The Shield Spring 2012

THE

A MAGAZINE FOR THE ROYAL ST. GEORGE’S COLLEGE COMMUNITY

SPRING 2012

SHIELD

Soaring to New Heights The RSGC Community shines around campus and the world

RSGC’s Culinary Families Take Toronto by Storm

Talented Alumni Find Success in the Arts

The Path to Ordination for Three Grads

RSGC Community Unites to Transform the Campus

Contents

The Shield Spring 2012 Email: shield@rsgc.on.ca General Inquiries: 416.533.9481 Alumni Inquiries: 416.516.5202

Cover photo by Calum Johnston

Headmaster: Stephen Beatty ’86 Editor: Laurie Alpern Assistant Editor: Fiona Cooper Copy Editor: Dave Mitchell Designer: Jonathan Cresswell-Jones Photography: Tom Stevens

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FEATURES 20 Alumni Spotlight By Laurie Alpern Sam Danniels ’04 has adrenaline running through his veins.

22 Student Spotlight By Laurie Alpern Alec Tulett, Class of 2013, is not your typical teenage boy.

Although his parents might say otherwise!

24 Parent Spotlight By Laurie Alpern Lucy Monte-Lisi. This Georgian Mom gives Superwoman a run for her money…

26 The Culture of Creativity By Sharon Aschaiek These alumni are enjoying success in the arts. And they’re all grateful to RSGC for the influence it had on their lives and careers.

30 RSGC’s Culinary Families Take Toronto by Storm By Carmelle Wolfson RSGC has a strong connection to Toronto’s food industry. You’ll never look at some of these famous chefs in the same way again.

33 Finding Their Calling By Sharon Aschaiek They took different paths to get there, but these three alumni – who graduated within a year of each other – have all been ordained as priests.

DEPARTMENTS 5 6 8 9 10 11 12 14 16 19 36 38 42

Message from the RSGCAA Point/Counterpoint: Humanities vs. The Sciences in Education A Georgian Salute to Gage Love In Memory of Father Peter Hill Who is Dr. James Leatch?

Chris D’Arcy’s Lasting Contribution to RSGC Prefect’s Corner Alumni Connections RSGC Events Capital Campaign Our Changing Lives: Find out who got married, who’s a new Dad, etc.

Retrospective: New jobs and interesting tidbits on RSGC alumni Time Capsule

RSGC Board of Directors Officers Chair: Ruth Woods Past Chair: Tye Farrow Vice-Chair: Paul Clark ’85 Treasurer, Finance and Audit Committee Chair: Cathy Bateman Headmaster: Stephen Beatty ’86 Chief Financial Officer, Board Secretary: Andrew Whiteley Board Members Michael Barker, Facilities Committee Chair Guy Burry ’77, Advancement Committee Co-Chair Anthony Caldwell, Nominating and Governance Committee Chair Bruce Chapple ’87, Alumni Representative Kimberly Cudney, Georgian Parents’ Guild Representative Shelly Haber, Strategic Planning Committee Chair Wanda Ho, Advancement Committee Co-Chair James Crossland Sheldon Inwentash Molly Johnson Robert Keilty ’81 Bruce MacLaren Jesse Parker ’01, Clergy The Shield is the official magazine of Royal St. George’s College. Serving RSGC’s alumni and community, it strives to engage, inform and connect all audiences.

The Shield 2011-12 • Royal St. George’s College 3

LETTER FROM THE HEADMASTER

Dear Fellow Georgians,

W

elcome to the redesigned Shield.

The redesign of the RSGC magazine was the result of focus groups and conversations with Georgians about the stories and information you want to receive. What came through very clearly was that the magazine needed to focus on the heart and soul of our school: people.

So we’re digging deeper into the profiles of Old Boys, current students, parents and staff. The people profiled are unique, from clergy and X Games athletes to punk rockers and opera singers, yet each reflects a similar, uniquely Georgian theme: young men being challenged and supported to become the best version of themselves.

It is my privilege to be writing this from behind Jack Wright’s desk in the Headmaster’s office. I am immensely proud to be the first Old Boy to be named Headmaster of the College.

One of the stories I’ve told many times is how my parents came to send me to the school in 1976.

St. George’s was still fledgling in its 13th year, the Annex had not yet been gentrified and the facilities left a lot to the imagination. My parents chose the school for a reason that is familiar to so many: the remarkably polite, pleasant and engaging boys next door left for

school every morning in their maroon blazers. They were Georgians. My parents saw in the McDonald brothers what they hoped I would become.

Thirty-five years later, I’ve returned as Headmaster. The facility is improved and transforming, the boys all have access to stateof-the-art technology and learning resources, and the Annex is among the best neighbourhoods in the city. I wasn’t sure how many touchstones of my experience would be familiar 25 years after my graduation.

What hasn’t changed?

The boys still stand when a visitor enters the room.

Each boy understands the value and the three points of a good handshake: look the person in the eye; say something polite; firm grip. Boys across different grades know each other by name and all of the adults in the school know the boys. I get called “Sir” at least 50 times a day.

Every boy at this College understands that Manners Maketh Men. More importantly, what hasn’t changed is the camaraderie among the boys and the relationships between the students and the teachers.

The esprit de corps of being a Georgian is woven into the fabric of this school.

The mathematicians, artists, athletes, debaters, choir boys, computer engineers and student leaders sit

4 The Shield 2011-12 • Royal St. George’s College

together at lunch and share the experience of growing up in a place that accepts them for who they are.

My eldest son is in Grade 2 this year. He is happy and successful at his current school; however, I entered the year open to the possibility of him coming to RSGC for Grade 3.

He is, after all, part of a legacy ­– a potential Lifer son of a Lifer father.

What sold me wasn’t the family tradition, the outstanding faculty or even our wonderful new facility. What sold me on the College, as it had for my parents 35 years ago, were the boys. In interaction after interaction, conversation after conversation, handshake after handshake, I saw the boy I want my son to become.

Long live RSGC!

Stephen Beatty ’86 Headmaster

A Note from the Editor

I

can still be considered an RSGC rookie but it hasn’t taken me long to understand and feel what makes this place special.

That’s why it is my pleasure to give you what I hope is the magazine the RSGC community deserves: a magazine that exemplifies Georgians and “Georgianness” (I’m the editor – I’m allowed to make up words!) at their best. This Shield touches all aspects of our community, with contributions from and articles about current students, recent alumni and alum dating back 25 years. We profile parents and teachers and celebrate the people that make this place unique. I’m excited about the result and I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed putting it together. I would love to hear your feedback – about this new Shield and about any future content you may wish to see. Please get in touch!

Laurie Alpern Editor lalpern@rsgc.on.ca

RSGCAA Executive Committee

MESSAGE FROM THE RSGCAA PRESIDENT

Finding Your Place in the Community

S

tephen Beatty ’86 recently hosted an afternoon tea for the mothers of RSGC’s Class of 2012. It was a tradition started in 2008 by Hal Hannaford (Headmaster 1996-2008) and David Lee, our Director of Advancement and Alumni Development and a faculty member since 1992.

Each year, the mothers hear a few short speeches and then are each presented with a special gift commemorating their son’s time at the school.

This year, Steve welcomed the mothers to the tea and then spoke about the mothers’ influence in the RSGC community. A current RSGC mother, Ruth Woods, serves as Chair of the Board of Governors. Another, Wanda Ho, is Co-chair of our Capital Campaign. Kimberly Cudney, another Class of 2012 mother, is the President of the Georgian Parents’ Guild. Many more serve as board members and volunteers.

Every mother at RSGC is a role model to her son and to her son’s closest friends.

With the Class of 2012 to be welcomed into the Royal St. George’s College Alumni Association on June 13, I was asked to speak about what this means for the boys and their mothers. I have paraphrased key parts of the short speech below: “For my first four years at RSGC, I was a weak student with poor grades, coasting by while trying to do as little homework as possible. Partway through Grade 8, my World Religions teacher, a young David Lee, asked to speak to me after class. Instead of chastising me for my lack of effort, he explained: ‘Sandy, you can do anything you want in life. But if you want the opportunity to do that, you have to do well in school. Bad grades will close off your options.’ It sounds simple, but up until that conversation, grades were never something I cared about. Suddenly, I understood why they mattered. My grades immediately and permanently improved.

“All Georgians can look back at their time at RSGC and find a similar story. The story

Alumni Association President Sandy Gibson ’01 Alumni Association Vice President Colin Watson ’94 Arts & Culture Committee Chair Bernard von Bieberstein ’97 Communications Chair Micheal Fountain ’99 Fundraising Committee Chair & Past President Jamie Lint ’98 Mentoring & Networking Chair Alex Edmison ’02 Social Committee Chair David Robinette ’98 Representative to the Board of Governors Bruce Chapple ’87 Faculty Rep Jeff Enfield ’97 Members-at-Large Peter Antonoff ’82 Arthur Kennedy ’81 Jay Murray ’79

might be about a teacher, friend or coach. For many of my closest friends, the story would be about one of their classmate’s parents. This community of students, parents, faculty and alumni is what makes RSGC students into Georgians. This community is where they found their best friends, their role models and their mentors. It may have helped them get through university, find their first job or start their career. It’s the community they will be a part of for the rest of their lives.”

As an Alumni Association, we work to bring our community together. It’s not just about helping the school or the current students – it’s about ensuring that being part of the RSGC community is a lifelong benefit of being a Georgian.

So I ask you, how can we do this even better?

Sincerely,

Member-at-Large & Past President Jamie Peters ’90

Sandy Gibson ’01 President, RSGCAA The Shield 2011-12 • Royal St. George’s College 5

POINT/COUNTERPOINT

Debating is one of RSGC’s oldest traditions since the school’s doors opened almost 50 years ago. Now, we carry on the tradition in the pages of The Shield as we invite two members of the community to tackle a debate topic in writing.

Michael Lemanski ’12 and Nicholas Medline ’11 never missed an opportunity to debate against each other when they were both members of the RSGC Speaking Union. Here, the past and current heads of the Union go head-to-head on the topic of...

Pro-Humanities nicholas medline

I

t feels as though the importance of humanities can best be summarized by condescending remarks rather than 500 words.

Have you read The Iliad?

Oh, so I guess Socrates wasn’t that important.

You might as well pick a school without any history or English classes offered.

When I visited my friend at a Canadian university last December, I discovered the latter to be the case. I was shocked, and even more shocked at how strong my reaction was. It exposed how much I value the humanities, yet it is difficult to explain why.

My reaction was hardly an indictment of the school; the societal shift towards privileging the sciences is something impressed upon students from a young age. The most obvious manifestation: acceptance to elite science programs at Canadian schools requires consistently high grades in the most difficult courses. The eventual rewards: medical school and secure employment.

As a journalism student actively pursuing an adjunct major in a humanities-related subject, I am flooded with condescending questions about my future – from eager pre-med students, of course.

How are you going to get a job?

If I bothered to answer that question honestly, the short answer is, “I don’t know.” Inspired by my favourite freshman year class, I somewhat seriously considered being a Chaucer scholar.

Now I joke that my plan is to become General Manager of the Baltimore Orioles, which, even to a diehard fan, sounds like a painful undertaking. My job outlook has not become any clearer since I was four years old and wanted to be a Rescue Hero.

I fall into a sentimental, but entirely real, justification of my educational choices instead.

