The READ magazine (Spring 2009)

Humour & Fun

Schoolgirl Memories

A Look at the Lighter Side of Life

A Look at the Lighter Side of Life

Fundraising Successes

Branksome Olympians

Travels in the U.K.

Class Notes

ON THE COVER

With one of her signature “happy characters”, artist Laurie STEIN’78 has created the perfect image for our theme of humour and fun. “My cover girl is the essence of me in my school days — pigtails flying and on the run.” Laurie’s sense of fun goes beyond the cover, providing comical elements to the memories tucked into the pages of this magazine.

PHOTOGRAPHER GLENN BROWN

has worked his magic and captured light-hearted moments of our featured alumnae through the eye of the lens. Glenn is no stranger to Branksome Hall — he is married to Becky MOORE Brown’87 and daughter Maggie (Class of 2013) attended for two years in the Junior School.

Find a Funny Friend (and do it fast!)

These quotes from Oscar Wilde and Mark Twain capture my thoughts (and observations) about the theme of this edition of The READ: that without humour, you are simply not fully functioning as the human spirit you were destined to be. A sense of humour is like a warm ray of sunshine; it provides the light that guides you in solving life’s problems and offers you a generous and healthy perspective.

A sense of humour is your mirror, allowing you to see, hear and understand yourself as others see, hear and understand you. It makes you real; less ego-driven and inevitably happier.

When my sense of humour kicks in, I am reminded to “not sweat the small stuff,” and I soon realize that a great deal of what stresses people is, in fact, small stuff.

The ability to laugh at the world and at ourselves opens doors, eliminates social barriers, and can turn a tense situation into a creative, free-wheeling encounter filled with openness and laughter. We gain valuable insight into people’s intellect, personality and attitude. With humour, we are made free and reminded that it is OK to have fun, to be spontaneous, and to “dance like no one’s watching”!

John Walsh, one of my oldest university friends, is a person who can always make me laugh. Fortunately, over all the years we’ve known each other, we are still buddies, so I know there is a large dose of laughter heading my way whenever we get together.

What makes John so funny? To begin with, no one remembers or tells a joke better than John. In fact, he is so talented at this fine art, that sometimes you don’t even realize he is telling you a joke; on more than one occasion I have found myself listening to John recount an incident or story, when all of a sudden

A sense of humour is like a warm ray of sunshine; it provides the light that guides you in solving life’s problems and offers you a generous and healthy perspective.

by Karen Murton

Karen discusses school affairs with Ribbit, Branksome’s mascot.

“It is a curious fact that people are never so trivial as when they take themselves seriously.”

– O. Wilde

“ Humour is the great thing, the saving thing. The minute it crops up, all our irritation and resentments slip away, and a sunny spirit takes their place.”

– Mark Twain

he comes to the part where you realize that he has been stringing you along throughout the entire narrative — which, of course, makes the entire scene even funnier. I love it!

John is English, and his dry wit and ability to turn on his charming accent at the most opportune times, or inject tales of his “mates” or words such as “blimey” into his sentences can make me double over. Somehow, conversation with John just flows and before I know it, I am in the middle of another rollicking tale.

John Walsh is good for my health, and I look forward to our phone calls and visits. Nothing is quite as good as spending time with an old friend and laughing the evening away. I always know that there will be tears of mirth when we are together and that the multiple worries that I have layered in my mind will melt away and I will leave feeling young and free.

Schools are busy places and, at times, intense places. Branksome girls have always aimed high and they work hard. Yet, in assembly, when the students take over, to everyone’s delight, humour is always their tool of choice. They know that shared laughter brings them together as a community. Laughter relaxes them and reminds them that they are at a great school and have wonderful friends.

I hope that you have a friend who makes you laugh. If you don’t, it is not too late — take the time to seek one out and just start spending more time with him or her! Just drop me a line if you need John’s phone number; I am sure he will agree to be your funny friend!

And in the meantime, remember what funny man Bill Cosby had to say on the subject: “Through humour you can soften some of the worst blows that life delivers. And once you find laughter, no matter how painful your situation may be, you can survive it.” I

FROM THE EDITOR

The family dinner party was planned for Saturday, March 28. The occasion would overlap with Earth Hour — from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. — a global initiative, and a time when every citizen is asked to reduce energy consumption. This was going to be fun.

by Tanya Pimenoff

Lights Out, Laughter On

My gang always looks forward to a rip-roaring good time. I was organized early — stuffed chickens were in the oven by 5, veggies ready to zap, table set, and candles — now where were they? I found a few, plus some votives — that should do it.

8:15 — dessert plates were cleared and coffee was ready. We gathered in the living room. The candles provided a lovely low light. Someone piped up: shouldn’t we be in total darkness? Aren’t candles using energy of a sort? I don’t know. Let’s just keep a few on, so we can find our drinks. Okay, 15 minutes until blackout. Everyone found a seat, beer/wine/coffee in hand. Let’s get that computer turned off. Someone disconnected Fleetwood Mac from the stereo, and the baby boomers suggested we do away with texting and blackberries too — hurray!

8:20 — we were so ready, why wait any longer? Porch light out, kitchen light out — check upstairs — yes, all out. What are the neighbours up to? Peering down the street, many homes still looked pretty bright. They’re just not as organized.

So our Earth Hour began. Shall we play a game? How about charades (too dark) or “in my suitcase I packed?” No takers. As we’re a pretty funny group, I suggested we describe a personal funny moment; one that stands out. Sounds like good times. I’m elected to begin.

I recounted how, many moons ago, I was at my daughters’ Christmas Carol Concert; the school gymnasium was filled with hundreds of proud parents and friends. First, we would hear from the older kids in the band. They played O Canada. I thought it was O Canada I was singing to, but maybe it wasn’t. Indistinguishable carols followed — a cacophony of tunes from a variety of instruments. Oh dear… help! One look at my brother (witty and humorous in his own right) and I was reduced to a stomach-clutching laughing fit, bent over, tears streaming down — all the more painful for trying to keep quiet. How terribly inappropriate! For 10 minutes the band played and I agonized silently… painfully. For those who remember, it was a true “Mary Tyler Moore” moment. It was brilliant!

Many great stories emerged as we sat in my living room — one tiny blackedout speck in the universe — preserving energy until well after 10 p.m. If it were up to me, I’d have Earth Hour every day, such was the fun we had. That being said, you might want some light as you pore over this issue of The READ. Before you turn to the humorous anecdotes and stories inside, may I just say to all the alumnae, colleagues, friends and family out there with whom I’ve shared laughter and fun — I cannot thank you enough! I

FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE ALUMNAE ASSOCIATION

by Jane CONNOR’84

A Woman’s Prerogative

One of the most formidable English teachers to command a Branksome classroom was Mrs. Nora McRae. She was feared by the younger high school students whilst revered and respected by the older students fortunate enough to experience her wisdom and wit through the exploration of Shakespeare, Austen and the like.

Mrs. McRae was a tall woman who filled a room with her presence and then charged its atmosphere with an expanse of ideas, opinions and intellectual challenge.

Laura Mac was a bright, inquisitive, and ever-so-slightly rebellious classmate. In Grade 13, with her days as a student winding down, spurred on by the confidence a Branksome education provides, together with the giddiness of a warm spring day, Laura confidently announced to us, her classmates, she would “debate” Mrs. McRae during the English class that was about to start. Her cunning plan was to let Mrs. McRae teach and then masterfully seize on a seemingly incomplete premise left dangling by the venerable teacher.

I don’t remember the book. I don’t remember the premise Laura seized upon. I certainly don’t remember the entire

“debate.” I do remember how it ended. We, the classmates, were rooting for Laura. We believed she was gaining ground with her adept arguments and witty comebacks. Then, Mrs. McRae executed a blisteringly intellectual move that challenged Laura’s basic premise. To avoid the verbal corner she was backing into, Laura’s only option was to completely reverse her position. Mrs. McRae shrewdly pointed this out — I believe she smirked!

Laura deftly retorted with the only logical argument left: “It’s a woman’s prerogative to change her mind.” She leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms. I believe she too smirked! Mrs. McRae looked over her glasses and launched the line to end the match of wits: “Well I, as the older woman…” She needed to say no more!

To this day, when I remember “a woman’s prerogative” countered with “I, as the older woman,” it makes me smile. I

We boast a community of dedicated volunteers who contribute tirelessly to create a warm, inviting and engaging environment through the events and activities they organize. For information, or to volunteer, please contact Tanya Pimenoff at 416-920-6265, ext. 285, or tpimenoff@branksome.on.ca.

One warm spring day in Grade 13, Laura Mac, a bright, inquisitive and ever-so-slightly rebellious classmate, announced that she would “debate” Mrs. Nora McRae during English class.

School chums Laura McELWAIN Holme’84, left, and Jane CONNOR’84 joke around (as they did in the 80s) at the London, England, reception, held at Canada House on March 13.

Branksome Re-visited

It had been years since Brigid HAYDON Wells’43 resided in Sherborne House as a young British War Guest, but it was as if time stood still when she returned for a visit last October.

Brigid was in Toronto (she lives in Lewes, England) to attend the book launch of The First Crossing. The story tells of the first transport of indentured Indians to the West Indies in 1838 and provides references from the diary entries of 23-year-old Theophilus Richmond, her great-great-uncle and doctor on board the ship. The discovery of this diary and the events that led to the publishing of the book were told in the Fall 2008 issue of The READ.

At the residence dinner on October 22, Brigid regaled the boarders with stories of her experience at Branksome in the 1940s, and she later toured her old residence in Sherborne House. The next day, Brigid, who is the former Headmistress at Brighton & Hove High School in Brighton, England, enjoyed morning coffee and conversation with Principal Karen Murton.

Row Girls, Row!

Branksome was proud to hear about our alumnae successes at the Ontario University Rowing Championships held October 25 at the Henley in St. Catharines. This competition is the largest provincial, and one of the most competitive, championships in Canada. Each alumna raced for her respective university, winning a combined number of eight medals: five gold and three bronze—a great credit to Branksome Hall Rowing.

Stay Connected

BULLETIN BOARD

From the Class of 2007, wearing their medals with pride and sporting a piece of Branksome Hall rowing gear are: Paige SAIN (Western), Katie O’CONNOR (Western), Alex MEIKLEJOHN (Queen’s), and Ashley NIBLETT (Queen’s). Not in the photo but also at this event were Jess BLOM’06 (Guelph), Heather CARSON’08 (Queen’s), and Amy GOODWIN’04 (Queen’s).

Getting Ready and Getting In

On November 5, Branksome’s Admissions team presented an informative session, specially geared towards alumnae, on the Independent School Admissions Process.

Parents of boys and girls heard a frank and realistic view of the admissions process and learned valuable strategies that would help their child prepare for admission to an independent school.

Branksome prepares students to soar, stretch their imaginations and reach for the top. Please keep us informed of your accomplishments, and send an update regarding your education post-high school, career changes and highlights, and volunteer work. If you would like to get involved in mentoring, classroom/co-curricular speaking, or other volunteer activities in and around the school, please let us know. E-mail Esther Chang, Advancement Officer, at echang@branksome.on.ca.

Katie REIFFENSTEIN’04, B.A. (Hons), University of Guelph; Major–Art History, Minor–French.

From left: Jennifer CUNIETTI’86, Robyn McDONALDKatsuras’74, J.J. JASPERSON’83, Jane TAYLOR Durno’89, Jacqui SZETO Meiers’87 and Susan FARROW Hutcheson’81.

Golf Day Scores!

$17,570 Benefits Student Financial Aid

Foursomes that don’t let a bit of misty weather slow them down…

Held September 17 at Station Creek, a ClubLink facility, Golf Day welcomed alumnae, parents, and friends of the school. Following a relaxing 18 holes, guests perused the many silent auction items: a trip to New York City, unique jewelry, Raptors’ tickets, and a multitude of other unique gift packages. Enthusiastic bidding continued throughout the evening. Dinner entertainment included a fashion show hosted by Andrea WATLEY’72, co-owner of ACE Boutique, door prizes galore, and the presentation of the Ribbit Trophy to winning foursome Kocho Cumandra, Luke Mesaros, Paul Micallef and George Theodoris.

At the Silent Auction table, guests ponder their next bid.

Brian Holland and Paul McGrath with Kathryn CAMPBELL Holland’80 and Carol BREBNER McGrath’82.

Our MCs, Sarah GRIFFITHS Savolaine’96 and Sue STRAK Rosenblat’76, announce prizes throughout dinner.

Heather ADAMSON Wicken’99 models a golf outfit .

Andrea WATLEY’72, co-owner of ACE Boutique (Golf and Tennis Apparel), introduces the models during the fashion show.

Joyce SANDERSON Dow’57, Christina MARCHANT Shatilla’92, Chris Shatilla and Joan SANDERSON Bannerman’57.

Karen Murton congratulates the winning foursome: Luke Mesaros (Maya, Grade 5), Kocho Cumandra and George Theodoris. Not in photo is teammate Paul Micallef.

A fundraising event of this nature could not happen without our dedicated Golf Day Committee, chaired by Sarah GRIFFITHS Savolaine’96, generous sponsors, and silent auction/prize donors — your commitment to Branksome Hall puts us in the forefront of girls’ education.

Thank you, everyone, for your months of planning and preparation. It was a fantastic fun-filled day!

2008 Golf Day Committee

Sarah GRIFFITHS Savolaine’96

Chair

Kimberly BROOKER’96

Publicity and Prizes

Sarah CLAPPISON Claydon’92

Silent Auction Chair

Amy PATERSON McKay’93

Dinner and Décor

Dana POSTROZNY Mitchell’99

Silent Auction

Christina MARCHANT Shatilla’92

Sponsorship Chair

Sue STRAK Rosenblat’76, Sponsorship and Silent Auction

Thank you Sponsors!

Champion Sponsor

Dominique VITALIS’93, Advisor

Maggs WEST Barrett’66

Sponsorship, Program and Registration

Tanya Pimenoff

Associate Director of Alumnae Relations

2008 Golf Day Volunteers

Patsy SMITH Bell’89

Matt Carter

Peter Claydon

Jane CONNOR’84

Devon DOMELLE Parsons’95

Clark Savolaine

Susan ANDERSON Thornburrow’75

Poinsettia and Greenery Sale

This annual fundraiser of the Alumnae Association contributed a further $3,000 in support of Student Financial Aid. Thank you to Maggs WEST Barrett’66 and her dayof volunteers for ensuring festive-looking Branksome homes over the holidays.

Humour & Fun

Birdie Club Sponsors

Balmshell Inc., Fiona LEES’96 and Jennifer LEES’96

Brian, Fariba and Ariana Anderson

The Bradeen Family

Snack Pack Sponsor

Kimberly BROOKER’96 and Matt Carter

Lynn HUGHES Clappison’65, Sarah CLAPPISON Claydon’92, Susie CLAPPISON’95

Margaret GOODERHAM’80

Mèreadesso Woman

Onondaga Camp

Postrozny Financial Security Inc.

The Rebate Company

Sarah GRIFFITHS Savolaine’96 and Clark Savolaine

Eagle Club Sponsors

NATURAL ATHLETIC SPORTSWEAR

By Global Xposure

Royal LePage R.E.S. Ltd.

Johnston & Daniel Division

Sue and Peter Schaal, Wendy SCHAAL Oldham’90, Melody SCHAAL’03

After 12 consecutive years, Golf Day will be taking a hiatus, and will not be held in 2009. The Alumnae Executive Committee is currently planning a new and exciting friend/fundraiser that is sure to create quite a buzz in the Branksome community. Stay tuned!

