The Shield Summer 2020

THE

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

Spring 2020

SHIELD #rsgcstrong The RSGC Community Remains Stronger than Ever During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Neil Hetherington ’91: Daily Bread Food Bank CEO Fights Hunger with a Smile The Importance of Keeping the Mental Health Conversation Open

Alumni Share their Struggles to Speak Up for Others

Contents

The Shield Spring 2020 Email: shield@rsgc.on.ca General Inquiries: 416.533.9481 Alumni Inquiries: 416.516.5202

Cover photo by Sting Productions

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Headmaster: Stephen Beatty ’86 Editor: Lauren Alpern Copy Editor: Dave Mitchell Designer: Jonathan Cresswell-Jones Photography: Lauren Alpern, CanGrad Studios, Gustavo Gonzalez, RSGC Archives, RSGC Community, Tom Stevens Editorial Committee: Scott Ackley ’04, Lauren Alpern, Marin Anderson, Stephen Beatty ’86, Drew Blanchette ’96, Maria Jordan, Glenna Talbot

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RSGC Board of Governors

FEATURES

Officers

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100% 100% GEORGIAN PARTICIPATION

Faculty Spotlight BY LAUREN ALPERN Peter Sarellas: After 25 years at the College, Peter still doesn’t feel like he’s coming to work.

10 Alumni Spotlight BY LAUREN ALPERN Neil Hetherington ’91: Fighting the COVID-19 pandemic at the Daily Bread foodbank with a positive attitude.

12 Student Spotlight BY LAUREN ALPERN Max Balzer ’26 bridges the digital divide by making a difference.

Annual Giving 2019/2020

From facilities to financial aid, our Annual Giving campaign makes an immediate impact on the lives of our students

14 Parent Spotlight BY LAUREN ALPERN Former gymnast-turned police officer Curtis Hibbert shares the importance of staying active.

16 Stronger Together BY SUMNER & LANG College traditions unite the RSGC community during the coronavirus pandemic.

22 Can We Talk? BY KAREN SUMNER The RSGC community keeps the mental health conversation open on all sides.

26 The Power of Speaking Up by BY WARREN LANG Alumni share their struggles to help others through tough times.

today and will continue to benefit the boys that follow them.

DEPARTMENTS Please visit rsgc.on.ca to make a gift.

Charitable Registration Number 887281087RR0001

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Tributes

For more information, please co ntact Maria Jordan at mjordan@rsgc.on.ca or call 416-533-9481 x 298

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Giving

32 RSGC Small Business Directory

Chair: Cathy Cranston Vice Chair: Gordon Raman Past Chair: Bruce Chapple ’87 Treasurer, Audit and Finance Committee Chair: Steve Geist Headmaster: Stephen Beatty ’86 Chief Financial Officer, Board Secretary: Jane Nyman Directors Roma Dubczak, Strategic Planning Committee Chair Brad Holland, Advancement Committee Chair Adrian C. Lang, Nomination and Governance Committee Chair Glenna Talbot, Guild Representative Alex Edmison ’02, Alumni Representative Andrew Armstrong ’88 Leanne Foster Sarah Hales Alison Leung Sharon Lewis Peter Mann Geoff Osborne ’08 Alyssa Pei 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.

FPO The Shield Spring 2020 • Royal St. George’s College 1

LETTER FROM THE HEADMASTER

MESSAGE FROM THE RSGCAA PRESIDENT

Dear Fellow Georgians,

Passing the Torch

I

have a ritual that I follow every day before heading home. It’s s

Dear Fellow Georgians, As this is not only the close of the academic year, but also my final letter to you as President, I am reflecting more than usual.

There are many differences between when I started in the role of President and where we are now. Many are due to the impact of COVID-19 and our new social distancing reality, but most are due to the hard work of the Executive Committee over the past four years to continue to enrich the lives of the alumni community. I am incredibly proud of the Executive and I want to thank them for their contributions. I would also like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the Advancement Office: Maria Jordan, Marin Anderson, Scott Ackley ’04 and David Lee (now retired) for their hard work and support. Lastly, I would like to thank Headmaster Steve Beatty ’86 for his guidance and encouragement.

I am proud of the work we have done to strengthen the size, framework and governance of the Alumni Association.

In particular, I am proud of our new Strategic Plan, which will help guide the Executive for the next four years.

Message from the Editor

T

his is not the first issue of The Shield that I have put together from the comforts of my own home, as I still produced my beloved magazine while

on mat leave for two years.

However, this is the first time I did it with two children home with me, conducting interviews and conversing with people in the Georgian community while my kids, ages 4 and 6, climbed the walls – and me! My two munchkins also popped their heads into many Google meets to wave to boys and colleagues. As difficult as it has been to get my work done while juggling their care, I know that everyone has been in the same boat. It makes us so much more real. We have all been struggling to do what

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RSGC

we have to do, while managing with our children and the realities of coping with the pandemic.

While the mental health theme of this issue was set several months before the pandemic hit, it feels very fitting and timely. Some of the articles we’d assigned were adapted, some didn’t make the cut and some spoke perfectly to our new reality.

My favourite? The account on page 16 of how the RSGC community has come together, even stronger, despite being apart. It reminds us that the Georgian community extends

far beyond the school walls, always, but especially now.

I have been in touch with so many students, parents and even alumni, who have shared photos and stories. I am so proud to be a part of this community. Enjoy the issue. #rsgcstrong

Lauren Alpern Editor, The Shield lalpern@rsgc.on.ca

ALUMNI

ALWAYS GEORGIAN

Despite COVID-19 and its impact on our extended community, we remain committed to providing value for alumni.

Now more than ever, relationships and connection with each other are important.

Interestingly, the mental health theme for this issue was set prior to the current global pandemic, but could not be timelier.

In order to help our alumni community take care of their mental health, we continue to have a support hotline to speak with Ms. Andrea Kaye, the RSGC Senior School Social Worker. If you or anyone you know is struggling, please reach out to her at 647-792-8992. We look forward to launching more facets of our Healthy Minds initiative in the fall to further support our alumni in times of need.

Looking ahead to the fall, we are excited to launch a more formalized mentorship program, introduce our communications plan, continue with the inter-alumni association initiative, and expand Healthy Minds. We will continue to run events that are of interest to our alumni community. The RSGCAA will continue to look for ways for our community to stay meaningfully connected.

With the future in mind, I would like to introduce Eddie Beqaj ’08 and Riley

Wong ’12 as our incoming President and Vice President, respectively, for the 2020-21 and 2021-22 terms. Under their leadership, I have no doubt, the Alumni Association will continue to innovate and serve our community well.

I wish you and your families a healthy and happy summer, and look forward to seeing you soon.

Drew Blanchette ’96 President

ALUMNI PARENT MESSAGE This time last year, we were into the home stretch of our son Michael’s last year at RSGC. We were enjoying all the annual rites of passage: Grad Mother’s Tea, Prom, the Grad Farewell Celebration and Graduation. Who could have ever imagined how different things would be now? We are sympathetic to the boys and parents of the Class of 2020, and we hope that while some of these traditions may have taken place virtually, you will have the opportunity to come together soon to celebrate in person.

Our son Michael was on a Gap Year. We had to fly him home from Austria, where he was having the time of his life teaching skiing. It’s been a

lonely and sad few months since. It has definitely been a big year of growth, in ways none of us could have ever imagined. He is having trouble feeling hope for his future. Luckily for all of us, we belong to a wonderful community through RSGC. Jaime and I have been able to reach out to the school, and other parents, to compare notes on what to do. Michael and his older brother Jeffrey have had their RSGC friends to support each other. Speaking of which, Daniela Gallo and Pat Forgione (Matteo ’20 and Cristian ’18), your incoming Alumni Parent Representatives, will help keep you informed on ways to stay connected to each other and RSGC.

Whatever your circumstances, I hope that there has been some silver lining to your pandemic experience. We wish you all good health, sanity and a sense of humour. We’ll all make it through!

Best wishes, Elizabeth A. Hugessen

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CLASS OF 2020

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE

CLASS OF 4 The Shield Spring 2020 • Royal St. George’s College

Gentlemen, you have all left your mark at the College in some way. We wish you all the best wherever your journey takes you, and we look forward to celebrating your graduation with you in person. #forevergeorgian

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COMMUNITY

GIVING

How Do You Keep Your Mental Health Healthy?

Parent and Faculty Partnership Gets Grade 9 Boys Reading

Hockey three times a week and the gym when my wife makes me go.

– Bil Harmer ’87 I have made it a priority to get out of the city and ride my horse twice a week to help maintain my mental health. The fresh air, physical activity and time connecting with an animal does wonders for me. Even in the frigid cold winter, I still make sure to go! I’ve been riding since I was eight years old and love that I’m still learning so much every time I ride!

– Emily Johnson, Junior School Music Teacher I exercise early in the morning every day, and I love taking my dog for walks along the boardwalk – sometimes early enough to catch the sunrise. It’s so calming and peaceful, and most definitely brings me to my happy place. – Lauren Alpern, Communications Manager and Shield Editor Forest bathing. All seasons of the year! – Janet Stephenson, Junior School Learning Centre The way I combat stress is… surprisingly, by working! I like to sit down, write out a list of things I’ve been meaning to do, and work away. It helps me take my mind off of stressful situations and focus on something important. – Nick Jones ’17

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For me, daily exercise is key for maintaining good mental health. I strength train, do hot yoga, pilates, and I also enjoy running outside when the weather is nice. I also try to walk as much as possible, and I love to be active outdoors with my kids.