The university experience, rather than inciting fear about my life choices, has only added to my support of the humanities. In a recent global history lecture, my oddball Tennessean professor mentioned Manifest Destiny – the American expansionist wish – and threw in subtle jabs at Canada. They drew laughs from my peers, and from me, an audible groan. After struggling with my national identity (a Canada-U.S. dual citizen) for the majority of my life, I recently 6 The Shield 2011-12 • Royal St. George’s College

came to terms with my overflowing Canadian pride. Knowing its history, and knowing that I could have interrupted the lecture with a 30-minute rant about our growing prominence on a global stage, gave me a sense of identity. Thank you again, Mr. Lambersky [the coach of RSGC’s Speaking Union].

The humanities speak to this personal identity and my passion for reading is derived from said characteristic. Salinger captured the angst of my early teenage years, Faulkner grabbed it by the end of high school and Maugham helped to calm my romantic impulses. Religion and philosophy have similar benefits for individuals: greater self-awareness and understanding of the context of the world in which we live.

I have yet to find a glossy, statistical analysis that proves the humanities superior to the sciences. I probably never will. However, my early humanities studies have given me a desire to think critically. It carries over to my decision-making and reasoning in everyday situations, and one of the highlights of Northwestern has been the volume of active minds I’ve encountered.

In a society where studying the humanities is on its way to becoming anachronistic, there are still those, like me, who still place great value in history and literature. It becomes a part of who we are, something well worth the price of our future concerns.

Nicholas Medline ’11 studies at the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University. He is a sports writer for the awardwinning Daily Northwestern, a BACCHUS Network-certified peer educator, and serves as philanthropy chair for the Illinois Alpha Chapter of Phi Delta Theta Fraternity.

Humanities vs. The Sciences in

Education Pro-Science Michael Lemanski

“W

hat program?”

That’s the problem with Canadian education in a nutshell. I could probably go on for hours about the ways in which our obsession with narrowly defined academic streams damages students’ experiences, and I probably would, given the chance. The implications of sequestering students within predetermined curricula and career paths are particularly damaging to students in the sciences, and their relationship with subjects in the humanities.

I have never been one to divide the two. In my four years of high school, I likely spent as much time studying Latin as I did conducting scientific research. I hold Dostoevsky and Dirac in equally high regard. And, in my mind, learning languages is as important as solving integrals. Still, if pressed, I would concede that the sciences are more important.

Why? They teach students how to think critically. This kind of praise, often heaped on the humanities, is rarely offered to the sciences, and that’s really a shame. There’s a neat, succinct logic to every physics problem: from beginning to end, it requires rigorous and systematic thought. If students of the humanities value the ability to connect diverse, disparate ideas, they should look no further than the study of natural things.

I would go further, though. Suppose that a firm grasp of the sciences is necessary to appreciate the humanities in full.

Proponents of the latter suggest that the study of literature, philosophy and history develops critical thinking skills. If that is the case, then the relentless, rigorous logic of the sciences should hone an even sharper sense for critical analysis.

Looking once again at the generic physics problem I mentioned earlier, two layers of reasoning emerge: broad intuitive concepts inform an approach to unify the scattered starting points, while mathematics brings these premises to their conclusion. It’s not all that different from the way a scholar in the humanities might approach the question of theme in

literature, minus the mathematics. We need to recognize, though, that not all arguments are equal and it’s more difficult to rely on fallacy when you have to contend with empirical data and the laws of nature themselves. In more ‘fuzzy’ subject areas, illogic is blinding, so why not start from a point where it is impermissible?

If the sciences and humanities share so much, then where’s the division?

It would seem that the problem lies in the way sciences are taught. A constant emphasis on jobs has given rise to interdisciplinary, skill-based majors that are engineering programs in all but name. Science, the direct descendant of natural philosophy, is not a troubleshooting handbook for the world’s problems, so why do we treat it as such? It’s a travesty of the exploratory, curious spirit from which many physical and biological principles, now taken for granted, were discovered, developed or derived.

There’s really no reason for the humanities to fear the sciences, or be envious of them, for that matter. A strong foundation in the latter can enrich a student’s experience in the former. Why not embrace science?

Michael Lemanski ’12 is the current head of the RSGC Speaking Union. Earlier this year, he won the debating finals at the National Public Speaking Competition.

Michael has also been active in extracurricular scientific research, qualifying as a finalist in the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair in 2009 and 2011.

The Shield 2011-12 • Royal St. George’s College 7

IN MEMORY

A Georgian Salute to Gage Last October, the RSGC community lost a true Georgian after a long battle with cancer. Gage Love’s 25 years at the College left a mark on everyone with whom he came into contact. We cherish his memory and his legacy, which will forever remain with the new Gage Love Tarmac.

This feature pays tribute to this incredible man. If you knew him, you will remember and smile.

If you didn’t know him, you will soon…

Gage was an integral part of my high school years. He taught me a lot of history, along with Mr. Bradley, and helped get me into Trent University. His drive for me to do my best was always an important part of my day-to-day life.

My heart goes out to his family and I will always remember him and what he did for me as a teenager. Thank you, Gage, you’ll always be remembered.

Ian Bonnycastle ’90

Unfortunately, I only had the privilege of being Gage’s student on one occasion: in Grade 10 for his Ancient History class. He taught the class with a passion I have never seen in any other teacher. He truly cared about each student he taught and strived to make us all better. To this day, his class was the most memorable I had during my time at RSGC. Josh Reisman ’03

You will be missed, Gage. I never once had a class with you, but boy, did we have fun... and I assure you, your lessons live on for me. Thinking back to my days at RSGC - and a good chunk of my life since - it’s clear you made it memorable, fun, loving, joyous, serious, special.

Really, you made it. You taught me the most important lesson of all: how to be.

Thank you for sharing your time with us.

There really was no better way to spend a frigid January afternoon than slip-sliding all over that tarmac with you, our unfailing head referee and cheerleader, leading the way, hands frozen and sweat dripping from our foreheads. Put ’em in the snow bank, Sir! Andrew Pettit ’00 I owe Gage Love a lot. I wouldn’t be the person I am today were it not for his passion, intellect, caring and thoughtful approach to his students. For me, Gage ignited an interest in American history and politics that I carry to this day. Gage related to boys in a way that only a boy-at-heart could. His classroom

8 The Shield 2011-12 • Royal St. George’s College

Love

was part theatre, part lecture and part cage match. The back wall of Gage’s class was like a visit to Cooperstown – a miniature baseball hall of fame (at least for the ChiSox fans). He was the best teacher I had, at the best school I ever attended. Thanks, Mr. Love.

Philip Thompson ’86 Gage was a wonderful history teacher. I remember him with great fondness and gratitude.

Andy Spears ’79 Gage was a huge influence on me.

He reminded us that life was to be fun, rowdy and spontaneous. I raise the elbow salute.

Paul Shakotko ’86 If RSGC is known for celebrating the individual, the character, for welcoming the eccentric with open arms, it is due to men like Gage – certainly because he was a character in his own right, but perhaps even more so because of the way he embraced and encouraged uniqueness in the boys. He and his personality are in our DNA as a school and we are all the richer for it.

Charles Fowler ’86 and member of the RSGC staff Check out this tribute video to Gage! http://youtu.be/PPqP-_lYLtY

IN MEMORY

Father Peter Hill August 23, 1940 – December 25, 2011

Father Peter Hill, RSGC teacher and chaplain from 1989-1999, left an indelible mark on the College – even changing the course of some students’ lives.

He passed away on Christmas Day, 2011, after a fast-moving battle with cancer.

“F

ather Peter and I were very close,” said Colin Watson ’94. “It was his World Religions class that had the biggest impact on me. He made it so interesting that it completely reframed what I wanted to study; I went on to study religion at McGill and Medieval Studies at U of T. It was one of the few classes I took where I can still remember a lot of what I learned. It was so interesting and it compelled me to actually want to learn.”

Doug Jamieson, RSGC’s Director of Choral Music, worked closely with Father Peter for four years. He was saddened to hear of his passing and remembers how people felt about the Reverend’s departure from the College over a decade ago.

“A lot of people missed his personality, his unique slant on things,” said Jamieson. “He had a unique way of looking at the world and it made people think. The boys missed that.”

Father Peter joined the RSGC staff in September 1989 as both teacher and chaplain, and stayed for a decade. In addition to RSGC, he also taught at Trinity College School and Queen Margaret’s School.

Nancy Hill, Father Peter’s wife of 49 years, recalled the joy he brought to his teaching career: “Peter always considered it a great honour and a privilege to be able to teach young people. He never put young people down and always tried to talk directly to them – not from on high, not with sarcasm, but eye-to-eye.”

Photo: Tim DuVernet

Watson would agree. “He was one of the few teachers who had an office. He kept it dimly lit and you could always go in there and chat with him. He would always make himself available,” he remembered. “He was a really lovely, quiet guy. He always had a moment.”

Jamieson has similar memories.

“The boys were very at ease with him. They trusted him, confided in him and gravitated towards him,” he said. “He was generally interested in them and what they were thinking. If he could help them, he would.”

Watson’s fondest memory is of Father Peter riding to school all the way from Ajax on a mini Honda scooter every day without fail – rain, shine or snowstorm.

“The only thing protecting him must have been some divine intervention!” he chuckled.

Donations in Father Peter’s memory may be made to the Terry Fox Foundation or a charity of your choice.

The Shield 2011-12 • Royal St. George’s College 9

TRIBUTE

Who Is Dr. James Leatch?

T

he newest member of the Order of the Dragon honouring 25 years of service to RSGC, Dr. Jim Leatch taught with the Toronto Board of Education for five years before coming to St. George’s College, as it was known until receiving its “Royal” designation, in September 1986. For his first 12 years at SGC, Jim taught a variety of courses and grade levels in the Junior School. These included Grades 5, 6 and 8 English and Math; Grades 5 and 6 Social Studies and Science; Grades 3 and 4 Recorder; Grades 3 to 6 Christian Knowledge; Grades 7 and 8 Phys Ed; and “B” Band. In 1997, he moved to the Senior School where he has been a history teacher, department head, hockey and rugby coach and acting head.

During his time at RSGC, the Toronto native completed an M.A. in war studies from the Royal Military College of Canada, a Master’s degree in education from O.I.S.E. and a Ph.D. from the University of Toronto.

He adds these to an Honours B.A. in history (Trinity College, U of T) and a B.Ed. from the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Education.

He is married to Dr. Sandra Boyes, Head of the Lower School at Crescent School.

Other Order of the Dragon Recipients: Mark Ackley Andrew Barlow John Birkett Chris D’Arcy Richard Holdsworth John Kerr Gage Love Gary Martin David McMaster Tom Wade West

Ten Things You May Not Know About Dr. Leatch • He has a tattoo.

• He has made 48 parachute descents, from a variety of Canadian and U.S. military aircraft, as an infantry officer in the Canadian Forces.

• He is a qualified Canadian Forces demolition instructor.

• He has made over 156 donations of blood and blood products as a participant in the Canadian Blood Service’s Apheresis programme.

• He has sung in three television commercials for Sunlight Soap and the Canadian Tire Corporation.

• He worked with Jim Henson as a puppeteer on Kermit’s 30th Birthday Party Special.

• In 1984, as an officer with the 48th Highlanders of Canada, he was presented to Her Majesty the Queen in the Bow Room of Buckingham Palace.

• He has appeared as a chorus singer in over 210 productions (2,476 performances) with the Stratford Shakespearean Festival, the Aldeburgh Festival and the Canadian Opera Company.

• He and his wife live with three Bearded Collies: Emma, Rupert and Poppy.

• He has been awarded the Canadian Forces Decoration, the Canada 125 medal and the Queen’s Golden Jubilee medal.

