Cypress Magazine 2018

M U L G R AV E A L U M N I M AG A Z I N E

2018

This One’s For You To The Busy University Students.

The Daredevil Entrepreneurs.

The Selfless Philanthropists.

The Sweaty Athletes.

The Driven Business Leaders.

The Paint-Smeared Artists...

TA B L E of

CONTENTS

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Cypress 2018

3

How to Make a Movie with Marcus Hann

7

Alumni Basketball Game 2017

11

Class of 2018

13

Class of 2008 Reunion

17

25th Anniversary

23

Summer Kickoff 2018

24

Alumni Spotted

25

Alumni at University

27

Alum of the Year

30

Alumni Spotlight Series

31

Aliya Bhatia

35

Annahis Basmadjian

39

Camilla James

43

Kaitlyn Wu

45

Kevin Catliff

48

Alumni Advisory Board

2

MARCUS HANN How to make a movie

A good short film takes a lot of work to plan and

As an observer of the whole process, making a movie can

create. In this piece I outline the process of making a

seem daunting to say the least. With Marcus’ help we’ve

low-budget short film, drawing back to the example of

separated some of the most important parts to show you

my graduating project from SFU ‘Edge of Apollo’, with

how doable something like this can really be.

some materials from the actual production of that

Theme and Idea

film. Edge of Apollo has had success at local and inter-

Theme and idea makeup the beginning of the process

national festivals with Official Selections to the Whis-

where the idea takes shape. Brainstorming, workshop-

tler Film Festival, Chilliwack Independent Film Festival,

ping ideas, and writing treatments are all beneficial

LA CineFest, Queen Palm International Film Festival,

ways to start molding a story. Whether you go back

Focus Film Festival and some others. It has also re-

and forth with a friend or let your ideas take shape as

ceived a number of nominations through these festivals

doodles on a piece of paper, having a logical way of re-

and is still in consideration for further festivals and awards.

cording these ideas is crucial. This way when you get to

As of November 25, 2018, Edge of Apollo took home the

of your script that hits all the highlights), you can easily

something like a treatment (which is just a short-form

award for best script at the Chilliwack Independent

put your ideas into a coherent vision. Once you finish

Film Festival.

that, you can get on with writing your script.

Edge of Apollo was my graduating film from the

Pre-Production

Film Production program at SFU. It was written in my

Once there is a script, pre-production can start; it’s

second year of university and the pre-production,

important to note that this does not mean the script is

production, and post-production all took place in my

finished. Most scripts will continue to be changed right

final year.

up until, and even into, production and post-produc3

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tion. Pre-production is arguably the most important

entire film on paper so that production can run as

part of the process because you are essentially

smoothly as possible. It can be a lot of work, but it is a

creating your film here, building the framework of what

very important step in a successful project. Due to the

will happen during production. In-depth and careful

highly collaborative nature of film, it is important to

pre-production will go a long way in making production

make sure that all cast and crew are on the same page

and post-production smooth and will greatly benefit

going into production. I had meetings and rehearsals

the final result of the film.

with my cast and crew leading up to the shooting dates of my film so that everyone was able to fulfill their role

There are a lot of avenues for pre-production,

and support the film to the best of their abilities.

and so a number of things should be happening and progressing simultaneously during this stage. In a

Production

larger-scale environment, there would be a number

Production is where you put your planning into action.

of people working at this point, with the director and

The hope here is that all of the logistics are in place

producers delegating the work. On a smaller scale -

so that the director and other crew can focus their at-

like on my 4th year film - it is often one or sometimes

tention on the creative elements of the project (a lot of

two people who are working on all of the necessary

creative decisions have been made in pre-production,

elements. These include casting, finding crew, location

but a film set is an ever-changing environment and

scouting, tech scouting, budgeting, scheduling, deter-

often plans must be adjusted on the day). Shooting can

mining what gear and equipment will be used/need-

be stressful, especially if there has been poor planning

ed, deciding on props and costumes, storyboarding,

or a lack of communication, but this can also be the

shot-listing, creating visual lookbooks/mood board,

most fun and rewarding part of the process.

and other logistical and creative elements of the film.

Essentially, you are creating and organising the 4

In the case of Edge of Apollo, we had a strong

cutting, but it can be important to have a finished edit

foundation of pre-production that supported me and

before moving on and bringing everything together.

the cast and crew through the shoot. Obviously, as with

You can check out Marcus’ movie, Edge of Apollo, by

any film set, we encountered problems that we could

scanning the QR code below!

not have planned for or expected, but with the planning in place, we were able to adapt and overcome these obstacles.

Post-Production Post-production is where the film takes its final form.

Believe it or not, the script can still be changing at this point, not on paper, but in the way the film is edited.

An editor can choose to cut lines or shuffle the order of scenes if they and the director believe it will be better for the overall film. In Edge of Apollo I cut some lines, shifted scenes around, and even combined some scenes into one. These were choices that I made to better the film, instead of just following exactly what I had laid out in the script.

Despite what some people may think, there is much more to post-production than just editing. The picture edit is cutting the actions, words, and scenes together, while the sound edit focuses solely on the how the production audio sounds and transitions. Following picture lock (a finished cut of the film), we can move on to sound design, colour grading, and scoring the film.

Parts of these stages can take place during the initial

Passowrd: apollo 5

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A LU M N I BA S K E T BA L L & Winter Social 2017

Thursday, December 21st was a wonderful night of celebrations with many of our alumni coming home for the holidays. The evening started off commemorating one of Mulgrave’s most beloved and inspirational teachers, Ms. Marlena Morgan. Marlena’s sense of humour, warmth, and lack of filter were felt throughout the Linda Hamer Theatre, where hundreds of current and alumni students, families, and teachers gathered to reminisce and celebrate this brilliant, selfless, and audacious woman. Marlena will be missed dearly, but it is clear that her strong spirit lives on through all the lives she’s touched.

From there, the celebrations continued as alumni made their way up to the gym to cheer on our alumni basketball players at the annual Alumni Basketball Game & Winter Social. The alumni girls struggled to keep up with the Senior Girls team, one of the top in the province, so it was going to be tough from the get-go. The boy’s game was extremely close, and the energy and passion in the gym was palpable. With a final score of 42 to 35, the alumni boys took the win over the Senior Boys.

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GAME SCORES: Alumni Girls 25 vs. Sr. Girls 60 Alumni Boys 42 vs. Sr. Boys 35 The Winter Social is a great opportunity for our alumni to reconnect with their peers and teachers and hear about all the adventures and experiences the year has brought for everyone.

