Mohawk College Alumni In Touch Magazine - Spring 2004 by Mohawk College Alumni Association

Spring 2004

CELEBRATING A NEW BEGINNING Mohawk Welcomes New President MaryLynn West-Moynes

ALSO INSIDE: Grad at the Top of his Game Molding a Perfect Fit

Pictured above from L to R: President MaryLynn West-Moynes; Cindy MacDonald, Broadcast Journalism Student; and Rob Rasile, Professor, Faculty of Engineering Technology

Publications Mail Agreement1454951

F E AT U R E S ON THE COVER

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M O H AW K C E L E B R AT E S N E W B E G I N N I N G S We introduce you to newly-appointed President Mar yLynn West-Moynes as we tour the new IT Librar y and discuss her vision for Mohaw k. BY CHERYL WRIXON

A D G R A D AT T H E T O P O F H I S G A M E Meet Scot Keith, a Mohawk grad who has been garnering media attention with a creative slapshot that delivers goal after goal. BY KATE SCHOOLEY

M O H AW K & M O L D M A K E R S Whether you realize it or not, Wentworth Mold is a part of your ever yday life. Senior Vice President and Mohawk Alumnus Charles Carey shares his path to success with our writer. BY LIDIA SIINO

THEN & NOW We reflect on the 20-year histor y of the Alumni Association and In Touch Magazine. BY LYNN E. JAMES

D E PA R T M E N T S We l co m i n g Wo rd s. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Alu m n i New s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Upco m i n g Eve nt s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Aro u n d C a m p u s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Alu m n i Va r s i t y . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fun d r a i s i n g U p d ate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kee p i n g i n To u c h . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Loo ki n g B a c k . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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M O H AW K C O L LEGE: IN TOUCH | SPRING 2004

welcoming

WORDS

from t h e Al u mn i A s s o c i a t i o n Pre s i d ent...

history I’d like to repeat

f you want to do a little math, you’ll discover that twenty years takes us back to 1984. Surely Mohawk College is older than that? It can, in fact, trace its history back to 1947 when it began as the Provincial Institute of Textiles. During the interim two different alumni associations started, and failed. The third was the charm. As one of the ﬁrst community college alumni associations to be formed, it was a little like having a child; its birth much anticipated by both students and alumni. It grew with kind attention and guidance

from the college and its basic needs ﬁnanced by the Student’s Union Corporation and the Mohawk Students’ Association, trustees of the student activity fee. It was a good upbringing. But it came to maturity with the efforts of my fellow alumni who gave of their time and energy over the years as Directors and volunteers, by fundraising, organizing, and eagerly promoting the association. Their efforts have assured that Mohawk College graduates will continue to beneﬁt from their alma mater. They are owed many thanks.

Alumni Association President Krysia Iwanek

There’s a famous saying – something about those who ignore history being doomed to repeat it. I would be more than happy to live this association’s history again; to experience the camaraderie, the joy of a new idea, a new beginning, and watch it take hold and grow with strength and purpose. It is an experience I will long treasure.

ALUMNI BOARD OF DIRECTORS: 2003 - 2004 SLATE OF OFFICERS Krysia Iwanek, President Patricia Parker, Past President Morgan Seele, V-P Marketing and Communications Lee DesJardins, V-P Finance and Development Angela Barbas, V-P Programs and Services

Darren Hardenbrook, Director Kim McCarthy, Director Susan McDonald, Director Ellen McDonald, Director Lyla Miklos, Director Sandra Richardson, Director Lidia Siino, Director Gene Stodolak, Director Michael Wall, Director Ron Worrall, Director

The A l u m n i A s s o c i a t i o n t h a n k s t h e s e i n d ividuals for their valued contributions to Alumni activities, comm i t t e e s a n d m e e t i n g s o n b e h a l f o f t h e Alumni of Mohawk College. We appreciate your dedication .

M O H AW K C O L LEGE: IN TOUCH | SPRING 2004

from t h e Al u mn i R e l a t i o n s O ff i c e . ..

Something

o l d. . . ...something new

n September 2003, the Alumni Relations department was officially joined to Corporate Services. By uniting these departments, the college will be able to provide a greater level of administrative management expertise to the Alumni Association and, in time, better services to alumni. The staff are, primarily, long time college employees who are dedicated to fostering positive relationships with both the college and its students. Now, it has the opportunity to extend this blanket of service to the alumni community. In addition to the staff, there are changes in the offices themselves. The C-wing offices have been

The staff of the Alumni Relations Ofﬁce. Linda Marshall, left, Manager, Alumni and Corporate Services; Barbara Evans, Alumni Ofﬁcer, Alumni and Corporate Services

vacated and alumni administration is being temporarily housed in J013. Soon, we look forward to occupying more accommodating space. In the meantime, there is no change in phone numbers - in fact, our number hasn’t changed in twenty years! It’s appropriate, we think, to start something new by recognizing what is old and established. In helping to produce this commemorative issue, we have learned a great deal about the last twenty years. Armed with this knowledge, we can more easily incorporate change with a thought to the heritage of what has gone before. We look forward to serving you!

PUBLISHER Mohawk College Alumni Association EDITOR Greg Chew DESIGN AND PRODUCTION Copperlen Marketing Group PHOTOGRAPHY Andrew Connery, Bernetta Scime, Sheryl Thornton, Marketing & Public Relations Department, Mohawk College CONTRIBUTORS Yuri Bakhnov, Laurie Cahill, Alan Clay, Lynn James, Jady Klyve, Francesca Petulla, Gary Sawchuk, Kate Schooley, Lidia Siino, Cheryl Wrixon EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD Alan Clay, Director of Marketing and Public Relations Linda Marshall, Manager, Alumni and Corporate Services Morgan Seele, Alumni Board of Directors MAGAZINE CO-ORDINATOR Barbara Lynn Evans In Touch Magazine is published semiannually by the Alumni and Corporate Services Department of Mohawk College. This magazine is circulated to Alumni and Friends of Mohawk College. Ideas and opinions published or expressed in “In Touch” do not necessarily reﬂect those of Mohawk College, the Alumni Association, or the Editor. To update your alumni record, please contact: Mohawk College Alumni Relations Ofﬁce, P.O. Box 2034 Hamilton, ON L8N 3T2 Phone: 905-575-2258 Fax: 905-575-2443 Email: alumni@mohawkcollege.ca Canada Post Publication Agreement Number 1454951

M O H AW K C O L LEGE: IN TOUCH | SPRING 2004

alumni

NEWS

Year Club C l a s s of 1978 Reunion

The Class of 1978 Reunion took place on Saturday, October 25, 2003 in the North Cafeteria, Fennell Campus of Mohawk College. What a great evening!! To set the mood, the Alumni Relations staff relocated the Reunion from the Arnie to the North Cafeteria where the pub nights were once held. What better way to reminisce about The Good Old Days!! Good company, great food, music and lots of prizes. The Alumni Association would like to extend its appreciation to the Class of 1978 Alumni who attended the reunion. Without the support from you the event would not be possible! Thanks arealso extended to the staff of Chartwells Catering, for assisting with the event preparation and providing a fantastic meal. The evening was a great success and we would like to thank our corporate partners for their generous support of our 1978 Class Reunion.

Bank of Montreal 500 Bonus Air Miles Points Mainway Insurance $500.00 Sheraton Fallsview Niagara During the evening Judy Alaine Nason was presented with the Bank of Montreal Air Miles prize from then president Cal Haddad

ATTENTION ALL MEMBERS OF THE CLASS OF ‘79 We're currently 'Out of Touch' with some 500 + members of the class of 1979. These people were your classmates and your friends. The only difference between them and you is that we've lost touch with them, so we are unable to make everyone aware of the services we can continue to provide Alumni. This magazine is one of these services, but another and perhaps more popular one is the 25-year reunion event we'll be hosting for all members of the class of 1979 later this fall. The 25-year reunion event is consistently well received by its attendees and is a great time to reﬂect fondly on your experiences at Mohawk College.

