THE St. Andrew’s College 15800 Yonge Street Aurora, ON L4G 3H7 Canada
ANDREAN Fall 2021: volume 65, number 2
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SASSAW 2021 24
Pride Proud! 32
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YOU NAME IT... …and Dem Rogers ’59 has probably supported it
Inside, Dem reflects on growing up at Willow Farm and becoming one of SAC’s most ardent supporters
ALSO INSIDE:
ANNUAL REPORT 2021
CONTENTS Fall 2021: volume 65, number 2 FEATURES
The ANDREAN Published by St. Andrew’s College for Old Boys, parents, and friends of the school Editor Julie Caspersen
4 What’s In A Name? 11 ANNUAL REPORT 2021 20 Homecoming 22 SASSAW 2021 24 Pride Proud! 30 Campus Canines 32 The Andrean at 65
Director of Communications Nicolette Fleming Art Direction, Design, and Photography Paul Mosey Contributors Jim Herder ’64 Sean Maillet Chris Traber Spencer Thomson ’22 David Joiner
COLUMNS 3 The Head’s Up 19 Sports Update 27 Community News 34 Old Boys Profiles 44 Old Boys News 54 Obituaries
Telephone 905-727-3178, ext. 333 Email admission@sac.on.ca oldboys@sac.on.ca theandrean@sac.on.ca Website www.sac.on.ca The Cover
Dem Rogers ’59, stands on the porch of the house on the Willow Farm property. Dem grew up at Willow Farm and visited for a photoshoot and to reminisce in October. On the back cover, Jake Kearley, Burke White, and Chance Rodin, from the Class of 2013, teeing off at the Old Boys Golf Tournament.
Welcome to The Andrean, your alumni magazine since 1956. It is wonderful to be writing this from my desk on the upper floor of Dunlap Hall instead of my home office. It is a pleasure to greet colleagues in the morning, marvel at the Zou Family Science Classroom and Lab, sit in on professional development in Wirth Theatre, and enjoy the sight of boys rushing to study in Towers Library, practice on Yuill Field, or chat with buddies as they stroll to the La Brier Family Arena. Dunlap, Zou, Wirth, Towers, Yuill, La Brier: names of just some of the people whose generosity has benefitted generations past and will continue to benefit generations to come. Even after four years as part of the Andrean community, I’m still in awe of the incredible philanthropy that has allowed our independent school to stay strong and keep growing. I invite you to check out our feature on page 4 highlighting a few interesting named places, spaces, and things.
Julie Caspersen, Editor
We belong to the following associations:
The Andrean magazine supports the St. Andrew’s College mission: developing the complete man, the well-rounded citizen,” connects Old Boys and parents to the school, and reflects St. Andrew’s College’s enduring value to the constituents it serves.
off the top
AND THEY’RE OFF! The annual Cross-Country Run – one of SAC’s longest-standing traditions – was back in full swing this year. Middle and Upper School students took to the course on Oct. 7.
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THE HEAD’S UP
E
ven though St. Andrew’s College has been in existence since 1899, this year feels like a fresh start. As pandemic restrictions slowly lifted over the summer and fall, school life has been relatively normal. Students are participating in as robust a program as possible now that we are back to in-person learning every day. Interschool athletics have resumed, and the boys are enthusiastically immersed in the co-curricular activities they love. After 19 months, we dropped the SAC Casual dress code and returned to First Dress. It’s a sea of navy blazers and grey flannels with faculty and staff in business attire. SAC is on track for a vigorous, exciting, active, and social school year. We are all smiling behind our masks! We are looking forward to a future free of pandemic restrictions. Most of our success so far has been thanks to our vaccination rates. At the time of writing, more than 97 per cent of our eligible student and staff population has been vaccinated, which has afforded us the ability to rejoice in some SAC traditions. By the time you read this, we will have held a scaledback Homecoming, hosted parents and friends in Wirth Theatre for the Dramatic Society’s performance of West Side Story, held two Old Boy reunions in downtown Toronto, and we will be nearing the date for An Andrean Christmas at Roy Thomson Hall, where capacity limits have thankfully been lifted. This return to normalcy is like a new beginning. All of us on campus appreciate the little things: conversing face-to-face with colleagues while pouring a cup of coffee, listening to the chatter of boys as they work on group projects, and cheering on our sports teams.
Walking is a favourite pastime, and I have strolled the landscaped grounds and witnessed the leaves change colour from summer to fall and am waiting for the snow to begin. I’ve noticed the trees named along the Quad, taken stock of those who have contributed to our Legacy Campaign, and ventured through McLaughlin Hall to appreciate all those who brought this project to life. It is the names that have given me pause. But, what’s in a name? William Shakespeare would argue nothing, but we wouldn’t be St. Andrew’s without these names. Whether named in 1926 or 2021, the names on our buildings, in our gardens, and throughout our facilities are an important reminder of who we are, where we came from, and where we are going. Please read our feature on the importance of names starting on the next page. Student names have also taken centre stage this fall. As part of our MEDIC (Masculinities: Equity, Diversity, Inclusivity Committee) work, we know how important it is to take the time to learn the pronunciation of someone’s name. Each student recorded their name and their parents’ names this year to ensure everyone is addressed correctly. The recordings were posted on Edsby where they are easily accessed by faculty and staff.
We are also talking about pronouns and addressing people the way they wish to be addressed. Gender-neutral washrooms, EDI training through racial justice education, guest speakers, and many more opportunities help us build a more inclusive and equitable community. In October, we held our first Pride Week, celebrating through art, music, educational displays, and thoughtful guest speakers. While we have participated in Orange Shirt Day for many years, this year’s took on a new sense of meaning with the discovery of mass graves across Canada. We marked Canada’s first National Day of Truth and Reconciliation, reflecting on the tragedies of the past, honouring the survivors, and pledging to support healing. As we learn from the past and have optimism for a brighter future, I wish you a season of fresh starts and new beginnings and hope we can meet again very soon. X
Kevin R. McHenry, Head of School
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What’s in a name? D
uring our work-from-home months early on in the pandemic, I missed the interactions with my colleagues. I missed the sound of boys walking to and fro outside my window in Dunlap Hall. And I missed my daily walks on campus, exploring the indoor places and enjoying the outdoor spaces. Perusing the plaques dedicated to Old Boys, Andrean families, and staff members has been a pastime since I started working at SAC in 2017. There are a lot! Names on buildings and sporting facilities. Names on trophies and awards. Names on wings, rooms, and objects. New names and old names. In fact, the cabinet where the Communications team congregates over coffee is dedicated to the memory of Stan Macfarlane. Of course, being a curious journalist, I needed to know all about Mr. Macfarlane, and my research showed he taught French, Spanish, and Latin at SAC from 1974 until he retired in 1982. During his time at the school, he led European bicycle tours during the summer and was a beloved faculty member, known as the “Mr. Chips” of St. Andrew’s.
What other stories are waiting to be told of the people memorialized on plaques and the people who chose to preserve these memories? I figure if I’m fascinated to learn more, readers of The Andrean will be, as well. The magazine is sent to friends of the school and parents of students as well as Old Boys, so quite a few readers aren’t familiar with all the places and spaces on campus. Following is an abbreviated “behind-the-scenes” feature on a select few of our named places, spaces, and things.
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– Julie Caspersen, Andrean Editor
PLACE
ROGERS HALL
ROGERS IN THE HALL: Dem Rogers ’59, with son, Ian ’91, and grandsons, Bryce ’24 (right) and Kyle ’26, in the Middle School hallway. Fall 2021 The ANDREAN
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Signage inside the front doors of the school
Dem Rogers ’59 grew up on Willow Farm, just to the north of campus, and attended St. Andrew’s from 1948 to 1951, then from 1955 to 1958. These years cemented his lifelong connection to the school in ways that changed SAC for the better. In 1926, St. Andrew’s relocated to its current home, mainly for boarding students. When Dem’s family moved to Aurora the year he was born, it was considered “the boonies,” he says, and there weren’t many day students in the area. No one knows better the life of a young Andrean than Dem, who boarded in Macdonald House, hopping the fence between school and home and making friends that he still holds dear today. Dem remembers life as a Lower School student in Macdonald House, where the dorm rooms were on the top two floors, and all the classrooms were on the first floor. He recalls there was also a dining hall and infirmary in the house. At that time, the Lower School students shared the same facilities as the older boys. Fast forward to today, when upon entry to St. Andrew’s, you pass through Rogers Hall, a “school within a school,” named after the primary benefactor to the Middle School facility that opened in 2003. As a member of the Board of Governors since his son, Ian, graduated with the Class of 1991, Dem’s philanthropy and insights directly led to enhancing infrastructure, especially for the younger set. “To me, St. Andrew’s, and private education, has a very definite spot in the country, this province. The quality of faculty and staff we have, the quality of infrastructure has 6 The ANDREAN Fall 2021
evolved, especially under Kevin [McHenry],” Dem says. “We produce a first-rate product.” However, he admits, with a chuckle, that he wasn’t exactly first-rate when he attended. “I’m just an ordinary person. I wasn’t a great athlete; I wasn’t an academic.” But he was an enthusiastic participant in all that St. Andrew’s had to offer and has maintained a constant connection to the school and his classmates throughout the years. “The friendships that I made, the lasting, lifelong friendships, have kept me very interested.” Dem has been one of the school’s strongest champions for the past few decades, albeit quietly from behind the scenes. “I want to keep on supporting projects such as Rogers Hall that are going to enhance either infrastructure or funding scholarships,” he says. “I’m very happy to have been part of the fabric of it and happy to support it.” This year, he has one grandson, Kyle ’26, in his final year of Middle School and another in Grade 10, Bryce ’24, involved in the Cadet Corps, one of the traditions Dem is happy to see maintained. His philanthropy has ensured future generations of young Andreans a place of their own where they can thrive and be part of the Rogers Hall community before advancing to the Upper School.
More than a century ago, when letter writing was the norm, many St. Andrew’s graduates would send handwritten correspondence to the Head of School, Dr. Macdonald. He continued to receive letters from soldiers serving their country during the First World War, and these mementos formed the basis for the SAC Archives. Until the mid-1980s, school souvenirs were kept in boxes and stored wherever there was space. Much of the material remained in a small room in the basement of Dunlap Hall until SAC’s first archivist, Douglas Worling ’50, suggested in 1990 that the room under Towers Library would make an ideal place to store and display the historical treasures. A decade later, a group of Old Boys took up the challenge to create a home for school memorabilia and went to work establishing a dedicated place to house the archival treasure trove.
PLACE
CLASS OF ’54 ARCHIVES
“The Class of 1954 were looking for a worthy project to celebrate their 50th reunion and enthusiastically embraced the Archives project,” wrote former SAC archivist, Ken Ryan, in 2004, the year the archives room had its grand opening. “The new Archives consists of a large room with display cases for memorabilia and wall space for historical photos. It will also serve as a conference room for meetings.” While items in the display cases get rotated, and photos on the walls are updated, the Class of 1954 Archives gift remains an example of a group of grads who set out to make a difference in preserving the past of a school they hold dear. Edna Collins is our current Archivist (and former Associate Director of Advancement) who concentrates on expanding the archives’ digital platform and online presence and curating decades of SAC artifacts. “Thanks must go to the amazing people who have made the Archives what it is today. Douglas Worling lovingly searched out and preserved the treasures; Ken Ryan found creative ways to curate and display the artifacts; Sue Hayter (former SAC Librarian) developed the online platform making our
Edna Collins outside the Archives room
collection shareable with Old Boys, staff, and students,” Edna says. “Of course, none of this would be possible without the considerable financial support of the Class of 1954 whose enthusiasm for the vision brought the SAC Archives collection to its new home and renewed life.” Fall 2021 The ANDREAN
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PLACE
FLAVELLE HOUSE A benefactor who initially wished to remain anonymous is credited with ensuring the future of St. Andrew’s College a century ago. This mystery man with humble roots and a Grade 9 education built a prosperous business career. He became a member of the Board of Governors in 1911 and was named board chair in 1923, a post he held for 15 years. He was known to speak at Prize Day and enjoyed attending football games at the Toronto campus. His name: Sir Joseph Flavelle, namesake of Flavelle House. During his time on the board, plans were being made to move the campus to Aurora, plans that stalled due to a lack of money. He added $75,000 to the building fund, which didn’t cover the entire shortfall. Faced with the choice of continuing without the necessary funds or closing St. Andrew’s, it was agreed that the project would proceed and the funds found. Flavelle’s donation of $130,000 led to the construction of Macdonald House. (Another governor, D.A. Dunlap, provided $150,000 for the construction of the administration building that bears his name.) Yet another gift of $70,000 allowed Memorial Chapel to be built. The dedication plaque reads: Presented to St. Andrew’s College by a friend of the school. Erected in memory of Old Andreans who gave their lives in the Great War 1914-1918. Flavelle’s generosity came to the rescue again in the 1930s when money woes once more threatened the future of the school. He donated $50,000 to help relieve part of the bank overdraft, but the school’s future was still in financial jeopardy. So, he offered to personally pay the remaining overdraft – $90,000 – and challenged other board members to pay off the building account totalling $28,000.
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Room dedication plaques in Flavelle House
TOP: George MacMillan Frost ’40: The furnishing of Room 103 is just one of many gifts from George, who attended SAC from 1937 to graduation. He donated a golf cart equipped for medical response in 2000; was a lead donor to the Campus Master Plan that built Rogers Hall, Staunton Gallery, Wirth Art Centre, and Yuill Gymnasium in 2003; and initiated the G.M. Frost Family Fund in 1995 in support of scholarships and bursaries. MIDDLE: Bob Williams ’64 furnished Room 204 in memory of Harry J. Addison ’64. Bob was also a founder of the Harry J. Addison Memorial Fund, presented to students and staff who make outstanding contributions to football at St. Andrew’s. BOTTOM: Room 212 is furnished courtesy of the Birks Family Foundation. G. Drummond Birks ’36 was in the fourth generation of his family to run Henry Birks and Sons, a Canadian jewelry empire.
This generosity is astounding, even by today’s standards. His contributions made possible the building of the chapel and two boarding houses. Flavelle House, built in 1926, was originally used by Grades 10 and 11 students but since 1962 has been home to a blend of students in Upper School grades from across Canada and around the world. The house contains more than 30 rooms, a pool table, an air-conditioned library, and a separate common room with a kitchen.
While there are entire buildings, wings, and houses named after Andrean friends and family, let’s not forget things we can hold in our hands. And what do students treasure more on Prize Day than a shiny trophy? The Mark Oliver Memorial Trophy was presented by family and friends in memory of Mark Oliver ’85, who attended SAC from 1980 to 1985. It is awarded to the individual who makes the largest contribution to rugby over their career at St. Andrew’s College. Mark played First Rugby (and was MVP in his graduating year), First Hockey, and First Football. He was a Prefect, Cadet Major, and House Captain. The trophy was presented to the school in 1994, the year after Mark passed away due to Hodgkin’s lymphoma. According to close friend, classmate, and lifelong Andrean, Michael Roy ’85, the beauty of the rugby award is that Mark learned how to play rugby at SAC through long-standing faculty members, Paul Kitchen ’70 and Stuart Swan. Both men valued a combination of pure athleticism, toughness, and a high sporting IQ. “Mark possessed all three in spades,” recalls Michael, SAC’s Director of Admission, Marketing & Business Development. The school also distributes the Mark J. Oliver Memorial Scholarship awarded to an Upper School boarding student who is an excellent athlete and a compassionate leader amongst his peers and with Middle School students. The award is funded through the Andrean Legacy (gift of life insurance) program by Michael.
