Top Honours Ones to Watch Two Men on the Ball

Stories by Alex Berry

FOR THE BONTIS BROTHERS, Charlie ’21 and Dino ’22, soccer has always been an intrinsic part of their lives. “We’ve been playing soccer together for as long as we’ve been walking, and now we get to play together at Western,” says Dino. Growing up in Ancaster, Charlie and Dino both played for Hamilton Sparta before being recruited to play for the Toronto Football Club’s Academy team. Their busy training schedule required a unique academic schedule, which, as Charlie explains, was made possible in part by the flexibility and support they found at HSC. “For most of our Senior School years, we would leave at lunch to make it to training in Toronto, so we were fortunate enough to have the support system in place where we could stay on top of our studies.”

The brothers also found time to play for HSC’s own sporting teams. Dino says that some of his greatest school memories come from representing the Trojans both in soccer and basketball. “In Middle School, I was lucky to play alongside a great group of athletes and took home four national CAIS championships between the two sports.” In the spring of his final year at HSC, Dino signed a development contract with Forge Football Club, Hamilton’s Canadian Premier League team. The contract allowed him the opportunity to train and play professionally while also being eligible to play on Western University’s team. “It’s been really special to play for my home club on a team that’s proven to be the best in the league.”

For his part, Charlie has made a name for himself as a versatile player with a unique ability to play many different positions. In 2022 he was ranked among the top Ontario University Athletics players for most points (goals plus assists).

“Over the years, I have changed positions from centre forward to attacking midfielder to winger to right back,” he says “I am confident enough to play wherever the coach needs me.”

Top Honours

Despite their professional soccer prospects, Dino and Charlie have made earning their university degrees priority number one. Both young men are intent on graduating from Western’s Ivey Business School and expect to apply their degrees to careers in soccer—either on the pitch or beside it. Charlie nods in agreement when Dino shares his thoughts on what comes after university. “The dream is to earn a living playing soccer, and beyond that, hopefully find a role supporting the development of Canada’s major league soccer teams.”

An Update on HSC’s Alumni Awards Program

The last two years have provided an opportunity to pause and reflect on the way HSC recognizes alumni, parents of alumni, former governors and former staff. Following a review of the HSC Alumni Awards program and of the College’s rich tradition of support from its community, HSC will resume recognition of Builders and Alumni throughout the 2023-2024 academic year.

Nominations may be submitted by any member of the HSC community. Know someone worthy of recognition? Visit www.hsc.on.ca/alumniawards to submit a nomination.

On these pages, meanwhile, HSC Review offers profiles of some Ones to Watch—alumni who are already making waves in their fields.

Ones to Watch

A Planetary ‘Hero’

MANVI BHALLA ’15 CALLS VANCOUVER HOME and has no plans to leave anytime soon.

“I’ve already handed in my Ontario licence,” she says. “I’m here for good.” Many would say that she’s there for good in more ways than one. In addition to working through her PhD at the University of British Columbia’s Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability, Manvi is an active community organizer working to address issues related to climate justice, health and gender inequities, anti-discrimination and racism.

Her current roles include co-founder and president of the national youth-led non-profit Shake Up The Establishment as well as co-founder and director of missINFORMED, a non-profit working to improve the health of women and gender-diverse peoples. She is also a member of the Canadian Coalition for Environment and Climate Justice and joined other leaders as part of the B.C. Council for International Cooperation’s delegation to the 66th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women in March 2022.

Manvi is recognized as one of Canada’s leading youth activists, having received numerous awards, including most recently being named Youth Eco Hero of the Year in 2022 by Planet in Focus. The way she sees it, being involved at a local and regional level on environmental issues is one way to combat climate anxiety and grief. “We often feel anxious because of a sense of uncertainty and so the work I do strives to make things more certain,” she says. As for her plans for the future, Manvi takes it one day at a time. “I try not to overthink where I’m going to be in five years, and instead, I set out each morning with the intention of doing something meaningful for myself and my community, using my value system as my guide.”