The Andrean - Spring 2024

ANDREAN THE

THIRTEEN GOING ON

THIRTEEN OLD BOYS WORK AT ST. ANDREW’S. FROM THE NEWLY HIRED TO THE 30-YEAR VETERAN — THEIR STORIES ARE HERE.

St. Andrew’s College prides itself on being a high-tech, plugged-in, progressive institution. We are proud of our state-of-the-art facilities, top-notch staff, rigorous curriculum, and diverse co-curricular offerings. But we are also incredibly tied to our history and traditions.

In celebration of our 125th birthday this September, we are delighted to present a special 16-month calendar that pays homage to our past and showcases pivotal moments in our journey from 1899 to 2024. The photos you’ll find were curated by our Archivist, Gabby Bablanian, and the pages were designed by our Creative Lead, Paul Mosey.

While we have included a few key St. Andrew’s College events, we invite you to personalize the calendar by filling in the remaining squares with your appointments, birthdays, celebrations, and reminders. Be sure to highlight our Homecoming birthday bash on Sept. 24; hopefully, we can commemorate this milestone together.

Julie Caspersen, Editor

The ANDREAN

Published by St. Andrew’s College for Old Boys, parents, and friends of the school

Editor

Julie Caspersen

Director of Communications

Nicolette Fleming

Art Direction, Design, and Photography

Paul Mosey, Creative Lead

Contributors

Gabby Bablanian

Natasha Daley

Matthew Jaekel

Sean Maillet

John Sandham ’13

Chris Traber

Telephone 905-727-3178, ext. 333

Email admission@sac.on.ca oldboys@sac.on.ca theandrean@sac.on.ca

Website www.sac.on.ca

Front Cover

The 13 Old Boys who came back to work at SAC gather on the steps of Rogers Hall.

Back Cover

The ensemble cast of the Fall Play, The Music Man

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.

All

in all, it’s just another brick in the wall... Matt Graham ’14 came back to campus from Nova Scotia to attend the MacPherson Hockey Tournament in January. Matt was Captain of the First Hockey team in 2013-2014, and was captured alongside his La Brier Family Arena mural during his visit. He also dropped the ceremonial puck at the Friday night MacPherson game.

TTL Through The Lens

A selection of favourites from school photographer,

Paul Mosey

Gary West on the ice at the eponymous tournament for U18AAA Hockey in January.

Celtic Concert 2024

Photo within a photo at the Cadet Promotion Parade in December.

First Hockey Coach, Geoff Brennagh ’94, gets a shower in the dressing room after the MacPherson Hockey Tournament championship win.

Class of ’24 friends Chris Poulos, Ioanni Michalos, and Malcolm Austgarden in their Ken outfits for semi-formal.

Below Left: Chaos in Bedard Gym as JV Basketball wins the CISAA championship on a buzzerbeating shot by Carter White ’24. This image: Old Boys on the stage at Roy Thomson Hall during An Andrean Christmas

THE HEAD’S UP

Every couple of months, I deeply reflect on where we are headed in relation to where we have come from. Over the past several years, those moments have become more regular as we’ve wrapped up our CAIS Accreditation and are now well on our way to completing our next strategic plan.

The dedication of our staff to providing an exceptional educational experience for our students is second to none. In fact, we are differentiating ourselves more and more from our competitors in the independent school landscape and truly embracing our new tagline: Everything & More.

This succinct phrase encapsulates our pursuit of excellence in every facet of school life, whether academics, arts, athletics, boarding, health and wellness, or happiness; you name it, we are doing it. We prioritize academic rigour and foster an enriching environment that surpasses traditional standards.

It brings me great pride that St. Andrew’s College, and now St. Anne’s School, are diverging from the norm and evolving into institutions that stand out as world-class. We are not merely keeping pace; we are setting the pace.

One of the most gratifying aspects of our school is the unparalleled level of engagement. Students at St. Andrew’s are involved in a host of activities beyond the classroom, and day students are often found eating breakfast or dinner in Cole Hall as they rush to and from their next exciting endeavour. All students in the Middle School engage in three terms of after-school arts and sports. In the Upper School, over 97 per cent of students sign up for the voluntarily Arts/CoCurricular Plus program, 100 per cent join an athletic activity for two terms, and 60 per cent participate in athletics in all three terms. Between Middle and Upper Schools, we field 62 teams across 20 sports and offer an intramural program that supports a student’s interest in their physical well-being.

Our drama programs – the fall play and the Focus Festival of the Arts – see over 300 students involved onstage or as theatre technicians. Our bands are truly the largest teams in the school, with over 30 per cent of students participating in at least one band, from Middle School Band to the Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Jazz Band, Pep Band, and Rock Band.

Add to this our specialty programs such as McEwen Business Leadership, AP Capstone, Leadership (aka Cadets), outdoor education, robotics, piping and drumming, IGNITE (see page 13), broadcast journalism, and so much more.

In every endeavour, we strive to differentiate ourselves in a positive and meaningful way. The distinctive features of St. Andrew’s and St. Anne’s are becoming more apparent. Our students aren’t just participants; they are enthusiastic contributors, and these “everything and more” activities allow them to shine as leaders within and outside our school community.

St. Andrew’s and St. Anne’s dare to be different. Just as this unique partnership distinguishes us in the Canadian independent school sector, we are equally unique in our commitment to student involvement to create an environment that fosters curiosity, innovation, creativity, and a growth mindset.

None of our achievements would be possible without the valuable contributions of our employees. Their role in supporting character and leadership development through extra-curricular activities ensures our students grow into wellrounded citizens of strong character. X

Kevin R. McHenry, Head of School

Kevin with Hockey Hall of Famer, Jarome Iginla (left), and the voice of the Toronto Raptors, Matt Devlin, at the 2024 MacPherson Hockey Tournament luncheon on Jan. 26. Jarome brought his team from Kelowna to the tournament, and Matt was the guest speaker. Matt’s son, Luke Devlin ’22, was the captain of First Hockey .

125

LOGO Reveal

The search for the celebratory 125th logo began last fall when we advertised a logo contest in The Andrean. While submissions were slow to come in, we did have some great entries, and our Creative Lead, Paul Mosey, took the essence of those entries to create the logos seen here.

You will see the logo in print, on Campus Shop merchandise, on the La Brier Family Arena ice surface, on all SAC team jerseys, and on signage throughout the 2024-2025 school year.

Thanks to all who contributed, including employees, Julie Caspersen, Chantal Hunt-Raymond, and Jarryd Stock ’03. Special thanks to Grade 12 student, Krrish Khanna, for his multiple submissions.

Primary logo

Secondary logos

shield with St. Andrew’s cross Memorial Chapel spire

Graphic elements in the logo

Reflections from the 13 Old Boys who work

at St. Andrew’s

Michael ROY

When we approached our Old Boy co-workers about posing for a photo wearing their house shirts, every one of them offered a story about their housemates, a teacher who influenced them, and how they found their way back to St. Andrew’s. They were asked to write a sentence or two to go along with their headshots, and as you can see below, the memories poured out as they reflected on their time as students, the people who helped them grow, and how the school has evolved since they graduated. I enjoy taking applications from Old Boys’ sons. Our traditions and core values at SAC remain unchanged. Most everything else has evolved — I use this word purposefully. SAC has adapted to the times to provide a modern version of itself. Two examples (of which there aremany) are the chapel and Cadet programs. Those tenets remain but are fundamentally different offerings from my time in 1985. They reflect the needs of today’s students while honouring our past and traditions. SAC has done an excellent job of balancing those two paradigms.

Executive Director, Enrolment Management MEMORIAL HOUSE

Started March 1996 (338 months)

My journey at SAC took a turn in Grade 10 when my focus shifted toward running. Other students indulged in Friday and Saturday night revelries, but my priorities gravitated toward chasing my aspirations. Occasionally, I joined the group outings, but I was committed to my personal goals.

I remained in contact with the school once I settled into the early part of my working career in Toronto. I hit an impasse in my life after one of my best friends, fellow Class of ’85 member, Mark Oliver, passed away in 1993 after a battle with cancer. It helped me realize that I wanted my day-to-day working life to be deeper and more meaningful than the corporate grind. I contacted then-Director of Development, Jim Herder ’64, to see if he could put me in touch with alums who could share career advice with a late-20-something-old Old Boy. After the better part of a 90-minute meeting, he asked me if I would be interested in joining the development team at SAC. It wasn’t what either of us expected heading into the conversation; it just materialized organically. I started working at SAC in March of 1996. Here I am 28 years later.

However, the bond with my classmates remains strong through the “Crazy ’88s” WhatsApp group, where 55 out of 69 grads contribute and reminisce about the old days. ’85 ’88

It makes me proud to be a member of the community, knowing we can maintain a balance between our history yet be in a perpetual growth mindset, challenging ourselves to deliver a modern education for the boys today.

Nick TSIOROS

My fondest memories revolve around the insights imparted by mentors Ron Kinney, science teacher, Robin Fraser, Head of French and cross-country coach, and John Clements, music teacher. Their wisdom resonated deeply, shaping my perspective on life.

Physical Education, Healthy Active Living, and Canadian and World Studies Teacher NEW HOUSE (SMITH)

Coach of Jr. and Sr. Cross-Country, Jr. and Sr. Track & Field Started September 1994 (356 months)

Jamie INGLIS

Associate Director, Upper School, Student Life

RAMSEY HOUSE

Physics and Music Teacher, Coach of U16 Football, Sr. Alpine Ski

Started September 1999 (296 months)

My most memorable moment was when I earned my first Scholar’s Medal, and my father, Derek Inglis, as the Assistant Head and Academic Director of the school, was the one who presented me with the award. I also think back to my graduating Carol Service at St. Paul’s. Singing Dorset Carol with my friends is an incredible memory. I speak to our graduating students about this memory before An Andrean Christmas

Fred Hiltz, former Head of Physics, was an incredible mentor who taught me the importance of critical thinking, hard work, and understanding to be successful. He was also the first person I can remember to encourage the idea of failure as an essential component of growth and maturation. He inspired me to be curious and made science tangible and accessible for students. As a teacher, I try to emulate this with my students, given his influence on my development as a student and person.

SAC, but the number of teams, leadership opportunities, co-curricular programs, and student life events have substantially expanded since I was a student. I love that the school’s “feel” has not changed with respect to traditions, themes, etc., but has been improved or changed to be relevant to our current student body.

’91

Having spent the first six years of my life on campus (in Flavelle and Campbell Houses) and attending as a student from Grades 8 to 13 (1986-1991), becoming a faculty member was a natural progression. Further, with my father’s 34 years of service and my 25 years, an Inglis has been a member of the school for 59 years – nearly 50 per cent of the life of the school!

Naturally, the facilities have changed immensely, but the breadth of programming is the most remarkable change in SAC from then to now. We had plays, some student life events, and some experiential trips when I was at

Geoff BRENNAGH

I cherished seven remarkable years as a student at SAC, and to this day, some of my closest friends are fellow SAC alums with whom I graduated in 1994.

St. Andrew’s has undergone significant transformations, notably in its ever-evolving facilities and enriched programming that now offers today’s Andreans extraordinary chances to discover and pursue their passions.

Mathematics Teacher

RAMSEY HOUSE

Coach of First Hockey

Started August 2008 (189 months)

I don’t know why anyone would want to teach elsewhere. The opportunity to contribute to the development of adolescents in the classroom, on the sports field, through boarding, and in cocurriculars is amazing. Watching students come here in Middle School and become leaders and “well-rounded citizens” is, in itself, inspiring, and having the opportunity to support them in this journey is pretty special.

Working at the school, what brings me the greatest joy is witnessing the strong brotherhood developing among the students as they forge enduring connections that extend far beyond their time at St. Andrew’s.

’94

Michael CHOI

Director of International Admissions & Advancement

SIFTON HOUSE

Started September 2013 (128 months)

One of my fondest memories is winning a CISAA Football championship on the lower fields at the same time as First Soccer. As the football game was finishing, the last few plays of the soccer game were in goal kicks. We were up in the football game, so we were sneaking peaks of each shot and trying to run out our game. It was a fantastic finish and a great scene on the lower fields.

When I was a student, Dave Galajda, who headed the boarding program, was my coach, science teacher, and weight trainer (specifically the bench press). He always pushed his students and his players to be better. He held us accountable for our actions and ensured we left the school as better people. But behind his sometimes-stern exterior was a man with a tremendous passion for his students, and you knew he was always in your corner if you needed him.

I still vividly remember the day I moved into Sifton House as a Grade 10 boarding student, nervously waiting to meet my first roommate. I never would have believed that high school friends could become lifelong brothers, and I never imagined school would become my home away from home. My roommates, classmates, and SAC friends were always together, sharing the joys and the challenges of life at St. Andrew’s.

In addition to my SAC family, I connect with families all over the world, making new friends along the way. I spend many weeks every year trekking to China, Korea, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Thailand, Taiwan, Singapore, and Japan to maintain current contacts, develop new friendships, and, hopefully, recruit new international families to SAC. My first-hand experience as an international boarder allows me to speak from the heart.

The most significant change from when I was a student is the school’s infrastructure. It has been enhanced, but the mission statement remains the same. It’s the same plan for boys! Get them interested in sports and other co-curriculars, and school will follow. Teach them how to navigate a hectic period in their lives with caring and compassionate people assisting along the way.

After spending a few years teaching at an independent school out east and then a year in the Ontario public system, it became clear to me that I wanted to remain in the independent system, and if I was going to do that, I should try and teach at one of the best schools in North America. I am glad I started my career away from SAC because it showed me how amazing this school continues to be.

Jamie MACPHERSON

English and Physical Education Teacher

RAMSEY HOUSE

Coach of U14 Hockey and Sr. Golf

Started September 2009 (176 months)

Nicholas WEEDON

Executive Director of Advancement and President of the SAC Foundation

SMITH HOUSE

Coach of U12 Hockey

Started October 2008 (187 months)

My favourite memory is the First Hockey CISAA championship game at Upper Canada College, when I jumped into the arms of James Gideon ’02 for what would be the game-winning goal. We were the clear underdogs and came away with a 2-1 victory, thanks in large part to Jimmy Healey ’02, of Holyrood, Nfld. Jimmy was our goalie and played exceptionally well in that game. Watching our fans run onto the ice when the final buzzer sounded was incredible.

