COMMUNITY
Happiness After RSGC We checked in with some of your favourite former staff members to find out what has brought them joy since they left the halls of 120 Howland Ave.
John Birkett: COVID has had a big impact on my normal daily life. I’ve spent more than 40 years (including two as president) on the volunteer committee of the National Ballet of Canada. This usually involves all aspects of running a very successful boutique in the theatre, but COVID has kept us out of the theatre and the National Ballet of Canada headquarters. We still have to honour our $150,000 support commitment and other volunteer work has been similarly affected. I’ve been able to attend a few virtual conferences with programmes, but I miss the person-to-person contact. Aside from that, I’ve been reading uncountable numbers of books—some fiction, some not. I do three to five hours a day of brisk walking. Swimming still doesn’t feel comfortable because of COVID. The camera is busy most days.
Michael Burgess: I have led a full life since leaving RSGC in 1989! I have held numerous positions, including being a parish priest at various churches in Toronto and Domestic Chaplain to the Archbishop of Toronto. I was made a Canon in 2001 and became Regional Dean of Eglinton Deanery in 2007. I’ve served on a number of boards and committees, including Habitat For Humanity, the Meighan Health Centre, the Toronto Operetta Theatre and the Toronto Branch of the Gilbert and Sullivan Society. Taking part in theatre has brought me a lot of joy. Since retirement, I’ve been involved in numerous dramatic productions—performing, scripting, narrating, singing and directing. In 2011, I played Julius Caesar for Bard in the Park, and became Artistic Director of Stage Centre Productions, one of Toronto’s most highly regarded community theatre groups, where I was responsible for seven successful seasons during which the company presented 37 productions, 25 of which I directed
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myself. I am especially proud that SCP presented the North American premiere of Entertaining Angels. I appeared at the Palmerstone Library Theatre as Major Metcalf in a production of Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap and as Mr. Browning in Oliver! For the Scarborough Theatre Guild, I directed Dear Charles. I am honoured to be trusted as Spiritual Director and Confessor to several younger clergy, students and others. My friends are important to me, and I take great delight that among them, I can count five Georgians who were students during my time as Chaplain. It gives me great joy that I continue to live a fulfilling and active life—I sometimes wonder how I managed to find time to work—and I am grateful that I have spent my entire working life doing a job that I love, among people I love, in a place that I love. I consider myself to have been richly blessed, doubly so because I know that I am blessed! Who could be better off than that? Kelley Fitzpatrick: It’s been an adjustment adapting to life as a Grade 7 teacher at St. George’s in British Columbia, but I’ve really enjoyed discovering our new home province. The B.C. lifestyle suits our family well. The pace of Vancouver is quite different from Toronto, and it has taken us some time to adjust. It’s all about work-life balance. Most people here are very active and spend a great deal of time exploring the outdoor playground that surrounds us. I love spending time with my family, Dave, Kieran, Quinn and our dog Frodo.
Kelley has really adapted to life in Vancouver.
Kieran spends numerous hours on the water, training with the St. George’s Rowing Team, while Quinn spends most evenings on a soccer pitch. We have had days where we have been up in the mountains cross-country skate skiing in the morning and back down in Vancouver for an afternoon outdoor soccer game wearing shorts and t-shirts. It makes me happy to be physically active and fit, walking to work chasing the sunshine or embracing the misty mornings in the air. Just being outside, on the ocean, close to the water and wandering the woods and trails is so invigorating. Of course, I love supporting my boys in their sports, connecting with friends and collaborating with colleagues, students and their families. Just like at RSGC, it brings me joy to help others become the best version of themselves.
Kelley loves hearing from former students and families. If you would like to get in touch, she can be reached at kfitzpatrick@stgeorges.bc.ca. Hal Hannaford: I retired from Selwyn House in 2020 and now split my time between Montreal and Kennebunk, Maine. I derive huge joy from playing as much music as I can in Montreal and in Kennebunk Beach. I’m still doing the odd auction. But what really brings me my greatest joy is working in my Sanctuary in Kennebunk. I just love it! My wife Susan is working feverishly on her next novel, my daughter Alisse and her husband Christopher are doctors at the Hospital at UPenn in Philadelphia, and my son Reid (who left RSGC after Grade 8 in 2009) is a filmmaker in NYC. And of course, I still miss those wonderful, incredible and joyful RSGC years. Oh yeah, and... Go Habs Go!
David Lee: Things have changed slightly since COVID hit. Before the pandemic, I enjoyed presenting wines at food and wine shows, and festivals, working as an extra for a variety of TV shows and movies filmed in Toronto and selling movie memorabilia at comic conventions across Ontario with former RSGC VP Mike Orlando. Since COVID, I’ve been playing golf and hockey with alumni and current and former RSGC staff and parents, doing voiceover work for numerous companies and narrating instructional videos. I’m also the Chair of the Board of Crestwood Preparatory College (my daughter Julia's former school).
David has been keeping busy with voiceover work, among other things.
Hal is keeping busy doing the things he loves: auctions, music and working in his sanctuary. The Shield Winter 2022 • Royal St. George’s College 5
