TheAndrean FALL 2015 VOLUME 59 NUMBER 2
Continuing Our Fine Tradition 100 Years of Piping & Drumming
Luca Zadra '17 and Dr. F. Murray Hall '44
Contents Features 4 The Pipes & Drums Turn 100 Honoured tradition still vibrant a century after inception
10 Canada’s Pipe Major: James Fraser Unsung hero of SAC Pipes & Drums
12 Pipe Band Remains Flagship Unit of the #142 Long history of pipers in military band
13 Where the Pipers Pipe & the Drummers Drum “New” home for School’s oldest musical tradition
14 We Hear You Loud and Clear! Spring surveys give voice to all Andreans 15 Substantial New Scholarship Announced Making SAC more affordable for qualified day boys
16 Class of 1954 Archives Preserving our shared legacy
17 ANNUAL REPORT 2015 27 Andrean Diploma with Honours Awarded Distinguishing boys who best live the School’s mission
28 Homecoming Weekend 2015 Photos from this year’s event
53 The SAC Connection Just got More Powerful Online tool “Switchboard” increases Old Boy reach
Enthusiastic Homecoming fans helped to cheer the Varisty Football Saints to a 23-20 victory over the St. Michael’s College School Kerry Blues.
ST. ANDREW’S COLLEGE
2 View from the Top 3 University Destinations 2015 31 Community News 32 Sports Update 34 Old Boys News 54 Obituaries 56 Editorial: From the Head of English
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TheAndrean
OLD BOY CORRESPONDENT Nicholas Weedon ‘02
PHOTOGRAPHY Paul Mosey
Fall 2015 Volume 59 Number 2
EDITORIAL COMMITTEE Edna Collins, Scott Hayter, Sue Hayter, and Michael Paluch
TELEPHONE 905.727.3178 ext. 237
PUBLISHED BY St. Andrew’s College for Old Boys, parents, and friends of the School
CONTRIBUTORS Fraser Cowell Scott Hayter Sue Hayter Cynthia Macdonald Brian McCue
EDITOR Cindy Veitch ASSISTANT EDITOR Nicolette Fleming SENIOR WRITER Jim McGillivray
ART DIRECTION AND DESIGN Fresh Art & Design Inc.
EMAIL admission@sac.on.ca oldboys@sac.on.ca theandrean@sac.on.ca WEBSITE www.sac.on.ca Front cover:
Oldest and youngest Pipe Majors: Dr. F. Murray Hall ‘44 and Luca Zadra ‘17
EST. 1899
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.
ST. ANDREW’S COLLEGE IS A MEMBER OF THESE ASSOCIATIONS:
Roy Huang, grade 5 WWW.SAC.ON.CA 1
View from the Top
Eradicating an Eyesore
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You might think that after living on campus for a few years, already situated there. This will free up space for 76 additional I would have become somewhat oblivious to its beauty and parking spaces and a new tennis centre. magnificence. But every single day, I recognize what an Tennis is a popular sport here, and we will soon proceed with amazing place SAC is and how fortunate we are to the construction of a six-court tennis complex. In addition, be supported by a community that makes this possible. there is also a need for an outdoor hard surface for sports such So, while we revel in the amazing new facilities, we must as ball hockey and basketball, so two courts will be available turn our attention next to one for multi-sport use. Please know that remaining area that is not on again we need your support to help par with the rest. us fund this athletic initiative. Last winter, when walking toward I am keen to see this space develthe La Brier Family Arena and the oped, as it not only adds excellent Yuill Family Athletic Complex, I facilities to our already wonderful couldn’t help but be concerned by campus, it also tidies up key areas the area surrounding the West in need of attention. Annex. It was a real eyesore. The Many Old Boys who attended the dilapidated tennis courts, the Reunion Dinner in October hadn’t ill-placed maintenance building, the set foot on campus in years and gravel parking, and the West Annex expressed amazement at the changes. were all in need of attention. And, It was gratifying to see their reacQuadrant of campus undergoing change. aesthetics aside, adding a walkway tion. Many told me that the School and lighting to connect this area to the main buildings of the “still felt like St. Andrew’s” even with the abundance of new School is essential for safety. buildings and renovations surrounding them. A proposal was set in motion to fix these four important That evening, as I watched Gregor MacKellar ’17 pipe the pieces of our campus. The SAC Board of Governors agreed, Old Boys from Ketchum Auditorium up the stairs through Wirth and permission to proceed was granted, trusting that we could Theatre and into Cole Hall for dinner, it struck me that the pipe raise funds for the project. music took them back to their student days. Piping is one of Over the summer, the West Annex was renovated to provide SAC’s oldest traditions—something we celebrate in this teaching and learning space for the pipers and drummers. issue—and one that connects us as Andreans. Our thanks go to the Petrachek family for their generous lead For many Old Boys, those shared memories and traditions gift to establish the Petrachek McGillivray Pipes & Drums help keep SAC alive until their next visit. And for current Centre; however, we still seek support for this facility from the students, access to our world-class facilities helps them learn Andrean community. and grow in preparation for life’s next challenges. The grounds and maintenance building will be moved to the KEVIN McHENRY, HEADMASTER far west of the property by the end of the year. It makes sense to move it to join the other property and facilities buildings
2 FALL 2015
University Destinations ACADIA UNIVERSITY
Kevin Truong
Mohamed Alghamdi
Austin Valjas
AMERICAN ACADEMY
Billy Wu
OF THE DRAMATIC ARTS
Gordon Xiong
Pierre-Louis Vaz
Martin Yu
BROWN UNIVERSITY
Jason Zhang
Kunal Khemani
Nicolas Zheng
DALHOUSIE UNIVERSITY
Allen Zhou
Graydon Gardner
UNIVERSITY OF
Matthew Leroy
VICTORIA
GAP YEAR J.D. Falconer Matthew Galajda Darren Iwai Griffin James
University Destinations 2015 Classmates (l-r) Aidan Calverley, Kunal Khemani, Liam Smith, Justin Laird, Ben Kastelyanets, Saboor Mohsin, and Liam Joiner
Calvin Walker UNIVERSITY OF WATERLOO Tom Chen Brandon Coverdale
Linden Sturrock
QUEEN’S UNIVERSITY
ST. OLAF COLLEGE
UNIVERSITY
Mark Mackey
HARVARD UNIVERSITY
Aidan Calverley
Emil Hiiri
OF ONTARIO INSTITUTE
David Munro
Adam Sinclair (deferred)