Another memory that stands out for me was when we lost the 4x100m relay during the always enjoyable Track & Field Day. I was proud of our Smith House team for putting up a fight against the likes of classmates, Donnovan Bennett , Brad Smith, Michael Faulds, and Andrew Joyner, from Flavelle

’02

Jarryd STOCK

I followed in the footsteps of my brother, Graydon ’02, for Grade 7, as I witnessed all the opportunities he was exposed to. I went into SAC most excited about the sports and the prospect of new friends. I left SAC with my experiences on the stage being some of my most memorable. I will never forget the risk and reward William Scoular, Head of Drama & Film, and the Drama program afforded me.

House. Also, when New House was renamed Smith House upon the retirement of Geoff Smith, former Assistant Head, Head of Memorial House, chemistry teacher, and Cadet instructor, that was a special moment for both the Smith family and the school.

Geoff Smith and Paul Bedard ’79, retired Head of Athletics, Head of Sifton House, and French teacher, are inspirations to me. They were the epitome of class, dignity, respect, and humility. I often reflect on lessons learned from both Geoff and Paul. Mark Service, former Laidlaw Head of House and business teacher, challenged me to become involved in volunteer activities, which I appreciate to this day.

My experience as a student inspired me to return to work at St. Andrew’s. The employees are exceptional, caring individuals who strive to be better and do better, and I wanted to learn and grow in that environment. Furthermore, working in the Advancement Office and connecting or re-connecting with Old Boys has been an exciting opportunity.

Working at SAC now, especially in the Admission Department, allows me to share these experiences with would-be Andreans and highlight these opportunities to the next round of boys looking for something more.

’03

Director of Admission LAIDLAW HOUSE

Started September 2011 (152 months)

Ryan BRYCE

Associate Director, Advancement Services & Annual Fund

SMITH HOUSE

Started March 2010 (170 months)

As a student and member of Smith House, I fondly remember hearing stories and learning about Geoff Smith, for whom our house was named. Mr. Smith was universally beloved as an imposing yet empathetic educator who, for four decades, was a great friend and mentor to many Andreans. He was truly one of a kind.

Fast forward several years to my time as a staff member, I was thrilled to get to know Mr. Smith personally, as he would frequent SAC events well into his retirement. I valued this connection to him and his place in St. Andrew’s history. I can even confirm that some of the stories are true!

’05

Jeremy SLESSOR

Major Gifts & Stewardship Officer SIFTON HOUSE

Started August 2023 (9 months)

During my time at St. Andrew’s College, I forged lifelong friendships and treasured experiences that continue to shape my character. As a domestic boarder, I hosted international friends for some weekends. We’d snowmobile on our farm in the winter or go freshwater fishing at the cottage in the fall and spring. Then, visiting them, I would experience “real” fishing or try a fried fish sandwich on raisin bread.

Working at SAC, I embrace the best of both worlds, having experienced life at the school and the enduring brotherhood that ensued. Now, I aim to fund scholarships, extending the experiences I hold dear to deserving individuals who may not otherwise afford the opportunity, ensuring they, too, can have similar experiences.

John SANDHAM

Alumni Relations Coordinator

SMITH HOUSE

Started August 2023 (9 months)

I have generally found returning to oncefamiliar places a challenging exercise. Often, time renders them no longer recognizable. Not so with St. Andrew’s College. Although people have come and gone, and many parts of the school look different, the welcome feeling I get while walking the halls remains the same as it did almost 15 years ago when I first set foot on campus. SAC is home, and it’s remarkable to think that my time here as a student set in motion a journey that, a decade later, has led me right back to where it all began.

’06 ’13

Alexander SETO

Mental Health Counsellor

LAIDLAW HOUSE

Piping Instructor, Pipes & Drums, Coach of Jr. Squash

Started September 2021 (32 months)

Some of my fondest memories as a student at SAC involve being around the squash courts, playing with the Pipe Band, and unforgettable school trips to France, Amsterdam, and Tanzania. It is incredibly rewarding to return as an employee. I am fortunate to be able to work closely with a diverse student body, staff, and extracurricular programs and be part of a school that continuously strives for growth and innovation. SAC has contributed significantly to the person I am today, and it is gratifying to support others who are learning and experiencing in a very familiar environment.

’13

Laptop & Helpdesk Technician

SIFTON HOUSE

Started January 2022 (28 months)

While my time as a student at SAC ended only six years ago, I feel as though much has changed in that short period. Foremost in my mind is the culture of acceptance. Many have described feeling at home at SAC, but for me, it always felt as though that came with an expectation of heteronormativity. As someone who is now openly gay, I can confidently say that the school has fulfilled its original promise, one that speaks to the idea of a man who can be anything, not constrained by the social expectations of masculinity: the complete man, the wellrounded citizen. X

’18

2,070

Equals 172.5 years

Now it’s your turn!

Has reading the reflections on these pages sparked memories of your time at SAC? Our fall magazine, with a focus on our 125th birthday celebration, is the perfect venue to share your recollections and stories about classmate antics, staff members who had an impact, big wins, and bigger friendships. Please email your memories to theandrean@sac.on.ca, and we will print a selection in the next edition.

A Boarding Milestone

By John Sandham ’13

Emily Keating has held many titles during her time at St. Andrew’s: math and science teacher, tutor, residence don, basketball and rugby coach, and Assistant Head of House. It’s a journey that led to her current role as Head of Flavelle House.

Her appointment as Head of House in early 2023 is a milestone in the 125-year history of St. Andrew’s College. Emily is the first female to hold the title, building on the legacy and contributions of many women who have held leadership roles in boarding. She is quick to mention Ann Perrier, who was a “house parent” in Memorial House, alongside her husband, Bob, who was Head of House for 22 years, as an influential and beloved figure. Ann brought a parenting philosophy to the SAC boarding experience and adopted a team approach, which Emily emulates in Flavelle.

Emily highlights her “all-star” support team, including assistants, Mark Burton, who has worked in Flavelle for over two decades, Ryan Turley, a science teacher who joined SAC in 2019, and her husband, Matthew.

“Emily’s care for the students’ well-being is evident. It seemed like a natural step for her to take on more responsibility when the role became available,” says Mark.

Emily joined SAC for the 2017-2018 school year as a mathematics residence don living in Macdonald House, where she spent two years working alongside Dave Galajda, SAC’s former Director of Residential Life.

more decisions; you’re involved more in the kids’ lives. So, it was great to make that jump, and ultimately, that prepared me to be Head of House.”

Jeff, now Head of Humanities, departed boarding after the 2022-2023 year. Emily was the successful candidate to replace him and spent the next several months working with Jeff and Director of Boarding, Keith Ramon, to transition into the role. Moving from Assistant to Head means managing a team of staff, including the Assistant Heads of House and the duty teachers, and being the first point of contact for parents.

“Emily demonstrated early on that she had a unique ability to build meaningful relationships with students and manage the dayto-day challenges of running a boarding house. It made stepping away from boarding much easier knowing Emily would be taking over,” says Jeff.

Those years were a chance to learn how the system works. “Dave was very insistent that you need to be around if you’re going to be in boarding,” Emily says. That meant attending birthday bashes, trivia challenges, dinner duty, and more, all in addition to teaching and tutoring duties.

“It’s definitely a lifestyle,” she continues. “You need to know it’s going to take over a lot of your life.”

Two years into her time at SAC, Jeff LaForge took over as Head of Flavelle House and asked Emily to join him as an Assistant Head. She agreed.

“That really allowed me to have more responsibility. As an Assistant Head, you make

Keith adds, “Emily brings a lot of natural enthusiasm and energy to the role. She cares deeply about the success of the boys and works hard to ensure that each of them is connected to the boarding community. Emily prioritizes the needs of the boys and makes everyone feel as if they belong.”

Emily says she is focused on trying to help the students of Flavelle grow as people. “We all want what’s best for our kids. Sometimes that means tough love, but we’re here to support them and try to teach them to be better men.”

Today, six women, Emily included, are among our 15 leaders in boarding, but in her first year at SAC, she was one of two women working in boarding, the other being former Assistant Head of Memorial House, Emilia Macdonald, whom Emily refers to as her “mentor” during her first year.

“I got to where I am because I had a lot of support,” Emily says. “Emilia showed me how a woman could do this job and do it in a different way. She was the perfect balance of caring and firm. She connected with everyone in the house in a unique way.

“I may be the first female Head of House,” says Emily, “but I know I won’t be the last.” X

Emily in the kitchen of Flavelle House during a busy school night. Below: Curfew calls as Emily does her evening rounds.

Inspiring Growth through Novel Interests and Experiences

IGNITE offers all Middle School students the opportunity to explore passions and find new interests. Born out of a desire to provide our students with more voice and choice in our Middle School programming, IGNITE sessions have empowered boys to choose their path with hands-on learning experiences. Six full days of the school year were devoted to the initiative. Students could learn to be a DJ, design and build soapbox cars, partake in various cultural games from around the world, and cook tasty dishes, just to name a few activities. With IGNITE, we set the stage for students to shine brightly and reach their full potential!

SPICE & SLICE

Students dove into a world of culinary discovery, and their enthusiasm was evident. As they stepped into the Macdonald House kitchen, wide-eyed and eager, they were introduced to the fundamentals of cooking, from understanding the layout of a prep kitchen to mastering the art of handling various kitchen tools. Throughout the sessions, students not only learned to follow recipes but gained a deeper understanding of cooking techniques. They honed their knife skills, exploring the intricacies of different cooking methods and discovering the science behind creating delicious and nutritious meals. The educational takeaways extend beyond the recipes, empowering them with a valuable life skill set.

MASKS & MIMING

Emma Porter, Assistant Director of Middle School, Student Life; Middle School French teacher

The students first decided what they wanted to cast and how they wanted to decorate their final products. Some chose to make a cast of their faces, while a few opted to make a mould of their hands and arms to create replicas of the Infinity Gauntlet (a powerful glove from the Marvel Cinematic Universe). Next,

the students worked in pairs to create a mask mould of their partner’s face, requiring a lot of trust in their peers. When the masks hardened, they were gently pulled off. Once they dried, the students painted and decorated according to their style and preferences.

The boys learned the basics of miming with their masks on. The key takeaways for students included trust exercises, planning, creativity, painting, miming, and work with characterization.

Claudia Rose-Donahoe, Middle School language and social studies teacher

LATCH HOOKING

Students were introduced to the fun and relaxing craft of latch hooking. It’s easy to learn and a great activity for beginners. The boys unleashed their creativity through colour choice and pattern selection. The repeated motion of looping pieces of yarn around rungs of canvas printed with a design can be meditative and calming, and it’s a great screen-free activity for unplugging from our wired world. The hooking motion also activates fine motor skills and stimulates critical-thinking skills.

Matthew Minchella, Middle School math teacher

FITNESS BOOTCAMP

During the strength and conditioning sessions, we thoroughly explored fundamental movement patterns, such as squats, hinges, push-ups, pull-ups, and lunges. Each session was dedicated to learning and practicing new movements. As we advanced, we combined these movements into complete workouts that included all the techniques learned. The sessions were enjoyable, and it was amazing to see the significant progress the boys made.

Robin Ketcheson, Strength & Conditioning Coach

Michael Knox , Middle School Athletic Director, Middle School physical education teacher

BIBLIOMANIACS

The Bibliomaniacs session welcomed students to the beautiful Towers Library to read and enjoy literature-based activities. We know from research that the Middle School years mark a transition away from reading for enjoyment for many boys, and this is one way we are trying to provide opportunities for those who enjoy reading to feel part of a reading community. We enjoyed a book-sampling activity where the participants were introduced to new genres and series, an origami bookmark activity, and a button-making session. The students also enjoyed a solid block of undisturbed reading time with a book of their choice.

Melissa Ramon, Head Librarian, Middle School history teacher

GLOBAL GAMES

Global Games aimed to answer a question that many of us have had as kids: what games do children play in other countries, such as Sweden, India, and the Philippines? By participating in Global Games, our students experienced physical education lessons or recess activities from various countries and cultures. During these sessions, students learned the basics of various games, explored their popularity in their country of origin, and, most importantly, tried them out for themselves. The boys had the opportunity to play games from Germany, Brazil, India, Pakistan, Indonesia, Sweden, and more. I am thrilled to have students eagerly asking whether we’ll get to play galah asin, völkerball, or Gaelic football again soon.

Ryan Kaszuba, Grade 6 core teacher

OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

Students in this activity ventured over to Willow Farm every session. They initially generated a wish list of activities, taking into account the different seasons. Building fires, roasting marshmallows, skiing, wood

carving, making maple syrup, and cooking pancakes are some of the outdoor activities they were immersed in. The two key themes from the program appeared to be A. eating and B. being active outside!

Angus Murray, Coordinator of Outdoor Education Jacinta Sarfo, Middle School science and physical education teacher

MAKERSPACE CHALLENGES

Students got a taste of what they can do in the Makerspace by using a variety of tools and exploring a new project every week. The projects offered extension opportunities, allowing them to tinker at home or in after-school sessions. They learned how to program a Circuit Playground Express (CPX), a robotic device that offers multiple inputs and outputs such as lights, sounds, buttons, and switches. They also 3D-printed lanterns for their CPXs. They learned to laser cut by designing files that were cut onto cookies. The students loved it! They dove deep into the design process and created work that reflects their hobbies and interests.

Meera Balendran, Maker Educator Specialist

LEARN TO DJ

The “Mix Masters” used mini disc jockey decks and professional DJ software to explore various techniques famous DJs use to create their mixes. They analyzed song structure in various genres, including house and hip hop, and experimented with ways to transition between them. The boys created beats, looping the break, and pumping up the drop. The ultimate goal was for each prospective DJ to create a ten-minute mix they could share with the Middle School.

Adam Kowaltschuk , Middle School social studies teacher

CAVEMAN ART

The boys are proving that we don’t need to possess the vision of Picasso or the delicate touch of da Vinci to enjoy creating works of art. They used blunt instruments, such as hammers and chisels, in a fairly loud and messy environment to create string art, where coloured crochet thread was wound around a pattern of nails hammered into a wooden backing wrapped in black felt. They also tackled soapstone carving, where stone blocks were carved, sanded, and oiled to model familiar shapes such as animals and inukshuks. While the students were busy at work in the classroom, classic episodes of The Flintstones were projected on the big screen for extra motivation.

