RUNDLE SUPERHEROES
WHAT DO THEY STAND FOR?
Alumni
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In This Issue
3
Head’s Message - by Jason Rogers
5
Tribute to our Founding Father
7
Rundle College Historian - These Buildings Were “Home” by Bev Ross
9
Rundle College Alumni Updates
22
Rundle College Reflections by Julia Hueppelsheuser ‘19
23
Rundle Remembers
27
Giving at Rundle
29
Rundle Alumni Events
31
Rundle Academy Historian - Buildings, Teachers, Students by Brad Mellor
34
Rundle Academy Alumni Updates
43
Rundle Academy Reflections by Nicole Menard ‘19
46
Distinguished Alumni
contributing editors AG
MC
LT
AARON GOETTEL Director of Alumni & Advancement
MICHELLE CAWTHORPE Rundle Academy Alumni Officer
LESLIE TECKLENBURG Director of Communications
Head’s message
hen I think about W superheroes, my mind instantly drifts to the amazing teachers of Rundle College Society, and I suspect many of the readers of ‘The Ascent’ will feel the same way.
As I let my mind follow the imagery of superheroes at Rundle, I have vivid memories of our teachers using their superhuman powers of kindness, curiosity, and wellness to help our students find their potential. I visualize superhero moments such as these: Our kindergarten teachers greet each student in the morning with a kind handshake, a warm welcome, and inquisitive inquiry into how they are that day. The tradition of the handshake is not only present each and every day; we also see it as they graduate from their kindergarten year. At this ceremony, they shake each other’s hands and share one thing they appreciate about each other.
Our Primary teachers celebrate the kindness of their students in their monthly assemblies and celebrations. These moments are when Rundle students first start to understand the importance of fine character. Our College Elementary teachers encourage students to be curious to explore real world
challenges and solve them by using strategies such as inquiry, critical thought, and design thinking. Our Academy Elementary teachers induct our Grade 4-6 students into a whole new way of learning; Teaching them that it is okay to ‘think differently’ makes it possible to ‘move mountains.’ Our Junior High teachers in both programs work with all the changes and challenges that come with adolescence. They help students navigate the uncertainty of the age and showing them what it means to be well as they move from childhood to adulthood. And finally, our Academy and College Senior High teachers embrace our students' curiosity as they consider their passions and set a course for their postsecondary journey that lies ahead. Together, our faculty, parents and students come together to chart the course from the first day of kindergarten to the last day of high school. In the end, although teachers are true superheroes in this story, it is the students, who ultimately develop their own extraordinary superpowers. To close, when thinking about the journey that we take through thirteen years of kindness, curiosity, and wellness, one thing remains constant: the handshake. I am reminded of a conversation I had with the former president of McGill University immediately following her address to the Rundle College graduating class of 2011. As we left the auditorium, I asked her if anything stood out to her during her time with us at the ceremony. Her response was telling and insightful. She said,
Yes, in fact I have attended dozens, if not hundreds, of ceremonies just like this, and today I had a first. This was the first time I have ever had every student who crossed the stage to shake hands, look me in the eye and genuinely thank me for giving my address. This connection and gratitude is a rarefied quality and your school should have immense pride in the fact that your students know how to connect with another through actions and words. Bravo. It is amazing to think that on the first day of kindergarten and the final day of grade 12, our students learn how to use the superpower of togetherness through simple actions such as a warm handshake, personal inquiry, and deep gratitude. - Jason Rogers
3 Summer 2019 | Ascent Magazine
alumni Committee
If you are inte rested in joining or have an idea for an event, please contac t alumni@rundle .ab.ca
Creating a Culture The Rundle Alumni Committee is in its second year of assembly. The committee is comprised of 11 Rundle alumni members from both the Academy and College programs. It is a dedicated group of alumni who “desire to create an engaged alumni community.”
The Rundle Alumni Department would like to thank the following members for their commitment and enthusiasm in fostering a positive and inclusive alumni culture: Emily Buchanan ’13 Meg Buchanan ’15 James Bouchard ’14 Anya Curtis ’11 Meghan Gray ’12 Lidia Jones ’11 Faraz Sachedina ’05 Alexa Scarcello ’11 Chetan Shory ’11 Jatin Shory ’09 Cassandra Will ’11
This year, the committee hosted several events, new and traditional, to reunite our alumni community together. Two new events included a bowling social at National in the fall and a networking reception at Dentons in the spring. In 2019-20, the committee would like to host an assortment of different events in order to interest more alumni to attend.
We invite all alumni to join the Committee and encourage those from years not represented above to consider volunteering their time.
2018 Rundle College Board of Directors Mr. Scott Burrows Member Since 2018 DIRECTOR
Mrs. Katherine Harmsworth Member Since 2018 DIRECTOR
Mr. Iain McCorkindale Member Since 2017 DIRECTOR
Mr. Eric Toews Member Since 2015 TREASURER
Mr. Ronald Carrick Member Since 1988 SECRETARY EMERITUS
Dr. Geoff Hill Member Since 2014 VICE-PRESIDENT and ASSISTANT SECRETARY
Mr. Jon McKenzie Member Since 2018 DIRECTOR
Mr. Ross Wonnick Member Since 2018 DIRECTOR
Mrs. Carrie Ferguson Member Since 2013 PRESIDENT AND CHAIR
Mr. Dennis Locking Member Since 2008 VICE-PRESIDENT, VICE-CHAIR, and SECRETARY
Mrs. Mehri Salimova Member Since 2017 DIRECTOR
Summer 2019 | Ascent Magazine
4
OUR FOUNDING FATHER A Tribute to Dr. Rodney Conklin 1937-2019
We are saddened by the passing of our remaining Founding Father, Dr. Rodney Conklin, on June 17, 2019, in Invermere, British Columbia. As co-founder of Rundle College, Dr. Rodney Conklin’s legacy reaches far beyond the halls of Rundle and deep into the hearts of thousands. Born in Saskatoon, Dr. Conklin moved to Calgary and attended Central High School in Calgary. He received his B.Ed., M.Ed. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Alberta, where he was a member of Kappa Sigma. Rod had three children – Darrell, Todd and Tanya with his first wife, Dorothy. Rod then met and married Dee and helped raise Dee's two sons — Matt and Drew. Dr. Conklin was a psychologist and an educator. He taught at Crescent Heights High School in Calgary and then became a Professor Emeritus of Educational Psychology at the University of Calgary. In 1985, Dr. Conklin and his friend Dr. Jack Collett founded Rundle College. Dr. Conklin was Rundle's Superintendent from 1985 to 2007; he faithfully served on the Board of Directors for 34 years.
5 Summer 2019 | Ascent Magazine
Along with Dr. Collett, Dr. Conkin’s vision for Rundle College started with the desire to develop each student’s human potential. He once said, “All of us at Rundle face the daunting task of moving each student as far up the mountain as we can. We are truly mountain climbers and not just those who care about the final assault on the summit.” Dr. Conklin firmly believed in the importance of the individual and not the group as a whole. Dr. Conklin was humble in character and nature. From the early beginnings of Rundle College and with an enrollment of only 22 students and numerous challenges, he persevered and championed each of his students’ successes. Dr. Conklin touched the hearts and minds of thousands of students who continue to embody his vision of reaching their potential. Today, with an enrollment of over 1100 students, and one of Canada’s most respected learning institutions, Rundle still remains focused on the success of each student. Dr. Conklin’s legacy will forever be the foundation of Rundle College. His passion for education will live on in our faculty and students — past, present, and future.
Summer 2019 | Ascent Magazine
6
Favourite Su perhero: Mother Natu re. Superpower: Knowing wh en to keep my mo uth shut!
R
undle historian
I would sometimes hear haunting whispers from above. It turned out that some of the local teens had found a way to get up on our roof for their evening “recreational” needs. So much for my Gothic imagination.
These Buildings Were “Home” We eventually found a new home at the Chief Crowfoot School in 1995-2018 St. Andrew’s Heights. This was By Bev Ross Teaching was my second career and I was introduced to it through a very gracious gentleman named Dr. Conklin. He had invited a few teaching position applicants out for a dinner meeting to discuss becoming part of a new elementary school that would expand Rundle College’s existing junior/senior high program. After dinner, we went on a tour of the Bridgeland School which would house the elementary classrooms. It had a “historic” feel with towering windows and massive dark oak panelling. After tripping in front of Dr. Conklin as we climbed the last steep flight of stairs, it was with surprise and elation that I received a call offering me a job at Rundle, despite that awkward first meeting. The years spent at Bridgeland were exciting and challenging as we established our presence in the elementary community and found our own niche in the growing Rundle society. I loved the Bridgeland school and had a beautiful view from my top floor classroom. I was, however, a wee bit nervous when working there alone in the evenings because 7 Summer 2019 | Ascent Magazine
a much newer facility but still old enough to have very large classrooms and walls full of windows. There was one part of the building that was not so inviting and that was the basement. It was only accessible by a narrow, steep, dark staircase. Once down, you were in a poorly lit maze of gray passageways and tunnels, all leading to a gigantic, rattling boiler. One year, we decided to provide a Halloween “tour” for the students and, although we had the most innocent intentions, we ended up terrifying a few of our youngsters and the basement was off-limits for the rest of my time there. My next move was to the downtown Carl Safran Centre. Like Bridgeland, this was a magnificent old school with wide halls, large classrooms and beautiful woodwork. Unfortunately, my own classroom was now in the basement, next to the boy’s change room and across from the boiler room. My window was now a small, bar covered opening looking out onto a dumpster that was the favourite lunch spot for local clientele. Despite this, these were wonderful years in a unique school,
and I missed it when we moved up to our current location on 17th Avenue. My last years as a full-time Rundle teacher were at the R.C. Conklin School, named after the gracious gentleman who had given me a tour 24 years earlier. To witness our commitment to remembering and honouring our past, I would invite you to visit the flowering crab apple tree in front of the R.C. Conklin School. This tree was originally planted in 1998 by my grade 6 science class, at the Chief Crowfoot School, in memory of our co-founding father, Dr. W.J. Collett. It was moved to its current location when this campus opened. These words, an ancient Chinese idiom, are on the plaque: “Though a tree grows high, the falling leaves return to the root.” This is a nice reminder of who we are and where we come from.
Rundle College Jr High Carl Safran Centre 1996-2005
RC Alumni
Summer 2019 | Ascent Magazine
8
EROES H R E P SU
What They Stand For
Samantha Schneider ‘09 Interview by Seonae Breckenridge ‘19 A decade after graduating from Rundle College, Samantha Schneider is making an impact in our local community, and contributing in ways she never expected. The values she was taught at home, the teamwork she developed through sports, and the leadership roles she has taken on throughout her time at Rundle and beyond have defined who she is today. As Samantha looks back on the last 10 years, she is grateful for the role Rundle played in her life in building strong foundations, creating lasting relationships, and inspiring her to make a difference. Perhaps most importantly, Samantha credits her family, her friends, and her Rundle experiences for positioning her for lifelong learning, leading, and for being remarkable, whatever her pursuits.
in using research, analytics and communications as tools for positive change.