Please help us include more of your classmates among the attendees at this year's event, by encouraging them to contact us. Out of Touch Alumni Contact Us by: 1) The 'Update Your Records' link on our website at www.mohawkcollege.ca/alumni/, 2) Send an email to alumni@mohawkcollege.ca or, 3) Telephone us at (905) 5752258. We want to hear from you! Thanks in advance for your help and we'll look forward to seeing you and your classmates at the Class of 1979 25-Year Reunion this fall.

MohawkGrad Down Under

ohawk graduate Jamie Fisher is the ideal model for the College’s Mohawk on the Move! corporate marketing campaign. As a journalism graduate, Jamie toted her Mohawk College credentials across the Paciﬁc where she completed her Bachelor of Communications and Public Relations degree at the University of Western Sydney (UWS) in Australia. On October 15, Jamie returned to Mohawk College where she talked to students about the opportunities that exist across Canada and around the world for graduates in a variety of disciplines. Jamie was at the Fennell Avenue Campus to share her experiences in Australia and describe how she turned her three-year Journalism Diploma into a university degree. She was joined by UWS International Manager Dirk Mulder who provided prospective students with an overview of the partnership between Mohawk College and the University of Western Sydney. “It was always my goal to pursue my degree in Australia after studying at Mohawk College,” says Jamie, now searching for a full-time job as a media personality. “It was a terriﬁc opportunity for me to travel abroad, study, and see a very different part of the world. The people I met made it a truly wonderful experience.” What Jamie Fisher did is an example of what Mohawk College students and graduates have to look forward to in pursuing their education, as transfer opportunities and articulation agreements exist with universities throughout Canada, the United States and around the world. Under a special agreement between The Association of Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology of Ontario (ACAATO) and the University of Western Sydney (UWS) for example, students who have completed a three-year diploma are given two years of academic credit in a relevant degree program at UWS. Dirk Mulder, left, University of Western Sydney International (UWS) and Jamie Fisher, Mohawk College and UWS graduate.

M O H AW K C O L LEGE: IN TOUCH | SPRING 2004

Ontario Premier’s Awards

Mohawk Nominees!

he Premier’s Award is an annual provincial awards program created by the government to acknowledge the important economic and social contributions college graduates make to Ontario. A nominated graduate is someone who has demonstrated outstanding career success and contributions to their community or society. The award categories are Creative Arts and Design, Community Services, Business, Health Sciences, Technology and Recent Graduate. Recipients receive a bronze medal and direct a $5,000 bursary to the college of their choice. For more information, please see the Premier’s Awards Website: www.thecouncil.on.ca (Click on Premier’s Awards)

the Ontario Police Exemplary Service Medal. Mr. Mullan is an advocate of Mohawk College and a regular convocation speaker. He was inducted into the College’s Alumni of Distinction of Business in 2002 and is Chair of the Board of Directors for the Hamilton Community Care Access Centre.

Brian J. Mullan (’82 Business) is Hamilton’s new Chief of Police and commands one of the country’s largest police services with almost 1,000 employees and a $100 million budget. Mr. Mullan joined the service in 1974, working in many departments before being appointed Deputy Chief of Operations. In 1995, he received

Lyla Miklos (’98 Broadcast Journalism ‘97 Radio Broadcasting) is the Programming Supervisor for CHUM Television's Bravo!, SPACE:The Imagination Station and Drive-In Classics and is a host and producer with C101.5 FM. An accomplished vocalist, Ms. Miklos has recorded in studio with local musicians, performed numerous

musical theatre roles and has given countless solo performances at venues throughout Southern Ontario. She is a member of the Strengthening Hamilton's Community Initiative, the Hamilton Spectator's Community Editorial Board and the Hamilton Centre Federal NDP Riding Association. A long time queer activist, Ms. Miklos is a member of Hamilton Pride Festival Inc., the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender(GLBT) Advisory Committee for the City of Hamilton, Bisexual Women of Toronto and the Toronto Bisexual Network. Our congratualtions go out to Brian and Lyla. You’ve made us proud!

ALUMNI OF DISTINCTION AWARDS

Call for Nominations

he Alumni of Distinction Awards is an annual program designed to recognize Mohawk College Graduates for their unique career achievements, their commitment to helping others, and for their extraordinary contributions to the communities they live in. Twenty-nine Mohawk Alumni have been honoured and their names and photos are proudly displayed on Mohawk’s Alumni Wall of Distinction in the main lobby at our Fennell Campus. To help the Alumni Association select the best possible candidates, we invite you to nominate those individuals who you feel are deserving of this prestigious

award. All Mohawk Graduates are eligible. Only one individual is selected from among the nominees in each of the four categories of Business, Applied Arts, Health Sciences and Human Services, and Technology. Individuals must demonstrate their outstanding involvement, contributions and dedication to their community. Each submission must include a twoor three-paragraph biography outlining the nominee’s career accomplishments, their contribution to their community, and why they deserve to be recognized. For more information or to read about past winners, please visit our special

Alumni of Distinction Awards link on our website at www.mohawkcollege.ca

Tom Atterton, Past Board of Governors Chair, and Krysia Iwanek, Alumni Association President unveiling the Wall of Distinction

M O H AW K C O L LEGE: IN TOUCH | SPRING 2004

upcoming

EVENTS 44TH ANNUAL

Bay Area Science and Engineering Fair

BASEF will be held at Mohawk’s Fennell Campus from March 31 – April 3, 2004. The fair runs for four days, culminating in Public Viewing and the Awards Ceremony on Saturday, April 3, 2004. More than 500 Grade 7-12 students will be participating this year. Last year over $71,000 in cash, awards and prizes were shared by almost 200 students. BASEF is a registered charity and relies entirely on volunteers. For more information about volunteer or sponsorship opportunities visit the web site at: www.basef.mcmaster.ca/2004 or call 905-974-7975. BASEF Call for Judges Share your knowledge and experience as an Alumnus of Mohawk by volunteering to be a judge and have some great fun at the same time! For more information on the judging process, new judges’ orientation, categories and the online Registration form for Judges, please visit the web page http://basef.mcmaster.ca/2004 or email the Judge-in-Chief at basef.judging@mcmaster. ca or call the voice mail for Hamilton (905) 974-7975 or Oakville area (905) 693-7076 Participate – judges are needed!

M O H AW K C O L LEGE: IN TOUCH | SPRING 2004

CALLING ALL GRADUATES FROM CLASS OF 1979 Are you a Class of 1979 Alumnus? The Alumni Association is holding its 25-Year Club Reunion on: Saturday, October 2, 2004 from 6:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m. If you are a graduate from the Class of 1979, or know someone who is, please stay tuned for your invitation!

Do You Have a Great Alumnus Story? Do you live and work overseas or in North America? We want to share your successes and experiences with other alumni. Please contact the Alumni Ofﬁce at 905-575-2258 or by email to alumni@mohawkcollege.ca

other events Notice of Annual General Meeting Thursday, June 17, 2004, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Staff Dining Room C05 Fennell Campus A complimentary wine and cheese reception will take place prior to the meeting from 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. For more information or to RSVP your attendance please call the Alumni Ofﬁce at 905-575-2258 or email alumni@mohawkcollege.ca. All Alumni are welcome to attend and participate. Please note that proposed changes to the Alumni Association Constitution will be tabled and voted on at this meeting.

Diploma Nursing Graduates from Mohawk College and the Four Predecessor Schools of Nursing are invited to attend an open house and celebration of nursing education at the Mohawk-McMaster Institute for Applied Health Sciences on May 12, 2004 from 4:00pm to 6:00pm. Complimentary parking will be available. Please join this celebration to rekindle old friendships and tour the Institute. For more information please call 905-540-4247, extension 26048.

Calling All Grads from Advertising, Radio and Television, Broadcast Journalism Mohawk Mediafest 25th Anniversary (formerly the Andy Awards) will be held Thursday, April 8, 2004 beginning at 7:30 p.m. in The McIntyre Theatre, Fennell Campus. Reunion after the show in the Arnie. Admission $5.00 which is a donation towards Mediafest. Come out and see your friends and former faculty members!