10 The Shield 2011-12 • Royal St. George’s College

TRIBUTE

A Lasting Contribution After 35 years as an RSGC fixture, Chris D’Arcy has responded to the call of rural Ontario.

“M

y wife and I have spent the past two decades developing our property in Eastern Ontario, preparing for the possibility of retiring there,” said D’Arcy, who officially retires in June 2012. “With a modest garden, greenhouse and palais du poulet in place, we expect to continue to increase our food production. Energy generation will be the next big project. Having done the urban thing, we feel it’s the right time to switch gears.”

Done the urban thing, indeed. D’Arcy has been a fixture at the College since 1977 when he entered the school halls as a first-time teacher. Little did Founding Headmaster Jack Wright know, he had hired a man who would forever change RSGC – its culture, its curriculum and practically every boy with whom he came into contact.

“He was definitely the biggest academic influence in my life – I can’t state that enough,” said Matt Weldon ’09, who just finished his third year in Engineering Physics at Queen’s University. “We went pretty far in his curriculum. My first job was at an iPhone software company. I hadn’t done any programming in university yet, so I relied on what I’d learned from Mr. D’Arcy to make it through. I was successful there, largely thanks to him.”

Whether or not D’Arcy realizes the impact he has had on his students’ lives, their experience is always what has driven him.

“Ironically, I’ve been motivated by fear my entire career: the fear that a parent might ask one of my students what he did that day in my class and he’d say, ‘Nothing’.”

D’Arcy, who started the College’s Computer Science program in 1979, leaves behind quite a legacy: he developed a province-wide

mathematics curriculum throughout the ’80s and ’90s; introduced the College’s AP Program in 1995; the Engineering program in 2004 and the Senior School Desktop (SSD) in 2006; worked his students hard and has many proud memories.

“My goal has always been to build culture. Culture is self-sustaining,” said D’Arcy. “I tried to establish this both in my classes and on the tarmac. Properly managed culture breeds success. If the students were successful, then I’ve been successful.”

His ACES Engineering Program, the RSGCBHL and the SSD are testament to his philosophy of culture and success.

Tom Stevens, RSGC’s Director of Admissions and Marketing, has known D’Arcy for over 20 years and has worked with him at RSGC for 11. And while he has a lot of fond memories of their time together on the tarmac, he can’t say enough about the legacy D’Arcy will leave behind.

“His greatest contribution to the College is the commitment to academic excellence that he fostered,” said Stevens. “He certainly gets a commitment out of his students beyond what most students will output for their teachers.”

Weldon is the perfect example of that. Even though he graduated from RSGC in 2009, he and his peers still get together with D’Arcy for sushi or wings on occasion. He knows RSGC just won’t be the same without his favourite teacher.

“His retirement is probably one of the biggest losses the school will ever have,” said Weldon. “The program he taught was incredibly valuable and hopefully the school will find someone to fill his shoes. Boys always went to him for other things as well – he was their advisor on so many things. He was really important to us both in and out of the classroom.”

The Shield 2011-12 • Royal St. George’s College 11

PREFECT’S CORNER

An Immediate Connection Nico Arntsen ’12, Head Prefect for the 2011-12 school year, had the unique opportunity to sit down with Tony Gray ’87, who held the same prestigious role 25 years ago.

Nico gained some insight into what it was like way back when, including memories of the current headmaster and some speechwriting tips from a pro!

Tony Gray (L) chats with Nico Arntsen

Nico Arntsen: How did being Head Prefect impact your last year at RSGC? Tony Gray: The opportunities I had as a prefect in general allowed me to see lots of things going on and learn about how things worked. But I think the real key was learning a lot about humility, collaboration and teamwork. Obviously, there’s a lot of leadership stuff involved but I think that’s true about St. George’s in general. You learn that pretty early as you go through, but being Head Prefect, I learned how important it was to have such a great team. I still remember the day when they announced the Head Prefect and I was thinking, “Wow. I’m thrilled, I’m happy, this is kind of fun.” I mean, there’s a bit of a celebrity impact to it. But at the same time, I remember thinking, “These are all my friends. How honoured am I to be the Head Prefect among this group of people?” I think that only grew over the course of the year when I learned all the different things people did. How great they were at this, how great they were at that…

TG: I remember it perfectly. And in front of the whole school too. All lined up in the Chapel.

NA: Yes, it’s crazy. I remember just sitting there when I got the news. It just hits you like a brick wall.

NA: Would you say that the prestigious role of Head Prefect had any impact when it came to getting into university?

NA: You had to do it in front of the whole school? We were in Mr. Beatty’s office.

TG: In retrospect, it might not have been in front of the whole school, but it sure felt like it. It was actually very exciting. The final year was just fantastic.

I remember it really well. The fun we had, the trouble we got into, the camaraderie we built in that little prefect room.

NA: Where did you go after RSGC? TG: I went to U of T and then after U of T, I went to MIT in Boston. The fun thing is that I’ve pretty much been in school my whole life and I suppose I still am.

NA: What do you do for a living?

TG: I work at the University of Toronto in the President’s Office as the Special Advisor to the President. I do a lot of research, speech writing and policy work.

I do whatever he tells me to do!

12 The Shield 2011-12 • Royal St. George’s College

TG: Oh, absolutely – it had a big impact.

St. George’s is great because it focuses the mind and demands a lot of academic rigour.

But it also creates a lot of character and different kinds of integrity. Academic integrity for sure, but also integrity as a person. I think those things help a ton when applying for university. I received tremendous support from the school, which was great, and being Head Prefect helped a lot.

NA: What were you involved in when you were at RSGC? TG: I played basketball for years and volleyball was always my sport. In Grade 11, I was the captain of the First Volleyball team. In Grades 11, 12 and 13, we were untouchable. We won all these big tournaments. We had a great time playing volleyball here for Mr. Nakatsu – he was a wonderful mentor and a great coach.

So I did basketball, volleyball and public speaking. We had a chess team and I was on that. We went to Victoria to an international public speaking competition one year – that was a fantastic experience.

One of the best pieces of advice I got when I went here – and I’m going to pass it on to you now – was, “the more you do, the more you can do.” Staying involved

is an excellent way to build character, but also a good way to improve your focus and capacity.

NA: Exactly. I’ve struggled; I do all these things, all these extra-curricular activities.

I chose to do basketball this year and it’s every day after school! It’s tiring but at the end of the day, it helps you balance your plate and stay fit.

TG: That’s right. And you start to see things differently, too. So I did do a lot, which was encouraged.

NA: It still is! So, I wonder… Do you remember Mr. Beatty?

TG: I do remember him! He was a year ahead of me. It’s so weird – I remember him really well. He was always super friendly and just a really nice guy. He was a bit goofy, but in a good, fun way.

NA: He just made everything better, didn’t he?

TG: Absolutely. He knew where the edge was, where goofy would no longer be appropriate. He was always right there and knew when enough was enough. He was a real leader among the class. Everybody was fond of him because he was funny, good-natured and smart. Maybe he was never the best athlete on the team, but he was always one of the best guys to have on the team.

NA: Do you remember him as a prefect?

TG: I do.

NA: So how was he at that? He’s always joking with me about his close call of not winning Head Boy. TG: He took it seriously. But for Stephen, it was always about making things better. Even in those times when there was a leadership role or a disciplinary role required, whatever it was, he would always make it better – even if it was just telling someone to tuck in his shirt. He was gifted at always finding a way somehow to make things better.

NA: So has the school changed a lot since you graduated?

TG: Yeah, I think so. Looking around, there are obvious physical differences.

But walking through the Junior School and the lunchroom, and seeing all the

kids, it was really cool to see that while there are all these physical changes, there’s still this constant, fun, real sense of tradition. This has been going on for, obviously, 25 years, but even 25 years before that.

NA: Did you have to write a speech for graduation?

TG: Oh yeah. You know, that’s part of what I do for a living now! But that was very hard for me at the time.

NA: Do you have any tips for me?

TG: A good speech is all about people and stories. There’s a fine line you can walk between trying to mention people in the speech and leaving people out and it’s really tricky. You have to be very creative in how you approach that particular problem because you can’t leave people out. You have to involve everybody – maybe not by name, but maybe by association, by participation or by some larger story. So in terms of pointers: keep it short; make it about people and stories; and connect it to a greater principle that comes through from RSGC, the faculty, and the students and friends, because that’s ultimately what the school is about.

NA: What would you say your biggest takeaways were from your experience as Head Boy and from RSGC as a whole?

TG: You know, it has changed over the years. At the time, I was aware of the immediate benefits. The things I learned – not just the academic stuff, which was very important – but also the stuff about character, quality, the importance of excellence and trying your best. Even if you were failing, you know, you get back up again. I remember making mistakes so many times.

It’s how you learn from your mistakes and how you fail forward that so many teachers here helped us with when we were younger.

So those are some of the immediate things.

But I think it’s when I got older that I figured out I really had learned a lot more than I realized at the time: about moral strength, kindness, optimism and opportunity; how important it was in thinking towards the future. The teachers, like Gage Love, taught me far more than I appreciated at the time. I sometimes think I’m still learning from them.

Tony Gray in 1987

NA: Do you have any questions for me?

TG: Yeah. I’d love to know what your plans are. I bet everyone is asking you that this year.

NA: Absolutely. That’s the most popular question right now. I really want to go to McGill and I’ve been working really hard to get there. I currently have the average, but I need to keep it up. If I get in, I’ll most likely go. If I don’t, I’m thinking of taking a gap year and going to Argentina, which is where I’m from originally. I came here when I was eight. I love it there – it’s my home.

TG: What’s it been like here? What has it been like for you as Head Prefect?

NA: It’s funny; it’s a lot of what you said.

It’s a lot of dealing with a great team in which everybody has their own individual opinions. It’s juggling with them, juggling with sports, juggling with other commitments I have and dealing with trying to get into university, which is probably the hardest thing. So it’s really just learning to deal with all of these things and trying to have fun at the same time.

TG: Are you looking forward to leaving?

NA: I’ve been here since Grade 7 and it’s been a great six years, so I have mixed feelings. I want to stay because I love the school and all that it’s given me. It’s a great community, but as well, I want to grow up.

I’m looking forward to the next step.

The Shield 2011-12 • Royal St. George’s College 13

ALUMNI CONNECTIONS

Reminiscing at the Old Boys’ November 18, 2011

Class of ’01

Class of ’96

Class of ’91

14 The Shield 2011-12 • Royal St. George’s College

Class of ’06

Dinner Class of ’86

Class of ’81

Class of ’71

The Shield 2011-12 • Royal St. George’s College 15

EVENTS

A Year to Remember RSGC staff put on a great Bond show.

RSGC Hockey Night Ed Robertson (L) and Stephen Beatty ’86

On January 24, 2012, the sticks and blades came out a-blazing for one of the College’s most anticipated events of the year.

Current students, staff, faculty and alumni all enjoyed an evening of fun, skating and hockey at St. Michael’s College arena. As far as we know, history was made: for the first time ever, the staff team lost to the boys in a hard-fought on-ice battle. But, even more noteworthy were the impressive saves Headmaster Stephen Beatty ’86 made on some nasty slapshots by the community police officers in attendance!

See if you can spot yourself in the photo gallery! www.rsgc.on.ca/hockey_gallery

Derek and Ruth Woods

RSGC Gala Inspired by a James Bond theme, the Spy Who “Known and Loved” Me Gala on February 10, 2012, was an enormous success. Not only did everyone in attendance have a blast, eating, dancing, bidding on fantastic auction items and playing cards, but the $110,000 raised will completely fund the creation of the Lifers’ Green play space. A special thank you goes out to the Gala Committee: co-chairs Karen Arbesman; Eileen Farrow and Lynn Factor; and members Marc Burroni ’98, Ruth Keilty, David Lee, Toni Nosworthy, Maureen Squibb and Ashley Warren.