I had the pleasure of spending some time with Samantha recently to better understand her philanthropic experiences.
Throughout all of the initiatives that United Way supports and your own volunteering experiences, what is your most impactful contribution to date?
What studies did you pursue after graduation, and what are you doing now? Samantha studied International Relations and Communications at the University of Calgary, graduating in 2013 with two Bachelor of Arts degrees. She was interested in how politics, people, and the economy interacted and shaped communities, and 9 Summer 2019 | Ascent Magazine
After graduating from university, Samantha took on roles with several non-profit organizations and two years ago accepted a position at United Way as a Campaign Advisor. Samantha is now Manager, Affinity Groups at United Way of Calgary and Area. She plays a vital role in maximizing United Way resources to connect and educate kids, youth and women, and to leverage partner resources to full effect.
PHILANTHROPY
Samantha’s fulfillment comes from seeing others inspired to give and in seeing the impact on the families that benefit. Samantha is especially proud of the impact that United Way has made on kids, youth, and people new to our community, and in knowing that she has contributed to those efforts. She feels that the work she is doing gives her energy,
and she is extremely passionate about helping others. Throughout all of those experiences, what do you think are the greatest needs in the community? Families, youth, and women were a consistent theme in Samantha’s answer to this question. It was clear that Samantha is passionate about proactive support in kids’ lives to ready them for school, relationships, and success. Samantha feels strongly about providing proactive support to those in need, and she has seen firsthand the positive effects this has had versus a more reactive approach. I asked a follow-up question regarding the current economic downturn in Calgary and the needs and impacts she has seen as a result. Samantha shared with me the impacts she has seen and the stories and lives that have been impacted by the social issues in our city, such as domestic violence. She sees the stress on families, the pressure on youth to compete in school and to find jobs, the associated mental health issues, and the increased need to support all those in need because of the difficulty of the economic downturn.
Samantha acknowledges that the needs of our community have been far greater than anticipated in these tough times, but is optimistic that our culture and community of caring will persevere and that together we can overcome these challenges. What inspired you to become involved in philanthropy? Samantha’s upbringing has made her realize how important family and values are, and she points to her parents as her most significant role models in her life. Her active participation in sports also played a meaningful role in shaping her, and she believes that team sports teach achievement, empathy, caring, and collective success. She gets energy by helping others and
believes that through giving people a hand-up, lasting and sustainable change can occur. Samantha feels strongly that to succeed, one needs to pursue their interests, build on their relationships, and really put oneself “out there” taking risks and pursuing one’s passions. She reinforced in me how important it is to build on strong foundations, foster relationships, and seek opportunities to change our world. What are your aspirations for the future? Samantha is excited about the possibilities for future engagement. She sees many opportunities for her generation and the next to make positive impacts across
their communities, and is already anticipating the potential that technology has in making giving easier, and in making the effect of giving more tangible. She hopes that through technology, inspiring and educating future generations is easier. Samantha hopes to continue to grow in her career, further expanding her leadership capabilities, and developing the reach and resonance of programs of United Way and other partners. I have been inspired by Samantha’s commitment to community and her pursuit of making an impact. Throughout our discussion, I was struck by how important it is and how fortunate we are to have strong values, enduring relationships, and a solid education.
Superheroes outside the classroom Additional Programs to Promote Activity and Curiosity The c.lab (Curiosity Lab) at Rundle gives our youngest students countless opportunities to be active and curious in the Jr. Cobras 2020 amps Sport Development program er c Summ ng soon and Curiosity Camps. i m co These programs provide a full range of innovative enrichment opportunities in the areas of wellness, innovation, and academics. Furthermore, our programs encompass a growth mindset philosophy thus building the foundation required for a life of sustained learning, perpetual curiosity, and conscientious citizenship. Rundle's Curiosity Camps are driven by cuttingedge research and best practices and have been designed by learning scientists. These innovative programs are designed to increase capacity and ignite passions for STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) in a holistic way that encourages mindfulness, global citizenship, and character.
The success of Rundle Athletics comes from within our athletes, our coaches, our alumni, and our community. The Junior Cobras Sport Development Program was introduced in the Spring of 2016 to foster a love of sport and to nurture the athletic talents of Rundle’s youngest athletes.
Through this grassroots initiative, the Rundle College community has come together to positively influence our future stars and to build an exceptional athletic program. The c.Lab at Rundle also offers Summer Camps for children in grades 1-6 who attend Rundle or other schools in the city.
Consider registering your superhero for our 2020 Summer Camps. Contact becurious@rundle.ab.ca Summer 2019 | Ascent Magazine
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RC A lumni u pdat e s
John Clinton Cook '99 has been busy with his wedding, a promotion to Project Manager, and competing in the Canadian Rally Championship.
‘99
Edith Leung '02 had a crazy year in 2018 that kept her quite busy. After moving to Vancouver 5 years ago, she finally moved into a new apartment. Since then, the year flew by like a blur. She spent 2 weeks travelling in Europe with her family and rescued a new pup from Taiwan - meet Dash, a Formosan Mountain Dog who loves long walks and hikes.
A decade after graduating from Rundle, Julie Franklin ‘09 has followed in her grandfather's footsteps and entered into a career that allows her to make a difference everyday. However, it wasn’t until Julie was nearing the end of her degree in Communications Studies with a minor in Psychology that she decided to stay in Calgary and join the Calgary Police Service. She and her colleagues work hard to make Calgary a better place and are often the unsung heroes that don’t get the recognition they deserve! By Lucas Roessel '19
‘02
‘09
She literally ended 2018 with a bang that forced her to get a new car. Edith is looking forward to another great year!!
Hello fellow alumni and students. I figured I'd give y'all an idea of what I've been up to since graduating. Like most of the grad class of 2011, I left high school to pursue post-secondary. I attended the University of Calgary, where I graduated with a BSc in Anthropology with a concentration in Primatology. However, I really wanted to pursue a career in the fire service. Let's face it, what little kid doesn't want to ride in a fire truck? So after university, I went back to school to get my professional firefighter and EMR certifications and was hired by Hinton Fire and Rescue, where I spent the last year and a half in a work experience program. I'm happy to report that I've since been hired by the Department of National Defense as a firefighter and am looking forward to starting my career.
Send us an up alumn i@run date dle .ab . ca
One piece of advice for anyone still reading, don't be afraid to chase your dreams. I wasn't, and I couldn't be happier. Best wishes to everyone, both current students and alumni, and I hope to see you in the future! Ryland Kirzinger '11
‘11 11
Summer 2019 | Ascent Magazine
RC Alumni updat e s
'12-‘16
For Joey Hubbard '12, it was an insane year! He moved to Incheon, Korea last February to work as a kindergarten teacher, where he truly learned the meaning of work ethic. After 6 months in Korea, he travelled to Vietnam to help open a new Korean private school in Hanoi. After 2 months, he decided to take a month off and travel to Malaysia and Singapore, which were both incredible. Joey is back in Korea working in Gangnam as a marketing specialist, assisting the company by creating edgy YouTube content.
Sandhya Patel '12 recently moved to the UK to attain her MA in Public Relations. During London Fashion Week, she had the opportunity to volunteer at the UK Canada Embassy for their Canada Fashion Showcase. Whilst there, she was introduced to Sarah Fountain Smith, Deputy High Commissioner to the UK, who told her to stay connected with the Embassy, as they were interested in keeping in touch with young Canadians who have moved to the UK. Ultimately, Sandhya was invited by the Embassy for their Commonwealth celebration that was to include numerous special guests. The special guests turned out to be the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. At the event, she had the opportunity to briefly meet both Harry and Meghan.
Whilst talking to Meghan, she had asked where I was from, to which I responded "Calgary". She then responded saying, "Wow, it's very cold there" and we had a brief conversation about the weather in Calgary. This opportunity was definitely once in a lifetime and something she certainly didn't expect to happen upon her move to the UK.
Samantha Sirianni '13 recently finished her second degree from the University of Calgary. Samantha now has a Bachelor of Health Science (Hon.) and a Bachelor of Education. Samantha is now a teacher at Rundle College. Arman Dhillon '16 (pictured below wearing a Flames toque) is a member of the Queen's Hyperloop Design Team. The Team is one of just 20 accepted into the SpaceX Hyperloop Competition this summer in LA, competing against universities such as MIT. The goal is to make a halfscale hyperloop pod and get it to go as fast as possible. Arman was recently promoted to captain of the team for next year. For more information, follow the links below. Link to competition: https://www.spacex.com/hyperloop Link to team website: qhdt.engsoc.queensu.ca
Summer 2019 | Ascent Magazine
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RC Alumn i updat e s
‘17
Since her days at Rundle ended, Rebecca Argenal '17 has been continuing her education at the University of Calgary. She's entering her third year in the fall and is currently switching degrees from Political Sciences to Business. She believes this change will better suit her if she continues into law school. Rebecca has stopped skiing competitively in order to focus on school, although she does coach during the winters and is a Skate Park Monitor during the summers for the City of Calgary. Rebecca has done some modeling for a local business and starred in a short film that premiered at the Globe Cinema. She's also organizing a rally at City Hall with her family, collecting signatures for a petition to raise awareness of the inhumane actions taking place in Nicaragua. Congratulations to Mehtab Brar '18 for winning double gold at the Hapkido World Championships in Vancouver.
Andrew Russell '18 has recently received a promotion from his previous position as server to bartender. He finds the job exciting and thrilling, with a large emphasis on customer service. Along with more responsibilities, Andrew is dealing with many new challenges.
After graduating from Rundle, Lian Shao '18 has taken what started as a hobby to the next level. He is now fronting an Indie rock band called Beneath Orange Skies in Vancouver and has just released his first music video, along with two singles. Lian is employed as a audio technician for a great number of clubs at his university, which, given Lian's skills, kind of came with the territory.
Etido Thompson '18 graduated from Rundle College last year and just finished his first year of studies in Applied Sciences, with a specialization in Nanotechnology Engineering. Currently, Etido is working for the Toronto District School Board as an Engineering CAD designer during his first co-op work term.
13 Summer 2019 | Ascent Magazine
‘18 After the successful completion of his first semester at the University of Victoria, Davis Carlson '18 received a letter from the Chair of the Department of Computer Science, recognizing him for achieving a final grade in some of his classes that ranked him in the top 10% of 1st-year Computer Science students! Well done, Davis.
EROES H R E P SU
What They Stand For
Q &A with Kate Beck '10 and Andrea Sanchez-Ponton '13 Interview by Kieran A. ‘20 Kate Beck and Andrea SanchezPonton are both Rundle graduates who are dedicated to preserving the environment.