M O H AW K C O L LEGE: IN TOUCH | SPRING 2004

A D a t

G R A D

the

t o p

o f

h i s

G A M E

If the game of life were played on the hockey rink, Scot Keith’s suit jacket would be emblazoned with a capital “C”.

F E AT U R E S TO RY: A D GRAD AT THE TOP OF HIS GAME

by Kate Schooley

ince graduating from Mohawk’s Advertising Diploma program in 1992, this captain of the advertising industry has been garnering media attention with a creative slapshot that delivers goal after goal, amidst the cheers of industry watchers, mass media and the general public. But how does one describe this current darling of the Canadian advertising industry and all-around good guy? To say he is a hockey fan is like calling Wayne Gretsky a fine player. Factually correct, maybe – but entirely missing the passion it takes to turn Canada’s favourite pastime into a philosophy for living. “Once I do something, I’ve got to really do it,” says Keith, the awardwinning Account Director for DDB Canada in Vancouver. “What I love about advertising is that it’s played like a hockey game. We all have our own things to do and positions to play, but ultimately, we work as a team.” Over and over again, Keith has led his creative lineup to the top of its field. In 2003 alone, Palmer Jarvis DDB received a flood of industry recognition: a Silver Lion at the Cannes Advertising Awards, four Gold Canadian Marketing Awards, the prestigious “Best of the Best” Canadian Marketing Award for campaign effectiveness, among others -- and that was just for their Hockey Canada campaign. Why all the attention? Keith’s focus on humour and simplicity really pounds out a message. The Hockey Canada commercials were part of an agency-led public service movement to spotlight poor behaviour among the parents of young athletes. They featured children taunting and lecturing their parents in the grocery store, on the golf course – even in the bathroom – and ended with the tagline “What if our kids pressured us the way we pressure them? Relax, it’s just a game.” The popular spots hit home with parents everywhere, drawing nationwide attention and sparking water-cooler debates around the country. Launched on a shoestring, the campaign generated over $4.6 million of North American press time almost instantaneously. Not one to rest on his laurels, Keith led

his team in the development of a second award-winning campaign in 2003, with the launch of the “bait car” program by the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) and the Vancouver Police Department. The radical program, designed to deter thieves with rigged, unmarked cars that trapped them upon entry, was met by a 27 per cent decline in auto theft in the greater Vancouver area. To get a feel for their audience, Keith’s creative team dressed down and spent a day on the mean streets of Vancouver’s most notorious neighbourhood. The message they came up with, aimed at criminals themselves, used such innovative tools as police radio sound effects and washable grafﬁti to reach its audience where they were. It offered a simple and straightforward statement: “Steal a Bait Car. Go to Jail.” “The program itself is just so interesting,” says Keith, “and we’ve done good advertising around it, so it’s fun to work with.” But what, according to Keith, separates good advertising from the merely mediocre? “We try to be really insightful and simple. People receive some 3,000 commercial messages a day; 2,996 of them are forgotten. You stand out by being visual, different and smart. We use irreverent, relevant humour and keep our insights clean. The ‘relax, it’s just a game’ line was one example. It has become synonymous with the (parental behaviour) issue and pops up in the weirdest places. Even Don Cherry has put it down because he thinks it makes hockey parents look bad, but eventually, everyone needs a reality check. ” But reality is still sinking in for this Tillbury, Ontario, native whose media savvy grows each time CTV or Global Television comes calling for an interview. And though the small-town ice rink is a long way from Keith’s

Vancouver beach home, he can still be found warding off morning chills with a steaming cuppa Joe. He’s as much a fan of the Good Old Hockey Game as ever, but doesn’t get much of a chance to lace up his skates anymore. These days, Keith’s 10-hour workdays are broken up with scuba-diving and snowboarding jaunts. Though he’s an admitted west-coast sushi fan, the fuel that keeps Scot Keith’s creative juices flowing is his passion for the field of advertising. After catching the ad bug while still in his teens, Keith immersed himself in his studies at Mohawk’s Fennell Campus, launching his career in media buying and planning with McCann Erikson. Career-building moves to DDB Canada (Toronto) and Bryant, Fulton & Shee (Vancouver) followed, before a switch into account services eventually returned Keith to PJ DDB in 2002. As Keith quips with a laugh, “I was an overnight success, twelve years in the making.” As for the future? With his nuptuals just a few weeks away, Keith is planning to wed his sweetheart – also an advertising executive. He’d also like to continue his career in some of the other 205 DDB offices around the globe. “The people are really passionate here -- it’s one of the best agencies in the world. To make good ads, your heart’s got to be in it, and if you’re not passionate about what you’re doing, then you’re doing the wrong thing. I absolutely love this business, and the day I don’t is the day I leave.” Score another one for advertising brilliance. And the crowd goes wild.

“If you’re not passionate about what you’re doing, then you’re doing the wrong thing. I absolutely love this business, and the day I don’t is the day I leave.”

DDB Canada’s award-winning campaigns can be seen online at pjddb. com. Scot Keith can be reached via email at scot.keith@ddbcanada.com.

M O H AW K C O L LEGE: IN TOUCH | SPRING 2004

around

CAMPUS Th e F u t u re i s H e re by Yuri Bakhnov

oday’s learning environment is rapidly changing – more and more, a conventional classroom with a teacher in front of a blackboard is an attribute of the past. Recognizing that, Mohawk College has introduced its mobile computing program that will soon make the college one of the most technologically advanced in Ontario. The Mohawk College Student Laptop Initiative is a pilot study that started on January 12, 2004, and will run for the next three semesters to determine if it should be implemented as a requirement for the Journalism, Process Automation, Web Applications, and Internet Systems programs. Broadcast Journalism is the ﬁrst program to beneﬁt from the laptop project. These students receive brand new Dell Latitude D800s with over $3,500 worth of audio and video editing software and wireless connectivity in each. This enables journalism undergrads to produce creative news

Mohawk is on track with

hile students have returned to class for the winter semester, it’s now time for everyone else at Mohawk College to go back to school. Over the next several months, Mohawk College will be rolling out a new information system that will represent a whole new way of doing things in 2004, from anywhere in the world anytime. With the launch of MoCoMotion, staff are getting their ticket to ride, as they begin to learn how this new information system will affect their lives, from student records and on-line registration, to ﬁnancial systems and human resources. Everyone associated with Mohawk College will experience the many beneﬁts of one-stop shopping when they get on

stories independently, increasing the quality of their work and saving time so precious in a fast-paced broadcasting environment. “Because you have the facilities and the tools, the students are going to have a better chance at building a better portfolio, and that will translate into better jobs,” said Greg Unrau, Chair of Communications Media at Mohawk College. “It will also raise the proﬁle of a program as the students go out into the job market.” Darryl Hartwick, Coordinator of Journalism and Communication Media program believes the initiative will enhance program delivery and elevate the college’s reputation. “CTV correspondents working in bureaus in Europe are using the same kind of software to ﬁle their reports. In combination with the Internet, laptop and digital video technology it gives stunning results, and if it works for CTV,

we know we’re on the right track,” he said. Journalism Professor Maija Saari is sure the laptop is an excellent way to improve student access to the equipment, especially the resources for TV video editing. “It is a marvellous way for students to have an equal opportunity to compete with each other, especially for those who have many obligations at home or work. It is a chance for them to do the best work possible,” Ms. Saari said. Process Automation, Web Applications and Internet Systems are three other technology- intensive programs that will provide their students with portable computers. Randy Patch, Director of Information Technology at Mohawk College, says having access to technology 24/7 will make an obvious and very signiﬁcant difference in the quality of the curriculum and prepare Mohawk grads for the demands of today’s job market.