Kevin Chong
THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY
OF TECHNOLOGY
Pak Yin Sin
HURON UNIVERSITY
Evan Forth
OF HONG KONG
Ruijie Fan
Tom Wu
COLLEGE
Matthew Iezzi
Donald Kwok
UNIVERSITY OF OTTAWA
WESTERN UNIVERSITY
Jack Bahen
Liam Joiner
UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH
Riley Fischer
Aydden Almadi
Andrew Clark
Ryan Keays
COLUMBIA
Ben Kastelyanets
Jordan Brown
Luke Sifton
Dhruv Krishnan
Jurgen Jentsch
Liam Smith
Aly Husein
KING’S COLLEGE
Justin Laird
Ivan Kam
UNIVERSITY OF
Matthew Iwai
LONDON
Angelis Prattas
Andrew Ladouceur
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Justin Lee
Derek Watson
Bowen Reid
Avery MacKenzie
Ryan Shin
Jake Mahfood
KOREA ADVANCED
Victor Reshetnikov
Hollis MacKenzie
UNIVERSITY
Justin McNamara
INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE
Patrick Taylor
David O’Connor
OF ST. ANDREWS
John Polemidiotis
AND TECHNOLOGY
Egor Ulybin
Rambod Rezaie
Yaseen Salyani
Conrad Scullion-Smeenk
DongHwan Kim
RENSSELAER
William Thompson
UNIVERSITY
Fraser Sopik
MCGILL UNIVERSITY
POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE
Devon Walters
OF TORONTO
Benjamin Thompson
Marc-Antoine Beauchamp
Austin Cho (deferred)
Brian Wang
David Browne
Matthew Turner
Andrew Jun
RHODE ISLAND SCHOOL
UNIVERSITY OF
Andre Chan
WILFRID LAURIER
MCMASTER UNIVERSITY
OF DESIGN
CALIFORNIA, IRVINE
Kingsly Chan
UNIVERSITY
Mark Hsu
Min Hyuk Ji
Brayden Kerr
Francis Chen
Charles Coppa
Aaron Sum
ROYAL HOLLOWAY,
UNIVERSITY OF
Michael Huang
Adrian Goyo
NEW YORK UNIVERSITY
UNIVERSITY OF LONDON
EDINBURGH
Justin Lai
Benjamin Harrison
Mark Chan
Krisztian Fockter
Cedric Lau
Rex Liu
Austin Hassani
Alex Lee (Stern School of
Cole Macgregor
UNIVERSITY OF
Darren Luo
Gian-Paulo Iaboni
Business)
ROYAL MILITARY
GUELPH-HUMBER
Andrew Mackin
David Pierson
NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY
COLLEGE OF CANADA
Malcolm Lewis
Marco Magnante
Logan Ward
Jacob La Brier
Joseph Shields
UNIVERSITY OF
Joseph Manchia
YORK UNIVERSITY
ONTARIO COLLEGE
RYERSON UNIVERSITY
MINNESOTA TWIN CITIES
Saboor Mohsin
Ray Dawood
OF ART & DESIGN
Mac Rowcliffe
Jonathan Femi-Cole
Nicholas Nabuurs (deferred)
Omer Moustafa
Eddie He
Albert Yoo
UNIVERSITY OF NEW
Duncan Robertson
Eraad Rahman
Zipeng Wang
SKIDMORE COLLEGE
HAMPSHIRE
Saad Siddiqui
YUBA COLLEGE
Quentin Campbell
Justin Fregona (deferred)
Harvey Tao
Nicholas Bell
Field Tian WWW.SAC.ON.CA 3
THE PIPES TURN
(front, l-r) Director of Piping Jim McGillivray, P/Sgt Nathan Lee, Nicholas Bowlin, Basel Arsalan, D/Sgt Jamie Finlay, Tristan Tsvetanov, Pipe Major Luca Zadra, (back, l-r) Major Brian McCue, P/Cpl Michael House, Sebastian Giorgio, Dalton Lehman, Saajan Sethi, Sean Lindsay, Graham Stanley-Paul, Filip Grantcharov 4 FALL 2015
& DRUMS 100
(front, l-r) D/Major Oliver Harris, Julian Smith-Voudouris, Brendan Rush, William Shields, Justin Cheung, Henry Paluch, Band Officer 2Lt. Jamie Inglis; (back, l-r) Gregor MacKellar, Niklas Seidel, Eric Jiang, Connor Harris, Daniel Cheung, Joshua Osborne, Sam Crowder WWW.SAC.ON.CA 5
The Pipes & Drums remain an honoured St. Andrew’s tradition a century after its inception in 1915
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n unusual hire was made in 1998 when Headmaster Ted Staunton brought master piper Jim McGillivray on board as a full-time bagpipe instructor. Jim had come to know Aubrey Foy, the late Admission Director, at Aurora United Church where they had played many organ/bagpipe duets, including “Highland Cathedral,” now a school staple. Aubrey convinced Ted that Jim would be a good fit and it proved to be true. Jim came to SAC after a competitive piping career as one of the best pipers in the world. In the 1980s and early 1990s he captured the most prestigious prizes in Scotland, including the “Gold Medal” at Oban and Inverness, and the “Clasp” at Inverness, regarded as the unofficial world championship of solo piping. His pipe band career was equally stellar. In his professional life he had been a corporate writer working in publications, so the transition to SAC as a Senior Andrean Writer and Director of the Pipes & Drums was seamless. He has since published two comprehensive piping tutors and two instructional DVDs that are now among the leading publications of their kind and have cemented Jim’s reputation as a leading authority in pipe teaching, history, and vintage instruments. Jim spoke with Andrean Editor Cindy Veitch about the state of the Pipes & Drums as the iconic institution’s 100th anniversary approached. What are the biggest changes in the Pipes & Drums today versus 75 or 100 years ago? Clearly it’s the addition of full-time faculty. I teach classes in grades 9, 10, 11, and 12. As far as I know, I’m the only person in Canada teaching piping as a credit music course. Brian McCue does the same thing with the pipe band drumming. It’s pretty hard to run a good pipe band if you have a full-time piping instructor but no drumming instructor. Ted [Staunton] hired Brian at my request the year after he hired me, when Geoff Smith gave up command of the Cadet Corps. Besides being a superb pipe band snare drummer, Brian had also been Commanding Officer of the 48th Highlanders Cadet Corps, so the timing was perfect. 6 FALL 2015
Jim McGillivray
What did the program look like prior to this? Before we came along, piping and drumming were taught by outside people who came in for a couple of hours a week during Cadets. No matter how good those people might have been— and some of them were pretty good—only so much can be accomplished in two hours a week. When I arrived in the late ’90s, the quality of musicianship was very poor, simply because the boys weren’t getting enough instruction. For much of the time they were teaching each other. Bagpipes and snare drums are very difficult and highly technical instruments, so the lack of instruction was hugely detrimental to the quality of the band. The level of funding for supplies has increased substantially in recent years as well, and that makes a huge difference. The bagpipe is an extremely finicky instrument, and if it is not well maintained, well-reeded, and customized to fit each boy, the sound of the band suffers terribly. And there is nothing in the world worse than a pipe band with a poor sound. Sound has always been a priority of mine, and the School has supported us well enough that we can get a very good pipe band sound out of relatively inexperienced players. I think Brian would say the same about the drumming.