Kate graduated in 2010 and pursued a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and Human Geography at the University of British Columbia. She later attended University of California Berkeley for two masters degrees in City Planning and Public Health. During her time at university, Kate worked various jobs, such as at a staffing agency for those recently sober or out of jail as well as for research projects in city planning and race and equity. Currently, she is working around California to connect communities to the transportation industry. After graduating in 2013, Andrea went on to study a Bachelor of Environmental Science specializing in geography at the University of Calgary. In university, Andrea began working with an English language program helping international students immerse themselves in Canadian culture, which she
continues to do today. Most recently, Andrea worked as a guide for River Watch (a program some of our alumni might remember and our current grade 9 students still participate in), which combines rafting with education on biology, ecology, conservation and analysis. Q. What inspired you to get into your career? When asked about influences on her career, Kate responded that her mother instilled in her that she should be doing work to improve communities and the natural environment. In addition to this, her time working at a staffing agency made evident the importance of reliable transportation and dependable work. After graduating high school, Andrea planned to eventually attend veterinary school. During her undergrad, she grew to become fascinated by the chemical and biological science behind major world topics such as pollution and climate change, eventually choosing to pursue a degree in Environmental Science instead. She feels that her career choice was influenced by her life-long love of the outdoors.
she noticed how less efficient the Calgary transit system was compared to the Vancouver transit system. She felt the impact on her ability to get around to and from
parks and natural areas, and feel independent, was much easier in Vancouver. When asked how to achieve this, Kate responded with, “I think emphasizing the importance of better bus systems and light rail systems in our city would be really wonderful.” Q. What is the impact City Planning and Public Health have on the Environment? Kate explained that when built correctly, public transit works perfectly and “lowers rates of emissions, takes up less space, and is better for our own health in terms of the amount of pollution that it releases in the communities that it's going through.”
environment
Q. What do you hope to see in the future of City Planning and Public Health? When asked this question, Kate responded with “better public transit in cities across North America.” Moving from Calgary to Vancouver,
continued on page 15 Summer 2019 | Ascent Magazine
14
Congratulations to the Class of 2019 and welcome to the Rundle College Alumni Association. We look forward to watching you soar!
Q &A with Kate Beck '10 and Andrea Sanchez- Ponton '13 continued However, Kate stated that when public transit is not built correctly, research shows that it can have a negative impact on the environment and public health. Q. What’s been the most impactful thing you’ve done since graduating? Andrea - An internship in Argentina which exposed her to new perspectives and challenges in regards to environmental regulations, as well as working in an English language program helping international students be immersed in Canadian culture. Kate - She has developed a Street Story program, where she works now. It helps cities and towns across California collect feedback from the public about transportation safety. In addition to this, she’s helped to create an online tool to help with community engagement. Q. How big of a threat is climate change? Andrea- This is the challenge of a lifetime, or more accurately, several lifetimes. The science is undeniable, and the effects are already being seen, such as the 2013 floods in Calgary. As time goes on, these consequences will become more severe, and the acceleration will not be linear,
15 Summer 2019 | Ascent Magazine
but exponential. There has been evidence of carbon emissions warming the atmosphere since the 1800s, and predictions of the negative effects of this warming by 1901. The lack of action has given our society a major problem now, with only 11 years to fix a problem that’s been building for 200 years. Q. How do you feel about the carbon tax? Andrea said that she was conflicted on the carbon tax. After taking a class in environmental economics, she understood the purpose behind the tax, but felt it was imposed at the wrong time and was a form of “kicking us while we’re down.” Q. How do you feel about the Green Line being built in Calgary? Kate was excited about the upcoming Green Line in Calgary for a number of reasons. She thinks that the route being developed is important, as well as the fact that it's underground in downtown. Also, they conducted intensive community engagement processes, which is very important in having a successful transit line.
Q. What can students do to help fight climate change? Andrea emphasized the importance of working together to maximize influence, stating that an individual alone is unlikely to have any power, but the government has to listen to a group standing together. She wanted students to know “do not be afraid to demand what you deserve. Climate change isn’t just about us; it’s also affecting thousands of other species who haven’t done anything to contribute to it. The world deserves to live, regardless of what humans might want.” Q. What is your favourite memory from Rundle? Kate shared her love of art and her time spent in Ms. Collin’s room, as “it was a place where she could think outside the box.” This outside the box thinking has influenced her career in Public Health and City Planning, as it is important to think creatively to solve problems. Andrea looked back fondly on a charity fashion show, where she walked the catwalk with not just her classmates but her parents. She felt it was a way to bring together the entire community while contributing to a good cause.
R
UNDLE SUPERKIDS
Consider Rundle for your little superhero! Enroll your son or daughter and give them the advantage of a Rundle education. As alumni of Rundle, you are given priority application status for your child. For more information about our admission process, please visit our website at www.rundle.ab.ca or call our Admissions Office at 403-291-3866. Summer 2019 | Ascent Magazine
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R E O H R E E S P SU
What They Stand For
Interview with Jatin Shory '09 By Priya D. ‘20 Since Graduating from Rundle in 2009, Jatin Shory obtained his Bachelor of Arts with Honours at Queen’s University, and his JD at Thompson Rivers University. Since leaving Rundle, Jatin uses his passion for law and helping others to change many lives. As an immigration lawyer, Jatin now fights to help immigrants through our legal process. He was inspired as a high school student by his father who was also a lawyer. His father came to Canada in the 1980’s to pursue his degree and taught his children the value of hard work. Jatin knows that his clients' futures are in his hands and uses his practice to help countless people change their lives for the better. Jatin helps the clients navigate through a world of legislation that they may be completely unaware of. He provides clarity for his clients while persevering through multiple levels of our court system to help his clients stay with their families. His compassionate, hard working attributes could also be seen during his time at Rundle. One of his fondest memories from his time at Rundle was travelling to Namibia and Botswana helping to restore a school. Jatin made volunteering a large part of his high school experience volunteering at the Calgary Bridge Foundation for Youth, where he is now on the Board of Directors. 17 Summer 2019 | Ascent Magazine
Improving other peoples’ lives is clearly a strong motivation in his life, as he also volunteers at Calgary Legal Guidance, Calgary Immigrant Women’s Association, Centre for Newcomers and provides pro-bono services for Calgary Region Immigrant Employment Council. Jatin shares his knowledge as a mentor to many internationally trained lawyers through CRIEC (Calgary Region Immigrant Employment Council) and CFN (Centre For Newcomers).
as a member of the Law Society of Alberta, I conduct myself in a manner that is representative of the ethical training received by all lawyers. My work requires long hours of legal research and sometimes heated appearances at various divisions of the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada. I have been lucky to have success at all levels of the immigration tribunals in Canada. Knowing that the possibility of seeing a family reunited in Canada may be in your hands is a lot of pressure. Alternatively, knowing that your client may face detention and ultimately removal from Canada also adds a layer of intimidation when creating strategies of defense. Therefore, I use as many resources as possible for each matter I am handling to push for a positive outcome.
Immigration
What attributes do you have that make you fit for and successful in your career? My legal practice of immigration litigation requires me to assist clients during their toughest times. Dealing with immigration matters often leaves one uncertain of the outcome of their circumstances. Their family visa may have been refused, they may be facing removal from Canada, or they may be seeking refuge in Canada. Additionally, and unfortunately, many can come from experiences where non-legal practitioners may have taken advantage of their circumstances for financial gain and provided the wrong advice. Therefore, it is imperative that, as an officer of the court, and
Immigration is one of the crucial factors in Canada’s positive growth over the past decades. How have you changed or grown as a person since leaving high school? I’ve grown into a career that I love. I was much quieter during high school but my life experiences over the past decade have helped me pursue my ambitions to the fullest.
RC Alumni Return
hart '11 Jillian Good ni uished Alum q 2018 Distin
Grace Carswell '11 Open House Presenter
Irfaan Sorath Fred Edwar ia '00 and Grade 6 Scids '01 ence Fair
Left ba ck - Le e Biberd orf '11, R Stanford '00, Erin ichard Middle Mo ro Julie F w - Ellen Mo ody '13 ran rsk Amand klin '09, Jen y '09, ny Dixo a Burd ick n '04, Front Stepha '96 n Welch '11, Victo ie Horner '11, Christin ria Patt Hanna a hM emore '13, at Senio agus '14 r High Career Fair
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Herman Johal '01, Stephanie Horner '11, Thomas Moult '11, Joey Love '18 - 2019 Graduation
Safiqa Kara '04 2018 Gradu ation Guest Speak er
wford '03 Hamish Cra Fine Arts Day Junior High
Sunde ep Dha liw Roboti cs Com al '02 petition
9 eider '0 a Schn ntation th n a Sam rese Way P Summer 2019 | Ascent Magazine United
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CONGRATULATIONS 2018 INDUCTEES TO THE RUNDLE COLLEGE ALUMNI ATHLETIC BOARD The Rundle Alumni Athletic Board recognizes alumni athletes who found their athletic passions at Rundle and pursued them at the post-secondary level.
MEG BUCHANAN 2015 Ambrose University Lions Soccer BRAD BURGESS 2018 Dalhousie University Tigers Football DANIEL MITCHELL 2018 University of Western Ontario Mustangs Rugby ASHA SARA 2018 University of Victoria Vikes Cheer Team CONNOR SETO 2018 University of Western Ontario Mustangs Rugby
19 Summer 2019 | Ascent Magazine
Anatomy of a Mascot Little known fact: we use to be the Rundle Ravens. How did we become the Cobras you ask? History tells us that back in 1989, our Founding Father, Dr. Collett, wasn't sold on the name Rundle Ravens, so Dave Hauk, Rundle's Headmaster at the time, held a contest for students to develop a new school identity. Shane Berger '91 was the inspiration behind the now famed Rundle Cobras!
A single bite can take down an elephant. Coby’s been known to take out Wolves, Warriors, and Spartans, among many others.
Coby is the only known Cobra with enormous hands for flag-waving and high-fives.
Coby’s “hood” makes him appear bigger and more fierce. It measures 36” across!
Coby wears #85 the year Rundle was founded.
Coby weighs between 140lbs-200lbs (at any given event) with an added layer of fur to protect him from the outdoor elements.
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Coby Tracks Jr. Cobras Sport Development Program Laurel Adolphe, Head of c.Lab Over the past 3 years, the Jr. Cobras Sport Development Program has become more than after school sessions for our young athletes. It's provided a meaningful opportunity for our alumni to connect with our school community as coaches and mentors through the love of sport. Due to the success of our Rundle athletics program, we have trained and developed many collegiate athletes that continue to pursue their athletics beyond Rundle. Those athletes are now eager to give back to Rundle as Alumni Coaches through the Jr. Cobras Program. Their knowledge of sport and their commitment to our students has raised the quality of the program and both student and alumni participation has doubled. Annually, Rundle College employs over 25 alumni as coaches for both our Jr. Cobras program and summer camps. Through the Jr. Cobras Sport Program, Rundle continues to recognize our graduates' accomplishments and celebrate their athletic legacies. Thanks to the alumni who give their time to these programs, Rundle is able to share its history with the younger generation of Cobra athletes and instill pride in being a Rundle Cobra!