MoCoMotion board MoCoMotion. While we undergo this system change, we are asking for the community’s patience. “The implementation of a fully automated information system is a huge project for all of us to navigate through,” says Kathy Verspagen, Mohawk’s ‘conductor’ of change management. “When everything is on track, all of our constituent groups will enjoy 24/7 access to the services that improve academic learning and customer service.” Ms. Verspagen says to make the link from one system to another, the college has arranged in-house training for employees. Affectionately named ‘MoCoMotion Days’, she says staff will discover how this new information

system will provide easy access to on-line registration, e-mail, targeted messaging, group communication, electronic online calendars, and e-learning for course delivery and management. While most people view the construction of new buildings and labs as signs of new activity, Ms. Verspagen says MoCoMotion is an integral part of both the learning environment and the business operation of Mohawk College for our students, employers and other clients. The ﬁrst big test for MoCoMotion was in March, when we went live with Continuing Education registration for our spring and summer courses. That’s when the community got to sign on via MoCoMotion!

M O H AW K C O L LEGE: IN TOUCH | SPRING 2004

HOME away from HOME T

he Mohawk Residence and Conference Centre is located on Hamilton mountain, on the edge of the scenic Niagara Escarpment. It is situated within a 45-minute drive to the City of Toronto and Niagara Falls, making it close to many regional attractions. The residence features 171 spacious guest suites, which include two private bedrooms, each with a double bed; a private kitchenette with sink, full size refrigerator and microwave; a three-piece bath; cable television; air conditioning; data ports and free local telephone calls and voice mail. During the academic school year (September to mid April), the

residence is home to Mohawk College students. From mid April until the end of August, the residence becomes a hotel and is open for summer accommodation bookings for out-of-town guests and provides a complimentary continental breakfast, served fresh each morning. The facility also offers a professionally styled, fully-serviced conference room and several breakout rooms. The conference room is fully-equipped with white board cabinets, projector screens and with a capacity of 70 people, it is sure to meet your conference needs. For more information on the residence, please call 905 385 3200 or on the web at www.campuslivingcentres. com/conference/hamilton.

ohawk College was the fortunate clinics with the likes of Wynton Marsalis, recipient of a new Yamaha grand Norma Winstone, Ranee Lee and many piano to be used by students of the other jazz greats. Mohawk College is also Music Studies Department. Mohawk very grateful for the many scholarships staff, students and members of the Music COLLEGE IN TUNE WITH Advisory Committee welcomed the gift from the Steeltown they have provided to selected applicants Friends of Mohawk Jazz, a community and students, and for the payment of group of music fans who support membership fees for all Music students the college. The funds raised by The in the International Association for Jazz Steeltown Friends of Mohawk Jazz have Education (IAJE) this year. contributed in many other ways to raise “They are a group of music loving the quality of education and training in citizens in the Hamilton community who Music Studies. Over the past three years, understand that for the Music programs they have sponsored master classes and to really ﬂourish, we need their help,”

New e-Library at Fennell Campus Visit the new IT centre at Fennell Campus and use our new e-library! Grab a coffee from the coffee bar, pull up a chair by the ﬁreplace or a stool by the window and enjoy! Have access to e-books, online journal and magazine articles, websites and more from the dozens of terminals, or use the wireless laptop spaces available. The service desk is open from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Monday –Thursday and until 4:30 p.m. on Fridays.

says Jay Moore, Chair of Applied Arts at Fennell Campus. “We are very grateful for all they have done for us and very excited about our future together.”

GRAND DONATION

M O H AW K C O L LEGE: IN TOUCH | SPRING 2004

by Lidia Siino

MOHAWK & MOLD M AKE RS A Perfect Fit

ou may not realize it, but Wentworth Mold is a part of your everyday life. As mold makers for the packaging industry, every time you go grocery shopping, or reach into your fridge you’ll most likely find a Wentworth Mold inspired product. One of the driving forces leading the Hamilton facility is Charles Carey. As Senior Vice President of the Wentworth Blow Mold Group, with two facilities in Canada, three in the United States, one each in the U.K. and Poland, he is responsible for conducting a business in excess of 50 million dollars annually. While Wentworth Mold is successful on a global scale, the company also has a strong local connection. Charles Carey is a proud alumnus and key supporter of Mohawk College. “We’re a Hamilton company, Mohawk is a Hamilton institution, we like to promote locally,“ said Carey. A quick tour of the shop floor demonstrates this philosophy. Several employees of Wentworth Mold are introduced as graduates of Mohawk College. As a graduate of the Tool and Die Apprenticeship Program from Mohawk’s Stoney Creek (Saltfleet) Campus (1982), Carey began his career at Wentworth Mold on an apprenticeship. He started as a tool and die maker. Twenty-six years later, he is a shareholder in the company he runs. The Hamilton plant continues to hire Mohawk cooperative education students and graduates due to their practical knowledge and ability to apply this relevant learning quickly in the world of work. Further cultivation of this relationship is demonstrated by Job

Fair attendance. Wentworth Mold attends Mohawk College Job Fairs regularly and is impressed by the high calibre of Mohawk students; “One of the areas we’re always looking for is on the engineering side. The programs Mohawk has for CAD-CAM, computerized design, manufacturing programs, people with programming experience. The type of programs that Mohawk offers is the type of programs we’re looking for, because we want to hire people with real experience,” said Carey. Wentworth Mold is the largest independent manufacturer of blow molds globally. Earning this title was a matter of taking advantage of a need from the bottle making industry. In the past, bottle makers sought their own in-house mold making capabilities. Such an idea was great in theory but poor in practice. A huge absorption in conjunction with a large overhead was a drain on bottle making companies. As a result, many partnerships were formed with Wentworth as an independent company. These partnerships allowed both parties involved to focus on their specialty, while vastly expanding Wentworth’s business and mold making technology. The blow mold technique is used for molds in dozens of plastic products including beverage, bleach, fabric softener, and personal care products. Blow molding is a process that uses a preform. This plastic tube-like structure is placed inside a mold or cavity, and then hot air is blasted into the cavity. This procedure gives plastic bottles their distinctive shape. Carey says Wentworth’s dominance is very tangible; “Potentially, for every blow molded article you see on the shelf at one point or another, there’s a good chance that we’ve made the molds.” With companies and partnerships spanning four continents, Wentworth’s dominance is literally everywhere. Why is this company so successful? As part of the Wentworth Technologies umbrella, Wentworth Mold combines innovation and strategic business acquisitions making the company a force in the mold-making world.

“The type of programs that Mohawk offers is the type of programs we’re looking for, because we want to hire people with real experience.” “Think globally, act locally” is a slogan the company embraces. A prime example of innovation at work is Wentworth’s registered Fast to Market program. Utilizing a state-of-the-art dedicated manufacturing cell within the Hamilton plant, the FTM® program has its own engineers, programmers, and manufacturing team whose role is to develop new projects as they arise. This system alleviates

F E AT U R E S TO RY: MOHAWK & MOLD MAKERS

Wentworth with the title “Leadtime Leader 2003.” The time-efﬁciency between placing an order and receipt of the ordered goods is unparalleled in the Mold Making industry. Carey adds the competitive nature of the industry lends itself to dynamic leadtime results; “Companies literally want to be the ﬁrst on the shelf. They want to corner the market. We’ve developed a program over several years that allows us to do that.” The Wentworth Mold Group consistently delivers PET preform tooling in ten days or less and PET prototype unit molds in three to seven