Has the marching and drill side of the band kept up with the improvements in playing over the years? Yes. The final piece in the puzzle was added a few years ago when faculty member Jamie Inglis ’91 was appointed Band Officer. Of course, he is far more than the title implies. I taught Jamie how to play pipes here when we were both teachers many years ago, so he is a keen piper. Jamie manages dress, deportment, and discipline. He is one of the most amazing people I have ever worked with. He does the complete choreography for our marching demonstrations at the Annual Cadet Inspection, and as anyone who has seen this can attest he does an absolutely brilliant job. So much of the professional look of the band depends on Jamie’s skill and devotion. Just managing the uniforms alone is a logistical feat. Each full dress uniform has 21 pieces, so you can imagine the challenges of getting young teenage boys to care for all that kit. The cost of each complete uniform is around $2,500, all paid for by the Cadet program. Jamie oversees that whole side of things for us. We also get support from the School seamstresses and from Wendy Marshall in the Cadet Stores. It’s a real team effort, but Jamie really brings that whole side of things together. I don’t know what we’d do without him.
“ I’ve been a piper since I was 11 years old. It’s a big part of how I define myself. I’m one of the fortunate few who get to do for a living what they chose as their hobby. I get paid for doing what I love.” —Jim McGillivray Do our pipers and drummers ever arrive at SAC with playing experience? We teach 95% of our pipers and drummers from scratch. In any given year we might have one or two boys who were already pipers when they came here. We have a very active and growing Middle School feeder program. The boys learn as beginners in the Tuesday Middle School Arts program. Boys can learn piping and drumming as a co-curricular activity starting as early as grade 5. A few years ago we introduced a grade 8 academic piping course, which is taught by Ellen Mole, a superb beginner specialist, who comes in on a contract basis. This fall we added a grade 7 course as well, and we may soon add a grade 8 drumming course. Piping and drumming at the Middle School
Interesting Fact: The St. Andrew’s Piping & Drumming program is the leading program of its kind in Canada, and one of only a handful in North America. SAC features an extensive Cadet piping and drumming teaching system, and academic credit is available for piping and drumming in grades 9 through 12. level are booming, to the point where we are looking to give younger boys than ever tryouts in the Pipes & Drums. Last year, for example, we had a boy start as a beginner in September in grade 5 and by October of this year he earned a place for himself in the band: our first grade 6 band member. To achieve that standard in 13 months is rare and quite remarkable. When I first arrived, we sought out good pipers from outside the School to help build a foundation and to give the other boys something to shoot for. That worked out well for a few years, but now that we have a sophisticated beginner program, we are able to develop excellent homegrown pipers and drummers. How long does it take for a beginner piper or drummer to become good enough to play in the senior band? That depends mostly on the commitment of the boy in question. Generally it takes three years from the time a piper first picks up a practice chanter until they can earn a place in the senior band. A drummer might be able to do it in two. If a boy really gets the bug and practices maniacally—and some do—you can shave a year or more off of that. How many boys start out then decide it's just not for them? We do have a fairly high attrition rate. Fewer than 30% of boys who start as beginners actually end up as full-fledged pipers and drummers playing in the band. That’s pretty much the average in the outside world as well. These are very difficult instruments and they require a certain passion from learners. Some boys have that passion, but many realize after a few months that piping and drumming aren’t what they expected and move on to something else. There is a tradition that pipe bands enter competitions against each other. Is this something our Pipes & Drums have pursued? No, and that has been a deliberate decision. Our primary commitment is to the Cadet Corps and to School performances such as Carol Service, Musical Extravaganza, and Old Boy gatherings. Competition bands require a completely different repertoire and the demands of the School in terms of academics, sports, and clubs simply don’t afford time to learn and perfect a competition repertoire. We do support the boys who want to learn material for solo competition or to join competing pipe bands outside of the School. These endeavours really help our band by giving the boys extra motivation to somehow make WWW.SAC.ON.CA 7
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time for practice. But trying to field a competition band is simply not the best use of our time. Sometimes at school concerts we see boys playing a different kind of bagpipe. That is a Scottish smallpipe. The fingering is exactly the same as our normal bagpipe, which is properly called the Great Highland Bagpipe. It uses different reeds and a different configuration of the various pipes but it plays essentially the same music with a different sound. There are lots of bagpipes in the world. Virtually every European country has its own bagpipe, most with different sounds and repertoires than ours. The Great Highland Bagpipe has become the most popular bagpipe, and it is played in every country of the world. We try to make the boys aware of other bagpipes though we don’t have time to teach them any others except the Scottish smallpipe, which I lend out to boys who want to try it. The drummers get to experiment with other types of drums as well. They mostly play the pipe band snare