Enjoy more pictures from the evening! www.rsgc.on.ca/galagallery

16 The Shield 2011-12 • Royal St. George’s College

Hidden Gems Concert April 12, 2012, was a night to remember at the Walmer Road Baptist Church. The renowned Molly Johnson hosted an inspiring evening of talented performances by the Junior Stage Band, the RSGC Choir and Dr. Death. New this year were poetry readings by Senior School boys and a lively clown performance by RSGC staff member Fernando Lara.

Georgian mom Stephanie Martin brought chills to the room with her incredible voice, Georgian dad Peter Furnish made a fantastic MC and, well, what can we say about Molly? Over the years, over $75,000 has been raised for the Georgian Music Scholarship. Special thanks to Molly Johnson, Lucy Monte-Lisi and Lynne Dalgleish for making this event possible.

Want to see more pictures? www.rsgc.on.ca/hiddengems_gallery

Mark your calendars for these RSGC classics!

September 25, 2012

Grad/Alumni Speed Mentoring September 28, 2012

Grad Parent Reception September 28, 2012

Alumni Reunion, Halifax Stephanie Martin

October 19, 2012

Alumni Reunion, Vancouver November 16, 2012

Old Boys’ Dinner November 23, 2012

Alumni Reunion, London RSGC’s Gary Martin broke out the sax to join Molly Johnson and her band on stage.

December 7, 2012

Alumni Reunion, Kingston Three Senior School students sang an amazing rendition of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah”.

December 19, 2012

Carol Service January 22, 2013

RSGC Hockey & Family Skate Night

The Shield 2011-12 • Royal St. George’s College 17

CAPITAL CAMPAIGN

The Power of a Second Chance

RSGC Parents Help Honour Our Past and Build Our Future

S

ometimes, without even knowing the reason, you just know that something is really special.

That was how RSGC parents Peter Furnish and Chantelle Courtney felt when they first visited the College with their son Matthew, who was to enter Grade 3.

“We knew the school would be a great fit – not just for Matthew, but also for us as a family,” said Chantelle. “The values and approach were consistent with what we strive for at home and we were excited about being a part of such a wonderful community.”

The Furnish family

And that is exactly how Matthew’s RSGC experience has unfolded since he arrived four years ago. His teachers have helped to create and foster an extremely positive experience for him. In fact, Peter and Chantelle enthusiastically describe the school as “a strong fabric of excellence woven from providing both a warm and stimulating environment, with an ideal balance between teaching and nurturing.”

Since RSGC is a such an important community for them – a second home for Matthew and hopefully soon for their younger son, Ben, as well – they have decided to give back by signing on as parent solicitors for the Honouring Our Past | Building Our Future Campaign.

And while the task of asking for money is never an easy one – especially for brand new fundraisers – they both believe that at this important time in the College’s development, it can certainly be a gratifying one. Leading by example by volunteering and donating, Peter and Chantelle are reflecting their belief that by investing in the exterior aspects of the school and updating its facilities, they are helping to preserve RSGC’s values as well: genuine respect; believing in the value of people over things; and admiring individuals for being their true selves.

In their view, the campus redevelopment and the fundraising campaign are key opportunities.

“Right now is a significant opportunity to participate in the future success of the school,” said Chantelle. “Donating and fundraising are priorities for us this year. The new facilities will further and reflect the excellence of our boys’ education and experience in a way that the current campus cannot. We are excited about being part of building a top-notch facility for our boys and their fellow Georgians.”

Effectively, Peter and Chantelle are striving to create an optimum platform from which not just their son Matthew, but all RSGC boys will succeed. After all, not only will the Campaign advance the school’s reputation and standing, but it will also directly benefit its students, both current and future.

RSGC alumnus Craig Godsoe ’86 can attest to the true value of a second chance. He joined the College mid-way through Grade 11 after being expelled from another boys’ school in the city.

He remains grateful that St. George’s (as it was then known) could see beyond his limitations as a young man and invite him to join the College as a valued student.

That invitation may have been influenced by Godsoe’s strong character, as evidenced in his initial interview with then Headmaster Mr. Allen. When Allen offered Godsoe a second chance and a place at the school, it was offered on a probationary basis. Godsoe’s response was to note that if it was to truly be a second chance, it should allow him to start anew, without condition or prejudice.

“It was amazing — I went into the Headmaster’s office to plead my case and he listened to a 16-year-old kid,” said Godsoe. “Without really even knowing me other than speaking to my parents, he decided that I deserved a total second chance — with no conditions.”

Godsoe remembers that Allen asked him when he would be able to start.

When Godsoe replied that he’d be available to start as soon as the next day, Allen asked, “What about right now?” as he reached into his drawer and produced a school tie. They walked together to Godsoe’s classroom where he was introduced to his new classmates — men he continues to count among his closest friends.

That memorable entrance started his successful and satisfying time at the College, an association he still celebrates in many ways. Godsoe remains a connected and committed Georgian, one who enjoys the long-standing friendships from his time at RSGC. He has generously supported the Honouring Our Past | Building Our Future Campaign by making a significant multi-year pledge in support of dedicating the new hard surface ball hockey and sports field in honour of long-serving RSGC teacher Gage Love.

“I think of all the teachers I had — and I had a lot of wonderful teachers at St. George’s — he was the one who put me back onto learning,” said Godsoe. “Gage Love really reignited my love for learning and I did really well in his class in particular. He set me on course to great marks and getting into university, so I owe him a lot.”

Godsoe is now the Senior Solicitor and Counsel, Legal Services at BC Hydro.

The Shield 2011-12 • Royal St. George’s College 19

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

Sam Danniels ’04

ADRENALINE

RUSH

Photos by Calum Johnston

20 The Shield 2011-12 • Royal St. George’s College

Becoming the best Sam said that his three years at RSGC helped inspire him to become the best version of himself.

“I came a long way during my three years there,” he remembered. “RSGC created an environment that really allowed me to grow and start discovering who I was. I wasn’t pushed into anything or forced to become someone I’m not.

“I learned that you can be a tough guy and still sing in the choir; that you don’t need a hockey rink but can still play on the hockey team. It taught me to think outside the box. I think it had a huge impact.”

By Laurie Alpern

A

carefree, charismatic daredevil and adrenaline junkie back in high school, Samson Danniels ’04 had dreams of becoming an adventure athlete. So when he graduated from Royal St. George’s College in 2004, he set off for Kamloops, B.C. to major in Adventure Tourism Management at Thompson Rivers University. His ambition was to run an adventure tour company specializing in free-ride mountain biking in exotic locations.

But in the summer of 2005, Sam sustained a spinal injury in a mountain biking accident that paralyzed him from the chest down. He spent what would have been his second year of university in the hospital, went back to school for another year and then left to dedicate his time to what he loves best: sports and adventure.

“My life has taken a few turns, but I don’t necessarily attribute it to just a spinal injury,” said Sam, who now calls Whistler home. “We never know what’s coming. For me, my spinal injury was a chance to grow and to look at what new opportunities I could find. Sports and adventure have always been a foundation for me and I always knew I wanted to do something with both. Despite my spinal injury, I still followed my dreams and live them everyday.”

Part of that dream is to make a living as a professional athlete. A member of the Canadian Para-Alpine Ski Team

since 2008, Sam finished fourth in downhill on his first IPC World Cup start during the 2009 IPC World Cup finals in Whistler. He also participated in the Paralympic Games for the first time at the 2010 Winter Games.

This year, he stepped away from the Canadian team to compete at the 2012 Winter X Games in Aspen, Colorado.

Sam earned a gold medal for Canada in the Men’s Mono X, finishing in a time of 1:51:98 – blowing past the American silver medalist.

“It felt pretty amazing,” recalled Sam. “Ski racing’s a sport where you a put a lot of dedication into it and there’s only one winner at the end. It’s hard to be number one in ski racing and it was my first time at the X Games. It was absolutely unbelievable.”

Stephen Kaye ’04, a fellow Old Boy and one of Sam’s closest friends, isn’t even remotely surprised at Sam’s success.

“Not only am I not surprised, but if anything, I’d be terrified to be going up against him,” he said. “He literally has no fear – as he showed in the X Games.

All the guys that raced against him had competed before. And then there’s Sam.” Stephen remembers going to visit Sam in the hospital after his accident and realizing pretty quickly that nothing would keep his friend down.

“He’s really an inspiration,” said Stephen. “And he has great parents, too, who encouraged him. His mom said he could do anything he wants, including continuing to enjoy all the activities he

did before, like scuba diving. I had no idea how that would be possible! But I figured out pretty quickly that I had to change my attitude because he could do anything he wants. I think a lot of people had to change their attitude.”

Now, when he’s not skiing, downhill mountain biking, snowmobiling or paragliding, he’s acting as an ambassador for the Rick Hansen Foundation, doing speaking engagements, volunteering with the Whistler Adaptive Sports Program and working as a sit-ski instructor. In 2009, he was a recipient of the Premier’s Athletic Award.

A professional athlete since 2008, Sam is sponsored by several companies including Helly Hansen, Whistler Blackcomb, Dalton Engineering and local Whistler restaurant Dups Burritos. Still happy and carefree, he works hard to be a success.

“The challenge in my job as an athlete is all about translating success in sport into financial and business success,” he explained. “They’re two very different things. The trick is to link them together to support myself while doing what I love.”

Andrea Kaye, RSGC’s counselor, remembers Sam very fondly. So where would she have pictured the adrenaline junkie she remembers from high school?

“He would always have to be doing something fun,” she said. “I could never imagine him sitting down at a desk in an office job. It would have to be something that he’s passionate about, something outdoors and fast. Something cool.”

Sounds just about right.

The Shield 2011-12 • Royal St. George’s College 21

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

ALEC TULETT

LACROSSE STAR

EXTRAORDINAIRE

Alec, Mom Jennifer and brother Dylan

22 The Shield 2011-12 • Royal St. George’s College

Alec and Dylan

Spirit Week

Ahead of the Pack A natural athlete, Alec plays both box (in a hockey rink with no ice) and field lacrosse for several teams. He competed for Ontario at the National Under16 Championships in British Columbia last summer and was one of just four kids born in 1995 (and one of 50 kids in total) to be invited to try out for the U-19 Team Canada.

By Laurie Alpern

M

ost teenage boys are worrying about whether their beloved sports team will make the playoffs or how to make it to the next level of their favourite video game. But Alec Tulett has more pressing matters on his mind.

While in Grade 11 at RSGC, Alec (Class of 2013) received an offer from Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, to play on their lacrosse team.

With another year of high school to go, he must keep up his grades, stay healthy and not get into any trouble in order for the offer to stand.

“I don’t mind the pressure,” said Alec.

“During my last conversation with the Brown coach, he was pleased with my current marks and course selection for Grade 12. I’m confident that my academics will remain acceptable – I just have to avoid injuries!”

Nick Van Herk, RSGC’s Director of University Counselling, doesn’t think the academics will be a problem for Alec either.

“He’s a top-10 student,” said Van Herk. “And he’s certainly not your typical student athlete. He’s taking an incredibly rigorous course load in Grade 11 and has signed up for an even tougher one for Grade 12. When I talked to the Brown coach on the phone, I told him he didn’t have to worry!”