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C L A S S O F 2018 Welcome to Mulgrave’s Alumni Association!

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2 008 R E U N I O N Welcome Back

On October 6, 2018, the Grad Class of 2008 returned to Mulgrave to celebrate their ten-year reunion. It took no time for conversations to grow loud as they gathered in a former teacher’s classroom to reminisce and catch up on each others’ lives.

Their titles are now other than that of a Mulgrave Alum. They are doctors, lawyers, broadcasters, and accountants to name a few. Ten years has led many of them in different directions, yet their energy when they came together at Mulgrave closely resembled a class of recent graduates, excited for the world ahead.

This event would have not taken place if it weren’t for their faithful and reliant class representative, Matthew Cullen. Despite holding a demanding position in broadcasting with the CBC, he was able to gather and bring together a large group of his former classmates.

Old friends reconnected, reminisced, and updated each other on their lives today. We truly had a great time reminiscing and celebrating with the Class of 2008. These halls were happy to hear their voices once again. We wish them the best in all their future endeavours and can’t wait to see them again soon enough!

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Jack, Sean & Lauren in 2018...

...and here in Kindergarten, 25 years ago!

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In September 1995, Mulgrave School opened in newly designed facilities at the North Shore Winter Club, providing the school with a secure home for the next five years.

Our history of

Throughout that five-year period,

C R E AT I N G MEMORIES

the Board of Directors would work diligently to fulfill its mandate of securing a permanent site to realise the Mulgrave dream of offering a complete school programme from Kindergarten to Grade 12.

In 1993 “I set out on a journey for

1995

which there was no map. It was a journey that I knew would require faith, perseverance and determination — and a great deal of help. So together with a wonderful group of people, we founded and built a school based not only on academic goals, but on the Renaissance ideal… We have created something unique in building Mulgrave School — a place that encourages everyone

1993 West Vancouver Montessori School’s Board envisions the creation of a new independent,

to be the best they can be.”

secular school on the North Shore

Mrs. Linda Hamer

of experience enjoyed in their

Founding Head of School (1993—03), in a retirement message to the community.

that would continue the excellence preschool. In September 1993, under the leadership of Linda Hamer as founding Head of School, Mulgrave opened in a portable classroom on property adjacent to the Montessori facilities.

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A group of eleven students, led by Mr. Cusbert and Mrs. Hamer, completed the first of many international trips by a group of Mulgrave students. The students established a Twinning Agreement with The Sunshine Coast Grammar School and prepared to be hosts to Australian students in the fall.

1999 1998

2001

In October of 1998, Mulgrave

Students and staff moved to

School became a member of the

Mulgrave’s ‘forever home’. The

Canadian Association of

inauguration of the stunning

Independent Schools. The Board

100,000 square foot facility was

identified a permanent site for

attended by hundreds of c

the school at the foot of Cypress

ommunity members,including Mr.

Mountain and development plans

and Mrs. Smithies pictured above,

were presented to West Vancouver

as well as local dignitaries and the

Council.

Earl of Mulgrave. It took place on October 18th. Prior to the move, Middle School students had been taking classes in a facility adjacent to the construction site for a little over a year.

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The community bid farewell to its retiring founding Headmistress Linda Hamer. For a decade, Mrs. Hamer’s indomitable and tireless commitment to the vision and mission of Mulgrave led to the school’s growth and success. The next academic year, the school

The school received the first of its

would host a dedication

three International Baccalaureate

ceremony and name the theatre

authorisations and the Diploma

after its beloved founding head.

Programme arrives at Mulgrave.

2003

2006 2004 Mulgrave welcomed Mr. Macoun, a highly experienced international educator recognised as one of Canada’s top independent school leaders. Mr. Macoun’s legacy as Head of School at Mulgrave would include the school’s IB certifications, Early Learning Centre, and Mulgrave’s involvement in the Olympics. Mulgrave sent off its first class of graduates, the Class of 2004.

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Mulgrave became an IB Continuum School after it was authorised to offer the Middle Years Programme, following PYP authorisation in 2007. In September of this year, Mulgrave’s Early Learning Centre (ELC) for children aged 3 and 4 years opened its doors. While its permanent on-campus facility was being built, the ELC was located off site in West Vancouver.

2009 2008

2010

Mulgrave graduates its first IB

Mulgrave closed its doors for

Diploma class and hosts its first

two weeks to host members of

ever PYP Exhibition.

the Olympic teams participating in events atop Cypress Mountain.

Nihat Tetiker bore the Olympic torch for the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games.

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Under the direction of the Board, and led by John Wray, our fourth

On May 22nd, the school would

and current Head of School,

host a Grand Opening of its Senior

Mulgrave complete a year-long

School. Later that summer, less

consultation and launches a

than ten years since its first IB class

five-year strategic plan: Mulgrave

graduated, Jolee Tung ‘15 achieves

2020: From Good to Great and a 25

a maximum point score of 45 in her

year campus plan.

DP exams, one of four in Canada.

2011

2015 2013 Mulgrave’s Board voted unanimously in favour of beginning the construction of a new Senior School.

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Launch of the MPOWER campaign in support of several initiatives in the school’s new five-year strategic plan: Making Mulgrave Everything We Can Be.

2017 2018

2016 A team of accreditation officers

Doors open to the school’s new

from the IB Organisation, Canadian

West Wing expansion, housing

Accredited Independent Schools

our preschool, Middle School

(CAIS), and the Council of Interna-

classrooms, an art and design

tional Schools (CIS) completed a

studio, and a rooftop Playground.

landmark visit to the school. Soon

Our community comes together to

after, Mulgrave became the first

celebrate our extraordinary 25-

school in Canada to be granted full

year journey and imagine what the

CIS accreditation.

next 25 years will bring.

Mulgrave Alumni: You make up the foundation of our success as a school.

We thank you for your contributions and strive to celebrate all you have accomplished.

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S U M M E R K I C KO F F Rugby Game 2018 On June 8, 2018, alum gathered in the comfort of the Skybridge at Mulgrave to get together and reconnect over drinks and food, as well as take the time to play some touch rugby in the chilly rain.

Despite the weather, our alum reunited and set up some teams to get a game going. Our alum, students, and teachers separated into alum/teacher and alum/student teams. The thing about rugby, however, is that it is a game that benefits the large.

That rang true on June 8th as the larger alum and teachers had little trouble moving the ball across the field, leaving their younger counterparts behind. This did not deter our younger alum though, as they put up some truly wild moves to navigate around their opponents. In the end, our teacher/alum team came out victorious. The score did not matter though: all players came off the field laughing and happy to rejoice after the game with some well-deserved refreshments. We hope to see many of them again at next year’s event!

