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THE
ANDREAN Fall 2020: volume 64, number 2
Instagram @StAndrewsCollege1899
YES INDEED!
St. Andrew’s College 15800 Yonge Street Aurora, ON L4G 3H7 Canada
PLUS: ANNUAL REPORT
Responding to COVID-19 OLD BOYS PROFILES + NEWS
CONTENTS Fall 2020: volume 64, number 2 FEATURES 4 13 14 17 24 31 32 34 38 41 51 63
A $58,000 Walk in the Park Reimagining the SAC Experience During a Pandemic ANNUAL REPORT 2020
Unlike Anything Else – How St. Anne’s School Came To Be NCAA and U Sports Commits Bedard Athletic Centre Renovation Raising the Bar – An Impressive SAC Sweatercoat Descendants of Heads of School Reflections of a Head Prefect: Rory McGuire ’13 The One and Only Old Girl
COLUMNS 3 The Head’s Up 36 Sports Update – Old Boys Return to Yuill Field 52 Old Boys Profiles 66 Old Boys News 84 Community News 88 Obituaries
Julie Caspersen, Editor
Director of Communications Nicolette Fleming Art Direction, Design, and Photography Paul Mosey Contributors Sean Maillet Greg Reid Alexander Seto ’13 Chris Traber Telephone 905-727-3178, ext. 333
The Originals
After going online for the spring issue, we are offering you this larger-thannormal edition of the magazine. Inside, you’ll find many of the features that appeared on The Andrean website, plus a whole lot of new and exciting articles and photos. If you happened to read the Old Boys News in the spring, please take another look inside as we’ve added quite a few more updates. Remember to send in your class note for the spring edition; email your info to theandrean@sac.on.ca before Jan. 31, 2021. Pandemic protocols and health and safety rules changed in Ontario as we prepared this issue, so in some photos people are wearing face coverings and other photos they are not. Rest assured, we have gone above and beyond the rules to keep our school community safe since classes resumed in September.
Published by St. Andrew’s College for Old Boys, parents, and friends of the School Editor Julie Caspersen
Pandemic Relief
Welcome to The Andrean, your alumni magazine since 1956.
The ANDREAN
Email admission@sac.on.ca oldboys@sac.on.ca theandrean@sac.on.ca Website www.sac.on.ca The Cover
We are so excited at the announcement of St. Anne’s College, our school for girls to be located just north of the SAC campus, that we made it front-page news. On the back cover, our mascot, Braveheart, sporting a face covering, of course, offers a warm welcome to St. Andrew’s. Thank you to Nicholas Weedon ’02 for playing the role of Braveheart and Antonietta Calvano from our Sewing Centre for creating the custom mask.
We belong to the following associations:
The Andrean magazine supports the St. Andrew’s College mission to “…develop the complete man, the well-rounded citizen,” connects Old Boys and parents to the School, and is a reflection of St. Andrew’s College’s enduring value to the constituents it serves.
off the top
A LEGEND LEAVES THE STAGE: The Andrean community lost a colleague, teacher, mentor, and friend in December 2019. We pay tribute to Geoff Smith on page 91.
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X-Country Run: Geoffrey Ogenrwot ’21 at the finish line in the sun...
Alvaro Cortina Hernandez ’24 peering at raindrops...
Noah Roberts ’23 pushing through a downpour.
Jamie Inglis ’91 pondering the strange year about to unfold.
Thanksgiving Prayer Circle
Classes on the Quad on a September afternoon.
TTL
Through The Lens A selection of favourites from school photographer, Paul Mosey
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Head of School, Kevin McHenry, addresses the boys in the tent on opening day 2020.
THE HEAD’S UP
I
n uncertain times, we look to the familiar for grounding and stability. We seek comfort in the company of friends and turn to family for support. This year, 2020, has been unlike any other in the history of St. Andrew’s College. In our 121 years, we have enjoyed countless successes and evolutions to become a leader in boys’ education. But we have also had our share of tragedy, suffering through two world wars, saying farewell as Andreans pass away, and now weathering all the challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. Masks, online learning, virtual meetings, keeping our distance, a quick wave in place of a hearty handshake: this is how we have been living and learning since school opened in September. Our new normal—although there is really nothing normal about it—has us watching the news and following public health announcements daily for the latest statistics. Our lives have essentially changed. We spoke to a few Old Boys who have specialized insights into the pandemic. Please see their thoughts starting on the next page. As Giancarlo Trimarchi ’02 stated, “The pandemic has provided an enormous opportunity to build goodwill, be successful, and double down on what we do well.” This is precisely SAC’s philosophy. Education is our strength, and we supplement the academic side with a generous offering of wellness, fitness, and cocurricular activities. We have never faltered in this, never stopped providing our boys what they need academically, and the supports they require to push through until the worst is behind us. We are planning for a future without COVID-19, when the boys can fully participate in interschool athletics, proudly link arms on stage at An Andrean Christmas, and give a high-five without a second thought. We are also planning for a future that includes a new school for girls, located a kilometre from campus. St. Anne’s School will be a foil for St. Andrew’s, mirroring all the wonderful initiatives we already offer for boys, and amplifying these same unique opportunities for girls. See our story starting on page 24. We have so many great things to look forward to, including hosting you on campus, toasting at a pub night, and hearing from you by email or phone. Until we meet again. X
Kevin R. McHenry, Head of School
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PANDEMIC
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RELIEF
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t the start of the pandemic, students, faculty, parents, and staff were overwhelmed with the changes we had to make to keep everyone safe. From online learning for boys to work-fromhome scenarios for many staff members to families coping with stress; it was an adjustment, to say the least. The global health crisis is also impacting Old Boys, and many have needed to pivot their careers and change the way they operate in their daily lives at work and home. Your fellow Andreans share their experiences, in their own words, and hopefully, we can learn from each other and get through this together.
Peter Dyson ’99
Firefighter with the City of Oshawa Fire Department, Oshawa, Ont. Oshawa Professional Firefighters Association President
Firefighters are leaving their families at home and going to their stations to live with their work families for 24-hour shifts. We have a huge bubble. Inside the fire station, we’re doing everything that everyone else is doing, such as cleaning high-touch surfaces and increased hand hygiene. There is a constant fear of bringing the virus home. We are worried about the pandemic, wearing more PPE (personal protective equipment), and treating every call as a potential COVID-19 contact. For firefighters, most calls are medical in nature or car accidents. We’re walking into situations where people are at their most vulnerable, so we are treating every interaction as if the person may have COVID-19. I’m not worried when I’m wearing all my protective equipment, but there is a concern that all frontline healthcare workers—doctors, nurses, paramedics—have the proper PPE. As the union president for my local, I’m involved in many discussions about ensuring we have what we need to be safe in terms of masks, gloves, and shields. We all want to help people but need the PPE to keep doing it. I encourage everyone to follow safety protocols as directed by public health. Help us help you. We want to go back to normal, although I suspect we will continue to wear an increased level of PPE.
Andrew Ladouceur ’15
Chief Operating Officer, Bonsai A mobile application and technology company, Toronto, Ont.
I was working out of a bustling downtown Toronto Starbucks in mid-February when my classmate, Saad Siddiqui, Bonsai CEO, and I got a call from our head of people. She wanted to discuss the latest news on a littleknown virus called COVID-19, and whether or not we should encourage our employees to work from home. I pushed back, citing that there hadn’t been any guidance from the government. Surely, if something needed to be done, they would be the first to say. The next day, the NBA paused their season and a dozen other event series, sports leagues, and companies followed suit. Not 24 hours after I had told our head of people “no,” 37 Bonsai employees were called for a last-minute, all-handson-deck meeting and told not to come back into the office for what we thought would be two weeks. Bonsai’s technology allows users to transact instantly while browsing content across websites and social media platforms. Our vision is to make this possible everywhere you discover products. We currently do this for more than 200 million people on some of North America’s leading publishers. >> Fall 2020 The ANDREAN
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Publishers make almost all their money from ads, funded by the normally exorbitant and somewhat indiscriminately allocated marketing budgets of the world’s largest brands. In March, brands braced for a recession and that marketing spend dried up. Publishers saw their revenues drop by 35 per cent overnight. This created a polarizing effect within the industry. Oldschool media companies immediately went into cost-cutting mode, laying off employees in droves, and freezing new projects. On the other hand, new digital media companies saw this as a catalyst to diversify their revenues and doubledown on new projects like commerce. They realized their business model was incredibly sensitive to externalities they had little control over. Many publishers who were far along in the sales process at Bonsai ghosted us immediately and only now are reaching back out. Newer companies like BuzzFeed and Well+Good, however, pushed us hard to get solutions for them as soon as possible. At the beginning of the year, we expected to have five new publishers live. We’re now planning for 30. The effect on the industry remains to be seen. This divide may leave media incumbents further behind, unable to wean themselves off the ad revenues that continue to decline year after year as Facebook and Google monopolize more of the market. All things considered, we have been very fortunate. We made a single temporary layoff due to COVID-19 and have already hired that team member back, along with five new ones. As a technology company, our workflows have always been online. This allowed us to transition to remote work on
short notice with relative ease. In fact, we saw productivity increase within only three weeks of working from home. However, this does not mean all effects of COVID-19 were positive. The first two weeks were stressful. Daily routines were thrown out the window, and new habits needed to be developed on the fly. Employees with children or living with elderly parents were understandably hit the hardest. Then, the team found its new rhythm. Productivity jumped as new communication norms were created, commuting time was saved, and the distractions of an open-concept office were eliminated. The next three months were perhaps the most productive in Bonsai’s history. But as the lines between one’s work and personal life blurred and the toll of social isolation became heavier, we saw superhuman productivity replaced with a wane in motivation and symptoms of depression. Through a series of one-on-one sessions, morning scrums, and weekly fireside chats (that have an uncanny resemblance to SAC advisory groups and Keith Ramon’s old Sifton House meetings), we created a feedback loop that allowed us to iterate as a team quickly. The result is the close-knit, productive, and more sustainable work culture we find ourselves in today. So, although COVID-19 created a shift in our industry that ultimately pushed publishers toward Bonsai’s solution, it is our outstanding team that has allowed us to capitalize on the opportunity. It is only due to their understanding and sense of ownership that has propelled our business onto a new trajectory.
Giancarlo Trimarchi ’02
Managing Partner at Vince’s Market, an independent grocer with stores in Sharon, Newmarket, Uxbridge, and Tottenham, Ont.
The health and safety of our staff and customers have always been a priority. Still, the pandemic has provided an enormous opportunity to build goodwill, be successful, and double down on what we do well. The start of COVID-19 in Ontario sparked massive change in a short time. We initially did a lot of research with peers investigating how our industry was impacted globally. But at home, our biggest concern was our staff and how to protect them and allow them to feel confident continuing to work. The first addition was designating store greeters, who offered sanitizer, provided gloves to customers, and screened them for recent travel or COVID-19-related symptoms. We installed acrylic dividers everywhere it made sense, introduced directional signage, and commenced the sanitization of all carts and baskets between customers. 6 The ANDREAN Fall 2020
We put together a task force on March 20 and met seven days a week through August. Our entire team was involved in decision making, and our priority was communicating health and safety expectations. The staff pushed for masks before they were made mandatory and started wearing face coverings in mid-April. In Toronto, this was made mandatory in early July. While the task force is no longer required to meet every day, we are still sending daily emails to all staff, reminding them of their responsibilities to customers and co-workers concerning our strict mitigation protocols. A permanent change in the food industry, at least how I see it in Canada, is inevitable. While I hope that once a vaccine is available, the extreme safety measures will no longer be necessary; I still see a long-term change to supply and demand.
Before the pandemic, innovation was a driving force in growing sales. Since the pandemic began, innovation has taken a backseat to the resurgence of staple food items. For example, a bread manufacturer who previously produced a wide variety of products ranging in health benefits, flavours, and formats has scaled back to providing only their Top 10 items. Our suppliers, and ourselves as operators, have needed to rationalize what we focus on and offer for sale. We have seen this consistently for the past several months, so we feel we are looking to a future based on less variety but higher relevancy. I hope, moving forward, people don’t panic. In Canada, we are in a good position when it comes to food security. We are a food exporter, not a food importer, so we can have confidence in a robust food supply.
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Andrew Crawford ’16
Teacher Candidate, Queen’s University, Kingston, Ont.
There was a lot of change at Queen’s University as soon as the pandemic began, for both students and staff. I signed my contract to work for the Centre for Teaching and Learning the same day the university cancelled classes! There were immediate worries in the office about how to accommodate a summer student. Thankfully, I worked with a wonderful team who were remarkably familiar with collaborative technology. When it came time for me to begin working there in May, everything was ready for me. Whether it was working in Microsoft Teams, remotely changing website data for Queen’s COVID-19 plan, or collaborating with on-campus members to grab data, it was all possible at the centre. I was very thankful that my supervisors helped me get acclimated toward working remotely. While I was in Kingston for the summer, I never saw the inside of the centre’s offices, nor did I meet my co-workers. With such an unusual start, I was thankful for how adaptable my workplace became when faced with the unfamiliar barriers posed by the pandemic. I noticed how various departments at Queen’s worked together to reassign staff for the crucial task of reopening the university. While Ontario’s provincial directives did not specify how universities would open, I was part of the Queen’s Classrooms Working Group, a body designated to find solutions to implement social distancing in classrooms. Students returning to on-campus instruction numbered almost 1,000, so it was our task to recommend solutions that would keep students safe, mentally well, and ready to learn. Perhaps the greatest example of innovation came through teamwork, which resulted from the impromptu planning initiative for these classrooms. As a 22-year-old student, I suddenly found myself working with multiple departments, from the Office of the University Registrar, University Planning, IT Services, Athletics, and Physical Plant Services (PPS). Our team almost tripled in size, necessitating a lot of changes to our schedules. We had more meetings, more emails, and a lot more data flowing in, all to my computer in a small basement apartment. 8 The ANDREAN Fall 2020
My supervisors’ innovative efforts provided live sharing options for our documents, allowing everyone to stay updated on the latest changes. Even as we worked so hard, the centre offered remote luncheons for all members to sit in front of a webcam and chat about whatever was on their mind. Suddenly, the same people I knew only by their screen name became friends; one had a cat; one saw me at the grocery store. The humanity of a summer placement was finally here! As Queen’s continues to grapple with the pandemic, our unique approach to solving the problem further cemented itself as a useful framework. When we began interacting with team members from across campus, our ideas flowed from many schools of thought. It was the Registrar who isolated classrooms that could best accommodate social distancing. University Planning stamped the maps and designated seats two meters apart, while the Centre for Teaching ensured that the layout benefitted the students’ education and mental health. While IT Services provided the technology for video streaming and recording, Athletics had an excellent idea to cover designated seats in pinnies to help students locate where they could sit. The outstanding collaboration I witnessed brought me back to my time in class at St. Andrew’s, where our teachers harnessed our differences to help us learn. I remember when my Grade 10 history teacher asked our diverse classroom how each of our home countries taught the Second World War. Whether it was a perspective from Canada, the United States, Turkey, or South Korea, we learned that listening to others informed our knowledge of the whole. Further, when tasked with group work, my teachers encouraged us to harmonize our strengths and expertise to create a more complete final product. When others at Queen’s worried about what working with those from other departments would mean for our ideas, I always reminded them that diverse perspectives solve complex problems. My approach to solving problems I have during the pandemic stems from that same history lesson almost seven years ago. As SAC continues to brave through the pandemic’s challenges, I have faith that our diversity of perspectives and collaborative talent will be our strength.
Aaron Sum ’15
Mental Health Registered Nurse at Lakeridge Health, Oshawa, Ont.
Drawing from my current position at Lakeridge Health as a mental health RN, I believe healthcare in general, and more specifically, community and bedside nursing, will be forever impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. There are so many infection and prevention protocols that are even more firmly embedded in patient care, both the established and the new. An example of each, respectively, is the greater emphasis on handwashing to prevent transmission and simply using a face shield with all unknown/pending COVID-19 swab results. Hand hygiene was already stressed in healthcare, and the protocols put in place through SARS set us up to better deal with COVID-19. But things are going to change for good. Now, hand sanitization and washing protocols are extremely encouraged to all who enter and exit the hospital. The main lesson I have learned during the pandemic is that safety is never too much to demand of yourself or others. Maintaining social distancing and complying with the laws created for things such as mask-wearing and maximum room capacities should be obeyed, whether we think we know better or not. One of the more difficult adjustments I’ve had to make is remembering to be extra cautious with my social distancing and respect for others’ wishes. Being a Christian, church is extremely important to me as part of my community, and it is difficult to have to lay that down for the sake of caring for friends, family, and everyone else. One of the biggest virtues I have taken away from being a student at SAC is valuing every person’s life, staff or student, Upper or Middle School. In this frantic time, it is important for me, as a nurse, to reflect that all people were made in the image of God, which is why they are considered valuable and should be treated as such. SAC taught me to understand others’ values and beliefs and use my inner values and beliefs to respect and love others. I would encourage people interested in a career in the healthcare system to take advantage of the opportunity to serve and make a positive impact. There is no better time to be moulded into a personcentred, hard-working, loving, team player in any nursing setting!
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Richard van der Jagt ’74 MD, FRCP
Medical Evaluator, Office of Clinical Trials, Therapeutic Products Directorate, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ont.
Since joining Health Canada, I have been involved in reviewing treatment trials for COVID-19, but not a vaccine as that is a different branch. I review treatments for many diseases. Given my 28 years as an academic clinician/scientist hematologist/ oncologist before moving to Health Canada, I also review many cancer trials. While working at the Ottawa Hospital, I found it a gratifying experience combining clinical research with clinical practice. Through that work, I was able to assist in developing drugs from bench discoveries to bedside innovation. Many of my former patients are alive today through that work that I did. It is also because of that experience that my job has transitioned to reviewing novel clinical trials proposed for Canadian patients. I am learning cutting-edge research daily, and it is very rewarding, although I miss the face-to-face contact with patients. I know that through my current work, I am able to make new clinical trials safer. This makes testing of these novel drugs safer for patients, all of whom are in need of better treatment. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, I think there will be many more remote visits using electronic formats to see patients, especially when a physical examination is not required. In addition, physicians now have more flexibility to work from home, and after COVID-19, they will want to
Nathan Smeenk ’93
VP Operations, Agile Manufacturing, Inc., Uxbridge, Ont.
Agile Manufacturing is a custom manufacturing company with a central focus on 3D printing. In early March, we educated our staff on COVID-19 symptoms and prevention. A few days later, most of our office staff were working remotely, and our production team had been separated into two shifts. Born out of necessity, this new normal has provided for a more effective, efficient, and happier workforce. At St. Andrew’s, we become brothers, understanding that family extends beyond our relatives. As Agile Manufacturing —a multigenerational company—grows, we treat everyone as a member of the Agile family, celebrating successes as well as the more solemn moments of life. This has never been felt more intensely than in the early days of COVID-19. Our 3D printing is well-positioned to meet the demands of our broad range of clients: from movie props needed in hours 10 The ANDREAN Fall 2020
retain this benefit. In addition, it will also save patients from the hassle of parking and waiting in crowded waiting rooms to see their physician. Ultimately, this is safer for both the patients and the caregivers. From a regulatory perspective, there has been a noted uptick in international collaboration in the race to beat the pandemic and the remote monitoring of patients during clinical trials. Likely, many will want to make use of that momentum in the future to assist in promoting public health. I think COVID-19 has made physicians thankful to do much of their work from home while maintaining the same ability to achieve gratifying results. The innovation born out of necessity has been profound. There has been a swift movement toward global collaboration and the use of platforms such as Microsoft Teams to facilitate networking and flexibility. Collaborative efforts are extremely important to expedite progress in many areas, including medicine and other areas such as business. My experience is that building a successful multi-partner major national collaboration can take time and patience, but, in the end, can lead to much more informative results and faster progress. Through my 28 years of professional experience, I have learned that friends, family, and health should always be the most important priorities in one’s life. COVID-19 has reinforced this. I have seen a lot of suffering, and the battle to diminish this has and will forever be of utmost importance. Life is not all about money.
to bicycle/motorcycle/car/plane parts required for fit, form, function, or production. During the pandemic, it was printing end-use valves, adapters, and manifolds. We helped one of our clients produce parts for a functional ventilator prototype, cutting the research and development cycle in half. We made assembly training models for another ventilator client, ensuring production parts could be assembled without delay. We have printed hundreds of respirator mask designs, helped companies mass-manufacture 3D printed nasal test swabs, and helped produce mass quantities of the ubiquitous faceshields and ear-saver straps. Many of these we donated to medical facilities, retirement homes, and local businesses. These are unique times that require unique solutions. The world is changing, and we are evolving rapidly. As former First Football coach, Gord Ackerman, used to say, “Keep your head on a swivel.” Keep well!
Adam Strumas ’10
Director of Personal-Lines, Assurance KBD, Montreal, Que.
We are hiring like crazy! The insurance industry is growing. People need car and home insurance. It doesn’t go anywhere, even during a pandemic. It’s a safe industry, a growing industry, at least here in Quebec. People still need insurance; people are still moving; landlords still require insurance. Despite the relative health of the insurance industry, it, like so many others, has changed since the start of the COVID-19 crisis. Insurance companies were giving rebates ranging from 15 to 25 per cent for one to three months in the spring, depending on the company. Clients have also had their annual and daily kilometres updated to bring costs down. In some extreme situations, we’ve had clients put their car in storage, which cuts their premium by roughly 80 per cent, however, the car isn’t insured and cannot be driven. We are still growing, and I’m proud to announce Assurance KBD has recently been named on the Globe and Mail’s list of Canada’s top growing companies. I’m passionate about helping people find careers (if any Old Boys are looking for a new challenge, contact me!), and I’ve been interviewing people for jobs non-stop for months. One issue I encountered
when looking for new hires is that people were unable to sit and write their licensing exams during the initial lockdown until July, so fewer people are available to work in this industry. My office has the capacity for 40 seats, but we are keeping it to a maximum of 15 people, who are all trainees. All other employees have been working from home since March. And I’ve had to adapt to virtual coaching. Managing from a distance has been one of the challenges in the past few months, along with not seeing friends and family. I’m using the leadership skills I honed at SAC, particularly through the Cadet program, being student head of Flavelle House, and alternate captain of First Hockey, to get through the challenges of leading through this pandemic. My time at St. Andrew’s gave me a good foundation on the value of teamwork.
Nathan Smeenk ’93 Fall 2020 The ANDREAN
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Peter Neal ’86
Chief Snacking Officer, Neal Brothers Foods Co-founder, Neal Brothers X Shine The Light On, Richmond Hill, Ont.
My brother, Chris, and I were in Los Angeles on March 2, one day ahead of our health food industry’s biggest trade show, when we received news that it would be cancelled. That is when the enormity of this pandemic really started to hit home. Our return flight to Toronto wasn’t until March 6, so we took those few days to give some real thought to how we might best operate our business in the case of a prolonged shutdown. We were anxious like many others, and we’d just learned the devastating news that our biggest distribution item, a Canadian iconic coffee brand, was finding another distribution partner after we’d built it into 42 per cent of our revenue over 18 years! Chris decided we would split the company into two teams and keep each team isolated. We all became familiar with Zoom and many other video conferencing platforms in short order and have successfully operated this way since mid-March. We were constantly reaching out to our team to ensure everyone was feeling safe and supported. We were also trying to supply our teams with PPE and wanted to brand our own face masks but couldn’t find a good local source. I reached out to my networks and found someone who produced locally made garments. Within 48 hours, we had launched our own face mask company called Neal Brothers X Shine the Light On. A portion of all face-mask proceeds would go to support financially challenged Canadians through Community Food Centers Canada (CFCC). Masks may seem like a super-simple idea, but having launched our company 32 years ago with croutons, it is in keeping with how we roll! Funny—my SAC Grade 12 economics teacher, Ian Wilkie, always drove home the importance of the KISS principle: keep it simple, stupid. Well, I guess I took that advice to heart! As of October, we had sold close to 800,000 masks and donated more than $30,000 to CFCC. We also launched a de-alcoholized beer during the pandemic, which perfectly complements our line of Neal Brothers’ snacks! My advice to anyone starting out or trying to reinvent their business or career right now is to think of the opportunities that exist. It is too easy to focus on all of the negativity and closed doors. A lot of businesses are flourishing right now – think Amazon and many others. We could have easily been decimated this year, but we fought on remembering those SAC words to “Quit ye like men, be strong.” X
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A $58,000 WALK IN THE PARK By Chris Traber
W
hile it’s been seven decades since Chris Wansbrough ’50 graduated from St. Andrew’s College as a four-sport student-athlete, the 88-year-old is evidence that a body in motion tends to stay in motion. Sir Isaac Newton’s law of inertia aside, the former president of National Trust Company is also a prime example of altruism. A resident at Toronto’s Belmont House, a long-term care facility and retirement home where he lives with his wife, Betty, Chris recalled a conversation with his daughter, Ruth Gould. They marvelled at a news story about George Markow, a 99-year-old Second World War veteran who completed 1,500 laps and 100 kilometres with a walker around his Newmarket seniors’ residence, raising nearly $47,000 to help fight COVID-19. His daughter suggested that he consider doing something similar.
Chris Wansbrough ’50 outside his Belmont House residence.
“I thought about it and got excited,” Chris says. “If you do something like this, you have to have a worthwhile cause, and it certainly could be done because I’m in good health.” The Herculean task came to fruition after Chris bounced the idea past Belmont’s chief executive, Maria Elias. The timing couldn’t be better, she concluded, since the annual summer fundraiser for much-needed resident equipment was cancelled due to the pandemic lockdown. “Belmont needed money to buy ten therapeutic mattresses for long-termcare residents,” Chris says. “That was the trigger to start walking.” Chris committed to covering 100 km and raising $25,000.