2018/2019 Alumni Coaches
Meg Buchanan '15 Graham Fader '15 Leigh Hauck '17 Sarah Hougen '14 Maddy Kehler '15 Lauren Kruger '15 Rayff McMahon '17 Kathleen Mitchell '13 Jordan Ng '14 Morgan Saunders '15 Matthew Sirianni '17 Jolene Wong '15 Jordan Wong '17
JOIN RUNDLE AS A JR. COBRA or SUMMER CAMP COACH CONTACT: jrcobras@rundle.ab.ca
Jordan Ng '14 coaching Tina D.S. '30
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rundle reflections
Julia Hueppelsheuser Class of 2019
coaches, I made it through. One of the biggest lessons that Rundle and the people there taught me was how to truly know myself. One of my most vivid memories from elementary was, as I call it, the “Doctor fad”. I swear that every single kid in all of Grade 6 wanted to be a doctor. This sort of phased out but truly never really went away. I felt this pressure, like for some weird reason I was the odd one out because did I really want to be a doctor? As I progressed through
Superman. Let me guess what you pictured when you read that first word. Shiny red cape. Big muscles. Blue suit. Superhero. This is our classic definition of a superhero and I’m not here to tell you that’s wrong in any way. But there are two sides to every story, whether it be real or fictional. Clark Joseph Kent. If you’re familiar with the Superman series you will know that this name belongs to the civilian and secret identity of Superman. Clark Kent works as a journalist for the Daily Planet in the fictional world of Metropolis. Some people might see this flipside to Superman as being a mere disguise but I see it as so much more. As Clark Kent, Superman can be his truly authentic self and shows great pride and success through that. For me, Rundle has taught me how to embrace my inner Clark Kent. From a young wide-eyed 2-year old girl with pigtails sitting in Ms. Cook's preschool class, to a still wide-eyed 17-year old girl walking across the stage to graduate this past June, the 15-year road I walked down through Rundle was not always easy. Junior High is rough. Teenage kids can be mean. But with the support of teachers, parents and
Junior High and High School, the counsellors and teachers showed me that there is so much more out there. I slowly realized that having dreams to be a doctor was kind of like forcing myself into a Superman suit. It wasn’t what I truly wanted and I learned that my success and happiness came more from being true to myself than being what everyone else thought I should be. For right now, my plan is to take a Bachelor of Health Science at the University of Western Ontario and pursue a Masters in Occupational Therapy after that. However, that is very likely to change.
Ms. Spence, Rundle's school counsellor, once told me something that has stuck with me. She said, “the only thing you can know for certain is your post-secondary path will never be certain.” Rundle has guided and shaped me in more ways than I can explain in this one page, but I am truly grateful for the life lessons that I have gained. Teachers are one of the biggest proponents to a student's evolution. Just to name a few, these teachers showed me the value in lessons that allowed me to figure out who I truly am and how being myself is more than enough. Ms. Rushton and Ms. Kim taught me the importance of trying new things through the cheer team and speech. Ms. Spence and Ms. Pidkowa taught me kindness and empathy through Peer Support. Ms. Penton taught me the true meaning of having a stage family and Mr. Hauk taught me how to give a proper handshake and the importance of hugs. Mr. Long showed me how to give everything to a sport no matter how many times our SV girls rugby team lost. All in all, I have very little idea what the future holds but I do know what Rundle has given me: the ability to embrace my truest self and be perfectly comfortable and confident in accepting that. And that is the most valuable lesson of all, learned from the man himself Clark Kent. Being authentic as a normal person is more important than being any type of superhero.
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RUNDLE REMEMBERS
KRISTIN SAPIEHA 1983 - 2019
Born and raised in Calgary, Kristin graduated from Rundle College in 2001 and went on to complete her Bachelor of Commerce at the University of Calgary in 2006. She established herself as a distinguished professional with a successful career in the Energy Sector and Investment Banking. From 2011 to 2013, Kristin attended the Cornell University’s Johnson Graduate School of Management, graduating with an MBA in Finance. The next stop was New York and Wall Street working in Investment Banking. She interned during the summer at Goldman Sachs in energy, which was followed by a full-time position in Investment Banking at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, focusing on one of her huge passions, the retail fashion industry. In 2015, Kristin was enticed back to Calgary and the energy sector with a position in IB at Scotiabank. This was her most important move because she said it brought her back home to her family and close friends. Her final career move was Vice President of Finance at Sprocket Energy Corp. working alongside her father. Kristin was incredibly accomplished in her career and education; however, that only represented a small part of who she was. Kristin took full advantage of life. She was selfless, kind, thoughtful, funny, passionate, driven, and bold. She cared deeply for her family and friends. Forever striving to achieve her fullest potential and to enhance her quality of life, Kristin actively invested in herself to enrich her relationships and manifest her dreams and aspirations. One of Kristin’s greatest passions was travel. Her innate desire to learn and grow took her to numerous countries where she continually built a worldwide group of friends and touched countless lives.
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She was a fearless, adventurous woman, never letting anything stand in the way of new experiences and opportunities. Although she travelled the world, her first love has always been Canada. She especially enjoyed spending time with family and hosting friends at their cabin in Vernon, BC. Kristin had a style as distinct as her character. Her overflowing closet was not only a form of selfexpression, but also an outlet for her creativity and individuality. Along with fashion, music was an extension of her identity and exemplified all the facets of Kristin’s dynamic personality. You always knew when she was arriving because her music was blaring. Kristin was a sports enthusiast, both as a fan and a participant. She played numerous sports growing up and loved to ski, surf, hike, and workout. With an overwhelming desire for knowledge, Kristin was a podcast enthusiast and an avid reader. Although we so wish our time with Kristin could last forever, her vivacious spirit will forever live in the hearts and memories of all who loved her.
RUNDLE REMEMBERS
KATHLEEN WHITE 1964 - 2019
Kathleen was born on June 9, 1964, in Hamilton, Ontario, which she called home until university. She received her undergraduate degree at Lakehead University and her teaching degree at Queen’s University. She then embarked on a teaching career that took her around the world. While working in Hong Kong, she married Richard, her life partner and travel mate. With a shared love of the outdoors and adventure, they continued to explore the globe together. After their beloved Dylan was born, they settled down in Calgary but never lost their wanderlust. Kathleen left an indelible mark on everyone she encountered – family, friends, even acquaintances. And unquestionably, given the outstanding teacher that she was, she had a significant impact on many students, parents, and colleagues during her 20 years at Rundle College. Her passport was stamped countless times as she sang and danced her way through an extraordinary life. Her final destination would fittingly be a perfect beach where she is swinging in a hammock, drinking an ice-cold beer.
Summer 2019 | Ascent Magazine 24
R E O H R E E S P SU
What They Stand For
Aamena Kapasi '08 Interview by Minea Hill ‘19 After graduating from Rundle in 2008, Aamena Kapasi completed a B.Sc at the University of Alberta specializing in Psychology, then went to the University of Western Ontario to complete her masters in Counselling Psychology. She is currently finishing her PhD in School and Clinical Psychology at the University of Alberta. Her current area of research is in neurodevelopmental disabilities, specifically Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder. What sparked her journey in her own words was a “keen interest in healthcare, an enduring passion
for helping, and a curiosity for child development.” A large influence in her choosing the path she is on today was her undergraduate internship supervisor, Dr. Ashley Barlow, who she says “believed in me and encouraged me to go to grad school.” Aamena believes that there are many superheroes in the field of psychology that she watched everyday “work incredibly hard to foster growth and increase their clients' well-being.” However, Aamena
also sees her clients as being superheroes because of the hardships, traumas, and losses so many of them have endured. During her high school years, Aamena's superheroes were inspiring women like Oprah Winfrey, Beyonce, and J.K. Rowling, as well as her mom. As time has passed, she continues to view these women as superheroes and has now included her PhD supervisor, Dr. Jacquie Pei.
mental health
TIME, TALENT & TREASURE Alumni Giving at Rundle This was another great year of our alumni giving back to Rundle in many ways. Whether it be through mentoring, coaching, or financial giving, all of these areas saw a tremendous increase in engagement. Our alumni returned to mentor our current students one-on-one, speak to our Grade 11 students at our inaugural Career Fair and inform our Grade 12 students about the transition to post-secondary life. We also had several alumni return to coach our varsity teams and work with our primary/elementary athletes through our Jr. Cobras Sports Development Program. Financially, we had a 400% increase in the number of alumni who donated to our Bursary Fund on Giving Tuesday in November. We invite our alumni to give this year on Giving Tuesday on November 26. Your gift will have a significant impact on the lives of our students, allowing them to stay and benefit from a Rundle education.
$
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“The financial help from Rundle made sure I could stay, so it’s the least I can do.”
If you are interested in giving back to Rundle in any capacity, please contact us at giving@rundle.ab.ca.
RC to day
check out What's happening on Campus
Robotics: The Robotics Club had a very successful year, doing well in both the Victoria and Calgary Regional Competitions. The team finished in 7th place out of 37 teams competing from all over the world. Next year, our goal is to compete at Worlds, and we are now teaching a Robotics course as an elective for credit. Business Club: Students participated in 5 business competitions this year, regularly placing in the Top 3. They loved the unique experience of working with university professors, and industry professionals. Speech: Rundle had students win gold medals at both junior and senior Speech Provincials. These winners will compete at Junior Nationals in Vancouver and Senior Nationals in Winnipeg. GSA: Students in the QSA had a successful year raising awareness around bullying in the LGBTQ community through their involvement in the Day of Silence. Members also worked to raise money for Fairy Tales Queer Film Festival. Peer Support: A group of approximately 20 students spent the year educating their peers on mental health and wellness. The group organized a variety of activities including (but not limited to) Taste of Diversity, Day of Silence, bullying prevention sessions in Jr. High, and stress management week.
Travel Club: 19 Rundle College students travelled to Peru this spring break with NGO Light Up The World. Students had the rare opportunity to bring the gift of solar energy to two preschools in the remote and beautiful communities of Chillca and Hanchipatcha, high up in the Peruvian Andes. Band: The Senior Concert Band represented Rundle in San Francisco, California, this past February, playing on Pier 39 and at the historic properties in Monterey. They also had the opportunity to pair with a local high school and get student at a local elementary school excited about music and Canada. Drama: The Rundle Drama Department put on a successful production of The spring with over Outsiders this 60 students in grades 9-12 involved.