“The opportunity I had at Mohawk allowed me to be where I am today. There is no question about it.” Mohawk Alumnus Charles Carey in Wentworth Mold’s Hamilton facility

backlog and keeps customers satisfied with fast, 24/7 service producing awardwinning results. Automation also plays a pivotal role in Wentworth Mold’s productivity. The decision to become automated has reduced the amount of leadtime while increasing a return on investment. FTM® automation is a complete process which includes writing orders, communications, data transfer, fully automated design and the latest fiveaxis machine centres. More proof of Wentworth Mold’s success is the numerous awards and accolades it has received. Profit 100 has recognized Wentworth Technologies as one of the fastest growing private companies in Canada. This award of distinction is a tribute to companies from all fields and locations. From Extreme CCTV Inc. in Burnaby, British Columbia, to ZeddCom Inc. based out of St John’s, Newfoundland, factors such as revenue growth rate, profit/loss and number of employees are taken into

consideration. Examining the statistics proves just how successful Wentworth Technologies has been. In six years, Wentworth Technologies’ revenue has skyrocketed. In 1997, the company netted over $24 million. As of 2003, Wentworth Technologies recorded sales of $185 million dollars. Revenue growth has soared by a whopping 552 per cent. To date, the company profits are still increasing. Staffing has also expanded from 225 to 1250 employees to accommodate this company’s vast expansion. The company invests heavily in research and development; more so than any other company in the tool and die industry. In fact, research and development spending accounts for 10 per cent of Wentworth Technologies’ revenue. Positive returns on such an investment lie within the statistics. Wentworth Technologies is the only company on the Profit 100 list to achieve this honour six years consecutively. Most recently, Moldmaking Technology Magazine has awarded

days. Equally impressive is Wentworth’s twelve to seventy-two hour leadtime on mold repairs. Mass production of a product and the ability to deliver it in record time assists in the success of these Mold Makers. Wentworth uses their outstanding leadtime to their advantage, providing molds to 20 of the world’s largest packaging companies. Since its inception in 1947, Wentworth Mold has become immensely successful globally while maintaining a strong local rapport. Charles Carey is an integral part of his company’s success, and to this day attributes much of it to his education at Mohawk College; “Mohawk College afforded me this opportunity, I was very focused on what I wanted to do. I would recommend anyone to look at Mohawk as a direction you want to take. The opportunity I had at Mohawk allowed me to be where I am today. There is no question about it.” There’s deﬁnitely no questioning Charles Carey and his company’s success.

M O H AW K C O L LEGE: IN TOUCH | SPRING 2004

Do you want to reach a market that is educated, upwardly mobile and possesses above-average income potential? Advertise with In Touch Magazine

In Touch is a quality publication produced two times a year, and reaches an audience of over 40,000 Mohawk College alumni members and their families. Delivered right to their door, the magazine is read by graduates 1967 to 2003 whose buying interests include: real estate, insurance, investment and ﬁnancial services, automobiles and recreational vehicles, household furnishings, and vacation destinations – just to name a few! ADVERTISING RATES PER INSERTION – TWO COLOUR (Black / Red) Business Card Quarter Page Half Page Full page FULL PAGE COLOUR:

$200.00 $500.00 $750.00 $1,000.00 $2,000.00 (inside or back cover)

All editorial and advertising content is subject to the approval of the Mohawk College Alumni & Corporate Services Department and the Alumni Association. Camera-ready artwork must be supplied, unless otherwise negotiated. Deadlines may vary.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL 905-575-2258 alumni@mohawkcollege.ca

MOHAWK COLLEGE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

Diploma (Portrait) & Certiﬁcate (Landscape) Frames available in: Ø Brass $52.90 tax incl. Ø Wood $58.65 tax incl. Ø Prestige $73.60 tax incl. Ø Prestige w/Gold Coin $92.00 tax incl.

Please visit the Alumni Relations ofﬁce in room J013 to purchase Alumni merchandise or call (905) 575-2258.

M O H AW K C O L LEGE: IN TOUCH | SPRING 2004

alumni

VARSITY HAP HOLMAN ALUMNI CURLING BONSPIEL Saturday January 31, 2004

he Mohawk College Curling Alumni took to the ice at the Glendale Curling Club on Saturday January 31, to meet and greet with new and old friends. The occasion was the Hap Holman Bonspiel in fond memory of our Hall of Fame Curling coach and

The Champions from L to R Keith McIntyre , Lynda Brooker, Geoff Brooker, & Bob Walling

DOUG AMEY was an icon for Downhill Skiing at Mohawk College, and the Ontario College Athletic Association for 24 years. Under Doug’s leadership, our Mohawk teams won 31 Gold Medals in Team, Individual and Combined disciplines at the OCAA Skiing Championships. While the competition of Varsity Skiing was his passion, Doug was instrumental in developing and encouraging student involvement as the Coordinator of Intramurals at Mohawk from 1971 – 1978. JOHN LOCKE, a graduate of Business Administration in 1981, led our Men’s Curling Team into OCAA competition as Skip of our rink for three years. John was

former Mohawk Instructor. This year’s ‘champions’ were former Mohawk President Keith McIntyre’s rink that included former Mohawk Registrar Geoff Brooker, Lynda Brooker and Bob Walling (retired Mohawk Faculty). They narrowly defeated the gracefully aging rink of Patty

“Hap’s Honeys” from L to R Patty Locke, Kathy Lock, Anne Cochren, & Anita Nunn

recognized for his efforts and abilities by being named Most Valuable Player on the Curling team in all three years. John was also a force and constant participant in our Intramural program and was also awarded their highest honour, the Joe Marko Merit Award, for his outstanding contribution on and off the playing ﬁelds. RAY JONES has been providing quality care and athletic injury treatment for Mohawk College student athletes for over 35 years. “Jonesy”’s years of experience

Recent inductees from L to R Doug Amey, John Locke, Grace Siu, and Ray Jones

Locke, Kathy Locke, Anne Cochren and Anita Nunn, more affectionately called, Hap’s Honeys. Mohawk’s current Varsity teams participated in the bonspiel as well. In reality, everyone is a champion on this day. The ‘Holman’ is a wonderful event, as curlers reminisce about past glories, family updates and of course spending time with Hap’s gracious wife, Evelyn Holman. If you are a Mountaineer curling alumnus or have ‘found’ the sport of Curling since leaving Mohawk College, and you would like to join us next year, please contact the Athletics Department at 905 575 2004 or email Heather. Harrison@mohawkcollege.ca. We would love to have you join us in 2005 when we ‘Rock on’ at the ‘Holman’!

with the Canadian Olympic Basketball program and the Hamilton Tiger Cats of the CFL, has provided our athletes with a world class service. Ray always combined his professional and personal interest in treating our athletes with an open door policy, that afforded Mohawk athletes his services 24 hours a day, seven days a week, always with an infectious smile and accompanying story. GRACE SIU was easily the most popular and recognizable varsity athlete of her time at Mohawk College. Grace was a badminton champion and captured two OCAA Gold Medals (1993, 1994), one OCAA Silver Medal (1992) and one CCAA Bronze Medal (1994). Grace captured the Outstanding Female Freshman (1991) and the Outstanding Female Athlete (1992, 1993) awards at the annual awards banquet. “Amazing” Grace, as she was known, was an OCAA and CCAA All Academic award winner and captured Mohawk’s highest Varsity honour, the Dr. Sam Mitminger Award, upon graduation from Information Systems in 1994.

M O H AW K C O L LEGE: IN TOUCH | SPRING 2004

fundraising

U PDAT E WHERE IS THE MONEY GOING TO BE SPENT? Debbie Logel Butler Director of Community Relations and Advancement

ell the new year has arrived, and with it a fresh start to Mohawk College’s ﬁrst ever capital fundraising campaign. The “Shaping the Future” Campaign has a new logo and look. The re-design has been created to demonstrate the vitality, energy and excitement here at the college. With this new look and new staff, the Campaign is taking off with gusto. Now is the perfect time to move the Campaign to the next level and provide a strong visual identify within the college and to our community. Campaign activity is at an all time high, with over $5,647,633 (38 per cent of goal) being raised as of the end of February. Many cultivation meetings are taking place with prospective donors, tours of the new IT Centre and Stoney Creek

Campus. New partnerships are being explored and the Family Campaign is nearing completion. The momentum is building, as this Campaign begins to move outside and reach into the corporate and external community. The Campaign ofﬁce has some new faces. Debbie Logel Butler is our new Director of Community Relations and Advancement. Debbie is a grad of Mohawk College ’81 and comes to us with over 14 years of fundraising in the health care sector in the Hamilton area. Please drop by C-108 and meet the members of the fundraising team or call 905-5752367 if you are interested in becoming a Campaign volunteer. A special thank you is extended to all members of the Alumni Association for their commitment of $250,000 to the Shaping the Future Campaign.

ALUMNI T H E AT R E !