“We have a very nice quadrangle and garden,” he says. “It’s there, and it’s flat. Besides, if you’ve got to be locked down because of the pandemic, it’s a great place to be.” The first steps began in mid-June, with Chris trekking six km daily without a walking aid. He started early in the morning when the garden was empty and completed laps later in the day. As news of his marathon stroll spread, donations began arriving from across Canada, Britain, and the United States. Three weeks later, he crossed the finish line, and Belmont was $58,000 to the good. “Yes, I did it,” he says modestly. “Thankfully, the weather was fine.” Chris is no stranger to benevolence. He maintains a foundation to support women’s hockey through scholarships at the University of Toronto, his alma mater. Would the spry long-distance walker engage in another fundraiser? “Yes,” he says, unhesitating. “It’s got to be a good cause.” When the importance of fitness is discussed, Chris circled back to his four years as a boarding student at St. Andrew’s, where he excelled in football, hockey, cricket, and swimming. “The Athletic program was excellent, and while I didn’t always win, the friendships lasted a lifetime,” he says, referring to school chums including Frank Moores ’51, Terry Malone ’51, Michael Ballentyne ’50, Roy McMurtry ’50, and Bill Lawrence ’49, whose son, David ’81, is a member of the SAC Board of Governors. “St. Andrew’s taught me life lessons about leadership, respect, and to keep going until you’ve achieved your goal.” X
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Like many organizations, St. Andrew’s has not been immune to the challenges of DURING A the pandemic. PANDEMIC Still, the boys are thriving, learning, playing, and enjoying their current reality. Here are some of the ways St. Andrew’s has adapted in these unusual times. The highlighted mitigation strategies and changes to schedules and programming have allowed maximum flexibility, health, and safety. REIMAGINING THE
SAC
EXPERIENCE By Nicolette Fleming
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ACADEMICS
While most schools moved to quadmestering (two subjects at a time for two months), SAC maintained its full slate of academics. Every minute of the day has been carefully fashioned to prevent students from congregating to ensure maximum physical distancing. Students unable to join us on campus for reasons including illness, failed morning screening app, or travel restrictions take part in SACFlex, which brings the in-person atmosphere seamlessly to the students’ remote learning space. The program is managed daily as students move in and out of online learning.
STUDENT LIFE
SAC Casual became the new uniform, replacing ties, dress shirts, and blazers, which aren’t laundered as regularly. As long as the item is SAC-branded, the students are free to wear anything from sweatpants and gray flannels to golf shirts and hoodies. This change has undeniably been a big hit with the boys. With the more controlled timing of academics and athletics and significant changes to lunchtimes and breaks, it became necessary to find a way of incorporating co-curricular programming. We introduced Wellness Wednesday in the Upper School, so instead of having a Prefect meeting over lunch, leadership groups have a designated time on Wednesdays, along with chapel, advisory, university counselling, ACPlus, music, and much more. Much of these happen live for some groups and virtually for others on a rotating schedule, so all can benefit from the in-person gathering.
ATHLETICS
Physical fitness plays an integral role in the SAC experience. The pandemic has not changed the fact that students need to be active. We prepared for a positive return to athletics, guided by the Ministries of Health and Education, and in some cases, used recommendations from the national sports authorities.
In the Middle School, we introduced Avant-Garde Wednesday, which offers students engineering design challenges, coding, digital citizenship, and so much more. The boys are finding new passions and greatly benefiting from this innovative programming. >>
With ample indoor and outdoor spaces, students participate in small-group fitness such as yoga, track and field, and mountain biking. Varsity and JV sports teams run a modified program focused on strength and conditioning and individual practice plans. Rather than team sports, our youngest Andreans stay with their classroom cohort rotating weekly through multi-sport activities and outdoor education. “This set-up is working well,” says Michele Derwin, Middle School Athletics Coordinator. “The students are learning from experts in each area and are getting to try their hand at something they might not otherwise try. Plus, they never have to leave the safety net of their group.” Fall 2020 The ANDREAN
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BOARDING With more than 220
students in boarding, the residential staff determined a course of action to ensure the health and safety of students and staff living on campus. Face masks are required everywhere except in the student’s room, and capacity limits are posted on washrooms, common areas, and laundry facilities. No visitors are allowed inside any residential building, including those who live in another residence on campus, and mid-week leave is highly discouraged. The kitchens are closed, but single-serve snacks are available, and all house meetings happen via Zoom or outdoors. However, the students still have access to all the great benefits of boarding, such as extra help, wellness support, and camaraderie.
16 The ANDREAN Fall 2020
THE ARTS Within the St. Andrew’s
experience, the arts have a special and sacred place so, of course, we had to get creative to deliver our typical diverse and dynamic arts offerings. While art and drama required little modification, music took the biggest hit. After the Ontario Music Educators’ Association suggested no wind instruments, Matt MacIsaac, Director of Piping, ordered electronic bagpipes for in-class practice. Upper School musicians are focusing on all things percussion, while Middle School students are learning the ukulele. Our extracurricular bands, such as the Wind Ensemble, practice at home via Zoom with Head of Music, Sandi Chasson, floating between breakout rooms of sectioned instruments. X
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A LETTER FROM THE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
B
y now, we all know what a difference one year can make and how quickly things can change in this high-speed, interconnected world in which we live. But, given the uncertain future, you can’t help but think about how our world—personally, socially, economically—has changed and the fragility of it all. Reflecting on the year through the lens of Executive Director of Advancement at St. Andrew’s College, the prevailing theme was community. And, in a year of constant flux, it was nice to reaffirm something we already knew and have known for a long time: the Andrean community is close-knit, compassionate, and stronger than the sum of its parts.
The year began with great optimism and excitement as we launched into our Legacy Campaign, an ambitious project aimed at growing our Endowment Fund and Planned Giving Society to increase scholarships and bursaries, support academic programs, and, relevantly enough, securing the future of the College. Early in the year, we travelled to meet with our fellow Andreans in Fredericton, N.B., and Halifax, N.S., across the pond to the UK, and down through Jamaica and Barbados. We hosted a spirited Old Boy soccer game in Mexico City and enjoyed the always-lively atmosphere at our New York City chapter dinner. And then in March, as we were visiting with our youngest alums at Western University in London, Ont., news broke of the province-wide shutdown as the global pandemic began to hit home in Canada. Like everyone else, our first few weeks in lockdown were spent trying to unwrap the mysteries of COVID-19 and understand the health risks and potential impact it could have on our families. As the world slowed, our attention turned to the health and well-being of those in our community, supporting our frontline workers, and doing all we could to mitigate the effects of the pandemic. As students and faculty turned to virtual learning in the spring, we also went online connecting with our parents and Old Boys through a series of phone calls, emails, and Zoom meetings. While we missed hosting several marquee events on campus, particularly the Red & White Gala and 50-year+ Reunion Dinner, the camaraderie and spirit of the Andrean community was evident in our virtual meetings. In one way, it provided us with a different opportunity to reignite old friendships and show our care for one another. And yes, we even hosted a Zoom call for our newest 50-year club members. From the SAC Foundation standpoint, in the winter, we were halfway through a major renovation of McLaughlin Hall—our new science and technology building—when work was stopped, and we had just begun construction of our new Gate House property near the College’s Memorial Gates. Our endowment peaked in February at an all-time high of nearly $36.9 million before the market crash. However, I am pleased to report that almost all those losses in the market have been recouped at the time of this writing, and construction on both building projects is nearing completion. Looking at the 2020-2021 school year, it is least surprising that our school leadership, staff, and faculty worked diligently throughout the summer to prepare a safe and healthy on-campus learning environment for our boys or that our current families continue to support the School by making an education at SAC a priority for their sons. Challenging times reveal character, and our spirit has shown through. With the realization that there is still a long road ahead, it is reassuring to know our community’s strengths will carry us through. Yours truly, 18 The ANDREAN Fall 2020
Greg Reid Executive Director of Advancement & President of the SAC Foundation
SAC Emergency Tuition Relief Fund By Greg Reid While students, faculty, and staff returned to the St. Andrew’s campus this fall, it was under conditions we have come to regard as our new normal: mandatory masks, no visitors to campus, unidirectional hallways and stairs, physical distancing, sanitizing desks and chairs after every class, no interschool sports, and plexiglass dividers between diners. Despite these obstacles to engagement and collaboration, our students are demonstrating resilience and rising to the challenge of learning and growing in the St. Andrew’s tradition.
The pandemic’s impact on our students and their families was hardest felt in the spring when we had to close campus and pivot to learning in a mostly synchronous online environment. Our faculty answered the call, and students were able to adapt to distance learning quickly. We witnessed boys revealing new strengths and skills and teachers using their creativity to involve students in a virtual world. However, we also discovered many Andrean families were impacted financially by the pandemic. We have seen extensive increased
demand for need-based financial aid to support our current families to ensure their sons can continue their studies and graduate from St. Andrew’s. In response, we created the SAC Emergency Financial Aid Fund and, recognizing the need to support fellow Andreans impacted by the pandemic, several of our families supported the fund by donating all or part of their 2019-2020 COVID19-related tuition refunds. If you would like to support this important school fund in any way, please contact the SAC Advancement office.
We are grateful to the families who have already supported this fund: BRAY
MACPHERSON
BROEKAERT
MEI
CHOW
MENG
DAINARD
QIAO
DEPAOLI
RAMON
DRAPER
SHEN
FALCONI
SIMPSON
GOROCHOWSKIJ
THOMSON
HUDSON
YAN
JEPPESEN
YEN
JOINER
ZHOU
LEWIS
ANONYMOUS (5)
LU
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NEW GOVERNORS Mark Hart is the principal of NCompass Financial, a boutique financial services firm that provides commercial real estate debt capital and consulting services. Mark has more than 30 years of financial services experience and has held executive roles at banks in Canada and the United States. As a former vicepresident at a major Canadian bank, Mark was responsible for successfully overseeing commercial mortgage portfolios in Canada ($8+ billion) while managing all business operations. Separately, as a senior vice-president and chief sales officer for one of North America’s largest commercial finance firms, Mark was responsible for helping to shepherd sales strategy and business growth across the company’s five Canadian divisions. While living in the U.S., Mark gained valuable experience working for a top U.S. bank as a group vice-president, managing a high-growth consumer-lending business. Before his promotion, he held a VP role in the international factoring division of the bank. Mark served for seven years on the corporate advisory board for the Canadian Association of Urban Financial Professionals. As a former board member and vicechair with Yellow Brick House shelter in York Region for seven years, Mark has taken courses in the essentials of governance of public sector boards, generative model of governance, and strategic responsibilities of governance. Mark and his wife, Youlanda, live in Stouffville with their son, Ethan ’22, who started at SAC in Grade 8, and their daughter, Sydney.
THIS SCHOOL YEAR WE HAVE BOYS FROM THE FOLLOWING COUNTRIES AT ST. ANDREW’S: Antigua and Barbuda Austria Barbados Bermuda Brazil Canada Cayman Islands China Ethiopia Germany Hong Kong Iran Jamaica Japan Kenya Latvia
Malaysia Mexico Nigeria Oman Qatar Russia South Africa South Korea Switzerland The Bahamas Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom United States Vietnam
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Armen Khajetoorian ’03 is a partner
in the real estate and development group at Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP. He is the head of the commercial leasing group at Cassels, focusing on all aspects of commercial leasing transactions, including reviewing, drafting, and negotiating retail, office, and industrial leases and subleases.
Before joining Cassels in Toronto, Armen lived in New York City for 12 years and, during that time, worked for three law firms. His final position was as senior counsel in the New York office of Loeb & Loeb LLP, where he focused on commercial leasing and conveyancing transactions. Armen has extensive experience in representing both landlords and tenants in Canada and America, including representing international property managers and developers (such as Ivanhoé Cambridge, SL Green, and Brookfield) and international luxury retailers (such as Louis Vuitton, Gucci, and YSL). Armen received his bachelor of management and organizational studies degree (with a specialization in finance and administration) from Western University in 2007 and his juris doctor degree from New York Law School in 2010. He was called to the bar in New York in 2011 and Ontario in 2019. Armen attended St. Andrew’s from 1998 to 2003. He is the head of the New York City chapter of the St. Andrew’s College Old Boys Association.
SAC FOUNDATION - STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2020
2020 2019 REVENUE Donations $4,048,347 $4,404,870 Net Investment Income $1,530,312 $1,773,074 TOTAL REVENUE $5,578,659 $6,177,944 EXPENSES Bank and Broker Fees $19,409 $12,971 Planned Giving $144,613 $150,115 $164,022 $163,086 DISTRIBUTIONS Capital Projects $2,326,340 $2,571,309 Scholarships, Bursaries, Awards $1,166,684 $1,031,827 Unrestricted Donations $687,236 $674,945 Designated Donations $219,606 $269,930 Gifts in Kind $12,309 $14,145
TOTAL DISTRIBUTED TO ST. ANDREW’S COLLEGE
$4,412,175
$4,562,156
ENDOWMENT FUND SUMMARY Excess Revenue over Distribution $1,002,462 $1,452,702 Unrealized (Loss) Gain on Investments ($940,644) $296,014 Fund Balance, beginning of year $34,562,824 $32,814,108 Fund Balance, end of year $34,624,642 $34,562,824
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OUR 2020 GRADUATES’ UNIVERSITY DESTINATIONS Acadia University Ethan Landry Brock University Cole Lapshinoff Bentley University Cole Galata Carleton University Joshua Baldassi Colby Jackson Jack Oomen
Brendan Dilworth Nathan Falconi Jacob Iwai Ethan Joiner Andrew Kraik Bryce Neil Brendan O’Brien Andrew O’Hare Christopher Seguin Bianchi Davide Zadra Santa Monica College Artem Kotchanov
Dalhousie University Reese Enderlein Kieran Stevenson D’Arcy Tawaststjerna Daniel Vercillo
University College London Jiarong Xie
Dartmouth College Michael Hanrahan
University of British Columbia Nolan Michelberger Dutch Smith Weiyang Ye
Emily Carr University of Art + Design Mathew Aubie
University of Bristol Mohammad Alharbi
Harvard University Jack Bar
University of California, Berkeley Tsz Sang (Jacky) Kwok Stephen Liu
Johns Hopkins University Arthur Wang
University of California, San Diego Tsz Lap (Leon) Kwok
King’s College London JieXi (Jesse) Liu
University of Guelph Luke Burleigh Jack McCann Thomas Raeburn Justin Yien
Long Island University Daniel Baldassarra McGill University Lucas Chew Christopher Marton Ayotunde (Tunde) Ogunremi Merrimack College Mark Hillier Devlin O’Brien Miami University Frankie Carogioiello Kienan Draper
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Sunny Wang University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Matthew Deo Université de Sherbrooke Jason Grenier University of Ottawa Oruese Erivwo
Michigan State University Neebeesh Elliott Neebin Elliott
University of Southern California Zhilin (Mike) Chen Sehyeon Yi
New York University Qiutan (Leo) Li
University of St. Gallen Finn Lehmann
Ontario College of Art & Design (OCAD) University JieHeng (Justin) Liu
University of St. Thomas Alejandro Guraieb Abella
Okanagan College Liam Cavan Queen’s University Cael Bisset-Cavallin
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University of Toronto Amir Reza Behzad Moghadam Rui Geng Li Ruojie (Roger) Hou Suqing (Richard) Liu Kevin Mi
Guanchen Pan Richard Rong Andrew Scott Taha Shafiee Jihao (Cooper) Shi Hong Hui (Tyson) Tao Ziyuan (Michael) Wang Zonghan (Tony) Yang Zheng Da (Frank) Zhong University of Waterloo Rong Qi (Richard) Fan Sanjay Gupta Arsh Kamran Jia Bin (Marco) Li PuYuan (Jack) Li Wenwu (Michael) Wang Kevin Zhang Xin Cheng (Alex) Zhang Vanderbilt University Tyler Chan Western University Robert (James) Anderson Ethan Ashby Michael Bessonov Carter Beswick Connor Broekaert Leonard Chen Matteo Derbedrosian Justin Hicks Alexander Jones Dorian Jones Zachary Kolm Henry Li Alexei Lisin James Morrison Sebastian Murphy Ives Shayan Naqvi Alex Power Andrew Rideout Ethan Ritchie Owen Shuttleworth David (Senna) Summerbell Daniel Svirsky Liam Trnik Zi Yi Andy Yang Wilfrid Laurier University David Coverdale Evan Ellig Jonathan Gagnon Joshua Lombard Sam Lombard Cole Nip Blake Phillips Caleb Veisman Gap Year Christian D’Alessandro Oliver Ingram Thomas Kloepfer Lassi Lehti Aidan Walters
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24 The ANDREAN Fall 2020
HOW ST. ANNE’S SCHOOL CAME TO BE
By Nicolette Fleming
C
an you imagine how much a benefit it might be for girls—perhaps the sisters of our own boys, your daughters, or granddaughters—to enjoy the same creativity, spirit, and involvement that drives the St. Andrew’s College experience? We can, and that vision is becoming a reality. The story of St. Anne’s School is one of relationships, persistence, and lofty dreams. It is not a quick or easy story, and our 12-year journey has seen us climb to great heights only to find a more challenging vista on the horizon. The St. Anne’s campus, located one kilometre away as the crow flies from St. Andrew’s College, was originally built and owned by past SAC parents, Anne and Andrew Dunin. In 2008, Kevin McHenry, Head of School, joked to Andrew that his Jacobean manor would be the ideal setting for a school for girls. Andrew laughed but agreed. And so, the slow progress to today’s St. Anne’s School began. The first time you may have seen mention of a school for girls was in the 2011-2016 Shaping Our Future strategic plan. A copious amount of research was executed, but the stars did not align, so nothing ever came to fruition. In fall 2016, the Dunin property was sold to Shining Hill Group (SHG), which left little to no hope of securing the property for a school for girls. “Deflated” was the feeling so many had after nearly a decade of dreaming. However, relationships abound, and together with the Dunins, SAC’s Leadership Team went to work, this time needing to sell the idea to the developers. It certainly helped that the Town of Aurora supported the initiative. “St. Andrew’s is a strong symbol of academics, progressive learning, and higher level of achievement in Aurora,” states Mayor Tom Mrakas. “This unique opportunity to have an all-girls private school will create significant >>
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“this unique opportunity to have an all-girls private school will create significant educational opportunities for girls in york region.” – Tom Mrakas, Mayor of Aurora
educational opportunities for girls in York Region. I am thrilled about the announcement to open a new independent school for girls in Aurora.” Andrew and Kevin were the facilitators of the deal with the developers, and the College’s Board of Governors provided the support and backing on March 2, 2020, when they unanimously voted in favour of further investigating the opportunity. The tipping point seemed to be a reminder that 121 years ago, a decision was made to open a school for boys with the purchase of a small house at Chestnut Park in Toronto, and since then, St. Andrew’s has been quite a success. “I owe a great deal of gratitude to Anne and Andrew,” says Kevin. “They are incredibly passionate about bringing St. Anne’s School to life. Without them, this opportunity would never have presented itself, and if it weren’t for our relentless persistence together, St. Anne’s would not be coming to fruition.” After working with the Dunins and speaking with the Town of Aurora and the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority, Kevin and Andrew set to work sharing their passion for singlesex education. Along with others from SAC and the town, the pair quickly demonstrated the value a school for girls would bring to York Region and the Shining Hill community. When Kevin first presented the opportunity four years ago to Paul Bailey, a partner with Shining Hill Group, Paul was adamant a school for girls was not just a long shot but insisted it would not happen because they had other plans for the property. However, Paul says a persistent, charming, and polished Kevin pressed 26 The ANDREAN Fall 2020
on. The back-and-forth dance evolved over the years until finally, SHG was inspired by the vision for St. Anne’s School. Through collaborative negotiations, a fair deal was struck to purchase acreage for the future development of academic and arts buildings, an athletics centre, and residences. “Shining Hill embraces this as an exciting opportunity. Having St. Anne’s as part of our new community will make it very unique,” says Paul. “We are proud to be a part of this ambitious undertaking.” Kevin stands firm in his belief that all great school achievements are a collective triumph. “We are more than just a school. We are a community of people who develop deep and meaningful relationships with our students, their parents, and our wider community. The evolution of St. Anne’s is really about all those special connections.”
why a school for girls?
St. Andrew’s College has been shaping the minds and futures of young men in our community and around the world since 1899. Isn’t it about time we provide the same to young women? While a school for girls in York Region has been a long-held dream for SAC, there has never been a more auspicious time to bring this to reality. Globally, cultural shifts are calling for gender inclusivity and the advancement of women and girls. “There is a cry to empower women to find, embrace, and enact their strengths,” says Sabrina D’Angelo, St. Anne’s first Head of School. “We know that access to exceptional educational opportunities can be a significant foundational piece to empower girls to be leaders in their communities, their careers, their families, and beyond.” A school of this calibre will contribute significantly to girls’ education and the development of strong, influential, and empowered female leaders. The goal is to model St. Anne’s after St. Andrew’s, offering an inspirational and progressive learning environment that will create a culture of exploration, discovery, and achievement. We will focus on STEM/STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, math), community giving, leadership, and wellness to
“i owe a great deal of gratitude to anne and andrew. they are incredibly passionate about bringing st. anne’s school to life.” – Kevin McHenry, Head of School, St. Andrew’s College
develop well-rounded citizens with high expectations of themselves and others.
two schools under one umbrella
“We can now exclaim that young women will be provided an equal opportunity to explore the arts, push boundaries, unleash talents, and discover their true strengths,” says Sabrina. And the world needs more of this. “Now girls can receive an educational experience that is inquiring, authentic, and as engaging as the one afforded to our boys,” says Sabrina, who is currently Assistant Head of School, Director of Middle School, Diversity & Inclusion at SAC. “St. Anne’s will be a place where girls will flourish, fail, and ultimately, build the confidence to take on the world, and that is going to be celebrated.” A quick browse through the National Coalition of Girls’ Schools, of which St. Anne’s School is now a proud member, reveals many substantial benefits to attending all-girls schools, including higher academic scores, increased selfconfidence, higher career aspirations, undergraduate degrees in science, math, and technology, prominent leadership positions, and heightened public speaking skills. We can already picture it—our future Cygnets are going to change the world!
You might be wondering if this is the first step in an eventual move to co-ed, but rest assured, that is not the case. St. Anne’s and St. Andrew’s will benefit greatly from each other’s proximity.
When you walk around the new campus, you will notice the Dunin coat of arms, sometimes designed in stained glass, sometimes chiselled into a fireplace mantel. It served as inspiration for the logo we have now and pays appropriate tribute to the Dunin family’s commitment alongside the St. Andrew’s team to bring St. Anne’s to bear. Notably, the colours red and silver in the Dunin coat of arms align nicely with the St. Andrew’s logo and crest, ensuring a lasting connection between the two schools. The oak leaves that serve as the swan’s wings ready to take
The schools are close enough to easily come together for educational and co-curricular opportunities, such as dramatic performances, the White Ribbon Campaign, and community service initiatives, but far enough apart to establish their own paths forward. “Building a partnership with SAC is a priority,” says Sabrina. “As educators and leaders in single-sex educational environments, we must provide opportunities for girls and boys to interact in healthy and meaningful ways by permitting socialization and collaboration, and to be positive members of society who promote equity, inclusion, and diversity.” The success of single-sex education will be strengthened by these exchanges, offering the best of both worlds under one umbrella.
We’re known as the Cygnets, the term for young swans.
the logo and name
flight are not only part of the Dunin coat of arms, they are a nod to the beautiful oak trees prominent on the school grounds. The powerful swan is the centrepiece of the logo, a symbol of peace, tranquility, loyalty, strength, grace, artistry, and beauty, traits we hope our future students and graduates will embody. Swans mature into their white coats, showing girls that nothing is born into perfection. Swan symbolism is about learning and finding your radiance and excellence, not that which has been prescribed by others. >>
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“now girls can receive an educational experience that is inquiring, authentic, and as engaging as the one afforded to our boys.” – Sabrina D’Angelo, Head of St. Anne’s School
Even through trials and tribulations, the swan is a reminder of grace and the need to be humble. Girls must consistently strive to find their voice, happiness, and place in this world, and appreciate and celebrate their imperfections. What a phenomenal message this sends to young women. Swans embody faith and humility, which are also the virtues of Saint Anne. She is the patroness of many things female, but what stands out is that she is the patroness of educators. How apt for a school for girls. Her virtues are those we hope to instill in girls attending St. Anne’s: grateful and generous, attentive and discerning, compassionate and loving, faith-filled and hopeful, eloquent and truthful, learned and wise, curious and active.
looking forward
Construction will begin soon to convert the mansion into a school. A decision regarding opening day, whether September 2022 or September 2023, will be announced by June 30, 2021. That first year we will offer Grades 5 through 9, expanding by a grade in each subsequent year until we graduate our first Grade 12 class. Like anything, this will take time to evolve. St. Andrew’s was not built overnight but was established by the generosity, innovation, and passion of Andreans the world over. Thankfully, we have the knowledge of the past to
influence the future, and collectively we will turn St. Anne’s School into a leading all-girls educational institution. Fundraising has already begun through the School’s Dream it Forward Campaign, allowing donors to give directly to the area about which they are most passionate. Anyone interested in learning more about philanthropic opportunities, following the journey to becoming a fully functioning school, or watching the spectacular fiveminute promotional video produced by William Scoular, SAC’s Head of Drama and Film, can visit www.stannesschool. ca. X
Coincidently, Anne is also the name of one of St. Anne’s biggest supporters, Anne Dunin. We felt it appropriate to pay homage to a woman, and her family, who have given their hearts and precious time to this incredibly worthwhile venture. Anne points to Kevin’s love of learning that has led to endless possibilities for so many boys. “Look what a dream and passion for learning can lead to for our daughters as well: St. Anne’s School for girls, an extraordinary place for exceptional opportunities and achievements,” she says. “It’s time to enhance our daughters’ futures. Let’s go, girls! Rise like the swan and leave the nest, and you, too, can soar to greatness!”