“The cost-sharing of the premium benefits with the school while I was young allowed for the policy to be paid in full in my early 40s. I have had approximately 15 years of witnessing the benefits to those who have received his award,” says Michael. “That feature has been exceptionally impactful in my life and allowed me to give back to others in my friend’s name and memory. I thank SAC for their partnership and the joy it has brought me in getting to know these young men, understand their stories, and watch them grow into their careers and family life.”
THE MARK OLIVER MEMORIAL TROPHY THING
Through the years, the many recipients fortunate enough to earn the award have helped keep the memory of Mark alive for Michael, their classmates, and Mark’s family. Reading the stories of the boys’ individual SAC journeys transport those who sponsor the award back in time to when Mark was at SAC. “I can see Mark in these boys,” Michael says. “In a real way, they will go out into the world, have remarkable careers, start families, pursue their passions, and otherwise live the life Mark would have were it not for the cancer that took his life at such a young age.” It is cathartic to envision these boys’ futures and know that Mark’s scholarship helps spring them on a course toward success. For Michael, funding the award through the Andrean Legacy program allowed him, while earning a modest wage at the start of his professional career, to contribute to the memory of his best friend while helping incoming Andreans afford the opportunity that is St. Andrew’s College. Michael Roy ’85 with the Mark Oliver Memorial Trophy
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QUAD & GROUNDS SPACE
The Robert Giel tree and plaque detail; bronze “Andrew”
The campus grounds are home to quite a few living memorials. A stroll through the Quad in any season is pleasant with the 27 majestic trees – oaks, maples, and a couple of horse chestnuts – offering shade in the summer, a kaleidoscope of colour in the fall, contrast to a snowy landscape in winter, and the promise of new life in the spring. Many of these trees, and others on campus, are dedicated to cherished Andreans, some living and some who have passed away. Old Boys, staff members, and families are honoured through this lasting legacy. A recent gift was made in memory of Robert Giel, a beloved faculty member and Head of Business Studies, who passed away in 2018. Knowing the impact Robert made on generations of students in his 27 years at St. Andrew’s, his family opted to dedicate a stately maple in memory of his many contributions to the school. “St. Andrew’s played a huge role in Robert’s life and in the life of our family. Not only did Robert teach here, but we all lived on campus while he was a Head of House for five years. His children, Arwen, Duncan ’05, Meredith, and Madeline, grew up here, and St. Andrew’s truly became home for the whole family,” says his wife, Kathryn.
This bronze, life-size statue was commissioned by the Ladies Guild (re-named the Parents Guild in 2009) to mark the centennial celebration of the Cadet Corps in 2005. Dubbed “Andrew,” it was presented to the school at the 100th anniversary Cadet Inspection. X
Geotechnology and Campus Memorials By David Joiner, Canadian and World Studies Department Head Geography classes within the department of Canadian and World Studies have tested field survey methods for recording the location of memorial and recognition plaques on campus. For example, Upper School students have used smartphone applications like Esri’s Survey123 to record positions and images for plaques associated with trees planted around the school property. These attributes are then accessed through digital mapping and analysis software. Students in all grades have SAC-organization accounts with ArcGIS Online by Esri so they can learn and use geographic information systems (GIS). When finished, this accessible map and database will allow visitors and students to locate specific memorials/ tributes or learn more about recognitions they have discovered on the grounds.
“Having a living memorial to Robert reflects the mark he left on everyone he knew. We can think of no better place for him to be memorialized than at St. Andrew’s College.” Walking west from the Quad toward Cole Hall, you’ll encounter the Cadet statue standing guard in a tiny, lush oasis which boys rush past as they head to and from lunch. 10 The ANDREAN Fall 2021
For those interested in naming opportunities on campus, for example, theatre seats, boarding rooms, locker rooms, music practice rooms, squash courts, and classrooms, please contact Greg Reid, Executive Director of Advancement, at greg.reid@sac.on.ca for more information.
Annual Report | 2021
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Thank you to the entire St. Andrew’s College community for your collective support and understanding as we navigated a challenging year. A read through this report provides a clear indication of how fortunate we are to have such passionate Old Boys, parents, and friends – something we do not take for granted. As you may recall, in November 2019, we launched The Legacy Campaign to build the SAC Foundation endowed funds and planned giving portfolio. However, the launch was short-lived as we hit the pause button on our fundraising efforts the following March under the full impact of the pandemic. Despite this, and to your collective credit, support for the school continued unabated through the 2020-2021 school year. So why Legacy? The SAC Endowment Fund is comprised of 146 unique funds that were established by the multigenerational philanthropy of our alumni and Andrean families through annual and planned giving. These funds disburse annually to the school while growing in value due to earned investment income and donations, ultimately ensuring long-term growth and sustainability of financial aid and programmatic support. This yearly transfer to the school is integral to maintaining a diverse community and opportunity for all students. Speaking of our students, with the return to in-person learning and a full slate of extra-curricular programs in September, the whole campus is once again buzzing with activity in the classrooms, on the fields, on the stage, and in the boarding houses. The resilience of our community continues to be inspiring, and the excitement is growing as we look forward to upcoming in-person traditions such as An Andrean Christmas, MacPherson Tournament weekend, the Cadet Inspection, and more!
Greg Reid Executive Director of Andvancement & President of the SAC Foundation
With ever more promising days ahead, we cannot wait to share in our traditions, as we are stronger together.
SAC Endowment Fund Market Value & Disbursement (Last 20 Years) $1,600,000
$45,000,000
$1,400,000
$40,000,000
$35,000,000
$1,200,000
$30,000,000
$1,000,000
$25,000,000 $800,000 $20,000,000 $600,000 $15,000,000 $400,000
$10,000,000
$200,000
$5,000,000
$0
$0 ’02
’04
Annual Disbursement
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’06
’08 Market Value
’10
’12 Annual Disbursement
’14
’16
’18
’20 Market Value
SAC FOUNDATION - STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2021
2021 2020 REVENUE Donations $4,377,789 $4,048,347 Net Investment Income $8,924,305 $1,530,312 TOTAL REVENUE $13,302,094 $5,578,659 EXPENSES Bank and Broker Fees $13,888 $19,409 Planned Giving $157,975 $144,613 $171,863 $164,022 DISTRIBUTIONS Capital Projects $1,624,935 $2,326,340 Scholarships, Bursaries, Awards $1,321,617 $1,166,684 Unrestricted (Donations) $672,708 $687,236 Designated (Donations) $272,798 $219,606 Gifts in Kind $25,660 $12,309
TOTAL DISTRIBUTED TO ST. ANDREW’S COLLEGE
$3,917,718
$4,412,175
ENDOWMENT FUND SUMMARY Excess Revenue over Distribution $9,212,513 $1,002,462 Unrealized Loss on Investments ($2,703,775) ($940,644) Fund Balance, beginning of year $34,624,642 $34,562,824 Fund Balance, end of year $41,133,380 $34,624,642
LEGACY CAMPAIGN UPDATE
Campaign Launch (November 2019)
Current (October 2021)
Endowment Fund (Market Value)
$41,560,000
$34,475,000
Life Insurance Policies $27,800,000 $29,099,662 Confirmed Bequests $4,100,000 $4,410,000 Cash & Outstanding Pledges — $2,915,000 TOTAL $66,375,000 $77,984,662
CAMPAIGN GOAL: $100 Million in Combined Assets Fall 2021 The ANDREAN
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DONOR PROFILE By Julie Caspersen
J
ohn Stewart ’78 is adamant when he says he graduated to the world, not from St. Andrew’s. His rationale is that once an Andrean, always an Andrean. You never leave SAC behind. He has had a diverse and distinguished career in the Canadian Forces Primary Reserve that included full-time service overseas. He is a decorated serviceman and rose to the rank of Major. John recently retired following 42 years of service. Concurrent with his Army service, he has a civilian career and has been with TD Wealth since 2000, where he is an investment advisor. John traces his successes in life to the great lessons his parents taught him and everything he learned during his “five wonderful years” at St. Andrew’s. His time at SAC was chockfull of participation: Prefect, Cadet Commanding Officer, Fulford Debating Champion, House Captain, Librarian, Chapel Boy, and producer of West Side Story in his graduating year. In fact, his yearbook quote in The Review offered an equation explaining his philosophy that stands true to this day: your involvement = many wonderful dividends. “It’s been alive since 1899. There’s always been somebody there who knew somebody who was there who knew somebody who was there. It never ceases to exist,” John says.
“
I’m not donating to something I don’t belong to anymore. I’m donating to something that continues to build my life. – John Stewart ’78 14 The ANDREAN Fall 2021
“St. Andrew’s is the foundation that keeps being built because it’s all about the strength of the people who were there and what they become.” John is truly invested in keeping the school vibrant and vital. True to his word, he has left a gift in his will to support future generations of Andreans. “I’m not donating to something I don’t belong to anymore. I’m donating to something that continues to build my life. There are other Andreans out there who are building the world the way I am. We might
not see each other, we might not even know each other, but we are Andreans.” This connectivity applies to all those who attended and have been associated with the school since its inception. “The St. Andrew’s gene pool involves anyone who’s served St. Andrew’s. You serve it as a student, you serve it as a teacher, you serve it as a governor, you serve it as a member of the Parents Guild,” he asserts. “You’ll never be alone in the world if you’re an Andrean.” An engaged and active student, John knew as a teenager he was part of something big, but like most young men, he didn’t understand the breadth and complexity of the network. “It wasn’t until I graduated that I understood there was an Andrean family. When you leave and come back for Homecoming, you look around and realize there are so many Old Boys, there are girlfriends of Old Boys, wives of Old Boys, parents, parents whose kids aren’t there anymore – you look around and, oh my gosh, I get it! This is bigger than I even thought!”
It’s not only the school and the students who benefit from John’s strong connection to St. Andrew’s. He explains multiple facets of his life, from his clients to the charities he supports, benefit from the values he learned at SAC that are still being passed on to current students. It’s the gift that keeps on giving. “The reason I give to St. Andrew’s is because it’s one of the biggest, most important things in my life,” he says. “I’m building much more than the Endowment Fund of the school. I’m building the world. I’m putting my investment into an entity that produces the best kind of people that the world needs.” Many generous donors work alongside John to help establish St. Andrew’s as a great school and send its graduates out into the world ready to give back themselves. “Anybody can build a building, but to build character, to build heart and soul, is really the way ahead.” x
John as Cadet CCO in 1978; Review grad photo, 1978
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NEW GOVERNORS
Lawrence DeMello
René Jones
Lawrence has been a faculty member since September 2012, when he started teaching mathematics and computer science in the Upper School. He came to St. Andrew’s from TMS College in Richmond Hill, where he was the director of student services and athletics and was on the leadership team as they built a high school from their inaugural Grade 9 class. Prior to that, he was the AP coordinator at Villanova College in King City and the department head of computer science at St. Clement’s School in Toronto.
René has been the president and CEO at RJ Consulting Services Inc. for 17 years. She is also a project management consultant who has serviced clients in numerous industries throughout her career, including the financial sector, telecommunications, and healthcare; she is currently engaged with a global mining organization.
Lawrence has been a grade co-ordinator at SAC since 2013, is a member of SCETL, coaches U16 Basketball and U16 Soccer, and is an instructor in the school’s Leadership program. His work with the school’s Robotics and Programming teams has led to excellent results in local and global competitions. Lawrence holds a bachelor of mathematics degree from the University of Waterloo in combinatorics and optimization, a B.Ed. from Queen’s University, and an MA in mathematics from York University.
René has travelled extensively for business (Australia, New Caledonia, Brazil, Africa) and for pleasure. She was born in Zimbabwe (formerly Rhodesia) and lived in the United Kingdom before moving to Canada. She holds a BA in economics from the London School of Economics and Political Science, a master’s in project management from The Open University, and is a member of the Project Management Institute. She was an active member of the SAC community and volunteered on the Mentorship Committee from 2018 to 2020.
Lawrence’s oldest son, Lucas ’21, is pursuing a biomedical engineering degree at the University of Waterloo. Lawrence lives in Maple with his wife, Daniella, and their other two sons, Mathias ’23 and Marcus ’25.
René lives in Oak Ridges with her husband of 29 years, Errol, and their twins. Dorian ’20 is studying political science at Western University. Taylor graduated from Villanova College and is studying anthropology at Western University.
Belinda Long Belinda has actively been involved in the SAC community as a volunteer since her son, Roy Huang ’21, started at the school in Grade 5. She joined the Parents Guild Executive in 2017 and has taken on several roles, including Gala Sponsorship Co-Chair in 2021, Gala Chair in 2020, Gala Vice-Chair in 2019, Homecoming Chair in 2018, and Homecoming Vice-Chair in 2017. Belinda was born in Guizhou, a province in southwestern China, and received her BA from the Communication University of China in Beijing. Before moving to Canada, she worked as a director, editor, and host of entertainment TV shows at the Guizhou provincial TV station, the chief music editor at Zhuhai Ultra Sound Karaoke System Co. Ltd. in Guangdong province, and the administrative manager at Norgas Fleet Management - Skaugen Investment China in Shanghai. Belinda and her husband, Haibo, have two children. Roy is attending Carnegie Mellon University to begin his undergraduate studies. Evelyn graduated from Holy Trinity School in 2012, then studied math and accounting at the University of Waterloo.