Exercising regularly helps me sleep better and it also help me make better food choices in general. – Leana Satim, Senior School French Teacher I do yoga regularly, walk and I paint/draw. – Sanaz Ghoreshy, Senior School Science Teacher Something that became very evident to me in university was how effective a simple walk could be for clearing my head.

The fresh air helps break down my thoughts in a way that makes them manageable.

– Riley Wong ’12 I listen to music.

– Oscar Tiplady, Class of 2021

Girls are more likely than boys to be frequent readers, as are younger children compared with older children.

The average number of books read in a year in the 6-8 age group is 37. By ages 15-17, that drops to 15.

BY LAUREN ALPERN

W

hen RSGC parent Amanda Lang was asked if she would consider donating $5,000 towards funding a new independent reading program for Grade 9 students, she agreed without hesitation. The program allows for plenty of reading time in class, with students selecting books of their choice from a curated collection of titles purchased by Librarian Tim Hutton.

“Aside from wanting to support the school regardless, this one struck a particular chord with me because of my own love of reading and wanting my own Grade 9 student to continue to read,” said Amanda. “Because reading is so important to me, it seemed a perfect confluence of things that I would do this year.”

With the money, Tim is able to build a special collection of books that appeal to Grade 9 boys while keeping his existing library budget focused on Junior School resources and academic databases.

“Fourteen-year-old boys have a pretty wide taste in literature and can’t really be pinned down,” said Tim. “We’re building a collection that includes a wide range of tastes, from very contemporary modern fiction across all genres, mysteries and thrillers to non-fiction, biographies, and books about athletes, sports and Malcolm Gladwell.”

In the Grade 9 Independent Reading Program, the English teachers set aside time for free-choice reading in class. In the Of Mice and Men unit, the teachers used the classic novel as an “anchor text”, discussing themes and concepts using passages from the novel. Students made comparisons between the ideas developed

Canadian children currently reading a book for fun: 70% from ages 9-11, drops to 46% at ages 12-14 and 41% from ages 15-17.

(Scholastic Canada)

in lessons and their own independent reading. The goal of the program is to encourage more independent reading.

English teacher Alison Hart definitely sees the boys reading more, even though the program is still in its infancy.

“Some boys are on their third or fourth book, while others are on their tenth,” said Alison. “I also find that it’s generating discussion. The boys are sharing with each other more and advertising their books a little bit. We’ve also noticed in their writing that it’s forcing some critical thinking. Because we haven’t read what they’re reading, they have to identify the key passages and it’s not so teacher-centred.”

Both Alison and Tim agree that reading is more attractive to the boys when they are able to choose what they read.

“Most of them are receptive because they’re reading something they’re not being forced to read and they’re choosing

their own genre at their own reading level,” said Alison.

“Choice has been shown to improve reading,” said Tim. “We’re trying to create a reading-positive culture in which boys enjoy reading, where they’re proud of reading and curious. Plus, reading fiction, literature and novels develops greater empathy, which is an important trait.”

Reading has always been important for Amanda, which is part of the reason she wanted to support the program.

“For me, it’s more than important. It’s essential. I learned as a child that reading was an escape – it was a way to learn things, but also to build my imagination.

It really has become a huge part of how I live my life and be a happy, peaceful person,” she said. “I feel like Grade 9 is a critical stage for this. It’s a point between youth literature and adult literature. There are so many things to read and there’s a way to bridge that gap.”

Amanda has already noticed that her son, Julian Borg, is reading more at home since the program’s inception.

“He doesn’t gravitate towards fiction as I did at his age,” said Amanda. “Books grab him and that’s really gratifying. He has been reading more lately because he has found some books that he really loves.”

RSGC, the English department and Tim are extremely grateful for Amanda’s generosity.

“I’m stunned, frankly,” said Tim. “It’s wonderful to know that there’s a parent who supports boys reading like she does.”

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FACULTY SPOTLIGHT

RUNNING IN PLACE Peter Sarellas Loves What He Does

Peter loves his job so much that it doesn't feel like a job to him. He also loves his wife Rosie and his twin daughters!

BY LAUREN ALPERN

P

eter Sarellas can’t sit still, so it’s no surprise that he loves his job as a Physical Education teacher. And this September, he will be celebrating 25 years at the College, making him the latest member of the Order of the Dragon.

As much as Peter loves movement, he says he doesn’t feel like he has just spent 25 years at the same place.

“It really doesn’t seem like 25 years – it has flown by. I always joke around that I don’t have a job. I get to hang around with kids, teach them how to play sports and have a little more faith in their abilities,” said Peter, who started out teaching geography part-time, then

moved to phys ed and geography, before adding science to the mix.

“It’s not about being a star athlete, it’s about their effort. It’s a thrill when a non-athlete comes in and figures out that they’re not horrible. Those are the kids that I really like to reach: the self-proclaimed bad athletes who leave feeling good about themselves. It’s been a really quick 25 years of that.”

Peter taught geography for four years and Grade 10 science for three years. After about eight years, he began writing some of the phys ed curriculum, and served as the Head of Phys Ed for over 10 years.

Peter worked hard to grow the sections, introducing kinesiology, a course for elite

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athletes and a personal fitness course. His real baby, however, has been the Fitness Technology Centre, otherwise known as the FTC. “We knew we needed more space,” said Peter. “I had the concept of what I wanted the FTC to look like. My goal was to introduce heart rate monitors on the treadmills, bikes and steps, and get the boys’ cardio health to improve,” said Peter, who has noticed that boys have been getting in better shape over his 25-year run at the College. “I also introduced the 12-minute run around the block. We do that outside in the spring and fall, and in the winter, they do the heart rate runs in the FTC.” The FTC has become very popular for the RSGC community, with athletes and other students, teachers, former staff and even some alumni coming by to use the facility.

“It gets used a fair amount by a good population of the boys – we get a pretty good mix. We get the soccer players, hockey players and rugby players in there training, and some non-athletic guys in there too,” said Peter, who has coached rugby, volleyball, soccer, cross country and basketball at RSGC. “Some guys have a goal and want to improve their personal fitness. It’s nice to see that some of them have bought in, that it has become more of a lifestyle thing, not just something they had to do in Grade 9 gym class. We’re also starting to bring in the Grade 7s and 8s, so they’re getting exposed to it earlier.”

Of course, as someone who needs to constantly stay active, Peter loves that he is having a positive impact on the physical wellness of the students.

“Physical fitness has really become an important part of the boys’ time at RSGC. When I first arrived at the school, there was more focus on playing games, but our courses are more focused on lifestyle now. They’re not going to play basketball or soccer for the next 40 years, but they can work out or run or do judo,” said Peter. “We introduce them to a variety of sports and they learn the rules, and once they reach Grade 11 or 12, we encourage them to have a more active lifestyle. It’s like being a parent: we introduce them to a bunch of things and let them choose what they want to do.

The last thing we want is guys to sit at a desk for hours a day and not be active.”

Peter’s wife Rosie, who describes Peter as caring, a comedian, athletic and a thinker with strong integrity, is so happy that her high school sweetheart has found a place where he is happy.

“It’s really amazing, and I have to say, he loves it. He’s so committed to his work and the Fitness Technology Centre especially. He really seems to have found his thing and he’s perfectly suited for where he is,” said Rosie, who is also a teacher. “He gets positive feedback from the boys as well, so it’s good. It’s pretty wonderful that you can stay in one place for so long and still love what you do.”

Peter loves it so much that he doesn’t plan on going anywhere even when he is

able to retire in two years’ time.

“I love working with kids. If I won the lottery tomorrow, I’d still be doing this,” he said. “It’s a great place. I feel like I haven’t had a job in 25 years.”

The COVID-19 pandemic has added a wrinkle to Peter’s usual way of teaching phys ed, but he has managed to find ways to get boys active from afar. Peter had the boys doing circuit training workouts, so he asked them to create brief videos of themselves doing a circuit, or doing a creative home exercise. They also had to complete three different workouts they found online. The boys also created their own 20-minute workout videos, focusing on a component of fitness like cardio, strength, flexibility or endurance, or for a specific sport like basketball, volleyball or strength training.

Of course, the pandemic has been difficult for a man who has a hard time sitting still.

“I’m going kind of nuts at home. I have limited workout gear and a dingy, dusty basement, so I’ve mixed up weight workouts, lots of walks with Rosie and my daughters, and even a few runs, which are not great for my back,” said Peter. “Luckily, we have a large cottage property where I’ve been able to get away for a few days at a time and burn off energy cutting wood, doing renos and general clean-up lakeside. It’s been cold, but lets me burn off energy. Also, a few things on the to-do list at home are finally getting done.”

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ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

Neil Hetherington ’91 CALM AT THE CENTRE OF THE STORM

Despite the long hours, Neil loves his job and is uplifted by the kindness people in the community have shown.

BY LAUREN ALPERN

A

s the CEO of the Daily Bread Food Bank, Neil Hetherington ’91 has been working long hours every day since the COVID-19 pandemic hit. But despite the fact that he has had to borrow a spin bike from Rocket Cycle to steal a spare moment to exercise in his office whenever he can, he thrives on the stress and is uplifted by the kindness and generosity he has seen from people in the community.

Since the start of the lockdown, Daily Bread has gone from serving 15,000 per week to almost 25,000 per week, while numerous food banks have had to close down, specifically those

housed in vulnerable areas.