STAY CONNECTED
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Twitter: @StAnnesAurora Facebook: facebook.com/StAnnesAurora Instagram: @stannesaurora
Meet the first Head of School Sabrina D’Angelo assumes the reigns of St. Anne’s School By Nicolette Fleming
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If you have been a student or parent of a boy in the Middle School at St. Andrew’s in the last two decades, you are likely familiar with the incredibly talented, dedicated, and passionate Sabrina D’Angelo. Sabrina fiercely seeks out challenges that push her beyond her comfort zone and feels others should have the same confidence in themselves to take risks, be fearless of failure, and ultimately find success—all requirements to developing one’s whole self. This also happens to be one of her educational philosophies: developing the whole student through academics, athletics, arts, and community, leading to a human better equipped to contribute to and serve their world. When asked about something she can’t wait to teach the girls of St. Anne’s, Sabrina says, “We are ready to guide young women to create self-confidence, build a network of girls supporting girls, and make sense of the mixed and sometimes confusing messages that face our generation in a world driven by tech and social media.” She looks to encourage St. Anne’s girls to break the mould, push their boundaries, speak their truth, believe in themselves, try new things, and find their place in the SAS community, which she plans to build on strength, kindness, and compassion. “We want to create a culture of honesty, selfreflection, and wellness as an independent student and collaborative classmate. We want to meet the needs of our twenty-firstcentury girls through authentic, exploratory, and interdisciplinary programming. And, of course, we want to strike the perfect balance in our partnership with St. Andrew’s.” Like many Andreans, she can’t wait until opening day when she can begin to build community with her first set of charges. The perfect first day is already formed in her mind: a beautiful drive up the winding roadway to find a bright-eyed girl contemplating her dreams before she enters the school for the first time; a full kiss ’n ride of parents being greeted by all the faculty and staff as they embark on their first day of classes; and, a cozy, home-like atmosphere that will foster a sense of comfort and community. Girls will flood the Great Hall as she shares the genesis of St. Anne’s and imparts on them how lucky they are to pioneer history, create traditions, and leave a legacy as the first students to enter through the doors of St. Anne’s School.
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Even as she excitedly stares down the future, Sabrina continues her commitment to providing SAC boys the best Middle School experience possible and supporting SAC’s daily operations. However, she is also laser-focused on driving the fundraising initiatives to turn the Dunin estate into a fitted school, build a strong faculty and staff network, and provide guidance and support to admissions, advancement, and communications projects. St. Anne’s won’t be Sabrina’s first foray into independent girls’ education. During her B.Ed., she completed her placement at Branksome Hall, an all-girls independent school in Toronto, where she worked with girls in a variety of disciplines and on social-emotional initiatives. She joined the St. Andrew’s community in 2002, teaching Upper and Middle School French. Sabrina quickly demonstrated her strengths as a leader and, in 2005, was appointed Assistant Director of Middle School. In 2013, she was promoted to Director of Middle School, and in 2020, to Assistant Head of School. As a member of the SAC Leadership Team, Sabrina has been heavily involved in the School’s daily operations and planning
long-term objectives. She helped develop and execute the School’s last two strategic plans and CAIS accreditations and is known for supporting faculty and staff growth through professional development. She also sits or has sat on several committees: Equity, Diversity, and Inclusivity Committee, for which she is the chair, CAIS Committee, Financial Aid Committee, Standing Committee for Excellence in Teaching and Learning, Assessment and Evaluation Task Force, and Curriculum Writing. She also completed a three-year term as a faculty representative on the SAC Board of Governors. Sabrina holds a BA in French with a minor in geography; a bachelor of education, intermediate/senior French and geography from OISE, University of Toronto; a master of education from Nipissing University; a CAIS Leadership diploma; and all elements of the Principal Qualification program with an independent school focus. “The St. Anne’s Head of School selection panel was hugely impressed by Sabrina’s leadership skills, commitment to innovative and quality education, passion for learning, and strategic vision for SAC and St. Anne’s,” says Dan Stock, SAC’s Chair of the Board in his announcement letter. “She is a strong and collaborative leader who will guide St. Anne’s through the development of the new school and implement a strategic plan that will lead St. Anne’s to greatness. Sabrina is unequivocally the right choice, and we are thrilled to have found the best person within our school walls.” The spark that is evident when Sabrina speaks about her new opportunity quickly transitions to a different emotional state when she considers the prospect of leaving her second home. “St. Andrew’s is truly a special place. The faculty and staff have taught me so many valuable lessons about leadership, kindness, strength, and humility, and I will miss the boys’ easygoing nature, their abundance of energy, their excitement and eagerness to learn, and their forgiving and kind-heartedness. I will miss everything about the SAC community.” It wasn’t a tough decision for Sabrina to aim for the headship at St. Anne’s because she isn’t fully leaving the SAC fold. “I am lucky to have such an amazing opportunity await me,” she beams, “and I’m grateful for the continued partnership that I will have with the school that first stole my heart.” X
OFF TO THE NEXT LEVEL!
Here are some current SAC students who recently secured NCAA and U Sports commitments
HARRISON BALLARD ’22
University of Massachusetts, Boston, Mass.
LUKE DEVLIN ’22
Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y.
CAMERON MITCHELL ’21
St. Mary’s University, Halifax, N.S.
JOSH ORRICO ’21
St. Lawrence University, Canton, N.Y.
JUSTIN ERTEL ’21
Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y.
MATTHEW MORDEN ’22
Harvard University, Boston, Mass.
GEOFFREY OGENRWOT ’21
Dickinson College, Carlisle, Pa.
LIAM TAYLOR ’21
Western University, London, Ont. Fall 2020 The ANDREAN
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Also featured is Chris Egi ’14, who captained the First Basketball Saints for three years and was twice named team MVP. He was also named to the training camp roster for the 2014 Canadian Junior Men’s National Team. Chris competed in the FIBA world championship for Team Canada in 2011 and 2012, and in 2013 the team placed sixth. He was a member of Harvard University’s men’s basketball team, serving as captain in his senior year (2017-2018) and helping Harvard to its sixth Ivy League championship in program history. New grey logoed mats under the baskets, refurbished padding on the scorers’ table and backboards, and new red gym cove (trim) tie the space together to give it a fresh look.
BEDARD ATHLETIC CENTRE RECEIVES FACELIFT AFTER FOUR DECADES By Nicolette Fleming
I
n 1979-1980, a new athletic centre opened at St. Andrew’s College with a double gymnasium, three squash courts, change rooms, and athletic administration offices. In 1990, a 25-metre pool, three more squash courts, and classrooms were added to the facility. In 1998, it was officially named the Bedard Athletic Centre to recognize Bob Bedard’s dedication and service as the College’s sixth Headmaster. Even through an addition and a name change, this athletic facility has never received a facelift. In fact, the hand-painted crest and SAC on the south and north walls were still the original paint, until this summer when a fresh coat of off-white was layered on. The SAC crest and the more recently re-introduced 1903 athletics crest were muralled on the east and west walls
and a hand-painted “Home of the Saints” on the south. The showpiece, however, is the north wall, which celebrates the sports played in this gymnasium and pays tribute to some of our more recent graduates, including Austin Valjas ’15, who not only earned Athlete of the Year on graduation day, he earned MVP honours for First Volleyball and Nordic Ski, and was named MIP for Senior Track and Field. Austin competed at OFSAA for all three teams during his time at SAC, was nationally ranked in cross-country skiing, and broke the School’s 22-year record in pole vault. Austin also represented Canada at the 2017 U21 world beach volleyball championships in Nanjing, China. After graduation, he went on to play varsity volleyball for the University of Toronto.
The gymnasium wasn’t the only area renovated. The hallway floor was replaced with poured concrete to match the flooring in McLaughlin Hall, the walls painted red and black, and new lighting was installed to modernize the space. The team photos that once adorned the north wall of the first floor have come down to make way for a 100-year athletics history wall. Photos post2000 can be found by browsing the interactive touch screen outside the east gym doors. As part of the McLaughlin Hall renovation, the foyer between McLaughlin and Bedard was expanded, creating a space to further celebrate athletics at SAC. Photos from various decades can be found rotating on a new two-by-two video wall, and tributes to great SAC athletes like Ken Marshall ’81 (read his story on the next page) can be found, along with a tribute to Bob Bedard in the new trophy case. Additionally, the School’s oldest trophy – the Wallace Cup – has a stylish new home at the heart of the vestibule. While we can’t welcome anyone but students to the renovated Bedard Athletic Centre (to open later this fall), we cannot wait to show it off when visitors are again on campus. For now, we’ll let the pictures tell a thousand words. X Fall 2020 The ANDREAN
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RE D S W E AT E RC OAT TO H A N G P RO U DLY I N N E W BE DA RD V E S T I BU L E
By Nicolette Fleming
34 The ANDREAN Fall 2020
awarded to top athletes on a varsity team. Red bars were awarded to top athletes who earned colours on younger teams. As Jim notes, no colours were granted to certain teams in some years, so Ken’s athletic achievements at SAC are without peer.
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thletics has always played an essential role in the lives of boys at St. Andrew’s College, and the renovation to the Bedard Athletic Centre has put their collective achievements on display.
Ken never did purchase that white sweatercoat. He continued to add his white colours to his red sweater, soon to be displayed in the new Bedard vestibule. “I never thought about a white sweater as it was never my focus to show representation regarding the sports I was playing, but more about playing,” says Ken.
One such Old Boy with notable acclaim is Ken Marshall ’81, whose remarkable contribution to SAC teams from 1974 to his graduation in 1981 is still impressive today.
His stellar SAC athletic career started in the fall of 1974 when he played on the School’s first U14 Soccer team. His athletic prowess was evident at a young age. U14 Soccer coach, Rupert Ray, wrote in the 1974-75 Review, “Right from the start, Ken Marshall showed his ability to score goals and to lead others, making him a natural captain, quite a distinction since he was the only grade seven on the team.”
It was former Director of Advancement, Jim Herder ’64, who suggested Ken’s incredible sweatercoat be on display in the Class of 1954
A seven-year career saw Ken play four years of First Soccer, two as captain, three as the leading scorer, and earn two MVP honours; three years of
“There has never been a sweatercoat with as many colours earned. Frankly, I was amazed the first time I saw it.” – Jim Herder ’64 Archives. “There has never been a sweatercoat with as many colours earned. Frankly, I was amazed the first time I saw it,” he says. Ken’s red sweatercoat is outfitted with 11 white bars and eight red bars, unmatched in school history, as highlighted by his Headmaster, Dr. Thomas Hockin. “I had no idea of the achievement until Dr. Hockin mentioned it during our Prize Day graduation speech,” says Ken. “Someone did the research, and I wasn’t aware in any way.” The sweater was given to the School at that time. Historically, a white sweatercoat could be purchased by a student who earned a First team white bar, known as a colour, in two different sports, comparable to earning MVP honours today. This special distinction would only be
First Hockey, all as an alternate captain; and five years of First Cricket, two years as captain, also earning MVP honours. Ken played in 245 games at the First-team level: 101 First Soccer, 93 First Hockey, and 51 First Cricket. An athletic “A” is awarded to students who accumulate 70 points in their graduating year. Ken had approximately 160 points, which, as stated on the plaque accompanying Ken’s sweater, is one of the highest, if not the highest, totals ever achieved. The late W.T. Paul Pentland ’37 is the only other student in SAC history to be a member of 12 or more First teams in a major sport discipline. After graduating, Ken considered several postsecondary offers and landed at Rollins College in Winter Park, Fla. Soccer was their No. 1 sport and he was a starter during his four years. He fondly remembers being an NCAA finalist in 1981
and 1982 and capturing two Sunshine State Championships. Ken also found time in his senior year to start the foundation for what eventually became the Rollins women’s soccer program, and he was involved with the program for a short while after graduating with his BA in business and economics. Ken’s other athletic accolades, outside of NCAA finalists achievements, include playing soccer on a provincial champion team; playing against or training with some of soccer’s biggest names, including Franz Beckenbauer, Gerd Müller, and Clyde Best; playing exhibition matches against Canada’s 1986 World Cup team, which happens to be the only time Canada made it to the World Cup; and training with and playing games against the North American Soccer League teams such as the Toronto Blizzard, Tampa Bay Rowdies, Montreal Manic, and Fort Lauderdale Strikers, to mention a few. Soccer and golf continued to fill his professional portfolio. In his early years, Ken owned and operated Ontario Soccer Association-sanctioned soccer camps in Stouffville, Ont., and summer and winter youth camps. Golf began to play a more prominent role in Ken’s career in 1990 when he managed golf clubs, like Osprey Valley in Ontario, spent time in Jamaica to help Sandals Resorts build their golf business, and was partners and built a course in Saint Lucia in the Caribbean. He returned to Canada in 1999 to run a company that focused on a number of multi-sport complexes in Ontario. He also built and managed a one-of-a-kind golf facility located next to the Rogers Centre stadium in downtown Toronto. He then founded Fairways International, offering consultancy, management, and receivership management services focused mainly in the hospitality sector with hotels and resorts, golf and private clubs, and, most recently, housing developments and medical centres. Ken spent 13 years coaching young people in Aurora, Newmarket, and Thornhill, first in house league, then with Rep Aurora Division 1, the York Region League and the Canadian Soccer League, following teams his son, Tyler, played on. Today, Ken still finds comfort on the pitch, continuing to be involved in sports he loves or on the sidelines coaching. “To this day, being on or around a playing field or arena and helping kids achieve their goals is still my favourite and most comfortable place to be.”X
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OLD BOYS RETURN TO YUILL FIELD By Sean Maillet
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he ability to change direction and push ahead are skills taught on the football field that have certainly had a real-life application in 2020. As summer bled into fall, it was hard to imagine what school, let alone football, would look like at St. Andrew’s. But with a full team buy-in to safety protocols, the necessary adjustments were made to get on the field.
In his second season as Head Coach of First Football, Marcello Lio faced likely one of the most significant challenges of his 20-plus years of coaching: how to successfully run an engaged football program with no pads, no hits, and no games. “As an entire staff and team, we have adjusted well to the health guidelines to create a safe atmosphere for our student-athletes to participate,” Marcello says. He adds that the staff and students are grateful for their unique situation to practice and train on the field this fall, while most high schools across the province aren’t afforded this opportunity. Following both provincial health guidelines and directions from the Ontario Football Alliance, the program from top to bottom has prioritized five areas: goal setting, skill development, mental and physical development, fun, and competition. One of Marcello’s goals was to focus on reaching out to Old Boys from the SAC program. “Over the long history of SAC, our Football program has produced an astounding number of talented players who have gone on to the next level and the professional ranks. The program speaks for itself, as does the tremendous work previous head coaches like Len Gurr and Courtenay Shrimpton have put in.” A handful of notable Old Boys came back to Yuill Field to assist with practice coaching. Mario Chiodo ’13, Peter Godber ’13, and Fraser Sopik ’15 worked with students weekly and helped out where needed. “Having the Old Boys back to guest coach and having our players hear their stories and 36 The ANDREAN Fall 2020
It means a lot to me to be able to come and work with current students. I have great memories of SAC and had many great mentors here that I will always look up to.
– Peter Godber ’13
CISAA Football Champions, 2013 Mario Chiodo and Peter Godber - second and third from left
messages has been invaluable to both our program and, more importantly, our players,” says Marcello. The grads were careful to follow the safety protocols on campus and fill out the provincial COVID-19 assessment tool before their arrival each week. They shared a message with the current students to take advantage of the practice and use the time to learn, develop, and get better. All three Old Boys offered a bevy of experience from various levels of the game. After SAC, Mario played football at the University of Windsor. This year, he has been helping out with SAC’s U16 team on the defensive side. “My experience stems in defence and, in particular, the linebacker position. Coach Jeff LaForge has allowed me to coach his linebacker group with individual and fundamental drills,” Mario says. Peter and Fraser play in the Canadian Football League (CFL). Peter, an offensive lineman, was selected third overall for the B.C. Lions in the 2018 draft. Fraser is a linebacker and was the Peter Godber ’13 working with current SAC football linemen.
31st overall pick to the Calgary Stampeders in the 2019 draft. They found time to guest coach due to the cancellation of the CFL season this year, and while it is an unfortunate situation, the opportunity was beneficial to both sides. “It means a lot to me to be able to come and work with current students. I have great memories at SAC and had many great mentors here that I will always look up to,” Peter says. “To be in a position to give back is incredibly rewarding, and I get to work with very intelligent students who work hard and want to succeed, which makes it fun for me.” Despite the challenges this year, Marcello remains focused on continuing a championship pedigree and developing high-character players who understand the importance of doing the right thing all the time. When you look at the hard work that both the coaches and former student-athletes put in, it’s no wonder the St. Andrew’s College Football program has an excellent reputation at the NCAA and U Sports levels.
To get the necessary eyes on boys interested in playing at the next level, student managers have taken on the responsibility of filming all practices. That film is uploaded to Hudl, a video analysis and stat tool, and then used by the aspiring players to create a highlight video. “Once they have completed the video, I edit it for distribution to both NCAA and U Sports recruiting coordinators,” Marcello adds. To the Old Boys who returned, it’s clear that the messaging from the top down is consistent, and the program continues to move in the right direction. “Luckily for these students, they went from one great coach in Len Gurr to another in Marcello Lio. I have no doubt that this program is going to be winning big football games and, more importantly, having fun learning life lessons through football,” Peter says. If you were to watch from afar, the product on the field looks different, but so do our lives right now. What remains essential is that the students are developing as individuals, and the lessons learned this season will be long-lasting. X
Fraser Sopik ’15 leading some drills.
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DESCENDANTS Sons, grandsons, nephews, and cousins of Old Boys have been educated at St. Andrew’s going back more than a century. Attending SAC has been a tradition for many of our families, and this year is no exception. Meet two new boys who joined St. Andrew’s in September, and both descend from two former Heads of School. Plus, we also have the son of our current Head in our midst, making this year a “triple-header.”
RICHARD LURIE, Grade 9, boarder Great-grandson of Dr. Kenneth G.B. Ketchum, Third Headmaster, 1935 — 1958 OTHER CONNECTIONS:
Peter A. Ketchum ’56 (grandfather) Kenneth D. Ketchum ’90 (uncle) 38 The ANDREAN Fall 2020
MALCOLM CLARK, Grade 9, boarder Great-nephew of Dr. Thomas Hockin, Fifth Headmaster, 1974 — 1981 OTHER CONNECTIONS:
Thomas E.P. Hockin ’93 (second cousin)
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CADEN MCHENRY, Grade 12, boarder Son of Kevin R. McHenry, Eighth Head of School, 2008 — present OTHER CONNECTIONS:
Will McHenry ’18 (brother)
40 The ANDREAN Fall 2020
THE OR IGI NAL S
The inaugural Gr ade 5 class on th e
IN
first day of school,
2012, with teache r Claudia Rose-D onahoe
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September 2012, we welcomed the Class of 2020 with the introduction of Grade 5 in the Middle School. They brought infectious energy and youthful enthusiasm to St. Andrew’s.
We caught up with 11 of the original class members, who are bidding farewell to the School after eight remarkable years. Some were as young as 9 when they first walked into Rogers Hall. Now, they are heading out as young men, preparing to transition to post-secondary education, eager for their next chapter to begin. They share their memories of favourite years, special places on campus, and lessons that will last a lifetime. One common thread was their advice to younger Andreans to treasure the time spent as a student and take advantage of all that SAC has to offer. It is a truly bittersweet time for these boys, but one that culminates in a new journey as they transition into Old Boys. To offer some perspective on life following graduation, we also chatted with Rory McGuire ’13, who served as Head Prefect the year Grade 5 was established. He left the St. Andrew’s fold seven years ago and says he is as connected as ever to his roots. NOTE: The following reflections were written prior to the COVID-19 outbreak, while the students were in their Grade 12 year. >>
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Jack Kempczinski (left after Grade 8)
AIDAN WALTERS
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CHRIS YI
JAKE IWAI
CHRISTIAN D’ALESSANDRO
COLE NIP
BRYCE NEIL
Matthew Sun Michael Sun (left after Grade 6)
NOLAN MICHELBERGER DORIAN JONES
ALEXEI LISIN
BRENDAN DILWORTH
CONNOR BROEKAERT
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CONNOR BROEKAERT
When I was in Grade 5, I felt intimidated. I remember walking through Staunton Gallery to get to the Middle School art classroom and trying to appear as nonchalant as possible to avoid embarrassing myself. I don’t remember being as small as I probably was during my Middle School years. I also find it surreal to look back at all the time I’ve spent at St. Andrew’s and all the friends and teachers I have connected with. I have always loved the lockers in the basement of Dunlap Hall. It served as manhunt hiding grounds in Middle School and a social place to gather before classes and sports in Upper School. The brief time putting my jacket away in the morning or talking with friends before leaving after a long day will be a lasting memory.
I am especially proud of learning to play the clarinet. Over seven years, I have performed in countless competitions alongside my amazing teachers and bandmates. An Andrean Christmas has always made me proud to be an Andrean. It’s a time of joy before leaving for the holidays by playing and singing Christmas carols. After eight years, it means a lot to me, and I hope to come back as an Old Boy.
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CHRISTIAN D’ALESSANDRO
In Grade 5, I don’t believe I truly appreciated what this place had to offer, but in the years leading up to my senior year, I have become significantly more aware of the great opportunities we have been granted. Grade 9 was my favourite because it granted me a sense of independence. The freedom to roam the School to get to classes allowed me to take initiative in a multitude of opportunities in the St. Andrew’s community. I feel as though my eight years at SAC have helped me develop as a writer and also substantially improved my musical compositions. My vocabulary, along with my awareness of current issues, has improved by leaps and bounds thanks to the education I’ve received. I would tell future Grade 12 students that working hard is the second most important part of their final year. The most important is getting your sleep and being punctual for class. This will help build strong relationships with your teachers. For new Grade 5 students, I strongly advise you to initiate and cultivate friendships; they will last a lifetime because of your connection to the School.
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BRENDAN DILWORTH
When I was in Grade 5, I saw Grade 12s as people I could look up to. They were role models, and I constantly modelled my behaviour and actions after them. They were all so nice and kind to me, and I keep that in mind now that I am in Grade 12. In Middle School, I learned how to interact with people in a kind and polite way. During my Middle School experience, we were taught daily how to treat and talk to our peers and teachers. These lessons shaped me and defined how I treat and speak to people today and how I will for the rest of my life. My advice for students going into Grade 12 would be to enjoy every second you have at this school. SAC is an extremely busy place, and sometimes we get caught up and don’t appreciate how special it really is. I did my best to appreciate every minute of it because once it’s over, I am going to miss it tremendously. My advice for students in Grade 5 would be to get involved and participate in as many things as possible. SAC offers many opportunities, so try and take advantage of as many of these unique experiences as possible. I wish there were a singular moment or event that I could think of to illustrate my feelings. The truth is, so many moments and events make me proud to be an Andrean. Some examples are as big as Homecoming, An Andrean Christmas, the MacPherson Hockey Tournament, but others are as small as walking down the hall and seeing all of us in matching uniforms. What I appreciate most about being at SAC is the genuine brotherhood I have developed with my peers. SAC creates an atmosphere of camaraderie, like no other place in the world. I feel so blessed to have so many friends whom I would consider family, and I believe this to be unique to SAC. I have built friendships here that will last for the rest of my life, and I am appreciative of that.
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JAKE IWAI I will always remember my Grade 5 class through the friendships I made that I still have now, and it was always an entertaining class with Mrs. Rose-Donahoe. I feel the Upper School is a big step from Middle School, but I have enjoyed it as I made close friends. The big school events mean a lot more to me now that I am in my last year. When I was in Grade 5, I thought of the Grade 12s as the leaders of the School and looked up to them. I was excited for my Grade 12 year. When I first arrived in Grade 5, my favourite place was the turf field. I will always remember Middle School recesses and great times I had. However, my favourite place now is the La Brier Family Arena, as this was the School’s most significant improvement during my years, and it was great to be able to skate there. I am most proud of being able to play on a hockey team in all my eight years at SAC and experience each level playing with my friends. I will always be able to say I played at that rink for U14 and in the Gary West Tournament.
My favourite year is Grade 12, as it is the last one of everything. An Andrean Christmas and the semi-formal dance were nights I will remember long after I leave St. Andrew’s. I was most proud to be an Andrean during An Andrean Christmas, singing on stage with my brothers. For students going into Grade 12, good luck, work hard, and cherish every moment with your brothers before you graduate. For boys going into Grade 5, enjoy it, work hard, and enjoy all the time with your friends.