drum, but we have bass and tenor drums in the band, and in concerts the drummers might play African drums like the djembe or bongos, or even Irish drums like the bodhran. What keeps Jim McGillivray going after 17 years running the Pipes & Drums? I’ve been a piper since I was 11 years old. It’s a big part of how I define myself. I’m one of the fortunate few who get to do for a living what they chose as their hobby. I get paid for doing what I love. Naturally, running a program where you lose an average of 20% of your musicians every year has its frustrations. But the frustrations fade when a piper aces a playing test, and I can honestly tell him that’s the best thing I’ve ever heard him play. Or when we do an innovative and difficult piece at one of our concerts and everything clicks—you feel the magic, the audience loves it, and the boys come off the stage fist-pumping. Or when, on the day of Cadet Inspection, the Pipes & Drums lead the Cadet Corps onto the field, and the glorious sound of a well-tuned 30-piece pipe band in full flight fills the whole campus amidst a sea of red. That’s why I’m here. CINDY VEITCH
1915 - 1916 SAC Pipes & Drums. James Fraser (top centre in photo) founded the band and led it for the next 35 years. WWW.SAC.ON.CA 9
Canada’s Pipe Major
James Fraser Unsung Hero of SAC Pipes & Drums
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t’s a little-known fact that the foundations of the St. Andrew’s College Pipes & Drums rest on a veteran of the Boer War. The history of the Pipes & Drums dates back to the 1915-16 school year, when a parent, Colonel Thomas Cantley of Nova Scotia, donated six sets of pipes to facilitate the founding of a pipe band. But it was 48th Highlanders Pipe Major James Fraser who built the band. In 1892, at age 18, James Robb Fraser enlisted with the vaunted Gordon Highlanders in Aberdeen, Scotland. Two years later, he was posted to war-torn India and would remain in this part of the world until 1897. In October of that year, he found himself at Dargai, Pakistan, piping the Gordons into battle where fellow piper George Findlater won a Victoria Cross for continuing to pipe propped up against a tree after both legs had been shot from under him. Fraser was wounded in the thigh during this same battle, and he too continued to pipe. Fraser subsequently served in South Africa from 1899-1902 in the Boer War. He’d have seen the thick of battle as both a soldier and as a piper. He returned to the U.K. in 1902, where he continued as a Gordon Pipe Major. He was discharged in 1913 with “exemplary conduct,” and described as “a thoroughly trustworthy, hardworking, and sober man.” In that same year, the Pipe Major of the 48th Highlanders’ regimental pipe band in Toronto retired. Fraser’s name was put forth as a replacement and he was appointed soon thereafter, moving to Canada at age 39. He would hold this position for 39 years until his retirement in 1952 at age 78—far longer than any other 48th Pipe Major before or since. During his tenure, “The Famous 48th” of Toronto became the country’s premier ceremonial band, and James Fraser became 10 FALL 2015
James Fraser, right, as a Gordon Highlander in the 1890s, along with an unidentified piper. Shot during battle, Fraser continued to pipe.
known as Canada’s Pipe Major. He was a well-known Toronto figure in an elite unit whose annual duties included parading before the home opener of the National Hockey League’s Toronto Maple Leafs, a tradition that began with the opening of Maple Leaf Gardens in 1931 and continues to this day at their new home in the Air Canada Centre. Officially employed by the officers of the regiment, Fraser was given various other responsibilities at the University Street
Armoury where he taught scores of pipers over the decades. In 1915, St. Andrew’s College was located in Toronto’s Rosedale district, and the sons of some of the 48th officers were St. Andrew’s students. These officers wanted their sons to be pipers, and since Fraser reported to them, they added to his duties the job of teaching the School’s pipers. June Smith, who helped teach pipers at SAC during the 1990s, was one of only two women taught the pipes by Fraser. June worked at Queen’s Park in the 1940s and made the short lunchtime walk to the Armoury to take lessons from Fraser. “I well remember that in the late 1940s,” she recalls, “Fraser would take a very long public transit trip to St. Andrew’s College in Aurora each Wednesday afternoon to teach the Pipes & Drums. This was just part of his duties as Pipe Major of the 48th.” Aside from some interruptions during the war years, this represents a commitment of more than 35 years as the principal St. Andrew’s piping instructor. For those proud of the St. Andrew’s College Pipes & Drums tradition, our debt to Pipe Major James Fraser is immense. The ties between the 48th and the St. Andrew’s Pipes & Drums that Fraser developed continue to flourish, with later 48th pipe majors such as Reay Mackay and Sandy Dewar also
teaching. The current 48th Pipe Major, Iain Lang, drives to St. Andrew’s each week to help teach our large number of keen pipers. Four thousand people attended Fraser’s retirement parade at the University Street Armoury in 1952 as the reigns of Pipe Major were handed to Archie Dewar, and when Fraser died in 1963, 11 military units led his funeral cortege. Last year, as Fraser’s history with SAC began to emerge, the School added a new pipe banner to its collection honouring Pipe Major Fraser’s service to St. Andrew’s. The new banner features the colours and crests of the Gordon Highlanders, the 48th Highlanders, and St. Andrew’s College. It joins other pipe banners that commemorate the Cadet Corps’ affiliation with the 48th, the Pipes & Drums’ 2010 trip to the 65th VE Day celebrations in Holland, and former Headmaster Ted Staunton’s contribution to rejuvenating the School’s Cadet Corps and Pipes & Drums during his tenure. Photos of Fraser adorn the walls of the Pipes & Drums’ newly-refurbished practice facility, the Petrachek McGillivray Pipes & Drums Centre, ensuring, along with the new banner, that his contribution is never forgotten. JIM MCGILLIVRAY