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UNIVERSITY DESTINATIONS CLASS OF 2021
American Academy of Dramatic Arts Liam Ste. Marie Arizona State University-Tempe *Lochlan McTeague Bishop’s University Kelden Dagenais, Jack MacFarland, Kieran Walters Brock University Liam Stevenson California Polytechnic State UniversitySan Luis Obispo Ren Motegi
Carnegie Mellon University Roy Huang Carleton University Warren van Eeden Cornell University Justin Ertel Dalhousie University Will Azzopardi, Max Houghton Dickinson College Geoffrey Ogenrwot Huron at Western University Noah Jeppesen, Charlie McDonald Ian Morrison, Akash Ragavan
McGill University Paul Petrozza, Jordan Trajkovski
University of California-Berkeley Austin Feng
McMaster University Ben Villamere
University of California-Los Angeles Alex Fan, Eddie Jia
Mount Allison University Conner Watts
University of Chicago Bryan An
New York University Jinkai Wu
University of Colorado Boulder Griffin Ardill
Queen’s University Jack Bray, *Benjamin Goring, Quinton Greenfield, Christian Haggith, Ryan Henderson, Jack Rankel, Aidan Sullivan, Alex Ventin, Caleb Williams, Hiroki Yasui
The University of Edinburgh Johannes Schmidt, Jason Zhang
Rhode Island School of Design Tom Hu Rice University David Kurp
University of Exeter JulyAnh Nguyen University of Guelph Colton Falkenberg, Gavin Lunau University of Hong Kong Wilfred Leung University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Marshall Ma
Ryerson University Julian Dainard, Dana Goharchi, Marcus McGowan, Minh Vo, Ty White
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Oleh Dehtiarov
Saint Mary’s University Cameron Mitchell
University of Notre Dame Gordie McDonell
Spalding University Matty Brandt
University of Southern California Simon Li
St. Lawrence University Joshua Orrico
University of Toronto Val Gorochowskij, Banff Gu, John Hou, Matthew Jen, Ostynn Lee, Nolan Rush, Bill Shen, Paul Tran, Hanson Xiang, Samson Yang, Andrew Yi, Wing Zou
University of Alberta Chris Childerhose University of British Columbia Ian Hilgendorff, Denis Kasianiuk, Matthew Situ
University of Waterloo Brendan Beeching, Lucas DeMello, *Dante Gallo, Ali Habib, Yoohyup Lee, Kordian Mazurkiewicz, AJ Nichols, Howe Wang Western University Marcus Aitoro, Cole Benoit-Meschino, Ryan Bryden, Claudio Cericola, *Braeden Donnelly, Lucas Henderson, Owen Hollett, Mattias Jentsch, Aiden Kirchmair, *Hunter Kolm, Freddie Kwan, Connor Luciani, Caden McHenry, Jake McMillan, Ryan Purdy, Liam Taylor, Arkadiy Ter-Israelyan, Ernest Wong, Marchel Woods, Paul Zhao Wilfrid Laurier University Nicholas Giorgio, Liam Hadcock, Tommy Hollett, Matheen Khan, Robbie MacEachern, Trent Minor, Duncan Smith, Zishan Tejpar, Mason Watson, Mason Wright, John-Anthony Zarboni
York University Hieu Ta Gap Year Alex Atwill - Hockey Matt Roy - Hockey Luke Vardy – Hockey * these grads have accepted a university offer and are planning a gap year.
University of Victoria Jack Hutchison
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I
n spring 2021, St. Andrew’s College established the Founders Council, comprised of former elected Governors and Trustees. It serves as an informal ad hoc advisory panel to the Head of School and Chair of the Board. To recognize and thank the members for their collective and significant efforts in past governance of the school and the SAC Foundation, Council members were presented with a lovely etched decanter to commemorate their service.
18 The ANDREAN Fall 2021
SPORTS UPDATE By Sean Maillet
GOLDEN TEE
SAC golfers make history at OFSAA
OLD BOYS Back on course at Angus Glen Burke White ’13
Darcy Montgomery ’92, Mark Etherington ’92, Joe Yun
In the first OFSAA (Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations) championship event held since the start of the pandemic, a team of four SAC golfers brought home the gold.
Tim Birkett ’04
As the school year began, it was still undecided if this year’s OFSAA event would even happen due to potential COVID-19 restrictions. It wasn’t until early September when Varsity Golf coaches, Jamie MacPherson ’99 and David Stewart, were notified that the qualifier tournament was a go and had a little over a week to prepare a team. Golf is a spring term sport, but the OFSAA tournament is held in the fall. During a typical year, there would be tryouts to assemble a team for the qualifying tournament, but due to the last-minute nature of the event, the coaches leaned on a group of student-athletes who volunteered to represent SAC on the course.
Michael Graaf ’97, Graeme Martin ’97, Richard Colton ’04, Mario Chiodo ’13 Bryn Fell ’04
James McNair ’24, Matthew Lyons ’23, Daniel Kraik ’22, and Andrew Aquino ’24 (pictured above) teamed up to win the qualifier in September, securing their spot at the OFSAA championship. On Oct. 13, the boys travelled to Glen Eagle Golf Club in Bolton, Ont. Over two days, the team fired six rounds in the 70s, including an impressive score of 2-under par on the last day by Matthew. With nine Ontario schools represented and 36 golfers in the field, the SAC group won the team championship by 12 strokes for the first OFSAA Golf team gold in school history. David Zhou ’02, Randall Blom ’02, Nicholas Weedon ’02, Giancarlo Trimarchi ’02 Fall 2021 The ANDREAN
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HOMECOMING (LITE) 2021 After a one-year hiatus, Homecoming was back on Oct. 2, painting the campus red and white. While we were unable to host as many guests as normal to cheer on our Saints, we revelled in a few Homecoming traditions and a spirited pep rally to kick off what we dubbed “Homecoming Lite.” The Saints did a fantastic job showcasing their skills and sportsmanship on the field and in the gym, as we hosted Upper Canada College athletes for a full slate of games all day. It marked the first time we had spectators in the updated Bedard Athletic Centre to watch a game, and the return of fans in the stands on Yuill Field was truly spectacular.
Quinlan Goring ’22, First Volleyball, Jack Beswick ’22, First Football, David Buckley ’22, First Volleyball U16 Football
First Soccer
David Buckley ’22, First Volleyball
20 The ANDREAN Fall 2021
Pipers lead U16 Football team on to Yuill Field
First Soccer
First Football
Ali Gharib ’22, First Soccer
Bruce Sun ’22, First Volleyball Ashton Watson ’23 and Ronan Nordick ’23, First Football
First Volleyball
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SASSAW 2 TEMAGAM 021 I EXPEDIT ION
By Spencer T h Deputy Head omson ’22 Prefect
of the more challenging SASSAW trips in recent memory. The trip was beautiful and rewarding for the eight hardy souls from SAC – two staff and six students.
T
he SASSAW 2021 expedition to Temagami in Northern Ontario was a tremendous success. After cancelling the trip in 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictions, SAC was committed to running the trip, “come pandemics or high water,” both of which we dealt with on the journey. The 15-day expedition was taxing, physically, mentally, and spiritually. The variety of terrain we covered was incredible: large lakes, small lakes, up and down streams and rivers, short, heinous, and unmarked portages, and one of the highest points in Ontario. All in all, the trip highlighted the beauty of our home province. In total, we paddled 250 kilometres, portaged 30 km, and hiked 10 km. We lived out of tents and did all our cooking over fires. It was one
22 The ANDREAN Fall 2021
We experienced two weeks of warm and dry weather in August, allowing us to swim each day during lunch and at the campsite, keeping us clean and refreshed. Along the way, we cleaned and improved each campsite and portage trail we encountered. As we travelled through the traditional territory of the Anishinaabe, Mr. Gate led a discussion each night from the book, 21 Things You May Not Know About the Indian Act. A highlight was spending a day with Indigenous elder, Alex Mathias, in the old-growth red and white pine forest of Lake Obabika, which was nearly cut down in the 1980s. Moments of great learning and spirituality were abundant on the trip, and we are committed to bringing greater awareness of Indigenous and reconciliation issues back to SAC. Not only were we able to learn from an Indigenous elder, but we also had the privilege of witnessing powerful impressions of the people who roamed the Temagami Lakes
SASSAW 2022 The SASSAW 2022 Expedition will be staged out of Tofino, B.C.
ur r ay A ng us M te a G Kevin
region for thousands of years. From rock paintings to red pine trail blazes, the remnants of Indigenous culture were intensely powerful. We all left the trip with a new understanding of what being a Canadian means.
Students will wilderness camp and sea kayak, surf, explore old-growth forests, and connect with local Indigenous youth on a service project. The trip is slated for August 2022 and will be led by Angus Murray, Outdoor and Experiential Education Coordinator, and a second staff member.
2 unter ’2 A shton H ara ’22 2 K Q ayson Mirkopoulos ’2 e r o d T heo 2 izrahi ’2 A aron M illips ’22 h Colton P homson ’22 T S p encer
With new perspectives (and tired arms), the focus remained on leadership throughout the entirety of the trip. We worked directly as hands-on leaders, learning and practicing valuable skills like selflessness, enthusiasm, and precise communication. These skills had to be on point to power through tough days on the water, bog, and river. We walked away from the trip stronger mentally, physically, and spiritually and with a great sense of accomplishment. The values instilled in all of us as a result of journeying through the challenging Temagami wilderness will last a lifetime, and so will the memories of an excellent 15 days spent together as a team. x
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SAC CELEBRATES FIRST PRIDE WEEK By Julie Caspersen
W
ell-rounded people are adaptable to a wide range of activities, open to considering other people’s ideas, and interested in the world around them. True to our mission statement, which states we are dedicated to the development of well-rounded citizens, St. Andrew’s strives to be free of harassment, intolerance, and discrimination. We aim to instill the concepts of fairness, balance, and acceptance in all students, starting in Grade 5 to graduation. Our first Pride Week, Oct. 18-22, was one more step toward providing a safe and supportive space for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, two-spirit, questioning (LGBTQ2+) members of the Andrean community and beyond. The week’s events also spoke to straight ally students and staff, ensuring all people on campus are charged with creating a safe place for everyone. “We can’t ignore the LGBTQ2+ Old Boys, current students, and prospective students,” says Claudia Rose-Donahoe, a Middle School teacher who led the rainbow-infused week. “We want to make this a welcoming environment for people to express themselves.”
24 The ANDREAN Fall 2021
SAC’s inaugural Pride Week was set in motion during a casual nachos and beer gathering in September when 13 MEDIC (Masculinities: Equity, Diversity, Inclusivity Committee) members formed a sub-committee and started planning a multi-discipline schedule that included guest speakers, art and music, and decorations throughout the school.
Conner Rowntree ’13 spoke with the Middle School boys in Ketchum Auditorium. He was also interviewed by Broadcast Journalism students for an episode of SAC TODAY shown to Upper School students (check it out at youtube. com/StAndrews1899).
Here is a sampling of some of the activities and initiatives:
The Honourable Justice James C. MacPherson joined Upper School
students in Memorial Chapel to talk about same-sex marriage and how it became legal in Canada. James was one of the judges who presided over the landmark decision by the Ontario Court of Appeal, finding the prohibition of same-sex marriage to be unconstitutional.
Stacy Kelly, director, philanthropy of The
519, was a virtual visitor in Ketchum Auditorium speaking with Middle School students about LGBTQ History Month. The 519 is Canada’s most prominent LGBTQ service provider and community centre, delivering programs, services, community engagement, capacity-building, and advocacy.
Pepe Garieri, a facilitator with Egale Canada, spoke to Middle School students about the importance of language, being an ally, and gender identity, among other subjects. Egale is an organization that aims to improve and save lives through research, education, awareness, and advocating for human rights and equality in Canada and around the world. The Arts Council prepared colourful canvases that were displayed in Staunton Gallery, and the Theatre Tech Council provided music during break times. The Library staff put together a curated book display in front of Towers Library. The new Makerspace was used to create Pride pins for staff members to customize with paint.
Parents, students, and staff driving to campus were greeted with the Pride flag shown on our new LED sign at the front gates. “All members of the Andrean community deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. We are celebrating Pride to show that there is no place for discrimination at SAC,” says Emily Keating, Upper School math teacher, Assistant Head of Flavelle House, and one of the organizers. “The decorations and visuals in the Staunton Gallery show our commitment to creating a safe place for our students, staff, and all members of the community. We look forward to continuing this initiative in the coming years.”
The Laramie Project film telling the story of the aftermath of the 1998 murder of Matthew Shepard in Wyoming was shown during Upper School advisory.
The hope is for students to take the reins in subsequent SAC Pride Weeks, but for now, many positive discussions have been sparked at all grade levels. The initiative emphasizes our growing focus on student and staff well-being and the sense of belonging created through a caring learning environment.
All available staff gathered on the steps in Staunton Gallery for a group photo under a balloon rainbow.
ORGANIZERS: Randi Berman, Carolyn Bilton, Trevor Coll, Dennis Jumaquio, Emily Keating, Emilia Macdonald, Kathleen Naroski, Chris Papalia, Emily Philp-Tsujiuchi, John Richardson, Claudia Rose-Donahoe, Samantha Scheepers, Matt Wyatt x Fall 2021 The ANDREAN
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26 The ANDREAN Fall 2021
COMMUNITY NEWS Andrew Abes
joined SAC as the Associate Head Strength & Conditioning Coach, bringing several years of experience, most recently at the Hill Academy. In addition, he supported the Halifax Thunderbirds box lacrosse team as an associate strength and conditioning coach. Andrew lives on campus and supports the boarding program as Assistant Head of Memorial House.
Trevor Biasi
has been promoted to Director of Middle School, joining the school’s Leadership Team. Trevor has served as Assistant Director of Middle School for eight years. He will leverage his strong faculty and student relationships, communication skills, and positive sense of community to succeed in this leadership capacity.
Colby Dockerty
has been promoted to Assistant Director of Middle School, Academics. In this role, he will support the Middle School in all aspects of academic programming with a keen focus on curriculum, instructional practice, and assessment.
John Murray
married Stephanie Micheili at Bellamere Winery in London, Ont., on Aug. 27, 2021. John is SAC’s Head Strength & Conditioning Coach. He teaches personal fitness courses, trains for many teams, and leads the school’s summer fitness and skills programs. Stephanie is a physical therapist and manages a sports medicine clinic in Bradford, Ont. They met while studying kinesiology at Western University.
Janice Hollett
has been appointed Chief Financial Officer. In this key leadership position, Janice will guide the school’s financial planning and oversight, including capital planning, building projects, risk mitigation, and operations.
Stephen Holmes
and his wife, Taylor, welcomed Charlotte on March 28, 2021. Stephen teaches math and science in the Middle School.
Laura Byl
joins the Advancement Department as the Stewardship & Planned Giving Officer. In this role, Laura will engage Old Boys, parents, and friends of the school to support our strategic priorities. She will oversee the Planned Giving program to increase giving in the form of bequests and life insurance policies.
Chris Papalia
steps into the position of Head of Memorial House and administrator of SAC’s Summer School program. Chris has been at SAC since 2012 and teaches AP statistics and data management courses.
Joe Commisso
has accepted the role of Head of Laidlaw House. In the role of day Head of House, Joe will continue to build strong connections with students through the House program by promoting inclusivity, fostering healthy competition and accountability, and empowering student leaders. He is also Head of Community Service in the Upper School. Joe married Ali Keller on July 23, 2021, at Whistle Bear Golf and Country Club in Cambridge – after four previous attempts to get married over the course of COVID-19!
Emma Porter Erin Humphreys
has accepted the role of Director of Health Services. As a registered nurse, she has worked in a cross-section of hospital and community settings, including at St. Andrew’s College on a casual basis since October 2020. She started her career working in child and adolescent psychiatry. At the Hospital for Sick Children, Erin cared for children with various types of cancer, hematological diseases, and immunologic disorders. As a public health nurse in the Healthy Families Program, she developed and facilitated parenting programs. Erin also brings experience as a school nurse at a large public high school in Halifax.
joins the Middle School Leadership Team as Assistant Director of Middle School, Student Life. Emma finished her Women in Leadership program through Yale University this summer. The Middle School will benefit from her achievements as a French teacher for Grades 5-8, Macdonald boarding duty teacher, and leader of Middle School Guyship.