“This is the most difficult thing we’ve ever experienced as a nation. We talk about how we’re all in this storm together, which is true, but we’re all in different circumstances. Some of us are in a canoe and some of us are on a cruise ship. Some of us are able to weather this far better.

When the announcement came from the Minister of Health to stockpile two weeks of food, that wasn’t possible for the people that we serve. We have seen about a 30 per cent increase across the board,” said Neil. “It was already a crisis before the pandemic hit. Now even more people are closer to food insecurity.”

As the CEO of the Daily Bread Food Bank, Neil has been working long days during the pandemic to ensure those in need have access to food.

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Neil, who has been at the helm of the non-profit organization since January 2018, is fully engaged in the challenge of feeding those who need it – while keeping the clients and staff as safe as possible.

Through a partnership with GlobalMedic, Daily Bread now has a field tent in the parking lot, allowing food bank clients to get what they need without having to enter the building, and at a distance from those who prepare the food.

“We’re really focusing on the core aspects that have to happen for the food bank to operate,” said Neil, who started at RSGC in Grade 7. “We have two groups of staff who work different shifts, while individuals who

can work from home 100 per cent of the time are doing that. We’ve also decreased the number of volunteers from 125 to 20. The workload isn’t the same, so we can’t do what we were doing before. We’ve had to purchase more food, so we don’t have to sort it. Of course, everyone is wearing the proper PPE.” Neil, who was previously the CEO of Dixon Hall Neighbourhood Services, and Habitat for Humanity Toronto and New York City, has been deemed an essential worker during the pandemic, but doesn’t worry about the risk to himself.

“I think the risk is greater if we don’t do what we have to do,” he said. “The risk to those who are experiencing poverty is tremendous if Daily Bread were to ever shut down. Our goal is simple. We have to make sure everyone gets the food they need and do it in a safe way. The risk is greater if we don’t carry on.”

With Daily Bread 100 per cent reliant on donations, Neil has been heartened by the support during such a difficult time.

“We’ve had kids do food drives on their streets. In May, Rocket Cycle did a spin class from our warehouse and they raised $17,000 for us. Film producer Gary Slaight gave us $1 million,” said Neil, who mentioned that they have partnerships with farms, where they get a lot of food that doesn’t make it to stores. “People have risen to the occasion and provided hope to so many people.”

Luckily for Neil, these uplifting moments have helped to keep a smile on his face while he spends most of his time working.

“I’m at work all the time and I have been since the pandemic started. And

that’s okay. I’m grateful that I’ve got a job that I love and grateful that the work we do is meaningful,” said Neil, whose dog, a Yellow Lab named Charlie, often makes an appearance at work. “I’m definitely one of the fortunate ones put into the position of being an essential worker without knowing it. I get motivated and I’m uplifted by the work that we do.”

Sarah Diebel, Chair of the Board of Directors at Daily Bread for the past eight years, couldn’t be happier to have Neil running the show during the pandemic.

“He has thrived in the challenge and more than risen to the occasion,” said Sarah. “He has been our fearless leader at the head of this and I think that the whole community of Toronto and the food bank community of Canada has benefited from his leadership.”

Sarah is so impressed by all that Neil has brought to the organization since he has taken over, including a different level of sophistication to the business side of things, stewardship, business acumen, limitless energy and drive.

“You just don’t see him get worn down – the guy is a machine. It’s so obvious that this is not a career or a job – it’s a calling, and he lives it every day,” said Sarah. “He’s an exceptional leader and we’re very lucky to have him. He’s a gift to all of us and certainly the Daily Bread as a community is better to have him. We’re lucky to have that high level of sophistication and the dedication to helping people.”

If you would like to make a donation to the Daily Bread Food Bank, visit dailybread.ca/ways-to-give/

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STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

BRIDGING THE DIGITAL DIVIDE

MAX BALZER ’26 One RSGC student saw a need and decided to do something about it

Max, his brother Conrad (Class of 2028), his father Thomas and his mother Sarah have all been involved in his iPad initiative in one way or another.

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BY LAUREN ALPERN

I

t’s not that common for a Grade 6 student to read the New York Times.

It’s even less common for a Grade 6 student to take action after reading an article in the New York Times. But Max Balzer isn’t all that common….

After reading about Allia Phillips, a 10-year-old homeless honours student in New York City who lives in a shelter with her mother and grandmother, Max realized that Allia is just one of many children who is eager to learn, but has no access to the Internet.

“Allia and her mother described their way of living in such a raw way, and it got to me. I just couldn’t handle it anymore. It was such a raw representation of how people like that live – really not being able to enjoy the luxuries that we enjoy, like devices for digital learning,” said Max, who has been doing distance learning from home since the COVID-19 pandemic hit. “I just didn’t have such an appreciation for it before and it made me understand it in a way that I hadn’t before.”

According to Max’s mother, Sarah, Max was extremely upset and bothered

by Allia’s story.

“He got very upset, and kept talking about how unfair it seemed. I finally told him to take all of this emotion and do something about it,” said Sarah, whose

younger son Conrad is in the Class of 2028. “It’s an extension of the belief of filling a need. If you see a piece of trash on the ground, pick it up. If you see someone struggling with the door, open it for them. If you see a need, do something about it. It’s so easy for us to move on from things in regular life, but right now, we actually have time to explore things that maybe we wouldn’t have time for when our lives are busier.”

Max decided to do what he could. He started collecting old iPads and laptops to distribute to kids living in shelters who are distance learning, but do not have devices. He chose the Red Door Family Shelter and Birkdale Residences.

“I did quite a bit of research to find family shelters in Toronto in need of help or just in need, and those two spoke to me in a way that the others didn’t,” said Max, who spends about an hour a day on emails for the initiative that he would love to name Allia’s iPads. “I wanted to find shelters that had demand for these devices.”

And so it began. With help from Sarah, Max started getting the word out that he was looking for old devices. He collected 22 in 20 days and did the first delivery almost immediately, bringing half to Red Door and half to Birkdale.

And while the pandemic hasn’t allowed

for Max to see first-hand how the children are using the devices, feedback has been extremely positive.

“They’ve been very appreciative. We’ve been getting emails from the staff that the kids have really been enjoying them and that they’ve really been helping their education,” said Max. “It’s so great to hear.”

Sarah, who has been helping not only by getting the word out about the call for donations, but also by acting as the delivery driver, says that for Max, it has been a very eye-opening experience to actually go to the shelters and drop off the devices.

“This inequity in life has caused him a lot of distress, but he has had to face his fear to go and take them in,” said Sarah, who says that Max is very compassionate by nature. “The first delivery, he just handed it in at the door. The second dropoff was easier. He was able to go in and see some of the residences, and see a very different way of life for a lot of people.”

Max’s father, Thomas, agrees with Sarah that the experience has been gamechanging for their son.

“I’m proud of Max – what he’s doing is great and it has merit, but just going out to do the drop-off at a homeless shelter exposes somebody like Max to things that he doesn’t normally see in the regular course of his life,” said Thomas. “I hope it will have a lasting impact on him.”

Thomas has also been involved in the initiative, acting as both emotional and technical support. His role has largely been getting the devices in healthy enough shape to be donated. He, like Sarah, is impressed that Max was able to bring the idea to fruition.

“He took an emotionally impactful thing and translated it into an action where he can have an impact on somebody’s life. It’s a really satisfying thing to see,” said Thomas. “I’m so pleased that he took his feeling of guilt or unfairness and turned it into a feeling of ‘I can do something about it’.”

While the work is not done, Max is happy about the uptake so far and will keep going if they reach their goal of having devices for every child in the shelters.

“If we reach our goal, we’ll just keep going and see who else we can help,” said Max.

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PARENT SPOTLIGHT

CURTIS HIBBERT:

STICK THE LANDING A Former Gymnast and his Family Navigate the Pandemic in Style

BY LAUREN ALPERN

L

ife has come full circle for Canada’s most successful gymnast. Curtis Hibbert, the six-time national champion, two-time World Championship medallist and holder of six medals from the Commonwealth Games, including five golds, is now giving his two boys trampoline lessons in the backyard as he and his family practice physical distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic.

As an active family, Curtis, his wife, Cathy, and their two sons, Samuel, 12, and Myles, 8 (Class of 2029), have been doing everything they can to remain physically fit.

“I’ve been teaching the kids tricks on the trampoline, and we get out for hikes in the forest,” said Curtis, who retired from competitive gymnastics in 1993.

“Samuel loves playing basketball, but since he can’t play with other kids in the neighbourhood, he is stuck playing with me. I try to keep up with him!”

While Myles is the only one in the family who now does gymnastics – and only on a recreational level – the Hibberts are still big on physical activity. They ski and snowboard together, waterski and bike, and Samuel is a provinciallevel swimmer. Curtis, who owned a recreational gym called Kids Super Gym Club after his retirement from the sport, has been to elementary and high schools across Toronto speaking to students, helping teachers develop gymnastics programs and motivating young people to be active.

Now, more than ever, Curtis emphasizes the importance of promoting physical fitness.

“Being active is a huge benefit for mental health,” said Curtis, who moved to Canada from Jamaica at age 4 and said that by the time he was 7, he was already able to do flips and walk on his hands. “The skills you learn from sport – the visualization and concentration techniques, CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy) – they’re incredible life-long skills that I still use today. They have helped me with parenting, work stress and staying fit.”

Curtis credits physical fitness with changing his life for the better. As the youngest of seven children growing up in a low-income family, he says it was gymnastics that allowed him to learn valuable life lessons and see the globe. He started the sport at age 7, and by 8 years old, he had won the provincial championships.