In recognition of our gift, the new 190-seat Presentation Theatre in the IT Centre will be named after our Association. Plans are already underway to help the Alumni meet this commitment through a variety of fundraising activities. If you would like more information or would like to make a gift to the Shaping the Future Campaign, please contact the Campaign Ofﬁce at 905 575-2367. The Presentation Theatre in the IT Centre will soon Watch for more news in have a new name in recognition of our Association’s upcoming issues! contribution to the Shaping the Future Campaign

he Alumni Association recently committed an impressive $250,000 to the Shaping the Future Campaign at Mohawk College.

These are exciting times at Mohawk College. As one of Ontario’s premier colleges, it is our top priority to prepare students and alumni to be able to live and succeed in an increasingly complex world. We must adapt, to better accommodate more students and alumni from our community and provide everyone with a high quality educational environment, which is essential for their success. To realize this vision we are undertaking a historic major fundraising initiative, the Shaping the Future Campaign - Mohawk’s first capital campaign since its inception three decades ago. The $15 million campaign’s aim is to engage our Mohawk “family,” our community, and our industry partners to support these dynamic initiatives: A premiere Information Technology Centre that will be at the forefront of programs in the IT industry, with the help of industry-leading partners A state-of-the-art Industrial Process Automation Training Applied Research Centre, designed to meet the acute needs of manufacturing and process industries in implementing Advanced Manufacturing Technologies. A significant expansion at the Stoney Creek Campus which is essential to meet the urgent need for skilled technicians and apprenticeships for our industry partners and the economic growth of our community and beyond. Significant renewal of major equipment and our information technology environment on our campuses in Hamilton, Stoney Creek and Brantford. Our proven strength in the areas of Technology, Automation, Media Studies and Health Sciences, will lead the way in shaping not only our own community’s and province’s future, but also our nation’s prosperity in the 21st century. For more information, on Mohawk College’s Shaping the Future Campaign please contact Debbie Logel Butler, Director of Community Relations and Advancement at 905-575-2367 or email debbie.logelbutler@mohawkcollege.ca

M O H AW K C O L LEGE: IN TOUCH | SPRING 2004

C O V ER

STORY

MOHAWK COLLEGE

Celebrates

NEW BEGINNINGS

Newly-appointed President MaryLynn West-Moynes tours the IT Centre. by Cheryl Wrixon

Mohawk’s new president, MaryLynn West -Moynes, stops to talk with 1st year Ofﬁce Administration student Sanela Cosic, 3rd year Braodcast Journalism student Kristine MacDonald and Computer Science & Information Professor Rob Rasile.

here have been some exciting new developments at Mohawk College since our last edition of In Touch. December 1, 2003, the Mohawk community welcomed MaryLynn West-Moynes as the college’s sixth president. Her appointment, the culmination of an exhaustive national search, coincided with the retirement December 31 of Cal Haddad who had served as president since May 2001. MaryLynn brings an excellent profile to her new responsibilities, having held 11 positions at Durham College since 1985. Before her appointment as Mohawk President, she served as Chief Operating Officer of Durham College and in that role provided strategic leadership for many significant initiatives at Durham. She participated as a key member of the team responsible for Durham College’s expansion to include the University of Ontario Institute of Technology. In addition to her role as COO, MaryLynn served as Vice-President of Communications and Marketing for both institutions. Previous positions held at Durham included Vice-President of Academic Excellence and Innovation; Executive Director of Communications and Development; Director of Staff and Student Development; and Professor and Co-ordinator of Early Childhood Education. These diverse responsibilities have developed excellent management and academic leadership skills as well as expertise in advocacy, government and community relations, and business and industry partnerships. Her educational profile is equally impressive. She holds a Master’s Degree in Adult Education from Central Michigan University and a University of Toronto/OISE doctorate is in progress. On the personal front, MaryLynn and her husband Doug, a secondary school math teacher,

M O H AW K C O L LEGE: IN TOUCH | SPRING 2004

C O V E R S TO RY: M O H AWK CELEBRATES NEW BEGINNINGS

are in the process of selling their family home in Seagrave (just 10km north of Port Perry) and ﬁnding a new home in the Hamilton area. Although their two sons, Ryan, 24, and Adam, 20, are away at school, the whole family has already enjoyed the availability and quality of sports and theatre that are so abundant in the area. Don’t be surprised to see them on the ski slopes and the golf links, when opportunities for leisure present themselves. Contribution to the community is important for our new president. She is well known in the Durham area, having served as Trustee of the Lakeridge Health Corporation, and a Director of the Oshawa Chamber of Commerce. She was also named Port Perry’s Rotarian of the Year in 2000. She is eager to ﬁnd her niche in the Hamilton community and has already introduced herself to civic leaders. On January 26, she delivered the Keynote Address at Hamilton’s annual Citizen of the Year Awards. It is no coincidence that our cover story introduces the new College President and the latest addition to the college’s main campus. In our twentieth anniversary year of In Touch, it seems especially appropriate to celebrate new beginnings that build on established strengths. At the college’s Fennell Avenue campus, a striking, almost futuristic two-storey addition has been added to house the new $18.2 million Information Technology Centre. Every inch of the 60,000 square foot building has been carefully planned to maximize learning opportunities in the information age. The entire facility is wired for Internet access, allowing students to use their laptops anywhere they choose. This state-of-the art Centre includes nine computer labs, a tiered lecture theatre accommodating 180, and an electronic library equipped with 65 computers. The new addition will house a variety of programs that attest to Mohawk’s leadership role in technology, including e-commerce business-to-business specialist program, advanced network security and connectivity program and the new bachelor of applied technology degree in process automation. The Information Technology Centre is also the home of a new Mohawk College initiative, the Centre for Innovation and Applied Research. Here, college students

and staff will work in partnership with government and industry on cuttingedge research projects that will add a new dimension to the College’s profile in technology education. The Centre’s innovative design integrates aesthetics and the benefits of interaction and collegiality. The first floor includes an airy rotunda with an adjoining lecture hall that can accommodate trade shows or other presentations. The rotunda will be a perfect location to showcase student or community projects. The new facility also includes seminar and study rooms, interview facilities, and co-operative education and student employment services. A winter garden with lush tropical flowers, miniature waterfalls, a beautiful rockery and a goldfish pond provides a pleasant oasis, especially in the midst of this winter chill. Eventually, the college will use this garden area to provide students with horticultural training.

and innovation. She is also very conscious of the college’s position in the community – the responsibility to contribute to its development and to beneﬁt from its strengths. According to MaryLynn “a belief in the importance of partnership, of the need to align the vision, strategic planning and empowerment of key players in the community is a fundamental component of my leadership strategy.” The new president is quick to acknowledge a very important role for college alumni. Mohawk College graduates make a difference in their communities every day. We all beneﬁt from the work they do in our hospitals, in policing services, in cultural and recreational centres, and in business and manufacturing establishments. Alumni also make important contributions to the vision and direction of their college – some become employees, others serve on the Board of Governors or as Advisory Committee members

“I want to invite all Mohawk College alumni to make your voices heard, to tell me and my colleagues what we need to do, what we should change, what we are doing right.” As a newcomer to Mohawk, MaryLynn didn’t have the opportunity to participate in the planning and vision that led to the development of this new IT Centre, but she is pleased with its design and ambiance. The new building is a learner-centred facility that combines opportunities for state-of-the art research and technology with oldfashioned community participation and collegiality. These are important elements of the new president’s plan for Mohawk. She is a ﬁrm believer in the power of a community college and is eager to build on the already impressive role that the college plays in the communities it serves. She has begun her tenure as president by asking those she meets within the college and outside in the community where they want their college to go. She is reluctant to impose her own vision, intending instead to incorporate the answers she receives to these questions with strategies for maintaining and enhancing the college’s reputation for quality, accountability

– the list is long and impressive. What is important in MaryLynn’s view, is for alumni to ﬁnd ways to continue to participate as members of the Mohawk College community. “I want to invite all Mohawk College alumni to make your voices heard, to tell me and my colleagues what we need to do, what we should change, what we are doing right. It sounds like a cliché, but my door is open and I want to meet you and hear what you have to say.” You can reach her at 905-575-2253 or by e-mail at marylynn. west-moynes@mohawkcollege.ca The IT Centre is an impressive structure that symbolizes the college’s commitment past, present and future to excellence in technology education. It is appropriate that the opening of this new facility coincides with the inauguration of a new president whose arrival has been punctuated by the call to all of us to participate in and contribute to Mohawk’s continuing path to excellence. These are exciting times indeed!