One of my funniest memories is from Grade 11. Occasionally, during lunch hour, several girls would re-enact the opening credits of The Mod Squad, complete with soundtrack! Barb BEATTIE, Shelley GUNTON and Daphne SEAGRAM played the leads. The word would go out — performance at lunch — we’d wolf down our sandwiches and line the hallway to our classrooms on the top floor, shivers of anticipation tingling down our spines. The first chords of the soundtrack would be heard, and then, in turn, each one of the three would burst into the hallway from various doorways (a bit tricky to do with the old fire doors, which moved like lead, but they worked it!), then run down the hall just like in the opening credits of the show. We would erupt in peals of laughter.

— Barb OSLER’75, Montreal

Plaid Tidings 2008

Annual Event Raises $70,000 for Key School Projects

Over the past 17 years, Plaid Tidings has established itself as a “must attend” show on the Ontario artisans’ circuit. This seasonal event has a reputation that speaks for itself in the community, and it is the reason our jury can choose the best talents from across a wide range of products.

Branksome Hall is fortunate to have two extremely

committed groups who jointly ensure the ongoing success of Plaid Tidings: the alumnae and the parents. Co-chairs Kathryn BULEYCHUK Champion’82 (Franny, Grade 8) and Chanda

Carr (Amelia, SK) led a team of volunteers who are to be commended for their dedication and skilled handling of all components that contribute to a show of this magnitude.

Plaid Tidings’ success is measured not only by the positive feedback from our exhibitors, but also by the profits realized from the event. Revenue is generated through exhibitor fees, ticket sales, our

Mark your calendars!

Plaid Tidings returns November 20–22 2009!

Patron program, sponsors, the silent auction and the raffle. Funds raised will provide solar panels at the school in support of sustainability initiatives, and $9,000 will be directed to the Plaid Tidings Bursary Fund.

“Your event was the most warm, convenient, well-run and friendly event I have ever had the pleasure of being a part of.”

— Karen Decker Designs

Co-chairs Chanda Carr and Kathryn BULEYCHUK Champion’82 at the Friday Soirée.

Student Carolers, led by Nancy Olfert, set the mood for holiday shopping.

The silent auction, in full swing. Profits exceeded $26,000!

Three 1996 classmates, Amy INGRAM Colborne, Sarah GRIFFITHS Savolaine, and Kimberly BROOKER, reunite for an evening out.

The Christy’s Gourmet Food counter proves to be a popular spot.

Alumnae Involvement in School Life

Career Studies…

On January 12 and 13, we were delighted to welcome Kelly DRINKWATER’00, Meg MACNICOL’04, Darci MacPHEE’99, Sarah MERRY’89, Kayla RADKE’00 and Stephanie VERMEULEN’99 back to Branksome.

The Grade 10 students were riveted by the honest and heartfelt stories of alumnae experiences in the working world. They talked about listening to your heart, setting your priorities, the importance of maintaining personal connections, and the satisfaction that comes from commitment and hard work.

University Preparation…

Sharing their experiences of university life at a Grade 10 career studies class on December 17 are: Sabina MARTYN’05 (Guelph), Liz SOUTTER’08 (Harvard), and Brady HENDERSON’08 (Queen’s).

The alumnae work in every field: from a yoga and holistic centre, to owning a clothing boutique, to maintaining a successful international art career. They emphasized that not everything

Art…

comes easily and sometimes the path that you take doesn’t lead to the place you think it will.

The girls were excited and inspired to hear “real-world” stories from graduates who had

On February 20, Sarah MERRY’89, left, was guest speaker in Bernadette Badali’s Grade 11 art class. She shared some tales and insights about her art education at Branksome, Nova Scotia College of Art and Design, Ontario College of Art and Design, and the Slade School of Fine Art. She spoke about her professional experience that included teaching children, teens and adults, directing a gallery for emerging artists, exhibiting in Toronto, Bogota, London and New York; and curating the Parca Biennale of Canadian art in New York.

put their learning into practice. This is by far one of the favourite classes of the entire Career Studies course!

Laura Bincik Guidance Counsellor

Science…

On October 8, as part of their ecology unit, Grade 10 students were treated to a special presentation by architect Terrell BOND Wong’87, above right, who spoke about her work on a sustainable housing project. Terrell is joined by Julia Malcolm, Sustainability Coordinator and Biology teacher.

Meg MACNICOL’04, Associate, Global Prime Brokerage at RBC Capital Markets; Stephanie VERMEULEN’99, Architect, Kohn Shnier Architects; Sarah MERRY’89, Artist/Teacher; Kelly DRINKWATER’00, Business Manager, 889 Yonge.

Darci MacPHEE’99, Owner, DEW Clothing Boutique; Kayla RADKE’00, National Account Manager, Kontent Publishing.

SCHOOL SCOOP

a first-ever “nail polish booth,” contributing $150 to the proceeds. Teachers and students took full advantage of the mini-manicure, with students delighted to wear nail polish, just this once, during school hours.

STELLAR RECORD OF ACTIVISM

Dilnoor PANJWANI’01 is committed to making the world a better place. As guest speaker at Installation held on October 10, Dilnoor spoke of her experiences in the mountainous communities in Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Pakistan and India — impoverished environments where she gained an appreciation of education and access to knowledge. In her closing remarks, Dilnoor urged students to consider how they are going to take advantage of their education, seize life’s

opportunities and, most importantly, give back to the world.

THE HOLIDAY BAZAAR Working Together for Others in Need

The Senior School community pulled together during lunch hour on December 10 and raised an impressive $1,900 in support of QGAP and Sheela Bal Bhavan — schools near Queenstown, South Africa and Jaipur, India that have had a special association with Branksome since 2004. Branksome staff managed

M.G. VASSANJI READS AT BRANKSOME HALL

VOLUNTEERS AT

THE

TRADITIONS booth during the Admissions Open House on October 21 are Sheila MacFEETERS’74, Maggs WEST Barrett’66, Dodie ROBINETTE MacNeill’45 and Joan NEILSON’46. The booth featured photos and newspaper articles, archival movies and slides, SLOGANs from every decade, and a wealth of information, provided by our volunteers, on student life.

The day when a guest writer visits Branksome is always a special one. This was certainly so when M.G. Vassanji, two-time winner of the Giller Prize and member of the Order of Canada, came to read and speak to senior students and their teachers on January 27. We were entranced by his short story, When She Was Queen, and an excerpt from his most recent book, A Place Within. Mr. Vassanji’s visit was supported by the Rebecca CHISHOLM Clarkes’66 Guest Writers’ Fund, which was established upon Rebecca’s death in 1986 as a tribute by her classmates. The fund provides the school with the opportunity to showcase well-known writers to our students and staff. Through the generosity of donors to this fund over the years, the school has been privileged to have writers such as Mavis Gallant, Timothy Findley, Jean Little and Ann Marie MacDonald. Branksome is grateful to the many alumnae, parents and friends who continue to make the Guest Writers’ program possible.

Susan F.R. Kenny Trustee, Rebecca CHISHOLM Clarkes’66 Guest Writers’ Endowed Fund

Dilnoor, left, with her sisters Dilzayn’05, Dilnaz’99 and Dilshaan (2010) at the post-Installation reception in the Eaton Common Room.

Orshy Kenez, diligently applies nail polish. Behind her, Bonnie Chung, Sandra BOLTÉ’73, Sandy Sheehan and Avery Morris provide cheerful support.

M.G. Vassanji chats with former teacher Susan Kenny.

Lunchtime on January 20 was spent in the gym watching the Inauguration of President Barack Obama. This historic occasion was one to be shared — teachers, staff and students felt the buzz in the air and cheered with the rest of the world as America celebrated an exciting new beginning.

Humour & Fun

BRANKSOME’S CURB APPEAL

If you breezed down Bay Street or through the Beach area in the winter months, you might have noticed these snazzy TTC shelters, left, promoting Branksome Hall. Located at Hambly and Queen Street East and at Bay and King for two months, the shelters are one of the new methods Branksome is employing to reach out to families whose daughters might thrive at the school.

These new banners, right, that adorn the school’s lampposts are another colourful, attractive way of letting visitors and passersby know “where learners become leaders.”

Mrs. McRae, striking yet stern, had her own kind of uniform — grey or black clothing every day. She was continually astounded at what we didn’t know, informing us that we needed extra classes with her on general knowledge, all the while fiddling with her half glasses, which frequently seemed to be caught in her hair. I can speak for many of us when I say that one of our most cherished memories of her is her phrase, “Your ignorance is nothing to celebrate!”

— Sasha DARLING’87

ALUMNAE OUTREACH

Travels in the U.K. with Karen Murton, Jane CONNOR’84 and Tanya Pimenoff SCOTLAND

NEWSTEAD AND BRANXHOLME CASTLE — MARCH 6

Branxholme Castle, situated on the estate of the Duke of Buccleuch, was the birthplace of Branksome Hall’s founder and first Headmistress, Miss Margaret Scott. Karen Murton and Diana MacNEILL Hart’54 visit the historic site.

ST. ANDREW’S — MARCH 8

Students at the University of St. Andrews, Gillian CHRISTIE’08, Ashleigh SAUNDERS’07 and Lauren ING’07, tour Karen Murton around the campus.

EDINBURGH — MARCH 7

Amid great conversation and the opportunity to form/ renew friendships, alumnae enjoy lunch at Howie’s Restaurant. From left: Hanna NOWERS’06 (University of Edinburgh), Caitlin STEWART’06 (University of Edinburgh), Diana MACNEILL Hart’54, Carolyn MACLEOD’73 (Edinburgh), Ophelia LAU’08 (University of Edinburgh), Gillian CHRISTIE’08 (St. Andrews), Taryn KALISH’08 (University of Edinburgh), Karen Murton and Margaret MACKAY Gerrard’63 (Glasgow).

A friend wrote in my yearbook: “I always knew that when I looked back on the bad times, they would make me laugh; I just never realized that when I looked back on the good times, they would make my cry.”

— Christine GONSALVES’88, Port of Spain

Guests at the fun-filled and delicious luncheon hosted by Diana MACNEILL Hart’54 and Colin Hart (taking the photo), include Dr. Stewart Brook and his wife Patsy — former residents of Branxholme Castle.

Karen Murton stands beside the original lintel at Branxholme Castle. A replica of this lintel is located on Branksome’s east campus, in front of the porte cochère.

BRISTOL — MARCH 9

Intriguing life stories and tales of adventure are told during lunch at the River Grille. Here, the group meets in the comfortable hotel lobby where conversation continued well into the late afternoon. From left: Heather Jenne and her mom Elizabeth CAPENER Jenne’44 (Dunchideock, Devon), Beverley BRITT’48 (Powys, Wales), Ann COOLING Stuart’50 (Bristol), Jane CONNOR’84, Stephanie MACDONALD Liversidge’63 (Bristol) and Doreen MARTIN Evans’43 (Colyton, Devon).

Trinidad and Tobago

SALISBURY — MARCH 10

Enjoying warm hospitality in the home of hosts Patricia CAVE Smith’49 and her husband Peter Smith, located in the Cathedral Close, are Sally PITFIELD Moore’45 (Lymington, Hamps), Hilary STOCKS Teal’66 (Teddington, Middlesex) and Ann MERRIMAN Mansel’47 (Salisbury).

After lunch, Patricia CAVE Smith’49, second from right, escorts Jane CONNOR’84, Ann MERRIMAN Mansel’47, Patricia STOCKS Nicholas’63 (North Devizes, Wilts) and Hilary STOCKS Teal’66 to the front entrance of Salisbury Cathedral, where Brigadier Colin Watts, also present at the luncheon, awaits to provide a private tour.

LONDON — MORNING OF MARCH 13 Roderick Suddaby, Keeper of the Department of Documents at the Imperial War Museum, shows Jane Connor and Tanya Pimenoff diaries and letters written by British children and their parents during the Second World War. These often heart-rending accounts of the devastating effect of war are kept alive through these documents and through vivid stories told by our alumnae.

For those of you who were not at our first “T&T Branksome Get-Together,” held at the Admiral Nelson on October 17, you missed out on some good fun! Fifteen alumnae came out for an evening on the town, so it was a night of networking, reconnecting and reminiscing. Great stories were told, but we also had some serious conversations regarding women in business and the status of being a Caribbean woman. We hope our next get-together happens soon and that

those of you who could not attend make an effort to meet some really great girls! At the end of the day, there is a thread which ties us all together, a bond which we all share. No matter what our roles in life are now — mother, daughter, business woman — our reunion reminded us that we are all Branksomites! Thank you Christine GONSALVES’88 for organizing everything!

Neysha SOODEEN’89

Member, Board of Governors

Caribbean Liaison

The STOCKS sisters on tour with Brigadier Watts.

ALUMNAE OUTREACH

LONDON

— EVENING OF MARCH 13 RECEPTION AT CANADA HOUSE More photos can be seen at www.branksome.on.ca/news/.

Guests raise their glasses and toast Branksome Hall.

Twin sisters Felicity JEAN Field’48 and Caroline JEAN Mather’48.

1998 classmates Louise PRICE, Fiona TINGLEY and Alexis WISE.

Pamela CHIANG’08, Andrea NG’08, Mara HUI’08, Michelle CHOI’08 and Joyce HO’06.

Caroline ANDRUS’93, Meredith SHAW Chisholm’89, Alexa PIENAAR’02, Janet ANTHONY Godden’87, Karen Murton, Tanya Pimenoff, Jane CONNOR’84 and Laura McELWAIN Holme’84.

Bob McAllister, Catherine CORBETT McAllister’83, Niall Whitehead and Barbara WARD Whitehead’83.

Damaris EASTERBROOK’64, David Stanford and Constance BORCOMAN Stanford’61.

Joyce ROBINSON Morris’53 chats with classmate Jennifer WARRINGTON Bell’53 and Jasper Bell.

Representing the 70s are Marianne REYNOLDS Highwood’79, Nicky FALCONER’78 and Ginny GIBSON’76.

For competing nations, the Olympics are the opportunity to gather medals. For our Olympians themselves, the Games are the moment when extraordinary memories develop.

Here are a few of their stories.

Raising the Flag

by Julia Drake

Frances DAFOE Bogin’49 has countless treasured memories from her years as a competitive figure skater. Among the most vivid recollections are those involving the sights, sounds and emotions noted while representing Canada on the winners’ podium. “It is truly an awe-inspiring moment when the flag is flying behind you and they’re playing the national anthem,” says Frances, who earned a Silver Medal in the 1956 Olympic Winter Games in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, with her partner, Norris Bowden. Her other trips to the podium included a first-place skate in both the 1954 and 1955 World Championships in Oslo and

Vienna respectively; and second-place finishes in the Worlds in 1953 (Davos, Switzerland) and 1956 (Garmisch, Germany). In the 1952 Olympics in Oslo, Frances and her partner placed fifth.

Sailor Martha HENDERSON’87 also knows the rush of excitement an athlete experiences in the Olympics. With the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing not far behind her, Martha says two memories stand out. “After our first day of competing (in the Yngling Class, three-woman keelboat race), we were in second place,” she says. — continued on next page

Frances DAFOE Bogin’49 and partner Norris Bowden demonstrate their award-winning talent.

“To see our names up on the top scoreboard was an absolutely incredible experience.”

Because she was sailing in Qingdao, 700 kilometres from Beijing, she couldn’t make it to the opening ceremonies, but participating in the closing ceremonies with her teammates — and all of Team Canada — was a moment Martha will treasure forever. She finished the competition with an impressive 13th-place overall standing.

Christilot HANSON Boylen’65, the most successful dressage competitor in Canadian history, was only 17 when she made her Olympic debut. In 1964, the official age for senior competitors was 18, but Christilot received special permission to compete in dressage in Tokyo. “As soon as I arrived, I realized I was way over my head, but the bottom line was to learn from the experience for

HAVE WE MISSED ANY OLYMPIC ATHLETES IN THIS ARTICLE?