He was soon winning every competition he entered. Gymnastics quickly became his life, as he took to training three times a week until he was 12, which is when he got noticed by some of the top coaches and judges. He was invited to train at York University, along with national team members. During the summers, he would go train with the team at Canadian Adventure Camp in Temagami.

“We couldn’t afford the camp, so the director let me wash dishes or be the garbage man, so I could stay for weeks on end and train. I was very lucky – it was just the right time, the right place, with the right people. The first club that I was at changed their policy, allowing anyone

14 The Shield Spring 2020 • Royal St. George’s College

without financial means to go there because of me,” said Curtis. “With seven kids, my parents weren’t able to help me. My coaches were my pillars. They provided all of the guidance and support for me to reach my greatest dreams, while my family were my biggest cheerleaders. ” His wife, Cathy, is extremely proud of Curtis and says that they often talk about his gymnastics career with their boys.

“We taught them the word trailblazer at a young age, because their dad was a trailblazer. He was the first black gymnast to win a World Championship and the first Canadian to win a World Championship medal. He’s still the most decorated Canadian gymnast,” said Cathy, who was a camper at Canadian Adventure Camp and had a huge crush on Curtis. “We talk about dedication, the number of hours you have to put in, how hard it is, and even though you’re training so hard, you might not have the best meet on the day.”

After his retirement from the sport in 1993, Curtis went on to have a successful 20-year career as a stuntman,

Curtis started his third career as a police officer at age 40. After he retired from gymnastics in 1993, he worked as a stuntman.

doing live-action stunt shows, diving off the mountain at Canada’s Wonderland, and appearing in both Canadian and American movie and television productions, including 16 Blocks, X-Men, Chicago and Undercover Brother. His favourite movie moment was doubling James Brown.

In 2006, at age 40, Curtis began his third career – becoming a police officer for the city of Toronto.

“It was a steep learning curve, but I knew I was capable physically,” said Curtis. “I really like it. For a few years I worked as a school resource officer, where I was able to help school administrators and young people navigate some tricky times. The work/life balance has been great as well.”

Cathy was extremely supportive of the career move.

“At that time, the film industry was tanking in Toronto and we wanted to have a family – we didn’t want to depend on something so unreliable,” said Cathy, who describes her husband as chatty,

empathetic, silly, determined, loving and a great father. “His first week on the job, he chased a thief, jumped a fence and caught the guy – it was great seeing him on the news.”

With the COVID19 pandemic in full force, Curtis is working from home, as his current office position now allows him to complete his work online. He is still enjoying the job, but he misses his fellow officers.

“Now, the kids are home and it’s a team effort for all of us to get our work done,” said Curtis. “The teachers at RSGC are doing a fantastic job, and luckily our boys can be almost independent with their online learning. Cathy and I help out when we can, but she is teaching her own classes in our bedroom

and I’m doing my police work at the kitchen table!”

At the end of the day, pandemic or not, a family walk, a bike ride or a bounce on the trampoline makes it all okay.

Curtis is happy.

“Finally, I have the time to coach the kids, and they are loving their new tricks!” he said.

The Shield Spring 2020 • Royal St. George’s College 15

FEATURE FEATURES

STRONGER TOGETHER College traditions unite the community during the coronavirus pandemic John Waggott, Grade 5, wears his uniform every day.

16 The Shield Spring 2020 • Royal St. George’s College

John starts off every morning in the layby to say hello to Mr. Beatty and his teachers. It's the highlight of his day.

BY SUMNER & LANG

L

ike Stephen Beatty, Grade 5 student John Waggott starts each school day at the layby. Before the transition to distance learning, this was the time when the Headmaster greeted students, parents and faculty in person as they arrived. Families would chat briefly with each other and everyone shared a hello, a wave, a smile. It has always been a special time to connect as a community before the day begins.

Now learning from home, John joins the virtual layby from a laptop he recently inherited from his mother.

“Classes start at 9:00 am, but John arrives ‘at school’ every morning at 8:30,” said mom Patricia Quintero. “He gets up early, puts on his school tie, and says hello to Mr. Beatty and his teachers. It’s a highlight of his day.”

Like every other RSGC student, John then begins his classes remotely. He has quickly adapted to the technological systems and academic expectations of the College’s new Distance Learning Plan.

From John’s perspective, one of the great upsides has been finding his way around his new computer and becoming more independent.

“As much as he misses playing with his friends and being physically at school, John has also felt empowered by this change in his life,” said Patricia. “We spent time as a family setting up all our work spaces and coming up with a schedule that fits everyone. I also help John with his organizational skills and time management. But beyond that, he

Patricia says her son feels empowered by the change in his life.

really wants to do everything himself: figure out the technology, complete his school work, manage any of the problemsolving needed. It’s amazing how much he has matured in just a few months.”

While no school can predict a pandemic, the foundation for the collaborative and independent learning John engages in at home was laid by his teachers well in advance. Starting in the Junior School, the boys learn the skills required to work productively and respectfully in groups and also to plan out their independent projects. Now learning remotely, they can call on the skills and habits they had honed in the classroom.

“Our distance plan extends the learning essentials that the boys start working on the moment they arrive in our care,”

said Anna Magor, Director of Teaching and Learning in the Junior School. “But it’s not only about transferring good learning habits to the home. It’s also about maintaining the close relationships and connections between teachers and students and among the boys. Learning is as much social and emotional as it is intellectual. Maintaining community and inclusion is a priority that runs in parallel with continued instruction of the STEM subjects, the humanities, physical education, music and so on.”

With parent feedback gathered on how to build the most effective timetable, as well as research into best practices around the world, Anna is confident that the school is offering a highly effective online teaching and learning

The Shield Spring 2020 • Royal St. George’s College 17

Cooking Club

Advisor Sessions

Cooking Club has gone virtual, with many boys, staff and their kids cooking up a storm from the comfort of their own homes.

environment. She is also proud of how hard the faculty has worked to find the right balance of synchronous and asynchronous learning, while maintaining the warm family feeling that is a hallmark of the school.

“We had to re-imagine what education needs to be in this context,” she said. “But we already know who we are and what we stand for.

We continue to guide our boys toward being their best selves within a community of caring relationships, even when learning moves off campus and continues at home.”

In the Senior School, Friday advisory periods offer another way to provide that ongoing care. In addition to the support of their subject teachers, this is a time for boys to talk to their advisor about how they’re faring. Preserving synchronous learning time is also important, despite the increased self-direction and independence of older students.

As in the Junior School, a phased Distance Learning Plan was designed for the older boys. Stage one focused on being responsive to the immediate situation and offering stability 18 The Shield Spring 2020 • Royal St. George’s College

Weekly advisor sessions continued, with fun themes like Beach Day, Crazy Hat Day and Graphic Shirt Day.

Coming together for a math assignment.

– saying, essentially, “We’re in this together, and we’re going to keep learning and growing as a team.” Phase two included a full community survey and further honing of the learning tools faculty had already launched. As of May, the school entered the third and final phase, with an optimal balance of live class instruction, protected time for individual questions and support, and offline school work.

Studying Le Petit Prince in French Class.

“The RSGC community does a lot of things well,” said Michael Ruscitti, Director of Teaching and Learning in the Senior School. “One of them is the way we work together to meet the needs of our boys.

When it comes to distance learning, how much face-toface teacher time is required, how much student-led group work, and how much independent learning? What different forms of instruction

and guidance are needed?

We found the right answers through a collaborative and iterative process. Everyone has had a voice, which is why we have landed in such a good place, academically and socially.”

Some of those voices belong to Head Prefect Ben Mazan and the team of student leaders challenged to offer a student life environment as similar to the “real” RSGC world as possible. Migrating weekly assemblies, student leadership meetings, social events and school clubs to Google Meets has required some creative problem-solving.

As a leader of the euchre club, Ben has helped the group transition from clustering together around a table and pack of cards to using an online format. But the spirit of the club has endured.

“Most important is finding time to share some laughs and connect,” said Ben. “That happens in our social clubs, as well as in others like math and arts. We also set aside Mondays and Thursdays to have lunch together for anyone who wants to come.

And the House Captains boost school spirit though fun activities like the toilet paper keep-up challenge. There’s always something going on.

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Euchre Club

Together Yet Apart

Head Boy Ben Mazan ’20 led the Euchre Club and the spirit remained, even in an online environment.

With various touch points throughout the day, boys had a chance to connect with their classmates and teachers.

Vinyl Club

Grad Moms' Tea

Extracurriculars at the College lived on during the pandemic, including Vinyl Club, which met every Friday.

We make sure that our weekly assembly announcements – filmed on Thursdays and shared during Friday advisory periods – keep everyone up to date about what’s happening in the school community.”

Even outside school hours, some of the boys are busy volunteering (masked and gloved) at the Daily Bread Food Bank, using their 3D printers to make face shields, or delivering groceries and supplies to vulnerable members of the community.

While life has changed, the spirit of service has not.

The entire community, including the advancement team, shares Ben’s philosophy: with every drawback comes

opportunity. Just as the faculty and academic leaders have had to rethink the curriculum, Executive Director of Advancement Maria Jordan and her team have had to sort out a new way of operating.

“When the pandemic hit, we had the same instinct as everyone else,” she explained.

“We asked people, how are you doing? Is there anything you need? This is a community we love, and the great relationships we have mean everything. So, our target shifted right away from fundraising to reaching out, checking in and keeping people connected.”