Scott Lewis, Middle School math teacher

MARIO KART RACING

Students built soapbox racers using a prefabricated template and steering column. Along with the art and design aspects that added a bit of flash to their vehicles, the focus was on effective planning and careful construction. The real-world applications for this session are extremely valuable, as learning how to read and use tape measures, chalk lines, and speed squares will certainly come in handy later in life. In addition, the boys thoroughly enjoyed learning how to safely operate a drill by marking their wood accurately, drilling pilot holes, and piecing their soapbox racers together with care. One of the crucial lessons in this activity was the importance of communication and collaboration. No one person can tackle a task this complex on their own, so students had to rely on each other to be productive, troubleshoot, and find common ground when there were disagreements.

Colby Dockerty, Assistant Director of Middle School, Academics; Grade 6 core teacher

Paul Totera, Middle School science teacher

DRONE OPERATIONS

Students were captivated by the hands-on experience of first-person view (FPV) drones, coupled with gaining an in-depth understanding of drone technology and adherence to Canadian safety rules and regulations. The sessions, utilizing FPV drones and simulators with FPV controllers, emphasized the science of flight and navigation and the critical importance

of safe and responsible drone operation within Canadian airspace. Key educational outcomes included acquiring technical drone piloting skills such as coordination and spatial awareness, enhanced through simulator-based practice.

Keegan Cahill, Middle School French, physical education, language, and social studies teacher

MIDDLE SCHOOL GOLF

The Middle School Golf League worked on their golf game in a fun and competitive environment in the McNair Family Golf Training Room. With many of our youngest students playing tournament golf throughout the summer, this was a great opportunity to connect them to the golf simulator room and have the boys show off their swings. We finished the sessions with a skills competition and a final-round championship. The future of the junior and senior golf teams looks bright!

Jamie MacPherson ’99, Middle School language and physical education teacher

STAINED GLASS MOSAICS

Through mosaic art, students learned about shapes and how they fit together. They were introduced to patterns and practiced fine motor skills while using their imagination and decision-making skills. They chose an image ranging from sports logos and their pets to cartoon characters. They were taught safety precautions when working with glass, including wearing proper eyewear and the different methods and tools to cut glass. Their finished pieces can be displayed in a window where the light can shine through.

Randi Berman, Arts Coordinator, Middle School visual arts teacher

UKULELE CLUB

The ukulele option was for beginners up to moderately advanced players. The students did some melody playing using finger-picking techniques but predominantly learned strumming patterns and chords to play with modern popular music; the more advanced players often sang while strumming. The boys loved to play along with YouTube

videos that feature the chords and lyrics to songs by artists such as Ed Sheeran, Taylor Swift, Coldplay, Olivia Rodrigo, and Billie Eilish.

John Richardson, Middle School music teacher

BACKYARD GAME BUILDING

Students planned and built their personalized bean bag toss games. The boys acquired skills such as measuring, marking, cutting, sanding, drilling, and painting as they worked on their projects.

Following six productive sessions, the students completed their backyard or cottage games in time for summer, ensuring family fun for years to come!

Trevor Biasi, Director of Middle School, Middle School history teacher

VEX ROBOTICS

The VEX Robotics IGNITE program is an extension of Wednesday Arts Robotics, where students work in teams to design, build, and program their robots using the VEX Robotics kits and software. They prepared to compete in the VEX Robotics

Over Under Competition by completing robot driving simulated challenges, refining their code, and developing effective team strategies to maximize points.

Stephen Holmes, Middle School math and science teacher

SWIM PROGRAM

Students enthusiastically engaged in a dynamic blend of activities during the exhilarating water polo activity. The pool became a vibrant arena where students showcased their strokes, diving, and water polo skills. The water polo games tested their agility and fostered teamwork and strategic thinking. Amidst the splashes and laughter, the students found joy in the shared experience of honing their aquatic abilities and building lasting memories. X

Tayler Gorman, Grade 5 core teacher

A SongAllfor Seasons

By Nicolette Fleming

Scan the QR code for a rendition of Brothers United, performed by St. Andrew’s students.

From the video:

Will Brothers (soloist), Grade 12

FRONT ROW, L to R

Jay Lee, Grade 12

Ryan Ahmadzadeh, Grade 10

Eric Wang , Grade 10

Andrew Mbugua, Grade 11

Hugh Ping , Grade 11

Ethan Li, Grade 9

BACK ROW, L TO R

Liam Milenov, Grade 11

Brandon Simmonds , Grade 11

Hugh Murray, Grade 10

Ethan Meretsky, Grade 10

pictured here, Brandon Simmonds,

11

Lift up your hearts, ye brave young men, be strong, be proud, be bright. Remember, why we gather here, our brothers lost in fight. Their courage we shall not forget, their valour held the line. And when we stand together here, their strength fuels heart and mind.

Each day we wake the sun shines up on the green fields and cross, The bells shall ring, and we shall sing remembering those we lost. The pipes shall play each sunny morn, our flag waves tall and strong, The bright red maple as our guide we all break into song.

Adecade ago, during our last strategic planning process, the need to develop a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive community was recognized. The idea was to ensure students could see themselves reflected within the classroom walls, on sports teams, and through extracurricular activities, clubs, and councils.

One such area of focus became the school hymn, Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Gates of Brass, which no longer aligned with the diverse religious community the school had become. In fact, over several years, it almost all but disappeared from the chapel docket, replaced by other uplifting and spirited songs.

Chosen as the school hymn in 1969, it was the third since the school’s inception in 1899. Updating it is not unprecedented.

Adam Kowaltschuk, Middle School social studies teacher, kicked off this process, having completed research about the hymn and its ties to case studies in modern U.K. middle school history texts on the harm done during the colonial era.

“Singing a school song is a positively brilliant tradition, but it needs to be a song that makes us feel inspired and involved in striving for a better version of ourselves,” explains Adam.

“I had no intentions of doing anything more than sharing what I had discovered about our school hymn,” he says, “but I found myself deep in the process and had the support to move it forward.”

Fueled by the desire to create a song that would resonate with all members of the SAC community, students, staff, and alums were invited to contribute, resulting in over 40 inspired verses reflecting a unique connection to the school’s culture.

“It was a true crowdsourcing activity,” says Jamie Inglis ’91, Associate Director, Upper School, Student Life.

“As a staunch supporter of all Andrean traditions, I have learned that if traditions are irrelevant, they need to be re-examined, revised, or refreshed. The tune resonates with all Old Boys, but the lyrics needed to come into the present,” he explains.

Quit ye like men, be strong we say, locked arm-in-arm each night, We’re piped on to the fields and ice in jerseys red and white. Our buttons shined and heads held high we march onto the square, We hoist the flags with sabres drawn, with pride for what we wear.

We’ll fight the fight to end all war and end all suffering. Renew our minds that wisdom’s voice round all the world shall ring! With kindness and in acts of love, like those who’ve gone before, Sing out our song for brotherhood, sing now and evermore.

To get started, Adam and Jamie researched other schools that had made changes to their school songs and decided to follow a path similar to Harvard University, keeping the same tune and adapting the words.

“The collaboration phase in the process was the real differentiator in creating something that speaks to the ways we all love and appreciate St. Andrew’s College. Contributors crafted new lyrics that tapped into the authentic sense of what St. Andrew’s represents to each of us,” Adam says.

After all the submissions were collected, it was time to condense and assemble a series of lyrics that authentically represented the school’s past, present, and future. With a lot to work with, a larger team of staff members and a few Old Boys grouped themes and found connections, resulting in six newly minted verses.

One such contributor, Callum Buckley ’22, penned an entire verse for the new song. Callum’s four lines, which he says he worked on with his mom, appear in the song’s opening verse.

“I wanted to structure this version of the song around pride in our school and the bravery of the Andreans who fought in the First and Second World Wars,” says Callum, noting the lines reflect the space in which the hymn is traditionally sung.

Whether you graduated in 1970 or you’ll graduate in 2027, the tune, Ellacombe, will bring back fond memories of your time in Memorial Chapel, singing along to the hymn. However, the team of Ryan Johnston, drama and music teacher, John Clements, music teacher and former Head of Music, Dan Horner, Head of Music, and Matt MacIsaac, Director of Piping & Drumming, altered the musical arrangement slightly. Under the new key, bagpipers can play the song as beautifully as the Wind Ensemble.

“The challenge of finding a key suitable for both singing and bagpipes is addressed, emphasizing the importance of making the song accessible to all,” explains Ryan.

During an assembly in the fall, the Wind Ensemble performed the tune while six vocalists each

delivered a verse with an explanation of the lyrics. Students then voted on which four verses to include in the final version, which debuted during the Prayer Circle before Thanksgiving and was unveiled for a wider audience at An Andrean Christmas at Roy Thomson Hall in December.

David Stewart, Associate Director, Upper School, Student Affairs, recalls how powerful the moment of the reveal was as a community of voices came together to sing louder than ever before.

“When the song was first introduced to the students, I was standing beside members of the Varsity Hockey team. When they heard the stanza about being piped onto the ice in jerseys red and white, they were smiling and pointing and were clearly very happy. The verse spoke to elements of their experience at SAC,” he says.

Jamie recalls how giddy the students were when they saw their submitted lines appear on the screen in Ketchum Auditorium. “They knew their voices had been heard. And when the entire student body performed it so well, and with such pride, for all the parents and Old Boys at An Andrean Christmas, I knew wholeheartedly we had made the right decision.”

Kevin McHenry, Head of School, agrees that the 2023 version hits the perfect note.

“It was a tall task to strike the right balance of capturing the essence of St. Andrew’s while transcending the many religious affiliations we have at the school and echoing the values of our modern community,” Kevin says.

The updated song is a testament to the passion of the St. Andrew’s College community and to the school’s dedication to progress, inclusivity, and the celebration of its rich history and evolving values.

When asked how the song strengthens the sense of pride among Andreans, Callum says it’s a uniquely Andrean song. “It’s written for St. Andrew’s by Andreans. We wrote the most St. Andrew’s song we could write with all we knew from our individual experiences and what it meant to be an Andrean and a well-rounded citizen. I hope it strengthens our unity because it’s ours.” X

STUDENT-LED AFFINITY GROUPS

Inclusivity, equity, and diversity are key elements of the St. Andrew’s College experience. With student leadership groups such as the Interfaith Council and Social Justice Council, there are spaces where various faiths and cultures are supported and celebrated on campus.

By Natasha Daley

This year, the creation of student-led affinity groups has further connected students who share cultural, religious, or racial backgrounds. Students who join can share their stories within and outside their groups and initiate events to express their cultures to the broader community.

In the 2022-2023 school year, a few SAC students travelled to Bishop Strachan School, an all-girls school in Toronto, to participate in their YouBelong Student Diversity Leadership Summit. Students broke into groups based on cultural and racial identity to share their experiences and learn from each other. This outing inspired the boys to bring the concept of affinity groups back to St. Andrew’s.

“They were able to speak openly about whatever they wanted to speak and share, learning other students are having similar experiences in different schools, and they wanted to bring that back to St. Andrew’s,” says Dennis Jumaquio, Upper School math teacher and Social Justice Council Co-Lead along with Emily Philp-Tsujiuchi, Upper School French teacher.

Dennis and Emily also oversee the affinity groups. Emily points out the distinction between two types of affinity groups: for one type, members must belong to that community and for the other type, anyone can join.

PRISM is one such group that is open to all. “It serves as a platform for fostering inclusivity, understanding, and support for LGBTQ+ students and allies. As a group, the members work to create a safe and welcoming environment where all students can express themselves authentically, challenge stereotypes, and promote acceptance within the school community,” Emily explains.

The Muslim Student Society is one of the closed groups.

“The Muslim community at SAC is very diverse, and getting to know and learn from one another’s experiences is beneficial,” says Ibrahim Rahman, a Grade 11 student and member of the Muslim Student Society.

Ibrahim gives a nod to the multi-faith prayer room that has been offered for decades. “A great part is also being able to

practice our religion here on campus, as we are able to perform daily or weekly Friday prayers.”

Open discussions during group sessions often lead to community action. Members cultivate ways to transmit positive messages and cultural knowledge. The first big event the collective affinity groups held was the Affinity Fair in November, when groups shared cultural games, food, drinks, and celebrations. A sea of interested students and staff populated Staunton Gallery to encourage and learn from their peers.

“Having the opportunity to showcase our different cultural groups to the wider community was invaluable, and we look forward to finding more ways to engage with our affinity groups going forward,” Emily says.

This outpouring of support encouraged affinity group members to continue hosting events and spreading knowledge. One such initiative took the form of a skit titled, I Am Not Your Expectations, performed in February by the Black Cultural Society (BCS).

“For Black History Month, the BCS planned various activities that included a skit to challenge stereotypes, formed a comprehensive approach to the engagement of the community, increased awareness, and increased attention toward Black history and culture,” says Brandon Simmonds, a Grade 11 student, on behalf of the Black Cultural Society.

The concept for the skit was supported by Tomika Fraser-McIntosh, Assistant Head of Macdonald House and Upper School geography teacher, who dedicates time to helping the BCS bring their ideas to life.

“I appreciate each member of the Black Cultural Society for their individuality, compassion, vulnerability, and courage. This group embodies the importance of forging bonds and uplifting one another through trials and triumphs,” she says.

This is only the beginning for the SAC affinity groups. As a Grade 12 student and Persian Cultural Society member, Arsham Mirenayat says, “Learning about a new culture and a different way of life is an important step to becoming a complete man.” X

SAC AFFINITY GROUPS:

Black Cultural Society

Caribbean Cultural Society

*Chinese Cultural Society

*East Asian Heritage Society

*The Jewish Society

*Korean Cultural Society

*Multicultural Society

Muslim Student Society

*Persian Cultural Society

*PRISM (People Respecting Individuality, Sexuality, and Masculinities)

South Asian Student Society

*open to all students

Opposite page, top to bottom: PRISM (People Respecting Individuality, Sexuality, and Masculinities), Muslim Student Society, Persian Cultural Society, The Jewish Society, Korean Cultural Society, Caribbean Cultural Society, Chinese Cultural Society.

GREEN GUYS on campus

By Matthew Jaekel Green Guy (and Upper School business teacher)

“Our council takes our responsibility to be stewards of the environment seriously. I’m proud of our work to promote sustainable initiatives and green practices throughout the school. I am proud to be a ‘Green Guy,’” says Ben Fitzpatrick, Grade 11, a member of the Environmental Council, just one of the groups committed to eco endeavours on campus.

A “Green Guy”

is a student or staff member who cares about the environmental impact of St. Andrew’s College. You can sometimes see them wearing a green hat while running an event. The spectrum of stakeholders that care and contribute to a more environmentally friendly SAC is broad. Students, employees, and departments work on an increasing number of environmental initiatives, and we want to share a tiny snapshot of what that looks like.