Alec was also offered a significant scholarship to go play for the University of Virginia – the top lacrosse school in the U.S. He spent time at both universities

and decided that Brown is a better place for him in the long run despite the fact that, as an Ivy League school, they don’t offer athletic scholarships.

A talented lacrosse player, Alec first picked up a lacrosse stick in Grade 1 when his mother, Jennifer Price, decided that hockey was too rough but still wanted him to play a team sport.

“People are laughing at me now,” she concedes. “Lacrosse is a pretty rough sport!”

But the fact that American universities are knocking at his door is no surprise – least of all to Alec.

“This is something he’d been talking about since he was in Grade 7,” said Jennifer. “I always smiled and nodded, but you never really think something like that is going to happen. We were there to support him, but to me it just seemed like an unattainable goal.”

It’s thanks to his sheer determination that he’s about to realize his dream.

“When he was in public school, he used to stay in at recess and get stuff done just so he could play lacrosse after school – it was that important to him,” said his mother.

At RSGC, Alec continues his dogged determination, balancing a tough course load full of sciences with his lacrosse, as well as playing on the school’s hockey and volleyball teams, and being a House Captain.

And he loves every minute of it.

“I love the small community at RSGC,” said Alec, who started at the College in Grade 7. “I love that I know everybody and that the teachers know everybody.”

With his focus on sports, he originally had his heart set on going to St. Michael’s College – and got in. But once he set foot on the RSGC campus, the love affair began. And while the College hasn’t played a role in his lacrosse success, the school has definitely had a big impact on shaping the person Alec has become.

“It’s pretty hard to imagine not being here,” said Alec. “I’ve learned a lot of great values and I didn’t really shake anyone’s hand before I came here. I also think I’m a lot better at talking to adults in a formal way.

“And the teachers have been really great to me. They’re there to teach but I feel like I can go talk to them about anything. That’s probably one of the highlights of the school.”

One of the teachers that stands out for Alec is Paul Darvasi, Head of the English Department. And Darvasi can’t say enough good things about him in return.

“He’s an outstanding student – extremely hardworking and dependable,” said Darvasi. “He’s a really busy kid with all of his sports and other commitments, but he always gets everything done and he gets it done well. He’s one of those exceptional people who succeeds both athletically and academically.”

No doubt with Alec’s motivation, discipline, determination and smarts, he’ll be at Brown in 2013. And hopefully he’ll be one of the lacrosse team’s biggest stars.

Although Alec won’t get to Brown until 2013, he’s already thinking ahead to his next dream: “I’d like to go to med school,” he said.

The Shield 2011-12 • Royal St. George’s College 23

PARENT SPOTLIGHT

Lucy Monte-Lisi: Georgian Mom Extraordinaire

By Laurie Alpern

B

eing active in your child’s life is far from unusual. But there’s nothing usual about Lucy Monte-Lisi.

In fact, one might wonder if she has bitten off more than she can chew as a full-time career woman, mother to Grade 9 student Anthony Lisi and active member of the Georgian Parents’ Guild.

But in actuality, the business owner not only thrives with her responsibility, she also does it all with great passion and dedication.

“She’s one of those individuals who’s a very integral piece of the tight-knit community that is RSGC,” said Assistant Headmaster and Head of the Senior School Paul O’Leary, who has known Lucy since Anthony arrived at the school seven years ago. “Everything is always about best intentions with her. Lucy’s very driven and is going to make things work. And it’s going to be good! But at the same time, she makes everybody feel good. She really cares about people.”

Long-time family friend Mike Preston echoed O’Leary’s sentiments.

“She is one of the most giving, engaging people I’ve ever met,” he said. “When she first sees you, she smiles and makes you feel good. She’s one of those rare people who gives and doesn’t take – she just wants to help people out.”

Which is why, despite running her own accountancy firm and being a part-time single mom while her husband Nick works out of the country for half of the week, Lucy is still more than happy to give back to RSGC. “I just want to be part of the community,” Lucy explained. “I love working with the other moms and dads. It’s what

RSGC is all about – it’s not the kind of school where you just drop off your kid.

It’s a real community.”

Preston believes that with Lucy and the RSGC community, it’s much like the chicken and the egg concept.

“Her personality fits right in there and she might even create some of that personality. Which came first?” he asked.

“I don’t know what all the other moms and dads are like in that community, but clearly if you get enough that are like Lucy, that environment is going to thrive.”

“I love working with the other moms and dads. It’s what RSGC is all about – it’s not the kind of school where you just drop off your kid. It’s a real community.”

And thrive it does.

The Georgian Parents’ Guild plays an integral role in the school’s success.

As a member of the Guild, Lucy has been a key player in organizing the Molly Johnson & Friends Concert, now called “Hidden Gems”, helping to raise over $75,000 for the Georgian Music Scholarship. Over the years, she has been actively involved in the choir portfolio and helping to run the annual Cheese Please fundraiser. Since Anthony became a Georgian, Lucy has also been a Parent

24 The Shield 2011-12 • Royal St. George’s College

Ambassador, acting as a guide to prospective parents.

“Lucy is an unbelievable supporter of many different programs at the school,” said O’Leary. “My view of her is that she’s willing to roll up her sleeves and make things happen. There are lots of people who support us in many different ways, but she goes above and beyond.”

Part of that comes from the fact that she believes in the school and what it gives to her son, who last year was named Junior Georgian – the highest honour bestowed upon a student graduating from the Junior School.

“We’re big supporters of the College,” said Lucy. “What you see is what you get – and what you get is a very warm and caring environment. You see it as soon as you arrive. It’s a really special place. It’s a gem.”

Lucy and her husband Nick, who this year will be celebrating their 27th anniversary, also give back to the school financially, giving to the Annual Fund, the music scholarship and last December, contributing to the Capital Campaign for the first time.

It’s this idea of commitment – to her husband, to giving and to committing her time – that perfectly demonstrates Lucy’s personality. And O’Leary can’t say enough about how she and Nick have been teaching their son the same value.

“They believe in commitment and put their money where their mouth is,” he said. “They teach Anthony that you can’t play school hockey part time – you either commit and play 100% or you’re not on the team. I think that’s why they’re so involved; they just believe in it so much.

They’re not the drop-off-your-kid and ‘here, you take him’ sort of family.”

Instead, they are the sort of family that believes in making a real difference.

The Shield 2011-12 • Royal St. George’s College 25

FEATURES

F*&!ed Up

The Culture of

Creativity

Success in the arts comes in many forms, but for the successful artists in this story, part of its source is the same: the culture of creativity, integrity and encouragement at Royal St. George’s College. Each of these individuals – which include Hollywood movers and shakers, an internationally accomplished opera singer and Juno-nominated punk rockers – credit their RSGC experience for nurturing their artistic abilities and empowering them to excel. While their creative journeys have led them in different directions, they’re all grateful for the enduring influence RSGC has had on their lives and careers.

26 The Shield 2011-12 • Royal St. George’s College

Loud, but Polite “One teacher brought me to see Noam Chomsky at Massey Hall and I still reference him in my lyrics.

Even books we read, like The Great Gatsby or Fifth Business, I have these reference points I can pull out and put into my songs.” —Abraham Photo: David Waldman

By Sharon Aschaiek

Damian Abraham ’99 and Jonah Falco ’01 Consider the maelstrom of a F*&!ed Up concert, with its decibel-busting tunes, poetically defiant lyrics and a massive shirtless frontman growling into the mic, and any number of words might come to mind: savage; brilliant; unapologetic; ground-breaking; sweaty.

But how about polite?

According to Damian Abraham and Jonah Falco, lead singer and drummer, respectively, of the Toronto-based hardcore punk rock band F*&!ed Up, the credo “manners maketh men” is one that has guided their lives and musical careers since they were first taught to embrace it at Royal St. George’s College.

“One thing I took away is to treat people with respect and common decency. Everyone deserves that,” said Abraham, who started at RSGC in Grade 7. “I think people are going to want to work with you if you’re a nice person.”

Falco, 29, also began in Grade 7, though with their two-year age difference, the men were only passing acquaintances at school. He says the school’s focus on encouraging the use of manners and articulate behaviour — making eye contact, speaking coherently and being courteous — had more of an influence on him than he realized back then.

“It activated latent parts of my personality that came and went and are now with me. Manners are a useful tool

in life — it’s easy to not do but actually easier to do. You won’t offend anyone by being polite and clear,” he said.

What’s resulted for the men is a collaborative and respectful working style, which, combined with their talent, hard work and creativity, has helped the indie band attract worldwide followers and critical acclaim. Since forming in 2001, the band has produced three studio albums, two of which received Juno nominations for Alternative Album of the Year: The Chemistry of Common Life in 2009, which won a Polaris Music Prize; and last year’s David Comes to Life (Matador Records), an ambitious rock opera that Spin magazine called its No.1 album of 2011.

Looking back on his days at RSGC, Abraham recalls particular teachers and academic assignments that influenced how he makes music.

“One teacher brought me to see Noam Chomsky at Massey Hall and I still reference him in my lyrics. Even books we read, like The Great Gatsby or Fifth Business, I have these reference points I can pull out and put into my songs,” he said.

Even the biblical teachings he picked up during chapel time at RSGC and in comparative religion classes have found their way into Abraham’s creative process.

“I’m happy I have the understanding of the archetypes of Christianity. That all comes into play in the music in one way or another,” he said.

Abraham said he also learned valuable performance and people skills at RSGC

that serve him well as the band’s vocalist and front-and-centre personality.

“I did a lot of plays and public speaking, and I think that helped me hide the fact that I’m really anxious and shy inside.

I’m comfortable performing on a stage and talking to the crowd,” he said.

What Falco fondly remembers about RSGC was a small and intimate learning environment that focused on each child as an individual.

“Overall, the experience was one of community,” he said. “You get to know everyone on staff and get a lot of personal attention. By the time you leave the school, it feels like you’ve climbed a hill and can survey everything.”

Falco’s musical life at RSGC involved singing in the choir and playing the trumpet — the drums came later, with his interest in Toronto’s punk rock subculture — and he recalls enjoying access to modern and comprehensive facilities, and learning from professional musicians.

“The teachers had well-rounded knowledge of instrumental music and expertise in jazz, contemporary music, and classical music. They were involved in the professional spheres of music and were bringing their experiences and insights into the classroom,” he said.

Falco says he appreciated the ongoing encouragement at RSGC to do his best.

“The staff constantly pushed me to become more proficient at music, and gave me opportunities to play, and put me in school competitions,” he said.

“That was important and I took that attitude with me.”

The Shield 2011-12 • Royal St. George’s College 27

David Hewlett ’87 and Vincenzo Natali ’87 Actor David Hewlett and director Vincenzo Natali, both accomplished Toronto-raised screen artists working in Hollywood, have thrived through their longstanding artistic collaborations, which first took root and were nurtured at RSGC. It was in the Junior School that Hewlett and Natali met and became fast friends thanks to their common love of Star Wars, Blade Runner, Dr. Who and other sci-fi hits of the day.

Both preteens also had different but complementary creative streaks: Natali had been experimenting with a Super 8 camera for years and Hewlett was a selfconfessed ham who loved being centre stage. What they discovered at RSGC was the freedom and support to express their sci-fi interests and creativity in different ways.

For Hewlett, best known as Dr. Meredith Rodney McKay on the TV show Stargate, that outlet took the shape of one-on-one coaching through a dramatic arts program started specifically for him by the school’s chaplain, Father Michael Burgess.

“He saw that it was something I really wanted to do, so he decided to encourage me. Talk about a school that’s focused on the individual,” said Hewlett, 44, who started at RSGC in Grade 4.