Matthew Trevisan
and his spouse, Andréa Stanger, welcomed into the world Thomas Asa, their third son, days before the online exam period ended last spring. Older brother, Julian, is thrilled to be a big brother again, while the memory and spirit of their brother, Gabriel, live on in the whole family. >>
Fall 2021 The ANDREAN
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RETIREMENTS
Beth Carter By Nicolette Fleming
A
fter a 23-year career, originally as the school’s first Director of Finance, followed by 11 years as Chief Financial Officer, Beth Carter says farewell to St. Andrew’s College. Over her tenure, Beth developed strong friendships, inspired her colleagues, and influenced not only the people, but the institution. Aside from her incredible work ethic, Beth was known for her storytelling abilities, sense of humour, and delectable butter tarts – all of which were present on Oct. 14, the day of her retirement, when she hosted an open house in her office. It was a come-and-go-as-you-please affair, but true to Beth’s ability to tell a good story, she had sticky notes pasted all over her filing cabinet. Everyone who came to bring well wishes was encouraged to pick a story (all of them three minutes to tell or less). You didn’t know what you were going to get by the titles, such as “the iron lady with the girlish laugh” or “how not to ask for raise,” but each was uplifting or funny, none, as Beth put it, giving away any “SAC secrets.” Rather than tell the grand story of Beth’s career at SAC from her perspective, it seems fitting that we share a few of the anecdotes and compliments said about her. “Beth has been a pillar of support. She has been my right hand, assisting in the development and execution of school-wide major initiatives, including the growth of the Middle School, the campus master plan, renovation projects, various strategic plans, and the forever memorable million-dollar challenge. Beth’s contributions are immeasurable, and her legacy will continue for years to come.” Kevin McHenry, Head of School 28 The ANDREAN Fall 2021
“Beth taught me a lot. She has such patience, is easy to work with, and is so well informed. She was a stabilizing influence at the school and on the Board of Governors. You knew you could depend on Beth; she had all the answers.” Dan Stock, Chair of the Board “Beth was always focused on what was best for the students. If it was good for the kids, she had no issue spending the money. While they will never know it, the students are the real benefactors of Beth’s dedication.” Courtenay Shrimpton, Assistant Head of School, Director of Upper School & Strategic Planning “Beth always knew how to keep things fun. She made sure the staff were included in the culture and were treated equally.” Wendy Muratoff, Executive Assistant to the Head of School “When I first met Beth during my interview for St. Andrew’s, she was her bubbly self. Right away, I felt welcome and accepted. We developed a great working relationship and became fast friends. Beth encouraged me to play golf, go on cruises, and develop an increased appreciation for wine. One of the things I most appreciate about Beth is that she is one of the least judgmental people. She always listens to the other person’s point of view.” Grace Wyvill, Director of Food Services “Beth is an accomplished, confident, strong, intelligent, and articulate colleague. She has been pivotal in ensuring the school’s financial health during exceptionally busy capital additions, strategic changes, and significant growth. Beth has been a good role model to other women at SAC. With a senior management team,
board, trustees, finance committees etc., being traditionally male, Beth has led and been an example for women within the organization. While it may not have been an aspiration of Beth’s, it is certainly an aspect that has become a reality and been important for the culture of our school. Beth has done all of this with humility and humour.” Michael Roy, Director of Admission, Marketing & Business Development “I’ve been fortunate to work with Beth over the years on sustainability initiatives and through the Property and Facilities Committee of the Board of Governors. She never ceases to amaze me with her memory and knowledge that extends well past the numbers that come with being a CFO. She has knowledge stored in her brain that no Google search could replace!” Whitney Elliott, Grade 6 teacher Beth’s reputation extends beyond the Memorial Gates. She is well-respected within the CAIS, CIS, and NBOA communities and is an accomplished speaker, creative problem-solver, and accreditation committee member. “I am so grateful to have worked at St. Andrew’s with all of its wonderful people,” Beth says. Beth and her husband, Chris, will be spending winters in Arizona in their new RV and summers at their cottage in Midland, Ont., but first they are taking a retirement trip to Hawaii where Beth will celebrate this milestone with her son, Richard Oosthuizen ’05, his wife, Erica, and their son, Noah.
Margaret Kirkby By Julie Caspersen
S
he arrived on campus in 1999 to help vaccinate students and stayed past her planned retirement in October 2020 to lead the school during the COVID-19 pandemic. With the pandemic in full force, Margaret Kirkby, RN, remained at her post in the Health Centre until the end of the school year in June. Having a person at the healthcare helm during two previous global crises in SARS and H1N1 proved invaluable when the current pandemic emerged in early 2020.
extended well beyond Band-Aids and flu shots.
as prevalent when she started at the school.
“Margaret Kirkby represents the perfect combination of attributes for a school nurse and later Director of Wellness. Her heart and compassion were always on display,” says Courtenay Shrimpton, Assistant Head of School, Director of Upper School & Strategic Planning, who worked closely with Marg during his time as the Director of Upper School.
“There are other adjectives to describe her, including kind, diligent, conscientious, committed, but I think selfless describes her best. There was never one person in our community that she would not help, and she was always available for a question or a concern,” says David Stewart, Associate Director, Upper School, Student Affairs.
“We learned a lesson to hire casual nurses for COVID-19” after the H1N1 influenza pandemic hit the school community hard in 2009, Marg recalls. “Back then, we were all hands on deck 24/7 for many weeks. A lot of kids and staff were affected.”
“She cared deeply about the boys under her care and would make whatever sacrifice was necessary to ensure their needs were being met. She was an incredible communicator with people at the school and a warm and open voice at the other end of the line when she supported parents through the challenges that sometimes emerged,” Courtenay adds.
Luckily, the SARS outbreak in 2003 didn’t make its way to the school.
Marg worked closely with the boarding staff and ensured boarding students were well cared for.
It wasn’t all pandemic prep and virus containment for Marg in her more than two decades in the Health Centre. She became the Director of Health and Wellness in 2007 and played a pivotal role in many advances to help meet student health, development, and educational needs.
“She would spend evenings talking to the boarders in their common rooms about important health-related issues and encourage them to seek additional information. She always made the boarding students feel supported, and they knew they could trust her knowledge and guidance. On many evenings, she could be found administering flu shots and issuing kind smiles and tasty treats as a reward for their courage,” says Keith Ramon, Director of Boarding.
“The development of programs offered through the Health Centre over the years can be largely attributed to her initiatives. We use the term ‘goes above and beyond’ to describe many people, but never has this term been more appropriate than with Marg,” says Head of School Kevin McHenry. “She is the personification of someone who always puts the best interest of students and staff alike at the forefront.” Her commitment to the students and staff
Caring for the complete person was a hallmark of Marg’s approach to her job. One program she touts is the Circle of Care, which brings together faculty, coaches, advisors, and staff members to identify student concerns proactively. She is also pleased that counselling services have increased over the years, something that was not
Marg spent her final days at SAC quietly saying goodbye to colleagues and friends. To her surprise, she was awarded the Colonel Tilston Award at Prize Day in June, an honour bestowed on those who set the best example for effort, persistence, and tenacity. “Marg always did the right thing and put the interests of others before her own. She is an amazing colleague and an amazing friend,” Keith says. While she looks forward to relaxing at her cottage and spending time with her grandchildren, Marg also plans to seek out volunteer opportunities. X
Marg receiving her Colonel Tilston Award Fall 2021 The ANDREAN
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Frankie Finnigan
BRENNAGH FAMILY
KEATING FAMILY
Rosie
Essie
CAHILL FAMILY
Daisy
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MURRAY / WILEY FAMILY
BRENNAGH FAMILY
Charlie
MURRAY / WILEY FAMILY
Laddie
RAMON FAMILY
Juno
RAMON FAMILY
The SAC campus is home to many dogs of all shapes and sizes. Here are a few playful pups photographed on the Quad one September evening.
Phoebe
Charlie
LAFORGE FAMILY
LAFORGE FAMILY
Phoenix
FLEMING FAMILY
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THE ANDREAN AT 65 The Andrean magazine is a mirror. It reflects the current picture of St. Andrew’s in each issue that hits your mailbox, your laptop, desktop, or phone. Whether you read the hard copy at home in front of a blazing fire or digitally on a plane to Hong Kong, the school’s message is most effectively spread worldwide.
Whenever I receive The Andrean, I look forward to reading the Old Boys News and any articles that might be written about Old Boys and their life stories and accomplishments. It’s a pleasure to read about students you taught and to see what they’re doing, who they’ve married, and how many children they have.
For over 50 years of the college’s existence, Old Boys were sent a copy of The Review, the school yearbook, which had a small section dedicated to Old Boys news. Two members of the faculty in 1956 felt the alumni needed their own communication link. Henry Holden, a history teacher, and Lower School teacher, Michael Adamson ’44, gathered the news internally at the college, and The Andrean bulletin was published in October 1956 for the first time under the aegis of the volunteer Old Boys Association. By the mid-1980s, The Andrean was still a four-page leaflet. In 1985, to mark the 60th anniversary of the school in Aurora, a group of keen parent volunteers on the SAC Association Council, with the help of an outside marketing consultant, produced a celebration issue that hit the mailboxes of all Old Boys, current parents, alumni parents, and anyone else remotely involved with the school. The die had been cast. There was no going back to a flyer! Full-colour photography exploded on the wraparound covers, content improved dramatically, current students were honoured for their achievements, admission was promoted, and a computerized mailing list was compiled that reflected the full extent of the school’s ever-growing community. The information-technology era arrived with immediate and dramatic effects and made communication a huge priority. Nowadays, many young boys from all parts of the globe explore the school online themselves. The Andrean is now, and has been for many years, a brilliant reflection of St. Andrew’s College. X By Jim Herder ’64, former Director of Development and Andrean Editor
As an avid reader/follower for 55 of The Andrean’s 65 years, the Andrean was Facebook before Facebook. Happily, it has maintained its analogue format complemented by colour photography and original content. As is true of many marriages, they say the first 65 are the hardest!
– Jim Good ’68
32 The ANDREAN Fall 2021
– David “Juice” Josselyn Retired SAC math and geography teacher
1965
1950
1960
1970 1956
Our four sons attended St. Andrew’s College over a span of 14 Years. The Andrean keeps us in touch with the school and our sons’ classmates, their careers, their families, their children. It is a living connection to the school and the students. We devour The Andrean, cover to cover, for school events, faculty connections, and for the connections to our sons’ contemporaries. It is our link, our tie, a knot, and a web to everything St. Andrew’s.
I look forward to receiving The Andrean as it is now my closest link to the school. I usually read the message from the Head of School first to learn about any special projects that are either underway or soon to be started. Next, I turn to the Old Boys News. I look forward to updates about Andreans from my era, as well as the many students I crossed paths with in my 33-year tenure as a member of faculty.
– Ted and Nanette Parent Past Parents of Adam ’03, Colin ’99, David ’96, and Michael ’94
1983
1980
– John Walden ’71 Retired Assistant Head of School and English teacher
2007
1990
1973
2000
2015
2010
2020
1998 I look forward to getting each edition of The Andrean. It is an excellent way to keep up with the activities and developments at the school. I look first at the Old Boys News section to learn of the events that have occurred to my schoolmates and the other generations of Andreans, both older and younger. I get similar publications from the other educational institutions that I have attended, and also the ones from my wife’s and daughter’s schools, and, while I am somewhat biased, I rate The Andrean as being the best. I also consider that The Andrean is excellent as promotional material for prospective students and parents.
– Bill McNeil ’66
To me, it is that love letter I was always excited to get at mail call! I had a wonderful, life-changing time as a student, but I still think, on reading every issue, how much the place has improved.
– John Stewart ’78
– Robert Leckey ’93 Fall 2021 The ANDREAN
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OLD BOYS PROFILES & NEWS This edition’s PROFILES:
STEVE NEWROTH ’55 SOHAIB SIDDIQUI ’05 RICHARD GOLDHAR ’02 FABIO GUZMÁN ’66
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Steve Newroth ’55, looking out over the L’Arche Daybreak pond in Richmond Hill, Ont.
Fall 2021 The ANDREAN
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A
thlete, academic, aviator, author, and advocate, Steve Newroth ’55 has dedicated his long, exemplary life to the service of Canada and the mentally challenged. Lean and lanky with snow-hued hair bundled in a trendy ponytail, the Montreal-born 84-year-old is also one of the hippest octogenarians you’d like to meet. This summer, Steve and his wife, Ann, travelled from their Muskoka home to Richmond Hill’s Daybreak, a L’Arche centre created for people with developmental delays, which the couple founded in 1969. The Newroths were greeted with the esteem of heroes among some of the 37 residents and 30 day members at the sprawling 17-acre locale. Daybreak was the first centre outside of the original L’Arche in France,
established by Jean Vanier in 1964, and today is one of a network of 155 communities in 40 countries.
STEVE NEWROTH ’55 EXEMPLAR EXTRAORDINAIRE By Chris Traber
Steve’s serendipitous path to L’Arche has undeniable roots at St. Andrew’s College. Steve’s family lived on a farm in Sharon, north of the Aurora school. His mom, Peg, was secretary to the thenHead of School, Ken Ketchum. Thanks to the staff discount, his five-year day student tuition was affordable, he says. At SAC, Steve was a Lieutenant in the Cadet Corps, played First Football and Second Hockey, ran track & field, and was on the Rifle team, winning the coveted IODE Browning Rifle Prize.
36 The ANDREAN Fall 2021
“Chapel at St. Andrew’s left an indelible mark on me,” he says. “The whole school attended chapel every morning before class, and the senior boys were required to read the daily lesson. As I walked up to the lectern those many years ago, I remember passing under that impressive row of national flags that taught me how much I had to grow to cope with a big world out there. At St. Andrew’s, I found unforgettable mentors who taught me how education could open our eyes to adventure, to the splendour, and to the crises of life. I will always remember my years there with deep gratitude, and I’m so proud that St. Andrew’s continues to advance as a world-class learning centre.” After graduation, Steve attended Royal Roads Military College in Victoria, B.C., and the Royal Military College in Kingston, Ont., training as a Royal Canadian Air Force pilot. Later, he acquired a BA in transportation economics at Western University. Air Canada soon invited the young man to its ground school but, after a mere two weeks, laid off 200 junior pilots with the advent of larger aircraft and passenger capacity. Instead, he signed on with the airline’s industrial relations department, learning the art of negotiating with its unions.
Conference, Steve invited Jean to be a keynote speaker in 1964. Steve and Ann, newly married a year later, befriended Jean and were invited to join his staff in France, where they were introduced to the concept of L’Arche, small family-like homes and services located in residential
At St. Andrew’s, I found unforgettable mentors who taught me how education could open our eyes to adventure, to the splendour, and to the crises of life.