GREEN GROUPS

The Middle School Green Team: Students who care deeply about the environment and act in support of green initiatives. Examples of the team’s initiatives include Tree Tips shared during Middle School gatherings, an online environmental simulation tournament named Cornucopia, and an Earth Week scavenger hunt highlighting endangered animals.

Upper School Environmental Council: A studentled group that implements programs, events, and communication promoting environmental sustainability. Examples include the Blind Burger Taste Test; 4Ocean Casual Dress Day, where students wore blue and green, and the funds raised went to a non-profit group that takes plastic out of the oceans; and Clothes For A Cause, which collected gently used clothing for donation and raised awareness of fast fashion.

The Environmental Committee: An employee group with members from all facets of the school, that meets to discuss environmental ideas that can be implemented on campus.

ANDREAN

Above: Electronic waste recycling certificate; Matthew Jaekel dropping off used clothing at the Salvation Army Thrift Store.

GREEN SPOTLIGHTS

Whether collaborating with other schools on environmental practices, sharing our environmental initiatives with the Board of Governors, or placing stickers in classrooms to remind everyone to turn off lights, the Green Guys are making progress.

The concept of citizenship is embedded in St. Andrew’s College’s mission statement. This commitment extends to being environmentally literate and reducing the school’s ecological footprint. As a large educational institution, we can inspire, educate, and explore opportunities to reduce costs, improve education, and reduce our carbon footprint.

Reforestation at SAC

The greatest undeveloped asset at SAC is its 126-acre campus. In 2021, the school partnered with the Lake Simcoe Regional Conservation Authority through its Outdoor Education program and planted over 750 native trees and shrubs. This May, they will be planting 200 more.

Classes that Inspire and Educate

From documentaries on climate in economics, practicing “leave no trace behind” on SASSAW (St. Andrew’s Society for Service Around the World) trips, and performing waste audits in Environmental Science classes, our classrooms contribute to environmental stewardship and curriculum-specific learning objectives related to environmental sustainability.

E-Waste Recycling and Clothing Donation

This year, the IT Department recycled over 100 electronic items. The Environmental Council also recycled over 100 pounds of batteries, 50 pounds of clothing, and over 300 whiteboard markers.

“We take small yet impactful steps to promote a more environmentally friendly atmosphere within the school, from clothing drives for environmental causes to funny skits promoting plant-based beef,” says Environmental Council member, Harrison Chen, Grade 11.

GREEN FACTS

Geothermal Isn’t Just For Iceland

Geothermal energy is used on campus to help reduce utility costs at the La Brier Family Arena.

Electricity From Food Waste

Organic waste from Cole Dining Hall is used to produce energy and fertilizer through an external anaerobic digestor.

Staying Grounded

The Grounds Department is experimenting with environmentally friendly ice melt products and removed 80 stumps on campus in preparation for a tree re-planting program.

Makerspace Makes Less Waste

Our new Makerspace makes less waste by recycling leftover filament to be repurposed for new filament.

Boarding Getting Greener

Investigating multipurpose waste, recycling, and green bins in the kitchen areas of the boarding houses.

Above, clockwise: Students planting trees beside the Willow Farm boardwalk; Ben Fitzpatrick, Victor-Joseph Pettinelli, and Noah Savage pack up used clothing; Green Guys, Michael Casey, Victor-Joseph Pettinelli, Noah Savage, Ben Fitzpatrick, Ibrahim Rahman, Matthew Jaekel, Harrison Chen, Zimo Yang, and Jonah Smith pack up electronic waste items and used clothing.

CAMPUS GREENING & SUSTAINABILITY FUND

OUR CAMPUS

Our St. Andrew’s College campus sits on 126 acres of land, encompassing rolling fields and hillsides, the Shad Creek and Lake Simcoe Watershed, forested trails, and Willow Farm. The physical plant occupies over 300,000 square feet of buildings, a mix of historic Georgian architecture and modern state-of-the-art space, that house our nearly 125-year-old academic programs and traditions. We have carried out our mission on this Aurora campus since 1926, a place many have been proud to call home.

OUR FUTURE

We know that this campus carries a significant environmental impact: our ecological footprint. We endeavour to create a thriving, sustainable campus for the next 100 years and beyond and a community of Andreans who inspire ecological citizenship beyond our gates. This requires education and implementation using a holistic approach across all areas of school life, including academics, co-curricular programming, facilities and maintenance, communication, and school culture. While we have been on this path for many years, our efforts have come more into focus as we near an important milestone: 100 years at our Aurora campus in 2026.

For those outside Canada or to donate online, please scan the QR code to support the Campus Greening & Sustainability Fund.

This fund is about education and implementation:

EDUCATION

Andrean Experience & Community Engagement

Education for sustainability involves all members of our on-campus community: students, employees, and families. We aim to incorporate ecological citizenship concepts into our academic curriculum, co-curricular activities and clubs, outdoor education, and professional development. Starting in Middle School, we introduce environmental issues to understand basic concepts and ecological literacy from campus exploration and monitoring water quality in Shad Creek to calculating basic personal eco-footprints and auditing energy source efficiencies. In the Upper School, our academic focus is implementing environmental solutions to real-world issues across various disciplines, including science, economics, and politics.

The Outdoor Education and Leadership program contributes significantly to environmental stewardship and curricular-specific learning objectives. Staff and students engage in volunteer service projects outside our gates, lead trail-building and reforestation efforts, and partner with climate action organizations.

Green groups provide joint staff and student co-curricular opportunities. The Environmental Task Force for employees oversees academic departments and physical plant operations; our Environmental Council in the Upper School and Green Team in the Middle School invoke student leadership in this field.

IMPLEMENTATION

Campus Infrastructure & Environmental Chair

The school engages in a comprehensive environmental action plan every five years to reduce our ecological footprint. As we look toward our 100th anniversary in Aurora in 2026, our focus is on our Physical Plant, Operations, and establishing an Environmental Chair.

FUNDING PRIORITY: CAMPUS GREENING & SUSTAINABILITY ENDOWMENT FUND

Establishing this permanent endowed fund creates immediate opportunities for change. As the fund grows, so too does the size and scope of its impact.

Short-term: support staff and student initiatives and education. Funding for clubs and councils to think, act, and create change on our campus and beyond.

Mid-term: support a Chair. Funding and resources for a dedicated leader to drive our ecological priorities and school culture.

Long-term: support larger-scale capital projects. Funding to implement operational and physical plant efficiencies toward a sustainable future for our campus. X

OPERATIONS

Reduce waste and increase recycling

Reduce paper consumption and increase the purchase of recycled content

Model best practices in sustainable food services

Greening computing equipment and IT services

Specifying environmentally friendly products where feasible and affordable IN ACTION:

Hybrid security vehicle

Waste Management: Boarding houses, Cole Hall, Masters Row, and specialty spaces (science labs, computer departments, engineering and robotics)

Grounds & Maintenance: Liquid salt solutions, eliminate pesticides, etc.

Elimination of single-use plastics

Converting Cole Hall kitchen fridges from water-cooled refrigeration to conventional

Facilities Cleaning: Shift to 90% certified green cleaning products

OUR GOAL

To establish a unique, long-term endowment fund that will grow over the years alongside and in support of our environmental initiatives. A sustainable fund for sustainability! An endowment to fund not just a singular project but to provide opportunities annually to support education, student-led initiatives, community partnerships, and ultimately larger-scale campus infrastructure.

Twins Peak

By Julie Caspersen

The Ahmad family highlights the unique opportunity that SAC and SAS offer

Inseparable twins, a girl and a boy, had never considered attending different schools until the St. Andrew’s-St. Anne’s partnership was established.

Suleiman and Zahra Ahmad are finishing their Grade 9 year at SAC and SAS, respectively. SAS opened its campus in September, modelled after SAC but with a learning environment where girls can build character, own their voice, and strive for distinction.

“My parents would never have separated us,” Zahra says, noting that despite learning on different campuses, the siblings feel as connected as ever. “We have opportunities to see each other all the time. I bump into my brother randomly a few times a week.”

With the campuses being about a kilometre from each other, they are as close as two distinct schools can be.

“It’s literally a sister/brother school situation,” she says.

SAS students are often on the SAC campus for coffee houses, acting in school plays, and participating in Arts/Co-curricular Plus (ACPlus), a weekly after-school program where Upper School students at both schools can explore their passions through activities such as pottery, debating, robotics, and guitar.

“Since I see her every day at home and I see her at school during ACPlus, I feel like I am not that separated from her. It is like having her in another class on the other side of the school,” says Suleiman, a studious, friendly young man following in his older brother’s footsteps.

Ibrahim is heading into his Grade 12 year. He recalled learning about plans for St. Anne’s School during an assembly in Grade 8, his first year at St. Andrew’s College.

“I emailed my mom about the news,” he says while sharing a quick snack with Zahra in Staunton Gallery before they head to their respective ACPlus activities. “If it were just my brother who was able to attend SAC, it wouldn’t have happened.”

Zahra, whose warmth shines through her quiet demeanour, is quick to acknowledge the strong bond she has with her brothers and says that if it weren’t for the opening of St. Anne’s, the twins might have enrolled at a co-ed high school.

Their mom, Sofia Saleem, says it was much easier to support her younger children in their learning and keep an eye out for how they were progressing academically and socially when they were in the same elementary school.

Suleiman and Zahra were in separate classes in Grades 7 and 8, and by the time thoughts of high school rolled around, Sofia said the SAC-SAS option was a perfect fit: the young teens were maturing, so attending separate, yet related schools was ideal. They could make independent connections and friends but still be linked.

The robust academic and co-curricular offerings of both schools also played a part in the decision to have all three Ahmad children under the same umbrella.

“At SAC and SAS, the focus on balancing academics with other extracurriculars was a huge sell for us,” Sofia says.

Suleiman and Zahra are both musically inclined – Zahra plays the violin and trumpet, and Suleiman plays the piano and clarinet – so the music programs at both schools were highly appealing to the children, as well as Sofia and her husband, Imran.

Besides music, the twins are pursuing Extended French certificates. However, Zahra is actively interested in leadership opportunities at SAS, while Suleiman is immersed in the sciences and robotics.

“Our older son has always been athletic; hence the reputation SAC has for being an athletic school was always an important factor in our decision to send Ibrahim to SAC. That, coupled with the emphasis on academics, in particular, AP courses at the higher grades,” Sofia says, adding that he has thrived academically and socially.

“SAC has offered him so much more than he could ever imagine. The lifelong connections he has made as a leader at SAC this year will be a part of his life well after he graduates.”

During the week, Zahra gets home and removes her red SAS crested blazer, her brothers take off their blue blazers, and they chat about their days.

“We spend a lot of time talking about their school day, what they learned, any new stories, any new experiences. There is always something new to share,” Sofia says.

“I have asked them on several occasions if they would have preferred to have attended a Francophone public high school over SAS or SAC, and the answer has always been a resounding ‘no way!’ The enrichment opportunities, such as attending Harvard’s Model UN and debating, might not have been accessible if they had attended elsewhere. The choice to send them to SAC and SAS has been one of the best things we have done for our three children.” X

Suleiman in gym class, music class, and an ACPlus robotics session. Zahra in music class, sorting clothes for a clothing drive, and at the pottery wheel during ACPlus.

Suleiman, Ibrahim, and Zahra meeting up in front of St. Andrew’s at the end of the day.

MACPHERSON TOURNAMENT 2024

By Sean Maillet

Forthe last weekend in January, a collection of the top prep hockey programs battle it out in Aurora for the prestigious honour of winning the MacPherson Tournament. In its 40th year, the MacPherson held special significance and was made even more memorable as the First Hockey Saints won their 11th title in school history.

David Manning, Head Coach and Director of Coaching & Athletic Development, joined SAC in 2006 and has been a part of six of those championships. “Winning the MacPherson is always special for our team; it’s one of the targets at the beginning of every year, and it’s never easy for us to win,” he says.

The Saints’ last MacPherson title came in 2019 against rival ShattuckSt. Mary’s, with a roster featuring NHL Draft picks Matthew Stienburg ’19 (Colorado Avalanche) and Jack Bar ’20 (Dallas Stars).

Teams in attendance at the Jan. 26 to 28 weekend were Brunswick School (Ohio), Culver Academies (Indiana), Northwood School (New York), Victory Honda (Michigan), GOJHL U18 All-Stars (Ontario), RHA Kelowna (British Columbia), and Bishop Kearney School (New York).

The 2023-2024 First Hockey team is a well-balanced roster, with many players committed to NCAA DI programs. In his second year at SAC, Dean Letourneau ’24 is a projected early-round NHL Draft pick with a commitment to Boston College. “It’s pretty cool to be a part of this team. It’s a special group of guys,” says Dean.

In the Friday morning game, the Saints picked up a 4-2 win over RHA Kelowna, a team coached by hockey hall-of-famer, Jarome Iginla. With just over six minutes to go in the third, SAC forward Jack Good ’24 put the Saints ahead 3-2 with a beautiful goal off the rush before adding an empty netter to seal the deal.

This year’s guest speaker at the Friday luncheon was Matt Devlin, TV announcer for the Toronto Raptors and past parent of former Saints Captain, Luke Devlin ’22. Matt drew parallels between the rink and the court, sharing first-hand insight into the team dynamic during Toronto’s NBA title run in 2019.

There was no shortage of hype heading into the Friday night game. The Saints’ opponent, Bishop Kearney School, entered the tournament as winners of two straight, hard-fought games against the First Hockey team this year.

“Bishop Kearney is a great team that forces us to play the right way. We were disappointed in our first couple of games against them, knowing we left a little on the table in both,” says David.

From the Pipes & Drums on the ice to the electric guitarist duo playing the national anthems, La Brier Family Arena was ready to rock. “As we got piped onto the ice and started taking our first strides, you felt as if you had been waiting your whole life for a moment like this,” says forward Nicholas Ferrante ’24.

The Saints fed off that energy early on, as Luke Sinclair ’25 scored the opening goal just over six minutes into the first period. With the game tied at four in the third period and seven minutes left in the game, Dean Letourneau scored to put the Saints up a goal. “You could feel the buzz from the crowd cheering throughout your whole body,” Dean recalls. SAC scored three more to secure the 8-5 win over Bishop Kearney.

“From the student tunnel to the national anthems, the place was electric. It felt like for just one night, La Brier Family Arena turned into the loudest place in Canada,” says Nicholas.