Badminton: Congratulations to Fatima W. on her 4th place finish at Provincials. Basketball: Sr. Boys Basketball won bronze in the 2A Provincial Championships. Sr. Girls Basketball team placed 6th in the 2A Provincial Championships. Cheerleading: The team had an incredible season this year, culminating in a Rundle-best score at Provincials to earn a fourth place finish! Football: The team won the bronze medal in conference play this year and faced a tough Brooks team in the Provincial Quarter-Final. This was a huge accomplishment for a team with so many grade 10’s. Golf: Girls won the ISAA Zone & ASAA Provincial Golf Title. The boys finished 2nd at the ASAA Provincial Tournament. Rugby: Over 120 students in Grades 7 - 12 from the College and the Academy participated. The Sr. Boys won the first ever ASAA Tier 2 7’s Provincial Championship. Track: Congratulations to Amman Adat '19 and Liam Kramer '19 who raced to become Provincial Champions in 100m Open Wheelchair and 1500m respectively. Wrestling: The team won the CISAA League Championship. The Sr. high boys wrestling team won the ASAA 2A High School Provincial Team Championship — highlighted by Sam Patton '19 claiming individual gold in his weight division.
Summer 2019 | Ascent Magazine 26
Alumni givi n g
Students Leaving a Legacy
Rundle Endowment/Bursary Fund
Project 20.15 was an initiative by the Class of 2015 to enrich the Rundle Endowment/Bursary Fund. It was their graduation gift to pledge a contribution of their grad year ($20.15) for 5 years following their graduation. It was their wish to leave the legacy of helping fellow Rundle students and inspire future graduating classes to do the same. The Legacy Circle was created to recognize the Academy Class of 2018 for becoming the first Rundle graduating class to have 100% of its members contribute to the Bursary Fund. We invite future graduating classes to join the Legacy Circle. To the following graduates, we offer our gratitude and are inspired by your legacy to help fellow students succeed.
Alumni 1989-2014 Stuart Baker ‘13 Jaimie Bird ‘10 David Braakman '13 Emily Buchanan ‘13 Zach Carter ‘10 Michael Charney '09 Abby Collyer '12 Garrett Copp '13 Holly Fritz ‘98 Michael Klassen '09 Amara Kraft '12 Drew Morsky '06 Paula Rooney '14 Lee Stanford '00 Tyler Turnbull '01 Cassandra Will '11 Davis Wong '13 RC Class of 2015 (37% participation) Ashley Berry Meg Buchanan Jakob Chambers Danielle Chang Alexandria Chin Leland Chumik Vincent Dang Graham Fader Mackenzie Gellner Hayley Giesinger Kelsea Gorzo Elizabeth Gray Morgan Gregg Sam Guest Chelsea Hamming Carly Johannson 27 Summer 2019 | Ascent Magazine
Alana Kerr Michael Keys Lauren Kruger Carina Lai Ellie Maclennan Samuel Maclennan Jenna McFeely Jane Moult Angel Najjar Sarah Orr Quinlan Park Logan Roth Gianfranco Sartor Morgan Saunders Bobbi Shewchuk Luc Terrien RC Class of 2016 (21% participation) Abby Beerkircher Christiana Bellusci Mitchell Besplug Kiara Botha Brett Bradley Allison Chan Thaddeus Chong Jennifer Chow Alexandra Greenslade Alex Mah Meghan Mehra Paula Munroe Nicola Panaccione Tyler Primorac-Tang Kelsey Shea Idaresit Thompson Liam Walters Nicholas Welch
RC Class of 2017 (27% participation) Hannah Bentsen Alyssa Berry Marie Bouchard Logan Dods Alysa Evans Zach Folan Gabrielle Gregg Aidan Jackson Jayda Jessee Noah Kende Renae Lapins Arjit Lodha Michael Lusty Lauren Munroe Tara Osler Miranda Pachkowski Amanda Pockar Victoria Silva Sara Stephens Michelle Sutton Matt Tamkee Kirstin Young RC Class of 2018 (60% participation) Tessa Allison Aliyah Ayorinde Georgia Baskeyfield Sophie Bell Raja Boury Mehtab Brar Lochlan Breckenridge Brad Burgess Jon Bylyku Davis Carlson
Jordan Chan Jeffrey Chow Cameron Clark Kathryn Collyer Katie Cooke Alexander Fader Emilie Fournier Jonathan Gilmour Sachman Gill Hillary Graham Jacob Graham Hannah Greenslade Kalem Hanlon Emily Hayes Hannah Hayes Alex Hayes Brenden Hiebert Aidan Highton Alexis Hill Ariela Jamshidi-Shahvar Akash Khaira Arshroop Khaira Usman Khan Megan Mathison Lauren Mayes Hannah McLeman Philip Nowak Jamie Ramsay William Rioux Daniel Saloni Asha Sara Sarah Seaver Holly Tecklenburg Etido Thompson Sahej Toor Enobong Ukpong Gabriela Villarroel Cole Wanner Zachary Welsh
RC Class of 2019 (93% participation) Mukhtar Abdsalami Amman Adat Erin Alderson Alex Argenal Cameron Bailey Kenneth Beveridge Allie Boehm Seonae Breckenridge Jakob Chicoyne Brandon Chiew Luigi Colombo Paras Deol Jean-Mornaydu Plessis Kaleb Edwards Eric Fan-Lou Aiden Foster Annalise Foster Chanel Gerla Carolyn Graham Sarah Graham Sophie Greer Jenna Gregg Christian Gruending Taylor Hecker Morgan Heinz Minea Hill Layn Holtby Julia Hueppelsheuser Caitlyn Huizinga Tai Hunter Aryan Kahlon Anthony Kende Gabe Kim Liam Kramer Jacob Krayzel Mia Kruger Samantha Lamb Jordan Lapins Ridge Lehmann Alex Lepa Katelyn Lo Brayden Maier Noel Mar Ella McKenzie Sophie McKenzie Krishen Mehra Quinn Molnar Megan Morrison Matthew Olsen Spencer Onslow Samuel Patton Jimmy Powell Crystal Radinski Surya Ranganathan Lucas Roessel Jenna Saponja Livtar Shergill
Jeremy Shukin Sebastian Somerset Hannah Stephens Julián Suire Desiree Sun Benjamin Sutton Emily Teare Daniel Theal Alyssa Tran Kyra Turner Ishan Vermani Adam Walters Graeme Watt Jordan Wilson Fatima Wong Michelle Wong Stephen Yeung Adham Young Andrew Zutter RA Class of 2015 (66% participation) Ramy Abdel-Keriem Mia Berloni Stephanie Berry Rajan Bhullar Nicholas Block Jonathon Boland Jon-Jacob Bruyn Katharine Elliott Taylor Evans Carmen Farmer Jaxon Gaetz Curtis Holloway Johanna Jurok Carley Louw Cristi Louw Kaitlyn Magee Alexander Moumdjian Liam Rinehart Mollie Smith Kristian Thomsen Derek Wispinski Ashley Yee RA Class of 2016 (69% participation) Dylan Barr Katherine Bennett Jack Bridges Payton Budd Cali Champagne Max de Paiva Sarah Fawcett Aden Garcia-Ahmadi Eric Hallson Kennedy Huntley Malyk John
Davis Maxwell Casey O’Connor Colton Playsted Madison Shields-Knutson Max Smith Alix Stephen Cal Tecklenburg Mitchell Tuckwood Alycia Udy RA Class of 2017 Donors (38% participation) Ciaran Bailey Cole Bottomley Amedeo Cortese Jennelle Hughes Nick Larmour Amy Major Dominic Petti Sarah Reeder Lara Smith Emily Smith Laura Zentner RA Class of 2018 Legacy Circle Members (100% Participation) Kemarr Bishop Mark Blair Meghan Boisclair Bram Bouma Soren Bradley Rowan Brandon-Christie Ali Carruthers Catherine Carruthers Jack Conquergood Ian Cram DJ Dhaliwal Aneisha Gardiner Jackson Giles MacLachlan Gordon Amy Heise Ryan Holan Keegan Janzen Ben Kitchen Claire Oliphant Jakson Pashelka Cassandra Petropoulos Oliver Petti Penn Poutanen Nathan Retzer Adam Schwartz Phoenix Shomody Isaac Towsley Paul Uponi
RA Class of 2019 Legacy Circle Members (100% Participation) Alex Adolph Thrissa Bortl Ari Bouma Taya Colwell Joel Cormack Kendall Cox ReubenDavis Emil Duguay Elisabeth Faircloth-Nunn Jarad Fischer-Essar Carter Gruending Jared Hamilton Ian Hards Sophia Johns Cameron Kerr Nathan Litvinchuk Anthony Martopullo Ben Maxwell Owen McIntosh Maya McKirdy Tess McLaughlin Nicole Menard Theo Morgan Carson Mowat Isaac Neild Lauren Olney Curtis Sauer Nicole Sauer Ben Taylor Sam Toews Andrew Valentine Kai Yadav
Summer 2019 | Ascent Magazine 28
Alumni e ve n t s
2019 Summit Series
2018 Alumni Golf Classic
2018 Volleyball Tourney
2019 90's Wrestling Reunion
Class of 2008 10-Year Reunion
2018 HoHoHomecoming
S JOIN U T E N X AT THE EVENT
2018 HoHoHomecoming
2019 Networking Event
29 Summer 2019 | Ascent Magazine
2018 Rugby Homecoming
Alumni e ve nt s
follow u s on faceboo k @rundle a lum for upcomin g alumn i events
Alumni 'Connecting at Queen's
2019 UBCO Visit
2018 Queen's Reception 2018 Toronto Reception
2018 Alumni 7's Team
2018 Bowling
Summer 2019 | Ascent Magazine 30
topic very quickly. So to keep this article on track, I’d like to work through these topics: the building, students, and teachers.
#1 The Buildings
R
undle historian
The Building, Students, and Teachers By Brad Mellor It’s my honour to be this year’s Rundle Academy Historian; however, I was a bit overwhelmed when asked to sum up my 17 years within a single article. I’m incredibly grateful for my time at Rundle Academy. I've have a good paying job with great students and families and incredible colleagues and friends I’ve had the chance to work alongside. What can I say about a place that gave me meaningful work, mentorship, friendship, experiences around the world, and family? Yes I did meet my wife at work. The problem isn’t about remembering people or events but managing to not leave anything or anyone out. As a social studies teacher, I tend to break things up into topics. This is a necessity when you need to cover 500 years of Canadian history into a manageable timetable. If you've been in a class of mine, either in elementary or junior high, then you know that, although I’m passionate about history, I can also get off 31
Summer 2019 | Ascent Magazine
Mr. Burla and I have often referred to the Academy as either an old ship or sometimes as Hogwarts, as there are so many nooks, crannies, and corridors. I started out in the elementary, with Mr. Bewer, Ms. Curry and Mrs. Carnovale. We had what is now the Jr. High math wing all to ourselves. The school population was about half the size it is today and looking back, it seemed so much smaller then. The gym wouldn’t be built for several years to come and we had a really nice row of lilac trees outside with a wide field and majestic pines. It wasn’t Augusta, but it was nice. From my window, I could watch the high school teachers bring their kids out to read Shakespeare and even play frisbee. It really did have a college feel. The Assembly Hall was our main gathering place and we could fit the entire school on the carpet for rallies and formal assemblies. The staff would meet in the staff room where we would review soft and hard totals for the next year’s enrolment. The building has changed inside several times over the years and it’s exciting to see the even more changes coming in the near future. The first big change was when our school principal, Mr. Holowaychuk, "went thunderstruck" to get the gym built. Although the field was nice, the gym quickly became a place to gather to show Rundle Academy pride, and to finally teach Phys-ed with a real floor, real hoops, and legit volleyball and badminton nets.