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Alumni Spotted Back at School

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Leah Verdone Director of University Counselling

T R AV E L S T H R O U G H California During the first few weeks of November, I travelled

classical guitarist played Asturias. That evening, Luke

throughout California in the Bay and Greater LA area

Seybold recanted highlights of his initial term in Engi-

to tour universities and spend time connecting with as

neering at a local pizza place. Sadly, David Sui returned

many alumni as possible. This great state to which so

too late from vacation to join us, but says he is loving

many Mulgravians gravitate offers boundless possibil-

Berkeley! Luke explained, skateboard propped beside

ities. From tiny liberal arts colleges to huge research

him, that UCB is like a second home. Many in his family

institutions. From small, quaint coastal college towns

are Berkeley alum, and with many relatives still living

like Santa Cruz and Claremont, to the lively metropolis

in the area, he feels like it was always his top choice.

of LA.

Of course, the weather and Luke’s love for US college sports madness don’t make it hard for him to love his

My first day was spent exploring UC Berkeley’s campus

new home either.

and stadium. It was there I discovered the delightful Music Appreciation Cafe, a Berkeley institution, with

After entertaining and colourful tours at UCLA’s School

Rachael Deng who is enjoying the challenging but

of Theater, Film and Television, trekking through the

rewarding experience of being a UC Berkeley student.

costume studios and zigzagging through miles of props

Her favourite classes have been some of the electives as

and sets, I found myself on USC’s campus. I was joined

well as the Women in Science seminar and the themed

by Sophia Sinclair for dinner in the stunning USC New

housing she opted into.

Village, fashioned after iconic Italian piazzas. Soph, along with new roommates, have spearheaded an

During the afternoon, I explored the reading ponds and

informal Spring Admission mentorship group to help

the outdoor squares where, outside of Dwinelle Hall, a 25

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the new freshmen adjust beyond the regular fall

I learned the hard way that the Bay Area actually has

incoming festivities. Her exuberance and desire to help

worse traffic than LA. However, LA traffic is still quite

others has led her to see the opportunity and need

an experience, and there was no way I would pass up

of others. She feels that the experience of USC could

dinner with Shanil who has taken Claremont McKenna

never be replaced with a smaller college or attending

College (CMC) by storm. This bubbly alumna manages a

a Canadian school for her early years, and she finds

full course load while enjoying the more relaxed

inspiration and joy from her Mandarin and Musical

atmosphere (and warm weather) though she still

Theatre classes--twin loves in her academic life!

manages to hold a remote internship as an Events and Crowdfunding Assistant along with an on-campus job

Throughout the day at Chapman, located so closely to

as Programs Assistant for the Kravis Lab for

Disneyland that many students boasted about holding

Social Impact . Most recently, she received the Arthur

annual passes, it was impressive to see their cutting

R. Adams Fellowship in International Strategic Stud-

edge Musco Center for the Arts. The center was to

ies at the Keck Center for International and Strategic

host the play If All The Sky Were Paper, which drama-

Studies. What else can she possibly work on? Well

tized war letters from various countries. Our very own

the end goal, she enthused over dinner, is to continue

Martha and Aiden were involved in the production,

exploring her options and trying to balance theoretical

but sadly, the play itself opened the day following my

with practical experience and networking.

departure. I am certain this will not be our last chance to witness something of these alums creation.

There are truly few better places to spend fall and spring than in California, balmy weather with students

Meanwhile, Poppy Shaw sent an exuberant text from

cruising around on skateboards, bikes or scooters in

the set of a music video in LA as she has been able

casual summer gear. The US college scene offers its

to construct a 4-day week at Chapman that also her

own unique experience which many seek to be

to “spend my time working on Chapman film sets or

immersed and swept up in...pep band practice which

sometimes even travel into LA and work on music

I walked into at USC, sports culture as I witnessed at

videos or commercials my friends are working on.

UCB walking into the enormous stadium, cheerleading

Everyone in this community wants you to succeed and

and athletic practice infectious and lively at The Farm,

they'll give you numerous opportunities to showcase

and the vibrancy of student life in outdoor evening

your skills and then help you improve on them! I’ve

hip-hop performances at Berkeley and activism at

never met so many talented people who are willing to

UCLA. Our Alumni are in good hands down south, and

share their craft!”

we can’t wait to hear more from them in the future.

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ALUM OF THE YEAR AWARD

In the short lifespan of the alumni association, our

• Voting will be open from April 1st to May 1st.

graduates have shown they are capable of incredible

• Taking into consideration all votes, the Alumni

things. The Alum of the Year award celebrates the

Advisory Board will announce the Alum of the Year.

contributions made by an alum within his or her particular field of interest, whether academic, athletic,

Recognition

artistic or service-based, and highlights the continuous

The Alum of the Year will be recognised in the

pursuit of excellence in education and life that defines

following ways:

a Mulgrave alum.

• An advertisement in the Globe & Mail highlighting their success and contributions.

Eligibility

• Announcements over Mulgrave's social media

The candidate must be a Mulgrave graduate (though

channels, weekly newsletter, and our Alumni

in future years, this may change to anyone who has

Cypress Magazine.

attended Mulgrave for two or more years).

• A plaque presented at the Grade 12 Convocation

Current members of the Alumni Advisory Board cannot

Ceremony that will be kept in the Archive Room at

be nominated. These individuals are eligible for nomi-

Mulgrave School.

nation one year after stepping down from their role.

LAST YEAR’S NOMINEES

PROCESS

The Candidates

Nomination

Candidates of this award embody Mulgrave School’s

• A nomination form will be open to the Mulgrave

mission statement and values; not only do they find in-

community each year in December.

spiration to pursue excellence in their own life, they are

• A candidate can be nominated by any member of

also continuously inspiring others to do the same. They

the Mulgrave community (including alumni, present

are the epitome of a ‘life-long learner’, demonstrating

and past teachers, parents, or students).

curiosity, creativity and innovative thinking in all that they do. Examples of ideal candidates may include an

• Candidates can be self-nominated.

individual who is a practicing entrepreneur, earning a

• Nominations must be submitted by March 15, 2019.

post-graduate degree in his or her field of study, doing

Voting

outstanding service-based work (locally, or internationally), pursuing a career or side-career in the arts or

• Once nominations are in, the Alumni Advisory Board will share profiles of the candidates with the

athletics, or actively engaged in any combination of the

Mulgrave community.

four strands.