If so, please contact Tanya Pimenoff, Editor, The Read, at tpimenoff@branksome.on.ca with some details, and we will follow up. We wish to acknowledge all of Branksome Hall’s talented alumnae athletes who have excelled at many levels in many diverse sports. We salute all of our athletes!

the next time, and that I did!” says Boylen. At the 1976 Montreal Olympics, she placed sixth in the Grand Prix equestrian event. “It was also the hardest personally, since my horse, Gaspano, had been injured, and we nursed him through that Olympics without the preparation I would have liked to have,” says Christilot. “It was the first time I made use of sport psychology to help me through the problems. It was one

of my best tests, where I had a real sense of ‘flow’ and slow motion — something many athletes report when giving a peak performance.”

Christilot has since competed in numerous Olympics — Mexico, Münich, Los Angeles and Barcelona. She won Gold in the “Moscow alternate,” in Goodwood, England, in 1993, and is the only rider to have won three individual Gold Medals in the Pan Am Games.

Yet one of her greatest triumphs was attained in the grueling Hamburg Derby, a special competition in which the top three riders are required to ride each other’s horses through the same routine. “You get five minutes to get used to the horse belonging to your competitor, as they do with yours,” she explains. “It is very exciting, and a real test of a rider’s ability to immediately ‘find the buttons’ on a horse completely unknown to him and also to ride it accurately through a Grand Prix-level test.” She earned one first-place finish and two second-place finishes in that competition over the years.

Alexandra (Alexe) YEUNG’89, a competitive c yclist, has different, but equally vivid memories of her time in the Olympic spotlight. “Mountain biking doesn’t get the same attention as many other sports,” she says. “So, at a regular race, there would be one to two cameras on the entire course.” But, when competing at the Sydney

In Germany, Christilot HANSON Boylen’65 brings out the best in Gachino, a black gelding.

“You have to be able to believe in your dream and what you want to achieve, regardless of what happens. We were always encouraged at Branksome to try new things and to pursue whatever it was that was important to us.”

Alexandra (Alexe) YEUNG’89 rounds a corner, past a cheering group of spectators.

Olympics in 2000 for her birth country of Hong Kong, she saw 20 cameras at every twist and turn, and “you realize the whole world is watching.”

Now, Alexe is putting her Olympic spirit to work in Chicago’s bid for the 2016 Summer Olympics. An Environmental Engineer, she is working on ways to “green” the Olympics, through such measures as water conservation, increasing the use of renewable energy, and developing new recycling programs.

The introduction of sustainability is just one example of how the Olympic Games have changed over the years. Christilot recalls that, in the 1960s, Canadian dressage was just beginning to earn attention. “There was no backup help, no trainer and no team manager,” she says. Today, competitors enjoy enormous support.

Likewise, in the 1950s, competitive figure skating “was a different world,” says Frances. Then, skaters competed outdoors, in sub-zero weather, and that meant poor ice conditions. Ironically, ice that is too cold prevents blades from gliding optimally. “It was like skating on Coca-Cola.”

In Vienna, Frances skated on artificial ice in a blizzard, and snow had to be removed from the rink after each routine. With little space for the shovelled snow to be stored, the rink surface “got smaller and smaller” with every cleaning. “With judges sitting on

chairs on the ice, one misstep and a skater could knock over a whole row of them!”

So, what are the lessons that these outstanding women can pass along from their personal experiences? When obstacles stand in your way, “you either cross them or fade out and let your passion go,” says Frances, who became passionate about design. For many years, she was a costume designer for CBC television as well as the Charlottetown Festival and the Royal Winnipeg Ballet.

“You have to be able to believe in your dream and what you want to achieve, regardless of what happens,” echoes Martha. “We were always encouraged at Branksome to try new things and to pursue whatever it was that was important to us.”

“All successful people, not just athletes, have focus,” says Alexe, whose training regimen and competitions have forced her to miss the weddings of many friends. “You must make sacrifices, but, because you have focus, you don’t look at the things you’re giving up as sacrifices.”

“I think top achievers in many fields

Humour & Fun

probably have many similar characteristics, not all of them always positive,” observes Christilot. “There has to be a certain sense of doggedness and sheer mental and physical strength. A good athlete or entrepreneur goes on unperturbed with negativity around him or her.” And she credits Branksome’s athletic program for giving her “the key elements of team spirit and striving for excellence.”

Today, Christilot applies that drive as a trainer and coach. Recently, “after slowly bringing back a horse who had been hurt, and operated on in 2005 — and he was still only walking the whole of 2006 — I finally was able to return him to top form in the spring of 2007, where in his first competition, he won the Grand Prix and the Special,” she says.

Enjoyment is an important element of success, too, it seems. “If it’s not fun, it’s not worth doing,” adds Martha, who now has the 2012 Olympics on her mind. I

Julia Drake is the new Director of Communications and Marketing. Her background includes experience as a newspaper reporter, magazine editor, and public relations consultant. For the past five years, Julia was Director of Communications at Upper Canada College.

—

In Quingdao, Martha HENDERSON’87, centre, takes a break with her rowing teammates Jennifer Provan, left, and Katie Abbott.

Four-person toboggans speeding down the “steep” hill into the ravine at the Junior School amid shrieks of sheer pleasure!

Karin HAMMERICH’68

Humour & Fun

The alumnae profiled in the following pages all have a common trait — they know how to have fun. Whether an inherited or learned attribute, these women face work and family with a smile — each tackling the highs and lows of everyday life in their own positive, humorous way.

Photography by Glenn Brown

Laurie STEIN’78

Cartooning Fun

My parents were the first to realize that I had an artistic flare when I crayoned all the walls in our new home. I was three at the time.

after branksome, and even after university, I still loved to draw and realized I had to pursue this passion. So, I applied to the Ontario College of Art and Design (OCAD), taking all my cartoon drawings to the interview. With luck on my side, I was given early acceptance. I was on the right path to becoming an official artist.

With no formal training in art, I had to learn the basics, including sharpening a pencil. Two summers were spent at Sheridan College in Oakville studying animation, where the instructor would seek me out and lament repeatedly: “Can’t you draw anything sad or scary? Why do your characters have to be so happy?” I learned that animators must exaggerate their expressions and that a good animator is also a good actor. So, my years taking drama at Branksome were paying off!

With a diploma in hand from OCAD, I applied for a job at Nelvana studios in Toronto. At the interview, I was asked to animate a character with horns and big teeth — a wicked alien. I just didn’t want to do it. This was a turning point for me. I knew I would be miserable if I had to draw disturbing things. So, I took my unpublished portfolio to Nelson Publishing where I was assigned my first book.

For 24 years, I have illustrated for educational publishers and I still love the thrill of opening that new manuscript. My illustrations have appeared in magazine articles and on covers, and some cheerful murals that I hope bring smiles to those who wait for hours at Sick Kids Hospital. I have had great fun creating two- and three-dimensional characters for advertising agencies. One such character was for Cortisporin Eardrops, where I had to illustrate an “athletic ear.” The result was an adorable little three dimensional ear that was quite the athlete: it went

Laurie remembers Grade 8… “We wrote numerous English exams in Grade 8 — poetry, grammar, composition, essay writing — with each exam lasting two hours. If you finished your exam early, you would have to read or draw until all papers were handed in. Loving to draw, I brought paper and oil pastels and madly worked on a “masterpiece” after the first test. I looked forward to my next exam, so that I could continue another character. Miss Brough, my teacher, must have seen me colouring madly while others who had finished their exams watched on. After all the exams were handed in, Miss Brough gave me a huge wad of paper and asked if I would draw enough characters for every classmate to colour. In the end, we cut out the characters and pinned them to one entire classroom wall, and our adopted family “The Hubergs” was born.”

swimming, downhill skiing, diving and even enjoyed singing in the rain. That campaign ran for five years.

Now, amid the chaos of family life, I work on any flat surface I can find — usually in the kitchen — and I prefer

this hub over my basement studio. With the computer age came Photoshop, which facilitates much of my work. In fact, it’s such fun that I can barely separate myself from my computer! I www.lauriestein.com

Laurie lives with her husband Bob Shropshire, their three children — Teddy, Kelsey (Grade 10 at Branksome), and Elliott — and two dogs. Laurie has a B.A. in Economics from the University of Western Ontario and a diploma from the Ontario College of Art and Design.

As a boarder in Grade 13, I remember hiding with Pam McCULLOUGH Krokoszynski in the closet — we were visiting other rooms after the 10:30 p.m. Saturday curfew, and the house mom was fast approaching! Kathie MOORE Clark dove under the bed — and her curlers got caught in the bed springs.

— Wendy MORGAN Deeks’66

One Smile at a Time

As a specialist in orthodontics, I have the privilege to create smiles and instill self-esteem in the children and adults who attend my Lawrence Park and Muskoka practices.

when i was eight, I decided I wanted to become an or thodontist like my father. I saw how he was having a positive impact on the lives of his patients, while having fun at the same time. I wanted to be able to make that difference in people’s lives too.

After graduating from Branksome, I knew I had a long road ahead of me to become a dental specialist. Nonetheless, 10 years and three degrees later, in September 1997, I joined my esteemed father in private practice. I still remember slipping on my white lab coat for the first time and hitting the clinic floor with butterflies in my belly. Now, 11 years into practice, I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to do what I do every day.

I strive to make orthodontics fun, because it really can be! I explain to my very young patients that all I do is arts and crafts on the teeth. This always results in a huge sigh of relief. My team and I decorate the office for every holiday season, and we ensure the waiting room lends a welcoming feel. At the front desk, young children are especially thrilled to peruse my elaborate sticker collection, which is also holiday-based. During active treatment, patients choose from 20 different colours of ties for their braces — festive colours, school colours, sports team colours, or a country’s colours during the Olympics. When patients get their braces off, they design their own retainer by choosing from multiple acrylic colours, sparkles and decals. All of these things, including enjoying one of my logo-ed cupcakes, make the orthodontic experience easy and exciting.

I enjoy my career immensely and, in an effort to give back to my community, I recently formalized “Making Girls Smile,” a mentorship program in orthodontics for high school girls that permits them to participate in our clinic as part of the team. The students are inspired to learn new skills that contribute to patient care and their own self-fulfillment. It also provides exposure to dentistry as a possible career choice for these young women. It is so rewarding to witness a smile of satisfaction the first time a student recognizes she has completed a task well. It is my hope to expand this program nationally. I

Virginia received a B.A. from Dalhousie University in French. She received her D.D.S. and M.S.D. in Orthodontics from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. Virginia is a fellow of the Royal College of Dentists of Canada and a diplomat of the American Board of Orthodontics. She was the first woman to be elected to Ontario’s dental licensing board, the Royal College of Dentists of Canada, and served two terms between 2001–2004.

Virginia LUKS’87

Stevie VALLANCE’77

A Winning Voice

In 2002, Stevie Vallance (formally known as Louise) received an Emmy award for directing the dialogue and music vocals for the beloved Disney classic, Madeline, for which she also portrayed the voices of “Miss Clavel”, the nun, and “Genevive,” the dog. A vocalist on four CDs, Stevie is a recognized “jazz diva” in the Greater Toronto area.

laughter was my tonic during my days at Branksome. Just looking at my good pal and classmate, Jane FRASER (see editor’s note), during Prayers would set me off, and the fact that it was quite inappropriate to do so only increased our giggles. Ironically, this kind of silly behaviour is exactly how I make my living… every day.

I once read a book called Do What You Love and Money Will Follow. The influential title stuck with me and, together with my mother’s sense of fun and encouragement, I followed my heart into the world of Animation Acting. It sure beats therapy when you can put all of your personalities to work for you — your “witch” voice over here in this studio, your “mother” voice over there in that studio, your “little girl” over there — all the while making a living and having so much fun doing so!

After voicing thousands of characters on animation productions in Los Angeles, Vancouver and Toronto, who would have guessed I would win an Emmy for excelling at the very thing that I used to get kicked out of Prayers for doing — being silly and giggling.

My advice is to Keep Well the Road and to follow what makes you laugh at all costs, cuz ya nevah know, ya might just be rewarded one day for “barking like a dog!” I www.toonedin.ca

www.stevievallance.com

Editor’s Note: Stevie and Jane left Branksome after completing Grade 12 in 1976. They both pursued their education in New York — Stevie at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, and Jane at the Fashion Institute of Technology. Jane passed away from cancer in 2000 in New York.

Stevie is currently Voice Director on Teletoons hit show Best Ed, as well as voice-producing the 2007 Emmy nominee Growing Up Creepie. Stevie earned the moniker “Cartoon Queen” for her prolific work infusing life and personality into characters on thousands of animated productions including “Mouse” on Reboot, “Whazzat” on Zoobilee Zoo, “Share Bear” on the Care Bears movies, “Dixie” on Donkey Kong, “Natsuko Fuji” on Inuyasha and “Tigrerra” on Bakugan. Stevie also teaches her own unique brand of classes in Animation Acting called “Tooned In! Workshops.”

Andrea ROGERS Bunker’91, Lesley ROGERS Chisholm’93

On the Home Front

Lesley and I are stay-at-home moms. Between us, we have six children under the age of seven—my three boys, and Lesley’s three girls. Life with our children is always full of fun, but not without its surprises and challenges, and rarely do the days go by as planned.

Seeing the cousins interact and observing differences in our children’s behaviour fascinates us. The boys tend to run over every snow bank, karate chop trees and see who can get to the corner first. They finish their food silently, in two minutes flat, with ketchup smeared all over their faces. Mismatched clothes are not an issue. They wrestle, pretend that everything is part of a battle scene — it’s already all about sports. The girls typically walk or skip, holding hands and chatting. They take longer to eat. They chat and giggle. Their outfits need to match and they enjoy afternoons spent playing with friends, colouring for hours or putting on puppet shows. It is these daily routines and little quirks that we enjoy, and we know this is a special time in our lives.

Lesley and I have also enjoyed a wonderful network of other stay-at-home moms, many of whom were our classmates at Branksome. Regardless of whether these women have returned to work or chosen to stay home indefinitely, they have always been there in supportive ways. We are grateful that we can share parenting moments with friends we have known since the days of school dances, clans, prayers and exams.

We do dream about having a peaceful coffee or walking out the door with nothing but a small purse, but for now, we shall cherish the curve balls we dodge each day. Someday we will find ourselves back in the workforce – so until then, our mom roles will be played out with huge smiles and no regrets. I

we chose to give up our respective careers in marketing and accounting so we could walk our kids to school, go to music classes, join moms’ groups, and be there for first steps and first words.

Our glamour days are temporarily gone. These days, our purses are filled with snacks

and diapers instead of lipstick. We wear sensible clothes and shoes and have eyes in the back of our heads. We prefer to sit on the floor. We have seen how laughter is the best medicine to fix a scraped knee or hurt feelings, and we have learned to be grateful for happy, healthy children.

Andrea ROGERS Bunker’91 received a B. Comm. from Queen’s University. After earning a CA designation, she worked as a Controller for a number of smaller businesses. Her children are Jackson (2002), Charlie (2004) and Tyler (2007).

Lesley ROGERS Chisholm’93 received a B.A. in Sociology from Dalhousie University. She worked for several years in the Marketing Department at Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. Her children are Ellie (2004), Natalie (2005) and Olivia (2008).