– Steve Newroth ’55
communities as alternatives to big underfunded and crowded institutions that were the norm in Canada at the time. So, moved by the spirit of helping “warehoused” people, the Newroths
“As a bachelor, I had the telephone numbers of 800 stewardesses,” he says with a chuckle. “I was the envy of a lot of guys.” There was a higher calling for Steve, and he decided to become an Anglican priest, enrolling in Trinity College’s theology department. There he met Jean Vanier, an ex-naval officer, who was a philosophy professor and son of then-Governor General of Canada, Georges Vanier. As chair of the Canadian Theological Students’
decided to bring those values home by establishing a similar centre in Canada, which, as it turned out, would involve major social change. The couple was gifted a huge house and the core of a farm in Richmond Hill by Our Lady’s Missionaries and opened Daybreak in 1969.
While raising their children, Frederick and Stephanie, spending long hours managing and growing the community, and attending postgraduate psychology courses, the couple decided to move on in 1977. Steve and Ann continued to bring their leadership skills to various mental health organizations throughout Canada prior to Steve’s retirement in 1997 as CEO of Mental Health for Alberta. Together they authored the well-received 1980 monograph, Coping with Alzheimer’s Disease: A Growing Concern. In 2020, Steve published The Gift of Daybreak: The Origins of L’Arche in North America. Regrettably, there was heartbreak in the Daybreak legacy when an investigation alleged that Jean, who died in 2019, had sexually abused six women (not L’Arche residents) in France between 1970 and 2005. “We couldn’t pretend it didn’t happen,” says Steve, who wrote a poignant posthumous letter to Jean in the foreward of his book exclaiming his deep disappointment. “Thousands of staff, volunteers, and parents around the world, who adored Jean, were shocked and profoundly aggrieved. We loved him, had lived with him in France, maintained an active relationship with him for 55 years, knew many of his friends and family, and never once had an inkling of any improprieties.” Steve concluded his letter in the foreword of the book, writing, “It is not my role to judge you, Jean, only God can do that. I simply long for the resolve and peace to overcome my anger and hurt and try to accept that this tragedy actually came to pass.” X
Far left: Steve at the Richmond Hill L’Arche Daybreak centre with long-time resident and friend, David Harmon. Sadly, David passed away on Aug. 2, shortly after this photo was taken. Above, Steve and Ann, married 56 years, share a look on the Daybreak deck. Fall 2021 The ANDREAN
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SOHAIB SIDDIQUI ’05 MEDICAL MAGNATE By Chris Traber
T
he youthful visage owned by Sohaib Siddiqui ’05 belies an impressive and ranging set of achievements by a man barely in his mid-30s. Born in Karachi, Pakistan, and arriving in Canada with his family in the early 1990s, Sohaib enrolled at St. Andrew’s College as a 13-year-old Grade 7 day student. His family relocated from Richmond Hill to Aurora to be closer to the school where his brother, Saad, graduated in 2015. Self-professed as “shy and timid,” SAC became the most pivotal and formative time of his life, he said. “St. Andrew’s is challenging in a good way,” says the first-time father who, with his wife, Nadia Bashir, a psychology PhD, welcomed their daughter, Ayla Inaya, in December 2020. “The college allows you to try different things, to find what you’re good at, and trains you to deal with the curveballs life serves you. That gave me confidence and built my discipline and tenacity. “The diversity and the compelling teachers prepared me for my professional career.” At SAC, Sohaib played rugby, was president of the Debating team, and was a member of the Cadet Corps, where he served as the Marksmanship team captain. The activities expanded his horizons via rugby tournaments in England and Scotland and debating competitions in Bermuda. Sohaib gives credit to these now-retired SAC faculty members: Greg Shields, for developing his rugby prowess and interest in science and biology; David Galajda, for advancing his biology training; and Head of University Counselling, Stuart Swan, for his guidance. After graduation from SAC, Sohaib attended Queen’s University, earning a B.Sc. (Hons.) in biology. He completed his medical degree from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland with degrees in surgery, medicine, and obstetrics. He also attended Harvard Medical School for executive education in digital health innovation. Returning to Toronto, he worked as a pediatric research assistant at Rouge Valley Health System, a hospital affiliated with the University of Toronto. In 2018, Sohaib decided he wanted “an evolution (and) change of profession.” Realizing that while a doctor normally treats one patient at a time, medical
38 The ANDREAN Fall 2021
The college allows you to try different things, to find what you’re good at, and trains you to deal with the curveballs life serves you. That gave me confidence and built my discipline and tenacity.
technologies can potentially improve patient outcomes exponentially.
those companies to commercialize their assets.
“I became interested in the entrepreneurial aspect and innovation side of research,” he says. “I wanted to use my experience as a doctor and researcher to manage funds that will help grow and commercialize medical innovation.
“COVID-19 has been a tremendously active time during which I’ve helped advise which technologies or vaccines the government should support,” he says.
“I liked my time in medicine, but now I can help build something that will benefit millions of patients. It’s creative and challenging, but allows me to apply my knowledge and experience to impact healthcare in a different context.”
Since 2020, he has been an executive in residence at Toronto Innovation Acceleration Partners, managing their digital health and medical device portfolio. He is also the managing partner at a private equity/family office fund called Kettlebeck Ventures.
Today, Sohaib works in venture capital, making investments in healthcare technologies and managing and advising venture funds on which technologies to invest in and helping
Sohaib has an academic appointment as an innovation fellow at Women’s College Hospital, evaluating promising technologies and integrating them into the healthcare system.
– Sohaib Siddiqui ’05
Career-wise, Sohaib has his sights on opening a venture capital firm and setting up exclusive funds. “I’ve been learning from the best. With my own shop and team, I would have more autonomy and help make impactful investments in health,” he says. “Medical innovations are exploding. The Canadian government is very supportive, especially with domestic vaccine production. It’s an exciting but pivotal time for the next phase of healthcare in our country.” X
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RICHARD GOLDHAR ’02 ANDREAN ALTRUIST
F
By Chris Traber
In Grade 3, he was diagnosed with a learning disability. One insensitive teacher suggested he’d be lucky to find work in a fast-food restaurant.
acing and conquering adversity builds strength and character. Richard Goldhar ’02 learned that truism far too early in life.
“I put my mind to getting the treatment I needed, even as a kid,” says the 37-year-old principal and founder of Goldhar & Associates Ltd. Licensed Insolvency Trustee, a full-service insolvency firm assisting with personal insolvency and corporate restructuring with 20 offices in five provinces. 40 The ANDREAN Fall 2021
St. Andrew’s allowed me to grow. It was a safe place. They managed me and, in turn, taught me to express myself… When I graduated, I knew I had to give back to where I started.
Persevering and defeating his challenges and naysayers, Richard went to Crestwood School in Toronto and enrolled at St. Andrew’s College as a day student for Grades 8 to 13. After earning a bachelor of commerce degree from Dalhousie University, Richard held analyst roles with one Toronto insolvency firm and two national insolvency firms and commenced his professional practice as a licensed insolvency trustee (formerly trustee in bankruptcy) with BDO Canada Limited. He founded his eponymous firm in 2013. Married to Jennifer Goldhar (Shupak), a personal injury lawyer at Capp Shupak, the couple has three young sons and resides in Toronto. Chatting in the boardroom of his Mississauga head office, it’s evident Richard exudes the brand of confidence reserved for the accomplished and connected. The man expresses himself articulately and doesn’t miss a beat. He portrays a kind and legitimate altruism. Richard shoots from the hip and backs it with the lip. Eloquent, with a sprinkle of blue bon mots, he speaks his mind in a forthright and jocular manner. Chronicling his life, he often circles back fondly to St. Andrew’s. “I definitely was not an ordinary boy at SAC,” he says. “I wasn’t athletic. I was on a ‘seafood diet.’ If I saw food, I’d eat it. It was very protestant, and I’m a staunch Zionist. There wasn’t much of a Jewish life.”
– Richard Goldhar ’02
A Student Life Committee and Cadet Corps member, Richard was also involved in theatre. He was awarded the Christopher Ball Prize for distinguished overall contribution in the general field of the arts. Richard wasn’t shy about being his own man and working an angle or two. “I was on the Cross-Country team,” he says. “Because no one would see you after you started running, I’d go to Starbucks, have a hot chocolate, and then go back to campus.” Richard lauds his teachers, including then-Assistant Head of School, Geoff Smith, then-Head of Student Life, John Walden, Head of Theatre and Drama, William Scoular, and then-Head of School, Ted Staunton, with whom he had a “true businessman’s relationship,” he says. “He brought the school to new heights, a true class act.” SAC was a great experience, he admits. “St. Andrew’s allowed me to grow,” Richard says. “It was a safe place. They managed me and, in turn, taught me to express myself. With all my suggestions and ideas, they were probably happy to see me go.” Solemnly he adds, “When I graduated, I knew I had to give back to where I started.”
and volunteers as a speaker on career days. In 2011, Richard donated funds to update the school’s tuck shop in honour of his parents, Bernard Goldhar and Marlene Oilgisser. Then again, in 2018, he pledged a gift of life insurance as part of the Andrean Legacy Society in support of scholarships and bursaries. He is still friends with school chums, Giancarlo Trimarchi ’02, Nicholas Weedon ’02, Nicolaos Tsioros ’03, and Luc Zoratto ’03. “You can take the boy out of SAC, but you can’t take SAC out of the boy,” he says. Richard’s philanthropy is as ranging as it is epic. Richard and Jennifer, along with his firm, quietly support a plethora of charitable organizations, including the United Way, SickKids Foundation, Canadian Cancer Society, Jewish National Fund, Baycrest Foundation, Sunnybrook Hospital Foundation, Israel Cancer Research Fund, Jacob’s Ladder Pediatric Rehabilitation, Covenant House for Homeless Youth, and many others. Richard lives to give. “That’s me,” he says modestly. “It’s always been my dream to help people. That’s why my business is a natural. We help people shed the debt.” X
True to his word, Richard has remained connected to SAC. He attends Old Boy dinners and events Fall 2021 The ANDREAN
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FABIO GUZMÁN ’66 ISLAND ICON By Chris Traber
F
rom an early age in his native Dominican Republic, Fabio Guzmán ’66 embraced sage advice from his father, Antonio, a small-town lawyer. “For him, education and hard work was everything,” says Fabio. The parental guidance was also timely, considering his island nation was under the restrictive dictatorial rule of Rafael Trujillo from 1930 to 1961. “It was our father’s idea to send my two brothers and me to school outside the regime,” he says. Fabio credits his oldest brother for opening the gateway to a foreign education when his father auditioned numerous private schools before enrolling Tony ’54 at St. Andrew’s College, followed by Omar ’62. 42 The ANDREAN Fall 2021
Fabio had just turned 13 when he entered Grade 10 in 1962, buoyed by his brothers’ experiences at SAC and full of enthusiasm at the prospect of life and studies in Aurora. “It’s never what you expect,” he says with a hint of melancholy, recalling his first months in school. “I was skinny, weighing 83 pounds. My brothers played football, and that wasn’t for me.”
introduction of French courses, Fabio’s isolation heightened. Still, his father’s counsel rang in his ears. “It was not a great introduction,” he says. “It was difficult, but at that age, my mind was like a sponge. I worked hard.”
“My English wasn’t very good, and the accent was all wrong,” he says with a chuckle.
Fabio convinced a reluctant French teacher to provide him with a FrenchEnglish dictionary and he studied well after lights out at 10 p.m. with a flashlight under the covers. By the first midterm, he earned 80 per cent in French. By Christmas, his grade average was 69.5 per cent, and at the end of his first year, he achieved first-class honours.
With no other boarding students of Latin descent, missing his graduated brothers, the language barrier, and the
Fabio acclimated fully after the first year. “My second year, I was second in my class, and in Grade 12, I was
His limited English was compounded by lessons he had received earlier from a Jamaican tutor.
the top student,” he adds. In Grade 13, he served as Prefect, Head Boy, Head Student Librarian, Science Committee chair, Students’ Council secretary, a member of the First Basketball team, and Philosophy Club member while maintaining his scholar status. SAC honed his language skills and die-casted his positive mindset, he says.
Today, the man with a congenial smile framed by a trim beard is considered a shining star in the rarified orbit of Dominican and international jurisprudence. For the last four decades, Fabio has been one of the foremost practitioners in the Dominican Republic in tourism-
He and his wife, Vivian, reside in the Dominican Republic, and he continues to write and mentor young lawyers at Guzmán Ariza. His sons, Fabio and Alfredo, are partners at the firm. He maintains fond memories of SAC despite the difficult first two months. “Those first days made me more of an adult,” he says. “I’m glad it happened. St. Andrew’s moulded me to be the man I became.” X
My second year, I was second in my class, and in Grade 12, I was the top student.
– Fabio Guzmán ’66
AND NOW FOR THE
As a young man, Fabio took time off and opted to manage his family’s small ranch for several years. With his father’s long-solo law practice about to end, his focus shifted. He studied law, graduating top of his class, summa cum laude, in 1981. He joined his father’s practice and soon converted it into a full-service law firm, Guzmán Ariza, currently the largest in the Dominican Republic, with 50 lawyers at eight offices.
Fabio is a former professor of contract law and dean of the law faculty at the Universidad Católica Nordestana. He is also a prolific author, having published 12 books on Dominican law and numerous articles in legal journals domestically and globally.
OLD BOYS NEWS
He credits his chemistry teacher, the late Geoff Smith, for steering him to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where he earned a degree in science and humanities.
related real estate transactions and litigation. His work is lauded by prestigious legal guides ranking the best lawyers and firms in Latin America and the world.
Fabio’s Review entry in his graduating year. Previous page: Fabio with his wife, Vivian, and sons, Fabio (left) and Alfredo.
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1949
extremely proud that his grandson, Charlie Guy, is attending SAC and is doing well in Grade 11.
Peter Lewis
visited campus in September from his home in Victoria, B.C., and was given a tour by his nephew, Scott Lewis, a faculty member teaching Middle School mathematics. Peter enjoyed all the new facilities, especially the history wall in the revamped Bedard Athletic Centre, where he spotted a photo of his brother, Donald ’54, Scott’s father, who was the “little” guy in the “Big and Little” football photo.
1955 Gord Robertson
officially retired from the car business in May 2016. His children live nearby, and family members have remained in their COVID-19 bubble, so they have not suffered as much as many seniors who have been isolated. Gord and his wife, Jane, look forward to visiting their son, Alex ’80, who is the operations manager at Courtenay Airport on Vancouver Island, as well as visiting Jim Wyse ’57 and his wife, Midge, in Oliver, B.C., known as “Canada’s Wine Capital.” Gord continues to play old-timers hockey, and now that the majority of members are immunized, he’s back on the ice twice a week enjoying the exercise. He is also enjoying the Zoom class gatherings organized by Barry Wansborough ’54.
1961 Brian Armstrong
At top, Peter Lewis ’49 peruses the athletic history wall. Above, Peter with his nephew, Scott Lewis.