It was at the encouragement of an English teacher, Mark Stephenson, that Hewlett began acting in school plays.

“And that was it, I fell in love with it,” he remembered. He so enjoyed the experiences that he began acting in professional theatre, with RSGC allowing him to take time away from class for rehearsals.

“The teachers must have felt, either this guy is going to be miserable or he should be doing what he wants to do, so it makes sense to let him do that,” he said.

Hewlett was even given the space to pursue his creative endeavours in the classroom. One year in geography class, he was allowed to submit an assignment on apartheid as a video project.

“It’s a subtle thing, the fact that the medium was given credence, that it was

legitimate to teachers. It played a big part in inspiring me to continue with it,” said Hewlett.

Stephenson’s teaching also had an important influence on Natali, who has since directed 11 films. As Natali’s Grade 7 English teacher, Stephenson taught him about what goes into creating a good story.

“He would write stories — his own original stories — that were weird and wonderful, and we would have to dissect them,” said Natali, 43, who started at RSGC in Grade 7.

Natali was also in several school productions and what he remembers most about those times were the insights and guidance provided by teacher Robin Fulford (now an accomplished playwright), who wrote many of the plays and who partly inspired him to direct the annual play for the Junior School when he was in Grade 13.

“He was a really brilliant, amazing thinker who influenced me tremendously.

I think I learned a lot from him and so many other teachers there about directing films just from being around great, creative people,” said Natali.

teacher who gets shot by a disgruntled student, played by Hewlett. In another, called Death Kiss, he played a police psychologist investigating a crime. Along the way, there was other assistance: another teacher composed the music for Exams and the pair also got to produce all three films on campus, in one case creating fake blood splatter by covering the walls of a room in chocolate syrup (it was a black and white film).

“It’s pretty amazing that we were allowed to do all those things. It shows you what kind of a place it was,” remembered Natali fondly.

Since RSGC, the men have worked together multiple times: Hewlett has had starring or supporting roles in five of Natali’s films, including his hit 1997 sci-fi/psychological thriller, Cube, and Splice, the 2009 sci-fi/horror film starring Adrien Brody and Sarah Polley.

Currently, Natali is in Toronto directing Haunter, an unconventional haunted house film in which Hewlett will feature alongside lead actor Abigail Breslin.

Both Hewlett and Natali say the seeds of both their friendship and their profes-

Vincenzo Natali (L) and David Hewlett

Both men say that what most ignited their creative talent and helped shape their career paths were the amateur movies they made together and the many ways RSGC supported those endeavours.

Stephenson helped out again there.

In a film called Exams, he played a math

28 The Shield 2011-12 • Royal St. George’s College

sional successes were sown at RSGC. “We were lucky enough to know what we wanted to be from early age and St. George’s was instrumental in keeping us on track,” said Hewlett. “The teachers had a genuine interest in what we were doing and what we wanted to be.”

Robert Gleadow ’04 For those who filled the modern, dark-hued Brown Theater at Houston’s Wortham Center last April for the premiere of Maria Stuarda, Donzietta’s magnificent opera about Mary, Queen of Scots and her cousin Queen Elizabeth I, what unfolded on stage was a spectacle of political intrigue and amorous entanglement of a juicy love triangle.

For performer Robert Gleadow, a bass baritone who, as Talbot, tries to protect Mary from a date with the guillotine, what took place behind the scenes in the six weeks of rehearsals leading up to the show was an exercise in self-discipline

Robert Gleadow Photo: Keith Penner

— a skill he says he cultivated at RSGC. “I was always in rehearsals for something or another and I learned how to take them seriously, not goof off — to make the most of those times,” said Gleadow, who attended RSGC from Grades 5 to 13 on a vocal scholarship.

At 27, Gleadow is already an accomplished opera singer who has played lead or supporting roles in La Bohème, Tosca, Don Giovanni, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and other productions. But Gleadow first began performing internationally while at RSGC, when he took part in multiple international choir tours.

“It was huge to be able to do that — those trips were a lot of fun and opened my eyes to the world,” said Gleadow, who has performed in Canada and across Europe, including Spain and the UK. A chorister at the school, Gleadow also remembers how he was allowed to reorganize his academic schedule to accommodate choir commitments.

“There is a large respect for the choir there, so the teachers were really accommodating if you needed to leave class for rehearsals,” he said.

Gleadow’s training in professional opera began right after he graduated in 2004, when he was accepted into the Canadian Opera Company’s Ensemble Studio. Two years later, he was invited to join the prestigious Jette Parker Young Artists Program at Covent Gardens in London, England.

By 2007, he was playing the lead role of Figaro in the Canadian Opera Company’s season-opening production of The Marriage of Figaro at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts. Since then, he has been juggling a steady stream of opera and concert roles alongside family duties: he and his wife have two young boys, with a daughter on the way.

Gleadow says an important part of his RSGC experience that helped him get ahead was training under professional opera singers.

“Some of my teachers were in the [Canadian Opera Company] Chorus; it helped to see people doing what I wanted to do, to have those real-life examples,” said Gleadow, who later worked with some of those instructors in COC performances. “I don’t think their impact on me can be overstated.”

La Bohème

The Shield 2011-12 • Royal St. George’s College 29 Photo: Gary Beechey

FEATURES

RSGC’s

Culinary Families Royal St. George’s College has a culinary tradition that may not be immediately obvious. Many alumni and parents of Georgian boys thrive in the food industry. Each of the three chefs profiled here brings a uniquely different flavour to the table – Susur Lee (Lee Restaurant and Lounge), contemporary Asian cuisine; Michael Bonacini (Oliver & Bonacini), Canadian fare; and Joe Bersani (Cantine Bar & Grill), Italian cooking. But what these prominent restaurateurs do have in common is that they all wish to see their sons mature into courteous, hard-working and cultured men. And the ingredients found at RSGC form the ideal recipe.

By Carmelle Wolfson

Susur Lee (Lee Restaurant and Lounge) Renowned chef Susur Lee isn’t easy to pin down. Shuffling between his restaurants in Washington D.C., Singapore and Toronto, Lee has his plate full. Upon arriving at the upscale Lee Restaurant and Lounge on King Street West, he is caught up interviewing prospective hostesses and training new hires. But when he eventually sits down on a stool at the black granite bar, he appears calm and warm amid the chaos of ringing phones and Friday night dinner preparations for various VIPs. Moving here from Hong Kong in 1978, Lee is today one of Canada’s most esteemed chefs, credited with helping to invent modern Asian cuisine. Lee’s eldest sons, Kai Bent-Lee, 20, and Levi Bent-Lee, 22, will soon open their own restaurant on Dundas Street West with the help of their father. Mother Brenda Bent will pitch in by designing the interior. Both sons have practice in restaurant management from working at Lee. But that doesn’t mean they don’t

need advice from their father from time to time. Approaching the bar, Kai asks his father, “Is this shirt too casual?”

Lee has a close and friendly relationship with his sons, including 14-year-old Jet, now in Grade 8 at RSGC. When choosing which school to send Jet to last year, Lee was impressed with the wide variety of programs offered at RSGC. Of course, it helped that his son approved of the choice.

“When you hang around smart kids, you get smarter. It’s like hanging around good chefs,” said Lee about Jet’s Georgian friends. Also important to the chef is food etiquette. “He’s learning his table manners. That is great. He’s polite, well spoken and articulate.”

It’s obvious Lee cares deeply for Jet, even though he admits to not having a lot of face time with him. “Sitting down to dinner every night religiously, that is not our priority. We are a very different kind of family,” explained Lee. Nonetheless, he makes sure to set aside Sunday evenings for supper with Jet, whether at home with the entire family or at a restaurant.

For Lee, family time means exploring

30 The Shield 2011-12 • Royal St. George’s College

new cultures and their cuisines. “My education for my children is travelling and food. I don’t read them bedtime stories,” said Lee. It’s no surprise Jet enjoys food. Lee is hesitant, however, to say that

Susur Lee

Jet will enter the family business. “They have to live their own life,” he remarked.

“We’re not very forceful parents.”

Lee says when he has more time he would enjoy teaching RSGC students about food by giving a cooking demonstration similar to the one he gave at Ossington Old Orchard Public School when Kai, Levi and Jet studied there.

Michael Bonacini (Oliver & Bonacini) Each morning restaurateur Michael Bonacini commutes from his home in Etobicoke to RSGC to drop off his 16-year-old son Oscar. “When I pull up even I feel a sense of pride,” he said. “You can’t help but feel, geez, I’m ready to take on the day!”

It’s that kind of energy that has helped this chef from South Wales become one of Toronto’s most successful entrepreneurs in what he calls the “eatertainment business”. His restaurant group Oliver & Bonacini is thriving and over the last two years, Bonacini has grown his business by 40 per cent, opening Bannock, Luma, O&B Canteen and Malaparte in downtown Toronto.

His latest restaurant Bannock is named for the unleavened flat bread traditional to Canada’s Native communities. Bonacini originally thought it was a Native recipe, but Cuisine Canada’s Anita Stewart told him Scottish settlers introduced bannock.

“It may be one of those great mysteries that never gets resolved,” he says.

Michael Bonacini Whichever way you look at it, the concept is Canadian comfort food. Bread is “the soul of the table,” says Bonacini. “As my mother would say, [bread] ‘warms the cockles of your heart’.”

When it comes time for family meals, the Bonacinis often eat out. In March, they frequented Vietnamese restaurants to prepare for Oscar’s two-week trip to Vietnam. (cont’d)>>

Bannock — Duck Poutine Pizza

Georgian Delicacies Cheese Boutique

416.762.6292, 45 Ripley Ave. cheeseboutique.com Forty-one years ago, Agim Pristine’s grandfather Hysen opened a convenience store on Bloor Street West fashioned after Becker’s Milk. It slowly evolved into what it is today: a family-run business in the Kingsway specializing in cheeses.

Out of eight family members working at the store, “you’ll probably see three-quarters of us here ready to help at any given time,” says co-owner Agim Pristine.

His two brothers Afrim Pristine and Arian Pristine are RSGC alumni. Now Agim and wife Sophia send son Fatos (Grade 5) there.

“It was an easy decision based on the history that our family has with the school already.”

Robyn’s Cookies

416.489.8497, 3215 Yonge St. robynscookies.com It was Robyn Coffey’s son Patrick who gave her the idea to start selling her cookies. And after several years of selling her signature chocolate chip toffee cookies at local grocery stores, she opened Robyn’s Cookies in 2007. You’ll find it down a driveway behind a retail store off Ranleigh Avenue. “There is no sign out front – it’s just a hidden little treasure, all word of mouth,” she said. Coffey’s sons and RSGC students Brookes (Grade 8) and Patrick (Grade 12) also work at the shop. Coffey remembers hearing of RSGC’s great reputation as a high school student at Branksome Hall. “It has a real family feeling and sense of community.”

Today’s Menu

416.698.8667, 851 Millwood Rd. todaysmenu.ca Owner Paul Hickey started Today’s Menu ten years ago. The store sells ready-made frozen meals, which can be heated and served at home, including shepherd’s pies and vegetarian quinoa cakes. Hickey’s son Evan is in Grade 9 at RSGC. “It’s a great, small school,” he said. Many of his customers come from the RSGC community.

Today’s Menu recently moved from its Gerrard Street location to Leaside.