Judy MacGOWAN’81

Life and Love at the House

At Toronto’s Ronald McDonald House, laughter helps me, and everyone, cope with what goes on under our roof every day. I am in the right place for what I like to do — help people, build relationships and work with children.

i was once told i laugh too much, which made me laugh harder. As a student at Branksome, I liked joking around with friends and distinctly recall falling off my chair in front of the entire school as I emceed the Fashion Show. Yes… for me, a day filled with laughter is a good day.

Looking back upon my varied careers — from working in a nursery school, to handling sales at a toy company, to fundraising at Branksome — I know they were all leading me to my current position. When the opportunity came up to work at Toronto’s Ronald McDonald House (TRMH), I wondered whether I would be able to laugh in an environment filled with seriously ill children and their scared,

struggling families. It did not take long to see how humour is integral to my colleagues and me as we support each other through the challenges that come with working in such an emotionally charged environment.

We realize we cannot change what the children and their families are going through, but we can make their stay in the House a bit happier. Each floor is painted a bright shade of blue, orange or yellow, and the kitchen walls are decorated with murals of larger-than-life animals. How I love to hear the sound of children’s laughter in the halls, as they share in the good times in a place they call home.

Mission of Toronto’s Ronald McDonald House

To enhance the quality of life for out-of-town families with seriously ill children through a caring and suppor tive home away from home.

www.rmhtoronto.org

As staff members, we regularly attend the monthly TRMH School Fair, where students perform songs and activities they have learned at our in-house accredited private school. On one occasion, students created a scavenger hunt and took great joy watching staff frantically search for hidden gingerbread men. I remember shrieking (with delight) as I walked through their scary haunted house at Halloween. And, at a recent open house, the children were quick to persuade staff members to have a taste of cookies they accidentally baked with salt instead of sugar.

Humour and fun will continue to be a big part of our days at TRMH, especially as we embark on a new vision — a $30-million capital campaign to build a bigger house to support more families who will need a safe and supportive “home away from home.” I

Judy is the Director of Development at Toronto’s Ronald McDonald House. She is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE), holds a certificate in Early Childhood Education, and credits her success, and witty sense of humour, to her parents, two brothers and two sisters. Judy provided many a humorous interlude for colleagues during her sojourn as Branksome Hall’s Associate Director of Annual Giving from 1996–2001.

Melony JAMIESON’89

Get It Done!

Back in the days of big hair and shoulder pads, I was in Mrs. Barbara Glennie’s health class as she performed a live demo of the broken telephone game to explain all the variables involved in successfully communicating with another person. It changed my life.

on that day, i learned to consider what I was saying with my choices of words, syntax, tone, volume, and body language. I also learned that communication relied on if and how my partner was using her ears and her eyes to receive my message amid loud static from various distractions. Who knew there were so many challenges to a successful conversation! Talking wasn’t just talking. Listening wasn’t just listening. Effective communication was a whole other dimension.

Long before “network” became a common verb, I developed a love for interacting with people, identifying opportunities, and brokering introductions.

Being an extrovert has been a tremendous asset in inspiring passion in the people I meet. In 1998, I started Get It Done!, a strategic communications firm with a particular niche in building and raising the profile of people and products within myriad communities of stakeholders. My clients may ask for my help in a variety of areas — media and public relations to get their names in the news; marketing projects to develop a brand; event production from concept creation to speech writing and stage direction; or unique projects that have included building accessible playgrounds, selling parcels of land in Central America, and fulfilling a client’s desire to meet Richard Branson, Nelson Mandela, and even the President of the United States.

I love working for myself in this fast-paced environment. As I look around my office at the evidence of client activities, I feel fortunate to have worked closely with leaders across all spheres — business, media, politics, charity, athletics and entertainment. Above all, it’s the great people that I’ve met and worked with who have made the real difference in increasing both the fun and pride quotient in my work. I am especially fond of working with entrepreneurs — those artists of the business variety who change the world with their ideas and creations. Being proactive, and helping leaders deliver their important messages around the globe, makes me feel as though my contributions to society at large are more relevant.

I never stop learning. I am not sure what’s in store next month or next year, but the constantly changing landscape is part of the thrill. Whatever the project (even if it’s moving the world’s biggest obelisk from Rome to Ethiopia), my job is to stand side by side with an array of exceptional human beings — and get it done. I

Melony boarded at Branksome for seven years, and was Head of Residence in her graduating year. She received a B.A. from McGill University in 1993, and is President of her own communications company, Get It Done! Inc. Melony juggles an action-packed business with being a mom to her four-year-old son, Jamieson. She is a Class Rep for her upcoming 20th Reunion, and remains close to her Branksome friends and fellow boarders, The Midnight Crusaders.

2006–2008 at the Young Alum Lunch

December 18, 2008

Head of Science Oksana Jajecznyk with her former students: Susan ANDERSON’08, Ashleigh SHIER’07, Sarah DIAMOND’07 and Meredith LI’07.

2008 Jenny HONG, Carolyn McDONALD, Audrey DENNY, Victoria CARL and Heather CARSON. 2008 classmates

2007 Stephanie SHUTER, Alexandra DOUGLAS, Elizabeth CLIFFORD, Victoria SAHAGIAN, Catherine TENNANT, Caitlin McALLISTER, Lara SNUCINS and Rachel PENNY.

2006 Anne VOORHEIS, Joyce HO, Jennifer SAVORY, Amy ZIPURSKY and Mia TUKULJ.

Teacher Joe Smith with former students Sarah DENHAM’08 and Emily HSU’08.

Class NOTES

Scattered throughout these pages of news and photos are humorous anecdotes and memories of good times inside the classroom and beyond. These stories, submitted by alumnae, and accompanied by the cartooning skills of Laurie STEIN ’78, will transport you back into the less serious side of school life — fun times that are so fondly remembered.

1941

Judith KNOX Young spent three happy years at Branksome. Judith has fi ve sons — the eldest, Ted, is chief of surgery at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Hamilton; Scott is a professional actor and teaches theatre arts at Sheridan College; Denton is in construction; Terence is an MP for the Oakville Conservative riding, elected with a huge majority; and Peter is a recently retired Lt. Col. with the Air Force in Winnipeg. Judith lives in Oakville and has 12 grandchildren and four greatgrandchildren.

1945

Budge ARCHIBALD Wilson is still crisscrossing the country giving talks, workshops, readings and interviews in connection with Before Green Gables. In October, she received

1954

NEWCOMER IN TOWN

an award from the Dalhousie University Alumni called The 2008 Dalhousie Alumna Achievement Award. A Japanese fi lm company is

making an animation of Before Green Gables, and Budge is required to check all 39 episodes as they dribble in one by one — the fi rst will be shown in April.

On March 11, sisters Elspeth FAIRBAIRN Colebrook, left, and Agnes FAIRBAIRN Hopkins’48 enjoy a humorous moment (most likely something said by Elspeth’s husband, Peter Colebrook), following a delightful luncheon in Sherborne, England, with Toronto visitors Karen Murton, Jane CONNOR’84 and Tanya Pimenoff.

In 1991, I was nursing at the Vancouver General Hospital, but I had itchy feet — a typical characteristic of “Vikings.” Since graduating from UBC in 1959, I had always admired the Inuit and dreamed of working in the NWT someday, perhaps due to my Icelandic genes. So, I decided to enquire if there were any job vacancies in Yellowknife. The reply was that Inuvik was hiring. Before leaving, I had to buy suitable thermal apparel. I checked out trendy pastel ski jackets, but when I explained to the clerk where I was going, he darted into the back of his shop and returned with, “I have just the thing for you!” I groaned as he held up the khaki full-length jacket with down insulation, draw-string waist and protective hood — at half price! On April 1, I arrived in Inuvik, population 3,000, with luggage and four boxes of possessions.

One day I took a stroll about town bundled up in my Arctic clothes. Although it was spring, there were still mounds of longstanding snow

hugging the ground in a temperature of -10C.

As I stepped onto the wooden sidewalk, I heard the voice of a young girl who was perched on her bicycle. She was wearing a pink jacket over her short skirt, leotards and boots. She greeted me with, “Hi! Were you in the war?

Where did you get that parka?” I cringed, realizing that a newcomer in town could be very conspicuous. I answered, “Oh, I bought it in a store in Vancouver.” I asked her if she had gone to the “Muskrat Jamboree” the weekend before — an annual event on the frozen MacKenzie River. She smiled and said, “That’s where I saw you before! I like your parka.” I told her that I was a nurse at the hospital – to which she excitedly replied, “I was born at the Inuvik General Hospital!” Nolene, my new friend, and I walked along together in the sunshine.

— Norma GUTTORMSSON’54 North Vancouver normaceline@telus.net

Norma GUTTORMSSON’54 sheds her heavy parka and enjoys a balmy day in Inuvik.

1960

Donna BULL George has been busy designing small history outings that she and a friend take in and around Toronto. They enjoy seeing how the city has changed and learning the history of what had been and what is now. They have been through Parkdale, Leaside and up into North Toronto. Next stop: Lake Simcoe Revisited. Donna keeps busy with her art, reading, church groups, family history research, local family gatherings, and keeping in touch with classmates from time to time.

1965

I have moved to a lovely house on Langford Lake — a western community of Greater Victoria. I am the President of the Victoria Women’s Newcomers Club, helping new ladies settle into the community and make new friends. The funniest person I know is my husband, Drew. He is constantly making puns about life around us, so I’m always laughing. When our son, Peter, joins us, hilarity erupts. At Branksome, my classmates Mary-Jo HUGHES Powell (Oakville) and Wendy WILLIAMSON Halford (England) were always making the rest of us laugh. They continue to be great fun — their e-mails brighten my day.

— Tricia PENTENY Mancuso Langford Lake, BC

1967

We were delighted to connect with Maggie PALMER through the Grade 8 trip to Stratford in October. Maggie came on stage to say that she had also attended Branksome — a wonderfully serendipitous moment! Maggie entered Branksome at Grade 4. She caught the theatre bug in Senior School and was in all the school plays, but knew her strengths would be backstage. Half-way through Grade 12, she ran away to the theatre, where she

Kady MacDONALD Denton’59 lives in Peterborough, where she works as an illustrator and author of children’s books. Her latest book, A Visitor for Bear (written by Bonnie Becker, Candlewick Press), hit No. 2 on the New York Times Best Seller list, has been selected for the Kids Reading List of Oprah’s Book Club, and the illustrations are long-listed for the 2009 Kate Greenaway Medal (British).

has spent her entire life. Now the Production Stage Manager at the Festival Theatre, her season starts mid-January. She works six days a week and schedules the comings and goings of 200-400 people a day. When the season ends

WHAT IS IT LIKE TO GO BACK TO THE SENATE…

in November, she heads to her home in Mitchell, Ontario and does not move or talk for a month! Students are already looking forward to seeing Maggie on their next Stratford trip.

palmerransberry@sympatico.ca

and

find your small band of 20 has just about doubled to 38? Out of 105 Senators, the Conservatives still have only 38. The PM has to keep appointing Conservatives until the Senate is balanced in the government’s favour. It is impossible to get bills passed. The new Senators are great for us — they let us individually do more concentrated and better quality work. In the last parliament, we were running around, just covering the bases.

What one achieves in Parliament is usually the result of a number of people. What I initiated or was part of in the past year include the following: the Action Plan for Women; actioning the Auditor General to do a gender-based analysis review of several departments — her report will come out in the spring; being on the Defence Committee which gave me the opportunity to teach some generals and admirals the reality of UN Security Council resolutions on Women, Peace and Security. You can’t make or hold the peace without women being involved in the decision-making and implementation process. Never mind issues like Rape as a Weapon of War. These resolutions and issues have to be part of the training our soldiers receive before going into engagements like Afghanistan.

Committees have not yet been struck, but I am hoping to stay on the Finance Committee and go back on the Social Affairs, Science and Technology Committee.

— Senator Nancy RUTH’60

The Honorable Nancy RUTH

Ann COOLING Stuart’50, Doreen MARTIN Evans’43 and Beverley BRITT’48 enjoy a light-hearted moment at the Branksome luncheon in Bristol, England, on March 9.

1971

Peggy DEAN O’Hara is the owner of O’s by the Water in Port Colborne — an art gallery that features unique objects, each with its own interesting history or story.

1975

Susan ANDERSON Thornburrow’75 and her husband Michael enjoy drinks prior to the Golf Day dinner on September 27. Through her generous contacts, Susan secured a number of giveaways for the Alumnae Association fundraiser.

1976

Anna SMALL-Adams e-mailed: I recently reconnected with Christine (now known as

Humour & Fun

Cristen) GREGORY. We were classmates and participated in Choir and Madrigals, and also took the trip to France in 1973 with Mrs. Hay. After traveling the world singing in the many Opera Houses in Europe, Australia and North America, Chris married Bryan Eckenrode. They have settled in New York State where Chris is the Executive Director of the Lancaster Opera House. Chris teaches voice at Niagara University and also has private students. My husband, Carl, and I have enjoyed many good times with them in

the Barrie area and spent Christmas/New Year’s at their home in Amherst. If any of you wish to reconnect with Chris, please e-mail anna@yourbarrierealty.ca and I will forward it to her.

1978

Marion COULTER Newton lives in Calgary with her husband, Peter, and two daughters, Janna, 11, and Caitlin, 15. They own a horse that is boarded in Okotoks and that Marion enjoys riding with Janna. Marion volunteers at a therapeutic riding centre for disabled children and adults.

1979

Lesley ADAMSON Skelly e-mailed: We have an exciting trip planned to Africa in July. My husband and I are going with our two younger children to work in the Mully Children’s Family Orphanage outside of Nairobi for two weeks, followed by a short safari and a little visit to Zanzibar. My oldest son, Adam, is a cab driver/ snowboarder in Whistler, my

There was Marilyn Ingo climbing out the window in 2B to get out of class quickly. Or the day the boarders went on strike and did not eat the cafeteria food until the cooks stopped using so much grease. We “day girls” brought food from home to help feed the boarders in our class.

Gail McKINNON MacNaughton’66, right, and her Australian pen pal of 48 years, Laraine Fields, met for the first time last August at Gail’s cottage in Muskoka. The connection was set up in 1961 by Gail’s Grade 9 history teacher, Miss Sutton. At the time, Laraine was a student at Presbyterian Girls’ College in Fairholme, Toowoomba.

Visiting from Lake Tomahawk, Wisconsin, on November 11, Judith THOMPSON Bloom’76, upper left, has a super time catching up with classmates at dinner. From left: Sue STRAK Rosenblat, Jillyan MANCHESTER Ross and Cynthia MORTIMER Bennell.

Judith also enjoys family time with her mum, Mary Lou Thompson, and sisters Suzanne THOMPSON Pollard’75 and Jennifer THOMPSON’83.

Donna BULL George’60, Whitby, ON

middle boy, Kit, is in second year at Guelph, and my daughter Robyn will be in high school next year.

The funniest and kindness classmates I remember are Gabby WALLACE Laberge and Cynthia DUNCAN Lumsden. We were always on some kind of diet, and their antics together were hysterical — a bit like Laurel and Hardy. I still draw from their inspiration.

— Annabel YARNELL McMahan

1981

Editor’s note: Branksome staff and faculty who attended a performance of Trudeau Stories — written and directed by Brooke JOHNSON — at the Tarragon Theatre in November, were enthralled by her one-woman performance that captured her long friendship with the late Pierre Elliott Trudeau.

On December 9, by invitation from lawyer and panelist/ presenter Fiona SAMPSON, teacher Kate Hebdon and several Branksome students attended a workshop entitled Stories of Women’s Inequality and Strategies for Gender Justice. Presenters included leading human rights advocates from across Africa and Canada, and was a unique opportunity for students to listen to voices

and stories that are not often heard in Canada.