• Voting will open and members of the Mulgrave community will have the opportunity to vote.

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performance. She has taken part in three projects as

NOMINEES:

a research assistant for Brown’s Centre for the Study

Elizabeth Hendren Class of ‘05

of Children at risk. She co-founded Browns Opioid

Elizabeth completed her MD and

Activist group in order to help fight the opioid crisis.

earned a Bachelors in Science

Ghazal was chosen to become part of the Brown EMS

from UBC before continuing her

programme, providing volunteer- based ambulance

studies at the University of To-

services. She also was recruited to become a part of the

ronto. During her undergrad at

Iranian National Junior Rifle team for her performance

UBC, she founded international

with sharpshooting.

service trips to countries like Kenya, Uganda, and India.

While there, she set up projects for small communities

Matthew Cullen Class of ‘08

in the form of education, healthcare, and micro-finance

Matthew completed his degree

projects.

in History and French before obtaining his Diploma in Sports

She has been diagnosed with Otosclerosis (a form

Broadcasting. He has been a

of hearing loss) and despite the difficulties this has

digital editor for the CFL and a

caused, she continues to pursue her goal of obtaining

sports writer for CBC. Matthew currently works as a

a masters in clinical epidemiology. Elizabeth currently

sports broadcaster at CBC in Toronto.

focuses on utilizing her team leadership skills to coach junior residents and providing the best service for her

Most notably among these achievements is Matthew’s

patients during her residency.

involvement in this past Winter Olympic Games.

Matthew participated as a live commentator for multi-

Aliya Bhatia Class of ‘04

ple sports for the CBC in Pyeongchang, South Korea.

Aliya completed her Bachelors in Commerce from Ryerson Univer-

Stefanie Lewis Class of ‘05

sity, specialising in Tourism and

Stefanie went on to acquire her

Hospitality. After finishing her

Bachelor of Science in physics

degree, Aliya went onto become

at the University of Glasgow. Fol-

the General Manager for Hampton Inn and Suites in

lowing this, she went on to obtain

Downtown Vancouver.

her PhD in nuclear physics. She has authored several publications

Aliya has also recently founded an entrepreneurial

on the topics of nuclear physics and computer

venture called PawSwap that facilitates the connection

optimisation.

of dog owners throughout Vancouver. In addition, Aliya is the co-founder of the RENEWu conference focused

Stefanie currently lives in Eindhoven, The Netherlands

on bringing an inspiring and new perspective of

and wishes to obtain her licensing in patent law. She

equality to entrepreneurship.

recognises that there are difficulties for women entering STEM (sciences, technology, engineering,

Ghazal Aghagoli Class of ‘15

mathematics) programmes as there are too few women

Ghazal is currently completing

in the field. She encourages everyone to follow their

her Bachelors in Science, with a

passions, despite obstacles that they might face.

Major in Neuroscience, at Brown University.

To nominate someone you know, please visit: alumoftheyear.mulgrave.com

During her time at Brown, she has been admitted as an early entrant to the Sigma Xi Honour Society in recognition of her academic 28

MELISSA GODIN CLASS OF ‘13

Melissa Godin Class of ‘13

of them is a National Geographic Explorer – infinitely curious about our planet, committed to understanding

Melissa was selected by the Mulgrave Alumni

it, and passionate about helping make it better.”

community and the Mulgrave Alumni Association as the

- National Geographic

winner of the 2018 Alum of the Year Award.

What is a Rhodes Scholar?

Melissa graduated from Mulgrave in 2013. She

The Rhodes Scholarship was established by Cecil

then participated in the Sciences Po program while

John Rhodes in 1902. The scholarship offers students a

attending New York University, obtaining her

chance to pursue a secondary undergraduate or grad-

bachelor’s degree in Global Liberal Studies. During her

uate degree at the University of Oxford. It is the most

time abroad, she interned at the Canadian Embassy in

competitive scholarship in the world, accepting only

Paris, working in political affairs. Melissa then founded

0.7% of applicants every year. Over the past 100+ years,

the Not A Saviour podcast, which focuses on providing

there have only been about 7,500 Rhodes Scholars

people with a way to be engaged in humanitarian

named worldwide.

efforts.

What is ‘Not a Saviour’?

These efforts gained the attention of Oxford

“Founded in 2016, Not a Saviour was initially a podcast

University, and Melissa received a Rhodes Scholar-

and advocacy campaign that aimed to raise awareness

ship in 2017. She is currently conducting research on

about the negative impacts that voluntourism can have

the gendered impacts of climate change in Malawi to

on local communities. Since then, Not a Saviour has

produce a documentary on the subject as a National Geographic Explorer.

broadened its scope, looking at what it means to be

What is a National Geographic Explorer?

interview young activists about the causes they care

a changemaker in an increasingly complex world. We

The National Geographic Explorer programme

about and their successes and mistakes in pursuing

“funds and supports groundbreaking scientists,

them.” - Not a Saviour

conservationists, educators, and storytellers. Every one 29

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A LU M N I S P OT LI G H T SERIES 2018

Our annual Alumni Spotlight Series highlights a few members from the Mulgrave alum community who excel in their pursuit of excellence in their lives after Mulgrave. We welcome the diverse group of alum who have chased success in areas such as the the arts, athletics, and entrepreneurial ventures. The Spotlight Series is a reflection of our community and allows us to celebrate and explore our collective experience.

The branches of our alumni community spread far and wide around the world. Every year, we welcome new additions to our community and watch it grow with new experiences and stories. Stories that, without you, the Mulgrave community would not be what it is today. It is our pleasure to highlight some of our own alum and share their following spotlights with you.

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A L I YA B H AT I A

Class of 2010 Interviewed by Cam Henderson | August 2018

What could possibly make the GM of Hampton Suites in Vancouver leave her position to start a company aimed at creating a community for dog-owners? Aliya has had an array of experiences since her graduation from Mulgrave in 2004, but she took time to answer some questions about her new company PawSwap and explain why she left her high-level position to follow a dream.

What is PawSwap?