White House Meats

416.488.2004, 1253 Bayview Ave. & 416.231.5004, 2978 Bloor St. W. Owner and St. George’s College alumnus Stanley Janecek ’82 prides himself on the quality of his meats. “We take care of our customers’ needs. We’re not just here to sell stuff,” said Janecek. Founded as Whitehouse in 1953 in Windsor, Ont., it later moved to Toronto’s St. Lawrence Market. Two years ago, Janecek took over the Leaside and Kingsway locations, separating from the original Whitehouse location (owned by Janecek’s sister and brother-in-law). Janecek renamed it White House Meats. After Janecek’s father died in 1969, his mother sent him to SGC for “an excellent education” and “a solid positive male influence.” He holds fond memories of the College.

“Most of my closest friends today, some 30 years later, are Georgians,” he said.

The Shield 2011-12 • Royal St. George’s College 31

“Travel is, in my mind, very much part of a great education. I’m confident he’ll remember this trip for the rest of his life,” said Bonacini.

Bonacini loves the RSGC philosophy: “Boys will be known by name and loved.”

It was Oscar’s mother Valerie, an occasional teacher for the Catholic school board, who decided to enroll Oscar at the College. Bonacini still remembers being shown the school by former Headmaster Hal Hannaford, a founding headmaster at Kingsway College School in Etobicoke, where Oscar studied until Grade 7.

Oscar, now in Grade 10, shows some culinary interest, working at Spirit Tree Estate

Cidery in Caledon and helping his father with the RSGC Cooking Club. Bonacini started the club two years ago and hopes to continue it next year. Last year, Bonacini taught ten Grade 8 and 9 boys how to cook using only the electric heating elements in the Science Lab. They made salads, pastas, Asian dishes and chocolates for Mother’s Day. Each class, Bonacini asks the boys to identify some unusual mystery ingredients.

On one occasion he brought $3,500/kg truffles. “The truffles were only to look at,” he clarified.

Bonacini is thrilled to give back to the school.

“I think it’s great to see the enthusiasm of the boys in that

Joe Bersani

with him from RSGC. “He’s citizen two years Grilled Lamb Chops embracing university the same ago,” said Bersani way he did high school.” matter-of-factly, Daniel began at RSGC in seated at a comfy Grade 7. “The location was leather sofa chair fantastic for us,” explained at the restaurant.

Bersani, who lives a fiveUnlike Bonacini, minute drive from the school, Bersani says he isn’t looking to expand his business. “He’s operating a small Bersani’s empire and they do a great son Daniel job at it,” said Bersani. But took a different at 61, Bersani said he would path, studying like to retire soon. In addition Toxicology at to Cantine, Bersani also runs University of Flo’s Diner in Yorkville and Guelph after Byzantium Bar in the Gay Daniel & Joe Bersani graduating from Village.

RSGC last year.

It’s been a long career for “My son is talented at what as does Daniel’s mother. “The Bersani. At 16 he was helping teachers were wonderful,” said his uncle, a restaurant manager he does. He enjoys science, Bersani, noting he wishes he history, writing and music,” at a New York country club. could take the History and said Bersani, who believes Meeting coworkers there who English classes himself. the College did a wonderful were studying at Cornel’s Although Bersani’s son job preparing his son for prestigious restaurant and has already graduated, Bersani post-secondary education. In hotelier school gave him the continues to volunteer his Guelph, he is stage managing idea to study the trade. Since time catering the graduating theatrical productions and he couldn’t afford Cornel, class party. He has committed playing tuba in two concert he chose to study at City to this for the next few years. bands – skills he has taken University of New York.

(Cantine Bar & Grill) Joe Bersani’s connection with RSGC dates back 30 years to when he first opened his restaurant at Avenue and Davenport. At that time, four of his staff were students at St. George’s College. Now grown men, they drop by Cantine Bar & Grill to say hello, sometimes bringing their sons, who themselves are students at RSGC. Back then, Bersani was “one of the early pioneers of casual Italian cuisine in Toronto,” said Bonacini. A few years after arriving in Toronto from New York City, Bersani and Michael Carlevale opened Bersani & Carlevale. It was then that Bonacini, a chef at the Windsor Arms Hotel, first met Bersani.

Today, Cantine, famous for its weekend brunches, can be found at 138 Avenue Road.

A Canadian immigrant (like Bonacini and Lee), Bersani moved here 34 years ago. “I became a Canadian

32 The Shield 2011-12 • Royal St. George’s College

Cantine —

Oscar & Michael Bonacini

cooking club,” he said. “It was extremely rewarding for me.”

Bonacini likes supporting his son’s school “wherever and whenever” possible. This year,

he donated a dinner to the Gala auction. He also makes a point of ordering from RSGC parents and alumni at the Cheese Boutique [see sidebar].

FINDING THEIR

CALLING

By Sharon Aschaiek

T

he path to becoming a priest starts with a calling to do God’s work, and for Christopher Kelly ’00, Jeffrey Crawford ’00 and Jesse Parker ’01, what nurtured and strengthened their calling was the religious and moral guidance, encouragement of open inquiry and strong sense of community they experienced at Royal St. George’s College.

In 1993, when Kelly started RSGC in Grade 7, he’d already experienced his first spiritual stirrings. Those feelings began to solidify when he joined the school’s tight-knit community of worship.

“Every person has a spiritual dimension to themselves that deserves attention,” said Kelly, 30, who became ordained as an Anglican priest in

2009. “That exposure to faith invited opportunities for me to reflect on what spirituality meant to me.”

Joining the school’s choir, which involved performing at chapel every Friday and practising multiple times each week, provided greater understanding of his faith and its role in his life, he said.

“I paid attention to what I was hearing and singing, the words in the music.

It allowed me to develop a relationship with God and an understanding of my own faith tradition,” said Kelly, who lives in St. Marys, Ont. Some of the help for Kelly’s spiritual journey came from outside of chapel: as an introverted student, he found a way out of his shell through an interest in

public speaking and helped form a debating club for RSGC’s Junior School.

“A lot of the skills I learned in public speaking at RSGC are useful to me now that I’m preaching, standing up in front of a group of people and delivering a spoken message,” Kelly said.

Usually, it’s people who are the most powerful forces in our personal histories and the same is true for Kelly.

What particularly stands out for him about his RSGC days are the countless lunch hours he and his friends spent in the chaplain’s office discussing life, Christianity, schoolwork and current events with Reverend Peter Hill (now deceased) and, later, Reverend David Donkin (who left in 2008).

The Shield 2011-12 • Royal St. George’s College 33

“A lot of those conversations allowed me to test the waters and speak about my faith in a way that wasn’t a big deal,” said Kelly. “They were role models because they helped me to see a very positive image of what a religious leader could be – not someone paternalistic or patriarchal, but someone who is fully alive, enjoying what they’re doing and loving and caring for people.”

Both men had a similar influence on the life of Anglican priest Jesse Parker.

Originally an Orthodox Christian, Parker had little connection to his faith or the church when he started Grade 8 at RSGC. However, Hill and Donkin opened his eyes to the potential of the priesthood and how Christianity could fit into his life.

“They made me realize that priests weren’t these kinds of icons or saintly characters, but real people who have talents, deficiencies, moods and

passions. They opened my eyes and taught me to appreciate the spiritual part of my life,” said Parker.

While he didn’t sing in the choir, Parker was on the Server’s Guild, helping to carry out processions and assist with the Eucharist during chapel services. Over time, his spirituality blossomed and he began attending an Anglican church in his neighbourhood.

“The religious experience and the chapel life at St. George’s are what integrated me into the life of a worshiping community,” he said.

Having developed a satisfying sense of belonging at RSGC, Parker found it hard to leave. He says that in his final year, Father Donkin took him under his wing by introducing him to students who had been in his youth group at his previous church, and by taking him on a tour of Trinity College at the

Crawford (R) with Donkin in his last year at RSGC

“They knew how to connect aspects of the faith to what we were experiencing as young men in the world so that they weren’t just some ancient fairy tales.”

— Crawford

Parker was ordained into the Anglican ministry this past February.

“They made me realize that priests weren’t these kinds of icons or saintly characters, but real people who have talents, deficiencies, moods and passions.

They opened my eyes and taught me to appreciate the spiritual part of my life.” — Parker 34 The Shield 2011-12 • Royal St. George’s College

L to R: Parker, Crawford and Kelly

University of Toronto, which is where he did his undergraduate degree.

His affinity for RSGC led to a brief return: after completing his degree, he accepted an offer to teach Grade 8 for a year. However, as enjoyable as the experience was, he felt something was missing; he figured it out during a soulsearching conversation with Catherine Kirkland, Head of the Junior School: “She said ‘I think you need to make a decision – are you a teacher or are you a priest?’ Sometimes you need someone to hold a mirror in front of you.”

It was then that his sense of calling crystallized and he returned to Trinity to complete his M.Div. Ordained into the Anglican ministry in February, he now serves as assistant curate at the Church of St. Andrew in Scarborough.

“Part of the positive influence St. George’s had on me was instilling that it’s not okay

to settle for something less than what you feel called to do,” he said. “Also, they taught that life is not just about doing what’s going to make you the most money, give you wealth, honour and respectability. It’s about who you are, as opposed to just what you are going to be.”

As someone who entered RSGC in Grade 12 as a passive Presbyterian, Jeffrey Crawford wasn’t sure how he would fit in. However, he quickly felt comfortable in the school’s religiously diverse environment, which included students not only from different Christian denominations, but also students from other religions.

“That was when I started understanding the importance of interfaith dialogue and building ecumenical relationships. We can be respectful and learn from each other, even though we may have some different beliefs,” said Crawford, 31, of Orillia.

“Every person has a spiritual dimension to themselves that deserves attention.” — Kelly While Crawford didn’t start out engaging in too many religious activities at RSGC, he eventually got drawn into chapel life by chaplains Hill and Donkin, who helped him view Christianity in a new light.

“They knew how to connect aspects of the faith to what we were experiencing as young men in the world so that they weren’t just some ancient fairy tales,” said Crawford, who was ordained in 2009 and now helps facilitate youth ministry initiatives for hundreds of Presbyterian churches in Ontario. “That looms large in my mind and affects how I interact with the scripture or teach or work with young people.”

What also helped promote his spiritual journey to

Christopher Kelly

ordination, Crawford said, was the freedom RSGC provided to students to take a reflective approach to the faith.

“The experience I had at RSGC with my classmates and teachers, and being part of that close community, allowed me to be my best self and challenged me to be the person I was called to be,” he said.

The Shield 2011-12 • Royal St. George’s College 35

Our Changing Lives BIRTHS Tony Gray ’87 Tony and Denise are delighted to announce the arrival of Evan, who entered the world on March 6, 2012. Everyone is happy and busy — especially big sister Lucy, almost two years old, who is thrilled to have a little brother to poke and prod!

Darren McDonald ’88 Colin

Darren, wife Kelly, and sons Michael (9) and Gregory (7) enjoyed 11 minutes of fame on November 11, 2011, when the couple’s third son, Colin, entered the world at exactly 11 minutes after 11:00 am. In case you missed it, that would be precisely the 11th minute of the 11th hour of the 11th month of the 11th year!

Kelly was scheduled for a c-section on another day but unforeseen

Claire, with Ian

Christian

circumstances led to the significant event. The local Mississauga newspaper even wrote a story about the celebrity family.

Gordon Smith ’90

Darren, Kelly & Colin

Gordon and Stephanie are overjoyed with the arrival of their son, Ian Robert Harland Smith, on March 27, 2012. Daughter Claire is also very excited to be a big sister.

Chris Watchorn ’93 Christopher and Traceylyn joyfully announce the safe arrival of Christian Cleveland on February 20, 2012 – a baby brother to big sisters Charlotte and Chantelle.

if you thought he was busy before...