Saturday’s games were a sweep for the Saints. They picked up a 4-0 win in the morning against last year’s winners, the GOJHL U18 All-Stars, thanks to a 32-save shutout from netminder, Paolo Frasca ’25, followed by a 4-2 win against Culver Academies, sending them to Sunday’s championship game against none other than Bishop Kearney School.

Jared McNeil ’24 got the Saints on the board first, followed by Jack Good ’24, who added another to take a two-goal lead into the second period. That is all they would need as Paulo stopped all 37 shots he faced, and the Saints marched to their 11th MacPherson Tournament win with a 4-0 victory.

“The final especially was one of, if not our most, complete game of the season. To shut out a high-powered offence like them shows the level of commitment from our players,” says David.

From the traditional luncheon featuring inspirational speakers to the Pipes & Drums on the ice before the Friday night game, the MacPherson Tournament offers a unique blend of athleticism and community that defines this prestigious event.

“Winning the tournament and playing in that final game will be something I never forget,” says Dean. X

NEW THIS YEAR!

Introducing the David Dawson Trophy, awarded to the winner of the Old Boys over-40 hockey game played during the MacPherson Hockey Tournament. The trophy was designed and created by artist, art history teacher, and art appraiser, Joseph Farrugia ’99, to honour David’s diligent work in capturing footage of the First Hockey team over the years. David retired in 2013 after 25 years as a staff member and remained a volunteer tutor for several years. The trophy was awarded for the first time on Jan. 27 to the red

Above: Nicholas Ferrante ’24, who started at SAC in Grade 6, fondly recalls playing as a young kid in between periods at the 2013 MacPherson Friday night game, when it was hosted at the Aurora Community Centre. “Eleven years later, I’m playing in the game that made me want to pursue hockey,” says Nicholas. Top photo: Nicholas watching the Friday night MacPherson Tournament warmup in 2013.

Above: Pipe Major, Bryce Rogers ’24, leads the Pipes & Drums on the ice during the pre-game festivities.

Opposite page, top to bottom: Raising the MacPherson trophy for the 11th time; Matt Devlin speaking at the luncheon; Head of School, Kevin McHenry, and Athletic Director, Joe Foote, present the winning trophy and banner to First Hockey Captain, Connor Arseneault ’24; Under-40 Old Boys; Over-40 Old Boys.

team, coached by Head of Visual Arts, Stephen Kimmerer, pictured above, at left, with David.

James NcNair ’24

Connor Arseneault ’24

Cornell University

The Athletic program at SAC is as strong as ever, with a number of student-athletes receiving commitments to the next level across multiple sports. For the second straight year, the First Golf team has had a student-athlete sign their National Letter of Intent to join an NCAA D1 Golf program in the U.S.

Dean Letourneau ’24

Boston College

Ioanni Michalos ’24 Acadia University

Stetson University

Rory Gilmour ’24 University of Maine

Jack Good ’24 Merrimack College

Alex Sinclair ’24 Rochester Institute of Technology

Tom Williamson ’24 Laurier University

Aidan Peets ’24

William Penn University

Andrew Aquino ’24 Wofford University

OLD BOYS PROFILES & NEWS

This edition’s PROFILES:

ZAMEER PIRANI ’04

ROBERT SMALLWOOD ’74

T. SIMON REID ’92

PETER WATLER ’80

Dr. Zameer Pirani ’04 at his downtown Toronto pain management clinic.

ZAMEER PIRANI ’04 BRING THE PAIN

By Chris Traber

At a youthful 38 years of age, Dr. Zameer Pirani ’04 has achieved membership in one of Canada’s most elite medical specialties.

Double board certified in anesthesia and chronic pain medicine, Zameer is among only 60 physicians in Canada with specialist designations in chronic pain.

Considering the prevalence of Canadians who suffer from chronic pain, the number of qualified specialists is woefully low, he says.

“One in every five Canadians suffers from chronic pain,” says Zameer, co-founder of The Afiya Spine and Pain Institute in Toronto. “We could add another 100 chronic pain physicians in Ontario, and that only scratches the surface. That’s a crying shame because chronic pain can affect every aspect of your life, disrupting your sleep, haunting your daylight hours, and potentially even causing depression and feelings of hopelessness.”

The busy clinic, with 13 doctors specializing in breaking that cycle of pain and 15 staff members, marked its first anniversary in January. A second Ontario clinic is scheduled to open this year.

Zameer and the clinic’s other doctors have completed fellowship training in pain management and also come from diverse educational backgrounds, including, but not limited to, anesthesia, neurology, physiatry, and psychiatry. Further, the clinic accepts referrals and procedures covered by OHIP.

The clinic is a new model of holistic pain management using cutting-edge procedures, technology, medications, counselling, and patient follow-up.

Zameer’s meteoric medical career has humble roots. Born in Campbellford, Ont., and raised in Toronto by his single mother, Zeenat, a pharmacist refugee from Uganda, he and his sister, Aleeya, were encouraged to pursue the sciences.

“We have an amazing mom,” he says, admitting he was a rebellious youth. “Not having a father, I got into some early trouble. My mom sacrificed to get me into a private boarding school environment to have more adult male and female influences.”

St. Andrew’s College was the beginning of great changes, he says. “I enjoyed biology and physiology. I learned how to study. The school was my platform to be successful.”

Zameer commends the following teachers: Brian McCue and Courtenay Shrimpton, his Heads of House, Al Dunford, his math instructor and hockey coach, Lisa Picerno, former Head of Modern Languages who ignited his love of language, as well as Jamie Inglis ’91 and Dave Galajda, his biology teachers.

At SAC, Zameer served as Student Head of Flavelle House, was an Academic Scholar, President of the Community Service Council, won the Spanish Fluency Prize, participated in the Focus Festival of the Arts, and played Junior Varsity Hockey.

“SAC has a sporting culture,” he says. “In sports, you learn from failure, making you more resilient. The school made me a well-rounded person through the humanities and the arts.”

Zameer says that friends from his SAC grad year remain a blessing, citing Arnold Al-Aadhami, Faisal Ratansi, Shawn Jolly, Matt Donko, and Hussein Amarshi.

After graduation, Zameer enrolled at McMaster University, attended medical school at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, and completed an anesthesia residency at Western University, followed by a two-year chronic pain fellowship at the University of British Columbia. In addition to his practice at the pain clinic, he serves as an anesthesiologist at the University of Toronto’s Scarborough Health Network.

He has co-authored several professional papers in distinguished journals, including The Canadian Journal of Anesthesia

Zameer stays connected to SAC, having attended his 10th- and 20thanniversary celebrations, and he was back on campus in February to give a Career Day talk to Grade 11 students in Memorial Chapel.

When time permits, he “keeps sane” with tennis, yoga, and the gym. Travel is on his radar, having already visited more than 50 countries. As a result, he is proficient in Spanish and Portuguese.

Zameer resides in Toronto. “I’m living my best bachelor life,” he says. “But I’m looking to change that.” X

SAC has a sporting culture. In sports, you learn from failure, making you more resilient. The school made me a well-rounded person through the humanities and the arts.

– Zameer Pirani ’04

Opposite page: Zameer in his Toronto clinic, Afiya. This page, left to right: Back on campus speaking to Grade 11 students in Memorial Chapel; in the sun-bathed treatment area of Afiya.

ROBERT SMALLWOOD ’74 CALL OF DUTY

By Chris Traber

Alengthy and distinguished career of military service to Canada concludes this summer when Senior Canadian Intelligence Officer Robert Smallwood ’74 (Colonel Ret’d) officially initiates his search for a “renewed purpose,” or, in civilian lingo, retirement.

At 68, the oft-decorated veteran chronicles a professional life of duty in which he was deployed globally to regions, many hostile, with candour and humility.

Raised in Sutton, Ont., and Aurora, Bob recalls a parental decision to attend St. Andrew’s College, saying, “Mom was concerned I didn’t know what to do.”

At SAC, he was a First Soccer MVP, played hockey, rugby, and golf, served as a Cadet Sergeant, and was in the band that orchestrated Fiddler on the Roof

His one year at SAC marked a watershed for the young man. “I was friends and played high school and community sports with Gordon MacFarlane ’75, Don Rose ’75, and Greg Hotham ’76 (a former

a BA in English language and literature, and was hired by a major Canadian meat-packing company.

NHLer),” he says. “I loved sports at SAC and continued to play soccer, hockey, and rugby throughout my adult life. In addition, I gained a better understanding of the world outside Southern Ontario from foreign students and was fascinated by their life experiences.”

Classmates, Andrew Eakins, Jim Gray, David Kitchen, Randy Kline, Douglas Pickard, and Ted Tyczka attended Queen’s University with Bob, whose brother, Steven ’76, also attended St. Andrew’s.

He fondly remembers teacher and rugby coach, Geoff Smith, who taught his children, Andrew and Brenley, at Canadian College Italy in Lanciano, Italy, when Bob was posted to the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe in Belgium.

“Geoff was instrumental in guiding them through their last years of high school and applications to university,” he says.

Bob attended Queen’s University in Kingston, Ont., graduated in 1978 with

“I became somewhat disillusioned with the business of flogging sides of beef and competing for shelf space in grocery stores,” he says. “It just wasn’t for me.”

Bob credits David Kitchen’s father, Major-General Gordon Kitchen, Royal Canadian Dragoons (RCD), for his decision to enter the Canadian Armed Forces. “His tales of adventure, travel, and opportunities to directly contribute to Canadian security were very influential,” Bob says.

He joined the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) in 1982 as a member of the RCD, where he specialized in tactical reconnaissance operations and participated in the Special Service Force, a brigade group centred on the Airborne Regiment. Bob rose through the ranks after his first deployment to Cyprus on a United Nations mission. He attended the Canadian Army and Canadian Forces Staff Colleges and specialized in the planning and execution of conventional, special, and intelligence operations.

Following his promotion to Colonel in 2008, Bob was posted to Washington, D.C., where he was the Assistant Defense Attaché at the Embassy of Canada and Canadian Forces

Liaison officer to the U.S. Intelligence Community at the Pentagon.

During his 34-plus years in uniform, Bob was involved in the majority of Canada’s expeditionary operations and served in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, the Central African Republic, and Afghanistan. He and his wife, Kathleen, moved extensively across Canada and Europe.

Bob “took off the uniform” in 2015 but was asked to return to public service to investigate the challenges within the CAF related to paying out release-related benefits. His experience in big data management and workflow applications modernized the antiquated system. CAF benefits are now being delivered on time, and members are receiving guided support to help them plan for post-military life.

“The military is a big machine to turn around,” he says. “It was gratifying, compelling work, and we delivered a much-improved process. It got me up in the morning.”

Bob and his bride of 45 years are now settled in Ottawa, Ont. Retired, again, he and Kathleen plan to travel, sail, and play golf, including the Old Course at St. Andrews in Scotland. An avid sailor who has navigated international waters, his bucket list includes an Atlantic crossing and a circumnavigation of Vancouver Island.

He leaves the military with one regret. “Moving around as we did, I lost contact with SAC friendships.”

Bob plans to attend his 50th reunion in April. “I look forward to renewing those relationships and playing many rounds of golf with Stuart Rutherford ’74 and maybe even Ted Tyczka ’74.” X

Opposite page: Bob in action overseas. This page, top to bottom: Bob and his wife, Kathleen, in Washington, D.C.; Bob at the wheel on the open sea; in uniform with Kathleen; with family in Croatia onboard Flamenco

Photos supplied

T. SIMON REID ’92 NOTHING VENTURED...

T.Simon Reid ’92, known as Toby and Tobes in his SAC days, isn’t your average entrepreneur.

While his achievements are undeniable – leading successful ventures, earning awards, and taking his bioplastics company public – Simon’s story is more than just wins and accolades. It’s a testament to a lifelong commitment to “making our diverse communities healthier, safer, and stronger.”

Excelling both academically and athletically at St. Andrew’s, Simon captained various teams, held leadership positions like Prefect and House Captain, and earned the H.H. Hamilton Best Cadet Award in 1990. “SAC was where I was first exposed to Shakespeare and Sartre, Leonard Cohen and Led Zeppelin. My world expanded significantly at St. Andrew’s, and I’m grateful for what I learned in the school’s environment.”

The personable 50-year-old, who has resided in British Columbia since

1999, acknowledges the significant impact of his former math teacher and hockey coach, Al Dunford. “Whether in calculus class or at the rink, Mr. Dunford challenged me to step out of my head and into myself.”

The teacher also introduced Simon to Hockey Hall of Fame coach, Roger Neilson, who became a lifelong mentor. “Roger helped me to believe in myself and taught me to treat everyone the same.” Witnessing Neilson’s humility alongside his success left a lasting impression.

Simon’s father, Tim, and his grandfather, Leonard, were responsible for instilling in him a deep reverence for nature. Tim would take him on camping trips up to North Tea Lake in Algonquin Park, where the wolves would serenade them to sleep. Leonard would regale him and his siblings, including Anthony ’88, with tales of his days growing tea in Assam, at the base of the Himalayas.

Simon’s thirst for adventure went beyond the confines of school. After graduating, he embarked on a gap year unlike any other, playing semiprofessional hockey in Australia while teaching outdoor education and cadets at Scotch College in Melbourne.

Returning to attend Dalhousie University, where he received his co-op B. Comm., Simon chose to pursue an opportunity working in finance on Toronto’s Bay Street. Obtaining honours on the Canadian Securities Course, he moved on to the outdoor industry once he’d developed a foundational knowledge of the financial markets.

In 1999, he went to Vancouver to join Mountain Equipment Co-op (MEC), Canada’s largest retail co-operative at the time. This move reconnected him with his love for nature and sparked his passion for using business as a force for good.

It was at MEC that Simon’s entrepreneurial spirit truly ignited. Witnessing the impact of plastic waste on a surfing trip, he began exploring ways to create sustainable alternatives. This led to the founding of what is now good natured Products Inc., which he took public in 2015. This award-

winning company developed patented bioplastics, an example of Simon’s unwavering determination to find solutions to environmental challenges. His commitment to sustainability and regeneration extends far beyond a single company. Simon is currently involved in several ventures focused on building a better future in affordable housing, renewable energy, green chemistry, and therapeutic AI. He even took a stand for his beliefs by participating in a peaceful protest against the expansion of the TransCanada Pipeline, earning him a civil disobedience charge and 25 hours of community service. “I feel there are certain times to take action. That was one of those moments.”