We have been testing our concept while developing a native iOS application with additional features such as

PawSwap is a platform that helps dog owners

virtual treats to incorporate a pay-it-forward model,

connect with other owners in their building, neigh-

which we will begin beta testing for in September 2018

bourhood, and community to watch their four-legged

with our early adopters. Our goal is to launch in

best friends while they work or are on vacation in a

Vancouver by October 2018 and then expand in major

safe, convenient, and completely free way. We have

cities across Canada and the US.

monthly meet-ups to help facilitate new friendships and a private Facebook group that our members use to

How did you first recognise there was a need for this

swap pet sitting services. Our mission is to make

service?

owning and caring for a dog easier by harnessing the

The hotel that I was working at required long, incon-

power of the sharing economy.

sistent hours and there were days that I couldn’t bring 31

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my dog with me. Not only did I feel extremely guilty on

How would you measure success? (In terms of

those days, but I realised the long-term damage that it

PawSwap? Your own life?)

could cause to my dog’s health. At the time, I couldn’t

You may value many things in life, but I believe it is

afford to spend $40 a day on traditional pet sitting,

important to know what your top two values are, and

nor did I want to trouble my friends and family. So I

measure your success in comparison to those two val-

created a Facebook group filled with dog owners who

ues. My first is to leave a legacy, which means making a

had similar pain points. From there, I started planning

difference and leaving a footprint behind for others to

and executing dog meet-ups all over Vancouver, which

follow and my second is to maintain balance. If I spent

not only helped dog owners meet neighbours that they

the majority of my week fulfilling both of these two

could potentially swap with, but they also united the

values, then it was a successful week. And as Robert

dog community as a whole. We started inviting

Collier put it, “success is the sum of small efforts –

vendors, trainers, and professional pet sitters to the

repeated day in and day out.”

meet-ups, which enabled us to really understand the market. The more I learned about the community, the

At what point did you decide to leave Hampton to

more I realised that people needed a solution to make

pursue PawSwap full time? What factors affected

it easier to own and care for a dog, and the concept of

your decision?

PawSwap evolved to what it is today.

I thought for a long time (over 2 years to be exact) that

How often do you hold meetups?

I could run the hotel while starting a new business. It was actually a mentor that changed my perspective

Our goal is to host one meet-up a month. To be honest,

on this. During our initial meeting, he asked me two

the meet-ups have received a little bit of scrutiny with

questions: Where do I see myself in 10 years and what

select members of the start-up community. Investors

is currently not working in my business? After writing

want to see that a platform is scalable (in this context, I

out my response for these two questions, I realised that

mean that the business model has the potential for

I could never achieve what I wanted to achieve in 10

rapid economic growth), and meet-ups don’t really

years while also working a full time job. If my actions

fit that typical mold. Our members, however, love the

on a daily basis did not align with where I saw myself in

meet-ups as it aids in achieving the primary goal, which

10 years, then I needed to adjust what I was doing on a

is to find new friends for your best friends. The

daily basis. That pushed me to make the change.

meet-ups also act as a form of free marketing, so we are getting creative and finding ways that we can continue to offer them without compromising scalability. The next meet-up on September 30th for example, is in partnership with Dogs Of Vancity, so all we have to do is show up!

32

What was the biggest challenge starting your own

At this point, I haven’t even really ‘started’. I’m not

businesses?

interested in building a lifestyle app or business, I’m building a company with the ultimate goal of having

The biggest challenge was not knowing where to start,

millions of users. This is just the beginning.

what to do next, and where to spend the majority of my time and money. I had this vision of solving a big prob-

What advice would you give to a new graduate

lem, yet I was entering into unchartered territory that

interested in starting their own business?

only a select few people knew how to be successful in.

Three words: Do. Your. Research. Whether you’re

After two years of attending events, conducting online

wanting to launch an app, run your own restaurant, or

research, and talking to other founders and industry

start a lifestyle brand, understanding what that actually

experts, I was able to come up with the plan that I’m

entails before launching your business is essential. If I

currently in the process of executing.

had known this in advance, the application would have been launched much sooner. I would break your research into 3 categories: 1. Industry and market research: Go online and learn everything you can about your industry and then about your specific target market. You may even want to put together a preliminary business plan.

2. Attend industry events: Not only is this a great way to meet people for step 3, but the speakers will help you get a pulse on best practices, trends, and industry standards.

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3. Talk to leaders in your area of interest: Conduct

experiencing it, I see how real it really is. I would love

informational interviews, and/or job shadow business

to start a program me that provides aspiring female

owners/founders. These people could also eventual-

founders with the tools, resources, and connections

ly make up your board of advisors, so this step will be

that they need to succeed.

beneficial to your business at a later stage. Tap into your LinkedIn network and ask mutual connections to make an introduction. Come up with specific questions in advance and don’t just say “I want to pick your brain.”

Their time is valuable and they usually want to make sure they are the right person to help you, and if not, they will likely refer you to someone who can help.

You may decide in the end that the industry isn’t for you, and that’s okay! It’s better to know this in advance versus launching a business based on your assumptions about a specific industry and/or idea.

Where do you see yourself 5 years from now?

In five years, I hope to have helped other female entrepreneurs in male-diluted industries. Finding support is hard enough, but as a female there are so many additional barriers to entry that we face on a daily basis. I always heard and read stories from other female founders about these barriers, but now that I’m actually 34

ANNAHIS BASMADJIAN

Class of 2010 Interviewed by Cam Henderson | August 2018

Annahis has taken the path less travelled. No doubt remains in our minds that she is a free spirit and she said as much in her spotlight which follows. She has continued to maintain an academic balance between her study, direction and passion for the arts over the past several years and there are no hints that this is the last stop in her journey. Read on to learn a little bit more about and possibly a little bit from, Annahis:

It’s been nearly 8 years since you graduated from

love with playwriting as a whole. So, I applied and was

Mulgrave in 2011. Can you walk us through where

ultimately accepted into UBC Creative Writing

you’ve been and what led you to where you are right

program in my third year, and carried forward into my

now as the head of Rushed Productions Ltd.?

fourth. Over the course of that program, I had a short play stage read (Bookmarkers) and another produced

It certainly has been a long time though it doesn’t at all

(Fog Lights) at the Brave New Playrites festival, before

feel that way! Well, after I graduated from Mulgrave,

I graduated in my fourth year with a Bachelor of Fine

I was accepted into the Arts Faculty at UBC. There, I

Arts, majoring in Creative Writing.

explored all manner of making art, from painting to photography to acting to writing. Midway through my

Though I sought to pursue a Masters, I decided to take

second year, I enrolled in Bryan Wade’s “Writing for

a year off of academia and explore my prefrered field.

radio and the stage” and fell utterly and completely in

I was hired by the Commerce Community Program to 35

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carry things out on my own terms, and so, it was during Fringe Festival that I decided to take production into my own hands and establish a theater company of my own. Rushed Productions Ltd. now stands to open its first large-scale show this November 21st at the Red Gate Revue Stage on Granville Island! This, along with beginning the final year of my Master’s Degree has left me exceptionally busy, but I wouldn’t have it any other way! manage their yearly Murder Mystery Musical fund rais-

Are there any memorable moments or lessons from

ing event, where I wrote, produced and directed a two

your highschool career that you still carry with you

act Juke Box Musical called “Psychopomp and

today?