Since the College’s founding, families have always

20 The Shield Spring 2020 • Royal St. George’s College

In this emotional event, the mothers of boys graduating this year were honoured virtually.

supported it generously. Today, with the coronavirus outbreak in our midst, many family businesses have experienced a drop in revenue. That led Maria and her team to create the RSGC Small Business Directory, which lists over 70 businesses that continue to offer their goods and services online. The directory makes it easy to find a great bottle of wine, a registered psychotherapist, a wedding officiant, or dozens of other offerings while supporting the community.

The school also adapted its treasured Grad Moms’ Tea tradition, during which graduating class moms are honoured by the school, enjoy some social time together

and receive a rose from their son. Moving to an online format was a challenge the Advancement team embraced, as was working with the Alumni Association to continue its networking activities through a virtual Knights Talk series. In the first two talks, alumni and staff shared their wisdom in dealing with the economic consequences and mental health impacts of COVID-19.

“Our theme is Stronger Together, and that’s never been more important than now,” said Maria. “Our strength is in our relationships. We know that we will emerge from this historical moment better and closer than ever before.”

Commmunity Service Students have still been involved in helping the community, from preparing food donations to making face shields with 3D printers.

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FEATURE FEATURES

W

CAN WE

TALK? The RSGC community keeps the mental health conversation open on all sides.

ID 157821549 © Naufal Hudallah | Dreamstime.com

BY KAREN SUMNER

22 The Shield Spring 2020 • Royal St. George’s College

hat do we know about mental health issues in youth aged 16 to 24? For one, we know that this is a time of life when depression, anxiety and substance use disorders are most likely to emerge. Second, that for this age group, 2009 was an inflection point in Ontario. That’s the year that mental health and addiction visits to hospital emergency departments soared – and they have stayed high since then.

“The good news is that young people are more comfortable than ever before with disclosing and discussing mental health issues,” said Paul Kurdyak, the Director of Health Systems Research at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Toronto, and the father of Robert Kurdyak ’17. “They more readily believe there is no stigma in mental illness, which means they are willing to seek help. The bad news is that our mental health services are difficult to access, hence the ER visits.”

Paul adds that mental health issues exist along a continuum. They can arise at any time in response to our surrounding environment. This partly explains why teens are especially vulnerable. They experience significant stresses in their changing social circles, exposure to media, ongoing identity formation, and also in response to world events, such as our climate crisis and the coronavirus pandemic.

How can we help young people manage their stresses? Paul supports the five golden rules offered by jack.org: say what you see (start a conversation), show you care (build trusting relationships), hear them out (be a good listener), know your role (maintain healthy boundaries), and connect to help (learn how to access resources). These apply to both adults and youth.

“Adults who adopt a position of humility can do a lot to help,” he said.

“Don’t be the expert. Ask questions. Say, ‘I don’t understand.’ Say, ‘I would like to hear more.’ Youth-to-youth support is also very effective. The more young people can talk to each other about

what they’re experiencing, the better they understand how typical it is to have mental health struggles. There’s comfort and strength in numbers.”

Andrea Kaye, one of RSGC’s two Social Workers, agrees that opportunities for youth to talk – to the adults in their lives and to each other – play a leading role in supporting their mental health and general wellness.

“When students share their stories with each other, they normalize their struggles,” she explained. “Young people sometimes think things will never change.

They can’t see how tomorrow will be different from today. So, when a younger student hears from a Grade 12 about how socially isolated they felt in Grade 9, or about how their parents’ divorce affected them, it opens up space. And it sends the message that things will get better.”

Andrea facilitates conversations among students in her office and also organizes a more formalized structure where older students visit Grade 9 classes and share their stories. In addition to learning how common it is to have daily worries and stresses, the younger boys get a clear message: Whatever is going on with you now will change. You won’t be the same person in Grade 12.

“These conversations also help the older students reflect on their life journey before graduation,” Andrea said. “They can think about what they have achieved and where they still struggle. Sometimes they need help seeing that they are more than their grades and that there isn’t one

Alumni parent Paul Kurdyak works at CAMH and the Department of Psychiatry at U of T.

road to success. It’s important that adults send the same message – especially before starting university, when students are coping on their own for the first time.”

Karen Jones hears a lot from students who find first year at university to be especially challenging. Parent of Nick ’17 and Chris ’15, she knows of many of their peers who use alcohol and drugs to manage anxiety and depression. She has even visited Queen’s University to talk to students about the pressures they feel, their internal expectations of themselves, and how they cope.

Karen, crisis responder and mental wellness coach for youth, conveys to students that anxiety and depression are

Alumni parent Karen Jones is a crisis responder and mental wellness coach for youth.

The Shield Spring 2020 • Royal St. George’s College 23

normal human responses to stress that can escalate to become mental health illnesses if not managed appropriately.

“The question is, when the body is warning us that something isn’t right, do we respond by addressing the threats and causes? Or do we self-medicate and mask? A lot of young people distract themselves with substance use and social media. Those aren’t effective strategies. We need to help them develop resilience and the skills required to problem-solve and cope.”

Parents can help children and teens to develop those skills by ensuring they have time away from social media, activities that involve connecting to people and nature, and age-appropriate opportunities to fail and bounce back. Social media overstimulates brains, crowding out the periods of calm and reflection needed to process emotions and experiences. It also publicly documents their every move and sets up unrealistic

comparisons to others who appear to have it all.

In addition, Karen says, we live in an age of over-parenting when kids aren’t often left to fend for themselves, even in the smallest ways like making their own meals or living with the fact that they forgot an assignment at home – without having a parent deliver it for them.

“I’ve been guilty of doing too much at times,” said Karen. “It’s something for all parents to reflect on. Do we want our children to build the emotional strength to deal with setbacks? Have realistic expectations of themselves?

Become self-reliant? If so, parents need to step back and let the normal failings and disappointments of life take their course, while being emotionally supportive.”

Like other experts, Karen believes that ongoing conversations about thoughts, emotions and mental health

24 The Shield Spring 2020 • Royal St. George’s College

issues are of paramount importance. This is not about parents giving advice or entering a debate. It’s about listening, validating feelings and asking open-ended questions.

Sometimes, that kind of listening can even come from a stranger. That’s why Karen founded Overflo, which offers anonymous texting support lines for young people to reach out and talk to a qualified responder. Teens are encouraged to explore their thoughts and feelings, and empowered to discover resources, weigh options, solve problems and develop coping strategies.

Since his graduation in 2012, James Cardy has seen a lot of positive change in the conversation around mental health – in education, in families, between friends and through resources like Overflo. Jamie had a difficult time finding his place after he arrived at RSGC, and responded by setting low

expectations for himself and establishing unhealthy coping habits that caught up with him at university.

“In high school, I wanted to feel normal, I wanted to belong,” he said. “I spent two years trying to find out where I fit in, and I ended up making regrettable decisions in my social life. I spent a lot of time drinking, smoking weed, underperforming. And I thought I knew what I wanted to do: become a General Manager at a Four Seasons hotel. I loved the hospitality industry, and that’s what I set my sights on. But I was selling myself short. I could have reached higher.”

Jamie headed to Guelph University for hotel management, limped through his first year and crashed in his second.

He spent most of his time sleeping and partying until, finally, he realized he was not healthy enough to be in school.

His mom came to pick him up and, two weeks later, he was in rehab in Colorado.

ID 125255840 © Sharaf Maksumov | Dreamstime.com

Since his graduation in 2012, James Cardy has seen a lot of positive change in the conversation around mental health.

“Substance addiction was never my real problem,” Jamie said. “I was lost. I was depressed. I didn’t know who I was or why I was doing anything. So, I started to focus on my mental health.

And I now have a self-care routine that includes going to the gym, seeing a therapist, getting outdoors into sunlight and continuing to learn about myself.”

Jamie went back to school, joined his family business and recently shared his story with RSGC students.

“I said to them, ‘You can’t tell from the outside, but everyone is going through something.

Everyone is struggling. Be compassionate toward each other. Be understanding. And take care of yourself, too.’ People can experience periods of anxiety and depression. It can come and go. Mental health is a fluid concept. I wanted them to know that no matter what the boy beside you looks like – as a student, as an athlete, as a friend – he may be having a tough time. Reach out and show you care.”

Jamie believes he has benefited from a more open cultural conversation about mental health. When he first

Jamie's focus on his mental health has him in a great place. He is happy, healthy and working in the family business.

arrived at RSGC, the topic was only beginning to gain momentum. Today, Head of Senior School Paul O’Leary says that the College works

hard to focus as much on wellness as on academics.

“The priority is to keep the dialogue open,” he said.

“Students in schools like this put a lot of pressure on themselves to be successful – academically, socially, athletically – so it’s important for us to provide a counterbalance and support them however we can. The more we talk about what it’s like to be a young

person today, the more we listen to their experiences, the better we support our boys’ wellness.”

The College has formed a Wellbeing Group that meets every week to discuss individual boys who may need additional support. It also gathers feedback from alumni at university to better understand the challenges

they face and how RSGC can continue to prepare all students well for post-secondary life. Today, that preparation needs to be as much socialemotional as academic. Paul also encourages parents to reach out and connect to the school if they have any concerns about their sons.

“Let’s keep the dialogue open on all sides,” Paul said.

The Shield Spring 2020 • Royal St. George’s College 25

FEATURE

THE POWER OF SPEAKING UP Alumni share their struggles to help others through tough times.