Guided by a fun-loving, adventurous spirit, a deep sense of justice, and a relentless determination to follow his life’s purpose, Simon is driven by a genuine desire to leave the world in a better place for future generations, including his children, Sophie, 13, and Wesley, 11.

Simon’s experience at St. Andrew’s tells a story of a one-of-a-kind place where you can learn to step up into your own person. He says, “I would share with anyone across the spectrum to follow their passions and never give up on their dreams.” And with his interesting and remarkable journey to date as inspiration, it’s a message worth holding onto. X

My world expanded significantly at St. Andrew’s, and I’m grateful for what I learned in the school’s environment.

– Simon Reid ’92

Opposite page: Simon giving a recent presentation at Vancouver Island University.

Above: Simon with his children, Sophie and Wesley, in Tofino on Vancouver Island.

Below: Simon with a handful of sustainable bioplastic pellets; playing road hockey with SAC classmates (Simon is front row, third from left).

Photos supplied

PETER WATLER ’80

THE LUCKY ONE

By Chris Traber

Fora professional whose esteemed and pragmatic biotechnology engineering career has spanned more than three decades, Dr. Peter Watler ’80 attributes a portion of his success to old-fashioned good fortune.

“Luck, when preparedness meets opportunity, has been a theme in my life,” says the 62-year-old with an amiable smile. “I was never one to map out five-year plans. The luck approach has served me pretty well.”

Life for Peter began in Saint-Jerome, Que., where Cayman-born parents, Zelma Lee and Keith, a Royal Canadian Air Force officer, were stationed. Serendipitously, his dad was transferred to Toronto’s Downsview Air Base in 1969. Equally fortuitous was his folks’ decision to enrol their son at an independent school.

“My parents had six kids, five girls,” Peter wryly says. “My dad decided I should be exposed to more testosterone. We auditioned all the private schools and were most impressed with the people and grounds at St. Andrew’s College.”

During his four formative years at SAC, Peter, a strapping 6-foot-4, 200-pounder, played First Football and First Rugby. Peter says his math teacher, Derek Inglis, made the subject fun with pop quizzes, and Geoff Smith brought life to chemistry in addition to being his rugby coach.

“Math and chemistry are important fundamentals in engineering,” he says. “My teachers made a lasting impression and truly guided my life. One of the great things about SAC is the ability to play sports. It builds camaraderie and harmony between students, coaches, and teachers. Sport fosters discipline, and that stuck with me, especially in my study habits.”

After graduation, Peter studied at the University of Toronto, earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees in chemical engineering.

His first job was with Allelix Biopharmaceuticals in Mississauga, Ont., as a process development engineer. After three years, he accepted the same title at Amgen Inc. in Southern California. Once again, felicity was on his side when a U.S. Green Card Lottery (now called the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program) he’d applied to on a whim years earlier allowed him to be granted work status days before the opportunity expired.

During his 12 years at Amgen, Peter led teams responsible for the development and manufacture of numerous oncology drugs. The timing was ideal as biotechnology was burgeoning, and Peter was one of only a few engineers with practical and managerial experience. One of his duties was to establish collaborations

with a Japanese professor specializing in the purification of biopharmaceuticals.

“Again, as luck would have it, the professor was taking on his first PhD candidates, and I was admitted,” Peter says. After three years of theoretical and lab work and his Amgen assignments, he received his PhD in chemical engineering in 2001 from Yamaguchi University, Japan.

Peter moved on as vice-president of manufacturing at VaxGen, a developer of vaccines that immunize against infectious diseases, notably AIDS. He also served as chief technology officer at Hyde Engineering and had the same title for eight years at Coherus BioSciences, specializing in generic biological drugs, where he remains on the advisory board. In 2022, he was appointed head of manufacturing operations at NEUVOGEN Inc., an immune-oncology company focused on whole-cell cancer vaccine therapies.

Below: Peter and his wife, Daphne, atop Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. Opposite page: Peter in the pool at his oceanfront villa in The Cayman Islands; Rally driving with Daphne in his Porsche; Receiving his PhD in 2001 from Yamaguchi University in Japan.

Photos supplied

Peter is now officially retired. It’s been a gratifying journey, he says.

“It feels good to make life-saving drugs,” Peter says. “It’s morally and intellectually satisfying.”

Peter, holder of Canadian, American, and Caymanian passports, and his wife, Daphne, maintain homes in San Francisco, Calif., and Grand Cayman and are “transitioning to the next phase of their lives.”

He recently completed his dream home, a 4,700-square-foot oceanfront villa, “Wind Upon the Waves,” on a Cayman property owned by his family for a century. Peter made his villa available to Head of School, Kevin McHenry, Deputy Head of School, Greg Reid, and Director of Admission, Jarryd Stock ’03, during their student recruitment and relationship-building visit to Cayman and Jamaica in February.

The Watlers have climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania and plan to trek to the top of Mount Fuji, Japan, next year.

Travel and visits to far-flung wineries and restaurants, in addition to villa rental and rally driving with his local Porsche club, are also on their horizon. X

OLD BOYS NEWS

AND NOW FOR THE

1952

David Lucie-Smith celebrated his 90th birthday in February alongside his wife, Beverley, his children, and his granddaughter. David has many memories about his time at SAC, including Saturday morning classes, walking through deep snow on the lower fields en route to Sunday services, and boxing almost daily with brothers, John ’54 and Richard ’54 Vaughan, as well as his roommate, Alfredo Garcia ’52. David lives in the Sunshine Coast region of Queensland, Australia.

1954

Evan Schulman is reflecting on 40-plus years of a program he helped create, the Batterymarch Fellowships, promoting academic research in the fields of finance and investment. During Evan’s tenure at Batterymarch Financial Management in Boston, he pointed out the debt they owed to academics, and the company agreed. Beginning in 1981, the company started paying the salary of a non-tenured faculty member for one year (for a time, there were three fellows each year). The goal was to discover unrecognized talent among untenured faculty working in non-elite schools. After the first six years, Evan says he was on a first-name basis with five Nobel Laureates, many of whom served as their academic advisers. Two of the three winners of the 2022 Nobel Prize in Economics (Douglas Diamond and Philip Dybvig) were Batterymarch Fellows, although Evan says their work lauding government-backed deposit insurance proved problematic in hindsight. He cites the bankruptcies of two major institutions not long after the Prize was awarded, noting their reliance on federal deposit insurance led to liquidity concerns, and withdrawals even from large customers once bank runs began. Evan says he is pleased with his work reading and ranking submissions, which typically numbered around 30 per year. Evan and his wife, Glorianna, live in Plymouth, Mass.

REUNION REMINDER

Class of ’79 Sept. 27, 2024

1979

45 YEAR

Mike Sifton was visited by Head of School, Kevin McHenry, at his home in the Bahamas in January. He served as Chair of the SAC Board of Governors from 2010 to 2016. Mike and his wife, Julie, divide their time between the Lyford Cay neighbourhood of Nassau and Mallorytown, Ont.

REUNION

REMINDER

Class of ’84 Sept. 27, 2024

1982

40 YEAR

Craig McLean took part in the annual Old Boys over-40 hockey game on Jan. 27 during the MacPherson Tournament on campus at the La Brier Family Arena, alongside other players from the 1982 OFSAA-winning First Hockey team: Paul Beckwith ’82, Doug Cooper ’82, John Archibald ’85, Tom Hussey ’85, and their former coach, Al Dunford.

David Lucie-Smith ’52 with, to his left, son-in-law, Dave, and daughter, Kate, and to his right, wife, Beverley, daughter, Fiona, and granddaughter, Millie.

Mike Sifton ’79, left, with Head of School, Kevin McHenry.

Doug Cooper ’82, Tom Hussey ’85, Al Dunford (coach), Paul Beckwith ’82, John Archibald ’85,

Craig is a professor of supply chain management with Conestoga College, mentoring students at the graduate level. He and his wife, Alison, live in Mississauga, Ont., and will celebrate their 34th wedding anniversary this year.

1985

Todd Talbot is the co-founder and chief investment strategist of SINQular CAPITAL, an offshore hedge fund based in the Bahamas, comprised of two strategies: global alternative real estate strategy and multi-strategy. Todd devotes most of his time to the hedge fund, travelling to the Bahamas, the Dominican Republic, the U.S., and Cyprus, where he looks to acquire properties or land to develop. Todd is also engaged in fundraising and active equity trading. He has lived in Montreal since 2015, and although he has stopped playing hockey, he remains active through weight training, cycling, and tennis.

1987

Liam Morrissey was awarded a doctor of science from Brunel University London in December. For more than a dozen years, he has guest lectured each autumn to the MA and PhD programs at the Brunel Centre for Intelligence and Security Studies. His firm sponsors the top dissertation prize, and over 60 graduates have interned in the analyst division of his company before transitioning to government or corporate careers in the intelligence field. Brunel examined the methodology and doctrine conceived by Liam and used for crisis negotiations. The award was made at the Brunel winter graduation at Central Hall Westminster. The DSc is honoris causa and recognizes his success in releasing over 800 kidnap hostages in cases working against hostile adversaries around the world over the last two decades.

REUNION REMINDER

Class of ’89 Sept. 27, 2024

1990

Shane Stewart

YEAR

was promoted in January to president and chief operating officer of Northern Mat & Bridge, which provides temporary industrial access solutions for oil and gas exploration, pipeline, electricity transmission and distribution, mining, and general construction projects. Shane has been with the company since 2015, taking over as COO in May 2023. Shane and his wife, Trish, live in Calgary with their three children.

Ron Kopas

helped organize the annual U.K. Old Boys Dinner in London. The dinner was held Nov. 23 at Beaufort House, Chelsea, and guests included alums from the classes of 1986 through 2021. After more than 20 years in London, Ron sold KSP Renewables, his business in waste and renewable energy, in 2022 and now lives in Ibiza, Spain, with his wife, Caro, and two children, Ronnie, 8, and Aurelia, 5. However, he maintains an office in London and is a member of the investment committee (IC) of Wetherby Growth, investing in companies at the leading edge of emerging industries such as renewable energy, plant-based foods, and cyber security. The three other members of the IC are also Old Boys, all of whom attended the dinner: Conrad Bona ’87, Scott Kelly ’88, and Marcus Yang ’90

BELOW: Back row: Deputy Head of School, Greg Reid, Luke Coombes ’19, Richey Rea ’86, Peter Wardell ’93, Scott Kelly ’88, Blair McPherson ’91, JulyAnh Nguyen ’21, Peter Goitanich ’07, Justin Wong ’13, Hale Lee ’18, Mark Denton ’12, Eugene Makeshin ’19, and Nicholas Weedon ’02; Seated: Marcus Yang ’90, Jason Campbell ’88, Conrad Bona ’87, Ron Kopas ’90, and Head of School, Kevin McHenry.

1992

Jack Yeung

visited St. Andrew’s on Dec. 1, his first time on campus in 30 years. Jack had his photo taken in front of Memorial House, where he spent two years, and left with a red SAC jacket from the Campus Shop. Jack is the former divisional CEO of RPC Group, one of the largest plastics packaging companies in the world, acquired by Berry Global in 2019. He now runs his own family investment office, OIC Capital, in Hong Kong, investing in early-stage technology startups, Web3, social impact business, real estate development, and street fashion. Jack is married with three daughters and lives in Hong Kong and Shanghai. He is a competitive table tennis player and single handicap golfer. He recently received a Medal of Honour from the Hong Kong government for his contributions to innovation and development of technology in Hong Kong.

Craig McLean ’82, and Mark Murphy ’84

1993

Ringo Yeung

visited campus in early December. He toured the school and located his tile on the deck of Walden Pool. Ringo, his wife, Jenny, and their three daughters live in Hong Kong.

William Long ran into Paul Perrier ’01 in Vail, Colo., while on vacation with their families in January. William lives in New York City, where he works as an orthopedic surgeon specializing in hip and knee reconstruction and revision joint replacements at the Hospital for Special Surgery. Paul is executive senior associate athletic director at the University of Southern California. William and his wife, Sarah, have two children, William and Jane.

Nick McQuire

is a judge for Next CIO 2024, which recognizes the rising stars of the U.K. IT sector. The annual program helps aspiring IT leaders develop their careers and improve their skill sets. He is also a judge for the CIO 100 Awards U.K., which recognizes the most transformational chief information officers in the U.K. each year. Nick is the executive director of product management, strategic missions and technologies at Microsoft in London, U.K., leading customer engagement in the company’s corporate incubation and new

business scale-up arm. Nick was recently named among the Top 5 most admired and transformational business leaders of 2023 by CIO Times and CIO Media magazines.

1996

Sean Daniel

met up with Gordon Hunter ’03 and Deputy Head of School, Greg Reid, in Victoria, B.C., last October. Sean is the director of engineering at Open Ocean Robotics, an organization that collects oceanographic data using uncrewed, autonomous surface vehicles. Sean and his wife, Kendra, live in Victoria with their two daughters.

Andrew Ipekian

joined classmates, Julian Battiston, Karl Lippe, and David Reale, on a ski trip to Mont Tremblant in February. It was the third year in a row the friends had skied together. Andrew is the

founder/broker of Andrew Ipekian Real Estate Group in Toronto, the Platinum sponsor of the 2024 Red & White Gala in support of SAC and St. Anne’s School.

1997

Ricky Leung was one of ten Old Boys featured in a video presented during An Andrean Christmas at Roy Thomson Hall in December. Filming of You’ll Never Walk Alone, directed by Head of Drama & Film, William Scoular, took place in November on campus. Ricky works as director, global financial products with BMO Capital Markets. He and his wife, Allison, are the parents of Jayden ’26 and Cadence ’31, a student at St. Anne’s.

See the photo of the group of participating singers on page 48.

1998

Brook Dyson won the SAC World Cup of Skiing Trophy at the Old Boys Ski Day on Feb. 22. Brook took first place in the race at Craigleith Ski Club, posting a personal best time of 18.59 seconds, just .11 seconds faster than his brother, Peter ’99. Brook adds this win to his list of alpine skiing accomplishments at SAC, which includes claiming the school’s first CISAA Championship in 1996-1997 alongside Peter, Greg Berdette ’97, Will Mercer ’98, and Stephen Amell ’00. Brook works as a financial advisor with Edward Jones. He, his wife, Carrie, and their daughters, Kate and Natalie, live in Collingwood, Ont.

William Long ’93, left, with Paul Perrier ’01

Nick McQuire ’93 at the executive briefing centre at Microsoft’s Redmond HQ campus in Washington.