1951 George Guy
is in good health as he turned 88 this year. He enjoyed fun times over the summer at the family cottage on Sydenham Lake, Ont. He’s also 44 The ANDREAN Fall 2021
relocated with his wife, Heather, from Kincardine to Alliston, Ont., after retiring as executive vicepresident and chief legal officer of Bruce Power LP at the end of 2012. One of his retirement projects involved returning to university to study theology. In 2016, Brian enrolled in Trinity College at the University of Toronto, his alma mater, where he had graduated a little over 50 years earlier with a degree in political science and economics. Last spring, he completed the program, graduating with a master of theological studies degree. In 2018, the Bishop of Toronto appointed Brian to the Order of the Diocese of Toronto in recognition of outstanding contributions to the life of the Anglican Church, and he was appointed one of the two vicechancellors of the diocese. In 2019, he was appointed an honorary canon of the Cathedral Church of St. James in Toronto. Brian continues to actively serve the diocese on a variety of boards and committees. He is a parishioner of Trinity Church Aurora, where three generations of his family have worshiped while attending St. Andrew’s.
Tony Campbell
had a 34-year career in the federal public service and served in three embassies and 11 federal departments and agencies that culminated in eight years in the Intelligence Secretariat in the Privy Council Office. Tony says he followed this up with a university-level academic and teaching career and international management consultancy with clients in more than 20 countries. After 10 years in that capacity, he decided to plunge into full-time studies that culminated in 2017 in a doctorate in philosophy and theology at the University of Ottawa/St. Paul at the age of 73. His dissertation was on Charles Taylor, a renowned Canadian political philosopher. He reports that his studies in this broad field were a direct result of a spark ignited by the wonderful Bill Garstang, to whom he refers as his “much-esteemed old-school Latin teacher” at SAC. Tony is married and has five children, two step-children, and 21 grandchildren. He and his wife, Allison, live in Ottawa, Ont.
Iain Gurr
has retired from real estate and is back to working full-time with his CPA practice. He says this is a time of anniversaries: 60 years since graduating from SAC, 50 years since he opened his CPA practice, and 40 years since he met the lady of his dreams! Iain and Nancy-Jo live in Tiny, Ont.
1962 Michael Holden
shared the news that in 2007, he retired as chief judge of the Family Court of Western Australia and as a justice of the appeal division of the Family Court of Australia. In 2014, he was made a member of the Order of Australia for services to the law. Michael has a sister living near Kitchener, Ont., who regularly updates him about the havoc caused in Canada by COVID-19.
1966 Peter Gerrard
has lived in Luxembourg these past 36 years after a 50-year career in banking in Europe. He is now retired, married, and has two children and grandchildren in the U.K. Peter recently caught up with his Macdonald House schoolmates, Bill McNeil ’66, John Pallett ’66, Ian Terry ’66, and Robert Jones ’67, on Zoom, after 60 years.
1971 continues to teach the Capstone course in Rutgers University masters of business and science program, mostly by Zoom. He has also been elected to a two-year term on the board of the Green Party of Canada Fund, the official agent of the GPC.
since Bill’s graduation. Bill retired 11 years ago, and he and Judy are not sure where the time has gone. Until the pandemic, he regularly travelled to the U.S. to help look after their three grandkids. COVID-19 also forced the cancellation of their 2020 trip to Japan, where, in Tokyo, Bill was to run his 158th (and final) marathon. That trip and run are now scheduled for March 2022. The Tokyo Marathon is the only one of the six world majors that Bill has not run.
Bill Haust
John Walden
Tom Bryant
and his wife, Judy, along with his mother, Dr. M. Daria Haust, visited campus in August on the occasion of his mother’s 100th birthday, marking the first time she has been back to St. Andrew’s
reports that retirement is keeping him busy. He is living on Skeleton Lake in Muskoka, Ont., and says he always has some kind of a project on the go. He spent the past two winters working on a home renovation project and says progress is slow when only one person is working on it most of the time, but the end is now in sight. John enjoys the benefits of a rural life despite the pandemic and says life remains relatively unchanged. It is possible to spend time outside either doing something on the property or going for a walk without wearing a mask. Now that a large number of people are vaccinated, he and his wife, Sandra, enjoy visiting a restaurant for a meal, getting together with family and friends, and seeing their grandchildren again.
1976 Colin Mahabir
bakery/deli/trattoria/lounge in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, set to open in late 2021. Colin says all Andreans will be welcome and treated as St. Andrew’s family members should be.
1978 John Stewart
completed 42 years of service in the Canadian and British Army on his 60th birthday in 2019. He was trained as an infantry officer, an intelligence officer, and an artillery officer. His service as a reservist saw full-time service in Canada and Afghanistan, where he ran operations in rural villages with multi-national troops. He also completed missions and assignments in Germany, Turkey, Argentina, Peru, Ecuador, the United States, Uruguay, Central America, and other interesting places. He ran the CIMIC training program at the Spanish War College in Spain and had staff from France, Spain, the U.S., Belgium, and other countries reporting to him. In the course of his duties, John was presented to Queen Elizabeth at Buckingham Palace and commanding generals of several armies. He also served as aide-de-camp to the commander of the Canadian Army in Latin America and two lieutenant-governors of Ontario. He received the Canadian Forces Decoration and three clasps, the General Campaign Star for Afghanistan, and several other medals.
is running his own management consultancy and investment firm. His latest project is the establishment of Arazzi, an upscale artisanal
1971 Prescott Slee
locations. I continued to work with the company for 35 years until I retired in 2013. I am now enjoying my retirement life with my wife, Michele, and all the visits from my family, who live out of state: our daughter, Katherine, our son, Prescott E., and his wife, Chelsey, and their two boys, Prescott Henry and Anthony. I am enjoying road biking, coffee shops, and vacationing. Life is so good!”
“It is hard to wrap my arms around the fact that it has been 50 years since I left SAC. The years I studied at the school were invaluable. Education comes in many forms, and I took advantage of it. One thing for sure is I can quickly make a neat and tidy bed and am almost never late for a meal. In my last year at the school, I was allowed to have a snack bar that I operated from our room. Michael Brownrigg ’72 was my roommate and sous chef. During evening study break, we would move a desk into the doorway of our room. We sold sandwiches, chips, and pop. Mr. Stout, our Head of House, made sure we gave a small percentage of our sales to Flavelle House. It was considered rent for the space and electricity we used. After leaving St. Andrew’s, I worked the summer in Nassau, Bahamas, and in the fall, I attended a small college in Michigan called Hillsdale College. In some respects, it reminded me of St. Andrew’s; however, I found myself surrounded by young women and men that could come and go as they pleased, and no one wore a coat or tie. After graduating from Hillsdale, I decided to stay in Michigan. I started working for Saga Food Services as an account manager. This job of three years lead me to Kalamazoo College and then to Hope College. Hope is where I made the big move and joined Herman Miller Inc., an office furniture design company. I became director of hospitality services and opened up their new conference centre and lodge, Marigold Lodge. Soon Prescott Slee ’71 (left) and his roommate, Michael Brownrigg ’72, behind the after this, the company asked me to design and operate cafes in their six counter of their Flavelle House snack bar. Michael passed away in 2008.
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1957 JIM WYSE: SHARING HIS STORY OF THE NK’MIP CREEK WILDFIRE IN BRITISH COLUMBIA THAT THREATENED HIS WINERY July 19 – Yesterday afternoon, while at home in our town of Oliver, we noticed the eruption of clouds (like a bomb had gone off) in the general direction of the winery, located about 10 kilometres south of Oliver. The staff confirmed the fire was already being bombed by the wildfire service in B.C. by half a dozen aircraft, and the wind was such that the smoke was being taken north and east away from the winery. So things were pretty much going on as normal, that is until the power was shut off by our utility for fear that the fire might take out the main transmission lines into Oliver. At that point, I drove to the winery and could see smoke coming out from the next little valley behind the winery to our east. That was very good news. Wildfires can run uphill very quickly, but they do not do well coming down hillsides, so we were effectively separated from the main thrust of this fire yesterday in the neighbouring small valley. At about 5 p.m., our staff was advised that an evacuation “alert” had been issued for our property. Our daughter, Kerri, quickly called a resort hotel in Penticton and booked 11 rooms, just in case we were ordered to evacuate. That was a very good move, because at about 10:30 p.m., we did get the order to move all 22 guests and any staff out of the buildings. A small crew that runs our irrigation systems stayed through the night as we turned on the overhead sprinklers to soak all of our vineyard blocks adjacent to a property line that we share with a very grassy eco-site that was dry as a bone, and would go up in flames in a flash if a spark landed there. Luckily, the fire has been steadily moving away from the winery, and with the help of the wind shift from the north, no sparks are coming our way. July 20 – Today the fire-bombing has continued in earnest. This morning it was a beautiful clear day, but the smokey haze in the valley is noticeably thicker this afternoon due to the lack of any breeze. It is eerily quiet and still. The evacuation order remains in place, but with the effort being put in by
1979
1981
Paul Bedard
Rolf Fox
and his wife, Jane, welcomed twin grandchildren, Lennox and Brooklyn, on Feb. 28, 2021. Their daughter, Michelle, and her husband, Stefen, also have an older son, Caiden, 3. Paul transitioned from SAC’s Director of Athletics to Head of Sifton House this year. Jane is the facilities coordinator at the school.
Stephen Young
retired from the York Region District School Board in 2018 after 30 years as a teacher and elementary school principal. He continues to work for the board, filling in for colleagues on leave, and providing consulting work and training for school boards across Canada on restorative practices. Stephen also sits as the president of Community Justice Alternatives of Durham Region and is a Canadian Restorative Justice Consortium board member. He recently published The Restorative Principal: Leading in Education with Restorative Practices with Friesen Press. “It is a reflection on my journey as a school leader incorporating restorative practices into my school leadership using true stories from my years as an elementary teacher, vice-principal and, for the last 16 years of my career, principal,” he says.
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the firefighters, and the favourable winds to date, I don’t feel that we will be affected directly by this fire. Nevertheless, we will continue to take all the precautions that we feel are necessary to keep our staff and our guests safe, and we are taking the steps necessary to protect our winery buildings and vineyards at the same time. July 23 – It is now Friday morning and the fire has moved off to the east into the mountains, so we believe that the valley can now return to normal. The powers that be are not quite so generous, and the evacuation orders are still in place for the area surrounding our winery. Our cellar crew and vineyard workers are back at work.
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works for 4iiii Innovations, designing and developing iOS user interfaces for their line of bicycle power meters. He enjoys running and ski racing as much as ever and is training for the Masters World Cup races in Canmore, Alta., in March 2022. Rolf, a member of the cross-country and track programs at SAC, encourages any former teammates to join him and form a relay team!
Ken Marshall
spent a week in July with his classmate, Scott Smith, (right) in Jamaica, where they played golf every day at Tryall Golf Club, just outside Montego Bay, and had a fantastic time. They connected with John Bailey ’79, who lives in
Rolf Fox ’81 at the Canmore Nordic Centre in Alberta.
Jamaica. Ken has remained in touch with John over the decades since they graduated.
brothers, he raised more than $22,000 and TD was the top corporate fundraiser again this year.
Ross Morrow
and his wife, Sandy, celebrated their 35th wedding anniversary this year. Ross continues to run his silversmithing business from his home studio in Nova Scotia. He also works as a senior specialist and auctioneer at A.H. Wilken’s Auctions and Appraisals in Toronto. When not hammering silver in his studio, Ross is working with his bees. Ross has two beehives and reports that he extracted about 70 pounds of honey as of August this year. He spends as much time as he can on his motorbike exploring the back roads of his beautiful maritime province.
Paul Stanborough ’81 after the charity cycle on June 6 in front of his home in Wilmington, Del.
1983 Stew Kiff
got together in August with six classmates for dinner at a Chinese restaurant in Markham, Ont. He says it was a long time coming and a lot of fun. Michael Lem did the ordering, and the food was fantastic! Also in attendance were Peter Bedard, Geoff Crawford, Scott Nirenberski, Jon Tyner, and Jeff Weir.
1984 Brad Gilliland
FUN FACT: Ross made this silver trophy, the Fred Olmstead Theatre Arts Award, given out annually at SAC.
Michael Rugeroni
is vice-president of road technology for Canada at Brandt Tractor, which distributes products for the Wirtgen Group, a John Deere Company based in Germany. Michael lives in London, Ont.
Paul Stanborough
chaired TD Bank’s Ride For Heart fundraising campaign for the Canadian Heart & Stroke Foundation this year. Thanks to the generous donations from his Class of ’81 Andrean
enjoyed dinner with Ken Marshall ’81 and Michael Bedard ’81 in September in Newmarket, Ont. Michael was visiting from California to celebrate the 90th birthday of his father, former Head of School, Bob Bedard. Brad is senior vice-president, client solutions for Active International, which helps companies fund advertising with corporate trade.
Michael Bedard, Brad Gilliland, and Ken Marshall.
1981 Andrew Pitman
happens to be the son of Lewis Pitman, whom he describes as a brilliant and charismatic teacher (1960-1976) at SAC, and says his childhood was based around the school, “from watching the Argonauts training to using the gym and pool in the summers to eventually attending St. Andrew’s until we moved to Hamilton, Ont.” After high school, Andrew got a diploma in recreation leadership at Mohawk College in 1983 and, the following year, started his own home improvement company that is still in operation. Approximately 25 years ago, he joined IATSE Local 129, a theatre stagehands union that builds theatre sets for shows such as Mama Mia, The Lion King, We Will Rock You, and Blue Man Group, and setting up rock shows in Hamilton. Andrew also worked a CNC router table, drafting and building for a company called Hamilton Scenic Specialty for the last 20 years, a career he left in September. Meanwhile, he is building a retirement waterfront dream home for his wife of 34 years, Ramona, and they moved to P.E.I. at the end of September. He is planning to launch a contracting company in his new province. He fell in love with the “East Coast vibe” when his work took him to Newfoundland. He says he will miss his daughter, Laura, 26, her husband, Harrison, and their baby girl, Benni Layla.
Terry Wong
has a new position at the RCAF Air Warfare Centre as branch head for doctrine development and lessons learned. This entails all the strategic and tactical doctrine for the RCAF with respect to air mobility, air combat, low-level tactical (helicopter) aviation, search and rescue, longrange patrol, and force protection, to name a few.
SUBMIT YOUR CLASS NOTE TO APPEAR IN THE SPRING ANDREAN theandrean@sac.on.ca deadline: Jan. 31, 2022 Fall 2021 The ANDREAN
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1986 Scott McDonald
has moved from the private to the public sector after 26 years at Oliver Wyman, including the last 10 as the CEO. On Sept. 1, Scott took on the role of CEO of the British Council, a U.K. government agency in the United Kingdom with 10,000 people in 100 countries focused on building trust and collaboration across the world through language, education, and culture. In other words, Scott says, it is a key element of U.K. soft power in a very volatile world.
1990 Jim Herder
celebrated his 50th birthday at the Old Boys Golf Tournament in September, and he joked that he’s not happy about reaching this milestone!
child, Alistair Robert, on Nov. 2, 2020. Older sister, Bridget, 5, is excited to have a younger brother around the house to provide cover for her hijinks. Douglas was recently promoted to senior litigation counsel at Aviva Canada and decided to take a three-month parental leave to celebrate.