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Pipe Band Remains Flagship Unit of the #142 Cadet Corps Long history of pipers in military band
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n the mid-1800s, bagpipe and drum bands replaced the fife and drum as the ensemble of choice to lead Scottish military units into battle. In regiments raised largely from specific geographic regions of the Highlands, the pipes and drums provided the music of home to inspire kilted fighting men to attack the enemy on the battlefield. Thousands of pipers were killed in the Great War leading soldiers “over the top.” Armed only with bagpipes, they continued to play as they climbed out of the trenches and advanced into no man’s land. The Germans called them “The Ladies from Hell,” and they knew that killing the piper wounded the pride and morale of the entire attacking unit. Today, the pipe band has faded from the theatre of battle, but it still fills a ceremonial role in the life of the military regiment. SAC’s Cadet Corps pre-dates the St. Andrew’s College Pipes & Drums by a decade, celebrating 110 years this year. The Corps’ origin stems from an affiliation with Toronto’s 48th Highlanders of Canada and its Pipe Major, James Fraser. The #142 Highland Cadet Corps mounts three major ceremonial parades each year. The highlight of the season is the musical tattoo, which opens our Annual Cadet Inspection. The dazzling display of music and precision drills sets the stage brilliantly for one of the largest Cadet reviews in the country. In addition to the duties at our home, the Pipes & Drums have represented the Corps at many community events such as the Aurora Santa Claus Parade and highprofile events such as the home-opener for the professional soccer club, Toronto FC, at BMO Stadium. My personal highlight was accompanying the Pipes & Drums on a 2010 tour of Holland to celebrate the 65th anniversary of VE Day. I was fortunate to have been on parade myself on the 50th anniversary as lead drummer with the 48th Highlanders of Canada, and it was a dream to be able to share this with our students 15 years later. It was an incredible experience to tour the areas where our regiment had fought and liberated this country during the Second World War. The Dutch people were tremendously generous and treated our 12 FALL 2015
On parade in Holland in 2010 during the 65th anniversary of VE Day.
“ The skirl of the pipes, and the beating of the drums are clearly a draw for people around the world.” young Canadian pipers and drummers as respected friends. We were honoured to perform in several emotional parades such as that held at Apeldoorn, a city in the centre of the Netherlands. In 2012, the Pipes & Drums joined our Wind Ensemble to perform at the Olympics in London, England. Once again, the Pipes & Drums were extremely well-received and represented our school and Cadet Corps proudly. The Gordon tartan kilts, the skirl of the pipes, and the beating of the drums are clearly a draw for people around the world. The Pipes & Drums are at the heart of our Highland tradition, and our Cadet Corps is truly fortunate to have such a dedicated group wearing the #142 SAC cap badge. Dileas Gu Brath – Faithful Forever MAJOR BRIAN MCCUE
Where the Pipers Pipe & the Drummers Drum “New” home for School’s oldest musical tradition
(l-r) Jamie Inglis ‘91, Jim McGillivray, and Brian McCue wear the Pipes & Drums official Gordon Highlanders ties.
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his summer, the West Annex underwent a huge renovation to its indoor and outdoor space. Originally built in the 1960s as a staff residence, the facility has been the centre for piping and drumming instruction for just over a dozen years. It was sadly outdated. All that changed when the family of former Pipe Major, Zachary Petrachek ’14, stepped up and generously offered to help give the facility a facelift. The 4,000 sq. ft. newly-named Petrachek McGillivray Pipes & Drums Centre* has been dramatically modernized. In addition to its attractively-cladded exterior, there are now 10 soundproofed studios, secured instrument and equipment storage, and a large central assembly hall dividing the piping and drumming sections. This is music to the ears of Pipes & Drums Director Jim McGillivray, who has taught bagpipes at SAC for the past 17 years, and who recognizes that his program supports one of the School’s proudest and longest-held traditions. As the School marks the 100th anniversary of the Pipes & Drums this year, it is fitting that these renovations bring the
home base of this unique program up to the exemplary standards of the rest of the School. “I never fail to be moved on Prize Day as my grade 12 pipers and drummers go on to new stages in their lives,” says Jim. “Boys begin to study piping as early as grade 5 or 6, and perhaps no other program at the School requires such a long-term commitment as that of earning a place in the senior Pipes & Drums. “I get to know only a small number of boys here, but I'd argue that many other teachers don't get to know any boys as well as I know my pipers. By graduation, they seem like my family, and it’s tough to say goodbye to them. I love it when they come back in later years to say hello.” *New or upgraded facilities are usually named after the donors. In the case of the Petrachek McGillivray Pipes & Drums Centre, the Petrachek family insisted that the McGillivray name be added to recognize Mr. McGillivray’s notable revamping of the program since his arrival at the School in 1998. WWW.SAC.ON.CA 13
We Hear You Loud and Clear! Spring surveys give voice to all Andreans
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our feedback on this year’s surveys was incredibly telling. We truly value all you shared. From your remarks and opinions, we can see how satisfied our constituent groups are, but we can also see where you need us to improve. Take food, for example. In 2013, parents wanted to see an increase in the quality and variety of food served in the dining hall. Since then, the College has increased its investment in Food Services by 11%, and parent satisfaction has risen by 9%. Here is a snapshot of other major findings (and some things to work on) from the surveys conducted this spring.