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DORIAN JONES
As one of the first students accepted into the newly introduced Grade 5 class in 2012, I am ecstatic to be a member of the first Grade 5 class to graduate proudly from St. Andrew’s College in 2020. When I arrived on my first day of Grade 5, I was overwhelmed by the size of the campus, and I can recall that day as if it was just yesterday. Mrs. D’Angelo, Director of the Middle School, was standing at the front entrance and welcomed me with a huge smile. Her smile, always so warm and welcoming, is one I will always remember. My mom stood in the background watching, and when I looked back, she had tears in her eyes. I walked tall into Rogers Hall until I saw the older boys who were headed to assembly and quickly felt small as I realized how much taller they were than my 10-year-old self. Some of them walked up to me and gave me high-fives and fist bumps. I was in the right place. My first impression of the Grade 12 boys was that they were “boss,” and I could learn from them. I looked up to them in awe, hoping to one day walk in their shoes. Here I am, now in Grade 12. Taller than I was on that first day, ready to embark on the next chapter, with nothing short of the most memorable journey that has led me to this moment. My St. Andrew’s experience will forever be etched in my heart and memory. I learned so many new and exciting things. Most importantly, I learned to be honourable, loyal, and respectful of others; I learned what it means to be part of a real community and brotherhood, while also marching to my own drumbeat. I was introduced to the alto sax in Grade 5, and I was hooked. Thanks to Mr. Richardson, Miss Chasson, and Mr. Page, who spent many hours helping to hone my skills and awarding me the privilege of First Alto in the Wind Ensemble, I have a love for music. In Middle School, my favourite place was Towers Library, with its breadth and depth of books, where I spent
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countless hours consuming every book I could digest. The incredible Bob and Jilla Williams Band Room was built during my time here and has become my absolute favourite place to be now. It is in this room, with its phenomenal acoustics, that I am captivated by the many talented musicians our school has, and where I can often be entertained by some fine tunes. Because I joined St. Andrew’s in Grade 5, my transition to Grade 9 was seamless. My confidence grew immensely. I put my leadership skills to work as head of the Community Service Council and participated in triathlon, which improved my athletic ability. I have many favourite moments, but Grade 12 has been my favourite year by far. I have enhanced and showcased my leadership abilities, displayed my full potential while mentoring my younger Andrean brothers and leading by example. It has also been really
interesting watching the growth and potential of the current Grade 5s who, just like I was in Grade 5, seem overwhelmed at times but are bright-eyed and eager to explore all the new and exciting challenges and opportunities available to them. I thoroughly enjoy walking down the hallways each day because it is now my turn to give high-fives and fist bumps in exchange for wide, innocent smiles. A proud moment for me was being voted Prefect, the highest form of honour and responsibility at SAC. This achievement would not have been possible without the encouragement and undying support of the exemplary teachers and mentors I have had the privilege of knowing. A special shout-out to Mrs. Rose-Donahoe, Mr. Ramon, Mr. Commisso, Mr. DeMello, Mr. LaForge, and, last but not least, my confidant and advisor, Mr. Madill, who have each had a unique impact on me. I hope that I have made you all proud. Thank you! All accolades aside, I could not be prouder to be a part of such a great community that has demonstrated to me that the sky is, indeed, the limit. I am most appreciative of my parents for allowing me this amazing opportunity, one I know they have sacrificed to give to me and for which I am extremely grateful. To my Grade 5 brothers: keep an open mind and indulge in every opportunity made available to you, as there are many. It is through these experiences that you will unlock the depth of knowledge and potential buried deep within you. To my Grade 12 brothers, I will say what my parents have always told me: you have not completed the circle of success until you have helped others, so support and lift your younger Andrean brothers to move forward.
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ALEXEI LISIN
In Grade 5, my teacher was Mrs. Rose-Donahoe. During the times when I was struggling, she was there to help me academically and emotionally. Looking back at it now, I am so grateful to have had such an amazing teacher for my first year at this school. From an academic perspective, as important as it is for a Grade 12 student to work hard even as university offers are rolling in, never forget to let loose once in a while as it is your last year of high school. Go to events or join clubs that you usually would not. Step out of your comfort zone; the year will be over before you know it. For Grade 5s, treasure the friends in your class as these friendships will continue through Upper School and beyond. Make sure to have fun as you are still a kid, but don’t fall too far behind on your math as it will be difficult to catch up (personal experience). My favourite place on campus is Cole Hall. It is a chaotic environment. Everyone is hungry for their chicken and vegetables, but the most important aspect of the dining hall is sitting at the tables with your friends. I often lose track of time when talking around the table about a wide variety of topics. Bonds are formed through just sharing a simple meal. During An Andrean Christmas in years past, I remember seeing the graduates singing their hearts out and holding each other arm-over-arm. I thought to myself, “One day, I will be in that position.” It was my turn this year, and it was such an amazing, unforgettable experience.
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NOLAN MICHELBERGER
I appreciate all the opportunities St. Andrew’s offered over my eight years attending the School. As cliché as it sounds, I have participated in activities I would not have been able to otherwise. For example, being a member of the Pipes & Drums: I was introduced to the band through the Tuesday Arts program. There are so many moments that make me proud to be an Andrean. One of them was when O Come, All Ye Faithful was performed for my final time as a student at An Andrean Christmas in 2019. There were so many emotions going through my head that night. This was something I had seen Old Boys experience, and when it happened to me, I realized how special that night was. My favourite year has been Grade 12. I have been able to reflect on the past eight years and see how far I have come and how I have changed since being a Grade 5 student. Being a Prefect, a member of Varsity Hockey and Lacrosse, and in the Pipes & Drums can only be done in my final years. Most notably, being the student manager for Varsity Hockey has been one of my favourite experiences. It has allowed me to spend time with friends I would not have met otherwise. Not only that, but I have travelled to places I likely would not have gone. Travelling to Europe and the United States, watching high-calibre hockey, and being able to make a small contribution to the team’s success has been something I am thankful for. The MacPherson Hockey Tournament Friday night game is a favourite event because of my passion for the sport, and it is amazing to see the entire school come out to support the team. As student manager, it’s a different experience from watching as a fan. I’ll never forget when we beat Shattuck-St. Mary’s in a shootout in the Friday night game. Fall 2020 The ANDREAN
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BRYCE NEIL
As I near the close of my years at SAC, it is not surprising that I’m in a reflective mood. Eight years ago, SAC presented like a candy store, an irresistible temptation for a 9-year-old with an insatiable sweet tooth for all the School had to offer. I was never nervous, only excited for what the next eight years would hold for me. I was full of energy – many would claim too much energy – but my Middle School teachers did not judge. Instead, they helped me to harness and direct my enthusiasm. They didn’t try to change me but helped me develop selfawareness so that I could use my personality as a strength. As the years have passed, I still
have a lot of energy; however, I learned how to channel it into being an enthusiastic leader, an energetic athlete, and a diligent academic. Herein lies the impact of a community. Community and brotherhood are central to everything we do at SAC. In my first months as a new boy, I recall telling my parents about the friends I had made from the Grade 11 class. My parents appeased me with a sweet pat on the back, and I only came to learn that they questioned how a friendship could be formed or 48 The ANDREAN Fall 2020
common ground be found between boys with a seven-year age gap. All these years later, I keep in touch with these friends and rely on their wisdom, and all these years later, my parents have their answer.
that SAC offered, and I have grown exponentially as a result. My advice to any boy at SAC is to be present in the school community, engage in something you love, and challenge yourself by trying something new.
The teachers, students, and all who comprise the SAC community are the cornerstone of this school. We truly walk the walk, live the mission, and share a bond that will endure. My time at SAC has also coincided with some personal challenges. Early in my Grade 7 year, my grandma passed away from cancer, but her lessons, whether verbal or inferred, will stay with me forever. Lesson #1 – Practice makes permanent. In the Middle School, my teachers encouraged me to set goals and create an outline for my
work before I started. I never understood the significance of this until I put it into practice. As my grandma said, this practice became permanent, and I started seeing better results in my classes, better results in sports, and my overall school experience improved. Lesson #2 – Education is an opportunity. In my grandma’s final months, she made it a priority to work on crossword puzzles for hours each day in an attempt to maintain her cognitive abilities. I applied her lesson by fully committing to all
As I continue to reflect on my time at SAC, I am most grateful for the boys I can count as friends, teachers who have been impactful mentors, and dining hall staff who never let me go hungry! I am also so grateful for my personal development. Although I am the same person I was eight years ago, SAC has helped shape my journey to allow me to become the best version of myself. – Andrean for life
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COLE NIP
Having the opportunity to play my bagpipes at events like An Andrean Christmas and the Macpherson Hockey Tournament makes me more appreciative of being an Andrean with each passing year. It feels immensely special to be able to contribute to a long-standing school tradition, especially as the only piper in my graduating year. I would say this past year has been my favourite because I can finally look back at my time at SAC and fully appreciate the journey. I have changed a lot over the last eight years, and so much of who I am has to do with the experiences I’ve had at SAC. It has become like a second home, where I always have something to do or someone to talk to.
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AIDAN WALTERS
My experience in Middle School at St. Andrew’s College was something special. With students coming from all corners of the world, I learned to be accepting of others, while at the same time making friends that would last a lifetime. Each year I would look forward to my 5-Day Boarding Pass in Macdonald House because I wanted to spend as much time as possible at school, not to mention with my friends. I’ll always be thankful my parents listened to my pestering and finally conceded to let me become a boarder in Grade 9. My favourite place in Middle School was the library; I would spend every
I have made friendships that will last a lifetime. You know you always have somebody you can count on within our brotherhood. I’ve gotten to know so many of my closest friends through SAC, and I know they always have my best interests at heart. The amount of change that the School has undergone during my time, including the addition of the La Brier Family Arena, the Centre for Leadership, Innovation & Performance, and now McLaughlin Hall, makes me curious to see what evolves in the next few decades. The constant change in our community excites me for the future of this school and the Andreans who will graduate after me.
afternoon finishing up my work downstairs or reading a book I had just picked off of the shelf. However, as I transitioned to life as an Upper School boarder, my favourite spot on campus became the weight room. The La Brier Family Arena became my place to be productive when I needed a break from homework. Despite having never played organized hockey, this is my favourite addition to the SAC campus. However, with the constant support available, my fitness habit never caused a detriment to my academics. I was even prompted to enrol in the AP Capstone program, where I’ve become part of a group of extremely successful students who have enriched my life like nothing else. This leads me to what I appreciate most about St. Andrew’s College: the people. People come from all around the world, speaking different languages and carrying unique cultures, all with one common goal: to become successful young men. Whether I’m walking the streets of Toronto in my kilt before An Andrean Christmas, covered head to toe in red at a sports tournament, or wearing my SAC hoodie, I will always be proud to be a part of this community and sport the St. Andrew’s College crest.
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C
CHRIS YI
My fondest Middle School memory is from the Beyond the Gates (BTG) trips at the start of the year. These were times dedicated to letting loose, meeting classmates, and developing friendships. I can clearly remember my first BTG trip to Camp Wildfire in the first week of Grade 5. Now that I’m looking back, BTG is something I’ve missed most during my transition to Upper School. My favourite place on campus is undoubtedly Rogers Hall, Room 106. It’s where the Grade 5 class was. Even now, walking past R106 brings back fond memories. Now that I’m older, when I see Grade 5 boys, I laugh, realizing that I was once one of them. But it’s the boys who have been with me since the beginning, the first Grade 5 class, who have been my inspiration. In Grade 9, I had the unique opportunity to travel to Boston for the Harvard Model United Nations Conference. As the only Grade 9 selected for the trip, I was nervous and my expectations for myself were low. Today, I can proudly say Model UN has been instrumental to my development. It has taught me how to speak publicly, apply diplomacy to personal relationships, and view world issues through different lenses. The Centre for Leadership, Innovation & Performance was finished just in time for my Grade 9 year, and I had the opportunity to reap the benefits of the new classrooms and, most importantly, the Bob and Jilla Williams Music Room. As a tenor saxophonist since Grade 6, the band has played a significant role during my time at SAC, and it was a pleasure being able to rehearse, perform, and practice in a brand new building. From Grade 5 until even my Grade 11 year, the grads looked larger than life. The years separating us seemed so vast that I could never see myself as a Grade 12, ready to move on from SAC.
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Grade 12 has been my favourite. It is the year of transition as I move out of my comfort zone that is SAC, into a world much larger and different. While this initially intimidated me, it now excites me as I look forward to how my life will progress. For the students going into Grade 12 next year, I say this: it will soon be over. I am certain the school days will seem increasingly shorter, and the terms will go by quicker and quicker. Before you know it, it will be your last Andrean Christmas, your final championship game, meet,
or competition wearing the SAC crest. Time is running out. For the boys in Grade 5: truly make the most of your time here. The opportunities you are granted are unlimited. Anyone who has spent time at SAC can attest to hearing the phrase “well-rounded.” Honestly, I could not use a better word to describe how I’ve progressed at SAC. I’ve been a scholar, an athlete, a bandsman, a Model UN delegate, and a DECA executive.
REFLECTIONS OF A HEAD PREFECT
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RORY MCGUIRE ’13
When I entered through the gates of 15800 Yonge St. for the first time as a Grade 9 boarder, I was simply excited for the next four years, entirely unaware of how these years would transform me. I studied hard, focused on athletics, and developed lasting friendships. Fast forward to graduation in June 2013, and I was forced to acknowledge how much I would miss SAC. What I didn’t realize at that time was how my high school experience would become the foundation of how I approach all aspects of life. My first two years post-graduation were spent pursuing my NCAA hockey dream through the Junior A system in British Columbia. For the first time, I was simply playing sports and not facing the demands of academics. Oddly enough, it was a challenge. I felt as if I was losing my identity as a well-rounded citizen. When times were tough, I instinctively focused my efforts on giving back to the community and relied on my teammates. But these weren’t just any teammates, they were fellow Andreans, three classmates, Jacob Kearley, Jay Mackie, and Jake Stirling, who reminded me just how lucky I was to have friends I could lean on and trust like family. I’m originally from Ontario and living in a province across the country felt less foreign thanks to these inseparable bonds. Once I started with post-secondary education, it became evident that my journey to success in Division 1 hockey would be challenging. My approach to facing this was simple: study the game, work even harder, and, most importantly,
respect the opportunity presented to me. Once again, these were lessons I learned through the incredible mentorship of St. Andrew’s First Hockey coaches and my athletic advisors, David Manning and Geoff Brennagh ’94. As I think back to my high school years, I realize my SAC education is at the core of who I am today, and the benefits of such a unique experience have continued well beyond graduation. It instilled in me a foundation to not just live life, but to experience it, regardless of the challenges. I now, more than ever, understand how SAC will forever be engrained in me and will continue to push me in a positive direction. One thing is for sure: my St. Andrew’s experience transcended far beyond the time spent in the classroom. I continue to remember my teachers fondly for how genuinely invested they were in my success. I’m grateful to Cadets for teaching me discipline, the McEwen Leadership program for teaching me fundamentals that span far beyond the business world, for the Athletic Department that gave every student the chance to feel a part of a team, and for the staff members who provided a simple smile that showed they cared even on the most challenging days. It’s all these components that differentiate St. Andrew’s College and make it the greatest independent educational institution in the world. Rory graduated from Colgate University in New York in 2019 with a BA in economics. He lives in New York City, where he works in mergers and acquisitions at Ernst and Young. X Fall 2020 The ANDREAN
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OLD BOYS PROFILES & NEWS
This edition’s PROFILES:
DONNOVAN BENNETT ’02 Sportsnet’s Triple Threat
BRAD MARTIN ’75
A Storied Career in Publishing
LYNN HILBORN ’69 A Star is Born
JONATHAN PARKER ’95 The Call of the Sea
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Donnovan Bennett ’02, in Sportsnet’s Toronto studio during the taping of the show, This Week in 30.
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DONNOVAN BENNETT ’02 MEDIA IS HIS MESSAGE By Chris Traber
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mbracing the journey is as important as the destination, opines Donnovan Bennett ’02. From early childhood, that ideology and his passion for sports have well served the man affectionately known as DJ.
He was born in Toronto, mere blocks from the cavernous Rogers Sportsnet broadcast centre where, since 2013, he has written, produced, and hosted numerous programs. The former multi-sport athlete was raised in Markham, and after elementary school, his parents knew athletics and academics would be a good recipe for the youngster. After researching various schools, St. Andrew’s College was deemed the best fit, and he was enrolled as a Grade 9 boarding student. “I went there kicking and screaming,” DJ says with patented humour and humility delivered through a megawatt smile. “Kilts and no girls? You’ve got to be kidding.” DJ quickly acclimatized. During his five-year tenure, he was a Prefect, captain of First Football, played First Basketball and First Rugby, and was awarded an Athletic ‘A’ given to graduating students who distinguished themselves as First team athletes in their final three years at the School.
SAC is a world-class school with people who care and invest in you. It really is the sweet spot in your life.
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– Donnovan Bennett ’02
“I wasn’t keen on rugby at first,” he chuckles. “I didn’t like the tight shorts and getting hit without a helmet.” Still, by Grade 10, he was a key player and offered a tryout with Canada’s Junior Rugby squad. After graduating, DJ was recruited by several Ontario universities
topic I was ever passionate about.” DJ’s process wasn’t serendipitous. It was laser-focused. After graduating from Western in 2007, he joined The Score Television Network as a CIS colour analyst, host, and feature reporter. That sevenyear stint, which included a Gemini
Having played sports at a high level is a broadcasting benefit, he says. “Having been in the arena, I try and give audiences a perspective based on empathy, curiosity, and understanding.” SAC holds a special place in DJ’s heart. He attended his 10-year class reunion and has returned as a guest
Left to right: DJ sits between Danielle Michaud and Faizal Khamisa on the set of Sportsnet’s This Week In 30. He sits with classmate and good friend, Nicholas Weedon.
for their football programs. The compact running back opted for a full scholarship to Canisius College in Buffalo, N.Y. Regrettably, the Golden Griffins football team folded that autumn and DJ revisited an invitation from the University of Western Ontario, where he starred for the Mustangs while studying sociology with minors in philosophy and media, information and technoculture. While at Western, DJ was exposed to sports media and spent summers interning on CFL Snap, a weekly Canadian Football League show. In addition, he helped with Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS)—now known as U Sports—productions and served as a sideline reporter. Asked why he strived to become a sports journalist on a Life After Sports blog, DJ was blunt: “I knew I’d suck at anything else. I knew I couldn’t work a typical 9-to-5 in a cubical. I’d go stir crazy. Every paper or project I did as a child was sports-related. It’s the only
Award nomination for his “The Score Celebrates Black History Month,” led to his current post at Sportsnet. Lean and fit and attired with fashionforward selections from his in-house wardrobe, the 37-year-old is lauded for his encyclopedic knowledge of sports and his ability to cover subjects with insight, humanity, and societal and cultural perspectives. In addition to writing and producing, DJ hosts videos for Sportsnet’s social media platforms, co-hosts the This Week in 30 broadcast, and on radio co-hosts Free Association, Sportsnet’s NBA podcast. Balancing work and life is a priority. Married to Kate McKenna in 2016, the couple welcomed their first child, Desmond Timothy, in April 2019. Basketball and marathons keep DJ athletically competitive. Kate is a producer and on-air contributor at The Social, a Bell Media production. “I’m sleeping with the enemy,” he quips. “Actually, we’re each other’s biggest cheerleaders.”
speaker on several occasions. His “small but mighty” friendship group includes fellow 2002 grads, Michael Faulds, James Gideon, Jimmy Healey, Pete McClelland, Oliver RadleySmith, Giancarlo Trimarchi, and Nicholas Weedon. He says he is indebted to history teacher and football coach, Courtenay Shrimpton, for lessons learned in class and on the field. Math teacher and basketball coach, David Josselyn, was a valued mentor “who just got us,” DJ recalls. William Scoular, Head of Drama and Film, will always be remembered for helping DJ establish the College’s first Black Theatre Group. “SAC is a world-class school with people who care and invest in you,” he says. “It really is the sweet spot in your life.” Where does he see himself in 10 years? “To continue working with people who are talented and have integrity and do what I’m doing but on a bigger platform and more eyeballs.” X Fall 2020 The ANDREAN 55
BRAD MARTIN ’75 SMITTEN BY THE WORD By Chris Traber
Brad in his old haunt: the Front Street, Toronto office of Penguin Random House 56 The ANDREAN Fall 2020
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o suggest that Brad Martin ’75 is passionate about books would be a serious understatement. To describe the stylish 64-year-old Canadian publishing industry icon as a bookworm simply wouldn’t be dignified. Bibliophile best suits the amiable and recently retired president and CEO of Penguin Random House Canada, whose fabled career began in 1981 as a sales representative at McClelland & Stewart. From his early years, books seemed to be his destiny.
John Neale, who hired the 25 year old. This ignited his meteoric trajectory. He left McClelland & Stewart in 1984 to work at Penguin as a sales rep, rising to vice-president of sales and marketing in 1989, and then, in 1996, president. Following a shakeup a year later, Brad became Bantam Doubleday Dell’s vice-president and director of sales and marketing. When parent company Bertelsmann bought Random House, then America’s second-largest commercial publisher,
Today, the man in the relaxed opencollared shirt and tailored sports coat with a natty pocket puff is enjoying life’s next chapter. Brad and his wife, Donna Hayes, the former CEO and publisher of Harlequin Enterprises, reside in a downtown Toronto condo and recently bought a 100-acre farm on the shores of Lake Consecon in Prince Edward County. There they are renovating a library, using inspiration from novelist Rudyard Kipling’s library in Kent, England, to accommodate Brad’s 8,000-book collection.
As the eldest of four children, it was thought he’d eventually take over the farm. That wasn’t on his radar, and his mother concurred. “I always loved books and read widely,” he says with a smile under his salt and pepper curls during a visit to his former Toronto office. “I was always good in school and my mother began researching scholarships at private schools. She encouraged me to write the entrance exams.”
“The St. Andrew’s experience was very important to me,” he recalls. “It gave me a view of the world that I otherwise wouldn’t have had.” After high school Brad attended McGill University, studying political science and economics. He spent a year travelling and a year working in Alberta, then enrolled in the University of Toronto’s grad school. While studying in Toronto, Brad met McClelland & Stewart sales manager,
He cites staff, including thenHeadmaster, Robert Coulter, geography teacher, Dick Gibb, French instructor, Stan Macfarlane, Head of English and Macdonald Housemaster, Bill Skinner ’47, and mathematics teacher, Gordon Moffat ’27, for their mentorship. Remembrance of friendships and antics with school chums, including classmates, John Hughes and David Durant, draw a hearty chortle.
Born to Mennonite parents in Kitchener, Ont., and raised on a dairy farm near Baden, Brad was a prodigious reader. He had his first library card by Grade 3 and recalls his first borrow as the Hardy Boys’ The Yellow Feather Mystery. Soon after, he was checking out between four and six books every Saturday.
Brad received a Ladies’ Guild Scholarship and attended St. Andrew’s College for Grades 9 and 10, opting to earn his senior matriculation closer to home.
“Those were important years for me,” Brad says. “They made sure everyone was involved in academics, athletics, and spirituality. I played cricket, football, and basketball. There was never a dull moment.”
“I am a book addict,” he admits. “I read five to seven at a time.” he rose to become president and CEO of Random House of Canada in 2007. As such, he left his last posting overseeing four of the companies for which he’s individually worked. His retirement on June 30, 2018 was, according to a statement by Penguin Random House CEO Markus Dohle, “the culmination of a career of unparalleled accomplishment with our company and in Canadian trade publishing.”
In addition to the tactile pleasure of a tome, Brad enjoys audiobooks and reads electronically. An avid golfer with a competitive handicap, Brad also spends time in Palm Springs, California, with Donna. Does Brad intend to write his own story? “No,” he says. “There’s no impulse to write a book.” X
St. Andrew’s continues to provide formative and fond memories, he says. Fall 2020 The ANDREAN
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LYNN HILBORN ’69 PHOTOGRAPHER TO THE STARS By Chris Traber
St. Andrew’s gave me an avenue to express my interests and that built confidence in the ventures I took in life. – Lynn Hilborn ’69
Samples of Lynn’s photographs
L
ynn Hilborn ’69 reaches for the stars. But, unlike most folks, he captures them. At 71, Lynn is deemed to be among Canada’s top five amateur astrophotographers, an epithet bestowed by former SkyNews editor and astronomy sage, Terence Dickinson. So fabled are Lynn’s heavenly night sky images that NASA has selected his work three times as online picture of the day viewed by 1.5 million followers. He is also on the SkyNews masthead, and his exquisite photos of the cosmos are published internationally and collected in his book, Time Machine. His passionate role as an astrophotographer is somewhat a departure from a prolific career, first as executive director in the office of former Ontario Premier Bill Davis. That 10-year stint was followed by 23 years with the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC), the final decade in the role of deputy general manager. 58 The ANDREAN Fall 2020
Keeping more than 1.5 million TTC riders moving daily was stressful with little sustained sleep, recalls the jocular father of three and grandad to four. Lynn decamped from the rigours of mass transit in 2008 and moved to Grafton near Cobourg, Ont., with his wife, Margaret.
“I was a stranger to sleep when I retired,” he says. “So what do I do? I take up a hobby done at night.” He became enthralled with the beauty, colours, and mystery of the infinite galaxy and felt a spirited tug to interpret the universe on his own terms and through his camera lens.
“I didn’t know much about photography,” he says. “I just knew I wanted to do it.” Early in the millennium, technical strides in digital photography and supporting computer software accelerated almost daily. Lynn began modestly, building his backyard WhistleStop Observatory, whimsically named for its proximity to a nearby train track crossing. As his interest and expertise grew, the sophistication of his equipment and images followed exponentially. Self-described as more an artist than scientist, Lynn’s virtuosity is evident when one sees his Under the Belly of the Milky Way shot in Chile’s Atacama Desert. Ditto with the metaphysical wonder of his 6 Planets photographed in Florida, which captures Earth, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Saturn, and Jupiter in framed perfection. His stunning astrophotography explains his wonderment with the planets that populate the endless sky. “There is an ethereal connection to the cosmos,” he says. “The remains of ancient stars are the genesis of everything on earth and in our bodies. We really are made from thermal nuclear waste. However, I prefer the more poetic notion that we’re made from stardust.” The man with the dry wit says one of the signposts that guided his professional and extraterrestrial journey is clearly marked “St. Andrew’s College.” “I wasn’t doing well in early public board high school, and the College had a great reputation, so my parents enrolled me as a boarder,” he says. “I had varied interests and was a student militia reservist and cadet in Toronto. St. Andrew’s encouraged those interests.” Lynn excelled in the School’s Cadet Corps program, achieving the rank of Captain and Company Commander in his final year. “I had wonderful teachers who fostered my interests, including radio and science,” he says. “My physics teacher, Fred Hiltz, and chemistry teacher, Geoff Smith, were among the staff who were a great boon spurring interests beyond school.” He gives an appreciative nod to English teacher, Rob Wilson, who encouraged his writing. “The educational side taught me how to be flexible and savvy. We often had to create our own fun, and that allowed the creative spirit to blossom,” he says. “St. Andrew’s gave me an avenue to express my interests and that built confidence in the ventures I took in life.”