Circumstance” to raise money for Project Limelight.

I remember being called quite a few names by Ms.

Following that year, I was accepted to the Masters

Morgan in English class, mostly in response to my

of Science of Creative Writing at the University of

doubting myself and my writing, and I remember quite

Edinburgh. Because it was a part-time masters, I could

a bit of theater with Glen Pope. I recall the production

remain in Vancouver and continue producing work on

of Major Tom where I was floating around on a pitch-

the side. I was only able to achieve this arrangement,

black stage with my arms out for an hour and a half,

however, with the extensive support of my family and

talk about burning triceps! I also recall my part in

my community.

Cyberlife the Musical as Tammy, the amazingly awkward cool mom’s avatar. I think it was Tammy who

Since beginning my Master’s degree, I have produced

ultimately led me to earning the Bard Award, so I

several more small scripts through local festivals and

suppose the lesson I’ve taken along since then has been

competitions including the Cold Reading Series’

to fearlessly and entirely throw myself into what I love

4x3 festival (Kidnappees), UBC Players Club’s Festival

(even if it’s a little ridiculous) and learn you can stand

Dionysia (Hot Pursuit) and the Vancouver Fringe Festi-

to take your work a little more seriously and yourself a

val 2017 (A Very Unpleasant Evening at the Rockefeller

little less so.

Rink Sometime Late December...ish.)

Who are some notable people that you attribute to the

Although being part of a festival is exciting, I did always

path you have taken? What did they do for you that

yearn for a little more freedom to take charge and

led you down this road?

36

Obviously my family supporting me every step of the

As well, Rushed Productions maintains a strict open

way and never making me feel as if the path I’d chosen

arms policy. The work environment these days is

was the “wrong” one, only that I continue forward,

something of a Catch-22. One cannot earn a position

being the best I could be. From my time at Mulgrave,

without the necessary experience, and one cannot get

definitely Marlena Morgan, Glen Pope, Isobel

the necessary experience without earning a position.

Willard, Lee Hardy, Mark Pulfer, and Libby Soper. They

So Rushed’s modus operandi is to get foots in doors!

all thought outside the classroom, pushed our creative,

Any artist of any caliber is welcome to approach our

outward thinking, and encouraged us all not to be

job postings, auditions, volunteer sessions, or writing

bogged down nor intimidated by the IB program.

rooms! If their resume is bare, all the better for them to surprise us! If you’ve got the talent, you should have

What is Rushed Productions Ltd.?

a shot!

Rushed Productions Ltd. is my and my father’s

Ideally, where would you be in 5 years if everything

independent Theater Company, established in 2016!

went your way?

What do you hope to accomplish with Rushed Produc-

Ideally? Well plan A is to become world famous and

tions aim at giving back to the artistic community?

bring my shows to Broadway, the West End, even the

With Rushed, I hope to bring new, exciting and fresh

Sydney Opera House. Plan B will have been to receive

theatre to Vancouver. Not to say there isn’t already

my PHD and begin teaching Playwriting and Creative

compelling 'high art' around the city, but we are

Writing in a university setting. Hopefully, I’ll live in a

interested in breathing true entertainment back into

run-down dance studio converted into an open plan

the community, make a trip to the theatre- above

apartment above a local theater which I will eventually

all- fun!

buy and live in as some sort of phantom. I’ll have a cat.

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Cypress 2018

just plain scary, but they could never do what you love the way you do it.

My company abides by three very simple rules: Tell the truth: If you’re going to be twenty minutes late to rehearsals, don’t tell me you’re five minutes away. It’ll only take me six to realize you’re lying.

Try not to die: If you’re tired, sleep. If you’re starving, eat. And if you need help, tell someone.

And, we’ll figure it out: No use worrying about things going wrong when things in question haven’t happened yet. Worry a little, Prepare, certainly, and if something goes wrong, you’ll deal with it best you can, and if something doesn’t go wrong, well that’s just a pleasant surprise. Be present. Let yourself enjoy the now, it’s always new.

Is there anything that you would like to share with the Mulgrave community?

Do not be afraid to ask questions, and do not be afraid to make mistakes. It’s a bit cliche', but when you really mess up and then realise you haven’t burst into flames, it’s sort of jarring to figure out what that old statement really means. A wise person is not one who never makes mistakes, but one who doesn’t makes the same mistake twice. This world is full of things that you think you should know, but you’re not going to know, and that’s just where everyone who knows anything about anything starts.

Understand that you may never be the best at what you do, there may always be someone better, harder working, more talented, more privileged, better looking, faster, younger, older, crueler, bolder and sometimes 38

CAMILLA JAMES

Class of 2009 Interviewed by Cam Henderson | September 2018

The passion we see from our alumni everyday is something that words fail to do justice. Camilla James is one of the many entrepreneurs among our alum community, and the passion she has for her most recent endeavour, The Saltwater Collective, is quite inspiring. As the designer and owner of her own swimwear company, Camilla has set out to change the way that we look at fashion, and the way we look.

Your are the owner and designer of The Saltwater

ed some help with PR and community management

Collective. What does that look like/entail? And is

from another Mulgrave graduate (Christina Pearce) so

this your end-all-be-all, or should we look forward to

that has been an exciting development, and I also have

your future endeavours?

a warehouse that stores my inventory and packs my orders for the summer season.

Yes I am! I must say that at this point, the one consistent part about running this business is that no

I absolutely love what I am doing, but I can’t say yet

two days look the same and I am constantly learning. It

whether it is my end-all-be-all. I think it’s important

is tough to paint a picture of what the job looks like, but

(especially in your 20s) to give it your all, but not to

at this point I don’t have any employees, so I do all of

close off other doors of opportunities. Who knows

the product design, development, marketing, sourcing,

where this will lead me in the coming years?! A con-

finance and the list goes on. I have recently contract-

crete goal I do have for myself is to stay self employed.

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Cypress 2018

Whether I am doing Saltwater forever or expanding to

It certainly taught me a LOT about work ethic -

other endeavors, I want to be in charge of my time and

especially in the position of boss and manager. I didn’t

accountable for my success.

know exactly what to expect, but I quickly learned that leading by example is key because you cannot expect

If you could highlight 1-3 of the most valuable lessons

anybody to do something that you are not willing to do

that you’ve carried forward from Mulgrave, what

and that being the boss means you are right alongside

would they be?

everyone putting in 110% and then some!