2000 Jamie Near
recently started a job as a scientist at Sunnybrook Research Institute and the University of Toronto. Jamie’s research lab at Sunnybrook will be developing magnetic resonance imaging technology and using it to study how the brain is altered in Alzheimer’s disease, ALS, and other brain disorders. Before moving to Sunnybrook, Jamie spent eight years as an assistant professor at McGill University and three years before that as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Oxford. He’s happy to be back in the Greater Toronto Area and lives in his old hometown of Markham, Ont., with his wife, Sarah, and their three children, Murray, 10, Lydia, 8, and Sam, 6.
John Lyons
read an article written by Maj. Brian McCue on the St. Andrew’s website paying tribute to HRH Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, who passed away in April 2021. John shares a photo of one of his fondest memories of his time at SAC: meeting Prince Philip at the Duke of Edinburgh Award presentation. “In the image, you can see ‘Cap’ McCue smiling proudly in the background. He was instrumental in helping each of us achieve the program objectives, assemble all the application materials, and ultimately reach gold,” John recalls, adding he is glad to see the program is still going strong at SAC.
From left: Mike Craig ’01, John Lyons ’01, and Adam Brander ’02 with Maj. Brian McCue to the right of Prince Philip.
Ross Marshall
and his wife, Dayna, welcomed their third child, Fletcher John Jeffrey, on Jan. 17, 2021, a little brother for Ruby, 3, and Theodore, 4. Ross is the sales manager for Canadian Asphalt. The family lives in Toronto.
1995 Jonathan Parker
and his wife, Sarah, welcomed their first child, Hadrian Orion, on Feb. 17, 2021. As Jonathan notes, Hadrian is a presumptive Old Boy of the Class of 2038.
1998 Douglas Mac Con
and his wife, Erin, welcomed their second
48 The ANDREAN Fall 2021
2001 Chris Chui
and Gladys Lo were married in a backyard ceremony on July 5, 2020, and held their reception on June 21, 2021. The couple lives near Seattle, Wash., where Chris works as an engineer at Microsoft.
2002 Ryan Austin
and his wife, Marie-France, welcomed Levi Alexander on May 26, 2021.
Andrew Cronin
and his fiancée, Meighan, welcomed their daughter, Nora Elizabeth, on Dec. 28, 2020. Andrew reports he is a diaper-changer extraordinaire! They live in Denver, Colo. Andrew is a hedge fund manager who develops apartment complexes and communities in Cheyenne, Wyo.
Nicholas Weedon
has been appointed to the position of Director of Development at St. Andrew’s College. Nicholas joined the Advancement team in 2008 as the Old Boy Officer and was promoted to Associate Director of Advancement in 2018. His portfolio has expanded over the years to include major gift fundraising and assisting with the Advancement team’s strategic leadership and direction, including short- and long-term planning.
2003 Wahid Amarshi
Pete McClelland Donnovan Bennett
says he is humbled to be recognized by U Sports with the L. B. “Mike” Pearson Award, awarded to a distinguished Canadian citizen of outstanding achievements who, having participated in university athletics, has exemplified the ideals and purposes of university athletics and amateur sport. “The list of award winners contains some of the most philanthropic and influential people in the history of our country, so to be mentioned among them is a great privilege. I’m also humbled to be the first black winner of the award. Growing up in Canada, I’ve been exposed to an abundance of diversity in experience and thought that I’ve carried with me in my personal life and professional career. It’s no coincidence that the balance of the work I’m now doing is not just covering sport but how sport intersects with important cultural conversations. Winning the award is a welcome reminder I need to continue to pledge to do that work to live up to its namesake,” Donnovan says. He was recently promoted at Sportsnet to a role that adds leading inclusion and diversity content to his previous responsibilities.
and Amy welcomed their first child, Theo Rees Paul, on April 19, 2021.
and his wife, Sarah, are happy to announce the arrival of Zakai on June 10, 2021. Amelia, 3, is a doting big sister! To accommodate their growing family, Wahid and his family have relocated from downtown Toronto to their family home in Stouffville, Ont., the same house Wahid and his brother, Hussein ’04, lived in with their parents while attending SAC.
Joseph Rothwell Pete, Amy, and Theo in Victoria-by-the Sea, P.E.I., this summer.
Brad Smith
was inducted into the Queen’s Football Hall of Fame in May. He was named a 1st team All-Canadian in his rookie season (2002) and final season in 2006. He played six seasons in the CFL with Toronto, Montreal, and Edmonton before retiring to appear in the first season of The Bachelor Canada. Since then, Brad has hosted Canada’s No. 1 morning show, Breakfast Television, as well as Chopped Canada and Neighbourhood Eats, and currently hosts The Big Bake, which appears on the Food Network. Brad owns two restaurants in Toronto, Resto Boemo and Chef’s Table. Brad also recently co-founded a start-up food/tech platform called Gourmé, set to launch in January 2022.
and his wife, Tory, welcomed their first child, Tessa, on April 2, 2021. They are so excited to be parents to their beautiful little girl. Joseph continues to work in Boston, Mass., as a senior investment analyst/trader at Manulife Investment Management. Old Boys coming through Boston should reach out!
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Jarryd Stock
and his wife, Samantha, welcomed their third child on June 4, 2021. Lucy Mirin was eagerly welcomed by her brother, Wesley, 4, and sister, Lennon, 2. Jarryd joined SAC in 2011 and is the Associate Director of Admission.
Blake Dalton
and his wife, Erica, welcomed their first child, Kennedy Grace, on April 28, 2021. Blake is an account executive at ServiceNow and Erica is a partner at a group benefits consulting firm.
for five years and is the manager of footwear merchandising for the Canadian region.
2008 Colin Noble
2007 2004 Adam Ford
and his wife, Kelsey, welcomed their first child, Audrey Jane, on June 19, 2021. They are overjoyed to be her parents!
Colin McCullough
and Deanna Joy Flook got married on July 2, 2021, in an intimate ceremony in his parents’ backyard in Aurora due to pandemic restrictions. They offered a livestream for close friends and extended family that was viewed by Old Boys, including classmates Matt Boyd, Anthony D’Antonio, Cameron Healy, Adam Lebar, Eric Lee, Campbell Mauchan, Ladi Onayemi, Richard Shouldice, Jon Tozzi, Trevor Jackson, Scott Giroux, James Seymour, along with Mitch Lebar ’08 and Mark McLean ’09. Colin’s brothers, Brendon ’03 and Clinton ’05, were in attendance. Colin has been working at Puma
and his wife, Diana, welcomed their daughter, Olivia, on Aug. 22, 2021. They are all doing great and adjusting to life as new parents. Colin and Diana had a fantastic summer, not only welcoming their first child but also designing and building a home in Uxbridge, Ont., for their growing family.
2005 Ryan Bryce
expanded his role on the Advancement team at St. Andrew’s College by assuming the position of Associate Director, Advancement Services and Annual Fund. Ryan brings more than 10 years of experience working at SAC in addition to being an Old Boy. Ryan oversees the comprehensive annual giving program, administrative management of the SAC Foundation, prospect management, and research. 50 The ANDREAN Fall 2021
2006 Eric Cumming
and Kelly Laidlaw were married on Aug. 14, 2021, after a couple of postponements due to the pandemic. They held the ceremony at their cottage on Georgian Bay in Pointe au Baril, Ont. Eric’s groomsmen included his brother, Andrew ’03, and classmate, Murray Kay. Eric and Kelly are both elementary school teachers with the Halton District School Board.
2009
2011
Josh Harris
Alex Adams
married Sarah Hull on Aug. 28, 2021, at Graydon Hall Manor in Toronto. The wedding party included Michael Anderson ’09, Taylor Bryce ’09, Alex Harris ’11, Oli Harris ’17, Brenden Hewko ’09, and Jamie Symmes ’09. The couple enjoyed a honeymoon in Positano, Italy.
graduated from Wilfrid Laurier University with a communications degree in 2018. Following graduation, he played professional hockey in an Australian league called the AIHL, playing for the Adelaide Adrenaline. He says it was a truly incredible experience and a chance to see the world while playing the game he loves. Following the summer in Australia, he signed a contract with the Maine Mariners, the previous ECHL affiliate of the New York Rangers. After a long year of bus trips and living out of a suitcase, Alex retired from hockey to begin working on his commercial pilot licence. Unfortunately, due to the pandemic, Alex had to put the completion of his licence on hold. Through a connection with First Lacrosse teammate, Chris Porter ’11, he began working as a portfolio manager for a U.K.-based publicly listed company called Alpha FX. He’s sure his former math teacher, David “Juice” Josselyn, would be laughing at the fact he’s working in financial services. “SAC opened my eyes to a world I couldn’t have imagined, and since then, I’ve taken every chance to jump at any new opportunity that comes my way. Looking forward to connecting with old friends from my SAC days worldwide,” Alex says.
Top row, from left: Graham Thompson ’06, Mark Jenkins ’09, Taylor Bryce ’09, Jamie Symmes ’09, Oliver Herbst ’88, Larry Boland ’66, Scott Nirenberski ’83, Wallace Watson ’88, Ryan Ball ’09, Michael Anderson ’09, Michael Goitanich ’09, Adam Moryto ’09, James Stainer ’09, and Brenden Hewko ’09. Bottom row, from left: Sam Millette ’09, Alex Harris ’11, Jonty Harris ’82, Josh Harris ’09, and Oli Harris ’17.
Dan Barker
recently moved into a condo in Etobicoke, Ont., and joined the Summit Golf and Country Club this summer. Dan celebrated his five years with Lionheart Display, where he is the vice-president of sales. Despite
Clark Rabbior
married Jaine Bryant on Aug. 6, 2021, at Earth to Table: The Farm in Millgrove, Ont. Classmates in attendance were Ryan Besse (best man), Mark McLean (groomsman), Bobby McDonald (groomsman), Michael Anderson, Ryan Ball, Morgan Bonner, Lucas Boyd, Graydon Calvert, Michael Goitanich, Josh Harris, Brenden Hewko, Mark Jenkins, Sam Millette, and Corey Morrison; plus Jeff O’Neill ’08.
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COVID-19 taking a chunk out of the events business over the past year and a half, Lionheart was able to acquire another display company, adding to their ability to fulfill any events-based needs.
Jose Ramon De Pedro
says after graduating in 2015 with a bachelor’s degree in economics, he’s been working for Citi Private Bank in Mexico City as an investment counsellor (vice-president). He’s been there for six years and says it’s been an amazing journey, and the best is yet to come. In June, he got engaged, and the wedding is set for next February. Outside of work, he enjoys playing golf and says he’s looking forward to joining the Old Boys Golf Tournament whenever possible.
comprehensive carpentry and joinery skills. For his culminating project, Stefan worked with the Ontario Heritage Trust to construct and install a replacement portico (entranceway) for the historic Inge-Va house in Perth, Ont. (pictured here). Stefan is returning to the Toronto area to build a business dedicated to high-quality craftsmanship through carpentry and joinery.
Alec McCleave
is the marketing manager for The Dalton Company and reports to CEO, Andrew Dalton ’78. Alec is responsible for designing, developing, and revising company-wide marketing materials using a variety of mediums. He also maintains the company’s online presence. Alec says he is thankful for the chance to be part of such a great organization and that Andrew has provided invaluable mentorship in the construction industry. He is particularly thrilled that his work brings him back to SAC as part of the St. Anne’s School project. “It is such a great feeling to be back at St. Andrew’s helping to better the school, whether it is McLaughlin Hall or the creation of St. Anne’s,” Alec says.
2012 Alan Daniels
Stefan Ferraro
completed a post-graduate diploma in heritage carpentry and joinery. While in the program, Stefan studied Canada’s immense architectural heritage focusing on recording and reproducing historical architectural elements and developing
founded a start-up, Softdrive, that has raised C$1M in venture capital to build the future of the PC. He says similar to how Netflix streams movies to your devices, Softdrive streams a high-power PC, effectively turning any laptop into a high-end workstation. The fundraising comes after two years of working on the business, building the product, and acquiring early adopting customers, primarily within the market of 3D modeling in architecture, engineering, and construction. Alan’s journey with Softdrive is a testament to the entrepreneurial community among Old Boys. Several alumni have offered Alan help and guidance, for which he is deeply grateful and intends to pay forward. Alan makes special mention of Ryan Austin ’02, Jake Bullen ’89, Ron Kopas ’90, and Michael Weider ’89. Kudos for mentoring and supporting fellow Old Boys!
mission, goals, and values. In fall 2020, he could be found helping coach First Football, running drills, and helping players develop their defensive skills. This was a natural fit, as Mario played First Football with the Saints for three years and served as a captain in his graduating year. Mario continued his athletic endeavours after leaving SAC and is a four-year Canadian university football player. He graduated in 2018 from the University of Windsor with a bachelor of commerce degree and completed the sport business management graduate program at Durham College. He came to SAC in January 2021 from Maple Leaf Sports Entertainment, where he worked closely with both the Toronto Maple Leafs and Toronto Raptors on sponsorship initiatives.
Justin Ford
reports that his start-up, Javelin Sports, aims to make it easier to play sports. Recently, Javelin has been working on helping North America safely return to sports. This has allowed them to work with groups such as Canada Basketball’s Jr. NBA program and the Northern California Volleyball Association. To help Javelin Sports with their goal, Justin says Canadian Olympic gold medalist, Donovan Bailey, has joined their team to serve on their board of advisors.
Jake Kearley
and his brother, Cam ’12, along with their two older siblings, Josh and Courtney, are in the final stages of opening a luxury golf simulator bar and lounge in Newmarket, Ont., called The Bogey Club. It will feature two top-of-the-line Golfzon indoor golf simulators and the doors are set to open in December 2021.
2013 Mario Chiodo
joins the SAC Advancement Department as the Alumni Relations Coordinator. Mario fosters relationships with the alumni network and develops programs that promote engagement and continued affiliation with the school. He is also responsible for building relationships with students and parents. Mario is well versed in the school’s 52 The ANDREAN Fall 2021
Peter Xu
and his wife, Ying, announce the birth of their daughter, Anna, on Feb. 9, 2021. “Did the name have something to do with the announcement of St. Anne’s School? Absolutely,” Peter exclaims. While COVID-19 restricted a lot of activities for everyone around
the world, he says their baby’s arrival brought his family significant joy and kept them busy. “She was the best that could happen to us at the most appropriate time,” Peter says. “My wife and I experienced the most intense two months after the baby was born. There were countless sleepless nights, and we exchanged baby duties on alternating schedules so the other could get some shut-eye. We’ve learned and grown the most as a new couple in respecting and caring for each other, and I truly believe it was a testament to prepare us for any hardship in life to come.” Peter manages a small portion of his family’s private equity fund and real estate investments.
Drake Porter
completed his undergrad at Syracuse University and took advantage of an extra year of eligibility due to the pandemic to complete a graduate certificate in intercollegiate coaching and advising through the education faculty at Syracuse. He was awarded the 2021 Soladay Award, the highest honour presented to a senior student-athlete, and was named the team scholar (highest GPA) for men’s lacrosse. In October, he played for Team Canada in the U.S. Lacrosse Fall Showcase. Drake has taken a coaching position with Goaliesmith Lacrosse as the head of youth development and is living in Baltimore, Md.