Lynn in his backyard WhistleStop Observatory
Lynn remains true to St. Andrew’s. He attended his 50th reunion in May 2019 along with his 25th and 35th earlier, in addition to Homecoming in 1998. “The one thing St. Andrew’s needs is an astronomy program,” he proposes. Classmates, Jim Gear and Rob McEwen, remain close, with the former being his best friend and the latter “a great St. Andrew’s benefactor” and pal who bought several copies of his book and gifted them to friends at Christmas. Lynn’s interest in astrophotography prompts people to ask him whether he believes life exists outside our earthly realm. He defers to the late astronomer and author, Carl Sagan. “He said it doesn’t matter because it’s remarkable either way.” Lynn’s website with photos can be found at www.nightoverontario.com. X Fall 2020 The ANDREAN
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JONATHAN PARKER ’95 AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN By Chris Traber
Jonathan and Sarah on their wedding day in May 2019
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ince 1910, the Royal Canadian Navy’s motto has proudly been, Ready aye ready. For RCN Commander Jonathan Parker ’95, the leadership and preparedness he’s embodied throughout his distinguished naval career were kindled at St. Andrew’s College. Born in Toronto and raised in Ottawa, the 44-year-old lives with his wife Sarah, in Westport, Ont., close to Canadian Forces Base Kingston, where he is stationed. A St. Andrew’s College boarder, Jonathan was a valued member of the debate team and a force on the pitch. “I already had an exposure to leadership and camaraderie through playing rugby at SAC,” he says. “Rugby gave me 60 The ANDREAN Fall 2020
the building blocks of leadership on and off the field.”
of his career, and he continued to sail Pacific, Atlantic, and Arctic waters.
He earned bachelor and master of arts degrees at the University of Toronto. In 1999, midway through his studies, he joined the navy, motivated by a desire to lead. Jonathan joined the RCN as a Naval Warfare Officer. The first few years of training were challenging, he says, but everything seemed familiar.
In 2006, he was selected for specialty training and twice deployed to Afghanistan. When he returned, he transferred to the Strategic Joint Staff as an analyst. Soon after, Jonathan accepted a foreign posting to work as a liaison officer to the U.S. Office of Naval Intelligence in Washington, D.C.
After basic officer training in Esquimalt, B.C., Jonathan continued warfare training and graduated with a bridge-watchkeeping certificate, meaning he could hold charge over all members of a Canadian warship.
“During this posting, I had the opportunity to deploy, on a counternarcotics mission in the Caribbean Ocean, tracking the illicit flow of drugs from South America into North America,” he says.
While he always intended to return to Toronto and go to law school, the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States significantly changed the course
After four years in Washington, he was posted to Halifax, N.S., where he briefed intelligence to the Commander of Maritime Forces Atlantic on threats
I received an important life lesson from John Walden ’71, my English teacher, who told me charm alone would not lead to success.
concerning RCN assets and missions worldwide. Soon he was promoted and posted to Ottawa to work on the staff of the Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy. This posting led to a promotion as the head of the intelligence team for the Commander of Task Force Arabian Sea, the Canadian counter-terrorism mission in the Indian Ocean. He cites a trio of St. Andrew’s teachers for guiding his stellar career path. “I learned the value of hard work and focusing on homework from my math teacher, Derek Inglis,” he says. “I received an important life lesson from John Walden ’71, my English teacher, who told me charm alone would not lead to success.” He also acknowledged the mentorship from bagpipe instructor, Aubrey Foy: “He taught me that availability to the people you’re responsible for is important in leadership.”
– Jonathan Parker ’95
Jonathan’s illustrious career includes numerous distinctions, such as the Canadian Forces Decoration, the Operational Service Medal, the Special Service Medal, and the United States Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal along with a Commander’s Commendation. The career naval officer returned to St. Andrew’s as a guest speaker at the 2019 Wellington Dinner. The event marked a dual anniversary as it commemorated his 20th year in uniform and two decades since he attended the same dinner when his father, Federal MP Rob Parker ’60, was the guest speaker. He says his father was a significant influence. “He always identified as an Old Boy. He returned to campus often and loved his time at St. Andrew’s and the experiences it provided.” His grandfather, Eric Cook, a Canadian senator from 1964 to 1984, was also a guiding light. When thanked for his naval service, Jonathan responds modestly: “Service isn’t service when you love what you do.” X
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THE ONE AND ONLY OLD GIRL
By Julie Caspersen
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hilippa Garstang was 11-and-a-half years old when she entered a Grade 8 classroom in Canada. With her blond pigtails, grey, pleated skirt, and unmistakable British accent, she stood out among her classmates. The main distinction: she was the only female student attending St. Andrew’s College. Philippa immigrated from England in September 1948 with her parents and younger sister. Her dad, Bill, had been offered a position as an English teacher at St. Andrew’s and, for reasons she doesn’t recall, she was enrolled as a day student in the Upper Second Form. Barring the fact that she was at an all-boys school, where all the teachers were men, it was not a smooth transition. In a chat, sitting in her colourful, eclectic living room, decorated with her original works of art, just a kilometre or two north of the College, Philippa admits the memories of her year at SAC are neither happy nor sad, but rather ones of loneliness and isolation. She simply didn’t fit in.
The Garstang family shortly after arriving in Canada in 1948.
“We arrived from England on Sept. 15 and school had already started,” she says. Both her parents were “in shock” when >> they reached Canada by boat, and her mother was extremely seasick and took to her bed for weeks. Fall 2020 The ANDREAN
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The family moved into a house in Aurora purchased on their behalf by then-Headmaster, Dr. Kenneth Ketchum, but their belongings and furnishings didn’t arrive until much later. She was also distraught at having to leave her friends and her dog behind.
punishment, asking her to pretend she’d been reprimanded.
Philippa, a petite and vivacious artist (currently spending time at the easel painting nudes), recalls she was a shy and childlike preteen, whose pigtails and face bare of makeup was in contrast to Canadian girls her age who seemed sophisticated with their lipstick and coiffed hair.
Because there were no facilities for females at SAC in 1948, she was
“It was a difficult transition because I was not only adjusting to living in a new county and leaving my friends behind, but I got thrown in with a bunch of boys!” she says. “When you’re a child of a master, it’s also awkward. The boys didn’t know how to treat me.” Recess, in particular, was challenging as there was no one to play with. One boy taught her how to throw a football, but the other students teased him, so that ended their friendship. Her clipped British accent was also an unwelcome distinction, one she worked hard at erasing. Speaking to Philippa now, you would be hardpressed to detect her suppressed dialect. She admits now that her fears got in the way of fitting in. Despite not making friends during her Grade 8 year as a day girl, Philippa says she enjoyed attending services in Memorial Chapel and liked woodworking class. Philippa remembers Jack Wright, Head of the Lower School, as being extremely kind. Even when she and some classmates were caught defacing desks by carving their initials in the wood, he was lenient with her 64 The ANDREAN Fall 2020
Philippa also fondly remembers art teacher, Ken Ives, from whom she took classes on Saturday mornings. Perhaps this is what steered her toward a path as a teacher and an artist.
positive relationship with humans. Her third wish was for all people to speak the same language so there would be understanding between all countries. In a 1949 Review, there is a reference to her participation in an exhibit in the library, where she displayed her “beautiful collection of English butterflies and moths.” Her inclusion in the yearbooks reveals Philippa was considered a peer among other student contributors. Philippa was even given a class year. She was referred to as Philippa Garstang ’49 in the Midsummer 1957 edition of The Review in the class notes section. The paragraph celebrated her graduation from the Ontario College of Art, noting she came first in her class and won the medal for Proficiency in Drawing and Painting. “It will come as a shock to some Andreans to learn that we ever had a girl in our midst,” the note states.
Clockwise from top left: Philippa’s Review short essay; SAC “Old Girl” mention in The Review; Philippa’s father, Bill, in the classroom.
allotted a small bathroom for privacy in Macdonald House, just off the front door. “I saw my first chipmunk from that bathroom window,” she recalls, pointing to the tiny window during her visit to campus on March 2. Philippa has always been an animal lover and during her SAC year, wrote an essay that appeared in a 1948 Review. Titled If I Had Just Three Wishes, she penned that her first wish would be for world peace. (Her family came to Canada just a few years after the end of the Second World War when her home country and adopted land were struggling to rebuild.) Her second wish was for all wild animals to have a
When asked if she considers herself an “old girl,” she states she is most definitely an Andrean. Following her year at SAC, Philippa attended a public high school in Aurora, then art school in Toronto followed by post-graduate studies at École des Beaux-arts de Montréal, and Saint Martin’s School of Art in England. Despite her rocky introduction to the School, she says she occasionally returned to the campus to watch football games and says she learned to skate on the School rinks. “We always went to the Carol Service, Cadet Inspection, and teas with the Ketchums.” Her dad remained the classics and English teacher until 1960. He left St. Andrew’s to help establish St. George’s College (now Royal St. George’s College), which opened in 1964 and
where Philippa had her first teaching post. The first headmaster was the above-mentioned Jack Wright. She married, had two sons, and worked as a kindergarten teacher for 20 years. She lived in Toronto for 30 years before returning to her Canadian roots near the College in Aurora, where she lives with her second husband. She now goes by her married name, Philippa Hajdu, and signs her work, Philippa.
A tour of her website reveals she has a clear connection to her family and her history. She displays a painting of her parents as newlyweds and a family portrait based on a photograph taken outside their Aurora home in 1950. She loves texture and playing with different media, expressing an appreciation for graffiti during a tour of the Wirth Art Centre. The dreaded pigtails are a thing of the past, replaced by hints of fuchsia
in a sassy haircut. The British accent is just a memory, and the grey, pleated shirt of a schoolgirl is not at all evident in Philippa’s bohemian attire. But during her visit to the School, as she peered around the corner in Macdonald House, looking for the little room that was once her refuge, the shadow of that shy, 11-and-a-halfyear-old new girl surfaced for just a second. X
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AND NOW FOR THE
OLD BOYS NEWS
1906 Lawren Harris: Visionary
It is never more pronounced that St. Andrew’s College has a rich and remarkable history than when Lawren Harris, who attended from 1899 to 1903, is included in the Old Boys Notes. This year, he and the other founding members of the Group of Seven are being celebrated on the 100th anniversary of their first art show that took place a century ago on May 7, 1920, in Toronto. More than 2,000 visitors passed through during the three-week run at the Art Gallery of Toronto, which is now the Art Gallery of Ontario. To commemorate this milestone, the McMichael Canadian Art Collection in Kleinberg, Ont., is hosting a landmark exhibition of the group’s finest pieces. A Like Vision is the name of the exhibit that runs into next year. (Due to COVID-19 restrictions, visit mcmichael.com online for updates on gallery hours.) The title is taken from the 1920 exhibit catalogue: “The group of seven artists whose pictures are here exhibited have for
1950 Michael Ballentine
and his wife, Sally, say they are blessed to spend their winters in West Palm Beach, Fla. In January, Mike had dinner with Len Franceschini ’52, one of his original roommates in 1942. Mike is impressed with how much the School is progressing and says he wouldn’t recognize it if he saw it today.
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Artwork by Lawren Harris 1906 on exhibit at the McMichael gallery includes, at top, Mt. Lefroy, oil on canvas from 1930, and Montreal River, oil on paperboard, from 1920.
several years held a like vision concerning art in Canada.” Lawren is acknowledged by many as Canada’s foremost visual artist. He passed away 50 years ago, in 1970, and he and his wife, Bess, are buried in a small cemetery on the McMichael grounds.
Joe Paterson
has spent the past 20 years in retirement with his wife, Barbara, living on their farm in Indian River, east of Peterborough, Ont. Joe has a workshop full of woodworking tools he has collected over 75 years and still uses many of them regularly for building furniture and carving. Joe says he enjoyed reading the fall 2019 issue of The Andrean, especially the notes and photos of the Rosedale school as his father, James Paterson
1916, and his uncle, George Paterson 1913, attended during that time. Joe noted his last visit to the College was in 2018 with Tom Hickey ’60, and he had difficulty recognizing the extensive facilities, commenting, “It’s quite remarkable what has been accomplished in 70-plus years.” Joe says he took much pleasure from his years at SAC, and what he learned has served him well.
1954 Barry Wansbrough
recently co-authored a book titled, Be There. It is an approach for youth to build the soft skills necessary to live and work in the digital era. He donated a copy to the School for senior students to use in building their futures.
1955 Steve Newroth
has a message to pass along to the Class of 1955: “The Class of ’54 has expressed Andrean hospitality by inviting us to their reunions. However, the contact list for our class is incomplete and out of date. I would like to create a new list to get us together for the next reunion. Please contact me at newroth@surenet.net with your email address.”
1957 Bill Yuill
and his wife, Liz, hosted Head of School, Kevin McHenry, and his wife, Karan, at their home in Arizona for a few days during March Break. The Yuills have had a place in Scottsdale since 1993 and spend a couple of months there every winter.
years and says these days he enjoys being a tour guide at the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum in Hamilton, Ont.
Bill Snyder
retired in May 2019 after 20 years of contract work with The Boeing Company as a flight instructor in simulators. He started at Boeing in 1999, the same year he retired from Air Canada. Bill and his wife, Carole, moved last June from Washington to Nanaimo, B.C.
1960 Kirk Gardner
invites any Andreans visiting San Diego, Calif., in the winter to join him as he continues to lead tours of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. He would be delighted to show you around this famous environmental research institution. Summers take him to Vermont, where he leads tours at the Vermont State House in Montpelier.
1962 Peter Deacon
fully retired from the practice of law on Dec. 31, 2019, after 40 years. Retirement is allowing time for travel with his wife of 51 years, Mary Jane, more time with his children and grandchildren, and more games of golf, “despite my diminishing skills,” he says.
David McTaggart
is enjoying life in quarantine with his wife, Susan, at their home in Arlington, Va. Yet, he misses not being able to visit with his son, Neil ’96; daughter, Jennifer; and grandchildren in Ontario. David retired from his teaching position at D.C. Public Schools in Washington, D.C., in 2012 and remains active with the Unitarian Universalist Church.
1967 Bill Chapman
From left: Liz Yuill, Kevin McHenry, Bill Yuill ’57, and Karan McHenry.
1959 Wally Hardie
sold his business, Hardie Financial and Insurance Services, after 52 years and reports he is now fully retired. Wally lives in Ancaster, Ont., for two-thirds of the year and spends the remainder of the year in Thunder Bay, Ont., where his son is on the faculty at Lakehead University. Wally has been involved as a Rotarian for 34
retired in 2014 after 39 years of private law practice as a country lawyer in Almonte, Ont., and has alternately spent six months each year in Almonte and various warmer places in the United States, specifically Hilton Head Island, S.C. and Daytona Beach Shores and Longboat Key in Florida with plans to spend time in Key Largo, Fla., next year. He now devotes his time to bicycling (which he reports doing a minimum of 15 kilometres per day) and creative writing, which he describes as “an elevated description of the codswallop I call my blogs and website.”
1969 Nick Hally
has a woodworking business with his wife,
Annette, just north of Kingston, Ont. Maple Hollow Studio is a family owned and operated jewelry and woodworking studio. The creations are sold in the studio’s gift shop and at more than 70 shops and galleries across Canada and the United States. They create original fine jewelry using sterling silver, gold, and copper wire with Austrian Swarovski crystals, freshwater pearls, and semi-precious stones.
David Kaufman
retired from a successful career as an antique dealer in Calgary, Alta., and launched a new career as the owner of a bed and breakfast in Troncones, Mexico, on the Pacific Ocean. Raqueros, located on the beach of Manzanillo Bay, is newly renovated and consists of 10 rooms and two cottages. He and his girlfriend, Marlene, retrofitted two rooms, so they are entirely wheelchair accessible to all the flat surfaces at Raqueros. David is learning the hotelier business and working on his Spanish language skills. He makes regular pit stops in Calgary, as well as Pointe au Baril, Ont.
1970 Tom Gilchrist
spent 37 years distributing commercial coinoperated games such as pinball, jukeboxes, and video games like Space Invaders and Pac-Man for companies like Bally, Sega, and Atari. He also sold coin-operated pool tables, shuffleboards, and foosball tables. Tom supplied many restaurants and bars, and because these entertainment games required change for the machines, he segued into the ATM business when it was made legal in Canada. He sold his games company to Cineplex seven years ago but continues to supply and manage ATMs throughout Canada. Tom enjoys travelling and visiting with his children and their families in Dorset, Ont.
1971 John Craig
was inducted into the Junior Achievement New Brunswick Business Hall of Fame on Oct. 29, 2019. John is the CEO of Craig Manufacturing, founded by his father, Woodford “Woody” Craig, in 1946 as a service station and machine repair shop in Hartland, N.B. The company now has three locations in Canada and one in the United States. John spent his early years working in the shop, “taking on just about every dirty job in the plant.” After St. Andrew’s, he studied business at the University of New Brunswick, travelled to Europe after graduation, then worked in Hamilton, Ont., finally joining the family business in 1976. In 1985, he was named company president and built Craig Manufacturing into a leading North American heavy equipment attachment manufacturer. John is proud to report Fall 2020 The ANDREAN
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the company is currently under the leadership of its third-generation president, Ben Craig ’00.
Chris Stoate
had an opinion piece published in the National Post on Nov. 21, 2019: “For this immigrant, hockey was Canada’s greatest gift. That’s no longer the case.” The article outlines Chris’s view of hockey from the time he immigrated to Canada at age 8 to now. He closed with a wish to see outdoor rinks and games of shinny restored to their former glory, with all being able to participate in the great game of hockey. Chris is an entrepreneur and former Oakville, Ont., town councillor. He is CEO of TitanFile and serves on the board of United Way Halton and Hamilton.
1980 Nicholas Abrahams
married Linda Doe in 2006 and the couple has five children between them. They live in Toronto, where Nick is a derivatives and swaps broker at Tullett Prebon ICAP Canada. He is a member of the Queen City Yacht Club, where he met up with Allan Bean ’03.
Services. Alfred is also the founder and chair of Magnet Systems, a mobile application server software company. He received a BS in computer science from the University of San Francisco and a master’s degree in computer science with a specialization in distributed data management from the University of California, Davis. He has been avidly collecting and racing vintage cars for more than two decades.
1972 Ches Crosbie
was elected leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Newfoundland and Labrador on April 28, 2018. On Sept. 20, 2018, he was elected as MHA (Member of the House of Assembly) for the Windsor Lake district and became Leader of the Official Opposition upon being sworn in on Oct. 12, 2018. Ches led the party into the 2019 provincial election and was re-elected in Windsor Lake.
1973 Raymond Leung
reports there is no age limit to learning. After earning his PhD in information engineering, he obtained his master of law (LLM) degree in Chinese law from the Renmin University of China, one of the premier universities in the country, in December 2019. Raymond is chairman and CEO of C&L Holdings in Hong Kong, where he lives with his wife, Chiang Ann. He has published seven books on arbitration and mediation. Since May 2019, Raymond has been an adjunct professor at the University of Hong Kong in the department of real estate and construction. He also serves as an adjunct professor at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology in the department of civil and environmental engineering.
1976 Hugh Munro
and his wife, Eva, moved from St. Helier, Jersey, Channel Islands, where they lived for eight years. Hugh retired in late 2018 from a career in global executive search, and Eva retired at the end of February from a more than 20-year career with RBC as a wealth manager to international highnet-worth individuals. They are building a home in the Town of Blue Mountains in Ontario, where they plan to live part of the year and will spend winters in Europe, most likely southern Spain. 68 The ANDREAN Fall 2020
Brett Cole
Clockwise from left: Alexa Law (Allan’s wife), Allan Bean ’03, Nicholas Abrahams ’80, and Linda Doe.
Kristian Bickenbach
is living in Frankfurt, Germany, representing Colombia as consul general for four years. Once he finishes, he will return to Colombia and continue with his work in the finance sector. Kristian has two daughters, Antonnia, 23, who graduated from Vanderbilt University in Tennessee, and Karla, 20, who is studying at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana.
retired last year as a detective with York Regional Police after 31 years. He now works as a trainer with the Ontario Provincial Police, instructing the physical surveillance course.
Glyn Jones
lives in Calgary, Alta., with Marguerite, his wife of 33 years. He is a partner in a boutique environmental health and safety consulting company with Canadian offices in Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, and Ottawa, as well as in San Jose, Calif. Also in Calgary, and living nearby, are their daughters, Emily and Danielle.
Bart Brooks
and his wife, Esther, recently celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary. Bart says they are empty-nesters and taking time to travel and look forward to more great adventures. They welcomed a granddaughter, Parker Sandra, on May 4, 2020, their first grandchild. “Life is good. Everyone is healthy, and our three sons are all doing well,” Bart reports. His company, a John Deere heavy equipment dealership, has been purchased by Brandt Tractor, headquartered in Regina, Sask. He says it is now the largest Deere dealership in the world.
Glyn Jones ’80 and his family.
Rob Minialoff
and his wife, Julie, love life in Texas and now
Alfred Chuang
has been involved in venture investing, and over the past 12 years, his portfolio has grown from a handful of small startups to more than 100 companies that include some of the most iconic Silicon Valley technology firms. Previously, he was a co-founder of BEA Systems (the A stands for Alfred) and, in 2001, became the software company’s CEO. It sold for $8.6 billion US. Prior to BEA, Alfred held many senior executive positions at Sun Microsystems, including as director and chief scientist of Sun Integration
Rob Minialoff ’80 and his wife, Julie.
have four grandchildren. His software company, RoofLogic Inc., is in its 31st year. The company makes software for roofing contractors. Rob became an American citizen in January 2019.
Andrew Paterson
is an adjunct professor at Kedge Business School in Bordeaux, France, teaching strategy, innovation and entrepreneurship, business model design, and international business environment. Andrew is also the founder of Birdseye, a customer relationship management tool for freelancers, and Burrow Ventures, a small venture firm for early-idea projects. He is also writing a book on fundraising. After more than 250 triathlons, 26 of which were Ironman races, he now enjoys backpacking, slacklining, and open water swimming. Andrew has one son, Paul, who is 14.
Andrew Paterson ’80, his wife, Marjorie, and son, Paul.
Ian Shandling
lives in England with his wife, Clare, and two sons. He has been working at Microsoft for 20 years and is currently CTO to HSBC.
Al Weddel
retired in 2017 from the Central York Fire Services as a captain with 34 years of service. He also coached minor hockey in Newmarket for 17 years. Al is the proud father of Adam, who is with the Royal Canadian Air Force, Tyler, who is a Red Seal welder/volunteer firefighter just outside of Parry Sound, Ont., and Gregory, who is in the restaurant business in Aurora and is inspired to become a firefighter as well. After retiring, Al and his wife, Louise, moved to Collingwood, Ont., to enjoy more of the outdoor life.
Jonathan, Cole, and Keenan. Al sends a shoutout to all his favourite teams: “Go Leafs, Raps, TFC, Jays, Wolfpack, Argos, Rock, Newcastle United... you can see what we do with our spare time!”
1981 Michael Bedard
started working for Workday as a senior solutions architect in Pleasanton, Calif., in November 2019. He and Jessica Socias had planned a wedding for Aug. 8 but postponed the celebration until next summer in Las Vegas, Nev., due to the pandemic. “However, we did not allow that to stop us from getting married,” Michael reports. They coordinated with their children and got married Aug. 8 at Pebble Beach Golf Links on the 18th hole. In June 2019, Michael and Jessica purchased and are renovating a beautiful home in Fair Oaks, Calif. Michael is proud to offer an update on his daughters: Lauren, 23, is teaching Grade 9 math at Benjamin Holt College Preparatory Academy in California after she graduated with a bachelor of science (in math) and a master’s degree in education (following in the footsteps of many Bedards) from the University of California, Santa Barbara; and Ashley, 22, is completing her degree in communication studies at Sacramento State University.
1983 Stuart Wright
and his wife, Kimberly, left Stuttgart, Germany, for Arlington, Va., in November 2019 to continue their federal service careers with the U.S. Department of Defense. Stuart accepted a position with the National Guard Bureau as a telecommunications specialist developing nextgeneration mobile SATCOM systems supporting contingency operations in all U.S. states and territories.
1984 Paul Keating
and his wife, Kathy, are proud that their son, Mack, 14, started at St. Andrew’s in September. “Mack is very excited about carving his own path at this wonderful school,” Paul reports.
Glenn Stanley-Paul
reports that his son, Graham StanleyPaul ’19, had settled into his first year at Queen’s University, studying history. Graham enthusiastically continues piping after his six years of boarding at SAC, playing as a volunteer with the Princess of Wales’ Own Regiment in Kingston, Ont. Michael Bedard ’81, centre, married Jessica Socias in August. On hand were Jessica’s son, Raymond, and Michael’s daughters, Ashley and Lauren.
1982 Al Crawford
Glenn ’80, left, and Graham Stanley-Paul ’19 at Cadet Inspection in 2019.
is president of Morley Bedford Funeral Services, a family operated funeral provider in Toronto. He is a longtime volunteer in the North Toronto youth sports community and currently serves on the North Toronto Memorial Arena Board, of which Jim Herder ’64 is a former chair. Al lives in Toronto with his wife, Jennifer, and they have three sons, Fall 2020 The ANDREAN
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Mack has two sisters, Ava, 16, and Stella, 12. The family lives in Collingwood, Ont., and Paul is the distributor for Redback Boots Canada, a line of casual boots and CSA-certified work boots made by fifth-generation bootmakers in Sydney, Australia. Paul also coaches hockey in Collingwood and says he seems to spend most of his time in the arena: “Some things never change.”