• Aim high

The greatest lesson I learned from being a GM is that

• Always do your best

if you have a goal, don’t let anyone or anything hold you

• Speak up!

back from going after it. I had little to no experience that qualified me for the job of managing over a hun-

You worked at quite a high level during your time

dred people, let alone running a business, but somehow

studying at university, being the GM of a Alma Mater

I convinced someone to give me a chance, the business

Coffee house during your final year. What is it like to

turned its first profit in 7 years, and my coworkers are

hold those responsibilities while studying at the same

still close friends to this day. It taught me to take risks

time? How has it changed your perspective towards

and to embrace my unconventional path.

work ethic, and would you recommend it?

Upon graduation, you had the opportunity to work at

My entire Queen’s experience was incredible. I was

Walmart. What was one of the most important things

involved in leadership roles through extracurriculars

that you learned from that opportunity?

and work for many years and these have been the most impactful experiences on my personal growth to date.

I must say that I really felt the value of my time working

Working as the GM for Common Ground was one of

for Walmart after I moved on and started building my

the best and most challenging things I have taken on. I

own retail business. Being exposed to the inner

learned hands-on about running a business, manage-

workings of the biggest retail giant on the planet taught

ment techniques, critical decision making skills and the

me a lot about business cycles and the challenges that

importance of workplace culture that I could not have

retailers face from an operational standpoint. I think

learned in a classroom.

that working in a long-term strategy role put me at an advantage when entering the market with my own 40

retail venture. Understanding that retail is very

under-performing at both. I was very happy with the

fast-paced and unpredictable even for the experts in

two years I had put in at Walmart, so in June 2017 I

the market has helped give me perspective when I am

decided to go full time with Saltwater.

experiencing challenges!

How did you get involved in The Saltwater Collective?

At what point did you know that The Saltwater

The brand you see today has a pretty unique story

Collective was where you wanted to focus all your

behind it! I adopted The Saltwater Collective in its

time? What was the most important factor in

infancy from two young women who had started it as a

your decision?

passion project in university. It was mostly apparel-fo-

Ever since my experience as GM of Common Ground,

cused with the goal of raising awareness around ocean

I knew that I wanted to have my own business.

conservation. Due to personal circumstances, they

The energy, motivation (and challenge, of course) was

were looking for someone to carry it forward, so in

unlike anything I had felt before. I learned so much

early 2017 I took over the brand name and started

about myself through the experience - a major thing

building my own vision for the brand - a swimwear

being that I needed to be 100% accountable for my own

line inspired by their beginnings.

success and that sink or swim situations seem to bring

I hope the story behind how I got started with

out the best in me.

Saltwater will remind people that everyone’s j

I don’t think that there is a ‘right’ time to quit a full time

ourney looks very different, and there isn’t one way to

job to pursue your own venture. It differs from person

do things. Every path to success looks completely

to person and is very contingent on finances, but the

different and it is important to be adaptable!

turning point for me was when balancing both jobs was

The Saltwater Collective is obviously very focussed

getting so difficult that I felt I would start

on ethically sourcing it’s materials as well as finding 41

Cypress 2018

ethical means of production. Could you explain how

Finally, we manufacture all of our garments right

the company does each of those things?

here in Toronto! Not only does this allow us to be very involved in every step of the process of garment

Yes, we are very focussed on sustainability and ethical

creation we also get to support the Canadian economy

production! The ways in which we incorporate this into

and partner with fellow small business owners.

the business is through our textile sourcing and our

If you could give your younger self one piece of advice,

manufacturing methods.

what would it be?

The fabrics we use are woven from ECONYL® yarn. ECONYL® yarn was developed by an Italian

Failure is a part of success.

company (Aquafil S.p.A) who is on the forefront of

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

textile innovation. The yarn used to make the fabric is regenerated from pre-and post-consumer Nylon

In 5 years I hope that Saltwater will be the most

waste that would otherwise be abandoned in nature or

recognised swimwear label for women in the Canadian

dumped in landfills. Aquafil recovers nylon waste from

market. When someone is thinking of buying a

all over the world through a combination of self-di-

swimsuit, I want Saltwater to be the first brand that

rected programmes, and partnerships with initiatives

pops into their mind! I have big growth goals for the

such as Healthy Seas - a volunteer initiative focused on

brand, and not to give away too much, but I hope to

recovering abandoned fishing nets from the ocean, and

have established a solid international presence as well.

Net-works, an organisation that empowers southeast

If you could impart some wisdom on newly graduated

asian communities to collect and sell their spent fishing nets. After collection, the end result of the regeneration

students, what would you say?

system is a beautiful, high quality fabric equivalent to

Do not let your fears or doubts hold you back from

any virgin nylon product.

going after something you want. Don’t let the idea that you aren’t ‘qualified enough’ or ‘experienced enough’

The fashion industry is a lead contributor to pollution

hold you back from trying. We are capable of so much

and environmental degradation globally. Although we

more than we give ourselves credit for. Don’t be afraid

are still a small brand, we are trying to be a part of the

of breaking the mold and taking risks. You are

solution and help educate consumers on how important

responsible for your own success and as long as you

it is to demand a higher standard from the fashion in-

keep an open mind and are willing to learn and work

dustry. We believe that sustainable fabrics are the way

hard, anything is possible - really.

of the future. In a circular economy, waste is not wasted. Why take from the earth when we don’t have to?

42

KAITLIN WU

Class of 2010 Interviewed by Cam Henderson | June 2018

It’s no easy task to become an entrepreneur, and taking on such an endeavour can be time consuming and requires mental fortitude. Yet, Kaitin Wu, formerly Kaitlin Cyr, has done just that with the floral studio she has co-founded with her sister-in-law, Bloom Assembly.

What sets Bloom apart from other floral studios and companies is its devotion to each and every client. Kaitlin has focused on creating the best experience for each client by keeping her team small and business timeline focused.

But it has not all come from nothing. We took the opportunity to sit down with Kaitlin, and she gracefully shared her wisdom and experience so far as a business owner and Mulgrave alum.

What do you do? What is Bloom Assembly?