1982

Andrea CHLEBUS Osborne’82 has worked at Aviva for eight years. Good friend Andrea DODS Peckham’82 recently joined the company, but due to the size of the organization, the good friends don’t see each other unless they book a formal lunch meeting in their calendars!

Laurie HRUSHOWY Bickle received her Certified Human Resources Professional designation in fall 2008 — a national designation for human resources professionals. She is a member of the HRPA with her home chapter being Toronto. The designation included taking nine courses and writing two sets of national exams.

1983

In June 2008, my husband Andreas started a new job in Toronto. I stayed behind with Foxie, the dog, to sell the house and have long drawn-out farewells with all our fantastic

participate are immigrants, many of whom speak English as a second language. It is such fun and, as I love to read, a real treat to be exposed to so many wonderful children’s books. Last November we headed off to Tempe, Arizona, where Drea participated in his third Ironman triathlon. We went to the Grand Canyon, shopped, visited Old Town Scottsdale, ate and drank well. It is our new favorite vacation spot and we plan to go back so we can explore the canyon and maybe even white water raft the Colorado River. We are happy to be back in Toronto, but

still reminisce about our friends and the adventures we had while living in Newfoundland.

— Ginny KENT Doerig

1984

Jennifer KIM, her husband Peter and son William live in Toronto. Jennifer is a lawyer at Henry K. Hui & Associates in Richmond Hill.

1985

Paty ZINGG Velutini writes — I am quite good at fi nding the lighter side of life. It’s in my

When the news seems to be filled with gloom, and there are unhappy faces at work and on the street, I turn to my kids to help me find the fun in life. Without being oblivious to the world around them, they are still able to find the joy in simple things — riding a toboggan, creating with paper and glue, playing a game or building a fort. They help me remember to find the happiness in each moment, and not dwell so much on the past or the future.

St. John’s friends! We are now in a lovely, centrally located apartment in Toronto. I am not working but hope to get back into contract/freelance projects. For now, I am volunteering at The Children’s Book Bank, which exposes children, and their parents, to reading. Almost all the families who

Leslie ADAMSON Skelly’79 snuggles up to daughter Robyn.

Claire ANGUS Caplan’83 takes a break from her weekend duties as Plaid Tidings treasurer, and chats with Leeanne WELD Kostopoulos’86 at the November 21 soirée.

Ginny KENT Doerig and Andreas

—Chris McKINNEY Pfeiffer’83, Glen Rock, New Jersey

Caitlin, 11, Amelia, 9, and Henry, 5

Under Siege in the Overpass

It was early spring. I was in the overpass going from MacNeill to the Senior School when I heard a terrible, loud noise. It sounded like something really hard was hitting the windows. I couldn’t see what was happening outside because the windows are opaque. Coming from a country where anything can happen, I immediately assumed somebody was shooting at me from the street. So I hit the floor face down and crawled Rambo-like to the safety of the other side. I cautiously walked down the stairs looking back and forth to see if the people trying to shoot me had gotten inside the overpass. When I reached the door, I peeked outside, expecting to see dead bodies, or perhaps people taking refuge. Instead, I saw people running with books on their heads. And, instead of bullets, there were these huge chunks of ice falling from the sky, the size of ice cubes! I had never seen hail that size, and so ended my murder scenario.

— Paty ZINGG Velutini’85, Caracas, Venezuela

genes. I’m Latin, and Latin people are naturally a happy sort of people. I’m also Venezuelan. I’ve never known people more capable of turning tragedy into comedy than Venezuelans (our political and social situation being a great example of epic tragedies). No matter how bad the news, it is always delivered with the right dose of humour. This is probably what keeps us still living in this crazy country of ours.

Growing up, there was always plenty of laughter in our home. And now, one of

my husband’s best attributes is his sense of humour. He is the person I turn to when things look a bit overcast. Fortunately, our daughters have inherited this and are a constant source of laughter and happiness for me.

1987

Last fall, Ginny LUKS participated in a climb of the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu for the MS Society. Her orthodontic team was a great support in being able to make this possible.

She conquered the mountain along with a group of 23 other individuals. Together, they raised $155,000 for this important charity and, through the generosity of friends, family

and colleagues, Ginny was the top fundraiser in her group, raising $14,955. She was recognized with a medallion and plaque for being in the top 50 for funds raised by an individual.

1988

Sarah CARTER — CBS News Johannesburg Bureau Chief — has joined the School of Journalism at the University of British Columbia as the CanWest Global Visiting Professor for the Winter 2009 term. As an awardwinning producer and reporter, Sarah has covered every major news event in Africa and has reported on confl icts in Pakistan, Indonesia and the Middle East for both the CBS Evening News and 60 Minutes. During reading week in February, she took her students on a story for Frontline (PBS) to China and India.

Paty ZINGG Velutini, with daughters Arianne, Emilia, and Gabriela. Gaby and Arianne each attended Branksome for one year.

Ginny takes in the spectacular view during her Peruvian expedition.

If there is one thing I cherish most about my years at Branksome, it was laughter! When it came time for my mother to choose a school for my sister Meredith’83 and me, she did something unusual: she sat outside BSS, Havergal and Branksome as school was dismissed at 3:30 p.m. and watched the girls exit. Based on what she saw — socks down, uniforms askew, sports equipment fl ying, girls laughing — she could tell that Branksome was the school for us!

— Heather CARTWRIGHT Cambridge, Massachusetts

In September 2008, Heather CARTWRIGHT was appointed Head Coach, Lightweight Women’s Crew at Harvard. Heather wrote — It is a wonderful experience coaching over 50 student athletes as we pursue

Humour & Fun

a National Championship. This is my sixth year coaching rowing in the U.S. Previously I was at Princeton and Boston University.

Jennifer McGILL and her family have moved back to Toronto from South Africa.

very funny family and hilarious friends who I laugh with daily, but this summer I took it one step further and took a stand-up comedy class. We spent eight weeks working together to develop our material and put on a show at Second City’s main stage. It was terrifying but a lot of fun.

California. They are both into triathlons and plan to do a half Ironman this August in Lake Stevens, Washington.

1989

Carol RILEY writes — To combat the stress of work and life, I try to surround myself with people who share my sense of humour. I am lucky to have a

Miss Brough and the Magic Gobstoppers

In Grade 4, my friend Jenny and I hatched a plan to avoid afternoon classes. We had the perfect idea.

After graduating from vet school, Allison ZWINGENBERGER worked in private practice in B.C., Germany and England and then went back to do her residency in veterinary radiology at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. After a year as a lecturer, she headed for the California coast to become assistant professor at the UC Davis veterinary school. Allison was married two years ago in Napa, and she and her husband enjoy the wine and weather in

Dear Class, Thank you to those who helped us with the enormous task of reporting news on so many of our classmates. We feel proud to be connected to you and appreciate your support with sending and collecting updates. See you at our 20th on Saturday, May 23! Best wishes always, Melony and Stephanie melony@getitdone.ca stfulford@deloitte.ca

Yasmin ABDULLAH Dawood lives in Toronto with her husband and their two sons. In the summer, Yasmin will join the University of Toronto, Faculty of Law, as an Assistant Professor.

Noreen AHMED-ULLAH is a journalist with the Chicago Tribune and has done some amazing reporting from Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Marlene APAU is living in Malaysia and enjoying her growing family.

Jenny had a bag of Magic Gobstoppers, a candy guaranteed to make the eater invisible. We sucked and chewed several packets to make sure they worked. For the final test, we confidently skipped past two teachers as we made our way to the track field. They didn’t say a word as we passed, so we were convinced the candy had made us undetectable. Impressed with our success, we arrived at our destination celebrating victory by laughing loudly. Feeling hot and sick from so much excitement and sugar, I sat down. A voice suddenly came out of nowhere. I froze in fear. It was Miss Brough, the Principal of the Junior School.

Fear raced through our young minds as we all trudged back up the hill. Jenny and I had been in trouble before but not with the Principal. We sat in Miss Brough’s office on huge wooden chairs that swallowed us up. Afraid our fate would be a punishment of epic proportions, Miss Brough broke her silence: “What made you girls think you could skip classes? Do you think you are invisible?” I bravely said, “Yes, we ate Magic Gobstoppers that made us disappear, and you can only see other people who eat them too.” Jenny chimed in: “How did you see us Miss Brough? Do you eat Magic Gobstoppers too?”

“Yes. I eat them every day,” she replied. “That’s why I can see you and why you will never be able to hide from me.” She confiscated the remaining candy and had us sit in her line of vision until the bell rang. As we left her office, relieved to escape unscathed, we stopped in our tracks to listen to the sound of Miss Brough laughing.

— Namrita KOHLI’87

Steph recently enjoyed lunch with Susan ARCHER Taylor who reports all is well. Susan, husband Mike and children, Alexandra, Robert and Andrew live in North Toronto.

After 13 great years in southern California, Paige AUSTIN, husband Corey Tucker and their three children have traded in palms and citrus groves for rocks, waves and snow. Life in Newfoundland is familiar to Paige and Corey, who grew up there. Their house overlooks Conception Bay and Topsail Beach, where the kids love fi nding sea urchins and other treasures. Paige is doing part-time speech pathology in her children’s school and

Carol RILEY performs her stand-up debut at Second City.

Humour & Fun

pursuing further studies in linguistics.

Tori BARTON is back on this side of the pond after almost a decade in London. She and husband Cam have welcomed a fourth child to their family — baby Poppy is baby sister to Henry and Max. Big sister Ryley is in Grade 2 at Branksome. Tori is happy to be back in Toronto to reconnect with everyone.

Karen BHATT Fenton and Bruce Fenton were married last fall at a little resort on Sparrow Lake, just outside of Orillia, ON, where they live. Stacey EVANS was maid of honor and flew in from B.C. Karen is proud mom to six-year-old daughter Aiden and fi ve-yearold stepson, Carter. Karen has fun working in management for The Disney Store.

Nicola BLEASBY was in Toronto last fall to visit family

and friends. She still resides in Amsterdam and enjoys her work as VP of Customer Insight at TMobile, where her team has just doubled in size in spite of fi nancial gloom elsewhere. She is excited about adventures to Everest Base Camp in April and attending two Coldplay concerts in September.

Sam (Stephanie) BRENZEL apologizes for not providing updates in 20 years! She lives in Los Angeles, is a producer on Fox’s American Idol and, at press time, was expecting her fi rst child (a girl) in March.

For 10 years, Barb BROWN has been running her own chiropractic practice in Toronto’s Bloor West Village with a registered massage therapist and naturopath. She and her husband John live in the west end and enjoy spending time cycling and working on their house.

Betsy BROWN bought the farm! — and enjoys a spectacular country view outside Peterborough. She works in Toronto managing the online brokerage business for one of the big banks and has her own landscape design business. Betsy and husband Phil are parents of daughter Lila, 2.

Helen DEMPSTER and husband Anthony Shearing love life in Muskoka with their family. Helen is practising medicine in Huntsville, while Anthony practises in Bracebridge. Melony ran into Helen, who was directing the runners on the Muskoka Half-Ironman Triathlon course.

Carolyn DENNIS is an equity analyst on Bay Street. She is on sabbatical to do some traveling and catch up on everything she missed while she was busy working.

After seven years in Los Angeles and New York, Ali DRUMMOND has returned to Toronto. She provides affordable online development and marketing services for projects that create positive change.

Kendall ELDER Peart and husband Jeremy welcomed their third son, Miller Shane, last spring — baby brother to Lincoln, 6, and Sawyer, 4. The Pearts live in Toronto’s west end and enjoy visits from aunts Karen’87 and Lindsay’85.

Stacey EVANS Jones returned the favour to Karen BHATT Fenton and was her maid of honour last fall. Long live Buccleuch friendships!

Melissa FELDMAN has been living in Tel Aviv since 1996. After securing her teacher certification and a brief stint teaching junior high, Melissa began a career in educational technology, specializing in language learning content. She is currently developing

educational material for mobile phones for a high tech startup in the Tel Aviv area.

Jacquie FENNER Harnack and husband Nicolaus welcomed their fourth child (and fi rst son), Max, last summer in London, England. Jacquie says that they are now done! It’s chaos at the Harnack house most of the time but at least the four kids and the dog keep each other entertained! They had a nice trip to Egypt and plan to be in Toronto this summer. As if she isn’t busy enough, Jacquie has started up a business doing novelty cakes from home. www.jacquiescakes.com

Stephanie FULFORD went to London for a friend’s wedding in October and had a fabulous time visiting Sarah WALKER Mander and Jacquie FENNER Harnack. She keeps in regular touch with Branksome friends and loves her role on the Alumnae Executive Committee, and as our class reunion rep. She’s still in the same home, and doing the same job at Deloitte.

Andrea GARE runs a successful interior design business and enjoys weekend cottaging near Peterborough with husband Jeff, an insurance bigwig, and their two children, Georgia, 6, and Andrew, 4.

Sarah GARROW is still busy with her career in genetics at Mount Sinai Hospital, and lives with husband Phil, and son Anton at Harbourfront.

Lori GEROW lives in her hometown of Midland (after working on big boats and in Whistler). She married her high school sweetheart, Chip.

Lisa GIBSON has a busy schedule as a Wealth Advisor at Scotia McLeod. She and husband Andrew Titley enjoy traveling (Florence, Caribbean, New York, Chicago) in the winter

Joyce WALKER McKeough’56 kept a “swearing jar.” Each member of the family had to put $1 in the jar each time she or he swore. So, she promptly put in $20 and said, “That should darn well cover it!”

— Mary Pat JONES Armstrong’63

and cottaging on summer weekends in Muskoka.

Kathy HASLETT Salter moved to a new house in the Yonge/ Lawrence area. Kathy is still at an investment management fi rm, and she and husband Greg are parents to Bridget, 6, and Will, 4.

From Carrickfergus, Northern Ireland, we’ve been in touch with DeeDee HUGHES, mom to Olivia, 13, and Nathanial, 4. For nine years, DeeDee has been working as an addiction counsellor, but in early 2009 she expanded her career to help problem gamblers. She plans to further her education to advance her career and will begin a Master’s later this year. She fi nds time to write music and has sent her fi rst demo to a few music publishers to see if anything comes of it. Fingers crossed!

Debbie HUMENIUK is still a real estate agent for Ashley Oaks in Oakville. Her husband Shawn Whitham works with Dell Canada and travels alot. Their daughters, Tristanne and Savannah, keep a full schedule of activities — school plays, basketball, chess, hockey, gymnastics, skiing and piano. Debbie plays ball hockey and ice hockey.

Kim IONSON Taylor and husband John are busy with their two girls, Brooke, 5, and Jaime, 2. Kim regularly sees Neysha SOODEEN, Jaime’s godmother. Kim recently heard from Leigh MACRAE, who has been traveling all over the world, most recently in Kenya. Kim loves visits with Andrea GARE, Melony JAMIESON and Jane TAYLOR Durno, and is hoping to see the rest of the Midnight Crusaders here in Toronto for the big 2-0!

Paul and Vanessa IRWIN Watson, Charlotte, 2, and Sophie, 1, live north of Cambridge, in a small village called Alconbury, U.K. In March,

Vanessa returned to work as Regional Account Manager for Sage, an accounts and payroll software organization. Vanessa is involved with Charlotte’s preschool committee and does their accounting. Paul is a private planning consultant and member of the Parish Council and the Sports and Social Club.

Consuelo JACKMAN and her husband Tim welcomed baby Henry, sibling for Frank, Arthur and Josephine, last fall. It will be hard to keep Consuelo from the reunion as she lives right across the street!

