, where she was working when her illness was diagnosed. Unquestionably, her greatest joy came from her family: husband Jamie and children Hudson and Alexis. While she won’t physically be with them, her spirit, passion and love for them will continue on through her friends and family, who will share stories of their mother with them.
Patricia PHAIR, on April 11, 2013, in Toronto.
Charmian PHILPOTT Edwardes-Evans, date unknown.
Muriel STEWART Beatty, on November 28, 2013, in Richmond Hill, ON. Sister of Patricia STEWART McCarthy’44.
1949
Elizabeth EVANS on N ovember 11, 2013, in Napanee, ON.
1950
Janet WHITE FitzGerald, on September 4, 2013, in Toronto. Mother of Valerie FITZGERALD Thomson’85.
1951
JoAnne WARWICK Menzies, on December 29, 2013, in Toronto.
Jane WILCOX Drynan, on May 25, 2013, in Toronto. Grandmother of Jamie DRYNAN’12.
1952
Margaret HAMBLETON, on M ay 14, 2013, in Toronto.
1953
Diane MURRAY, on April 19, 2013, in Barrie, ON.
1954
Gillian ALLAN Parker, on August 6, 2013, in Carlisle, MA.
Barbara GRAUPNER
Sawers, on September 22, 2013, in Toronto.
1956
Anne REDPATH, on August 9, 2013, in Toronto. A graduate of McGill University, Anne was one of the first women to get an M.B.A. from York University. She started her career with the World Bank in Washington, DC and later became a business consultant, where she helped small growing companies. Anne was an ardent birder and photographer. She loved art and music, and was a mentor and good friend to many people.
1957
Sally MORRISON Carr, on D ecember 5, 2012, in Newmarket, ON.
1960
Judith IRVIN Rankin, on N ovember 11, 2011.
1962
Susan GRAHAM Worts, on June 26, 2013, in Collingwood, ON. Aunt of Elizabeth GRAHAM’02; sister-in-law of Helen WORTS O’Brian’66. Susan was full of dignity, beauty, humour and unconditional love. She will be forever missed.
Matilda STEPHENS, on July 16, 2013, in Toronto.
Matilda taught at John Fisher Public School in North Toronto for more than 30 years. Upon retirement she moved with her daughter to Pinegrove Farm near Barrie, where she helped with the riding school while ensuring her grandsons did their homework and got to their hockey games.
1993
Kate BOSHER, on March 23, 2013, in Evanston, IL.
1995
Erin GRIMES Deans, on July 24, 2013, in Toronto.
Former Employees
Audrey Brown, Junior School teacher from 1979–1986, on May 9, 2013, in Toronto. Wife of Branksome Keeper Charles Brown; grandmother of Grade 11 student Erin Estey.
Shirley Smith, Grade 2 teacher (1990–91) and Branksome Keeper, on April 9, 2013, in Atlanta, GA. Mother of Patsy SMITH Bell’89.
WHEN I FIRST GRADUATED FROM VET school, I found immense satisfaction in seeing my patients through emergencies— like surgically retrieving a rubber duck from the stomach of a Great Dane, or doing a C-section to remove 10 puppies that the mother could not give birth to on her own.
Pet owners were always thankful and my
patients would reward me with a tail wag as they left my clinic well again.
Over the years, I have been humbled by the gratitude of my clients in much less dramatic situations.
One story comes to mind of a beautiful black lab. When I first met the owner—a young woman—she was in tears because a cut
on her pup’s ear bled with every scratch or shake of the head. Despite the woman’s best efforts and creative bandaging, the wound refused to heal until a simple surgery was scheduled to trim the ear and remove the wound altogether.
Several days prior to the surgery, I received a phone call from the woman’s husband. I didn’t hear anything at first and was about to hang up, when a man’s voice explained that he was a soldier in Afghanistan and I should expect a delay in communication. Though living in a war zone, he wanted to discuss the surgery—the risks and prognosis. I was surprised and impressed that despite the pressures this husband and soldier might be under, he wanted to play an active role in his family’s daily life, which clearly included his pet as well.
After their pup’s successful recovery, the young family thanked me with a small gift to express their gratitude—a planter with seeds symbolizing how little things can grow large and fruitful.
The surgeries and the pint-sized puppies are still exciting, but it’s the little things that really keep me going now.
Every pet comes with a family and every family has a story in which pets play an important, if not integral, part in their owners’ lives and well-being.
This is why staying late to meet a client, making a house-call or giving a hug during a euthanasia mean more than I ever imagined they would. These small acts of kindness and the gratitude they produce in return have me thankful for my job, my clients and my patients. These little things…really are the big things. I
Dominique graduated from the Ontario Veterinary College at the University of Guelph in 2009 and now practises at the Eastern Passage Village Veterinary Hospital in Halifax. She shares her home with two rescue cats, Kiwi and Peacock, and Finnegan (in photo), a goofy SPCA mutt from Cape Breton.
CONVERSATIONS WITH PARENTS SPEAKER SERIES
Becoming Self-Regulated Learners: The Value of Independence for Girls
Wednesday, February 12 7:00–8:30 p.m.
10 Elm Avenue
Nominations for the 2014 Awards will be accepted until January 15, 2014. Nomination forms are available online at www.branksome.on.ca/alumnae/awards
FLORIDA LUNCHEON ON LONGBOAT KEY
Sunday, January 12 12:30 p.m.
Hosted by Wendy MORGAN Deeks’66, Past President of the Branksome Hall Alumnae Association (for alumni, parents and friends of Branksome Hall and Upper Canada College)
Lance King is an internationally recognized author, teacher and workshop facilitator who has worked with over 160,000 students worldwide. He is the creator of the Art of Learning program taught in over 200 schools in 12 countries and is a specialist in the direct teaching of “learning skills.” He lives in Raglan, New Zealand and divides his time between teaching, writing, and presenting workshops for teachers, parents and students around the world.Alumnae are welcome to attend. Register at www.bhinfo.ca/speakers
ALUMNAE RECEPTION
LONDON, ENGLAND
Friday, March 14 6:00–8:30 p.m.
Hosted by Claire ANGUS Caplan’83 and Mark Caplan Watch for details via mail and email.
REUNION 2014
NEW DATE!
(See back cover)
May 3 & 4
UNDER THE RAINBOW: GAY RIGHTS AT SOCHI 2014
Tuesday, January 28 6:00–8:00 p.m.
The offices of Fasken Martineau LLP
333 Bay Street, Suite 2400, Toronto
This networking event and panel discussion will include alumni from Branksome Hall, Upper Canada College and the Bishop Strachan School. Sponsored by:
The Alumnae Association Presents… SPEED NETWORKING
Wednesday, March 5
6:30–8:30 p.m.
10 Elm Avenue
Share your knowledge, learn from others.
For the classes from the years ending in 4 and 9.
us
If this logo doesn’t look familiar, then you are not receiving our monthly electronic newsletter. Be sure to get on our email list. Contact Tanya Pimenoff at tpimenoff@branksome.on.ca.
HIGHLIGHTS
Saturday, May 3
Join the Branksome community in a walk/run thr ough neighbouring ravines
BBQ lunch at Branksome
Student-led campus tours
Reception and dinner for class years ending 4 and 9
Spirit Sunday! May 4
Principal Karen Jurjevich presents “O ur Remarkable Branksome”
Award Presentations
Buffet Luncheon www.branksome.on.ca/alumnae
MAY 3 & 4, 2014