To go ahead and do it! Several people are too intimidated to start a business even if they are confident in their

I am the founder and project manager of Bloom

idea. The truth is that I learned the details of starting

Assembly, a floral arranging studio based in Vancouver

a business when I was launching Bloom Assembly. One

that specializes in weddings and events.

piece of advice would be to remember that the success

If you could speak to those wishing to start a business,

of your business isn’t a direct reflection of your own

what is the most important advice you could give?

value or worth. In order to make the tough decisions there needs to be a separation from you and your 43

Cypress 2018

business. Make sure to keep that separation so your

Are there any experiences or lessons from your time

decision-making process can be logical and not

at Mulgrave that you still carry with you?

dependant on a personal affinity for your business.

Yes, definitely! Mulgrave shaped me and assisted in

What led you to take the leap from a full-time

refining skills that allowed me to start a business. My

position with Whitecaps FC to start Bloom Assembly?

involvement in basketball at Mulgrave taught me several important lessons and made me who I am today.

I’ve always envisioned starting my own business and

My basketball coach, Mr. Leduc, instilled confidence in

thought I needed some work experience in an office

me and the drive to do anything, even if I didn’t think

to learn the dos and don’ts and to build a professional

I could. This lesson is something that has guided me

network. After a few years of experience and relation-

through my career and personal life: not to wait to get

ship-building, I decided to take the leap!

a seat at the table but to demand a seat at the table!

What were the biggest obstacles you faced in starting

How important are the relationships you make with

Bloom?

people, professional or otherwise?

A limited knowledge of the industry! I had the drive to

Extremely important! To build a network you need to

start a business but needed to educate myself on

invest time in building relationships both personally

ordering through wholesale suppliers, the proper way

and professionally. Strategic relationship building is

to store inventory, and what pricing structures to

definitely something I would recommend. Successful

implement in order to make a profit.

people usually enjoy discussing how they got to where they are today, so I suggest to learn as much as you can from different people’s experiences to equip you with as much knowledge and wisdom as possible.

44

K E V I N C AT L I F F

Class of 2012 Interviewed by Cam Henderson | August 2018

When we set out to learn something, we all start as a pupil, taking in information and discovering new experiences. We participate in such activities until we are able to flip the script and impart that knowledge on someone else, as they start their own journeys. Some of you know him as Kevin, and now others know him as Mr. Catliff. Kevin Catliff, from the class of 2012, has had a unique opportunity to do exactly this in his role here at Mulgrave. Once a pupil of the teachers he now works alongside, he has some very interesting insights as he, the student, has now become the teacher.

What has your time between graduating and working

getting to know the Whitecapmanagement, front office,

at Mulgrave looked like?

coaching staff, and even the players.

Since 2015, I spent my summers working for the

Can you talk a bit about varsity sports and how it has

Vancouver Whitecaps as an Operations Crew Member,

influenced your university and career choices?

which is the team that executes the transformation

Ever since I was a kid, I wanted to work in the

and operational setup of B.C. Place Stadium for every

professional sport industry. I read about the Sports

Whitecaps FC home game. It has been an awesome

Management program me at Western, and I was hooked

experience being behind the scenes of every game,

right away. Right after I accepted my offer, I emailed 45

Cypress 2018

the Varsity Rugby coach at Western and told him that I

Working at Mulgrave and seeing the behind-the-scenes

would like to try out for the team that coming August.

work that all the teachers and staff members put forth

He gave me the date, time and location for me to show

has truly been eye-opening. I think one of the coolest

up (with about 100 others) and fortunately I made the

parts of my current job is being able to get to know all

team as a first-year walk-on. I ended up playing

the students and be able to provide insight and

varsity rugby for all four years and although at times it

leadership for their future endeavors knowing that I

was tough to balance school, sports and a social life, I

went through exactly the same process 5-10 years ear-

wouldn’t have done it any other way. The long-lasting

lier. Everyday I wake up and have a sense of excitement

memories of traveling all around Ontario and playing in

and eagerness while driving to work, and I know not

front of thousands of fans (especially the rowdy student

everyone in the world has that luxury. I have always had

sections at Queen’s) as well as the brotherhood created

a strong interest in coaching, but my current position

by all my teammates was a truly special experience.

at Mulgrave has enabled me to get an understanding of what it’s like to become a teacher, and it’s something I

In my final term of university I had an internship with

am definitely interested in.

the London Knights (an Ontario Hockey League team) set up through the Sports Management programme.

What is the biggest decision you have to make in the

This was an awesome stepping-stone for my career to

next year?

finally have the chance to work with a sport organisa-

The biggest decision I have to make in the next year is

tion. I spent my time with them supporting the front

deciding whether or not to pursue a Bachelor of

office with marketing and promotional plans pertaining

Education from UBC or SFU! I am certainly loving my

to advertising, sponsorships, and fan engagement.

current position here as Athletics Coach, but in terms

Has working at mulgrave changed your perspective on

of my career development I need to decide on whether

what you want to do in life? If so, what has changed?

to become a full-time teacher OR follow my dream of 46

working for a professional sport organisation and go

quality experience and guidance for the Mulgrave stu-

back to work with the Whitecaps or another team. That

dent athletes of today and tomorrow. Mulgrave has cer-

being said, Mulgrave is such a fantastic place to work

tainly changed a lot since I graduated in 2012, and I love

with all the great students & staff, the facilities, the

being able to have the chance to give back to the school

view, etc. and it’s going to be hard to leave all of that

that has given me more than I could ever imagine.

behind.

Shout outs to… (anyone you’d like to thank or share

What is one lesson/experience learned at Mulgrave

your appreciation for?)

that still has an impact on your life today?

My core group of friends since Grade 8: Eric Bleim,

The rigors of the IB diploma and learning how to

Sam Griffiths, Luke Allard, George Collister, Sean

time-manage with all the extracurricular activities I

Bromley and Nick Pallone. We all played together

did throughout high school prepared me greatly for be-

on nearly every sports team at Mulgrave and even

ing able to balance playing varsity sports at university.

though none of them went to Western, we would all

At Mulgrave, I was fortunate to have fantastic coaches

always make an effort to visit each other’s universities

and role models in Martin Jones, Gareth Ronald-Jones

throughout Eastern Canada. It’s awesome that all of us

and Claude Leduc, among others. They persuaded me

have now moved back to Vancouver, and we still make

to try out for the Western varsity rugby team, as they

time to hang out and play sports together (golf, pick-

were all former university varsity athletes themselves. I

up basketball, touch rugby leagues, etc.) I am forever

wish that all the current Mulgrave students realise that

grateful to have friends that support and push me to

pursuing your athletic dreams at the next level is

be the greatest, and I would not be where I am today

definitely achievable. I hope that after my tenure at

without them!

Mulgrave ends, I will be able to say that I provided a 47

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