Rory Gilfillan ’91 On December 10, 2011, Rory Gilfillan ’91 and Carrie Richardson eloped, marrying at a friend’s house just outside of Lakefield, Ont. Two months later, on February 16, 2012, they welcomed twins Finn Everet and Lucy Rain Gilfillan into the world.

Rory has been teaching Grade 8 at Lakefield College School for the last nine years. He continues to teach and coach, and leads

36 The Shield 2011-12 • Royal St. George’s College

a highly active life that includes playing hockey and competing in marathons. Several years ago, he was ranked 42nd nationally as a marathon runner, having placed an impressive 57th out of 38,000 runners in the New York Marathon, competed in Boston in 2000 and 2007, and recently won the Picton Marathon. Rory has had two comment features appear in the Globe and Mail and is a regular contributor to Canadian Running Magazine.

Phil Hardie ’95 Phil Hardie and Jun Xie are thrilled to announce the birth of their daughter, Angela Jun, in April 2011. The past year has been filled with much joy, little rest and many celebrated firsts.

Angela

Andrew von Teichman ’96 Andrew and Natalie were pleased to welcome Hudson Wolf to the world on December 29, 2011. He is happy and healthy and his older brother has been good to him… so far.

Hudson

Brian John Carr ’95 Brian Carr and Catherine Halliday are thrilled to announce the birth of their first son, Jackson Frank Cameron Carr, born January 5, 2011. Jax is welcomed with love by proud grandparents John and Monica Carr, and Frank and Margaret Halliday.

MARRIAGES

❧❧❧❧ Catch up with old friends and reminisce about your RSGC days at the Old Boys’ Dinner. ❧❧❧❧

Marc Burroni ’98 Marc Burroni ’98 married Isobel Russell (BSS ’00) on November 4, 2011. The RSGC alumni in attendance were Rob McCord ’99, Marcel Merath ’98, Carr Hatch ’98, Harish Maraj ’98, Jamie Lint ’98, Scott Sloggett ’98 and Dave Robinette ’98.

Photo (left to right): Rob McCord ’99, Marcel Merath ’98, Carr Hatch ’98, Harish Maraj ’98, Marc Burroni ’98, Jamie Lint ’98, Scott Sloggett ’98, and Dave Robinette ’98.

November 16, 2012

❧❧❧❧

The Shield 2011-12 • Royal St. George’s College 37

Retrospective 1970s George Rutherford ’71 George retired as Head of School from Holy Trinity in June 2010. He served as the head for 18 years but was actually employed at HTS for 26 years, having had the pleasure of being on the other side of the teacher’s desk at Royal St. George’s College for seven years. Stephen Beatty ’86, our current Headmaster, was one of his students. In his semiretirement, George serves as the Head of School at the Canadian College Italy (canadiancollegeitaly. com), a small international boarding school located in Lanciano, Italy. They have 60 students enrolled from 17 countries, so it’s an international experience for both teachers and students alike. One of the strengths of the school

Want to share your latest news, proud moments and achievements with the RSGC community? Send details to Fiona Cooper at shield@rsgc.on.ca

1980s is that travel is built into the curriculum. Trips to major Italian cities like Rome, Florence, Venice, Sorrento and Pompeii occur throughout the year.

George says, “Living as we do in a smaller Italian town, we experience traditional and authentic Italian life, cuisine and most importantly, wine! We have the best of both worlds and know how fortunate we are.”

David McClocklin ’72 A tactical analyst with the Ontario Provincial Police, OPP Constable David McClocklin was recently awarded a fourth consecutive win in the International Association of Crime Analysts’ “analytical charting” category. A resident of Orillia, David has worked on numerous high-profile cases, including the

David McClocklin ’72

38 The Shield 2011-12 • Royal St. George’s College

murder of Tori Stafford, the Ipperwash inquiry and the investigation of serial killer David Snow.

His most recent award was given for his work on an investigation into the suspicious death of an infant. His goal is to complete his Criminal Analysis Career with an assignment to the United Nations or The Hague.

Rob Beanlands ’77 Rachelle Beanlands, daughter of Rob and Geny, was on the Women’s National Soccer Team that won its firstever soccer gold medal at the PanAm Games in 2011. Rachelle got her first ‘cap’ as goalkeeper with a 1-0 win over Argentina. Meanwhile, Rob has been appointed Chief of Cardiology at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute and the Ottawa Hospital.

Peter Istvan ’87 Peter and his long-time friend David founded a fundraiser event in 2011 called Pedaling for Parkinson’s to raise awareness and research funds for Parkinson’s.

Over three days, they cycled over 100,000 pedal strokes – one pedal stroke for each Canadian diagnosed with Parkinson’s.

Their inspiration was David’s father, diagnosed with Parkinson’s, and a close friend of Peter’s, also recently diagnosed with Parkinson’s. It was a great success, raising almost $18,000.

This year, the event is running in Parry Sound, Ont., from July 13-15, with the ultimate goal of increasing the total amount raised to $50,000. The pair has been working closely with the Parkinson’s Society of Canada to help

Rachelle Beanlands, daughter of Rob Beanlands ’77

Photorealistic Painting Bruce Lawes ’81

Here is a unique alumni accomplishment: Bruce has won numerous international awards for his oil paintings. He appeared at the Toronto Art Expo in April and back in his day as an RSGC student, actually did some drawings for The Shield.

ensure the event’s success. Donations and riders are most welcome and will help make a difference in the lives of people and families affected by Parkinson’s. pedalingforparkinsons.ca

David Hewlett ’87 David played Hunsiker in Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011), alongside Hollywood stars James Franco and Freida Pinto.

He is also joining the cast of fellow RSGC alumnus Vincenzo Natali’s new film Haunter, currently shooting in Toronto.

Will Fripp ’88 Will was a historical consultant and part of the design team of spiesintheshadows.com, a Canadian web-based high school history curriculum supplement.

“Spies” introduces intelligence and espionage aspects of Canadian history, especially those that assisted Canada’s national development from the war of 1812 through the Cold War. Components include online games and activities, a glossary, timeline and teacher’s resources.

The site launched in September 2011 and has since been praised by teachers at both the high school and graduate school level. Additionally, RSGC’s John Lambersky was part of the focus group that commented on the website throughout the process, providing valuable advice to the producers.

The Shield 2011-12 • Royal St. George’s College 39

Retrospective

1990s Matt Aaronson ’94 Matt was recently promoted to Partner and Managing Director at the Boston Consulting Group.

He lives in Chicago with his wife Kate Sanderson and daughters Alex, 6 and Caroline, 3. Kate continues to work for Aon Corporation as Vice President of Human Resources.

Netan Choudhry ’96 Netan recently graduated with a fellowship in Vitreoretinal Surgery from Harvard University and has taken a position as the Director of Vitreoretinal Surgery at the Herzig Eye Institute in Toronto. He is active in clinical research and has developed one of Canada’s first OHIPbased outpatient Retinal Surgery programs to provide patients access to the latest technology and therapeutics in this field.

An Award-Winning Year...

Jonah Falco

Photo credit: Sandy Miranda

Damian Abraham ’99 and Jonah Falco ’01 2011 was a great year for F*&!ed Up, a hardcore punk band for which Damian is the lead singer and Jonah is the drummer. Its third album, David Comes to Life, was named Spin magazine’s Album of the Year and the band also received a Juno nomination for Alternative Album of the Year.

Netan Choudry ’96 and family

40 The Shield 2011-12 • Royal St. George’s College

2000s

Reverend Jesse Parker ’01 Jesse was ordained to the sacred priesthood on February 19 at St. Andrew’s Church in Scarborough.

Alex Furber ’05 Alex has scored his first major professional role on a Toronto stage, starring as Albert – the principal human role – in the Toronto production of War Horse. He recently graduated from the National Theatre School.

Chris Jackson ’07 Last summer was an exciting one for Chris, who won gold at the Royal Canadian Henley.

He and his partner — racing for the University of Victoria — won the Under-23 men’s pair, beating the second place

Western University boat by .03 seconds. Chris also brought home a bronze medal with the Under-23 men’s eight. It was a goal he had set a few years ago and now it’s a reality.

Chris now plans to work in London, England for the Fairmont Savoy and row for the Leander Boat Club as he tries for another gold at the Royal Henley in London.

Tom Pepper ’08

Tom Pepper ’08 Tom is currently finishing up his final year of an English and Film Degree at Trinity College, Dublin. Next up for him is gaining his Director’s Guild of Canada Union Certification as he works towards a career in the film industry. Tom has worked on a few projects, including Sarah Polley’s soon-to-be

released Take This Waltz, as well as for Astral Media’s The Harold Greenberg Fund.

The Shield 2011-12 • Royal St. George’s College 41

TIME CAPSULE

Then & Now: Richard Nakatsu A fixture at RSGC from 1980 until 1997, Mr. Nakatsu was a favourite math and science teacher in the Senior School, although he did teach Grade 8 Science for one year. Not just into numbers and test tubes, Nakatsu was also the sporty type, coaching senior volleyball, U16 basketball and after-school house league.

So what is he up to now, 15 years after he left the halls of RSGC? Since his retirement from Crescent in 2008, he lunches with friends and spends plenty of time working out in RSGC’s Fitness Training Centre so he can enjoy those lunches just that much more. In the summer, he golfs and gardens, while in winter, he reads and waits for summer so he can golf and garden!

42 The Shield 2011-12 • Royal St. George’s College

Blink and you could miss giving your son the best education You could walk right past Royal St. George’s College and never even know it’s there. Tucked behind some trees on a residential street in Toronto’s Annex, it looks more like a home than a school. And in many ways, it is.

Look a little closer, however, and you’ll discover what’s missing from most boys’ schools: the kind of camaraderie that comes from a small student body; a more creative learning environment; and a genuine love of the school.

It’s the one school you and your son don’t want to miss.

of his life.

IF YOU WANT YOUR SON TO THINK BIG, THINK SMALL.

rsgc.on.ca

Fellow Class of ’84 Georgians

Chuck Magyar, David Lyon and Stewart Istvan Working together, using a holistic approach to managing clients’ wealth management needs…

Stewart was a “lifer” at RSGC spending 10 years at the school (’74-’84) while both David and Chuck spent the balance of their high school years there (’78/’79-’84 respectively). We all look back fondly on those formidable years remembering the wonderful teachers, classmates and of course good ’ol Tony’s popcorn wagon, our “cafeteria” (a.k.a. the lunch truck) and many after school games and tournaments played on the asphalt “field”.

28 years after graduation, the 3 of us have remained not only friends but have joined together as partners, taking over the Forest Hill Branch at DundeeWealth in May of 2005. Since then, we continue to help clients with their wealth management needs.

We provide solutions to concerns about estate planning, mitigating tax, insurance needs and overall life planning objectives and strategies.

Most institutions want you to come in for a second opinion; we would like you to come in for a better one… a personal approach, from one Georgian to another.

Chuck Magyar, CIM

David Lyon

Portfolio Manager Director, Private Client Group DWM Securities Inc. cmagyar@dundeewealth.com

Insurance Advisor Branch Director, DundeeWealth Marketing and Sales Dundee Insurance Agency Ltd. DundeeWealth dlyon@dundeewealth.com sistvan@dundeewealth.com

DundeeWealth, Forest Hill Branch, 980 Eglinton Avenue West, Toronto, Ontario M6C 2C5 416.785.0513 44 The Shield 2011-12 • Royal St. George’s College

Stewart Istvan