From left: Gordon Hunter ’03, Greg Reid, and Sean Daniel ’96

From left: 1996 classmates, Julian Battiston, Karl Lippe, Andrew Ipekian, and David Reale

1999

Dan Near was named commissioner of the Western Hockey League (WHL) in November and took over the position on Feb. 15, working out of the WHL head office in Calgary. Dan previously served as global head of hockey and senior director of adidas America’s Creation Center in Portland, Ore.

2000

Mitchell Smith spoke to Grade 11 students in Memorial Chapel in February as part of the Career Days initiative organized by the University Counselling office. Mitchell is in his 12th year of legal practice with a focus on employment law and litigation and is a partner at Borden Ladner Gervais LLP in Toronto. He holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from Queen’s University and a master’s in marine biology and ecology from the University of Windsor. Before returning to Toronto in 2011, Mitchell earned a law degree from Bond University in Australia and worked as a clerk in the Supreme Court of Queensland. Mitchell, his wife, Beth, and their two children live in the Beaches neighbourhood of Toronto.

Justin Albury and his partner, Akia, welcomed a daughter, Justyce, on Nov. 29, a day before Justin’s birthday, which he shares with his father. The family lives in Nassau, the Bahamas, where they attended a reception for Old Boys on Jan. 11.

2002

Donnovan Bennett was recognized by Amnesty International Canada at its 28th annual media awards in October. His 2022 feature for Sportsnet, You Can Say Hockey is for Everyone Or You Can Join the Fight to Make Sure That’s True, won the organization’s award for Best Short-Form Video in the category of Best Sports Opening and is one of Donnovan’s two stories to be nominated for a 2024 Canadian Screen Award. The other, How Ryan Francis is Honouring His Late Grandmother by Supporting the Indigenous Community, is nominated for Best Sports Feature Segment. Donnovan continues his work for Sportsnet, telling stories across multiple platforms. He and his wife, Kate, have two sons, Rowan and Desmond.

Giancarlo Trimarchi was awarded the 2023 Business Leader of the Year Award from the Newmarket Chamber of Commerce. Giancarlo is the president of Vince’s Market, an independent grocer with locations in Newmarket, Sharon, Tottenham, and Uxbridge, Ont. He returned to campus in November to run a financial projections workshop with McEwen Leadership students, assisting them with their business plans ahead of the Entrepreneurship Fair. Giancarlo and his wife, Kristen, have three daughters, including Ella ’30, a student at St. Anne’s School.

2003

Andrew Wakefield

served as the down judge in the 110th Grey Cup on Nov. 19 in Hamilton, Ont. Andrew, who is entering his 10th season as an on-field official for the Canadian Football League, also worked the Grey Cup in 2019 (Calgary) and 2021 (Hamilton). Away from the field, he is the director, bank partnerships at Air Canada, where he oversees credit card and financial partnerships for the Aeroplan loyalty program. Andrew and his wife, Kim, live in Toronto.

Jeff Johnstone and his wife, Jenny, welcomed their first child, Elizabeth (Elle) Catherine Alexandra, on March 23, 2023. The family lives in Toronto. Jeff works as a senior wealth advisor at National Bank Financial.

Chris McFarlane and classmate, Nathan Rothwell, held the second edition of the Winterskål skating and hockey fundraiser for Stronach Regional Cancer Centre at Southlake in Newmarket on Feb. 3. Chris says a cold flash the night before the event ensured the ice remained open despite sunshine and above-zero temperatures. More than $35,000 was raised, smashing the goal of $25,000. Chris and his wife, Brooke, welcomed Maeve, their second child, a sister for two-year-old Declan, on Feb. 17. Chris reports that both mom and baby are doing great, and Declan is adjusting well to his role as a big brother.

REUNION REMINDER

Class of ’04 Sept. 27, 2024 20 YEAR

deadline: Aug. 31, 2024

2004

Hussein Amarshi and his wife, Aliya, welcomed a daughter, Farah Rose, on Sept. 6. The couple was married on Sept. 25, 2022, at the St. Regis Toronto hotel. Ten Old Boys attended the ceremony: Hussein’s brother, Wahid ’03, Nicholas Weedon ’02, Michael Bottomley ’03, Thaine Carter ’05, and classmates,

Giancarlo Trimarchi ’02 speaks with Grade 12 McEwen Leadership students, Noah Savage, left, and Joey Panovski.

Arnold Al-Aadhami, Matt Donko, Shawn Jolly, Levin Maaskant, Zameer Pirani, and Faisal Ratansi. Hussein’s former teacher, Lisa Picerno, was also in attendance. The family lives in Stouffville, Ont. Hussein is executive vicepresident at Victoria Village Group, a family business operating diversified licensed early childhood care, accredited Montessori schools, and real estate holdings.

2005

Kit Milnes was featured as part of Reuters’ COP28 Leadership Interviews at the 2023 U.N. Climate Change Conference in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Kit, vice-president of sustainability & resilience at KingSett Capital, Canada’s leading private equity real estate investment firm, spoke about the company’s aggressive decarbonization initiatives and target for its properties, creating value for its partners in the process. Kit lives in Toronto.

Nick Wong

hosted SAC Alumni Relations Coordinator, John Sandham ’13, for lunch during John’s visit to Austin, Texas, in January. The two discussed Nick’s years at St. Andrew’s, including his memories of living in Memorial House and his time on the fencing team, which he captained in 2004-2005. Nick has called Austin home for almost two decades, as he attended the University of Texas after SAC, earning a BSc in electrical engineering and embedded systems. Nick has worked for National Instruments since 2009, beginning in hardware engineering. He now holds the title of senior group manager with the company. Nick is recently engaged to Satomi. They love to go on adventures around the world, hike, and play volleyball.

2006

Adam Laing

caught up with classmate, Max Kehrli, in February when the cruise Max was on made a stop in Jamaica. Adam and his wife, Gabrielle,

live in Kingston, Jamaica, where he works as managing director of Tara Courier Services Ltd., a company founded by his father in 1983 that provides island-wide delivery services.

Dean Hamann

was appointed creative director at Salt XC in Toronto last November. Salt is a full-service marketing and commerce agency with offices in Canada, the U.S., and Australia and was named one of Canada’s top-growing companies of 2023 by The Globe and Mail

Justin Lemieux-Reale was appointed director of business development at The West Egg Group in December. The West Egg Group is a Toronto-based company specializing in high-end security solutions for residential, commercial, and corporate clients across Ontario. Justin, his wife, Sarah, and their daughter, Ellara, live in Hamilton, Ont.

From left: Matt Donko ’04, Levin Maaskant ’04, Arnold Al-Aadhami ’04, Caesar Radociono, Aliya, Hussein Amarshi ‘04, Shawn Jolly ’04, Faisal Ratansi ’04, Zameer Pirani ’04, and Keval Tanna.

2006 classmates, Adam Laing and Max Kehrli

2007

Kyle Bergman and his wife, Elizabeth, welcomed twin boys, Max and Bernie, on Oct. 20. Kyle reports that everyone is doing great. The family recently relocated to Maryland from New York City.

Trevor Jackson and Ashleigh Calvert were married on Feb. 10 at Three Feathers Terrace in Innisfil, Ont. The wedding party included his brothers, Kyle ’05 and Spencer ’10, who were co-best men, and Richard Shouldice ’07, Dylan Calvert ’09, and Felipe Gonzalez ’10. Other Old Boys in attendance were classmates, Anthony D’Antonio, Dylan Edminson, Cameron Healy, Adam Lebar, Colin McCullough, and James Seymour. Trevor is a vice-president with Lennard Commercial Realty, Brokerage in Markham, Ont., specializing in industrial leasing.

2008

Jeffrey Ho visited campus on Nov. 28 to attend the annual St. Andrew’s Day dinner. It had been 15 years to the day since Jeffrey last enjoyed a meal where haggis was on the menu! Jeffrey sat with Jeremy Slessor ’06, SAC’s Major Gifts & Stewardship Officer, at the Sifton House table, where he interacted with current students and answered their questions. Jeffrey is a physician at the Scarborough Health Network and Oak Valley Health.

2010

Brad Wood and Kat McAllister were married on Oct. 14 at 100 Acre Wood in Picton, Ont. Brad’s brother, Scott ’13, served as emcee, while classmate, Geoff Ruddock, was best man. Vincent Pulla ’10 and Torrey Glendinning ’11 were in attendance. The couple lives in Toronto.

Joshua Irwandi and Faylien Imelda were married on Jan. 20 at the Ritz-Carlton Jakarta, Pacific Place in Indonesia. The couple wore traditional Cio Tao dress for their pre-wedding photos to celebrate Joshua’s culture and acknowledge their Chinese

heritage. His brother, Johan ’04, attended the ceremony, and while close family friend, Will Mulock ’05, couldn’t make it, Joshua says he received a card from Will to mark the occasion. Joshua is a freelance photographer based in Jakarta who contributes to National Geographic, The Washington Post, The Globe and Mail, and The New York Times. Joshua is a National Geographic Explorer and continues to work on a long-term project focused on the changes in the identity and landscape of the Asmat community in South Papua. He recently became part of VII Photo Agency’s mentorship program, helping to transfer knowledge and experience to a younger generation of photographers. Joshua’s work made him a finalist for the 2021 Pulitzer Prize in breaking news photography, and his photo, The Human Cost of COVID-19, won him a World Press Photo prize that same year.

2011

Andrew Kerr

and his wife, Becky, welcomed their first child, Georgia, on Jan. 10. Surrounded by family and friends with hearts full, they eagerly anticipate the adventures ahead of parenthood. Andrew attended the Old Boys Ski Day at Craigleith Ski Club in Collingwood, Ont., in February, where he made the podium in that afternoon’s race.

Dylan Amar is the founder and owner of Wooden Hearts Design, a custom furniture business based out of Orillia, Ont. Dylan works with clients from Muskoka to Burlington and everywhere in between to design and build one-of-a-kind cabinetry, tables, and more. Dylan describes his projects as unique pieces “built to compliment your space and bring your ideas to life.” His business also offers three-dimensional renderings for anyone who wants to “see” their piece before it is built.

Graeme Goodfellow was promoted in January to senior manager, corporate development at Oliver Wyman Group, a global strategy and management consulting company. He has been with the firm for over two years and oversees mergers and acquisitions, minority stake investments, and strategic partnerships. Since joining the team, Graeme has been a part of several transactions that have helped fuel the firm’s growth. Outside of work, Graeme recently moved to Hamilton, Ont., with his significant other, Erin, where he’s reconnected with SAC alums.

Nicholas Chretien and his wife, Daisy, welcomed Cecilia May on Nov. 3. Nick reports that Cecilia is a bundle of joy. The family lives in New York City, where Nick is a senior investment analyst with Canaras Capital Management.

encompassed challenges such as overcoming altitude sickness, enduring 35 C heat, and encountering local wildlife. Mark faced an additional challenge during the race when an electrolyte shortage led him to fuel himself with bottles of mustard. The scenic and seldomtravelled course traversed the backcountry of northern Tanzania and ascended halfway up Mount Kilimanjaro, covering a combined 7,000plus meters of elevation over the race. In addition to the race, Mark raised over C$6,000 for Backup Trust, a U.K. charity dedicated to supporting those affected by spinal cord injury.

Mike Mildon

directed all eight episodes of Ghosting, a new series for CBC. The unscripted comedy series follows two of his friends, Luke Hutchie and Matthew Finlan, actors known for their work in the horror genre, as they step off-script and into their own real-life thriller on a quest to discover if Canada’s most haunted places are truly haunted. Mike says the team travelled across Ontario and filmed overnight in no shortage of eerie haunted houses but adds they met lots of lovely locals in small towns filled with rich history along the way. Although Mike still doesn’t fully believe in ghosts, he admits that a good number of unexplainable things happened while filming.

2013

Aaron DeGagne was promoted to senior analyst at PitchBook on Jan. 1. In this role, Aaron covers healthcare private markets and primarily focuses his research efforts on the medtech and digital health sectors. Aaron has worked at PitchBook/ Morningstar, a subsidiary of Morningstar, since graduating from the University of Notre Dame in 2017, and although PitchBook is headquartered in Seattle, he is based out of Chicago.

Mac McIntosh

was hired as manager, residence life at the University of Waterloo in January. Mac worked as Waterloo’s residence life coordinator from July 2021 to May 2023 before taking a position with the university’s residence facilities team. Mac says he is excited to continue contributing to the student experience in his new role.

REUNION REMINDER

Class of ’14 Sept. 27, 2024 10 YEAR

2015

Marc-Antoine Beauchamp visited campus on Nov. 24 and met with Director of Boarding, Keith Ramon. Marc-Antoine took photos outside of Sifton House, where he spent two years as a boarder while Keith was Head of House. Marc-Antoine is an active member of the Old Boy community in Montreal and remains connected with classmates, Dhruv Krishnan, Andrew Ladouceur, and Saad Siddiqui. MarcAntoine is a corporate and capital markets lawyer in the Montreal office of Stikeman Elliott and an avid cyclist and triathlete in his free time.

Mark Denton

has been living in London, U.K., for the past six years, working as a product manager in the vibrant startup space. In June 2023, Mark completed a gruelling 250-kilometre ultra marathon over five days in Tanzania. The race

Marc-Antoine Beauchamp ’15 with his girlfriend, Claudia.

2016

Reid Yochim captained the First Hockey Saints in 2015-2016 and played professionally in Sweden, Norway, and France after graduating from Princeton in 2021. He visited campus on Dec. 12, catching up with coaches, David Manning and Geoff Brennagh ’94, at the La Brier Family Arena. Reid gifted copies of a book he authored, Have You Heard of the Little Farmer?, to Towers Library and his teachers, Anthony Gilroy and Samantha Scheepers.

2017

Robert Thomas represented the St. Louis Blues at the NHL AllStar Weekend in Toronto in February. Making his first All-Star game appearance in his hometown, Robert was selected to play for Team McDavid, which came second to Team Matthews in the 3-on-3 tournament. Robert, an alternate captain with the Blues, signed an eight-year extension with the team in 2022.

2018

Branson Johnson assumed the role of procurement & production manager at Treasure Mills School Safe snack company in January. Starting with the company when he was still a student at SAC, Branson has worked as a packaging helper, maintenance assistant, mixer, forklift operator, logistics coordinator, operations supervisor, and sales associate, a role that allowed him to travel to several locations in the U.S. for trade shows over the last three years. He says he is fortunate to have been given the opportunity to rise up and prove himself within the company. Branson’s current responsibilities include staff scheduling, overseeing floor operations and procedures, and production planning. The company is in the process of expanding its facility in Aurora. Branson is an avid mountain biker, snowboarder, and guitarist. You can find him playing weekly open mic nights at La gabbia Grill & Bar and the Olde Village Free House in Newmarket.