We take this for granted today, but we had some challenging times in the early Phys-ed days. Mr. Hoganson really did teach beach volleyball outside, we did have a bowling alley set up in the art room, and we did teach a cross country skiing lesson using loose leaf paper up and down the hallways. Other changes include the creation of the Rundle gardens thanks to Debi Baldwin, which are still being used by clubs and classes today. Sliver City, the old playground full of rusty nails and 6" slivers, was also replaced with a new modern playground thanks to the efforts of Leslie Tecklenburg and the parent advisory council. Today, if you walk through the hallways of the Jr./Sr. High School, you will notice the new Grade 12 Lounge, incredible Jr. High lunchroom, now called the Pass, Rocky Lounge, and contemporary spaces such as the Learning Commons. Soon we will be unveiling the newly renovated Assembly Hall and staff room. Every change reflects the vision and passion of our school community and the leaders who strive to continually to improve upon the space for both students and staff.
#2 The Students The benefit of teaching in a small school that started off with around 180 kids and has now grown to a whopping 230, is that it’s easier to remember former students. There is definitely a small town school house feel at the Academy. Recently, our 2019 graduates walked the stage to receive their diplomas. On this morning, I am usually sitting off to the side with my TA group of student. It can be a long ceremony for some students. continued on page 41
RA Alumni
P. 24
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EROES H R E P SU
What They Stand For
Speech from 2019 Moves Mountains Breakfast By Lidia Jones '11 Good morning Board members, staff, parents, and award recipients. My name is Lidia Jones. I am a Rundle Academy Alumni from the class of 2011 and I also received a Move Mountains award during the inaugural breakfast in 2011. I never imagined 8 years ago, that I would have the honour of speaking with you this morning.
Then came more news. I was being referred to the Academy, a school that was for kids with LD’s. I had heard of the Academy before. It was commonly understood to be the school for ‘disabled kids’. I would be wearing the same uniform, but the school wasn't as shiny and new as the beautiful 17th Avenue campus, and had even smaller class sizes. I truly dreaded the day summer ended, because I would be leaving my friends and starting over again for grade 9.
I started at Rundle College in September 2005 as a 7 grade student. I had never been an academic, and somewhat struggled in elementary When I started the 9th grade school which is why at Rundle Academy in my parents sent me to 2007, I was placed in Moving Rundle, that had, on Ms. Williams home Mountains average, 14 kids per room and was warmly class. Over the course welcomed by students of two years at Rundle and teachers, and I quickly College, I had a great started making friends. The social life, but continued to struggle students were very open about many academically - it once took me 7 things that I was embarrassed to hours to write a math midterm and I talk about; like what kind of LD I had barely finished. This was identified to and what kind of medication I took my parents by a number of teachers, to help with my ADD. These were who advised them that I would be a things I hadn't quite come to terms good candidate to get a psych ed with yet — but this openness helped assessment, as I was getting grades me feel accepted, and realize that I below 50% during tests for math didn't have the kind of disability that and science. That was rough. In the I had built up in my head. At first I spring, my assessment came back wondered why classes felt easier, with a ‘Code 54’ result for ADD. I had why I was grasping concepts faster, a learning disability, and instead of and why I was enjoying school for the feeling relief, I felt disappointed in first time in my life. It was the way my myself and embarrassed because of teachers were teaching the classes. I the word ‘disability’. I was ‘disabled’. was given different accommodations for tests, like extra time, audio, the ability to listen to music on my ipod classic, and a quiet space so that I
could focus. By Christmas time, I was on the honor roll, and was doing well in my classes with little effort. I felt so empowered by my teachers and parents. I also was quick to sign up for various athletic extracurriculars like volleyball, basketball, track, cross country, etc. which made my first year even more amazing. I stayed at the Academy through high school, and finally grade 12 came; and with that, came planning for post secondary. By this time I had figured out what study and learning strategies worked in my favor, and helped me learn how to advocate for myself. I honestly never really considered university as an option until grade 12. All I heard from my parents is how hard they were working to save for my future, how expensive university would be, and how hard I would have to study. Once I realized that my grades were acceptable, I was certain that I either wanted to be a history teacher (as I enjoyed studying WWI & WWII, Cold War, etc.), or was going to be a physical education teacher/physiotherapist. I decided on kinesiology as my university major and applied to Acadia University. After going on a campus tour, I was accepted! I hadn't been more proud of any accomplishment in my life. I worked extremely hard and moved some mountains to get there, but that wasn't where moving mountains stopped. continued on page 40
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EROES H R E P SU
What They Stand For
After graduating from Rundle Academy in 2011, I travelled to Italy with my cousins, exploring the country and visiting relatives. In the fall, I attended Mount Royal University where I earned my diploma in Early Learning and Child Care. I started working as a preschool teacher at Joso’s Play and Learn Centre that same year and have been there for over eight years now. In addition to my full time preschool teacher job, I obtained certification as a Rainbow Kids yoga instructor in 2013 and started my own small business — Fitsproutz. Through Fitsproutz, I teach children ages 3-5 years the basics of yoga during the evenings, weekends, school breaks, and throughout the summer months. I continue to travel during my spare time and have visited Australia and various places in the United States. I continue to reflect on my time at Rundle Academy more often than I thought I would and realize I learned so much from attending
Rundle Academy. I recall the amazing teachers I had that continue to inspire me. The skills Rundle taught me have been invaluable in my education and my career. I have children in my classes in need of extra help and aids; I can empathize with them and their parents while providing them
CHILD CARE
with the supports they need. I am so grateful for the opportunity to be at a school like Rundle Academy where my individual learning needs were understood and supported without making me feel different or ashamed. My experience at Rundle Academy allows me to understand and appreciate when students are struggling, and to be motivated to do what I can to provide them, and their parents, with whatever
support and assistance they require. My message to future graduates of Rundle Academy would be let the experience at Rundle help you to discover who you are and help you become the best version of yourself! Embrace all that Rundle Academy has to offer; even if you don’t appreciate it now, trust me, you will. I don’t know where I would be without Rundle. I’m so thankful to the teachers for uncovering my potential and teaching me how to shine on my own. Thank you Rundle Academy! Bailey Martineau ‘11
‘01 Congratulations Kyle Fagnan '02 recipient of the Chestermere Chamber of Commerce 2018 Home Based Business of the Year Award
‘02 Congratulations Derek Melrose '01
Summer 2019 | Ascent Magazine 34
RA Alumni u pdat e s
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR ALUMNI Weddings, babies, graduation, careers and more!
Liam Stiven '04
Wesley Cook '07
Chelsea Nicholls 06'
Julia Browning '09
‘04-'10 Kathleen O'Neil '08 with Disney on Ice
Zach Flower '06
Rory Salahor '09 35 Summer 2019 | Ascent Magazine
Zak Kakoschke '10
RA Alumn i updat e s
How Our Alumni Continue to Move Mountains Ethan Craig ‘09 IN HIS OWN WORDS
‘09
After graduating from Rundle Academy in 2009, I enrolled in the Bachelor of Science Program at Mount Royal University. After a year I was then old enough to go on a mission for my church, teaching others about my beliefs. For this mission, I was assigned to go to Knoxville, Tennessee, where I spent time in various cities and small towns in Eastern Tennessee, Southwest Virginia, and Southeast Kentucky. After two years as a missionary, I returned home to continue my education at Mount Royal. After a semester at MRU, I decided to change programs and enrolled at the University of Lethbridge as an accounting major. About a year and a half later, I married the most wonderful woman in the world — Amanda. She has been an incredible example for me and has helped me to see what I really want out Andrew Warren '11 recently finished his time in the windy city of Lethbridge completing his Bachelor of Management degree. Shortly after graduating in December, he went back to Nelson BC to work for a Cat and Heli- Ski organization.
‘11
The past three months for Andrew have been both therapeutic and relaxing and he's "so happy to be back in the mountains, working for an awesome company that specializes in getting people stoked!" Andrew's looking forward to the next chapter of his life and whatever it holds.
of life, which lead me to change, yet again, what I wanted out of my university education. I recently graduated from U of L with a Bachelor of Management, and I am now enrolled in the Bachelor of Education program. My time at Rundle played a significant role in my career path. The teachers taught me that I was smart and capable and definitely, on many occasions, proved that they care about their students. If it weren’t for the teachers at Rundle, I likely wouldn’t have been able to even get into university. As a future teacher, I hope to be able to help my own students make the most of their futures, just like those who taught me in high school.
Since graduating in 2012, Kayla Wartman '12 has been busy. She's worked in retail and attended university to obtain her Event Management Certificate. In October last year she also obtained her Real Estate License. Since then, she has been working at the #1 Re/Max Brokerage in the World — Re/Max Real Estate (central). Her passion for real estate started in her younger years when she would drag her parents to open houses, watch as many real estate/design shows as possible, and learn as much as possible about Calgary - the city that she grew up in. After spending years of studying and working in industries that she was not passionate about, she decided to stop dreaming and make real estate her reality. Kayla is so excited to showcase the homes in Calgary and surrounding areas with the lifestyle they have to offer.
‘12
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RA Alumn i updat e s
How Alumni Continue to Move Mountains Amber Rose '12 IN HER OWN WORDS I have been attending Vancouver Island University (VIU) in Nanaimo, British Columbia, for the last 7 years and I will be graduating in the summer of 2019. I first enrolled into the Fisheries and Aquaculture program, but after 2 years I began to struggle with the program and the possible career options. I then took a year off to complete a Holistic Nutrition course in the fall of 2015 at the Canadian School of Natural Nutrition. Through the program, I learned about the multi-faceted field of nutrition; however, I was still not ready to start working as a Register Holistic Nutritionist (RHN), since it would require me to start my own business. I went back to VIU and enrolled in their Sports, Health and Physical Education BA program (SHAPE). Through my time in the SHAPE program I considered teaching, nutrition, and I have now settled on taking the Naturopathic Doctorate (ND) after graduation. I have been part of our program’s club and this year I’m the club president. I will be taking a couple years off before starting another 4 years of studies. This last summer I took part in a field school with my program in which a group of us went down to San Pedro, Belize. While in Belize, we spent 5 days providing physical education classes to one of the local primary schools. My partner and I ran a circuit for the standard grades 5 and 6. It was a lot of fun and when I was able to venture away from the school, I was able to explore the weird and wonderful food, as well as their local culture. During the last spring semester, I volunteered as a TA for a nutrition professor. I assisted a couple students throughout the semester to improve
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‘12 their understanding of the complex details of nutrition and digestion. This spring, I will be a Peer Support leader in a Nutrition Class. I have also been involved with a local organization called Pacific Sport as an Art and Sports Leader. Within the art programs, I helped manage the class of grade 1-7 students while the art teacher teaches the class. The sports program also provided opportunities for planning, teaching, and managing the class with normally 1 or 2 other leaders. It was a great learning experience that helped to confirm my decision that teaching was not the career path that I was truly passionate about. After graduating from the Academy I began to miss the community of teachers and peers back in Calgary. Fortunately, I have been able to keep in touch with some of them through the alumni events. My Message to future graduates at the Academy is this: Be flexible. Changes and challenges will pop up; these will often clarify where you want to go with your future, even if it is discovering what you don’t want to do. How you face those changes and challenges is what is truly important.