Ben wasn't open about who he was in high school, and instead went on the attack against anyone he viewed as a threat.

BY WARREN LANG

TODAY, BEN MCLAUGHLIN ’12 TALKS OPENLY ABOUT WHO HE IS AND WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO COME OUT AS GAY WHILE AT UNIVERSITY. BUT THE RECENT LAW/MBA GRADUATE FROM OSGOODE HALL AND THE SCHULICH SCHOOL OF BUSINESS REMEMBERS WHEN SPEAKING UP WAS FURTHEST FROM HIS MIND. 26 The Shield Spring 2020 • Royal St. George’s College

“In high school, I wasn’t open about who I was.

Instead, I insulated myself and went on the attack against anyone I viewed as a threat.

Trying to protect myself against being seen as gay just made my experience worse. If you’re not authentic, it’s hard to build genuine friendships.

It takes courage to be honest about who you are, but my experience has shown me that you’ll be respected for it.”

Ben recently visited RSGC to share his story at Evensong.

He wanted current students to understand that while social dynamics in high school are complicated, speaking

up and being yourself build confidence. Being yourself can also save you from the trap of forming relationships based on who you aren’t rather than who you are. There are psychological and social costs to muzzling yourself.

“As a student, I heard a lot of stuff in locker rooms,” he

recalled. “It had an impact on me. Language is powerful – our words can hurt or help. I didn’t stand up for myself or speak up.

If I had, I think the language around me would have changed in response. That’s why I talked to the boys about the impact our voices have on ourselves and on others.”

The Shield Spring 2020 • Royal St. George’s College 27

Aaron Thompson ’95, along with Alex Smith ’94, established the Timothy McGee ’95 Memorial Fund.

Alex was kicked out of McGill, but is now studying politics and governance at Ryerson University, where he also hosts a radio show.

ALEX SPEARS ’15 KNOWS WHAT IT’S LIKE TO STAY QUIET WHEN SPEAKING UP WOULD HAVE HELPED EASE HIS STRUGGLES. With a lifelong history of anxiety marked by bouts of depression, Alex turned to alcohol in high school as a form of escape. In the end, substance use masked his problem while it grew stronger beneath the surface.

In his first year at McGill, Alex only made it through a week of classes before his anxiety blew up in his face. He then spent the following months drinking in his room or out at bars. By the end of the first semester, he had a 0.3 GPA. “I was on my own and I was terrified,” he said. “I was also in denial about my real problem. I knew I was drinking too much and focused on that. But the issue was my mental health. That was driving the substance use. I was looking at the wrong thing.”

Eventually, Alex was kicked out of McGill for his poor grades.

“There’s pressure on private school guys to have the appearance that you’re killing it, that you’re a big success. I was mortified by my failure, and that only made things worse.”

Life changed when Alex asked his mom to help him quit drinking and enter a program. He eventually got to work on his underlying mental health issues and now has a multifaceted approach to maintaining wellness that includes therapy, fitness and medication.

Now studying politics and governance at Ryerson University, where he also hosts a radio show, Alex credits his turnaround to speaking up and engaging his family and friends in his recovery. He is open about his struggles and shares his story whenever he thinks it could help others.

Alex has seen this approach bear fruit.

He once heard that an RSGC classmate

28 The Shield Spring 2020 • Royal St. George’s College

was having a tough time with addiction and homelessness. When Alex came by to talk to him, the friend was too humiliated to open the door.

“I just said to him, ‘When you’re ready, I’m here for you.’ He called me from the hospital a month later and said, ‘I’m ready.’ He moved into a sober house and has since moved back in with his family and gone back to school. It’s so important to be able to say, ‘I’m not doing well. I need help.’ It’s also important to be open with your own story. I share this part of myself as often as I can. I know firsthand that it makes a difference.”

MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN PEOPLE’S LIVES IS WHAT THE TIMOTHY MAGEE ’95 MEMORIAL FUND IS ALL ABOUT. Established by Aaron Thompson ’95 and Alex Smith ’94, the fund supports mental health initiatives at the College.

In addition, a bench near the Chapel will soon bear a plaque in Tim’s honour and serve as a place to go for reflection and quiet conversation with a friend.

“Tim was an amazing person,” said Aaron, now an Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Medicine at University of Toronto and Chief Medical Officer of the WSIB. “He was funny, talkative, confident and loyal. He was also interested in psychology and human behaviour. At

the same time, he wasn’t always comfortable opening up when feeling lonely or isolated. It’s more common today to recognize our vulnerabilities and talk about them. Back then, it was rare.”

Tim struggled with periods of depression while at RSGC and into his adult

The Shield Spring 2020 • Royal St. George’s College 29

Alex Smith ’94 is glad the Classes of ’94 and ’95 have been so supportive of the Memorial Fund

Andrew von Teichman ’96’s D’Ont Poke the Bear wine and craft cider brand is attached to bullying prevention.

ANDREW VON TEICHMAN ’96 IS ALSO COMMITTED TO HELPING OTHERS BY SHARING HIS STRUGGLES AND RAISING FUNDS TO SUPPORT YOUNG PEOPLE.

life, which led him to self-medicate with alcohol and drugs. Sadly, he died of an accidental overdose in December 2015.

“Tim tried to manage everything on his own,” said his brother Mark ’93.

“Too often, young men think, ‘I’ve got this.’ Instead, our message needs to be, ‘Let’s talk about this.’ We want students to reach out when they’re struggling. The Memorial Fund helps to turn a sad event into a positive force for good.”

Because of his work, Aaron is well aware of the sheer prevalence of mental health challenges among youth. He

applauds everything RSGC is doing to support the boys.

“Adolescence is a particularly vulnerable time,” he said. “For developmental and social reasons, a large proportion of mental illnesses arise in the teenage years.

So, this is the time to provide resources and promote openness, de-stigmatization and constructive coping strategies. The Classes of ’94 and ’95 were overwhelmingly supportive of the Memorial Fund.

So many people loved Tim and want to keep his memory alive, and keep this issue in the forefront of people’s minds.”

30 The Shield Spring 2020 • Royal St. George’s College

Founder of Von Terra, which represents local and imported producers of premium wines, beers and spirits, Andrew grew up working summers at his family-owned Pelee Island Winery. Recently, he partnered with Allan Jackson of Jackson-Triggs to create D’Ont Poke the Bear wines and craft cider, which feature a distinctive label of a bear wearing an eye patch.

“Allan and I discovered that we had both been bullied at school,” explained Andrew. “In my case, it started because I had to wear an eye patch. Once Allan and I started talking about it, we decided to attach our brand to bullying prevention.

When I pitched the idea to an LCBO buyer, she burst into tears. It turned out

she was bullied as a child and was also worried about her own daughter. That’s when we really committed to rallying around the cause.”

The more Andrew shared his story with others, the more stories he heard back. He was shocked by the number of people who opened up about their experiences, whether as a child in school or an adult in the workplace. As a result, proceeds from every D’Ont Poke the Bear sale are donated to Friends First, an anti-bullying organization founded by Andrew’s wife, Natalie.

Andrew knows how much courage it takes to speak up, for someone who has experienced or witnessed bullying.

But the more open the conversation, the better for everyone.

“Natalie and I have four boys,” he said.

“We work hard to raise them with the message that kindness and empathy come first. It’s not just what we say, it’s what we do. As parents, we talk kindly about others. We take an empathetic position.

Our children watch us and hear us. And we talk to them about how kindness and empathy take a bully’s power away.”

Andrew hopes that his children – and all of us – will stand up and say something in the face of bullying behaviour.

“This whole journey began because Allan and I shared our experiences. It’s amazing what our voices can do.”

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SMALL BUSINESS DIRECTORY Many of our RSGC community members' small businesses have experienced a drop in revenue over the past months. Please consider supporting these businesses. The directory is also posted on www.rsgc.on.ca with more information and specific offerings, and includes regular updates.

GOODS ANNE SPORTUN FINE JEWELLERY RSGC Affiliation: Anne Sportun, Parent Website: annesportun.com About: Fine jewellery hand made in Toronto

BERECLAIMED RSGC Affiliation: Bernard V. Bieberstein ’97 Website: bereclaimed.ca About: Working primarily with reclaimed and salvaged timbers, BeReclaimed works with corporate and residential clients to design, fabricate and provide custom furniture solutions.

CREEDS RSGC Affiliation: Jonah Creed ’97 Website: creeds.com About: Dry cleaning and coffee and recently launched a General Store offering grocery staples and other items.

DAILY PEARLS RSGC Affiliation: Sarah Balzer, Parent Website: dailypearls.com About: Simple, modern freshwater pearl jewelry perfect for wearing every day and gifting anytime.

FILOTIMO INC. RSGC Affiliation: George Simionopoulos, Incoming Parent Website: filo-timo.com About: FILOTIMO invents and manufactures fine architectural metalwork.

GENERAL FINE CRAFT

KEN’S FLOWERS

RSGC Affiliation: Christopher Grosset ’88 Website: generalfinecraft.com About: General Fine Craft is a commercial gallery exhibiting the work of Canadian professional artists and craftspeople.

RSGC Affiliation: Varya Dayan, RSGC Vendor Email: info@kensflowersshop.com About: We sell wholesale flowers, create arrangements, and have created beautiful floral designs for many weddings and other social gatherings.

GRAYDON SKINCARE RSGC Affiliation: Graydon Moffat, Past Parent Website: graydonskincare.com About: At Graydon, we make make plant-based, organic skincare formulated with clinically proven superfood actives to help you look and feel your best.