After 15 years doing class notes, Melony JAMIESON is looking forward to catching up with everyone in person at our 20th Reunion! Melony and her son JJ live in the Yonge/Lawrence area and their favour ite pastime is hanging out with friends. In preparation for the reunion, and in celebra-

Humour &

tion of nearly three decades of friendship, she and Geet (Andrea GARE) had a fabulously fun adventure in the Big Apple last fall.

Aimee JOY Dearing lives in Windsor, ON, with her husband Shawn, daughter Grayson and son William.

In search of space for their growing family, Debra KATZ and husband Sean Barlow moved to Ancaster, ON, with their four little ones, Owen, Will, and twins Lola and Violet.

Jennifer KELLIE enjoys spending time with her nephews, Tyler and Noah, sons of Sarah KELLIE’92. Unfortunately, they live in Japan, but this enables Jennifer to travel regularly to one of her favourite countries.

From London to Cape Town and back to the U.K., Jojo KIRKLAND Stephenson now lives

in the Cotswolds, two hours from London. She and husband Charlie have three children, Felicity, 6, Alexander, 4, and Maxwell, 2. Jojo teaches Pilates from a studio in her home. Last June, Jojo was in Canada to attend the wedding of Jenny PURVES.

Lisa LEBOURDAIS Bower is loving life in the United States.

Katie LITTLE Roland is well. Melony and KT had a nice catch up last spring at a community event with her girls, Olivia, 6, and Audrey, 4. KT visited Jojo in England last spring and is now hoping Jojo will visit in Toronto for the Big Reunion. KT is looking forward to seeing everyone.

Finally fulfi lling her lifelong dream to live in Africa, Leigh MACRAE checked in from Tanzania! After three years in Qatar, she now teaches history

Andrea’s Oxfords, 1977-82 (…and still around today).

We had to wear old-fashioned black leather lace-up shoes called Oxfords. Because they were so old-fashioned, my mom couldn’t find them in a regular shoe store, so we had to go to a “special store.” I thought they were ugly, but they were built to last, and mine lasted six years before mom bought me a new pair.

—

Andrea

CHLEBUS Osborne’82

Humour & Fun

Spirit Week! Our colour was orange, which was very difficult to find, so on the final day of competition everyone would come to school dressed in Hallowe’enthemed garbage bags!

— Erin MORGAN’03

and geography to Grades 6–10 at an international school. Leigh works in Arusha, the safari capital of Tanzania, so the Serengeti is not far away. There are lots of Maasai people and other indigenous tribes in and around the city and on a clear day, Leigh can see Mount Kilimanjaro! Leigh is planning to move back to Toronto later this year.

Trish MAGWOOD and her husband Bryce Conacher live near Branksome with three children, Finlay, Olivia and Charlotte. Trish is running her catering empire, dish, and won the prestigious James Beard Award for her cookbook, dish entertains. Trish has launched new children’s classes: dish kids, for parents and 3–5 year olds; and junior chef diplomas for 6–12 year olds. She will launch teen classes this spring. The Branksome Grade 1 class had a ball cooking at her studio!

Kathy MAUCHNER still works in marketing and sales for Corus Entertainment, W Network. Her cravings for pain au chocolat steered her to

France recently where she had a fabulous time watching a boat race called “Les Voiles de St. Tropez.”

Bonnie McKINNON Flemington lives in Oakville with her husband Jeff and Finley, 10, Ainsley, 7, and Riley, 5. They ski up north on weekends and were thrilled to bump into

Sarah MERRY helping out her nieces. Bonnie looks forward to attending reunion in May — her fi rst.

Noelle McLEISH is busy being a full-time mom to Thomas, 1, and working as a project management consultant. They live in the Yonge/Lawrence area and have been spotted around the train table at Mastermind.

Nicole MEKINDA Weber and husband Paul live in Oakville and really enjoy life on the lake! Nicole is stepmom to Paul’s two boys, Jayden and Justin. She is a real estate agent with Prudential Town Centre Realty.

nicole@oakvillefi nehomes.ca

Now in her third year of directing the Yorkville House Studio, Sarah MERRY teaches painting to students at all stages of artistic development. She is also thoroughly enjoying teaching “Art Start” to students at Blythwood Public School. She is preparing for her second year curating a Canadian art show in New York called Parca Biennale. Canada Day in Manhattan has never looked so good… worth the road trip!

Humour & Fun

From London, we had a newsy note from Catherine MICKELSON Bedford, who is a partner at Lee & Thompson, an exclusive entertainment law firm with film, music, television, talent and entertainment litigation departments. Catherine runs a special family law practice with five lawyers. She specializes in divorce and private children work — she can’t name any of her celebrity “A list” clients, so I guessed they are people we’ve heard of! She and husband Oliver love to travel with their daughters, Ella, 7, and Kitty, 4, who are good skiers and real outdoor girls. The family spends every summer at Catherine’s family cottage just outside Thunder Bay.

Melissa MILLER Sullivan sent a great update on the last two decades. While pursuing her B.A. at Memorial University, she worked as a fl ight attendant and lived briefl y in France and Russia. After getting her M.B.A. from the Monterey Institute of International Studies in California, she worked in advertising in Toronto and then moved home to the Rock. Sadly, she was widowed in 2003. In 2006, she completed an M.Sc. in Applied Health Services Research. Melissa recently fi nished a contract with the Newfoundland and Labrador provincial government, where she served as a researcher for the Task Force on Adverse Health Events and helped prepare the government for the Commission of Inquiry on Estrogen and Progesterone Receptor testing.

Branksome Hall fashion shows — tape, stapling, paperclips — anything to get that outfit finished and on the runway — safety pins too!

— Carroll BARNICKE Armstrong’77

Louise MITCHELL Joseph, her husband Bing and their children, Chavez, 9, James, 4, and Tai, 2, have a new home on the cliffs of Cane Garden in St. Vincent. The house overlooks Louise’s home island of Bequia and was redesigned by British architect Richard Blunden. There are lots of trees, birds and places for the children to play. Louise continues to keep busy with family, a growing law

practice, and volunteer work for the National Trust. Louise is proud that the Trust was able to convince the Government to commit to stopping development on the island of Battowia, which is a bird sanctuary.

Anja NOPPER is in Caracas, Venezuela, and is using her languages — English, French, German and Spanish — as a translator and interpreter. She also works as a consultant to cultural organizations. Anja and her husband Miguel sing in a choir dedicated to medieval, renaissance and baroque music.

Darlene NORRIS has a challenging new role as Executive Director of George Brown College Foundation where she is rallying the team in preparation for a major capital campaign for the college’s new waterfront campus. Dar is making good use of her personal trainer to get ready for a 10 km race with at-risk female teens from the Dovercourt Boys’ and Girls’ Club. She and her boyfriend John enjoy spending time at the waterfront and at their cottage in Muskoka.

Melanie PUGLIESE and her two boys, Carston and Barrett, live in Newmarket, ON. Mel teaches English and media studies to high school students north of Toronto. She often sees Debbie HUMENIUK.

Iram QURAISHI has spent 15 years working in the arts, from the Institute of Contemporary Arts in London to the Guggenheim in Venice. She has embarked on a “pop-up” shop project with Terra Plana and United Nude shoes; prepare yourselves for Iram’s pop-up during the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival. Iram looks forward to seeing old friends in May!

Lynne RUDAN Woolcombe is a lawyer for the Security Exchange Commission. She and

Humour & Fun

I burned the top of my chemistry desk, by accident of course, during an experiment in Grade 11. While there was no fi re, the supposedly burn-proof desk top started to melt with the most awful smell, which permeated the school — and was still hanging in the air hours later during our school dance!

— Naomi RIDOUT’67, Ottawa

her husband Mike are happily in Rosedale with their three boys, Nicholas, Andrew and Geoffrey.

Bay RYLEY is a busy lawyer with the Ontario Human Rights Commission, and is married to Dave Seglins, of CBC Radio fame. Daughter Amy will be joined by a sibling this spring.

Melanie SEAGRAM Philip lives in Toronto with husband Ernie, Thomas, 12, and Leigh, 8. She is a controller and Ernie is a director of large enterprise accounts, both at Xerox Canada Ltd. This year Melanie will be doing her third walk in support of the Weekend to End Breast Cancer with the Xerox Walking Team. The family keeps busy with hockey, dance, skiing and various summer activities.

Patsy SMITH Bell is active on the Branksome Alumnae Executive Committee and manages her framing and design business, Patsy Bell Originals. She and husband John are parents of Hudson, 3, and Hadley, 4, who is in JK at Branksome. Patsy ran into

Jenny STEPHENSON last fall and reports that Jenny is a beaming new mom.

Meredith SHAW Chisholm is busy with three girls: Madeline, 5, Sydney, 3, and Heidi, 1. Her husband Dave enjoys working for Apple selling the iPhone. Meredith is in regular touch with the London girls and looks forward to catching up with the Toronto contingent in May.

Neysha SOODEEN has been super busy launching a new magazine called MACO People which will be the seventh magazine launched by her company, Toute Bagai Publishing. She also was nominated UN Goodwill Ambassador to promote female entrepreneurship. Neysha is expecting her fi rst child this spring. Kim IONSON Taylor and god-daughter Jaime have been very helpful with maternity shopping.

Kaija STEWART Pitt, husband Kevin, and children, Dylan, 4, and Alexandra, 2, have returned to Toronto after living in San Francisco for five years (with a

short stint in England). Kaija is a real estate agent with Harvey Kalles Real Estate Ltd. and enjoys the flexibility this career brings to her home life.

Kristi SYRON and husband Neil Gilday are expecting their fi rst child this spring.

Jane TAYOR Durno is celebrating her 10th year with the Children’s Aid Foundation, a national organization based in Toronto that is dedicated to improving the lives of abused, neglected and at-risk children and youth. She is Senior Manager, Individual Giving and Major Gifts. Jane lives downtown with her husband Don and daughters Lexi, 4, and Isabella, 2. The girls love spending time with their cousins, Brooke and Jaime, and mom/auntie Kim IONSON Taylor.

Robin TAYLOR, husband Toby, and their kids, Mackenzie and Jarvis, have moved to Caledon, where they are building a new home so Toby has more space for his carpentry workshop.

Alexis THOMSON opened a new practice in Kelowna, BC. She

Humour & Fun

I remember using the overpass after swimming lessons during the winter. It was so cold that, by the time we got to the other side, our swimsuits were frozen, and we could make them stand straight up.

and her husband Ernie enjoy the outdoor life, especially teaching son Dylan to ski.

Benedetta VAROLI Holmes and husband Reed live in Bedford, NS, where they are online entrepreneurs who run three websites. Their life is full with family activities — Giovanni plays basketball, Emanuella is an avid fi gure skater, and Serafina is enjoying piano. In spite of the climate, Reed manages to surf all winter.

Krista VILLIERS Flemington enjoys her career as a teacher and living in the Avenue Road/ Eglinton area with her husband Allan and daughters Hannah and Sarah.

Until recently, Jane (Foofie) WADSWORTH Flynn, husband Matt, a lawyer, and children, Cait, 8, and Emmett, 5, lived in California. Foofie enjoyed three years at home and has now returned to work with Deloitte Consulting in the family’s new hometown of Calgary. She is excited to celebrate our 20th reunion and her 15th anniversary with Matt.

Many classmates have visited Pauline WAIT Ferguson in New York City, where her husband Ron works as a lawyer. Pauline is active with the schools attended by daughters Taylor and Phoebe, and she still loves taking art classes.

Heather WARREN Tanti, husband James, and children Allison, Kate, and John are still living in the Royal York/Bloor area, and are looking forward to summer visits from Sarah WALKER Mander and Jacquie FENNER Harnack.

Tune your TV to Fine Print to catch a glimpse of Carolyn WEAVER, host and producer of many Canadian television series. Her son Thorne is the light of her life.

Kathleen WELDON still lives in the DC area, in Old Town Alexandria. She works as a VP in government strategy for Biogen Idec, a biotechnology company. Kathleen runs their DC office and manages their policy and government relations work. She sends her regrets for the reunion because she

is getting married to John Tregoning on May 16! At reunion time, Kathleen and John will be sailing around the Greek islands on their honeymoon.

Margaret YEUNG moved to Hong Kong after university and still lives there. She has started her own consulting company.

As a former Olympian, Alexe YEUNG has been profi led in this issue of The READ! Please turn to p. 15!

1990

Fiona GRIFFITHS is back in New York after a fantastic year in Germany. Her children came back bilingual! Over the year, Fiona gave a number of lectures — even one in German. She recently visited with Ainslie MARCHANT Aitken’91 and Margaret CAMPBELL’91.

Sheree LANTIN Temple lives in Toronto. She is currently on maternity leave, but will return to work at Direct Antidote which is a relatively new loyalty marketing agency, a sister company of the AIR MILES Reward Program, in downtown Toronto.

fantastic year of work and travel. I can’t wait to reunite with old friends, and to show my children where I went to school. I am delighted that I will be able to attend the 2010 Branksome reunion! We are currently in Wellington, New Zealand. I am a paediatric doctor and my husband Vaughan is an orthopaedic surgeon. We spend time with my sisters Natalie Cutler-WELSH and her two children, Stephanie WELSH MacKenzie and her four children, and friends Binnie BARIA Capstick and her son.

1992

Martha BLAKELY Tuff e-mailed: My boys are now 10, 8, 6 and 4 and are doing well. I decided to return to school to pursue a career as a physician’s assistant, which makes for a busy but fulfi lling life. I work in the emergency department at a hospital in Boston and attend Northeastern University part time. We live in Wellesley, MA, and my husband enjoys being a partner at Monitor Group.

Wendy SCHAAL Oldham moved to Edmonton with her husband Duane and son Maverick last May. Baby boy Hunter was welcomed last fall — a true Halloween treat for the family!

Brenda WELSH Poutawera e-mailed: We are returning to Toronto in June 2009 for one

Sam BRAMSON e-mailed: I work for ACP Magazines as the Head of Events in Sydney, Australia, and live by the beach with my dog Sonny. Christmas was spent under a marquee in the backyard, with family and friends, swimming in the afternoon and partying by the bonfi re well into the evening.

Brenda and husband Vaughan enjoy the beauty of a New Zealand sunset with their three children.

Stephanie CHURCHER Eyton’83, Malta

I don’t think I could handle another Canadian winter.

Sarah KINNEY is taking a break from teaching high school art to stay home with her children.

Andrea STAIRS e-mailed: I was married at St. Thomas Aquinas Church on the U of T Campus, and our reception was at the York Club. Though we had a whirlwind courtship, and were engaged after only nine months, Nini and I have known one another for 13 years. Tania QUINN and Kate MANSON-SMITH’93 were bridesmaids and guests included Danielle PATERSON’93, Jenn LAMBERT, Anne HILTON’93 and Nicole KEMP’93.

1993

THE FUN FACTOR

I decided I wanted to make some changes in my life. The past few years had been fi lled with momentous events — getting married, fi nishing my master’s degree at Oxford, fi ghting cancer, and changing jobs. Life had fi nally started to settle

down, but it was also starting to feel a bit humdrum, and I needed to challenge myself in ways that would make life more enriching. Two of my priorities were to invest more in my friendships and to embark on new adventures that would take me out of my comfort zone.

I e-mailed some of my Branksome friends and invited them to embark on a monthly activity with me that would be out of the ordinary. I couldn’t think of a better way to up the fun factor in life than to embark on these new challenges with lifelong friends.