RA Alumni u pdat e s
Darian Ariss (Magee) '12
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR ALUMNI Weddings, babies, graduation, careers and more!
Sebastian Breton '13 and Sam Taylor 13' MRU Health and Physical Education graduation
‘12-'16 Ally Duckworth '14 SAIT's Culinary Arts graduation Annelise Coombs '16 SAIT Dental Assistant graduation
We are always looking to share your stories with the Rundle Community . Can we feature you in our next Ascent Magazine?
Email us at
alumni@rundle.ab.ca
Summer 2019 | Ascent Magazine 38
RA A lumni u pdat e s
How Alumni Continue to Move Mountains Jon-Jacob van Oosterwyk Bruyn '15 IN HIS OWN WORDS After I graduated from Rundle Academy in 2015, I went to the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg to study Medieval and Early Modern Studies, focusing on European history from around 480 to 1453. I graduated this past spring with an arts degree. As part of my degree, I focused on Icelandic sagas and culture, benefiting from U of M’s Icelandic Department. I took courses on Icelandic Sagas, Medieval Icelandic Culture, Old Norse Mythology as well as Christian History, all of which were quite fascinating and enjoyable. My minor was in Religion, allowing me to take many further interesting courses, including Storytelling in Religion, and a course on myth which involved assessing a Captain Marvel comic in regards to whether or not it could be considered
"...[I too k] a co urse on which in Captain volved asse myth ssin Ma to whe rvel comic in g a ther or regard consid ered a not it could b s s myth e expect . I had ed reading one of my re never quired s in a r elig be a co ion class to mic..."
as myth. I had never expected one of my required readings in a religion class to be a comic, but was surprised to find out I had to read it. Perusing the bookstore this February, I discovered that there were other courses in both the English and Religion departments which had Harry Potter books as required readings, something I did not expect either. I have been accepted to do a Masters degree this fall in the Netherlands. This is something I had not originally planned to do, as my original plan was to do a teaching degree this summer starting in May at UPEI, and I had even been accepted to do it. However plans changed somewhat, and a prof in the fall recommended the Masters degree to me, so I applied, and got accepted.
The masters program is at Radboud University in Nijmegen, which is a small city in the Netherlands near the German border. It is a Masters in Theology, and I’m doing the Church History stream, which is very much along the lines of what I studied in my bachelors degree. For my thesis I plan on focusing on the Celtic Church and on the Anglo-Saxon missionaries who went into Europe in the 7th and 8th centuries and their impact on Christianity. The Masters is a one year degree, going from September 2019 to the end of August 2020. I have no plans for after I finish as of yet, but there is an internship as part of the degree, so I will see what develops from that and go from there.
Congratulations to the Class of 2019 and welcome to the Rundle College Alumni Association. We look forward to watching you soar!
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Speech from 2019 Moves Mountains Breakfast continued... By Lidia Jones '11 I was sitting in Ms. Davidson’s Biology 30 class in March of 2011 and suddenly got very anxious as she compared the endocrine and nervous control systems and further explained how they interact. I realized that I had no interest in doing Bio for the next 4 years, let alone the rest of my life. 20 minutes later I went to Miss P’s office and deferred school for a year, so that I could travel and figure out what I actually wanted to do. One may call this an impulsive reaction to a feeling, but it's one of the best decisions I made. After graduation from Rundle and talking to an old friend from my Rundle College days, it only took 2 months to figure out what I wanted to study in university. I decided on Acadia’s business program so I reapplied and was accepted for the fall 2012 semester. All I had to do was wait a year. After months of working 3 jobs and saving money, I went off to India by myself as an 18 year old young woman to work with orphaned children who had various disabilities, both mentally and physically. During this time I helped children and adults by advocating for them. Due to the caste system in India, many children are abandoned in gutters, train stations, etc. at an early age, as soon as a disability presents itself. I worked with an organization based out of Toronto that provides these disadvantaged kids with a roof over their heads, education, vocational training, and special medical care so that they can live with dignity in a loving environment. During this time, I learned a lot about myself, about politics, and the power of cholera. India is a beautiful country, but it isn't for everyone. Finally after a year of waiting, August 2012 rolled around and I was set to start my first year of my undergraduate degree. I was in the very small town of Wolfville, Nova Scotia. It had been over a year since I had done anything school related, so I was definitely feeling less prepared than the other students in my classes who only took the summer off. I was feeling like I really had overcome my LD, and thought I would see how things go and try classes/exams without accommodations. This was a huge
mistake! My grades were not where they should have been. I had a mathheavy course load (first year accounting and economics), and I definitely put myself through unnecessary stress. By second semester, I learned my lesson and went to the Disability Access Centre with my IPP and PsychEd Assessment and it was pretty well smooth sailing from there. By advocating for myself, I would meet my professors regularly through the semester and was on a first name basis with each of them, and they knew exactly what I needed in the classroom. Oddly none of them were weirded out by my use of ear defenders, tools that also became useful in my lively dorm. As Acadia became increasingly popular, over the 4 years, I revisited old friendships with students from Rundle College, and rekindled friendships from the Academy. By the end of my tenure at Acadia, I partook in various extracurriculars. I served for two years on the Students’ Union as ViceChair and as Chairperson. I became a member of the Acadia Finance Society, was hired as a Teachers' Assistant in two different courses within the business department, and was also hired as a Research Assistant. All of these extracurriculars were opportunities that I never thought I would be afforded, given that I had a ‘learning disability’. Heck, I never thought that I would graduate university given some mountains that needed to be moved in my home life with my family, while facing the great pressures of university course loads, a social life, and these extra curriculars. But I did graduate from Acadia with a major in Entrepreneurship & Innovation Studies in 2016. This was my biggest mountain to date. During my summers off from Acadia, I had the opportunity to intern at a midstream oil and gas company in downtown Calgary. I spent three summers working different rotations through various departments, so that I could get a full picture of the business. By the time I graduated with my degree, I was lucky enough to be hired into a full-time role within the Supply
Chain Department. I have spent the last 2 years purchasing materials for various pipeline and facility projects. Buying things like line pipe, valves, measurement tools (the "boring stuff") is what I find very interesting. My dream job also brought me to my partner, Cam. He works in the Business Development department. Basically he dreams up these pipeline projects and looks for investors, and once he gets a project approved, I buy all of the materials so that we can build it. It's been 8 years since leaving the halls of the Academy, but I haven't forgotten about Rundle. I am an active and proud Rundle Alumni in the community and as of late, have had the pleasure of serving on the Rundle Alumni Committee, which allows Alumni to reconnect at various functions and provides networking opportunities to help further professional careers. Rundle gave me the tools to create my own successes, got me back on track when I had veered from the straight and narrow, and taught me the great importance of self advocacy. With these tools, I developed confidence in myself and turned what many call a disability, into great capabilities. The tools identified my strengths, and showed me how to use ADD to my advantage. As bitter as I was to get diagnosed, and face lots of labels, I feel very blessed that I had teachers at the College looking out for me. I ended up in such a wonderful community at the Academy. I encourage all of you to cherish your time at Rundle. Learn as much as you can about yourself and get comfortable and familiar with what you need. Congratulations on receiving your awards this morning, I trust that each of you have displayed the ability to move mountains, and have done so with tenacity and grit. I challenge each of you to stay connected and active in your Rundle community after your high school graduation, and I challenge you to continue to move mountains, because it doesn't stop here. Stay woke. Thank you.
Summer 2019 | Ascent Magazine 40
The Building, Students, and Teachers continued... By Brad Mellor I try and explain the tradition of graduation to them and that one day they too will have their day to walk the stage. I do listen to the speeches, every word, but I often spend the morning thinking back and reminiscing of all the previous graduating classes. I am so amazed to think that the first and the last classes in my time at the Academy are 17 years apart. Every class is made up of incredible individuals who have showcased grit, effort and struggle throughout their academic careers and finally they reach the top of their Rundle Mountain. When I see them walk the stage and know I was a small part of their journey, I know this is what teachers aspire to in our careers. When the kids are called up to receive their diplomas the memories start to flood in. I will never forget my grade six class of 2002. I was pretty green to teaching and I remember Wes Fraser’s passion for floor hockey and Quinn Waddell’s intensity at soccer baseball. I remember Keith Gunning’s perseverance in the classroom and getting an invitation to John Maitland’s birthday bowling party at the Winter Club. I remember when Connor Hill wrote Premier Klein to stop grizzly bear hunts. Other elementary memories include trips to Calaway Park on the last day of school and when several of the students who were successful at fishing decided to bring home bags of fish on the very hot bus! Who can forget the kindness and leadership of Kayla Wartman and the determination of Carmen Farmer, or the Quebec trip and walking the Plains of Abraham in sleet and snow. I remember
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the incredible math skills of Troy Brintnell and being quickly defeated in badminton by a grade 6 Curtis Holoway. I remember the wrestling genius of Brock Duberger and Sean Molle and the shot put power of Carter Gall and the friendships of Charlotte Jones, Bryce Hall and Ally Duckworth. I remember when Sadie Matus won at discus and when Dougie Gardner showed up to school one day with a pair of outgrown skates to give to me. And yes, Dougie was in grade 5. I remember trips to Dinosaur Provincial Park with Angus Warltier and the Midkiff brothers and walking the beaches of Normandy with the Bracken boys. The Jr. High ski trips are also a fond memory. I will never forget Max Smith’s grade 7 class at Panorama, skiing the slopes as one entire group and how inclusive they were to everyone in their grade. My TA is a collage of photos and pictures of Tyler West, Madison Hillstead, and Rachel Crossfield holding my newborn son and more recent memories and shenanigans of Kemarr Bishop, Mitchell Kloss, and Nathan Retzer in the infamous all boys TA. It’s the best when Ian Dirks, Dan Hohman, and Miraan Patel pop by the school for a chat and when Rundle football legend Chris Huband attends our Fine Arts Day and to see Connor Maclean volunteer at our annual Terry Fox Run. In the spring, my grade 7’s get to meet Natalie Heaton working at Heritage Park running various school programs, while she completes her Masters at U of T during the school year. I will
also never forget my first grade 4 class where I worked alongside my now wife and taught some of the most dynamic personalities and characters such as Jake Dean and Rachel Atkinson. This grade 4 class helped shape who I am today as a parent. I think about them all the time as I raise my own children, Brody and Zoey. I know these examples are only a small sliver of the memories I have of each of my former students. Just know that your current teachers and former teachers are forever in your corner. I would also be remiss to not mention the staff and students who we have lost way along the way. They will always be part of Rundle Academy and will forever be remembered; we are so lucky to have known them.