Old Boys Survey On the whole, Old Boys are satisfied with their St. Andrew’s experience (93%). Past students felt they were sufficiently challenged academically (93%); the courses they needed for their future education were available (95%); and they felt well-prepared for university (88%). On the other side of the coin, Old Boys would like to see St. Andrew’s become more affordable for their sons. In response, the Admission Department is working to develop a scholarship dedicated to sons of Old Boys. SAC also continues to grow the endowment to provide financial assistance through scholarships and bursaries.
Parent Satisfaction & Engagement Survey We are hugely gratified by the fact that 99% of parents said their sons enjoy going to school. Parents are proud to say their child goes to St. Andrew’s (93%); they would recommend St. Andrew’s to family and friends (92%); and parents believe the School is successful in achieving its mission of “developing the complete man, the well-rounded citizen” (88%). From 2013 to 2015, parent satisfaction with the academic program rose by 6%. Parents are looking for continued improvement in this area, and over the past three years, the School has increased academic spending to 51% of total expenses—equating to an additional $421,629. In addition, SAC introduced two new courses to add to their son’s resume – AP Capstone and broadcast journalism. The Andrean Diploma with Honours was also awarded, with the Class of 2015 being the first to receive this distinction. Boys are encouraged to work toward receiving this diploma by demonstrating their well-roundedness in academics, athletics, 14 FALL 2015
Parents indicate increased satisfaction with academics, such as the new broadcast journalism course introduced this year. Grade 11 classmates (l-r) Ayodeji Ogunremi, Ruan Austin, and KP Omenuko practice their interview technique.
co-curriculars, leadership, and community service. The Andrean Diploma with Honours was earned by 39% of students on graduation day in June.
Student Survey It’s been decades since the students were surveyed, so it was time they had their say! Students are extremely satisfied with their experience at SAC – they believe the School offers outstanding facilities, both academic and athletic (87%); they feel their teachers truly care about them (85%); that their teachers respect their ideas and suggestions (86%); and that their teachers foster enthusiasm and interest in their courses and encourage them to think more deeply about their subjects (85%). Students suggested Internet speed be increased. The School listened. The IT Department conducted an evaluation of the School’s bandwidth, and it was determined that Wi-Fi and Internet speeds were not up to par for a school so technologically blessed. In response, SAC upgraded from 100Mbps to 1Gbps – a tenfold increase in bandwidth. All students are enjoying the faster speeds as they complete their course work, but boarders especially are reaping the benefits as they stay connected with family around the world. NICOLETTE FLEMING For a more in-depth look at the surveys, visit www.sac.on.ca/executivesummaries.
Substantial New Scholarship Announced Making SAC more affordable for qualified day boys
T
he D. Bruce Macdonald ScholThe scholarship takes its name from arship was announced during St. Andrew’s College’s longest-serving SAC’s first Open House in SepHeadmaster. tember amid nodding approval Dr. D. Bruce Macdonald assumed the from prospective local families role for 35 years, beginning in 1900, just gathered in Towers Library. one year after the School was established “As we celebrate our 90th year in this in the Chestnut Park area of Toronto. It wonderful community, St. Andrew’s is was his vision to develop men of strong investing heavily in the education of local and well-rounded character, and to this day students through a substantial scholarship the College continues to follow this mission. program,” said Michael Roy, Director of It was also his vision to move the College Admission, Marketing, & Business Develto Aurora in 1926. opment. “This scholarship demonstrates Back then, the School’s rural location our commitment to providing young men tipped the scales in favour of boarding within our community the opportunity to students. With the explosion of York Region’s experience SAC.” population starting in the 1970s, the pool of The D. Bruce Macdonald Scholarship mission-appropriate day boys has increased is open to grades 5 through 9 day student significantly—a fact that has not escaped the applicants in York Region, awarding one attention of SAC’s Admission Department. merit-based scholarship per grade. Awards To qualify for this scholarship, boys must are set at $15,000 for grades 5 and 6 demonstrate excellence in academics, char(increased to $20,000 for grades 7-12) and acter, leadership, co-curriculars (athletics $20,000 for grades 7, 8, and 9 and renewable The D. Bruce Macdonald Scholarship and/or arts), and community service. Interhonours SAC’s longest-serving through graduation provided the student ested students must submit a written essay Headmaster. excels in all facets of the School’s mission. on why they believe they should win the D. The award is substantial; as an example, if a grade 5 recipient Bruce Macdonald Scholarship. were to earn the scholarship through to graduation, the scholCompleted applications must be submitted online, and arship value would amount to $160,000. In a few years, when award recipients will be notified no later than April 1, 2016. successive recipients are in place, the College will invest half Those applicants who are unsuccessful in their scholarship a million annually to fund the education of local day students. bid, but whom the Admission Department deem qualified, will The College awards $2.4 million annually in financial aid still be offered a place at the School. If they require financial through bursaries and scholarships. This year, 27% of students assistance, they will be eligible to apply through the College’s are receiving some form of award. Financial Aid program. NICOLETTE FLEMING Considering SAC has invested over $65M in facilities and Further details and an online application form can be found at programs over the last 15 years, the opportunity to receive an www.sac.on.ca/admission. education at one of the best independent schools in North American is incredible. WWW.SAC.ON.CA 15
Class of 1954 Archives Preserving our shared legacy