In January we started with rock climbing, and in the coming months we have other exciting things in store — taking a fl ying trapeze class, belly dancing, white water rafting and much more. Not everyone will participate each month, due to work and family commitments, but at least we now have a regular opportunity to get together and do something

MOUNTAIN-BOUND

I am a lucky girl. My job allows me to transport people into a world they would never see without the aid of a helicopter and a guide. Every day my guests and I go high into the mountains. We are looking for a magical spot to ski. Everyone has a passion for skiing or snowboarding and we laugh like little kids while trying to put our gear on. It usually takes about 30 minutes to descend each run and during that time we hoot and howl like a pack of wild dogs fl ying down the mountain. We stop and tell jokes, share stories and listen to the silence that surrounds us. If we didn’t know each other at the beginning of the week, by the end we are old friends. We learn about our families, dreams and fears. Worries and stresses of the real world are left behind and we see there is another side of life — a place where Mother Nature rules, not Father Time.

— Erin HEINTZMAN’93

really fun. We are documenting each of our adventures and will put together a book to capture some of the great memories.

— Sara AUSTIN Woodbridge, ON

Jessica COTTON was engaged to Mike Polzl on Christmas Eve.

1994

Aynsley DELUCE e-mailed: After two years as Director, Strategy & Insight at Capital C

in Toronto, I left last fall to focus on the company my husband and I have been building — www.parkingspots. com. I’m not completely letting go of the fun and challenge of the marketing world and will be moving forward on a project basis as a freelance marketing strategist focusing on brand strategy and positioning, channel and communications strategy and annual planning.

aynsley@parkingspots.com

Martha BLAKELY Tuff’92 with her boys.

Sarah CLAPPISON Claydon and Kathleen WILLIAMS Panos at Golf Day on September 27.

Shereen Hussein, Sara AUSTIN’93, Sandra LUZ Azulay’93, and Alex EJLERSKOV’93 are all smiles at their rock-climbing night out.

Ros PRICE’94 with daughter Eloise.

Erin HEINTZMAN’93 and son Sam bundle up on a wintry day in Gold Bridge, BC.

Bride Andrea BRUECKNER’95 and matron of honour Catherine HUNT Szabo’94 catch a moment alone at Andrea’s wedding last September.

1995

Jennifer JARVIS e-mailed: Branksome alumnae in my wedding party included Megan ROSS Cuming, Sam WEISS, Jenn STONE Goodfellow and Kristy TAYLOR Davidson. Other attendees at our wedding were: Christine WILSON Baker’96, Erin BERESFORD’96, Kate JOHNSON’94, Jennifer DRINKWATER Jones, Stephanie LENNOX, Gill COLLINS Sloan’94, and my aunt Kathy WOOD Sykes’65.

Meling VON MOLTKE PAO

e-mailed: After graduating from U of T in Biomedical Ethics, I pursued a joint degree/diploma in Chinese medicine at the Michener Institute. I continued to be actively involved with coaching the U of T Varsity Blues Ski Team and met my future husband, Andrew Leslie, on the team. In June 2005, we

were married at the Miller Lash House at U of T’s Scarborough campus. Robyn THOMPSON Cunningham sang a beautiful rendition of Ave Maria. A few years later, Julia Xieli was born, and we are expecting another baby this summer. For fi ve years, I have been in private practice (acupuncture and Chinese medicine) with two colleagues at our clinic in the Yonge/Eglinton Medical Building. A large part of our practice focuses on reproductive health — fertility, pregnancy and post-partum concerns. On my days off, I catch up with friends, including Catherine HUNT Szabo’94, Sarah SILVERMAN, Elisabeth ROSENFELD, Katie EARLE Tyler’94, Robyn THOMPSON Cunningham and A lissa BARTON von Wersebe. It would be wonderful to reconnect with others.

faymeling@gmail.com

www.acutoronto.com

1996

Following her wedding in September, Yohannah WALFORD and husband Iain Blythe took the 100th crossing of the QM2 from England to New York.

1997

At Tracy CASSELS’ wedding last August at the Toronto Golf Club, her sister Brett, a Branksome student, and Christine PALMAY’98 were two of the bridesmaids. Natalie ABDOU’98 attended. Tracy lives in Vancouver, where she is working on her Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology at UBC.

Mom’s Morning Out Alissa BARTON von Wersebe’95 (with daughter Georgia), Katie EARLE Tyler’94 (holding Meling’s daughter Julia), Sarah Tyler and Robyn THOMPSON Cunningham’95 with daughter Chloe.

Alumnae had a blast with Kim BROOKER Carter’96 at her Toronto wedding celebration party on September 5. From left: Jennifer WILKES Colleran’83, Colleen SOMMERVILLE McGoey’97, Tara POLLARD’96, Deborah LUCAS’98, Sarah CLAPPISON Claydon’92, the bride, Meghan CARTER’92, Katie CHEEVERS’96, Dominique VITALIS Taylor’93, Amy INGRAM Colborne’96, Sarah GRIFFITHS Savolaine’96 and Mary Ellen EMPRINGHAM Hopgood’66.

Lisa HALLISEY Orr lives in St. James, Barbados, with her husband John and children Jack, 3, Jane, 2, and Blake, 1.

1999

Branksome alumnae at Jennifer SIMMONS Bromley’s wedding at the Granite Club in September were mother of the bride Jane FERRIER Simmons’67, Jen’s sister Amy SIMMONS’02, Rebecca ILLIDGE Clark’99 and Heather KYLE’98.

Jennifer GAUTHIER lives in London, England, and is

Director of Public Relations — Fashion and Beauty at Fuel PR, one of the U.K.’s leading independent public relations and strategic brand building consultancies.

2000

Visit Meredith SHAW’s website at muffymade.com. Last fall, Meredith’s business was in the “Rising Star” section at the One-of-a-Kind Show. In addition to greeting cards, she now has lip gloss, mugs, notebooks and notepads!

Friends gather around bride Sophie LAI’00 at her wedding in August. Beautiful bridesmaids in red are, from left: Alison Foo, Joyce CHAU’00, Shirley YIP’01 and Christine CHIU’00.

FUN LETS KIDS BE KIDS

After completing a B.Ed. at the University of Ottawa, Janet THOMPSON worked as an outdoor education teacher at Lakefield College, and volunteered at Camp Oochigeas during the summers. While volunteering at Ooch, Janet saw the magic that was created when children living with cancer were allowed, once again, to just be kids. “I couldn’t believe how easy it was to forget that these kids were sick. It’s all about having fun and letting loose, and these kids do this with all they’ve got!”

Last fall, three new full-time Camp Oochigeas program specialists were hired to bring laughter and fun through camp-style programs to the in and out patients on the oncology floor at the Hospital for Sick Kids, and Janet was one of them. “In the hospital,” Janet says, “the pace is obviously different, but the purpose is the same — to let kids be kids. I am grateful to have this opportunity to bring fun back into their day.”

On May 3, Janet will be running the Sporting Life 10K in support of Camp Oochigeas. The camp has set a goal of raising $1,000,000 and is offering complimentary registration for anyone who raises $250 or more. More information can be found at www.ooch.org.

International Cooperation Department, European Integration Unit. She is a member of the Czech Presidency Team (the Czech Republic presides over the

European Union for the fi rst half of 2009) and deals mainly with EU affairs. Marcela received a master’s degree in International Economic and Political Studies from Charles University and is pursuing a Ph.D. in International Relations and European Studies at Metropolitan University Prague.

Emily SHARPE is working on her Ph.D. in English Literature at Pennsylvania State University.

2002

TIPS AND TRICKS

A good teacher can teach a le sson within a given time frame. A mentor embodies the lesson and can present it an infi nite amount of ways. This is what I do at Polaris Learning Centre, where students come for one-on-one enrichment and help on anything from calculus and biology labs to university portfolios. Here are some fun tips and tricks that I pass on to my students.

• Highlight all your notes — catch the “highlighting epidemic.”

• Test your knowledge by teaching the lesson to someone else, or teach a lesson to yourself in the mirror.

• Conference with your teacher regularly to ensure you’re on the right path.

• Review all your notes each day after school — this prevents you from cramming before a test.

• Don’t be scared about failure. Perfection does not exist. Make attainable goals.

I have also been the guest speaker at Scholar’s Choice on Bayview Avenue, where I addressed the importance of using educational games and manipulatives to encourage positive cognitive development in children.

Mary-Louise TASELOS mary-louise@polarislearning.ca

2003

Melody SCHAAL e-mailed: After graduating from Bishop’s University in 2007, I returned home to Toronto for a short stint.

Pearl CHEN’00 and Giselle DEGRANDIS’00 meet for a vegetarian dinner in Dordrecht, the oldest city in Holland, on December 26. The friends both live in the Netherlands, in Gouda and Breda respectively.

2001

Marcela JINDROVA lives in Prague and works for the Czech Statistical Office at the

Celebrating with the bride and groom, Amanda MILBORNE Ireland’02 and Baden Ireland, at their wedding reception last August are, from left: Candice BIENSTOCK’03, Jody WRIGHT-ROBERTS’02, Shoshanna SAXE’02, Maggie DILWORTH’02, Jane PATTON’02 and Jess DODDS’03.

Janet THOMPSON’00

Grade 11 student Nora Beqaj gains valuable tips from teacher/ mentor Mary Louise TASELOS’02.

Friends from university and I put together a sketch comedy show, which we took to the Melbourne International Comedy Festival in March 2008. After a four-week production, I traveled through New Zealand for nine weeks. I returned home to Toronto and then drove across the country to Vancouver, where I now live. I am pursuing

acting and working at the Royal Vancouver Yacht Club.

2008

Hubie YU is on the Student Society of McGill University’s Clubs and Services Committee. She attributes her experience with Branksome clubs for preparing her for the role.

Classes of 2006–2008

Lunch at Howie's Restaurant on March 7 provided the perfect venue for Principal Karen Murton to catch up on news and activities of alumnae studying in Scotland. From left: Caitlin STEWART’06 (University of Edinburgh), Hanna NOWERS’06 (University of Edinburgh), Gillian CHRISTIE’08 (St. Andrews), Taryn KALISH’08 (University of Edinburgh) and Ophelia LAU’08 (University of Edinburgh).

Classmates from 2003 celebrate the holidays at their annual party, known as the “SSPRT.” Top row from left: Jenny McVEAN, Sydney BLUM, Suzanne HATCH, Paula STAVRO-LEANOFF, Heather GALLAGHER, Olivia O’YOUNG, Lili KNORR, Alexandra STEVENSON and Melody SCHAAL. Bottom row from left: Courtney STARR, Kim-Eden ENGLISH, Sandy SMITH, Laura SCHREINER and Caitlin WILLCOCKS (the hostess).

Emma HUNTER’03 receives a warm welcome from her former drama teacher, Judith FRIEND’75, on October 24. Emma was at Branksome with the Roseneath Theatre Company and played the lead in a professional reading of the play The Incredible Speediness of Jamie Cavanaugh. The Grade 7 and 8 audience provided feedback to the actors, playwright and director.

Reunion 2009

May 23 & 24

Turn to page 25 to see pictures from the Young Alum Lunch, held on December 18. See

At the Young Alum Lunch on December 18 are 2008 classmates Hailie AULD, Hannah LIND, Nora BISHOP, Meagan LESLIE, Gabrielle BLAIS-JONES and Susan ANDERSON.

“Branksome Girl” artwork by Consuelo JACKMAN’89

Passages

Marriages

1989

Karen BHATT to Bruce Alexander Fenton on October 4, 2008, in Orillia, ON.

Erinn

1997

2001

1999

Marcela

2008,

2002

Amanda MILBORNE

16, 2008,

Nicole MEKINDA to Paul Weber on June 29, 2008, in Toronto.

1990

Sheree LANTIN to Mike Temple on August 13, 2005, in Toronto.

1992

Molly MacNEILL to Pierre Covo on August 7, 2004, in Montreal.

Andrea STAIRS to Nini Krishnappa on August 16, 2008, in Toronto.

1993

Meling VON MOLTKE-PAO to Andrew Leslie on June 25, 2005, in Toronto.

1996

2000

Former Staff

Julie Wildman, former house mother, to her childhood friend, Newman Wallis, on October 12, 2003, in Toronto.

Births

1986

Nancy ROSS, a daughter, Maggie Patricia Lynn, on January 15, 2009, in London, England. A granddaughter for Lynn WILLIAMS Ross’59; a niece for Nancy WILLIAMS Garrow’61; a first cousin once removed for Stephanie GARROW’88 and Jackie GARROW’91.

1987

Tracy MONTGOMERY, a daughter, Peyton Betty, on November 4, 2008, in Mississauga.

1988

Dominique VITALIS to Andrew Taylor on June 14, 2008, in Toronto.

1995

Andrea BRUECKNER to Tom Keefe on September 13, 2008, in Toronto.

Tristan

on June 7, 2008, in Huntsville, ON.

Sophie LAI to Derek Ha on August 9, 2008, in Toronto.

Kimberley KORINEK, a son, Jacob Henr y, on September 22, 2008, in Toronto. A nephew for Valerie KORINEK’84.

Anthea MARS, a daughter, Poppy Cate, on November 5, 2008, in London, England.

Claire MOORSOM, a daughter, Emilia Rose, on September, 10, 2008, in London, England.

Jennifer JARVIS to Jamie Armstrong on December 6, 2008, in Toronto.

THOMPSON to John Walsh on September 27, 2008, in Dublin, Ireland.

Yohannah WALFORD to Iain Blythe on September 20, 2008 in London, England.

Tracy CASSELS to Brian Sword on August 30, 2008, in Toronto.

Jennifer SIMMONS to Darren Bromley on September 20, 2008, in Toronto.

DOMELLE to Adam Steiner

JINDROVA to Jakub Marik on September 5,

in Prague, Czech Republic.

to Baden Ireland on August

in Muskoka.

Hope NIGHTINGALE Thomas, a son, Matthew, on October 9, 2008, in Toronto. A grandson for Geraldine JEPHCOTT Nightingale’51; a great-nephew for Judith JEPHCOTT Webster’52.

Jennifer NORRIE Booth, a son, Charles Henry John, on January 5, 2009, in Toronto.

Ania RUSSOCKI Lindenbergs, a son, Viggo, on December 8, 2008, in Toronto.

Stephanie WAIT Little, twin sons, Gregory John and James Chesley, on October 21, 2008, in Toronto. Nephews for Andrea WAIT’85 and Pauline WAIT Ferguson’89.

1989

Kendall ELDER Peart, a son, Miller Shane, on May 21, 2008, in Toronto. A nephew for Lindsay ELDER’85 and Karen ELDER’87.

Walker’62; a nephew for Rebecca (Becky) WALKER Davis’93.

Heather WARREN Tanti, a son, John Matthew, on November 20, 2008, in Toronto. A nephew for Kathryn WARREN’94.

Sally MacDONNELL Paradine, a son, Henry Kenneth, on December 25, 2008, in Toronto. A greatgrandson for Helen WALKER Adams’34; a grandson for Phil MacDonnell (sandbox alum); a great-nephew for Sally ADAMS Medland’66; a nephew for Sam MacDONNELL Mascia’89 and Susie MacDONNELL Calder’92.

Wendy SCHAAL Oldham, a son, Hunter James, on October 31, 2008, in Edmonton. A nephew for Melody SCHAAL’03.

1991

HEPBURN’97 and Lindsey HEPBURN’02; a great-nephew for Anne MEREDITH Hepburn’73.

Jacquie FENNER Harnack, a son, Max, on July 29, 2008, in London, England.

Alexandra YEUNG, a daughter, Kai, on July 20, 2008, in Chicago. A niece for Margaret YEUNG’89.

Susan BEYERS Sclater, a daughter, Charlotte Anne, on November 5, 2008, in Toronto.

Althea SNELGROVE Buitendag, a daughter, Claire Evelyn, on January 17, 2009, in Toronto. A niece for Deirdre SNELGROVE’93.