M O H AW K C O L LEGE: IN TOUCH | SPRING 2004

1994

200

1984

From

THEN.... to

NOW

Reﬂecting on the 20 year history of the Alumni Association and In Touch Magazine By Lynn E. James

ew people in the Mohawk College community are in the know about its long history. Mohawk began as a small night school – The Provincial Institute of Textiles (PIT) – in 1947. Within ten years the Hamilton Institute of Technology (HIT) was established at 220 Dundurn Street South in Hamilton and then, in 1965, the Ontario government

established a system of community colleges and Mohawk College was born. It was natural that these graduates would want to keep in touch with each other and not lose sight of their original alma mater. Although an early attempt at forming an alumni association failed, it was Al Arnold, graduate, faculty member, and Gold Medal winner who founded the first

documented Alumni Association. He was also an advocate of establishing the first Mohawk student centre. In recognition of his dedication to students, Mohawk’s first student establishment in 1975, a renovated root cellar at the back of Fennell Campus, was named in his honour. Even today, we reflect on his tremendous enthusiasm for students and alumni as we socialize

M O H AW K C O L LEGE: IN TOUCH | SPRING 2004

F R O M T H E N TO NOW: REFLECTING ON OUR HISTORY

in “The Arnie.” We lost Al Arnold in 1971 and with him the dedication required to sustain a purely voluntary Alumni Association. Eventually it disbanded, and the faculty program chairs inherited the daunting responsibility for a few years, trying to keep track of their various alumni while struggling to meet a more complicated and everchanging college environment. Even the new Student Activities Department had limited success tracking alumni which, by now, had grown into the thousands. Still, the students wanted an Alumni Association and finally, in the 1980s, they were heard. Dr. Sam Mitminger, president, and the Student’s Representative Council (SRC) first made the proposal to the Students’ Union Corporation (SUC) to help fund a new alumni association, and upon Dr. Mitminger’s retirement, the promotion job fell to the new president, Mr. Keith McIntyre and another new face, Mr. Cal Haddad, who had joined Mohawk in 1977 as the Chair of Student Activities. They set in motion an ad hoc committee in 1982 that established the groundwork for the current organization. In the spring of 1984, the premier issue of “In Touch” was published commemorating the first active alumni association in the community college system. The Spring 1984 premier issue of “In Touch” was impressive. A professional looking, glossy publication, it contained a wealth of information about the new Alumni Association, its roots and plans for the future, and interesting developments within the college. It was hard to miss the desire and perseverance of Mohawk alumni when it was obvious that several chapters had already organized

themselves; Nursing, Social Services Workers, Legal Secretarial, and Insurance all boasted their own alumni chapters. The new department and the association’s Board of Directors would be committed to supporting those efforts as well as fundraising for scholarships and needy faculties. In the meantime, Mohawk had become the first community college in Ontario to hire a full time alumni officer and provide a full time administrative staff. The nineties also proved eventful for the Association. The Association was becoming more interested in financial self-sufficiency and had negotiated the first affinity programs for graduates. Although the universities had devised similar

first nominees, and gave the 21,000 graduates it was circulated to a chance to see what some of their contemporaries were achieving in the world beyond the classroom. Immediately, Mohawk had a winner in Amos Key, Communication Arts 1976, who won in the category of Applied Arts. Since then the winning tradition has continued, and Mohawk Distinction winners have collected a total of five awards adding $25,000 to the Ontario Student Opportunity Trust Fund (OSOTF). In these past twenty years, the Alumni Association has enthusiastically helped Mohawk College celebrate its milestones and achievements. From the opening of the new Student Centre in

“In these past twenty years, the Alumni Association has enthusiastically helped Mohawk College celebrate its milestones and achievements.” plans for their alumni, Mohawk was the first to offer the Mosaik® Mastercard® and on the front, was the majestic hawk – a donation by the artist Wray Provo. Mainway Insurance was also offering special rates to Mohawk and the Association was beginning to advertise alumni wear and diploma frames in an effort to raise more money. It was needed because the Ontario government had initiated two programs of distinct interest to the college and its alumni. The Ontario government introduced Premier’s Awards to begin in 1995 and the Association responded with its own awards, the Alumni of Distinction. The winter issue of 1994 profiled its

1985, to Mohawk’s 21st birthday in 1987, to all the various charity and promotional events through the years – Mohawk’s Alumni Association has been in the thick of things, an eager participant in all the revelry. Now we’ve come to an anniversary of our own. The best part is when you share in the memories of what it has taken to get here and then look forward to what is about to come. That’s when the festivities really begin! Lynn E. James is a Business Administration graduate (1981) and primary researcher and writer with the History of Student Associations Project.

M O H AW K C O L LEGE: IN TOUCH | SPRING 2004

keeping in

TOUCH

W h e re a re t h e y n o w ?

Overseas … James Borody (’78 medical lab Technology) is working as a missionary in Niger, West Africa, putting his lab skills to work in a bush hospital. Contact him at jborody@iname.com for more information. Walter A. Kruz C.M.A. (’83 Business Administration) is the Director of Finance for World Vision in Germany. Denise Milne (’98, Ofﬁce Administration General) is applying for permanent residency in Australia to be with better half Peter, after working as a Customs Liaison in Burlington. “I’d love to hear from any of my old classmates and teachers at Canuck@arach.net.au -- Cheers!” Mr. Mohammad M. Daaboul (’99 Industrial Management) is the Assistant General Manager of Madar Co. in Syria.

At Home … Rick Dunn (’65 Industrial Management) is retiring from St. Lawrence College where he started as a Teaching Master in Computer Science, progressed to Chair of Campus Services, Director of Computer Services, and finally, the Registrar/ Director of Student Services. Best wishes, Rick! Rosslynn Davidson (’78 Nursing) went to California, completed her degree and her Masters of Science in Nursing and is working as a Family Nurse Practitioner in a pediatrician’s office, and is certified to work anywhere in the USA. “A lot of hard work has really paid off!” Linda Haslam-Stroud (’78 Nursing) is

the new President of the Ontario Nurses Association, the bargaining unit for registered nurses in Ontario. John Locke (’80 Business Administration) left the Bank of Montreal to work the Angela (Mauro) management end of the Cristo ( ’97 Early restaurant business, first Childhood Educaion) with Ponderosa, then and Mark Cristo Hudson’s Bay Co., Chap’s, (‘00 Engineering) and the Swiss Chalet Division are now happily of Cara Group. John was married. President of the Etobicoke Chamber of Commerce from 1999 to 2002. He and Kathy married in 1980, live in Kitchener and have two and Matthew (1). Angela (Mauro) Cristo (’97 Early great kids, David and Elizabeth. Childhood Education) sends greetings Sandra Ireland (’90 Hons Nursing) is to Brantford Campus classmates and the President of the College of Nurses teachers. “Happily married to Mark of Ontario, which is the regulatory Cristo (’00 Engineering), and working at Noel’s Children’s Centre Inc. in body for nursing in Ontario. Guelph.” Kim (Goodwin) Shears (’93 Business Studies) married Tom Shears (’93 Kelly Charbonneau (’97 Early Business Administration) and they have Childhood Education) says hello to all a daughter, Sarah. Kim works as the her Brantford Campus classmates and office manager at Junior Achievement, teachers. Kelly is working at Noel’s and Tom is a Consultant with We Children’s Centre Inc. in Guelph with Know Business. They can be reached at Angela. tshears@weknowbusiness.ca Rachel (Townsend) Geddes (’97 LAN Rebecca Streeter (’93 Advertising) Administration & Hardware) worked is a freelance writer and works in the as a computer department manager, Advertising Department for the St. then worked in South Carolina, got Catharines Standard, after 6 years as a married and moved back to Hamilton. Sales Coordinator for 3 radio stations. Rachel works for the Hamilton Police “Greetings to all my former Advertising Service in the Computer Services classmates and instructors! I can be section, and volunteers as an Auxiliary Police Officer. reached at rebecca99@canoemail.com Paula (Poirier) Zwolak (’95, Office Administration Legal) married her high school sweetheart, Jeffrey, and has 2 wonderful children: Benjamin (4)

Tim Staples (’97 Mechanical Engineering) and his wife Pauline are thrilled to announce the arrival of Jesse Robert, born September 20, 2003!