How do the Archives affect us as Andreans? The Archives form the collective memory of our School—our identity and our cultural heritage. When we want to explore the history and legacy of SAC, we look at our archival records. As Archivist, I collect, preserve, and make those records available: hundreds of photos, along with The Review and The Andrean magazines, are online. We also keep sports gear, school ties, medals, and brochures from key events such as Carol Service or Prize Day. Andreans helped shape Canadian society. Old Boy Lawren Harris 1903, one of Canada’s most famous painters, went to SAC. Lucy Maud Montgomery, the cherished Canadian writer, sent her sons here. Timothy Findley ’50, another influential author, was a SAC student. J.A.D. McCurdy 1903, pioneer of Canadian aviation, was also a student here. Many famous politicians such as Vincent Massey 1906, the first Canadian-born Governor General, or John Crosbie ’49, Roy McMurtry ’50 … the list goes on. Why do we need to pass on the traditions and history? By knowing our history, we know who we are. Our school traditions are important because they are what we value about SAC. They remind us that we are part of a much larger community. Archives are a gift from previous generations that we treasure and appreciate. We need to take care of them. Our archival photographs adorn the walls of Dunlap Hall and the interior of the La Brier Family Arena. Our archival film 16 FALL 2015
footage helps William Scoular, Head of Drama, captivate his audience. And our digital archive brings the legacy to your fingertips. I regularly get emails asking for help finding information about SAC alumni. People are curious to know their family history and are always excited when I help them fill in some of the blanks. Our Archives reveal the strength of the St. Andrew’s brotherhood. When the grade 8s research the World War 1 Fallen Andreans, they form a bond with an Andrean brother from a century ago. They discover that, just like them, those boys played sports, cracked jokes, and sometimes got into trouble. They see photos of their brothers wearing the same Cadet uniform. This creates strong bonds that endure. What can Andreans add to the SAC Archives? Keep in touch with the School. Stay involved, no matter where you are. Tell us about noteworthy events in your life. Donate items of significance, such as your team sweater or a winning football. Share great photos. By staying in touch, you help us continue building on our legacy as we enter our 117th year. Thanks to the Class of 1954 for their generous gift of support to the SAC Archives. And thanks to a curious student for asking the question! SUE HAYTER For more information, email sue.hayter@sac.on.ca or explore our rich history at www.sac.on.ca/archives. And watch for Throwback Thursdays when we post archival photos on SAC’s Facebook and Instagram.
Illustration: Genevieve Simms
A curious student asked me what the School Archivist does. What a great question!
ST. ANDREW’S COLLEGE
ANNUAL REPORT 2015 J.P. Martin, grade 10
WWW.SAC.ON.CA 17
Message from Scott Hayter Executive Director of Advancement
A “ We are so fortunate to have received the level of support asked of our Andrean community to be able to construct a facility like this.” —Scott Hayter
18 FALL 2015
number of Andreans have commented on the success of our capital projects, essentially saying, “So, it’s all done, and you can rest a bit now!” Of course, we appreciate their thoughts, but the reality is that we never sit still at SAC, and there will always be capital initiatives on the go. Certainly, none may ever again approach the size and scope of our new Centre for Leadership, Innovation & Performance, which opened to great fanfare on May 2, 2015. It is undoubtedly an amazing teaching and learning facility. I have to pinch myself that it isn’t a dream as I walk through it, often on my way to the newly-renovated Cole Dining Hall for lunch—the route from Dunlap Hall to the dining area is now enclosed through the new building. In fact, you can walk along the Dunlap Link and then, depending on the floor, walk by either the wonderful new Business & Entrepreneurship Centre or the extraordinary Bob & Jilla Williams Band Room, to get to the new Merkel Family Lobby to line up for food served in the Macpherson Family Servery. And, if you haven’t seen it yet, please come and check out the Wirth Theatre. We are so fortunate to have received the level of support asked of our Andrean community to be able to construct a facility like this. There is not a school in North America with drama facilities to compare to ours. Recently, Terry Prezens, who teaches engineering and robotics in our Dunin Family
ANNUAL REPORT 2015
Engineering Centre, showed me a functional prosthetic hand created in his lab with our 3D printer. He has registered St. Andrew's College as a school that will provide child amputees in our area with finger prosthetics. The plastic has been donated free to us for a year. How awesome is that?! We are almost finished with the renovation of the old West Annex building, which has been renamed the Petrachek McGillivray Pipes & Drums Centre. Yes, finally our Pipes & Drums have a facility designed specifically for the teaching and learning of their wonderful music. We appreciate the support of the Petrachek family for their leadership gift for this project, and we ask our Andrean community to help us continue to raise funds for this facility. The next capital project is a new tennis centre with six courts and additional parking. This will be developed east of the La Brier Family Arena. More information about this exciting initiative will be coming soon. Our financial statements for the fiscal year end show a healthy endowment fund of $29,965,842. Of the $7,579,498 transferred to the School, $1,059,973 came from endowed funds, and the remainder came from pledge payments and annual gifts. These funds contributed to the over $2 million in scholarships and bursaries awarded by the School to 27% of the student body. As a community we have done well and are proud of our
accomplishments. Our endowment provides over a million dollars annually to the School. We are extremely grateful; however, that is not enough to help us maintain our facilities and also provide for the needs of deserving students who otherwise could not afford to experience all St. Andrew’s has to offer. You will hear us talking more about growing our endowment and how you can support your school in that way. So, if you happen to see me in the hallway or at an event, be sure to ask me what our future plans are. We have exciting times ahead, and I want to share them with you.