Terry Wong
Non-Alcoholic Beer is the newest member of the Neal Brothers product family. Peter says the beer is made in a unique way where the product is brewed to full strength, and then the alcohol molecules are selectively removed while leaving behind most of the beer flavour, ensuring it tastes like a regular beer. “We are so happy to bring this innovative line to our consumers who want to engage in the social aspects of drinking but do not wish to consume alcohol,” he says.
was awarded a Meritorious Service Decoration – Military Division by Canadian GovernorGeneral, Julie Payette, on Nov. 12, 2019. Terry is a Lieutenant Colonel in the Royal Canadian Air Force. He received the award for demonstrating outstanding leadership and compassion through Operation Ho Ho Ho, an annual fundraising program he created in 2003 to purchase Christmas gifts for sick children in Toronto. Terry inspired annual donations reaching close to a quarter of a million dollars from military and civilian communities. His contributions have positively impacted the lives of thousands of sick children and their families and those of many injured soldiers of the Canadian Armed Forces, who now participate annually in the initiative.
1988 Daniel Elder Peter Neal ’86 with his daughter, Bridget.
Tim Watson
moved back to Ontario in August 2019 after working throughout North America for more than 20 years. He and his family live in Mississauga, and he is working as CFO at JANA Corporation in Aurora. photo / MCpl Mathieu Gaudreault, Rideau Hall, OSGG-BSGG, 2019
Terry Wong ’84 with Canadian Governor-General, Julie Payette.
1985 Iftikhar Barrie
is consulting to the federal government as an enterprise architect with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. Iftikhar is a member of the Canadian Immigration Biometric Identification System architecture team (CIBIDS). He lives in Ottawa, Ont., with his wife, Noor. Iftikhar is also building a prototype for a wearable device called the WatchStick nSight in partnership with Centennial College. The WatchStick nSight attaches to any classic wristwatch turning it into a smartwatch. WatchStick is a Canadian startup.
1986 Peter Neal
is excited to add another product to the business he founded with his brother, Chris, more than three decades ago. The Neal Brothers 0.45% 70 The ANDREAN Fall 2020
Exceptional Air Sports Performance and has officially certified it as the first Canadian circumnavigation by helicopter. Departing on July 1, 2017, to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Canadian confederation, the Canadian crew (comprised of Steven, his father, Bob, and retired test pilot, Rob “Dugal” MacDuff) flew a Canadian-made Bell 429 helicopter 37,000 kilometres around the world, visiting every Canadian province and territory as well as landmarks celebrating notable achievements and events from Canada’s rich history. Along the way, they were joined by notable Canadians such as astronaut, Dave Williams, hockey legend, Guy Lafleur, celebrated photographer, Peter Bregg, and HCol Gerald Haddon, grandson of J.A.D. McCurdy 1903, the first pilot in Canada and the British Empire. The C150 Global Odyssey raised funds for True Patriot Love, a charity supporting veterans and their families, and Southlake Regional Hospital in Newmarket, one of Canada’s leading cancer care facilities.
1987 Steven Dengler
reports that the FAI, the world governing body for sports aviation, has declared his circumnavigation of the world to be an Steven Dengler ’87, right, and his father, Bob.
became involved in competitive barbecue in 2013. He moved to Texas after graduating from high school and fell in love with barbecue. He met his wife, Jenn, and they moved back to Toronto after he finished his architecture degree at the University of Texas at Austin. After a couple of years back in Canada, Daniel says he realized the barbecue scene in Toronto was dismal. “I tried four or five places one spring and decided that if I was ever going to have good barbecue again, I would have to figure out how to cook it myself.” That sparked his interest in cooking, and the competition side followed. He participated at the 2014, 2015, and 2016 American Royal World BBQ Competition in Texas. His rib entry placed in the Top 20 out of more than 550 teams in 2015. Fast forward to 2018 when he started entering steak competitions. Daniel qualified for and competed in the Steak
Cookoff Association World Championships held in Fort Worth, Texas. This led to being ranked the top steak cook in Canada for the past two years. His competition grill performed so well that in 2019 he opened a business and became the Canadian distributor for PK Grills, a line of charcoal barbecues from Tyler, Texas that was started in 1952. He and Jenn live in Toronto and have two daughters.
which is a BMW off-road training centre. Last year, he became certified as a BMW tour guide in Germany and then as a BMW off-road instructor in Spain, and plans to offer a full range of BMW motorcycle off-road training, as well as guided BMW motorcycle tours. At the beginning of the year, Ryan was in Toronto filming a second series of pro motorcycle rider tips for Honda Motorcycles Canada. He lives in Victoria, B.C., with his wife, Tiffany, and three children. His sons, Jacob and Marcus, are in high school and excellent athletes, and his daughter, Madeline, finished her final year at Western University. Tiffany is a financial adviser and the VP of their company. She is also a yoga instructor and is working on opening a yoga studio to focus on balance and health for older people.
both as an assistant. In 2018, he made his home in southeast Germany, just over the border from Salzburg, Austria, to be near his son, Niklas, 5. Niklas loves hockey, is already skating, and is a big Toronto Maple Leafs fan!
Allan Frost
continues to work for BMO Financial Group, based in Toronto, where he is a business technology specialist responsible for project management, design, and installation of all audio/visual technologies across Canada.
Stephen Rotstein
Daniel Elder ’88 and his daughters.
1990 Ryan Austin
retired from policing after 28 years as a sergeant specializing in motorcycle training and major collision investigation. He plans to focus on his company, Advanced Rider Training, which gives civilian riders the advanced skills he was teaching police officers. It operates in British Columbia, Ontario, and California. At the end of 2019, Ryan opened a new branch of the company, Enduro Park Canada, in Victoria, B.C.,
was recently elected VP of the Canadian Bar Association (CBA) and will serve as its president starting in September 2021. The CBA represents more than 36,000 lawyers in Canada. In January, he joined the Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) as its director, global and domestic affairs. In this role, he is responsible for overseeing a team that deals with securities commissions across Canada and worldwide to protect investors and foster fair and efficient capital markets. He spent the previous 11 years at FP Canada as its general counsel. Stephen lives in Toronto with his wife, Christina, and his two daughters.
Alex Stein ’90 and his son, Niklas.
1991 Scott Davidson
and his wife, Kim, returned to Canada from Singapore, where Scott was teaching art at the Canadian International School. The couple, along with their son, Henry, 4, lives in Stouffville, Ont., and Scott is teaching art and history in the York Region District School Board.
Scott Davidson ’91, with his wife, Kim, and son, Henry. Stephen Rotstein ’90 with his family.
Alex Stein
took on a new challenge and role this past season and became the head scout of the Kassel Huskies (DEL2), a German professional ice hockey club, helping develop their scouting and recruiting department from the ground up. After winning the championship in the Austrian 2nd League in 2016, Alex coached in Bremerhaven in the DEL (the highest German league) and then in Innsbruck (EBEL), Austria’s highest league,
James Morgan
and his wife, Michelle, welcomed their second child, Violet Gwendoline, on Oct. 9, 2019. Older brother, Cooper, 3, is excited to have a playmate.
1992 Darren Katic
ran into Paul Perrier ’01 at a University of Southern California golf tournament in January. Darren is an alumnus of USC, while Paul is the university’s deputy athletic director. Darren invests in oil fields in Southern California Fall 2020 The ANDREAN
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through his company, West Energy Capital. He and his wife, Millie, have two daughters, aged 11 and 8, who are aspiring ballet dancers and looking forward to ski season. They live in Hermosa Beach, Calif.
Paul Perrier ’01, left, and Darren Katic ’92.
1993
in October 2019 for a beer after not seeing each other in about that long.
Robert Leckey
1995
reconnected with Randall Blom ’02 at the annual alumni cocktail party of the McGill Faculty of Law on Nov. 13, 2019, in Toronto. Both are alumni of the faculty, of which Robert is dean. He taught Randall during his first year in law school. Randall practices at Cassels Brock & Blackwell. They spoke about how much they’d gained from their time at SAC and how much the School has changed for the better: more female teachers, more opportunities to interact with girls, and more focus on wellness. Robert was selected in March 2020 as the inaugural winner of the Change-Maker Prize, one of the McGill Principal’s Prizes for Public Outreach through Media, which goes to an individual who is a role model and whose engagement with the public and the media has effected important social changes. The jury highlighted Robert’s contributions to public discussions of human rights issues in Quebec. He was recently selected as a member of the Royal Society of Canada’s College of New Scholars, Artists, and Scientists. Robert is a full professor and holds the Samuel Gale Chair at the Faculty of Law.
Jonathan Parker
has been promoted to Commander in the Royal Canadian Navy. Jonathan is posted to the National Defence Headquarters in Ottawa, where he works on the Naval Staff.
1996 Ted Mercer
and his wife, Victoria, welcomed a third son, Piers Robert William, in July 2019. Piers has two older brothers, James and Hugh. Ted started a new role in March 2020 as an enterprise account executive at Snowflake Computing, selling the democratization of data to companies in Ontario.
Ian Michael
met classmate, Albert Poon, for breakfast on the Shangri-La Hotel’s 56th floor while he was in Hong Kong for business on Oct. 2, 2019. The hotel’s regular restaurant was closed that day, so the friends were offered a table in the private dining room at the top of the hotel with one of the Hong Kong harbour’s best views. Ian is a corporate lawyer at Bennett Jones in Toronto and works with Hong Kong clients who own businesses in Canada. He says he is lucky to travel to Hong Kong once or twice a year, although he hasn’t travelled recently due to the pandemic. Since March, Ian has been working remotely from his home in Toronto and his cottage on Georgian Bay and has been busy adapting and staying productive. “There are silver linings to be found as it’s been great to spend so much more time with my family and create a fully equipped office with an excellent view of the Sans Souci area on Georgian Bay,” he reports.
Ian Michael ’92, right, and classmate, Albert Poon.
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Ted Mercer ’96, his wife, Victoria, and their three sons.
1997
John O’Hea Randall Blom ’02, left, and Robert Leckey ’93.
1994 Victor Hyman
became executive director of ClimateCare, the largest co-operative of HVAC contractors in Canada, in August 2020. Victor’s daughter, Devorah, 19, graduated from Tiferes Bais Yaakov high school in Toronto and is studying event planning. His daughter, Orly, 18, graduated from Tiferes Bais Yaakov and is in the performance production program at Ryerson University. His son, Yossi, 16, is in Grade 10 at Yeshiva Darchei Torah, and his daughter, Talya, 12, is in Grade 6 at Bais Yaakov Elementary School. Victor’s wife, Sara, is seriously considering getting a dog to fill the emptying nest. Victor says he and classmate, Kurt Alfrey, met up ahead of their 25th reunion
and his wife, Andrea, welcomed twins, Finn Barry and Grace Olia, on May 28, 2018. Older siblings, Avelynn, 7, and Connor, 5, have been a great help with the twins. John is a sales executive with CRUSHCO Equipment Inc., a mobile equipment and service dealer for the aggregate/mining industry. John and his family live in Etobicoke, Ont.
1998 Christopher Fusco
and his wife, Tushee, gathered with friends at a holiday dinner in November 2019. Christopher has been organizing these dinners for 15 years, with its origin being a holiday house dinner with roommates that included classmates, Jonathan Price and Brook Dyson. Over the years, the dinner evolved to include more people, anywhere from 20 to 30. The core group of friends remains the SAC boys plus welcome additions they picked up during their university years. In 2019, the guests happened to be all Old Boys, including
2000 Frank Ross
and his wife, Jennifer, welcomed their first child, Alexander, in November 2019. They live in Waterloo, Ont.
Frank Ross ’00, with Alexander and Jennifer.
→
From lower left, clockwise around the table (all men are from the Class of 1998): Kelly Trinka holding Amelia, Erin Mac Con, Max Woods, Antonio Riva Palacio, Kandice Cross, Vania Meneses Borges, Brook Dyson, Melissa Mercer, Will Mercer, Jason Perrier, Andrew Malloy, Brad Cross, Christopher Fusco, Douglas Mac Con, Tushee Fusco, and Richard Lai.
one surprise guest, Antonio Riva Palacio ’98, who flew in from Dubai.
as general in-house legal counsel for a gaming, media, insurance, and real estate development group in The Bahamas.
2001 James Allen
and his wife, Laura, welcomed their second child, Lincoln Chase, on June 20, 2020, a brother for Mason, 2. James is the IDN health systems manager at Beckman Coulter. The family lives in Vaughan, Ont.
Max Woods
and his wife, Kelly, welcomed their first child, Amelia Josie Kathryn, on Sept. 2, 2019 (Labour Day!). They are thrilled with their new family and enjoying their free time exploring the great outdoors with her.
James Allen ’01, with Mason, Lincoln, and Laura.
Max Woods ’98, his wife, Kelly, and daughter, Amelia.
1999 Omar Sands
married Indira Deal on Nov. 2, 2019, in Nassau, The Bahamas. Old Boys in attendance were his brother, Robert ’96, along with Tommy Adamson ’97, Nathan Geddes-Morrison ’97, Victor Richards ’97, Ibou Barry ’98, Khalil Braithwaite ’98, Alexander Christie ’99, Justin Albury ’00, and Kevin Richards ’00. Omar is practicing law
Omar Sands ’99 married Indira Deal, at top. Above, Old Boys celebrate with Omar at the wedding.
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2002
Pete McClelland
is an associate director for OMERS Private Equity and has been there for five years. He also spent the last three years on the board of directors at Rowing Canada, giving back to the sport he spent so much time enjoying. Pete says he is braving COVID-19 and living in downtown Toronto with his fiancée, Amy de Merlis. They postponed their summer 2020 wedding to 2022 due to the pandemic.
Nicholas to enjoy more time with his children. Nicholas is the Associate Director of Advancement at St. Andrew’s.
2003 Geoff Delean
and his wife, Samantha, had a big year in 2019. Not only did they complete a substantial eightmonth renovation of their Toronto residence, but they also welcomed their first child, Charles Geoffrey (Charlie) in early October. Geoff is a real estate salesperson with Chestnut Park Real Estate Limited, Brokerage and is more than happy to help fellow Andreans make their next move.
Brian Harvey
started a new position in January 2020 at Unity Health Toronto as an accreditation lead. Based out of St. Michael’s Hospital, he will be leading the organization through its first hospital accreditation as a network. The network includes St. Michael’s, St. Joseph’s Health Centre, and Providence Healthcare. Brian and his wife, Victoria, who also works at Unity Health as a cardiac device technologist, celebrated their first year of marriage and moved to Dundas, Ont.
Bradley Downey
joined Environmental 360 Solutions (E360S), an environmental management company founded by Donato Ardellini, father of Claudio ’22. Bradley is responsible for business acquisitions and corporate development as the company actively consolidates the waste management industry in Canada and the U.S.
Brian Harvey ’03, and his wife, Victoria. Pete McClelland ’02 and Amy de Merlis.
Adam Hoffman
and his wife, Sherrie, welcomed a daughter, Ivy Anne, on Jan. 10, 2020.
Nicholas Weedon
and his wife, Ashley, welcomed their third child, Lincoln Houston John, on March 13, 2020. Older siblings, Abigail and Bennett, entertain him and make him smile daily. The lockdown has allowed
Donato Ardellini, left, and Bradley Downey ’03.
Adam Hoffman ’03, his wife, Sherrie, and daughter, Ivy Anne.
Mike Tzimas
Nicholas Weedon ’02 and his wife, Ashley, with their children, Lincoln, Abigail, and Bennett.
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started at Napoleon in January 2020 as CFO after ten years in the automotive industry. Napoleon, a $500-million privately owned Canadian company with global operations, manufactures and sells grills, fireplaces, and HVAC. Mike and his wife, Andrea, live in Richmond Hill, Ont., and have two sons, Lucas, 6, and Daniel, 3.
Tyron Vogt
had a busy summer in 2019 with a wedding and a job change. He and Selina got married at the Chateau-de-Gilly in Burgundy, France, on Aug. 24, 2019. They hosted more than 100 guests from across the globe from as far as Canada, the U.S., and Hong Kong. The couple has two children, Gianluca, 7, and Lily-Grace, 3. Tyron started a job on July 1 as director of sales and marketing for jobwatch.ch, a specialized recruitment website providing job postings for 40,000 candidates in the watch and microtechnique industries. Some of its biggest clients include the Swatch Group, Richemont, and Audemars Piguet.
Technologies and has also been working in real estate since 2009. The family lives in Toronto.
Andrew Wakefield
was selected to the officiating crew for the 107th Grey Cup in Calgary, Alta., in November 2019 between the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Winnipeg Blue Bombers. As a six-year line judge with an 85-game experience in the Canadian Football League, this was his first Grey Cup appointment. He previously worked both East and West finals as well as semi-final games in recent years. Between games, Andrew works at CIBC as a senior product manager overseeing consumer credit cards for the bank in Toronto.
Erik Bornstein
married Sarah Roper at the Old Fort Bay Club in The Bahamas on Dec. 6, 2019. In attendance were his brother, Sean ’03, Geoffrey Campbell ’03, and Nicholas Laveau ’04. Erik is the CEO of a technology company called TOOLBX that he founded after selling his construction company, Mazenga Building Group. Erik spent 10 years in the construction business before transitioning into technology. TOOLBX is a platform that helps construction professionals manage their construction material procurement by consolidating the order process from hundreds of suppliers. Erik recently raised $4 million US from investors in Silicon Valley and New York and is in the process of raising his next round of funding to grow the Toronto-based business. Erik and Sarah live in downtown Toronto.
Luc Zoratto ’03, his wife, Leesa, and daughter, Luna Rose Linh.
2004 Junyan Boon
owns the Dance Annex Studios in Toronto, dedicated to dance and the arts. He has also been developing the Brazilian Zouk dance community over the last 10 years. During the pandemic, he is focusing intensely on his yoga practices. His life partner, Caney Dança, who is also his dance partner, inspires him to push beyond his limitations.
Erik Bornstein ’04 and Sarah Roper were married in December.
Darrin Henein
is the director of UX at Shopify in Toronto, where he’s been for the last four years. He and his wife, Alicia, daughter, Ayla Grace, 7, and son, Samuel David, 5, moved from Milton, Ont., to Toronto in 2018. Andrew Wakefield ’03 poses with the Grey Cup.
Ritch Lau
Luc Zoratto
and his wife, Leesa, welcomed Luna Rose Linh on Sept. 16, 2019. Luc took up long-distance running and ran his first half marathon as a way to ensure the “dad bod” doesn’t creep up on him. Luc works as a senior sales manager at Dell
Junyan Boon ’04 with Caney Dança.
has been working in media for a Chinese broadcast company, Fairchild Television, as a news anchor/reporter since he graduated from the University of Toronto at Scarborough. He met his wife, Loretta, on the job when they were co-hosts of the evening news. They got married on June 10, 2018, and live in Richmond Hill, Ont. Ritch recalls Fall 2020 The ANDREAN
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his favourite time at SAC was playing basketball with classmates and says he still enjoys the game. He participated in the St. Andrew’s Cadet program as a cook and continues to borrow from the recipes he used in SAC’s kitchen.
Scott Fullerton
married Sarah Bellamy on Feb. 1, 2020, at Baro in Toronto. Old Boys in attendance were Scott’s brother, Kevin Fullerton ’02, his brother-in-law, Gord Birkett ’01, along with Nathan Rothwell ’03, Joseph Rothwell ’03, Ryan Bryce ’05, Clinton McCullough ’05, Jay Smith ’05, Ryan Besse ’09, and Reese Foegele ’13. Scott and Sarah honeymooned in The Bahamas, where they
met up with Matthew Whiteland ’05, Jonathan Cartwright ’05, and Karl McCartney ’06. Scott and Sarah live in Toronto, where Scott works as a wholesaler for National Bank Investments.
Robert Iaccino
has been named a partner in Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP’s Commercial Real Estate Group. He works in the company’s Toronto office specializing in leasing and construction matters and has extensive experience in acquisitions and dispositions of office buildings, vacant land, and shopping centres.
2006 Justin Lemieux-Reale
and his wife, Sarah, welcomed their first child, Ellara Kathleen, on Dec. 28, 2019. The family lives in Hamilton, Ont., where they completed a full renovation on their Victorian home.
Ritch Lau ’04 and his wife, Loretta.
Jun Woo Park
2005
had a busy 2019. He graduated from Carnegie Mellon University in May with a PhD in computer science. He and his wife, Sunhee, along with their cats, Toffee and Coco, relocated in July to the San Francisco Bay area for his new job at Google as a software engineer. Their daughter, Hazel, was born in September.
Ryan Bryce
married Kallie Scott on Sept. 6, 2020, at the Toronto Polo Club. The couple resides in Mount Albert, Ont. Ryan is SAC’s Advancement Officer, Advancement Services & Annual Fund. Old Boys in the occasion’s limited attendance included his brother, Taylor ’09, Nicholas Weedon ’02, Scott Fullerton ’05, and Clinton McCullough ’05.
Top, Scott Fullerton ’05 and Sarah Bellamy were married in February. Above, from left, Matthew Whiteland ’05, Scott Fullerton ’05, Jonathan Cartwright ’05, and Karl McCartney ’06.
Above, Ryan Bryce ’05 and Kallie Scott were married in September. At right, Ryan and Kallie celebrated with Scott Fullerton ’05, Taylor Bryce ’09, Clinton McCullough ’05, Nicholas Weedon ’02, and St. Andrew’s photographer, Paul Mosey.
76 The ANDREAN Fall 2020
Jun Woo Park ’06 with Sunhee and their daughter, Hazel.
Sisak in Croatia and HK Partizan in Belgrade, Serbia. Neil also coached the Serbian national team at the 2018 IIHF World Championships hosted in Tilburg, Netherlands.
John Cockshutt
moved from Toronto to England and took a marketing position at an industry-disrupting skincare and cosmetics business. It was there he met his wife, Elly. “After a few months, we were both sure beyond any doubt,” John reports. They were married on Nov. 16, 2019, and honeymooned in Seville, Spain. In attendance at the wedding was classmate, Nicholas Woo. The Old Boys re-connected after nearly 10 years when Nicholas noticed one of John’s Instagram stories about moving to England. “We met over a few pints and some ramen, and it was like no time had passed,” John says. He and Elly reside in London and spend time in the English Surrey countryside and Geneva, Switzerland.
Adam Lebar ’07 and Tessa Christine Laviolette were married in July 2019.
John Cockshutt ’09 and Elly were married in November 2019. From left, Elly, John, Nicholas Woo ’09, and his partner, Marina.
2007
Mark McLean
married Tessa Christine Laviolette on July 27, 2019, at Gracewood Estates, Kurtz Orchards in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont. Old Boys in attendance were his brothers, Erik ’05 and Mitch ’08; classmates, Matt Boyd, Derek Cleary, Nunziato Fattore, Scott Giroux, Peter Goitanich, Mathew Halloran, Cameron Healy, Eric Lee, Colin McCullough, Ladi Onayemi, Neil Osien, James Seymour, Richard Shouldice Stewart, and Jon Tozzi; as well as Ricky Reininger ’04 and Jeff Seymour ’05.
Jonathan Thomson
2009
Neil Blunden
has accepted an appointment as head of hockey at Lower Canada College in Montreal. He is responsible for the school’s hockey program and is coaching the senior boys’ varsity team. Neil was an assistant coach at McGill University, where he played hockey from 2010 to 2014 and won a national championship in 2012. Before joining McGill’s coaching staff, Neil coached KHL
sent his thanks to SAC for supporting The Pond Hop, an outdoor hockey marathon in Toronto. Participants played a series of shinny games at two outdoor rinks on Feb. 22, 2020. Several Old Boys joined the series. Mark says more than 75 players participated and collectively raised in excess of $20,000 in support of the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. Old Boy participants included Brendon McCullough ’03, Cameron Healy ’07, Adam Lebar ’07, Colin McCullough ’07, Ladi Onayemi ’07, Mitch Lebar ’08, Jeff O’Neill ’08, Ryan Besse ’09, Morgan Bonner ’09, Josh Harris ’09, Josh Phillips ’09, and Leland de Langley ’11.
→
Adam Lebar
Ontario Superior Court of Justice. He now works in Toronto as a commercial litigator at Teplitsky, Colson LLP.
and his wife, Alicia, welcomed a daughter, Charlie Jay Thomson, on Nov. 15, 2019. They live in downtown Toronto where Jonathan works at KingSett Capital. The family is enjoying every moment as a trio and looks forward to travelling with Charlie to Japan, where Alicia is from.
2008 Dylan Baker
became a lawyer in 2017 after clerking at the Fall 2020 The ANDREAN
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Phil Whitfield
moved with his fiancé, Nikki Ramsden, to Sydney, Australia, in October 2019 to pursue a career opportunity at Reckitt Benckiser, a global health and hygiene company. They plan to return to Canada in June 2021 to be married in Toronto and are thrilled to announce they are expecting the arrival of a baby girl in February.
→
Old Boys from the Class of 2011, from left: Connor Pugliese, Thomas Di Falco ’12, Andrew Kerr, Carter Sopik, Alec McCleave, Matt Mardini, Brendan MacDonald, and Ian Malcolm (friend).
Phil Whitfield ’09 with Nikki Ramsden.
2011
Dylan Hewko
married Olivia Kutlesa on July 1, 2020, in Hamilton, Ont., with only immediate family in attendance, followed by a celebratory lunch at the Ancaster Mill. His brother, Brenden ’09, was the best man and the only other Old Boy in attendance. The couple had initially planned for an August wedding at the Art Gallery of Ontario in Toronto but revised their plans due to the pandemic. They look forward to having their wedding reception in 2021. The couple lives in New York City, where Dylan obtained his U.S. CPA and works as a controller for the New York City Football Club, while Olivia is a senior dental student at the NYU College of Dentistry. Dylan Hewko ’11 with his wife, Olivia.