M O H AW K C O L LEGE: IN TOUCH | SPRING 2004

Elizabeth (Fikar) Mueller (’98 Business Administration) moved to Mississauga in 2000, married Jonathan in 2001 and they had a baby boy, Michael Allan Karl, in 2003. Elizabeth is enjoying staying home with her son. Phil McLaughlin (’00 Journalism) works as the Field Producer for Sports at CH TV. He and his wife, Danielle (deGraauw) Marilyn, live in Brantford Spilotro ( ’00 and have two children. Journalism) and her husband Giovanni on Danielle (de Graauw) their wedding day. Spilotro (’00 Journalism) married Giovanni in 2003 and they are expecting their ﬁrst child any day now! They’re at dspilotro@excite.com

In Memoriam … Lloyd Howard Novak (’67 Technology) passed away April 2001 in Port Alberni, B.C. Lloyd and Carol (Platt) moved to B.C. where Lloyd obtained his Professional Engineer of B.C. status and worked as a Systems Engineer Assistant for MacMillan Bloedel, and at Paciﬁca Papers as Systems Superintendent. His life’s passion included ﬂying his Grumman Cheetah aircraft. Arthur (Art) W. Moore (’89 Social Service Worker) passed away December 22, 2003. As a graduate, Art was the recipient of the “Dean’s Gold Medallion of Achievement” at Mohawk College. He will be sadly missed.

“Keeping in Touch” We want to keep you “In Touch” with all our Mohawk Grads. Please help us by ﬁlling out the following information form. You can also reach us at out website www.mohawkc.on.ca/alumni or by email at alumni@mohawkcollege.ca Name: ______________________________________ Maiden Name: ______________ Program: ____________________________________Year Graduated: ______________ Address: ___________________________ Apt: ________ City: ________________________ Province: __________ Postal Code: ______________ Phone: ___________________ Email: ______________________________________ Place of Employment: _______________________________ City: ____________________ Province: ____________ Postal Code: _____________ Phone: _________________ Position: ________________________________________ I am interested in being a Gradvisor: I am interested in being a Convocation Speaker: I an interested in being featured in Keeping In Touch:

Yes:___ No:___ Yes:___ No:___ Yes:___ No:___

Gradvisor – An Alumnus who is interested in lending a hand to fellow Alumni, and/or students at Mohawk College.

SHARE IT WITH US. Are you getting married? Starting a family? New job or promotion? Looking for an old classmate? Let us know what is going on in your life and, if possible, throw in a photo! _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ In accordance with section 39(2) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, 1987 the personal information recorded in this form is collected and Universities Act R.S.O. 1980, c272 and R.R.O 1980, Reg 640. The information is used for administrative and statistical purposes of the Alumni Relations Department, The College and/or the ministries and agencies of the governments of Ontario� party (such as a family member) to be the aforementioned.

Signature:______________________ Date:___________ M O H AW K C O L LEGE: IN TOUCH | SPRING 2004

looking

BACK

Refl e c t i n g o n t h e M o h a w k Exp e r i e nce

FAT E brought this alumnus FULL CIRCLE by Gary Sawchuk, Alumni 1984 Board of Directors Vice-Chair

am very proud of my Mohawk College diploma obtained in 1971! It has opened many doors for me and has been an extremely valuable accreditation within my industry. When I decided to enrol at Mohawk College in 1969, my choice was of economics rather than anything else. University tuition rates were simply out of reach for a young highschool graduate and the clear alternative, was a local community college. This, in retrospect, turned out to a wise and fruitful decision! Like so many other graduates, I have found that industry looked very favourably at Mohawk College grads; and I had a job offer shortly before graduating. Over the ensuing years, I rose up the ranks of my chosen profession and ended up as a Director of Marketing and Management Training for a major ﬁ nancial service organization. Fate was with me when a fulltime teaching position opened up in the business studies department in 1987, and I was offered a teaching job at Mohawk. It was fortunate for me that I had kept touch with my old professors at Mohawk College while I was working in the insurance industry. They involved me in teaching night school courses, sitting

in as an “Advisory Committee” member and becoming involved with the Alumni association and other clubs at Mohawk College. These were the primary reasons I was offered a job teaching at the college. So I had come full circle-from a young grad in 1971 to a faculty member in 1987. Currently I am the co-ordinator/program manager of the Insurance programs in the “School of Insurance” at Mohawk College. From my perspective, I see one thing perfectly clear—the reputation and credibility of Mohawk College has been created and reinforced by the success of our Alumni. A debt of gratitude is owed to so many alumni who have forged a path of hard work, determination and dedication in their chosen careers. Employers across Canada recognize the value and worth of a Mohawk College Diploma. I witnessed this almost everyday by the hundreds of employers, many of them Mohawk Alumni, who phone me looking to hire new graduates. Countless alumni have reached the pinnacles of success in their professions, proven their worth within their careers and greatly inﬂuenced their employers to return to Mohawk College to hire. I tell my

current “crop” of students that they should be extremely grateful for the track record of Mohawk alumni because it is their hard work and reputation that makes it possible for them to be in such high demand. As I sit here writing this I have probably close to 200 jobs available for the upcoming graduation class of 80 or so! I was amazed at the beginning of last semester when I realised that one of our students had learned about our program on the Internet and enrolled in our program from Jakarta, Indonesia! Our reputation and reach has far exceeded our expectations. It is with deep and sincere appreciation to all our alumni that I thank you for your contribution to the success of Mohawk College. Gary Sawchuk was a graduate from the insurance program in 1971. Several promotions and his rise to a senior management position highlighted his career with Equitable Insurance Company. Gary has been active in both industry and community organizations, and sits on several boards and committees. After starting his teaching career at Mohawk College, Gary was offered the position of Coordinator of the Insurance Program and has helped it to become the largest college Insurance Program in Canada.

M O H AW K C O L LEGE: IN TOUCH | SPRING 2004

Carry the card

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Dear Mohawk College Alumni Association Supporter: This letter invites you to support our cause through our Affinity Mosaik® MasterCard®* Program with BMO Bank of Montreal®. Now you can get a credit card to fit your lifestyle, and help support Mohawk College Alumni Association.

Customize your options and get a card you actually want. Mosaik MasterCard provides you with more choice and greater flexibility than any other credit card in Canada. Select from the CashBack® or AIR MILES®† reward programs and special features designed to put your mind at ease while you travel – such as Mosaik Travel Protection and Mosaik Travel Medical. You can also choose your interest rate plan – No Fee or Low Rate Option – that best fits your payment style. Then, if your needs change, you can change your card features without having to re-apply.

Help support current and future Mohawk College Alumni Programs. Every time you use your Mohawk Mosaik MasterCard card to make a purchase, a contribution is made to the Mohawk College Alumni Association from BMO Bank of Montreal, at no additional cost to you! By choosing this card, you’ll enjoy the flexibility that comes with building a card that is truly yours, plus you’ll show your pride every time you use it to make a purchase. Sincerely

Krysia Iwanek

Linda Marshall

President, Mohawk College Alumni Association Mohawk College

Manager, Alumni and Corporate Services Mohawk College

® Registered trade-marks of Bank of Montreal. Patent pending. ®* Bank of Montreal is a licensed user of the registered trade-mark and design owned by MasterCard International Inc. ®† Registered trade-mark of AIR MILES International Trading B.V. Used under licence by Loyalty Management Group Canada Inc. and Bank of Montreal

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