Zakhar Karakulkin

is the founder and COO of Spredo, a Torontobased company that aims to revolutionize healthy snacking. Zakhar and his team are introducing a capsule sandwich spreader, a stylish kitchen gadget that promises simplicity and convenience by leveraging proprietary capsules to create a perfectly spread sandwich every time.

REUNION REMINDER

Class of ’19 Sept. 27, 2024 5 YEAR

Tunde Ogunremi

founded Eleventh Avenue, a lifestyle clothing brand drawing inspiration from the aesthetics of street styles found in cities worldwide while studying anthropology and economics at McGill University. When not in school, Tunde works with Ottawa Bluesfest and will be involved in marketing for the festival this summer. Tunde attended the Old Boys Pub Night in Montreal on Feb. 8, where he caught up with classmates, Lucas Chew and Christopher Marton

Richard Fan

is a software engineer intern at Google and NVIDIA as he continues his studies in computer science at the University of Waterloo. Richard is also a research assistant with the university’s

Control, Learning, and Logic (CL2) Group. Richard has remained connected to SAC and his fellow Old Boys, attending pub nights in Toronto and Waterloo and An Andrean Christmas at Roy Thomson Hall in December.

Daniel Svirsky

won the Canadian Universities Debating National Championships in November, hosted by the University of Alberta and the University of Calgary. The competition brought together talented debaters from across Canada. Daniel is proud of the exceptional performance of the Western University Debate Society team and expresses his gratitude for the teamwork that contributed to their success. Daniel attended the World Universities Debating Championships in Vietnam, where his team finished 65th out of 300, outplacing teams from almost all the Ivy Leagues, Oxford, and Cambridge.

2021

Matt Roy

committed to play in the NCAA for Bowdoin College for the 2024-2025 season. The forward spent the 2023-2024 season with the Navan Grads of the Central Canada Hockey League. Matt has also played Junior A hockey for the Collingwood Blues and the Bonnyville Pontiacs. His most successful season with the Saints was in 2019-2020 when he tallied 22 points in 46 games.

From left: David Manning, Reid Yochim ’16, and Geoff Brennagh ’94

Ty White is the primary public address announcer working for OVG 360 at the Mattamy Athletic Centre, covering TMU Bold Varsity sports, including men’s and women’s hockey, basketball, and volleyball, a job he has held since his first year at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU). Ty has announced several nationally televised and professional events, including the 2023 PHL All-Star Game, the OHL Cup final, the GLOBL JAM 2023 international basketball tournament, and the UCONN women’s basketball homecoming game for Aaliyah Edwards. Ty also calls basketball and hockey games for the TMU Bold Broadcast Group, serving as a play-by-play announcer, colour commentator, panellist, and sideline reporter. Ty is in his third year at TMU, where he studies sport media. He is producing and writing a documentary with three associates at TMU on the St. Andrew’s College Saints Varsity Hockey program, the team Ty first started broadcasting for in 2019. The documentary highlights the squad’s success at SAC and beyond the gates through the leadership of Head Coach, David Manning. The documentary is titled Oh When The Saints and features prominent names in hockey, including two Old Boys and NHL Draft picks currently at Cornell University, Luke Devlin ’22 and Jonathan Castagna ’23. The documentary was set to be released in April.

2023

Sydney Wambua hosted current students at the University of Toronto’s Black History Month luncheon on Feb. 28, an event he helped moderate. The group heard from keynote speaker, former Governor General of Canada, Michaëlle Jean, and Ontario’s first poet laureate, Randell Adjei. Sydney returned to campus the following day as the SAC Black Cultural Society made a presentation to the Upper School that included a performance titled, I Am Not Your Expectations, focused on challenging stereotypes. This was not the first time Sydney had returned to campus since graduation; he took part in filming the song, You’ll Never Walk Alone, in December, which was presented at An Andrean Christmas. Sydney is a content creator, video editor, actor, and aspiring manga artist based in Mississauga, Ont. X

SCENES FROM AN ANDREAN CHRISTMAS

Green Screen Old Boys: SAC Director of Drama & Film, William Scoular, called upon Old Boys, Dem Rogers ’59, Jim Herder ’64, Faisal Ratansi ’04, Mike Hogg ’72, Ricky Leung ’97, Steve Dengler ’87, Sydney Wambua ’23, and John Stewart ’78, to record a verse of You’ll Never Walk Alone for An Andrean Christmas at Roy Thomson Hall. During the performance on the Roy Thomson Hall stage, the faces of these eight Old Boys appeared on the giant video wall. Below: Highlights from An Andrean Christmas

Ty White ’21, right, with his broadcasting partner during a TMU sporting event.

OBITUARIES

1942

Graham Cotter passed away on Jan. 31, 2024, in Warkworth, Ont. He attended St. Andrew’s from 1938 to 1942. He was the Editor of The Review (and won The Review Prize) and Head Librarian, served on the executive of the Literary Society, acted in school plays, and was a Cadet Corps Captain. After graduating, Graham attended Trinity College at the University of Toronto, where he obtained his PhD in English Language and Literature. Graham was ordained as an Anglican priest in 1958. He was the author of memoirs, children’s books, poems, plays, articles, a weekly blog, and a book on the intersection between science and theology. Graham is survived by his children, Sean, Charis, Cate, and Simon; seven grandchildren; numerous foster children and foster grandchildren; and four stepchildren. He was predeceased by his first wife, Evelyn, and second wife, Margaret.

1950

High Commissioner of Canada to the United Kingdom (1985-1988). After returning to Canada, he resumed his law practice and served as Commissioner of the Canadian Football League for a year. He became an Associate Chief Justice of the Superior Court (Trial Division) in Ontario in 1991 and was appointed Chief Justice of Ontario in 1996. He helped pave the way for same-sex marriage. Roy retired from the bench in 2007 and returned to private practice. He was appointed to the Order of Ontario that year and made an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2009. He remained connected to St. Andrew’s College and was the guest speaker at the school’s 100th anniversary Prize Day in 1999. He was an accomplished landscape painter, trained by A.J. Casson of the Group of Seven, and has several works hanging in the school. He was also an author and devoted pages of his 2013 book, Memoirs and Reflections, to his time at St. Andrew’s College, from his arrival as a boarder in Flavelle to his graduation as an “unworldly teenager.” He gives many interesting impressions of his time at SAC, including boarding life, sports, friendships, and teachers. One such teacher was Thomas Dunston Barnabus Tudball, or “Tuddy” as he was known to generations of Andreans, who taught both Roy and his father, Roland Roy (R.R.) McMurtry, from the Class of 1919 Roy was predeceased by his wife, Ria Jean; his father; his brothers, William and John; and his uncles, Claude, Class of 1914, Bruce, Class of 1916, and Ted, Class of 1925. He is survived by his children, Janet, Jim ’78, Harry, Jeannie, Erin, and Michael; 12 grandchildren; and his brother, Robert.

1951

Roy McMurtry passed away on March 18, 2024, in Toronto. He attended St. Andrew’s from 1946 to 1950 and was a Prefect and played First Hockey and First Football. He was President of the SAC Association from 1966 to 1968, as well as a Governor for those two years and again from 1993 to 1997. After SAC, Roy received a BA from the University of Toronto and a Bachelor of Laws degree from Osgoode Hall Law School. Roy was appointed Ontario Attorney General in 1975, holding this position for a decade. He served as Solicitor General from 1977 to 1982. He is known for many law reform bills and was attached to family law reform in Ontario. He initiated making the provincial legal system bilingual, advocated for human rights, and improved race relations. Roy was also an architect of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms (1981). He was appointed Canadian

1950

Thomas Munn passed away on Sept. 25, 2023, in St. John’s, Nfld. He attended St. Andrew’s from 1942 to 1947. In his final year at SAC, he was Captain of the Midget Hockey team. The year prior, he played football and hockey. Tom started out in business in St. John’s, working across the desk from his father. He expanded the successful family import-export business to build Newfoundland Containers, a corrugated packaging manufacturing plant. At the age of 40, Tom picked up running and, over the next 45 years, set numerous age group records in races around St. John’s. Tom is survived by his children, Doug ’75, Andrew ’77, and Katharine; and six grandchildren. He was predeceased by his wife, Sandra, and his father, Henley, Class of 1925

David Donald passed away on Dec. 18, 2023, in Camperdown, Bahamas. He was born in Toronto and attended St. Andrew’s from 1946 to 1951. He was a Drum Sergeant in the Cadet Corps, a Librarian, and a Chapel Boy. He played Third Football. After SAC, David attended Georgia Tech and graduated in 1955 with a degree in industrial engineering. Beginning his career in Ohio, he was drafted into the U.S. Army and sent to postwar Germany for several years. He returned to the United States and worked in Georgia, returning to the Bahamas in 1962 to help run the family business, Nassau Ready Mixed Concrete. In 1972, he purchased Island Industries, where he worked building Butler steel buildings until his retirement in 2010. David is survived by his children, Laurie, Nancy, and Mike; 11 grandchildren; and one great-grandson. He was predeceased by his wife, Frances, and son, Jack.

1954

John Steele passed away on Dec. 30, 2023, in Kitchener, Ont. He attended St. Andrew’s from 1951 to 1954. He was a Corporal in the Cadet Corps, played Third Football, and was involved in the Drama Society. After St. Andrew’s, John worked in the family business, Hepworth Furniture, in Southampton until 1978, then became a successful travelling salesperson until his retirement in 1989. John is survived by his partner, Margaret; children, David, Lynda, and Jennifer; and a granddaughter. He was predeceased by his first wife, Marlene.

1956

Michael McAteer passed away on Jan. 24, 2024. He lived in Thornhill, Ont. Michael attended St. Andrew’s for one year, 1955-1956. He played First Football and clan hockey, participated in Track & Field, and worked on The Review staff. Michael studied medicine at the University of Toronto and enjoyed a 45-year family practice. He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth; children, Peter and Anne; and seven grandchildren. He was predeceased by his son, Jeffrey.

1968

Peter Davies passed away on Oct. 16, 2023, in Toronto. He attended St. Andrew’s from 1965 to 1968. He played First Hockey and was a Chapel Boy. Peter attended the University of Toronto for commerce and finance, then studied at the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants and the Real Estate Council of Ontario. Peter is survived by his wife, Carol; children, Sarah, Ryan, and Rebecca; and his grandchildren.

1976

1999

Kent Tsui passed away on Jan. 25, 2024. He lived in the Toronto area. Kent attended SAC from 1996 to 1999. He had the distinction of being the only Grade 11 student who was an officer in the Cadet Corps. In his graduating year, he was the Deputy Cadet Commanding Officer in the Cadet Inspection. Kent is survived by his brother, Micky ’02

2008

STAFF

David Edminson passed away on Feb. 21, 2024, in Barrie, Ont. He attended SAC from 1973 to 1976. He played First Soccer, was Captain of Second Soccer in Grade 11, and was involved in the social committee, fishing club, and cross-country skiing. He was a musician, playing in the orchestra that accompanied the school production of Brigadoon. After SAC, David became immersed in the diamond business, becoming a leader in the industry. He is survived by his former wife, Marina, and their children, Dylan ’07 and Nina.

Adam Sibley passed away on Dec. 24, 2021, in Burnaby, B.C. He attended SAC from September 2007 to March 2008 and played First Football. Adam is survived by his son, Carter; Carter’s mother, Katelyn; his parents, Paul and Merlene; his uncle, Bob Perrier; and cousins, Jason ’98 and Paul ’01 Perrier He was predeceased by his aunt, Ann Perrier.

Gillian Foster passed away on Jan. 18, 2024, in Toronto. She taught at St. Andrew’s from 1994 to 1997. A farewell in the 1996-1997 Review stated, “After bringing the flare of her musical talent to our music classes and the zest and spice of her passion for Spanish to St. Andrew’s College… we send our best wishes.” Gillian is survived by her nephews, Chris ’95 and Stephen ’97 Foster. Her father was Charles Foster, Class of 1922 X

The Andrean staff and all those who work at St. Andrew’s College extend our sincere condolences to the families and friends of those mentioned in our obituary section. Please email us at theandrean@sac.on.ca if you wish to share news of an Old Boy who has passed away for inclusion in the next Andrean.

ROY MCMURTRY ’50

was an accomplished landscape painter, trained by A.J. Casson of the Group of Seven. This painting, titled, Brigus South, depicts a rugged Newfoundland coastline. It hangs in the Head of School’s house.

Spring Quartet: SAC history in four parts

Swim Team

On Saturday, Feb. 27

SAC hosted the CISAA Championship Swim Meet. The First Swimming team won gold for the 400m freestyle and 100m individual medley, silver for the 200m medley relay, and bronze for the 200m individual medley.

The Alligator Dissection

the Upper Sixth biology class had “the opportunity of a lifetime” to dissect a 13.5-foot-long alligator. Upon arrival at the school, the deceased test subject was buried under snow on the roof of the science building to keep it cool, and one afternoon the class set out to dissect the large reptile over a span of five grueling hours.

Years Ago: Spring 1999

Years Ago: Spring 1974

First Hockey visits Aurora

Years Ago: Spring 1924

The first official visit paid by St. Andrew’s College students to their future home in Aurora took place on March 4, 1924, when the First Hockey team made the trek north from Toronto. The team played a match with the Aurora Juniors, then the Aurora team hosted the SAC players at a banquet at which speeches were made by Mayor Walton.

Years Ago: Spring 1949

Poem In Spring

by Austin Clarkson ’49 from the Mid-Summer 1949 Review

Austin passed away in 2021 after a career devoted to education. He was a musicologist and Professor Emeritus at York University.

Dr. Kenneth G.B. Ketchum

Third Headmaster of St. Andrew’s College 1935–1958

Dr. Ketchum was appointed Headmaster after Dr. Macdonald’s retirement in 1935. He served as Headmaster for 23 years, with a three-year break during the Second World War when he was sent to the Royal Military College in Victoria, as Principal, in 1942. Dr. Ketchum retired in 1958 and sadly succumbed to cancer only three years later. He is buried in the cemetery at Grace Anglican Church in Waterdown, Ont.

Dr. Ketchum’s great-grandson, Richard Lurie, has attended St. Andrew’s since Grade 9, and is graduating this June.