HELENE CLARKSON DESIGN RSGC Affiliation: Helene Clarkson, Parent Website: heleneclarkson.com About: Clothing designed and manufactured here in Toronto for women on the go.

HELLO.ME RSGC Affiliation: Julie McClure, RSGC relative Website: hello.me About: Hello.Me is an online wellness and beauty brand for women.

We sell science-backed supplements to help women look and feel their best by getting to the root cause — hormonal balance.

HOPSON GRACE RSGC Affiliation: Martha McKimm, Parent Website: hopsongrace.com About: Modern entertaining essentials and home accessories.

32 The Shield Spring 2020 • Royal St. George’s College

NEAT SPACE INC. RSGC Affiliation: Andrew Livingston, Parent Website: neatspace.ca About: Specialty Homewares

ROSSITER BOATS RSGC Affiliation: Blair Levinsky, Parent Website: rossiterboats.com About: Manufacturer of classic designed power boats, 14 to 23 feet.

And wooden paddleboards.

SOURCEONE MEDICAL SUPPLY LTD. RSGC Affiliation: Rickesh Kotecha ’00 Website: medsourceone.ca About: SourceOne Medical Supply Ltd. specializes in the distribution of health care supplies.

ST. JOHN’S MUSIC RSGC Affiliation: Gloria Yusishen, Parent Website: stjohnsmusic.com About: Top music store in Canada and best place to rent band musical instruments. Rent/Own/Repairs.

“We Believe in Music!” St. John’s Music sends mobile vans to schools to demonstrate instruments!

WE ARE PLANET HOPE INC.

FREEDOM 55 FINANCIAL

RSGC Affiliation: Matthew ’16 & Will ’19 Hope, Alumni Website: weareplanethope.com About: HopePodz™ HOUSECLEANER REFILLS — Launched in January 2020 by two RSGC brothers, Matthew Hope (2016) & Will Hope (2019) — HopePodz is a revolutionary house-cleaner line that allows you to refill (not landfill) your empty plastic cleaner bottles.

RSGC Affiliation: Thomas Hull ’11 Website: freedom55financial.com About: We specialize in savings and investments, retirement income, and life insurance plans. We offer our clients comprehensive financial planning and insurance advice as well.

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES BUILD MAX LIMITED RSGC Affiliation: Steven Liu, Incoming Parent Website: buildmaxltd.com About: Building Sciences and Structural Engineering Firm — Providing Practical Solutions to your Building — specializing in Condominiums, Commercial, Government Institutions and Residential consulting, design and construction.

CORI KALINOWSKI LAWYER & MEDIATOR RSGC Affiliation: Cori Kalinowski, Parent Website: kalinowski-law-mediation.com About: An experienced sole practitioner providing out-of-court family law/divorce resolution services including Mediation and Collaborative Practice negotiations via online video conferencing and, when permitted, in-person meetings.

Services provided include negotiation and preparation of separation agreements, marriage contracts and cohabitation agreements.

DESIGNSOS RSGC Affiliation: Cari Steinberg, Parent Email: cari.steinberg@live.com About: My interior decorating service helps you refresh or transform your space with a personalized, affordable and convenient approach.

Whether you are updating one room or a whole house, DesignSOS can help.

GOLDFARB INTELLIGENCE MARKETING RSGC Affiliation: Rebecca Goldfarb, Parent Website: goldfarbmarketing.com About: Goldfarb Intelligence Marketing is a marketing consultancy. It conducts qualitative and quantitative market research projects and helps clients develop branding strategies.

HYDRAULIC MARKETING GROUP RSGC Affiliation: John Lacey, Past Parent Website: hydraulicmg.ca About: Hydraulic is an engagement marketing agency. We create and deliver experiential and sponsorship marketing programs that build relationships between brands and people, and build competitive advantage for our clients.

JADE ACOUSTICS INC. RSGC Affiliation: Chris B. Kellar, Parent Website: jadeacoustics.com About: Sound and Vibration Consulting Engineering Services

GORD BROCKLEHURST CPA

JENNIFER WORTS DESIGN INC.

RSGC Affiliation: Gord Brocklehurst, Past Parent Email: gordbrocklehurst@gmail.com About: Tax, Accounting & Business Advisory Services

RSGC Affiliation: Parent Website: jenniferworts.com About: Residential Interior Design

HEIDI PHILIP CONSULTING INC. RSGC Affiliation: Heidi Philip, Parent Email: hphilip70@gmail.com About: Brand, culture and communication strategy

HOBÉ HOSOKAWA MARKETING RSGC Affiliation: Steven Hobé ’88 Website: hh-inc.ca About: Our company is a fullservice agency, offering marketing strategy, as well as implementation in the form of design, video, and social media campaigns.

JILL GREAVES DESIGN RSGC Affiliation: Parent Website: jillgreavesdesign.com About: Interior Design and Purchasing

KALLO DEVELOPMENTS RSGC Affiliation: John Kanellopoulos, Parent Website: kallo.ca About: We are a Property Owner, Developer and Management firm.

While our Leasing portfolio is focused in the Retail / Office sector, we are also active in Residential Condominium Development.

KEYSER MASON BALL, LLP HUMAN SAPIENCE INC. RSGC Affiliation: Meredith Morino, Parent Website: humansapience.com About: Human Sapience is a boutique qualitative research & marketing strategy firm. We help clients put humans at the centre of decision-making. We use qualitative methods both remote and in-person to get the richest human (customer, consumer, employee) understanding for the challenge at hand.

RSGC Affiliation: Oliver DeGuerre Website: kmblaw.com About: We are a full-service, midmarket law firm that caters directly to owner-operated small and medium-sized enterprises. We offer a full suite of legal services, including but not limited to: corporate/ commercial, commercial real estate, banking/finance, commercial litigation, employment, M&A, family, estates, and business succession.

The Shield Spring 2020 • Royal St. George’s College 33

PETER LEPIANE

WALFORD PARTNERS INC.

FORNO CULTURA

OLD SCHOOL RESTAURANT

BISS HEATING

RSGC Affiliation: Peter LePiane ’88 Email: peterlepiane@gmail.com About: Help stuck leaders create their future one-on-one video conference career & life coaching.

Coaching packages available upon request.

RSGC Affiliation: Elizabeth Walford, Parent Email: elizabeth@walfordpartners.com About: Digital Marketing — growing brands & revenue

RSGC Affiliation: Pat DiCapo, Parent Website: fornocultura.com About: Artisanal Italian bakery specializing in gourmet fresh baked breads, sweets, sandwiches, prepared meals and the finest imported Italian olive oil, sauces, preserves and other pantry essentials.

RSGC Affiliation: Andrew Chabursky and Roxanne Chemych, Parents Website: oldschoolyyz.com About: Old School Restaurant brings a modern twist to comfort food including our classic Mac & Cheese and Chicken & Waffles.

We are the home of The Blueberry Hill, Toronto's BEST pancake stack.

Our epic weekend brunches are an experience not to be missed.

RSGC Affiliation: Sean MacPherson, Incoming Parent Email: sean@bissheating.com About: HVAC service, installation, maintenance and design.

Technician based specializing in hydronics and snow melt applications.

WILLIAMS CRAIG DESIGN RESOLVED EXECUTOR SERVICES RSGC Affiliation: Adrian Walton ’78 Website: ResolvedEstate.ca About: Executor Advisory & Estate.

THE MARCOVICI COMPANY RSGC Affiliation: Alon Marcovici, Parent Website: marcovici.co About: The Marcovici Company is a boutique marketing firm specializing in integrating digital and traditional marketing to drive revenue, build brands and delight the customer.

VINCENT J. SANTAMAURA ARCHITECT RSGC Affiliation: Vincent J. Santamaura ’77 Website: www.vjsarch.ca About: Architectural firm providing design services for residential, commercial, industrial and institutional buildings — new construction and/or renovations.

VITAMIN-3 COMMUNICATIONS, INC. RSGC Affiliation: Yvonne Catty, Parent Website: vitamin-3.com About: V3 helps your organization with strategic crisis communications and issues management.

With decades of international experience in a broad range of crisis situations, V3 helps plan and execute connection campaigns for customers, staff, suppliers, shareholders — your universe of stakeholders.

RSGC Affiliation: Joelle Craig, Parent Website: www.williamscraigdesign.com About: Interior Design + Architecture — Residential, retail and corporate design services

FOOD-DRINK-WINE ACQUA FINE FOOD RSGC Affiliation: David Hansen, relative to Staff Member Jacquie Baby Phone: 416-368-7171 About: Fine food home delivery.

We’ve served Toronto and the surrounding area for 26 years! Now available for contact-free home delivery.

CHEESE BOUTIQUE RSGC Affiliation: The Pristine Family, Alumni & Past Parents Website: cheeseboutique.com About: Cheese Boutique is a gourmet emporium and has been supplying Toronto with succulent selections for over 47 years.

DAILY BREAD FOOD BANK RSGC Affiliation: Neil Hetherington ’91 Website: dailybread.ca About: Canada's largest food bank that normally serves 15,000 families per week – that number during Covid has escalated by 30%. We encourage all families to drop off food donations to any Fire Hall or arrange Amazon delivery to 191 New Toronto Street.

FLUF RSGC Affiliation: Nathalie Butterfield, Parent Website: fluf.ca About: Simple, organic, everyday bags. Lunch bags, backpacks & snack bags.