#3 The Teachers The teaching experience at the Academy has also evolved over the years. I know that many consider the staff an extension of family, and I can definitely say this has been my experience. I think I can speak on behalf of the staff who have been around a while, that sometimes you have the feeling that you’re on a very long extended network television show, except that the audience is the students! We see pictures on the walls of many former staff members that remain as friends. Much of the staff have literally grown up themselves during their time at the Academy, and at each staff children's Christmas party we see staff growing their families. Regardless of their tenure, each teacher has had a major impact at Rundle Academy. continued on page 46
RA to d ay
check out What's happening on Campus Badminton: Logan R. won silver at the Junior boys level and went on to play at the City Championships. Basketball: The Senior Boys lost to their season-long rivals, Ecole de la Rose Sauvage, in the league Championship game. Thank you to the seniors for their time and commitment to our program over the last three years.
Football: The team won the bronze medal in conference
play this year and faced a tough Brooks team in the Provincial Quarter-Final. This was a huge accomplishment for a team with so many grade 10’s
Rugby: The Rundle Rugby Club enjoyed another very successful season in 2019. The sport continues to grow in popularity with over 120 students participating in Grades 7 - 12 from Rundle College and Rundle Academy. This year saw a trip to Victoria, BC, and the boys wrapping up their season by winning the first ever ASAA Tier 2 7’s Provincial Championship in St. Albert.
Cheer: The team had an incredible season this year, culminating in a Rundle-best score at Provincials to earn 4th place.
Travel Club: Over Spring Break, 26 Senior High students embarked on a 12-day trip to Cambodia. They spent much of their time completing a service project at the Centre for Children’s Happiness orphanage and fundraised nearly $1500 to purchase uniforms and supplies for the children. The students also participated in cultural activities, including a tour of the Killing Fields, a cooking class, and a visit to Angkor Wat.
Drama: One-act plays were performed in mid-May, one of which was directed by our own Owen McIntosh ‘19!
Ultimate Frisbee: The team returned to the Provincial Championships.
Cross Country: 2 students represented Rundle Academy at Provincials.
JV Boys Volleyball: Finished 3rd in the league. Summer 2019 | Ascent Magazine 42
rundle reflections
Valedictory Address Nicole Menard Class of 2019
Before I begin, I would like to thank Ari for all his help constructing this speech. Greetings and welcome to all students, staff, honoured guests, regular guests, and graduates. We’ve gathered here today to watch several people walk across a stage, receive a piece of paper, and adjust their head wear. But believe it or not, graduation is about more than that. It’s about finally ridding ourselves of stress and expectations. Because adult life is well known for being free of responsibility. Yet despite the many hardships that come with getting older, I have little fear for those graduating today. These individuals, have consistently displayed the type of conviction, decency, and resilience that will inevitably help them in their future endeavours. Or not, who knows. When it really matters, we as grade 12s band together. Like the graduating class before us, our group was able to achieve 100% participation in the legacy fund. This is an achievement within itself, but doesn’t really adequately illuminate the most defining characteristics of our grade. The day before the deadline for donations, we collectively had 17% participation. From this, we can conclude, that 83% of us do not possess any form of time management skills. That's 26.56 of the people graduating today, you know who you are. But, we can also conclude when it truly matters, we manage to actually function. It is also important to note that we all chose to donate independent of any group coordination. Each individual made a choice that would benefit future Rundle attendees, of their own volition. An ability to recognize when and where we are needed, and the capacity to understand what is worthy of effort and dedication, are both traits necessary for success.
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Over the many years I have spent at Rundle, I feel there really haven’t been enough speeches about community. So in case you were worried, I'm going to talk more about it. But in all seriousness, we are lucky enough to be apart of a group of people with consistent respect for one and other. I can say with confidence that there is little judgement among this year’s graduates. If you want proof of this, observe an average interaction between any of us. Our communication has become indecipherably idiosyncratic, due to the number of inside jokes that have developed. This social dynamic, that can only be described as an echo chamber of chaos, leaves any outsider modified and the hardworking staff wondering what and why, and why, just why. Though a hindrance to logic and general progress, this method of madness gives great comfort to those of us who are a part of it. Camaraderie has come from shared suffering, and we are unlikely to encounter an environment quite like this ever again. Though we are meant to spend today looking to the future, it is important to take time to recognize what we have. None of us would have expected such a closely knit community to grow out of such an abnormal atmosphere, but I’m sure we will all miss it to some degree. An ability to find strong connections in a small group is another skill that will certainly aid us in future endeavours. Or not, who’s to say? Now let's talk about another under-discussed theme at Rundle Academy: grit. When I say grit, I don't just mean “moving mountains” or “overcoming your personal academic challenges.” I mean successfully moving past the considerable adversities we are all faced with at some point in our lives.
The individuals graduating today have all demonstrated their ability to do so. For example, Theo spends every waking moment of his life endlessly struggling to remain awake, and I thank him for doing so during the duration of my speech. Isaac also faces unimaginable adversity. He is fighting the good fight against the tangled mess we call the English language. Ari, too, has a fight of his own, a fight against doing literally anything in the expected amount of time. Thanks again for your help, buddy. As a group, we have faced the loss of many unforgettable friends and teachers. Like JP, just kidding he’s right over there. However many of those individuals, who have had such a large impact on us, are absent. Yet the role that they played in our development deserves to be acknowledged. But as graduates, we’ve dealt with more than loss; we’ve dealt with personal hardship. While there are days some of us don't come to school with a smile, the fact that we showed up in the first place in an accomplishment within itself. Life is hard, and it's probably going to get a lot harder. Yet every single one
of us has made it to the end of the beginning, despite the perils along the way. As our problems grow, so will our capacity to deal with them. An ability to push through the unyielding storms of adversity is truly the most important skill we possess. Or not… the future is uncertain, and no one really knows. But, I believe that as a group, we have many tools with which to face this uncertainty and find a future we can be satisfied with. So let’s go over what we’ve learned about our graduates: we have no time management, we’re unique, and have grit, I guess. So I suppose you can take the kid out of Rundle Academy, but you can’t the Rundle Academy out of the kid. But in all seriousness, the English language, for the first time, fails me today. Words can't adequately describe how profound an effect the individuals graduating today have had on me. I will miss you all dearly. However, I will refrain from wishing you luck in your future, because I know the graduating class of 2019 will not need it. Good job guys!
MOVING WALLS CAMPAIGN Rundle Academy Renovation
We are excited to announce that Rundle Academy now has the opportunity to further improve our students’ learning. Over the past two years, our teachers and students have worked extensively with designers from IDEO and Future Design School to develop the most effective redesign plan for the Academy that will enhance the education of our students well into the future. In 2018, we launched the Moving Walls Campaign, and through the generosity of our community, we were able to raise the funds to complete the redesign of the Junior High Lunchroom into a more versatile, multi-purpose learning space. We still require the necessary funds to redesign an essential core of our school — the Assembly Hall. The new design of the Assembly Hall will greatly benefit all of our students for years to come.
Donate today at rundle.ab.ca/support
We invite our alumni and their families to leave a legacy of giving, so that current and future Academy students can further benefit from the teachers and program that helped you find success. Summer 2019 | Ascent Magazine 44
ra alumni return
der 17' and Sarah Ree 17' Lara Smith
Cole Hendry '11
Kathleen O 'N
eil '08 Chris Huband '11
r '06
Zach Flowe
Liam R
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rt '15
Oliver Pett i '18, Natha n Retzer '18 Cassie Pe tropoulos '18
Chris Huband '11, Alanna Jensen '10, Connor MacLean '14, Davis Maxwell '16, Madison Hillstead '16, Claire Oliphant '17
Mia Berloni '15
Jordan Leh
to '07
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Rundle College Alumni Department has established the Distinguished Alumni Award to honour and recognize the recipient’s exceptional achievements, significant continuous service, and contribution to Rundle College and the community.
LEGE ALU COL MN E L I1 D N
Rundle College Distinguished Alumni
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Distinguished alumni
2018 Jillian Goodhart ‘11 2017 Aaron Goodarzi ‘95 2016 Michael Bellusci ‘09 2015 Dan Biggs ‘96 2014 Adam Gordon ‘08 2013 Scot Paisley ‘94
2018 Anya Curtis ‘11 2017 Cathleen Timlick ‘09 2016 Chris Huband ‘11 2015 Stephanie Falkenburg (Rasmussen) ‘08 2014 Derek Kemp ‘05 2013 Rachel Dornian ‘04
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Alumni
Rundle Academy Distinguished Alumni
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If you would like to nominate a Rundle alumni for this award, please contact Mr. Aaron Goettel at alumni@rundle.ab.ca.
The Building, Students, and Teachers continued... By Brad Mellor When I first started teaching under Dennis Holowaychuk, we were a very young staff; much the same as it is today except for a few of us wily veterans. We worked hard and played hard, and there was always a feisty competitiveness amongst the faculty — this hasn’t changed. One constant that remains is a common belief by both students and staff that Rundle Academy can compete with anyone, similar to an underdog team heading into the NBA finals. One of the biggest challenges during my younger teaching years was learning how to teach. It sounds like it would be an easy task, but learning how to teach at Rundle Academy wasn't easy. With all the educational theory, evidence based practices such as differentiated instruction, accommodations, SLP’s, IPP’s, remediation, assistive technology,
executive functions, and more, it was a steep learning curve for a new teacher. I continue to be impressed with how quickly our new teachers adapt as educators. What took some of the old guard years to learn, they master and thrive. I wouldn’t be a very good school historian without reflecting on all of the extracurricular travel opportunities at the Academy — the countless field trips, overseas trips on the battlefields of Europe, the peaks of South America, and the fields and rivers of Cambodia. Closer to home, it's the Eastern Canada trip, Alford Lake, and Kananaskis, not to mention all of the small towns dotted across Alberta regularly visited by our athletes. Some of the best moments happen in our own gym or on the stage within our Fine Arts Program. Our hallways are lined
with incredible works of student art and it makes us proud to hear about the number of alumni that have gone on to post secondary theater studies and beyond. We are fortunate that our Alumni department continues to make connections between our former students and staff, and although it may have been years since you walked through the front doors, always know that there is someone looking forward to catching up with you. Well, it looks like I've run out of time (and space), typical of my teaching. I just want to thank the Alumni department for giving me a chance to reflect on my time at Rundle Academy and to celebrate your Rundle history, too. Mr. Mellor Summer 2019 | Ascent Magazine 46
Alumni
Rundle College Society Alumni Department 7379 17th Avenue SW Calgary, Alberta T3H 3W5 Tel: 403-291-3866 | alumni@rundle.ab.ca RUNDLE.AB.CA
@RundleAlumni @RundleACAlumni rundle.alum Rundle College Society Alumni