1992

Joelle HALL, a daughter, Heidi Brenda, on November 20, 2008, in Ottawa.

Judy KWONG Deng, a daughter, Ayllin Rosemary, on September 19, 2008, in Taipei, Taiwan.

Lesley ROGERS Chisholm, a daughter, Olivia James, on December 5, 2008, in Toronto. A niece for Andrea ROGERS Bunker’91.

1994

Meghan CHERRY Baker, a son, Parke William, on July 14, 2008, in Stouffville, ON.

Margaret YEUNG, a son, Nathan, on July 12, 2008, in Hong Kong. A nephew for Alexandra YEUNG’89.

1990

Stacy BEGG, a daughter, Georgia Jane, on January 16, 2009, in Toronto. A granddaughter for Esther McWATERS Ewart’34; a niece for Sara BEGG Townsend’92.

Reesa DOWE Hughes, a son, Benjamin Hayden, on April 11, 2008, in Toronto.

Vicky FRIZELLE, a daughter, Emily Jane, on April 22, 2008 in Toronto. A niece for Caren FRIZELLE’90 and Sarah FRIZELLE’91.

Sarah KINNEY, a son, Rowan Basil Peter, on August 17, 2008, in Kanata, ON.

Molly MacNEILL, a son, Kai Jackson, on July 17, 2007, in Ottawa. A grandson for former residence don Julie Wallis.

Nicole SCHOOL Seymour, a son, Tyler Matthew, on November 9, 2008, in Whitby.

Joanne WAN, a son, Han Paul, on March 24, 2008, in Surrey, England.

1995

Vanessa IRWIN Watson, a daughter, Charlotte Helen, on October 9, 2005, in Huntingdon, England.

Trish MAGWOOD, a daughter, Charlotte Johnston, on September 25, 2008, in Toronto. A granddaughter for Lee TURNER Magwood’61; a great-niece for Nancy TURNER Bowes’63.

Sarah WALKER Mander, a son, Matthew John, on December 26, 2008, in London, England. A grandson for Margaret KLEIN

Sheree LANTIN Temple, a son, Wilder Michael, on December 15, 2006; a daughter, Augustina Filippa, on November 7, 2008, in Toronto.

Tracy OBORNE King, a daughter, Emmerson Elizabeth, on January 9, 2009, in Burlington, ON.

1993

Hilary BURT, a son, Wyatt Ellis, on December 25, 2008, in New York City.

Sarah HEPBURN Smith, a son, Cooper Gordon, on October 9, 2008, in Aurora. A grandson for Barbara PATTISON Hepburn’69; a nephew for Katherine

Meling VON MOLTKE-PAO, a daughter, Julia Xieli, on April 3, 2007, in Toronto.

1997

Jennifer KAYE Dobson, a daughter, Abiageal Leigh, on October 22, 2008, in Toronto.

Lisa HALLISEY Orr, a son, Blake, on April 5, 2008, in Barbados.

Julie MITCHELL McEwen, a daughter, Sienna, on January 25, 2008, in Toronto. A niece for Dana POSTROZNY Mitchell’99.

Vicky FRIZELLE, a daughter, Emily Jane, on April 22, 2008 in Toronto. A niece for Caren FRIZELLE’90 and Sarah FRIZELLE’91.

Deaths

1926

Eleanor LOWRY Algie, aged 101, on October 24, 2008, in Montreal.

1927

Jacqueline DUMARESQ Smith, on June 17, 2008, in Halifax. Sister of Lucille DUMARESQ Barrow’31. Jacqueline celebrated her 100th birthday on March 9, 2008, and received a letter from the Queen.

1934

Ruth DAVIS McDaniel, on December 11, 2008, in Guelph, ON.

Mary HELE McTavish, on December 14, 2008, in Markham, ON.

Mary was proud of being on the Unionville Curling Club Team that won the Women’s World Curling Championship in 1966.

1937

Margaret DAVISON Lathrop, on Januar y 7, 2009, in Ridgeville, ON. Mother of Margot LATHROP Brebner’61.

Margaret taught physical education at Branksome Hall until her marriage in 1940. Upon leaving the school, Margaret

was presented with a magnificent wooden tray with the school crest and motto engraved on it — a gift given by Principal Edith Read that she treasured all her life. An avid sportswoman, Margaret enjoyed riding horses well into her 70s. She leaves her husband Daniel, their six children, 12 grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.

1939

Marion GREER Tanner, on December 2, 2008, in Ancaster, ON. Mother of Gail TANNER Hassel’67.

1940

Eleanor BROOKS Woolley, on September 13, 2008, in Toronto.

Barbara COLEMAN Astley, on December 19, 2008, in Collingwood, ON.

1942

Betty SHERMAN, on January 27, 2008, in Terra Cotta, ON.

1943

Kay HINCH Conrad, on June 20, 2008, in Durango, Colorado.

1944

Barbara BROWNE Saxton, on June 21, 2008, in WottonUnder-Edge, England.

1945

Helen HAWKS Roby, on November 11, 2008, in Middlebury, Vermont. Helen’s daughter, Helen Bryce, is looking for stories about her mother in or outside of Branksome Hall. If you remember a story, no matter how small, she would dearly love to hear from you. She can be reached at 416-961-0617, or helen.bryce@sympatico.ca.

Daphne MARTIN Merrington, date unknown, in England. Sister of Doreen MARTIN Evans’43.

Ruth SEDGWICK Harricks, on October 3, 2008, in Toronto.

Mary SHENSTONE Stanley, on November 25, 2008, in Toronto.

Libby WARDLAW, on January 16, 2009, in Toronto. Aunt of Elizabeth JONES Bassett’78.

IN MEMORIAM Eleanor LOWRY Algie’26

1907–2008

Mother, Grandmother,

Great-grandmother, Friend

Eleanor thoroughly enjoyed her one year at Branksome Hall from 1925–26. She graduated from the University of Toronto in 1930 with a degree in Household Science and began a career as a dietitian. Her second career, from her 50s to 70s, was librarian and bookmobile driver for the McLennan Travelling Library of McGill University — greatly benefiting the English population in outlying areas of Quebec.

Eleanor loved to spend each winter weekend cross-country skiing. She drove for Meals on Wheels before she lost her sight at age 96. Eleanor became reacquainted with Branksome in 2000, at the age of 92, by attending both the alumnae reception in Montreal and Reunion Weekend in Toronto. On both occasions she delighted everyone who met her.

IN MEMORIAM Libby WARDLAW’45

Libby passed away after a brief illness following a stroke. She started at Branksome in 1936 in Grade 5 and attended until 1944 when her father was transferred to Montreal. The move caused Libby to miss graduating with her classmates in 1945, however, she came to Toronto to attend the ceremony and congratulate her friends, despite her huge personal disappointment at not being a part of it. That was Libby — a true and loyal friend.

In August 1945, Libby began her 42-year career at the Toronto Star as a secretary in display advertising. Libby set a high standard of excellence and was greatly admired and respected by all who worked with her. She was also much fun. I found that out when she trained me to take over her position as Secretary to the Vice-President of Marketing upon her retirement in 1987. It was then that we discovered our Branksome connection. Despite her high standards, Libby was very modest. One of her retirement gifts from the Star was a trip to New Zealand — she was in shock when she arrived at the airport to fi nd she would be traveling fi rst class.

Libby was an avid golfer and member of the Toronto Ladies Golf Club for over 50 years. In her neighborhood of North Toronto, she knew every shopkeeper and probably every neighborhood child and pet, as Libby greeted everyone she encountered. She was a keen traveler who enjoyed venturing to such interesting destinations as the Galapagos Islands.

Libby left us most unexpectedly. Her nieces and nephews, her friends — most especially her dear Branksome friends — miss her greatly.

— Judith THOMPSON Bloom’76

IN MEMORIAM Gail STIBBARD Davies’60

Gail grew up in Toronto and had a passion for horses and riding from an early age. She graduated from Branksome and the Ontario Agricultural College and, in 1966, married Arthur Davies. They owned a horse farm in Newmarket, where they raised four children:

John, Charles, Rosalie and Crystal. Gail had a love and appreciation of art and ran an equestrian art gallery from home. She was a talented watercolour artist, an active volunteer and a prominent fi gure in the Clarksburg/Thornbury community. Gail was blessed with many friends, which was a testament to her kind and loving nature. Gail will be sadly missed by her friends and classmates from 54 years ago, Mary SUTTON and Marilyn MANNING Dillane.

— Mary SUTTON’60

In October 2006, Gail (centre) and Mary SUTTON spent a month in Africa where they visited one of Gail’s four foster children in a remote village outside of Nairobi, Kenya.

1947

Patricia MARLOW Morley, of Toronto, on January 29, 2009 as a result of a car accident in London, ON. Sister of Nancy MARLOW Turner’43.

Pat was a devoted mother and grandmother who will be sorely missed by her family. A brilliant student at Branksome, Pat went on to receive a B.A. from the University of Toronto, an M.A. from Carleton, and a Ph.D. from the University of Ottawa. She taught at Concordia during the 1970s and 1980s, attaining the rank of Professor Emeritus. Pat was a staunch advocate of Canadian literature and women’s studies and published numerous articles in these areas. She retired from teaching in 1989 in order to devote more time to creative writing and biography, and became a published author of many books and biographies.

Margot MURRAY Buckley, on December 15, 2008, in Peoria, Arizona.

IN MEMORIAM Marilyn JARVIS Ashkin’69

August 5, 1951 – November 7, 2008

Most of Marilyn’s adult life was spent in California. Marilyn obtained her undergraduate degree from the University of San Francisco, and then attended Hastings Law School at the University of California, San Francisco. Marilyn practiced intellectual property law at Bechtel Corporation and later at Apple Computer, where she met her husband Peter. More recently, Marilyn developed a passion for wine making and, with Peter, created the awardwinning winery Red Head Ranch, named for her fiery red hair. Excerpt taken from Marilyn’s obituary

We, Marilyn’s classmates, were terribly saddened to hear of her death. Marilyn was School Sports Captain in our graduating year. She was an all-round athlete and an excellent student. Although Marilyn lived in California with her husband and three children, many of us were able to visit with her at our 30th reunion in 1999. Our sincere sympathy goes out to Marilyn’s mother, June WHYTE Jarvis’40, who, one week earlier, lost her husband John. Marilyn’s sister, Barbara JARVIS Sharpless’67, passed away in 1999.

— Julie WILDGOOSE’69

1949

Doris HILL Allen, on November 3, 2008, in Toronto. Sister of Pamela HILL Bolton’55.

1954

Nancy HUTCHISON Gunter, on July 21, 2008, in Barrie, ON.

Ruth McGEE Tew, on December 23, 2008, in Bobcageon, ON. Sister of Eloise McGEE Peirson’50.

1955

Judy MOFFATT Boehm, on September 29, 2008, in Toronto.

1956

Catherine TORY Wright, on October 18, 2008, in Victoria, BC.

1957

Diane MITCHELL Buchanan, on September 7, 2008, in Greenwich, Kings County, NB. Sister of Margaret MITCHELL’65.

1958

Judy McINDOO Leach Puddy, on December 22, 2008, in Meaford, ON.

1959

Margaret LYONS Nogalo, date unknown, in Sault Ste. Marie, ON.

1960

Gail STIBBARD Davies, on January 29, 2009, in Thornbury, ON.

1964

Judith GUTTRIDGE Roberts, date unknown.

1966

Mary PERCIVAL, on November 20, 2008, in Toronto.

1967

Ann SYMONDS Schnepel, on November 2, 2008, in Oakville, ON.

1969

Marilyn JARVIS Ashkin, on November 7, 2008, in Paso Robles, California. Daughter of June WHYTE Jarvis’40.

Nancy DAY, formerly of Brooklin, ON, date unknown.

1974

Anne BARNICKE, on November 9, 2008, in Whistler, BC. Sister of Carroll BARNICKE Armstrong’77.

1982

Kathleen STINSON Morrison, on September 21, 2008, in Toronto. Sister of Susan STINSON McPhee’76, Carol STINSON’77 and Joanne STINSON Harris’80.

Former Faculty

Betty Naftolin, typing and keyboard teacher from 1970–1990, on September 11, 2008, in Toronto.

Branksome Hall Vision

To be an internationally-minded community of learners and leaders.

Branksome Hall Mission

We educate young women of integrity, confidence and compassion to shape the future in a changing world.

The Alumnae Association Mission Statement

We build and maintain alumnae relationships while raising funds in suppor t of Branksome Hall’s mission and vision.

The READ Committee

Tanya Pimenoff, Editor and Associate Director of Alumnae Relations

Julia Drake

Karen Murton

Ruth Ann Penny

Photo Credits

Glenn Brown

Alumnae, Staff and Friends of Branksome Hall

Illustrations

Laurie STEIN’78

Design & Production

Atlanta Visual Communications Inc.

Alumnae Executive 2008-09

Allison ROACH’51 Honorary President

Jane CONNOR’84 President

Kathryn BULEYCHUK Champion’82

Suzie DINGWALL Williams’80

Devon DOMELLE Parsons’95

Barbara DUNLOP Mohammad’70

Stephanie FULFORD’89

Sarah GRIFFITHS Savolaine’96

Julie HERDE Matthews’86

Andrea LAWRENCE Gall’77

Christina MARCHANT Shatilla’92

Dana POSTROZNY Mitchell’99

Patsy SMITH Bell’89

Sue STRAK Rosenblat’76

Dominique VITALIS’93

Maggs WEST Barrett’66

Ex-Officio

Lorraine Mellon

Karen Murton

Tanya Pimenoff

Donna Richardson

Mercedeth Bowerman Student Rep

Board of Governors 2008-09

James R. Christie Chairman

Karen Murton, B.A., B.ED., M.ED. Principal

Stephen Bebis

R. Geoff Browne

Raj Chandaria

John Chippindale

Beatrix Dar t

Devon DOMELLE Parsons’95

Kelly Gray

Mary LESSLIE Hallward’74

Larry Lowenstein

Scot Martin

Bruce K. Robertson

Mary RUBY’76

Peter A. Singer

Neysha SOODEEN’89

Jane CONNOR’84 President, Alumnae Association

Christine Harman President, Parents’ Association

Branksome Hall

10 Elm Avenue

Toronto, ON M4W 1N4

Tel: 416-920-9741

Fax: 416-324-9990

www.branksome.on.ca

E-mail: tpimenoff@branksome.on.ca

The READ is published twice per year for the alumnae, parents, staff and friends of Branksome Hall.

Spring 2009, Volume 49, Number 1

Canadian Publications Mail Agreement #40010445

The polybag containing this publication (for international mail only) is made from recycled materials and is 100% biodegradable.

Reunion 2009

May 23 & 24

Saturday Morning – May 23

9:30 a.m. Boarders’ Breakfast

MacNeill Dining Hall, 6 Elm Avenue

Saturday Evening – May 23

5:30 p.m. sharp Tour of Senior School

Depar ting from the Middle School Wing, behind 10 Elm Avenue

6:00 p.m. Cocktail Reception

Middle School Wing (wheelchair accessible)

7:30 p.m. Buffet Dinner

Senior School Gym, behind 10 Elm Avenue (wheelchair accessible)

Sunday – May 24

12 p.m. Spirit Sunday!

Allison Roach Performing Arts Centre, 10 Elm Avenue

Presentation of the 2009 Allison Roach Alumna Award

Janet DAVIDSON’66

Health Care Leader and International Volunteer

Presentation of the 2009 Young Alumna Achievement Award

Rebecca SAXE’97

MIT Neuroscientist

12:45 p.m. Buffet Luncheon

The Eaton Common Room, 10 Elm Avenue

10 Elm Avenue

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

M4W 1N4

An IB World School