2017 Harrison Liu
graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill with a bachelor of science and majored in biology. He joined a start-up company in the biology/AI industry in June 2021 as a research associate and moved to Boston, Mass. He would be happy to meet up with any Old Boys in Boston. Harrison is applying to medical school and hopes to attend in 2022.
2015 Matthew Galajda
has been awarded the 2021 Charles H. Moore Outstanding Senior Varsity Athlete Award for Men’s Hockey from Cornell University. He is working toward his master’s degree and playing hockey at the University of Notre Dame.
Dhruv Krishnan
graduated from medical school at Queen’s University in the spring. He began pursuing his residency in internal medicine at Queen’s in July.
2016 Nick Grossi
graduated from Simon Fraser University in April with a bachelor of business administration and a concentration in operations management. Since January, he’s been working for an artificial intelligence marketing company as a project manager and was recently promoted to principal owner of web services for their digital agency, Archive Digital. Nick works from home in Bolton, Ont., and is excited to get back on campus soon to support SAC football and all the other teams. He enjoyed the Old Boys Golf Tournament in September.
Nik Seidel
started at Northeast College of Health Sciences in Seneca Falls, N.Y., in September after graduating from Wilfrid Laurier University with an undergraduate degree in kinesiology.
2018 Tyler Black
was selected by the Milwaukee Brewers in the first round with the 33rd pick in the 2021 MLB Draft. He was the top Canadian selected in this year’s draft.
Eric Dietterle
says working in real estate has kept him busy during the pandemic. He has been in the business for more than a year, starting at Forest Hill Real Estate Yorkville. He has been in touch with Christopher Bibby ’01, who is also a real estate agent in Toronto and has provided Eric with valuable career advice.
2019 Eugene Makeshin
is studying business management with marketing at the University of Edinburgh and joined Callum Macpherson ’18 in Callum’s endeavour starting the non-profit Edinburgh University Marketing and Advertising Society (EUMAS). In the first semester of operation, the society provided training content, and prominent business and marketing specialists were invited to host lectures and Q&A sessions. In the second semester, they sought out local and international organizations and offered them consulting and advertising services free of charge in exchange for the experience of working on their tasks. Eugene is in the early stages of developing a business idea he came up with in his last year of SAC: a consulting service regarding higher education and professional development.
Alex Schaefer
returned to Germany soon after graduating from SAC and started a co-op program at Fresenius Group, an international player in the pharmaceutical market. He plans to attend university in Heidelberg next summer and study business informatics. Alex says SAC taught him more than history and English, but also to appreciate the little things, be thankful for small gestures, and especially be friendly and open to everyone.
2020 Jack Bar
left the Penticton Vees of the BCHL to join the Chicago Steel of the USHL for the 2020-2021 season. Jack scored five goals and ten assists for 15 points in 34 regular-season games and helped the Steel win the 2021 Clark Cup. In July, he was selected by the Dallas Stars with the 138th overall pick in the 2021 NHL Draft. Jack began his studies at Harvard University in September, where he plays on the men’s hockey team. X
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OBITUARIES 1944
Charles Eddis passed away in Montreal on
May 22, 2021. He attended St. Andrew’s from 1935 to 1944 and was Head Boy in his graduating year. Charles was Sports Editor of The Review, a member of the Literary Society, a Sergeant in the Cadet Corps, and played cricket. He was awarded the Isabelle Cockshutt Prize (Canadian and Ancient History), The Wyld Prize in Latin, the Chairman’s Gold Medal, the Headmaster’s Medal, and the Lt. Gov.’s Bronze Medal. His daughter says Charles was enrolled at St. Andrew’s after his father passed away to have a male influence in his life. The Latin grace he learned at school was a staple at family
Donald Shaw passed away on Nov. 27, 2020,
in Toronto. He attended St. Andrew’s from 1942 to 1947. He was a Chapel Boy, member of The Review staff, and coach of Sixth Football. It was jokingly noted in an issue of The Review that Don was a “St. Andrew’s contemporary violinist who continually submits us to agony during music recitals.” In fact, at one music recital, Don played a duet with then-Head of School, Ken Ketchum, titled Double Concerto for Two Violins. He graduated as a chemical engineer from the University of Toronto in 1951 and earned his MBA at Western University 1958. Don had a long career teaching in the Faculty of Business at Ryerson University. He is survived by his wife, Ursula, and four children. He is predeceased by his brother, Doug ’41.
Dick Roberts passed away on Dec. 8, 2020,
in Nassau, Bahamas. He attended St. Andrew’s from 1943 to 1947. He won the Wyle Prize in Latin and the Georges Etienne Cartier Medal in French. He was a member of The Review staff and vicepresident of the Le Cercle Francais club. Dick is predeceased by his brothers, Gary ’54 and Noel ’57.
54 The ANDREAN Fall 2021
2021, in Toronto. He attended SAC from 1948 to 1955. Bruce served as Head Prefect, was Editor-in-Chief of The Review, a Scholar, and a member of the Literary Society. He was a Captain and second-in-command in the Cadet Corps. He received the Wyle Prize for Latin, the Isabelle Cockshutt History Prize, and the Lawrence Crow Medal. Bruce was also a member of the Athletic Society, captain of the Rifle team, and a member of the Track team. A knee injury in his younger years prevented him from playing contact sports. He received a medical degree from the University of Toronto and spent 60 years as a family physician. He is survived by his wife, Jane, a son, and three grandsons, and is predeceased by a son.
Robert Barnett passed away on June 9, 2021, in Cheticamp, N.S. He attended St. Andrew’s from 1948 to 1956. He was a member of The Review staff and received a special prize for outstanding ability in French. Robert received a BA from the University of Waterloo and an MA from Queen’s University and was a professor emeritus of economics at Bishop’s University. Robert is survived by his brother, Bill ’62. James Cotter passed away on Feb. 17, 2021,
1947
Bruce Merrick passed away on Aug. 14,
1957
1951
gatherings over the years. After graduation, he did a year of service in the Canadian Navy, then completed a B. Comm. at the University of Toronto. Charles graduated from Harvard Divinity School in 1951. He served church communities in Alberta, Quebec, and Illinois. In 1977, he returned to Montreal to serve the Unitarian Church of Montreal. Charles is survived by his wife, Nancy, two children, and four grandchildren. He was predeceased by one daughter and his uncle, Thomas Barnston Daubney Tudball (known as “Tuddy”), a much-loved faculty member from 1908 until 1950.
1955
in Victoria, B.C. He attended St. Andrew’s for one year, when he played First Basketball, becoming the season’s highest scorer. He was a L/Cpl. in the Cadet Corps and a member of the Debating team. After graduation, James attended Western University then served in the Canadian Army from 1952 to 1988. He was promoted to the rank of Briadier-General in 1978. James is survived by his wife, Ellen, two children, and four grandchildren.
1953
Paul Esson passed away on May 21, 2021.
He lived in Toronto. Paul attended St. Andrew’s from 1949 until 1952. He played First Football, was involved in the Cadet Corps, was on the Gym team, and was a member of Dick Gibb’s first bicycle tour of Europe in 1951. Paul maintained close relationships with friends from the Class of 1953 and loved sharing stories of the shenanigans they got into. He was known as “Beefy” in SAC circles. His career in finance spanned more than 40 years. He loved sports and spent much of his life racing yachts. Paul is survived by his wife, Betsy, two daughters, and three grandchildren.
1960
Hugh Robinette
passed away Aug. 8, 2021, in Caledon, Ont. He attended St. Andrew’s from 1958 to 1960 and played First Football, was a Cadet Corps member, a Chapel Boy and a Librarian, a member of The Review staff and the Debating Society, and served on the Student Council and Social Committee. St. Andrew’s lived large in Hugh’s heart and was a source of endless stories and enduring friendships. He studied business at Western University, and his career started at Wood Gundy. Hugh is survived by his wife, Gillian, four children, and five grandchildren.
1961
Richard Gibb passed away on May 4, 2021, in Collingwood, Ont. He attended St. Andrew’s from 1951 until 1959. While at SAC, he played First Soccer, Upper School Cricket, and was a member of The Review staff. He earned a master’s degree at Western University and became the history department head at Dr. G.W. Williams Secondary School in Aurora. Richard is survived by his wife, Jalna, two sons, a granddaughter, and his brothers, Brian ’64 and Anthony ’69. He is
predeceased by his father, Dick Gibb, a geography teacher at SAC from 1946 to 1984.
1961
Ross Grant passed away May 16, 2020, in
Cambridge, Ont. He attended St. Andrew’s from 1957 to 1958. He worked at Grant-Blackwell Furniture, a family-owned business. He leaves behind his wife, Maureen, seven children, seven grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.
Senior Rugger, First Soccer, and Second Hockey. He was the champion of the sports day held in May 1974. In his graduating year, he was the Pipe Major in the Cadet Band and won the Lawrence Crowe Trophy and Rifle. Jim attended Queen’s University, playing rugby for the Golden Gaels, and earned a bachelor of physical education. He is survived by his wife, Lisa, seven children, and his brothers, Bill ’77 and Barry ’79.
1963
John Magee passed away on May 11, 2021, in Collingwood, Ont. He attended St. Andrew’s from 1956 to 1961. He played First Hockey and First Football. He entered the brokerage business in the mid-1960s. John is survived by his partner, Donna, two daughters, and two grandsons.
1963
Robert Swinden passed away on March
15, 2021, in Toronto. He attended St. Andrew’s from 1960 to 1963. He played First Soccer, was on the Swim team, served as Head Librarian, was a member of the Debating Society and Le Cercle Francais club, was a Scholar, and a piper in the Cadet Band. He won the Governor-General’s Medal, the Donald Cooper Medal in Science, and the Old Boys’ Medal in Mathematics. After graduation, Rob attended Trinity College, University of Toronto, and earned a B.Comm. He qualified as a chartered accountant at Clarkson, Gordon, Toronto (now Ernst & Young). He pursued his audit interests in careers with the Federal Auditor General in Ottawa, and the Hudson’s Bay Company in Toronto, followed by several years of entrepreneurial activities. Rob is survived by his brother, John ’56, and his sister, Sylvia. He is predeceased by his wife, Georgina.
1974
James Gray passed away on April 18, 2021, in Indiana. He attended St. Andrew’s from 1967 to 1974, where he made lifelong friends and developed a love for sports, especially rugby. Jim was a Prefect and played
Doug Pickard, Randy Kline, and Paul Hutton at the bench on the Quad dedicated in memory of their classmate, Jim Gray ’74.
1977
David Prowse passed away on March 6, 2021; he lived in Toronto. David attended St. Andrew’s from 1976 to 1977. He was the president of Prowse Interiors Ltd., a commercial contracting firm specializing in interiors, located in Mississauga, Ont. He is survived by his wife, Joanne, two daughters, two grandchildren, and his brother, Bill ’71.
2014
Taylor Pilmer passed away on Aug. 6, 2021. He attended St. Andrew’s from 2008 to 2014. He played Varsity Lacrosse and was the assistant captain of JV Hockey. Taylor was a Warrant Officer in Perrier Company. He earned a BBA at Sir Wilfred Laurier University and worked briefly at the Bank of Montreal before pursuing his love of photography and travel. He made sure to fit in time to ski, golf some of the finest courses in the world, and spend lots of time with family and friends at a special place, the cottage. He is survived by his parents, Heather and Michael, and brother, Rob.
STAFF Margaret Mackay passed away on Aug. 21, 2021, in Toronto. She was the secretary to the head of school from 1943 to 1948. She enjoyed listening to the Cadet Pipe Band and lent a hand preparing The Review for publication in 1943. She is predeceased by her father, Rev. George Mackay, who was in the Class of 1905, and her brother, Leslie Mackay ’32, who died in service in 1942 during the Second World War. X
1989
Gareth Carter passed away July 1, 2021, in Toronto. He attended St. Andrew’s from 1982 to 1986. He played U16A Football and U16 Hockey. He lived in Collingwood, Ont., and was a prominent member of the community’s culinary scene. He founded Men with Knives, a catering company, and he and his wife, Julie, ran an event space called The Larder. Gareth is survived by his wife, two children, and brothers-in-law, Scott McDonald ’86, Duff McDonald ’88, and Steve McDonald ’88.
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Eddie Jia ’21 won the Head of School’s Art Award in June 2021 for the painting shown here.
56 The ANDREAN Fall 2021
CONTENTS Fall 2021: volume 65, number 2 FEATURES
The ANDREAN Published by St. Andrew’s College for Old Boys, parents, and friends of the school Editor Julie Caspersen
4 What’s In A Name? 11 ANNUAL REPORT 2021 20 Homecoming 22 SASSAW 2021 24 Pride Proud! 30 Campus Canines 32 The Andrean at 65
Director of Communications Nicolette Fleming Art Direction, Design, and Photography Paul Mosey Contributors Jim Herder ’64 Sean Maillet Chris Traber Spencer Thomson ’22 David Joiner
COLUMNS 3 The Head’s Up 19 Sports Update 27 Community News 34 Old Boys Profiles 44 Old Boys News 54 Obituaries
Telephone 905-727-3178, ext. 333 Email admission@sac.on.ca oldboys@sac.on.ca theandrean@sac.on.ca Website www.sac.on.ca The Cover
Dem Rogers ’59, stands on the porch of the house on the Willow Farm property. Dem grew up at Willow Farm and visited for a photoshoot and to reminisce in October. On the back cover, Jake Kearley, Burke White, and Chance Rodin, from the Class of 2013, teeing off at the Old Boys Golf Tournament.
Welcome to The Andrean, your alumni magazine since 1956. It is wonderful to be writing this from my desk on the upper floor of Dunlap Hall instead of my home office. It is a pleasure to greet colleagues in the morning, marvel at the Zou Family Science Classroom and Lab, sit in on professional development in Wirth Theatre, and enjoy the sight of boys rushing to study in Towers Library, practice on Yuill Field, or chat with buddies as they stroll to the La Brier Family Arena. Dunlap, Zou, Wirth, Towers, Yuill, La Brier: names of just some of the people whose generosity has benefitted generations past and will continue to benefit generations to come. Even after four years as part of the Andrean community, I’m still in awe of the incredible philanthropy that has allowed our independent school to stay strong and keep growing. I invite you to check out our feature on page 4 highlighting a few interesting named places, spaces, and things.
Julie Caspersen, Editor
We belong to the following associations:
The Andrean magazine supports the St. Andrew’s College mission: developing the complete man, the well-rounded citizen,” connects Old Boys and parents to the school, and reflects St. Andrew’s College’s enduring value to the constituents it serves.
THE St. Andrew’s College 15800 Yonge Street Aurora, ON L4G 3H7 Canada
ANDREAN Fall 2021: volume 65, number 2
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SASSAW 2021 24
Pride Proud! 32
The Andrean at 65 twitter.com/StAndrews1899
34 / 44
facebook.com/StAndrewsCollege
Old Boys Profiles & News
youtube.com/StAndrews1899
Instagram @StAndrewsCollege1899
YOU NAME IT... …and Dem Rogers ’59 has probably supported it
Inside, Dem reflects on growing up at Willow Farm and becoming one of SAC’s most ardent supporters
ALSO INSIDE:
ANNUAL REPORT 2021