78 The ANDREAN Fall 2020
Andrew Kerr
and a group from the Class of 2011 went to Scottsdale, Ariz., on Feb. 1 for the 2020 Waste Management Phoenix Open. Time was spent in the sun by the pool; however, the main attraction was the infamous par-3 16th hole grandstands. Pints were had, laughs were shared, and there was no shortage of good times.
Connor Pugliese
is associate, corporate development and investor relations at Triple Flag Precious Metals. Triple Flag is a precious metals streaming and royalty
company offering bespoke financing solutions to the metals and mining industry. Before joining the Toronto-based company this year, he worked in the financial sector, most recently with National Bank Financial as an associate, and prior to that with Raymond James as an analyst, both in their investment banking metals and mining sector coverage groups. Connor holds a bachelor of commerce (honours) from Queen’s University.
2012 Ben Collis
says life has been a whirlwind of activity with courses across the country, including sea survival and aeromedical training, and 16
months in Portage-la-Prairie, Manitoba. He completed three phases of flight training that culminated in earning his wings in February. Ben is now employed as a helicopter pilot with the Canadian Forces. Next on the horizon is the tactical-aviation first-officer course, held at CFB Gagetown in New Brunswick, which introduces pilots to tactical tasks, where previous training focused more on developing flying skills. He is set to begin working as the aviation liaison officer with the 3rd Battalion Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry in Alberta. Ben is also enrolled in a war studies MA program through King’s College London in the UK, and he is hoping to move forward with a wedding in 2021 – COVID-19 permitting!
Kevin Rush
joined SAC as the mathematics residential don following work in Ireland as an integration engineer. Kevin aspires to become a math and computer science teacher and graduated with a BA in computer science from Queen’s University in 2017. In addition to his academic expertise, Kevin has extensive rugby experience at the university level.
Rob Williams
won the Hon. Edward Goff Penny Memorial Prize for Young Canadian Journalists in 2019. In the small market category, Robert won for his work with the Telegraph-Journal in Saint John, N.B. His entry submissions included: an exclusive piece on the struggle by 800 Campobello Island residents to stay connected to mainland New Brunswick; an exclusive story of Lois Merritt’s fight with the federal government over workers’ benefits for employees on long-term leave; an indepth look into the plight of international workers trying to enter New Brunswick’s labour force; and the story of a mother and her journey with cancer while building memories with her son. Before joining the Saint John office in 2017, Rob worked in the legislative bureau for Brunswick News Inc., where he covered provincial and federal politics. Rob worked as an intern at The Daily Gleaner in Fredericton, N.B., and at iPolitics in Ottawa after graduating from the journalism program at Carleton University. He was one of 10 journalists selected in 2016 for the Canadian military journalism course with the Canadian Global Affairs Institute, in partnership with the Centre for Military, Security and Strategic Studies at the University of Calgary.
2013 Michael Chiang
and Charles-David Mitchell ’14 performed at the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo in August 2018. Michael was playing with the Combined Universities’ Officer Training Corps Pipes and Drums, while Charles-David was playing with the Pipers Trail. They found out they were playing Fall 2020 The ANDREAN
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together at the tattoo during the first rehearsal. They both had a great time and were proud to represent SAC in this world-renowned production set in Scotland. Michael graduated from the University of Edinburgh with a master’s degree in physics in 2017 and is studying for a PhD in biological physics at the same university. Charles-David graduated from Carleton University with a bachelor’s degree in music last year and is now pursuing a diploma in music and digital media at St. Lawrence College in Kingston, Ont.
photo / Todd Reicher, Rockford IceHogs
Tyler ’10 and Dylan Sikura ’13.
Charles-David Mitchell ’14, left, connected with fellow piper, Michael Chiang ’13.
Mario Chiodo
accepted a job with Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment in its Global Partnership Department. In his role, Mario works closely with both the Toronto Maple Leafs and Toronto Raptors on various sponsorship initiatives. He graduated in 2018 from the University of Windsor with a bachelor’s degree in commerce with a concentration in marketing.
Dylan Sikura
co-founded Northern Breeze Painting Ltd., a full-service painting company in the Muskoka area of Ontario. Previous to this, Corey ran a College Pro Painting franchise in 2019 as a partnership. The duo ranked in the Top 5 franchise owners nationally in terms of sales volume and job quality. Corey enjoys staying in touch with classmates, Mitch Carter, Peter Grantcharov, Bryce Johnson, Taylor Pilmer, and Kris Townsend. This spring, Corey took a surfing trip to Nicaragua to catch up with some of these friends.
2014
Mitch Carter
scored his first NHL goal playing for the Chicago Blackhawks in a game against the Detroit Red Wings on Jan. 6, 2020. For the majority of the year, Dylan played alongside his brother, Tyler ’10, with the Blackhawks’ AHL affiliate, the Rockford IceHogs. Tyler was named the IceHogs captain for their 2019-2020 season. Dylan and Tyler will play for different teams in the upcoming season. In September, Dylan was traded to the Las Vegas Golden Knights, and in October, Tyler signed with the AHL’s Cleveland Monsters.
Corey Bristoll
graduated from the Smith School of Business at Queen’s University in 2018. In January, he
Mario Chiodo ’13 poses with the NBA’s Larry O’Brien Trophy. 80 The ANDREAN Fall 2020
wrote his common final exam (CFE) for his CPA designation pursuit in September 2019. As of January 2020, he officially passed and is
now gathering work experience to become an accredited CPA. Mitch tips his hat to former SAC teacher, Rob Giel, for his efforts early on in Mitch’s academic accounting career. He credits Rob for inspiring his CPA pursuit. Shortly after writing the exam, he moved to Calgary to start at the KPMG Calgary office as the starting point for his practical experience. Mitch says it has been great being able to enjoy the mountains and, most importantly, the skiing.
Peter Grantcharov
Joseph Manchia
graduated from the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management in 2019 with a bachelor of commerce. He has since been working on the investment banking team at Brookfield Financial, focusing on North American mergers and acquisitions in the real estate and infrastructure sector. Outside of work, Joseph started a food and wine import business focused on Italian and French products for friends and family.
Mac Rowcliffe
graduated with a bachelor of fine arts in production from Ryerson University, where he spent the last semester working as the assistant to two professional directors from the Stratford and Shaw Festivals. He has switched gears completely and entered the wine industry, working at Coffin Ridge Boutique Winery in Annan, Ont., as their tasting bar manager. He is also making his way through certifications with the Wine and Spirit Education Trust. He holds Level 2 and aims to soon reach Level 3.
completed his MS in data science at Columbia University and has returned to Toronto to be the data science lead at Surgical Safety Technologies Inc. Surgical Safety Technologies invented the OR Black Box, which was selected as one of Time magazine’s Top 100 Inventions of 2019. The OR Black Box records nearly everything that happens in a hospital operating room, including video of the surgical procedure.
Chris Merchant
signed in February 2020 to play football for the Wasa Royals in Finland’s Maple League, but the COVID-19 pandemic put a stop to that. However, in August, he signed to play for the Las Rozas Black Demons, one of the top teams in Spain’s premier division.
2015 Kevin Chong
completed a life sciences degree at Queen’s University and is finishing his bachelor of education with the hope of working in the independent school system in Canada or internationally in Korea or Japan. Kevin reports that during his time at Queen’s, he was involved in a variety of extra-curricular activities and volunteering, such as varsity squash, working with the municipal affairs commission of Kingston, Ont., the Toronto Blue Jays’ Jays Care Foundation, and organizing orientation week for incoming concurrent education students.
Jonathan Femi-Cole
was selected in the sixth round (53rd overall) by the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the 2020 CFL Draft. Although the 2020 CFL season was cancelled due to COVID-19, Jonathan is still working on completing his master’s degree in sport management and leadership at Western University and actively applying to firms in pursuit of consulting as a professional career post-football. He recently co-founded an online platform called Blue Guardian that aims to teach and update parents on their children’s newest apps and trends with the end goal of protecting them before they connect online. The platform runs through a monitoring system that will provide parents with online updates.
Joseph Manchia ’15, right, with classmate, Saad Siddiqui.
Nick Nabuurs
took two years off to play hockey after graduating from SAC, enjoying one season in Europe and another with Aurora in the OJHL. He is in his fourth year at the Smith School of Business at Queen’s University. While studying in his first and second year, he also played hockey for the Napanee Raiders in the PJHL, winning the Schmalz Cup (all-Ontario Jr. C Championship) and the Goalie of the Year award. Nick has been working at Bottom Line Accounting in Napanee while attending Queen’s and is also beginning a career as goalie coach for the Greater Kingston Minor Midget Junior Gaels AAA hockey team.
2016 Andrew Biddell
was selected as an Academic All-Canadian for his achievement in both sports and academics for the 2018-2019 season. Andrew is a fourthyear finance major and accounting minor in the Desautels Faculty of Management at McGill University. He was recognized alongside seven other Desautels students by U Sports earlier this year. To qualify for Academic All-Canadian status, a U Sports student-athlete must have maintained an average of 80 per cent or better over the academic year while competing for one or more of their university’s varsity teams. Andrew is a former captain of the McGill varsity football team and currently serves as the varsity lacrosse team manager.
Zakir Virani
has had a wonderful year studying at the School of Urban Planning at the University of Waterloo and taking time to travel. In fall 2019, Zakir took the semester off school to backpack around Europe for three months and visit his partner, Hannah, for a month in Dakar, Senegal, where she was volunteering for the Canadian NGO Farm Radio. During his time in Europe, Zakir visited friends he made at university as well as a few Old Boys, including Nick Wong ’05, Hale Lee ’18, James Stevenson ’16, and Cameron Lawrence ’16 in the UK. During his past co-op work term, Fall 2020 The ANDREAN
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he spent four months working for Fresh Roots, an NGO that hosts urban educational farms on school properties around Vancouver, B.C. While on the road, Zakir brought along classmates, Michael House and Malcolm Nettie, to camp in Ontario’s backcountry. After a successful three months working with youth at Fresh Roots, he spent a week on his bike touring the Gulf Islands near Vancouver Island and met up with James Scott ’16, who was working in Courtenay with B.C. Provincial Parks. Zakir says he plans to eventually move to Ottawa, where he will be working from home as a research assistant for a Waterloo professor regarding agricultural planning and natural resources.
62 games with the Storm before the season was shut down. On May 12, 2020, he signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Montreal Canadiens.
2019 Isaac Bradbury
enjoyed his first year at Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pa., where he is studying international business and management. In his freshman season on the men’s soccer team, he started 16 games and scored three goals, two of which were game-winners. Following the season, he received an honourable mention to the 2019 AllCentennial Conference Team.
photo / Canadian Press
Thomas Kook
Zakir Virani ’16, right, and classmate, Cameron Lawrence, in St. Andrews, Scotland.
and Isaac Bradbury ’19 were former soccer teammates at SAC and caught up with one another following Isaac’s game with the Dickinson College Red Devils in November 2019.
2017
Morgan Barron
signed his entry-level contract with the New York Rangers in August after finishing his third year at Cornell University. As the captain of the men’s ice hockey team for the 2019-20 season, he finished with 32 points in 29 games, won the ECAC Hockey Player of the Year award, and received a Hobey Baker nomination as the top U.S. college hockey player. Morgan plans to take classes at Cornell until the season starts and hopes to fast-track his remaining courses to finish his degree before Christmas.
Alex Newhook
led the Boston College men’s hockey team in scoring as a freshman (19 goals, 23 assists) in a season that was cut short in March due to COVID-19.
2020
Kienan Draper
George Hutchings
was a member of the University of Calgary Dinos football team that won the Vanier Cup in Quebec City, Que., on Nov. 23, 2019. The Dinos defeated the Montreal Carabins 27-13 at Telus Stadium.
Matthew Medhurst
is finishing up his junior year at Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Fla. He reports he had great success in the academic field this school year, as well as on the golf course. He represented Eckerd in South Carolina at Kiawah Island Golf Resort. He is studying toward his bachelor’s degree in history and plans to earn a master of education.
2018 Cameron Hillis
was named captain of the OHL Guelph Storm ahead of his third season with the team. Cameron scored 24 goals and 59 assists in 82 The ANDREAN Fall 2020
Thomas Kook ’18, right, and Isaac Bradbury ’19.
Matt McKim
committed to attending the University of Alaska Fairbanks for the 2021-22 season, and is currently playing hockey with the Bonnyville Pontiacs of the Alberta Junior Hockey League.
Yiannis Spetsakis
was an athletic scholar and a member of the Marauders football team in his first year at McMaster University. In 2019, the team won the Yates Cup (Ontario University Athletics champion).
was drafted by the Detroit Red Wings in the seventh round of the 2020 NHL Draft. He had the unique opportunity to have his name announced by his father, Kris, who played 17 of his 20 NHL seasons with the Red Wings and is currently the club’s director of amateur of scouting. Kienan is set to play in the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) with the Chilliwack Chiefs, and has a commitment to play college hockey at Miami University (Ohio). At St. Andrew’s, Kienan scored 51 points in 56 games with the First Hockey team. X
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COMMUNITY NEWS Tara Barbeito
was appointed as Middle School Administrative Assistant in September 2019. Before this, she was the Upper School Administrative Assistant and was a familiar face in the Middle School, having worked one day a week at Reception.
Paul Bedard ’79
assumes the role of Head of Sifton House. Paul is SAC’s Director of Athletics and was Housemaster of Sifton House from 1997 to 2003 following his move from Ridley College, where he was also a residential lead.
Kevin Chan
joined the IT Department in July 2019 in the role of Laptop & Helpdesk Coordinator. He is a Ryerson University graduate and holds a bachelor of business management, specializing in IT management. Kevin has worked with young people through his volunteerism with the Police Services Association and spent a year travelling through Europe before joining St. Andrew’s.
Nicolette Fleming
has been promoted to the Leadership Team at the College. Nicolette joined St. Andrew’s in 2012 as the Communications Officer, Marketing, and has acted as Director of Communications since 2017.
Carolyn Bilton
has been promoted to the position of Head of Modern Languages following her role as Interim Head. Carolyn officially joined the faculty at St. Andrew’s in 2007 after having served a year earlier in an LTO position. Since her arrival, she has taught French, history, geography, and computer science and has led the Extended French program. She is an active member of the St. Andrew’s College wellness team with a primary focus on teaching mindfulness to Upper School students. Carolyn coaches Senior CrossCountry and Senior Alpine Skiing.
Keegan Cahill
is now a permanent faculty member in the Middle School. Prior to teaching at St. Andrew’s, he was a middle school teacher at the Canadian International School of Vietnam for two years. Previous to that, he graduated from Brock University in the concurrent education program, receiving his bachelor of education degree. Keegan teaches Grade 6 Core French, Grade 7 Core and Enriched French, and Grade 8 Core French. He coaches U12 Volleyball and U14 Squash.
Michael Chadsey
and his wife, Katie, welcomed their daughter, Chloe Lynn, on Aug. 16, 2020. Michael has been a faculty member in the Mathematics Department since 2007, and in 2012 was appointed head of the department. He also sits on the Board of Governors.
84 The ANDREAN Fall 2020
Ryan Johnston
joins St. Andrew’s College in the position of Artist in Residence. He has a diverse skill set in composition, performance, and applications in music technologies. Ryan is working under the direction of William Scoular, Head of Drama and Film, to support our plays, and working to promote music throughout the College.
David Joiner
is the chair of a department formed last year by the merger of the History and Social Science Department with the Geography Department. The two departments have joined under the new name: Canadian and World Studies Department.
Chet Kaloti
married Navneet Sahota on Oct. 4, 2019, at the Ontario Khalsa Darbar in Brampton, Ont., the same Sikh temple where his parents were married. The couple is planning a honeymoon in Greece and Italy. Chet is a faculty member in the Upper School teaching Canadian and World Studies and Business Studies.
Tushee Fusco
took on the role of Upper School Administrative Assistant/Receptionist in 2019. She holds a BA from the University of East London with a major in history and a minor in literature. Tushee has several years of experience as an administrative assistant for a real estate agency in Richmond Hill, Ont. She joined St. Andrew’s in 2018 as the Campus Shop Assistant. Tushee is married to Chris Fusco ’98.
Eddie Galbo
is the new Head of Security, coming to SAC in 2019 from CFB Borden, where he worked as a security officer. He was a police officer with the Metropolitan Transit Authority of New York City for 10 years, finishing his career as an explosives detection handler in the K-9 unit. Eddie previously worked as the operations manager of Sunnidale Boarding Kennels and as a service dog trainer at the COPE Service Dogs organization.
Emily Keating
(nee Whitton) married Matthew Keating on Oct. 4, 2019, at Stonefield Estates in Beckwith, Ont. Emily is an Assistant Head of Flavelle House. She teaches in the Math Department and contributes to the math support programs.
Janice Hollett
was promoted last year to Director of Finance after holding the position of Controller for four years. Janice oversees the daily activities of the Finance Department, including developing and implementing financial policies and procedures and managing the budgeting, receivable, and payable processes. In consultation with the CFO, she is also responsible for analyzing and reporting the School’s financial performance to the Leadership Team and Finance Committee of the Board.
Jeff LaForge
was promoted to the position of Head of Flavelle House last year. He joined the faculty in 2012 and was the Assistant Head of Macdonald House since 2013.
Marcello Lio
joined the faculty in September 2019 as Upper School Assistant Director of Athletics and mathematics teacher. Marcello has extensive experience as a teacher and coach, having taught math while holding the position of head of the health and physical education department at Villanova College in King City, Ont. Marcello’s professional and university experience as a football player makes him an ideal fit to take on the role of Head Football Coach. Marcello’s son, Anthony ’23, also started at the School in 2019.
demands of managing the 105-year-old Pipes & Drums and heading up the teaching program. “I’m really happy to still be teaching and helping Matt with the band, but I’m also happy not to be the guy in charge anymore. I’m ready to step back a bit,” Jim says. He joined SAC in 1998 and built a struggling tradition into a vibrant academic program and entertainment showcase for the School. As performances at An Andrean Christmas and the Celtic Concert illustrate, Jim raised the musicianship and showmanship of his charges to levels unheard of at the School. He also contributed his writing to The Andrean magazine during his 21 years. His influence will still be felt with his continued involvement in the Pipes & Drums. Jim says the newfound time in his schedule will allow him to accept more piping workshops and judging engagements across North America and in Scotland.
Matt MacIsaac
joined the College in 2019 on a permanent basis overseeing the School’s Pipes & Drums program. For the past 30 years, Matt has travelled the globe as a performer, competitor, and instructor, working with some of the top names in Celtic music.
Jim McGillivray
is now the Executive Director of Piping, having offloaded most of his classwork to Matt MacIsaac, who moved into the Director’s role in November 2019. Jim continues to teach part-time but says he is taking a back seat to Matt, helping him become familiar with the
was accepted to the IBSC Action Research project last year and placed on a team of six other researchers from other independent allboys schools from across the world. The Middle School teacher plans to travel to Barcelona, Spain, to the Viaró Global School in 2021 to partcipate in Action Research training. This year, she will work on her research and is slated to present her findings and research at the 2022 conference in Dallas, Texas. returns to the College in a more robust role as the Ceramics Facilitator & Technician. Her new role has expanded to include additional support to the Middle School Art Department. In addition to SAC’s clay program, Pam teaches adult classes, kids clay camp, and teen wheel class at Pine Tree Potters Guild and has developed, maintained, and leads the clay program at the Southdown Institute.
retired as Head of Flavelle House last year after six years. He, his wife, Michele, and son, Kingston, have moved to the Row. Jamie has taught in the Middle School since 2009. Michele is also a Middle School faculty member and the Middle School Athletic Coordinator. Jamie attended his 20-year reunion last fall and enjoyed catching up with some Flavelle Old Boys who graduated when he first took the position. He says Kingston misses hanging out and playing hockey with the boys in residence. was named to the position of Coordinator of Coaching and Athletic Development last year. He leads the faculty with respect to the interplay between coaching for learning on the sports fields and the classroom and is developing a specialized program for SAC athletes as they pursue their passion in our unique academic setting.
Emma Porter
Pam Pritchard
Jamie MacPherson ’99
David Manning
to that, she taught for six years at Cardigan Mountain School, a junior boarding and day school for boys in Canaan, New Hampshire. While there, Kathleen acted as a French teacher, dorm parent, and coach of the snowboard, tennis, and mountain biking teams. She was fortunate enough to work in France as an English language assistant in 2011-2012.
Keith Ramon
Joel Morrissey
and his wife, Hannah, welcomed Olivia Rose Fransen on July 9, 2020, a sister for Evelyn, 4. Joel, who joined SAC in 2011, teaches science in the Upper School and coaches Varsity B Hockey and U16 Lacrosse. Hannah taught French and history at the College in 2012 and now teaches at The Country Day School in King City, Ont.
has assumed the role of Director of Residential Life. St. Andrew’s Residential Life program has grown to be a dynamic one, and under Keith’s leadership, it is sure to flourish. Keith’s extensive experience as a Head of House and his commitment to the residential program brings certainty during these unprecedented times.
Celeste Ransom
was hired in the full-time position responsible for accounts payable. She has previous accounting experience, holds a diploma in paralegal education, and has worked as a legal assistant. >>
Kathleen Naroski
joined the faculty in September 2019 as a French teacher in the Upper School. The year prior, she taught Grades 4 and 5 French immersion in the York Region District School Board. Previous Fall 2020 The ANDREAN
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Samantha Scheepers
has been promoted to Head of English following her role as Interim Head. She is the faculty advisor for SAC Students for Social Justice and a debate coach in both the Middle and Upper Schools. She has been the Chair of the College’s Standing Committee for Excellence in Teaching and Learning since 2016 and is the Director of AP Capstone, the Grade 12 Grade Coordinator, and the Head of Smith House.
RETIREMENTS Barb Cain
retired in October 2019 after working at St. Andrew’s for 17 years. She started in a reception role, then took on the Middle School Assistant position before moving to the Upper School Administrative Associate role. Barb was also the chair of the Internal Communication Task Force, a member of the Administrative Team and the Upper School Prize Day Committee, and she initiated the administrative staff professional development program. Barb is enjoying her retirement working part-time in a family business and spending time with her grandchildren.
Katie Still
became a permanent faculty member in September 2019, teaching in the Middle School. Since 2016, she has taught Grade 6 Core (math, science, language arts, social studies), Grade 5 science, and Grades 7 and 8 math. Katie is teaching Grade 7 language arts, ESL for the Middle School, and Grade 7 history, as well as acting as the resources teacher for boys with student support plans.
Ryan Turley
joined the faculty in September 2019 as a science teacher and Assistant Head of Macdonald House. A recent graduate of the Faculty of Education at UOIT, he also earned a degree in health science. Ryan holds training in mental health first aid and has helped coach leadership, soccer, rugby, and fitness during his practicum work.
Rebecca Williams
moved into the role of Upper School Administrative Associate last year. Rebecca started in the job-share receptionist position in 2011 and has been working full-time since September 2013 in the Upper School Administration/Receptionist position before moving to the Middle School Assistant position. She is a member of the Administrative Team, the Middle School Prize Day Committee, and the Wellness Committee, where she draws upon her knowledge as a registered holistic nutritionist.
Chang Zhou
joined the Business Office in the role of Accounting Specialist last year. She is a qualified CPA, CGA, and FCCA, and has a master of science, accounting & finance from the Dublin Institute of Technology. Chang brings more than 15 years of experience in not-for-profit/ charitable organizations.
86 The ANDREAN Fall 2020
Dave Galajda By Alexander Seto ’13 Dave Galajda retired from St. Andrew’s College in June after 33 years of service to the Andrean community. During his time at the School, he held various roles: teacher, Head of House, coach, and most recently, Director of Residential Life. “Dave set the standard for residential programming, and he worked tirelessly with his staff to ensure that we have the pre-eminent boarding program in the country. He helped us understand that boarding is at the heart of our school identity,” says Head of School, Kevin McHenry. In addition to his leadership in the area of residential life, Dave made a significant impact on the academic, athletic, and pastoral programs at the School. He served as the Head of Science, coached hockey and track and field, and ensured that the School developed a comprehensive health and wellness program.
parents, and that special group of hockey players.” Dave became the Head of the Science Department and Head of Ramsey House in 1999. In 2001, the Galajda family moved back to Macdonald House as he took over as Head of House. “I started developing a residential strategic plan that laid the framework for our residential curriculum. We had so many amazing activities that helped students, from study skill development to intrahouse competitions and weekly room inspections.” In pursuit of this goal, Dave took on the position of Director of Residential Life in 2004. He earned his M.Ed. at the University of Toronto, focusing on the development of residential curriculum within boarding schools.
“Dave’s deep commitment to supporting and fostering student mental health has served to make our community both happier and safer,” Kevin says. “His work in the area of risk management has allowed us to be proactive rather than reactive with respect to challenges, such as COVID-19.” In 1987, despite being accepted into medical school at Western University, Dave decided to give teaching a try. He quickly integrated into the SAC community as a biology teacher and Assistant Head of Macdonald House. He recalls having many mentors in his early days at SAC: Mike Hanson (former Head of Science, Housemaster of Macdonald House, and Director of the Middle School), Aubrey Foy (former Housemaster of Flavelle, Head of the Music Department, and Director of Admission), Ron Kinney (former Head of the Science Department), Geoff Smith (former chemistry teacher, Head of Memorial House, and Assistant Headmaster), Gary West (former Athletic Director), and Jim Herder ’64 (former Director of Advancement). He was passionate about track and field and was soon coaching the SAC team, leading to the first of six consecutive CISAA championships in 1989. In 1992, Dave turned his focus toward Varsity Hockey: “I will never forget winning that OFSAA championship in 1993 and celebrating with Jim Herder, coaches, Steve Kimmerer (current Head of Art) and Al Dunford (former math teacher),
Under his watch, residential life continued to evolve with the development of leadership positions, including a student residential life council, hiring more residential staff, getting mental health support for students through the development of the Circle of Care, consistently applying policies across all residences, weekly meetings with residential staff, residential clan competitions, and fun monthly activities.