34 The Shield Spring 2020 • Royal St. George’s College

KOREAN VILLAGE RESTAURANT RSGC Affiliation: Jason Lee ’00 Website: koreanvillageto.com About: Family-owned restaurant, offering delivery and take-out.

LE CALVANE WINERY RSGC Affiliation: Pat DiCapo, Parent Website: villalecalvane.com About: Le Calvane wines are carefully produced in the heart of Tuscany with hand-picked grapes harvested from some of the finest vines in the Chianti region, embodying the true spirit of Tuscany.

Available for delivery throughout the GTA, you can order Le Calvane wines and olive oil from Halpern Wine to enjoy at home.

PUKKA RSGC Affiliation: Derek Valleau, Uncle to Current Students Website: pukka.ca About: Indian Restaurant

THE SALT & PEPPER CATERING CO. RSGC Affiliation: Georgian Friend Website: salt-peppercatering.com About: We are a boutique catering company committed to delighting the most pampered palate with cuisine that achieves a harmony between fresh ingredients, pure and unique presentation and menus that indulge a desire for familiar and favoured dishes.

NOLA BAKING CO. RSGC Affiliation: Julie Mitz, Parent Website: nolabaking.com About: All-natural, gluten-free granola nut clusters with zero refined sugar, dairy, eggs or preservatives. Can be purchased on our website or Well.ca, Whole Foods, Summerhill Market, and other GTA retailers.

TODAY’S MENU RSGC Affiliation: Lisa Hickey, Past Parent Website: todaysmenu.ca About: Today’s Menu is a healthy prepared meal delivery company servicing the Toronto GTA. Offering a wide variety, from classics to vegetarian. Real food for real people.

CLIFF AND EVANS LTD. RSGC Affiliation: Jonathan Cliff ’04 Email: jcliff@cliffandevans.com About: Project Management and General Contracting — Home Upgrades, New Homes, Renovations and Additions.

CONNECTABILITY RSGC Affiliation: Bradley Shafran ’10 Website: connectability.com About: Outsourced IT Support & Services — Managed Services, Network Management, Cybersecurity Services, Backup and Disaster Recovery, Cloud Services, VoIP and Telephony.

GIBSON'S DRY CLEANING RSGC Affiliation: The McConnell Family, Past Parents Website: gibsonscleaners.com About: Founded in 1929, Gibson's is recognized by its customers as the highest performing and most responsive dry cleaner in the GTA. From the clothes in your closet to the textiles in your home, we can clean just about everything in your home.

RSGC Affiliation: Norman Hardie, Parent Website: normanhardie.com About: We are a small boutique winery located in beautiful Prince Edward County. We hope that you will enjoy our wines at your table with family and friends. Online orders preferred.

SERVICES 1-800-GOT-JUNK? TORONTO RSGC Affiliation: Paul Guy, Parent Website: 1800GotJunk.com About: 1-800-GOT-JUNK? offers full service junk removal — just point and your junk disappears! We are currently offering "No Contact" junk removal to keep our employees and our customers safe.

LIVE OUT LOUD ADVENTURES RSGC Affiliation: Alison Wiley, Parent Website: liveoutloudadventures.com About: Live Out Loud Adventures specializes in classic hikes around the world. Whether you climb Kilimanjaro, tramp in New Zealand, or hike the West Coast Trail, LOLA offers you the chance to reconnect with the natural environment, with yourself and with others, and, in so doing, to discover that there is more in you than you realize.

POSH-HAUS INC. RSGC Affiliation: Rose Barroso, Parent Website: posh-haus.com About: We offer specialized and personalized service packages to cater to the unique needs of your property, from home maintenance, pet & house sitting, emergency repairs, grounds & home cleaning, interior Décor & remodels, to all your Real Estate needs.

QQUOTE RSGC Affiliation: Andy Dalrymple, Parent Website: QQuote.com About: The Shopify for car dealerships! Our software helps dealerships quote fast to sell more tire, rims and accessories.

SIMBL

HUMBER RIVER DOGS NORMAN HARDIE WINERY

About: Property Management, Property Maintenance and Construction.

RSGC Affiliation: Jody Greifenberger, Past Parent Website: humberriverdogs.ca About: I'm a Certified Dog Trainer and Behaviour Therapist offering private in-home or outdoor, safe distancing sessions, and customized training plans for all dogs of all ages.

LIFE OF RILEY PROPERTY MANAGEMENT RSGC Affiliation: Drew Blanchette ’96 Website: lifeofrileypm.com

RSGC Affiliation: Robin Strachan, Past Parent Website: simbl.ca About: Implementer and integrator of a security device designed to measure body temperature and uses biometrics to provide permission to enter premises based on the client's security parameters.

The device is designed to operate with existing integrated security platforms. In the event where no platform exists we can provide these measures as well.

The Shield Spring 2020 • Royal St. George’s College 35

SPACES SELF STORAGE

TRUEHEART CEREMONIES

RSGC Affiliation: Jonathan Wheler ’87 Website: spacestoronto.com About: Spaces Self Storage is Toronto's premier storage rental facility. Featuring a free truck for move-ins, we accommodate monthto-month storage unit rentals.

RSGC Affiliation: Clare Samworth, Parent Website: trueheartceremonies.com About: I am an Officiant licensed by the Registrar General and the Ontario Humanist Society to provide legal, secular weddings.

Humanist ceremonies don’t use religious language, but celebrate your wedding wishes and your cultural traditions. I also offer officiant services for End of Life. When you lose someone you love, it’s very hard to deal with saying goodbye.

STUDENT WORKS PAINTING RSGC Affiliation: Saša Milosevic ’14 Website: studentworks.com About: The franchise deals with interior painting projects such as trim, ceilings, walls and wall repair and also exterior projects like the staining/painting of decks, fences, house trim, just to name a few!

THE CULTURED STONERS AND DESIGN RSGC Affiliation: Jim Lanskail ’79 Website: culturedstoners.com About: Stone masonry specializing in the installation of all real stone and manufactured stone veneer.

We work on exterior and interior applications.

TRAVEL EDGE LUXURY TRAVEL RSGC Affiliation: Jeff Willner, Incoming Parent Website: traveledge.com About: North America's Premier Luxury Travel Agency. Discover the benefits of a luxury leisure travel professional. Our team of advisors have travelled the world and invested thousands of hours in product training and industry relationships in order to tailor the perfect trip for you. Enjoy access to the broadest range of exclusive perks in the industry. Relax as you travel knowing if the unexpected intrudes you are fully supported.

TRICO ENERGY SERVICES RSGC Affiliation: Mike Leider, Parent Website: tricoenergy.ca About: Ontario CommercialIndustrial Energy Management Consultant. Turnkey electrical contractor providing new energyefficient technologies resulting in very impressive ROI and substantial cost reductions.

HEALTH & WELLNESS ADELAIDE WEST PHYSIOTHERAPY RSGC Affiliation: Claire McGlynn, Incoming Parent Website: physiotherapytoronto.com About: Physiotherapy Clinic

DAROU WELLNESS RSGC Affiliation: Shawna Darou, Parent Website: drshawnadarou.com About: Naturopathic Doctor & Functional Medicine services offered, with a focus on women's health, cognitive wellness, digestive health, anxiety and stress-related illness.

FOREST HILL ORTHODONTICS RSGC Affiliation: Bruno Vendittelli, Parent Website: foresthillortho.com About: Orthodontic Practice – Orthodontic treatment post stay-at-home order.

SHIVA SAFARI, REGISTERED PSYCHOTHERAPIST RSGC Affiliation: Parent Website: psychologytoday. com/ca/therapists/ shiva-safari-toronto-on/216671 About: I’m a registered psychotherapist and a marriage and family therapist, providing psychotherapy for individuals.

Due to conflict of interest, I cannot offer psychotherapy services to anyone I am affiliated with and may end up in a multiple relationship situation (ie acquaintance and client). However, RSGC families are welcome to refer my services to anyone in their extended circle who is not affiliated with RSGC.

THE HEALING SOURCE PHARMACY RSGC Affiliation: Roxanne Chemych, Parent Website: Healingsourcepharmacy.ca About: Pharmacy with traditional prescriptions. As a Wellness Centre, we offer access to family physicians, walk-in clinic and a naturopathic practitioner (please contact Roxanne directly).

We also offer: Natural supplements and remedies Medication consultation in 10 different languages Nutritional consultation Energy Healing Products Home Healthcare Consultation and Products Fresh Juice and Smoothie Bar Personal Protective Products, Gauges, Disinfectants

PEARLMD REJUVENATION RSGC Affiliation: Jennifer Pearlman, Parent Website: pearlrejuvenation.com About: Concierge Medical Clinic offering Precision Medicine and Cosmetic Enhancement. From the inside out with the most advanced technologies and treatments, we help you achieve your best.

36 The Shield Spring 2020 • Royal St. George’s College

Listings as of May 22, 2020.

For complete listings and full details, please visit rsgc.on.ca

Georgian Legacy Society… because the world needs more Georgians

Your legacy gift to Royal St. George’s College will ensure that we can continue our 50year tradition of educating future Georgians – inspiring them to become the best version of themselves. For more information on leaving RSGC in your will, please visit www.rsgc.on.ca/plannedgiving

sporty, helpful, adventurous, co-operative, kind, clever.

We asked each boy to describe himself in just six words.

Their answers were as diverse and as individual as the school itself; a place where each boy is challenged and inspired to become the best version of himself.

Call 416.533.9481 rsgc.on.ca

RSGC. Here, I am.