“To my Heads of School – Bob Bedard, Ted Staunton, and Kevin McHenry – thank you for believing in me and supporting my vision of a residential curriculum. It was always about the boys and improving their experience at SAC. I know those who follow will continue to improve our residential program and take it to the next level,” Dave says. “Thank you to the boys and their families for their support and being part of the Macdonald House family. I also wanted to thank the Old Boys who have reached out to me these past few months. It was an honour and privilege working with you and getting to know you.” X
Dave set the standard for residential programming, and he worked tirelessly with his staff to ensure that we have the pre-eminent boarding program in the country. – Kevin McHenry, Head of School
“Philosophically speaking, our unique boarding program is what distinguishes SAC from other independent schools. Creating an environment and community that allows boys to thrive and one that addresses their unique emotional needs is necessary to ensure that they develop as happy, whole, and emotionally literate young men.” Since packing up and moving, Dave has spent his retirement playing golf and running every day while continuing to tutor students in biology. His son, Matthew ’15, is in his senior year at Cornell University. He has enjoyed a successful hockey career thus far as an All-American freshman, Hobey Baker finalist, twice a Mike Richter finalist, and is playing on one of the top-ranked teams in the nation. His daughter, Kristina, graduated from Sheridan College. His wife, Veronica, continues to work in the dental field on a part-time basis.
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OBITUARIES
Adieu
to the oldest living Old Boy
1934
William (Bill) Neal passed away in St. John’s
Newfoundland on Feb. 13, 2020. He attended St. Andrew’s from 1929 to 1932. During this time, he played rugby and cricket and was a member of the wrestling team and the camera club. Bill was a proud member of the Pipes & Drums. He left school to join the family firm, George Neal Ltd., rising to the position of managing director, and retired in 1992. Bill was a lifelong supporter of SAC and visited the campus numerous times. In 2004, he toured some of the newer facilities and said he remembered Memorial Chapel being constructed in 1931. He attended a 50+ Year Reunion in 2013—81 years after he attended! Bill also dropped by the School in 2012 to visit his great-grandson, Jack Irwin ’16, during his first term at SAC. Bill also donated many items to the archives, including copies of The Review, a pennant dating back to the 1920s, and a 1931 photo of himself as a drummer. Bill is survived by his son, George; three grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. He is predeceased by his wife, Margaret.
88 The ANDREAN Fall 2020
Bill Neal ’34 visited St. Andrew’s for the last time in 2016. He attended his great-grandson’s Cadet Inspection and left some old snapshots he took during his schooldays.
Top to bottom: 1st Cricket, 1930; Wrestling, 1931; Memorial Chapel, 1931; Librarians with Headmaster Macdonald, 1930; Bill with great-grandson, Jack Irwin ’16.
1947
Derek Chase passed away on Dec. 28, 2019, in Toronto. Derek attended St. Andrew’s from 1943 until graduating in 1947. He came to the School from Lima, Peru, as attending school in England was difficult due to the Second World War. Derek’s son, Noel, says his father was inspired to do his best academically during his four years at SAC. On Prize Day in 1947, Derek was awarded the Old Boys’ Medal in Mathematics and the Lieutenant Governor’s Bronze Medal. On Prize Day in 1946, he was awarded the Chairman’s Gold Medal and the Lieutenant Governor’s Bronze Medal. He was also interested in athletics and was captain of a group of Spanish-speaking students in a soccer match dubbed “Latin America vs. The World,” held Nov. 16, 1946. His teammates were from Peru, Mexico, Brazil, and Cuba, and they played against boys from Canada, Bermuda, and Jamaica. Derek was a Corporal in the Cadet Corps and served on The Review staff. After graduating from SAC, he studied electrical engineering at the University of Toronto, staying in Canada to work in the nuclear industry. Derek is survived by his wife, Pat; children, Myra, Seton, and Noel; five grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. He is predeceased by his cousins, Andrew Lindsay ’46 and Gerald Lindsay ’48. William (Bill) Crombie passed away in Toronto on Oct. 20, 2019. He attended St. Andrew’s from 1942 to 1944. Bill went on to attend the University of Toronto, graduating in institutional management in 1951. He had a notable sales career at Richardson Securities and also worked in the hotel management industry. In his retirement years, Bill lived in British Columbia but moved back to Toronto in 2014 to be closer to his family. Bill is survived by his brother, Guy Crombie.
1949
John Crosbie passed away in his hometown
of St. John’s, Newfoundland, on Jan. 10, 2020. John attended St. Andrew’s from 1945 to 1949. He played First Rugby (described as a spirited player who was “at times a vicious tackler and blocker”), was a member of The Review staff, a librarian, a chapel boy, and a member of the Literary Society and Debaters. John was a politician who served both his province and his country. After St. Andrew’s, he studied political science and economics at Queen’s University, then studied law at Dalhousie Law School. The
Canadian Bar Association awarded him the Viscount Bennett Scholarship as the outstanding law student in his graduating year of 1956. His first foray into politics was as a St. John’s city councillor in 1965, and he entered the federal ring in 1976, winning a seat in the House of Commons of Canada representing St. John’s West. His remarkable career was dotted with many accomplishments and a few controversial decisions. He was a proponent of the CanadaU.S. Free Trade Agreement negotiated in 1988 when he was Minister of International Trade; supported redress for Japanese Canadians interned during the Second World War; liberalized divorce laws and was an early advocate for gay and lesbian rights; and shut down the cod fishery in Atlantic Canada. John retired from federal politics in 1993. His autobiography, No Holds Barred: My Life in Politics, was published four years later. John was honoured in 1998 with an Order of Canada for his contributions during his three decades in politics. In 2008, he was appointed Newfoundland and Labrador’s lieutenant governor for a five-year term. John is survived by his wife, Jane; three children, Ches ’72, Michael ’75, and Beth; nine grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; nephews, Lee Shinkle ’68 and Matt Shinkle ’76; and cousin, Jim Herder ’64. He is predeceased by his father, Chesley Crosbie ’24; brother, Andrew Crosbie ’53; and uncles, George Crosbie ’25 and Percy Crosbie ’31.
1951
Terence Malone passed away in Keswick,
Ont., on Feb. 29, 2020. He attended St. Andrew’s from 1946 to 1951 and was a Prefect in his graduating year, winning Mr. Duncan’s Prefect Leadership Prize. He also won the Hulbig Medal (for greatest improvement in mathematics). Terry played First Football, First Hockey, and Sr. Track and Field, and was a Corporal in the Cadet Corps. Following St. Andrew’s, Terry went into the investment business. Terry is survived by his wife, Daphne; two daughters, Diane and Maureen; and two grandchildren.
Charles Alexander (Alec) Shearson
passed away in Sarasota, Florida, on Jan. 29, 2020. Alec attended St. Andrew’s from 1941 to 1951. He was a Scholar and a Corporal in
the Cadet Corps. It was common for Alec to win prizes for proficiency in the form of books; reading was a lifetime pleasure for him. It was noted in The Review (mid-summer 1951): “His modest and unassuming manner have won him many friends.” He entered Trinity College, University of Toronto, at age 16. After receiving his BA, he joined Clarkson Gordon and, in due course, received a CA. He then worked for real estate developers (MEPC, Campeau) then began investing in residential apartment buildings. He was passionate about golfing and also enjoyed sailing, skiing, and tennis. Alec is survived by his children, Anne, Michael, and Jennifer; nine grandchildren; and his brother, John ’58. He is predeceased by his wife, Jann, and brother, Bill ’53.
1953
William (Bill) Graham passed away in
Mississauga, Ont., on Jan. 2, 2020. Bill attended St. Andrew’s from 1943 until 1952. He played First Hockey and First Football. Bill left SAC to attend Hillfield College in Hamilton, where he further developed his sporting abilities. Following this, he was a member of the Belleville McFarlands that represented Canada at the World Hockey Champions and won the gold medal. As a member of the Hamilton Tiger Cats from 1953 to 1960, he played on both the 1953 and 1957 Grey Cup Championship teams and continued supporting the team both as an alumnus and fan. Bill was also a champion squash player, and later took up competitive carriage driving, competing in both Canada and the U.S., and is a past president of the Canadian Carriage Driving Society. He was a member of the Ontario Racquet Club and Blue Top Hunt Club. Bill went on to become a successful businessman, culminating in his position as director of the Investment Dealers Association of Canada. Bill served on the SAC Board of Directors from 1997 until his passing. Before this, he was on the SAC Old Boys Association and was president from 1977 to 1979. He is survived by his daughters, Laura, Julie, Kate, Jennifer, and Nicole; and four grandchildren. Bill is predeceased by his wife, Patricia, and daughter, Sandy.
1957
Joaquin (Jock) Eversbusch passed away on Oct. 26, 2019. He came from Mexico to attend St. Andrew’s from 1953 to 1957 and was a Prefect. He was a Scholar in his graduating year, served on the executive of the Literary Society, was Head Librarian, and a member of The Review staff. Jock was on the First Football >> Fall 2020 The ANDREAN
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team and a member of the Cadet Corps. Jock earned the Georges Etienne Cartier Medal in French. After leaving SAC, Jock studied economics at the University of California. In 1991, The Andrean reported Jock was living in Austria and had been appointed Mexican Trade Commissioner for Central and Eastern Europe by the Mexican Foreign Trade Bank. He is predeceased by his brother, Claus ’58.
and was a member of the Debating Society. After leaving SAC, he returned home to Indiana and graduated from Indiana University. He had a successful career in hospital administration. Mike was also an officer in the American Army Reserves and served in the first Gulf War (Operation Desert Storm), attaining the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He is survived by his wife, Yvonne; two sons, McShane and Riley; and three grandchildren. Two of his stepbrothers, James Westfall ’62 and William Westfall ’64, also attended St. Andrew’s.
1981
1968
1958
His passion for rugby started at SAC, and he continued to play the sport he loved for 30 years. In the early 1980s, John helped bring rugby to his hometown of Wallaceburg, Ont., with the formation of the Wallaceburg Mercenaries Rugby Club. He also coached for the Tartans at Wallaceburg District Secondary School. In 1981, he took over Martin Insurance Brokers, the family business, which he ran until his retirement in 2015. However, he continued working and took up commercial underwriting for Lambton Mutual Insurance Company. He was involved in his community, serving as Wallaceburg Police Commissioner and volunteering with the United Way. Thirty years ago, John and his dad, Harold ’40, helped launch WAMBO (Wallaceburg Antique Motor and Boat Outing), one of Canada’s largest transportation shows. John is survived by his wife, Sheila; daughter, Brander; and one granddaughter. He is predeceased by his father, Harold ’40.
Eric Jemetz passed away in Toronto on Oct. 2, 2019. He attended St. Andrew’s for seven years, graduating in 1986. While at SAC, Eric was on First Cross-Country, First Kayak, and First Fencing teams, and was a provincial fencing champion in 1983. There was a report on the First Kayak season the year he graduated, and it was noted that “Eric offered his glasses to the river gods and paddled blind” in Elora. Eric was also a member of the Debating Society executive committee and on the 1985 Fulford Trophy-winning team. He was the winner of the George Etienne Cartier Medal in French. Eric completed his third-year honours business program at Laurier and graduated with an IMBA from Schulich.
Henry Wilson passed away in Orillia, Ont.,
on Sept. 24, 2019. He attended SAC for his graduating year and was awarded the Andrew Armstrong Prize for Improvement in English. He played First Soccer. Henry earned BA and DDS degrees from the University of Toronto, graduating in 1967 to begin a dental career spanning five decades in Orillia, Ont. Henry’s commitment to excellence and continuing education brought him to the attention of the National Dental Examining Board, which appointed him clinical examiner for 12 years. Henry was active in the Orillia Big Brothers Association from 1972 to 2001. He served in volunteer roles for the Orillia Salvation Army, Stephen Leacock Associates, Muskoka Lakes Museum, Muskoka Lakes Association, Muskoka Lakes Sailing Club, and Orillia Presbyterian Church. He is survived by his sons, David ’86 and Myles ’89; and one grandson. Henry is predeceased by his wife, Elizabeth.
1964
Michael J. Murnane passed away in Rock
Hill, South Carolina, on Sept. 9, 2019. Mike attended St. Andrew’s from 1960 to 1964. He was an engaging, gregarious, and popular student, and a strong and supportive friend to many. He played First Football and First Basketball and was a member of the 1963 Little Big Four championship team. While watching him play linebacker, classmate Peter Wyse remarked, “I’m so glad Mike is on our side!” Mike also served as the photo editor of The Review 90 The ANDREAN Fall 2020
John Martin passed away on May 7, 2020.
1970
Andrew Rutherford passed away on March 14, 2020, in Kingston, Ont. He attended SAC from 1966 until graduation and was captain of First Hockey and played First Football. He was on the First Hockey team in 1967-68 alongside his brother, Peter ’68. Andrew was a real estate broker and broker of record in Brockville, Ont., for 25 years. He was a cherished member of the real estate community, a mentor to many agents, and loved by his colleagues. Nicknamed Captain Andy for his prowess in boating, he was a true river rat, spending every summer at the cottage on Fulford Point. He is survived by his wife, Vicki; daughters, Brooke and Quinn; brothers, Peter ’68 and Stuart ’74; and two grandchildren.
Scott Mylrea passed away in Toronto, Ont., on Feb. 21, 2020. He attended St. Andrew’s for his Grade 8 year. He is survived by his daughter, Ashley; her mother, Christine; one grandson; brothers, Ricky and Jeff; and his uncle, James ’53. Scott is predeceased by his parents, Douglas Mylrea ’54 and Arlene, and his grandfather, A.J. Mylrea ’37.
1986
FACULTY Donald Workman passed away on Feb. 7,
2020, in Cobourg, Ont. Don taught briefly at St. Andrew’s in the 1970s, first from 1970-1971, then from 1974-1976. When he left at the end of the 1970-71 school year, The Review noted Don would be missed for his skill in the classroom as well as his charm and wit. He taught French and reportedly “kept the staff on their toes.” The coveted Workman Memorial Crokinole Championship was started in 1971, and Don donated a trophy that adorned the Mac House library mantle. He also introduced other tournaments to Mac House, such as badminton and ping pong. After he left in 1976, The Review noted: “Mr. Workman helped bring ‘home’ to SAC. His birthday parties and little get-togethers helped ease many boys through a spell of homesickness.” Despite the short time he spent at the School, Don maintained a connection. Just five years ago, while at a rugby tournament in Port Hope, Ont., Dr. David Joiner, Head of the Canadian and World Studies Department, spotted a gentleman sitting on the sidelines wearing a St. Andrew’s sweater and hat. It was Don, who lived in Port Hope, out to cheer on the Saints.
GEOFF SMITH 1942-2019 To describe this man’s life work as mere teaching is to grossly understate his contribution to enriching our lives. Geoff Smith was really a master sculptor. Give him any unruly, self-centered teenager from any background and culture and he would set out immediately to sculpt a unique Andrean gentleman, often from the roughest and most hopeless of beginnings. He did it thousands of times for each of his many thousand sons from all corners of the earth. – Nicholas Forde ’82
SMITH-ISMS Geoff certainly had a way with words and could often be found using some of these more colourful remarks: Tuck in your shirts, you horrible little boys! Bloody day boy... For a moment there, I thought the music had a beat. He’s like a grenade with the pin out. Day boys! Into the back parking lot and fall on your swords! A tidy desk is a sign of a sick mind.
A beloved teacher, friend, and mentor, Geoff Smith, passed away Dec. 4, 2019, in Newmarket. His career at St. Andrew’s was long and distinguished. Starting in 1964, Geoff’s gruff, yet good-natured demeanour influenced thousands of young lives. At the time of his retirement in 1999, Geoff stated that his years at St. Andrew’s were never a job, but more of a vocation or a calling. He’d spent the past 35 years as a teacher (at St. Andrew’s for all but two when he did a stint as headmaster at King’s Edgehill School in Windsor, Nova Scotia), but he was much more than that title implies. He was a housemaster, assistant headmaster, chemistry teacher, mentor, and occasionally a janitor when discarded paper piled up on the basement floor of Dunlap Hall. His roles were both formal and informal: coach of a variety of sports (football, basketball, swimming, rugby); initiator of computer science at SAC; Cadet Corps Commander; university advisor; and “greeter of buses from other schools.” Geoff was known for his acts of kindness, though many day boys suffered at his sometimes biting words. Yet he earned admiration and respect from both students and staff with his willingness to help with any and all causes. His dedication and contributions to St. Andrew’s are legendary, and it was a natural choice to look to Geoff when considering renaming New House. “More than any other person, this individual epitomizes everything that is good about independent education and St. Andrew’s,” said then-Headmaster, Ted Staunton. And so, Smith House was renamed in the presence of the surprised Assistant Headmaster at Homecoming in September 1998.
“Geoff is one of the most highly respected and recognizable faculty members across the entire Andrean community. Wherever I may travel in the world, the stories shared most often by Old Boys are reminiscences of Geoff,” says Kevin McHenry, Head of School. After retiring in 1999 from St. Andrew’s, Geoff spent 12 years as principal at Canadian College, Italy.
In the second half of the 20th century, no member of the faculty made a more outstanding contribution to the life of St. Andrew’s than Geoff Smith. – Brian Armstrong ’61, former Chair of the Board of Governors
Geoff is survived by his wife, Ginny, who made her own mark on the Andrean community as the wife of a Head of House, a staff representative to the Ladies’ Guild, and a receptionist. As a tribute to Geoff, the Smith family and the School have created the Geoffrey Read Smith Memorial Scholarship to provide financial assistance to a deserving student. A celebration of life will be held for Geoff in Memorial Chapel when we can gather once again. X
Fall 2020 The ANDREAN
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PANDEMIC IN 1918 CLAIMED LIVES OF OLD BOYS St. Andrew’s College was fortunate to be relatively untouched by the 1918 flu pandemic. Apparently, the school community was not as direly affected as other communities in Canada and across the world. This virulent flu hit the country hard from 1918 to 1920. Quarantine was largely unsuccessful; in some places, entire villages were wiped out, notably in Labrador, Quebec, and First Nations reserves. All told, 55,000 people in Canada were killed by the pandemic, most of them young adults between 20 and 40 years old. These deaths compounded the impact of the more than 60,000 Canadians killed in service during the First World War (1914-18). “Despite the severe winter, the school as a whole has been extremely lucky in regard to sickness, for although the influenza was rampant for several months, our cases were really nothing more serious than old-fashioned ‘la grippe.’ A few cases of ‘pink-eye’ were reported to the
infirmary, but its course was very soon successfully checked,” states an editorial in the Easter 1920 Review. There were two deaths mentioned in the same editorial, Dr. Z. A. Lash, vice-chair of the board of governors, and Dr. Herbert Hamilton, the college physician, but no cause of their deaths was offered. However, some Old Boys who served their country during the First World War died from influenza that was ravaging troops, and others succumbed to the flu while at home. Here is a list of the Andrean victims of the 1918 pandemic. (Please note this might not be a complete list as it is compiled solely based on obituaries published in Reviews from 1918, 1919, and 1920, and also note we retained much of the original wording).
John Kay
(July 19, 1892 – De ce commission with th mber 15, 1918) obtained a with the First Cont e 15th Battalion and sent overseas ing Brigade Machine Gu ent, transferring to the 3rd captaincy. He obta n Company and obtaining his ine He was reported ill d the Military Cross in 1917. in rejoined his unit. In spring 1918 but recovered and Canada and becameNovember 1918, he returned to away at St. Luke’s ill while in Ottawa and passed Hospital of influenz a-pneumonia.
th Osler Ba ber 1918) Edwahrd22, 1892 – Noveermand gassed
(Marc taken prison ring the n had bee ttle of Julian du ed but p a in the B d War. He esca fined to a n rl First Wo aptured and co s. In March c th n re o s m a en n w for seve lland, th fortress was sent to Ho e was H e 1918, h d to England. as the te is ia it h tr c a n p in ro re g from b and died sufferin being gassed, fluenza. in result of s the result of a n o d n Lo
Mack George Denis– on December 3,
(May 13, 1893 influenza on 1918) contracted s brother had Hi his family ranch. as and it was left to fight overse on at home. An up to him to carry was severe ic influenza epidem d and he oo in his neighbourh care for his helped nurse and came infected neighbours. He be ys later. and died a few da
William Tert
(August 2, 18 ius Caven 96 1919) died af – January 9, te with influenza r he was attacked training to se . He had been in rve overseas .
aser r 1918 James9,F1r899 – Deceminbfleuenza
)
(May 1 r contracting ille and died afte tioned in Vegerv while sta r five days. died afte
Guy H
(Febru alifax Wa l 9, 191 ary 12, 1887 lace 8) was practic a doct – December Canad e when he jo or in private in ia Novem n Army Med ed the b ic e r 1 9 service 15. Aft al Corps in home s overseas, he er 18 months ’ resume uffering from returned d b h r o is n chitis. practic but die H pneum d after a brie e in New York e o f n il Decem ia followin lness from g influ ber 19 enza in 18.
92 92 TheThe ANDREAN ANDREAN Fall Fall 2020 2020
(January 9, listed in the 6, 1918) had en Corps at the ng ni ai Tr ’ Students ah in October University of Ut rred to the fe 1918 then trans n Service a American Aviatio ntracted co month later. He eumonia and pn d an za influen lt ry hospital in Sa died in a milita Lake City.
John Cecil Snelgr
(June 4, 1890 – Fe ove br starting in early 19 uary 3, 1920) served overseas 16 September and ret . He was wounded that ur obtained a commiss ned to Toronto, but a year later He joined the Siberi ion in the Royal Flying Corps. an Expedition and 1918 was back wi th the Flying Corps. by November pneumonia in Febr He died of uary 1920.
Francis Quigley
(July 11, 1894 – Oc to First World War an ber 20, 1918) served in the d was shot in the ankle in April 1918. He returned to in October, was ret Canada in the summer, and ur service but contra ning to England for overseas cted influenza on th developed pneumo e way over, nia was an intrepid an , and died in Liverpool. He d daring aviator an was regarded as a d real loss to Canada his death .
Harry
obertson ber Alexander18R99 – Decem
(Septe Hunt Walk m 1918) jo ber 8, 1892 er lieuten ined the 94t – July 13, h a He tran nt and went Battalion as Air Serv sferred to the overseas to fi a g Blandf ice. He died o Royal Naval ht. ord Hos f pneum pital in the UK. onia in
Willia
(May 6 m West Su joined , 1894 – Sep therland t shortly he 8th Royal tember 20, 1 a in 191 fter leaving Rifles of Que 918) 2 he was . When the w St. Andrew’s bec and se called on for ar broke out, r to serv ved as a cor home defenc p e stripes overseas, h oral. In orde e day his and enlisted e gave up his r he was battalion lef as a private . from a sent to hosp t for oversea The s recove severe cold a ital suffering , r 2016. ed several m nd pleurisy, a He re-e o and wa nlisted nths later, in nd s b J influen discharged. ut fell ill aga uly H z a e in c o ntracte in Quebec 1918 a d n in pneum d subsequen September onia. tly died of
CONTENTS Fall 2020: volume 64, number 2 FEATURES 4 13 14 17 24 31 32 34 38 41 51 63
A $58,000 Walk in the Park Reimagining the SAC Experience During a Pandemic ANNUAL REPORT 2020
Unlike Anything Else – How St. Anne’s School Came To Be NCAA and U Sports Commits Bedard Athletic Centre Renovation Raising the Bar – An Impressive SAC Sweatercoat Descendants of Heads of School Reflections of a Head Prefect: Rory McGuire ’13 The One and Only Old Girl
COLUMNS 3 The Head’s Up 36 Sports Update – Old Boys Return to Yuill Field 52 Old Boys Profiles 66 Old Boys News 84 Community News 88 Obituaries
Julie Caspersen, Editor
Director of Communications Nicolette Fleming Art Direction, Design, and Photography Paul Mosey Contributors Sean Maillet Greg Reid Alexander Seto ’13 Chris Traber Telephone 905-727-3178, ext. 333
The Originals
After going online for the spring issue, we are offering you this larger-thannormal edition of the magazine. Inside, you’ll find many of the features that appeared on The Andrean website, plus a whole lot of new and exciting articles and photos. If you happened to read the Old Boys News in the spring, please take another look inside as we’ve added quite a few more updates. Remember to send in your class note for the spring edition; email your info to theandrean@sac.on.ca before Jan. 31, 2021. Pandemic protocols and health and safety rules changed in Ontario as we prepared this issue, so in some photos people are wearing face coverings and other photos they are not. Rest assured, we have gone above and beyond the rules to keep our school community safe since classes resumed in September.
Published by St. Andrew’s College for Old Boys, parents, and friends of the School Editor Julie Caspersen
Pandemic Relief
Welcome to The Andrean, your alumni magazine since 1956.
The ANDREAN
Email admission@sac.on.ca oldboys@sac.on.ca theandrean@sac.on.ca Website www.sac.on.ca The Cover
We are so excited at the announcement of St. Anne’s College, our school for girls to be located just north of the SAC campus, that we made it front-page news. On the back cover, our mascot, Braveheart, sporting a face covering, of course, offers a warm welcome to St. Andrew’s. Thank you to Nicholas Weedon ’02 for playing the role of Braveheart and Antonietta Calvano from our Sewing Centre for creating the custom mask.
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The Andrean magazine supports the St. Andrew’s College mission to “…develop the complete man, the well-rounded citizen,” connects Old Boys and parents to the School, and is a reflection of St. Andrew’s College’s enduring value to the constituents it serves.
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ANDREAN Fall 2020: volume 64, number 2
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PLUS: ANNUAL REPORT
Responding to COVID-19 OLD BOYS PROFILES + NEWS