J. Scott W. Hayter Executive Director of Advancement
WWW.SAC.ON.CA 19
SAC Foundation Statement of Operations 2014-2015 Year Ended June 30
2015
2014
DONATIONS
REVENUE Donations Interest & Dividends Realized Gain/(Loss) on Sale of Investments Total Revenue
6,683,631
4,648,277
890,269
858,182
1,527,460
852,188
$9,101,360
$6,358,647
CAPITAL
ENDOWMENT
ANNUAL GIVING
87.5%
4.2%
8.3%
DONATIONS BY CONSTITUENCY
DISTRIBUTIONS 838,545
780,143
OLD BOYS
CURRENT PARENTS
OTHER
Unrestricted Donations
615,049
468,899
45%
44%
11%
Other Designated Gifts
446,781
322,172
11,420
10,150
5,413,266
3,789,242
Scholarships & Bursaries School’s Priority Needs & Designated Gifts
Gifts in Kind Capital Projects (CMP & Major Renovations) Total Distributed to St. Andrew’s College
GOVERNORS & TRUSTEES: 46% This % is counted in the above totals as all Governors and Trustees are in another category.
$7,325,061
$5,370,606
DISTRIBUTIONS CAPITAL PROJECTS
SCHOOL‘S PRIORITY NEEDS & DESIGNATED OPERATING ITEMS
75%
11%
SCHOLARSHIPS, BURSARIES & AWARDS
INVESTMENT & PLANNED GIVING EXPENSE
11%
3%
OTHER DISTRIBUTIONS Investment & Custody Fees & Credit Card Charges
129,272
119,347
Planned Giving Expense
125,165
140,370
254,437
$259,717
$7,579,498
$5,630,323
1,521,863
728,324
28,598,588
25,129,379
-106,805
2,740,885
$30,013,646
$28,598,588
Total Distributions
Excess (Deficit) of Revenue over Expenses for the Year Fund Balances Beginning of Year Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments Fund Balance End of Year
20 FALL 2015
ANNUAL REPORT 2015
How is SAC Funded? The audit for St. Andrew’s College was conducted in August 2015 by Smith Sykes Leeper and Tunstall for the year ending June 30, 2015.
Statement of Operations The breakdown of expenses and revenues is shown in graphical format on the right. For internal purposes and for the purpose of setting tuition fees, the Board does not budget for depreciation; however, we did allocate $1.5 million toward major expenses on plant repairs and maintenance in 2014-2015.
SAC REVENUES ACTUAL 2014–2015 6% – Donation
91%
3% – Ancillary Operations (net)
Tuition & Mandatory Fees
SAC Revenues 2014–2015 Tuition revenues and mandatory fees are the primary revenue source. Ancillary revenue is comprised of interest income, housing rentals, summer program revenue, Campus Shop revenue, and rental of facilities. Donations toward operating costs were $1.64 million in 2015, with just over $1 million coming from the SAC endowment fund.
SAC Expenses 2014–2015 The expense chart depicts expenses based on a functional division. Salaries and wages represent approximately 56% of our total budget but are included within the functional areas. The percentage of expenses in each category is very stable year over year. Academic and co-curricular expenses refer to all student program activities including athletics, Cadets, library, and resident support services. Buildings, grounds, and maintenance expenses include utilities, insurance, repairs, and replacement of small capital items. Financial Aid represents just over $2 million in bursaries and scholarships.
SAC EXPENSES ACTUAL 2014–2015 Academics & Co-Curriculars
48% 17%
Buildings, Grounds & Maintenance
10% 8%
Food Services Financial Aid
7% Administration 5% Advancement 5% Admission
TOP 5 CLASS GIVING PARTICIPATION RATE 27%
1970
21%
20%
19%
1956
1957
1954
15%
1965
WWW.SAC.ON.CA 21
PLANNING Making your money go further and tax savings are two BIG reasons to consider planned giving BY CYNTHIA MACDONALD
F Oliver Harris '17 receives prize for Best Cadet from former MP Lois Brown on Cadet Inspection.
22 FALL 2015
or some donors, there’s no time like the present: cash gifts can lead to immediate benefits for the School, which are always warmly appreciated. But a reliable and proven program of planned giving is often preferable, for several reasons. The term “planned giving” is most commonly linked to bequests, in that many donors generously choose to leave a certain portion of their estate to St. Andrew’s College. “A gift from your accumulated assets can allow you to make a much larger donation than would be possible in your lifetime,” says Edna Collins, SAC’s Associate Director of Advancement. But St. Andrew’s has also developed a number of other unique charitable plans. Over the years, these can enable donors to see their legacy in action. Small gifts over time often produce large results. Further, planned giving offers multiple avenues of tax relief, in the form of charitable, capital gains, and estate deductions. Every donor automatically becomes a member of the Andrean Legacy Society, which allows the School to recognize contributions through publications and special events. Here are the stories of two Andrean families, who worked closely with SAC to select planned giving programs tailored to their exact needs and capabilities.
AHEAD
ANNUAL REPORT 2015
“ There are a lot of kids who would make great St. Andrew’s students, but who could never dream of coming. If we can help to give some of them the chance to do that, it would be wonderful.”
Current parents Bianca and Jonathan Harris
A
s the president of a successful manufacturing business, Jonathan Harris ’82 has always respected innovative thinking. So when he and wife Bianca learned about St. Andrew’s unique life insurance program, it struck them as a creative way of giving back to the School that has played a significant role in their family for many years. The Harrises have three sons. Joshua ’09 and Alex ’11 are now university graduates, while Oliver ’17 is in grade 11. Young Oliver might seem an unlikely candidate for a life insurance policy; however, his youth and health are actually real advantages, in that they radically lower the cost of premiums. These payments are matched by the School, which owns the policy and is named as the beneficiary. It’s a charitable giving situation that has translated to immediate tax benefits for the Harrises, while they continue to build equity in the policy. “It allows you, with donations that are not very significant in themselves, to one day really provide a lasting legacy to the School,” says Bianca. The family has directed the proceeds from this policy to the Bursary and Scholarship program, which will ultimately enrich SAC’s endowment. “There are a lot of kids who would make great St. Andrew’s students,” says Jonathan, “but who could never dream of coming. If we can help to give some of them the chance to do that, it would be wonderful.” The Harris family set up their plan with Oliver’s full participation. “He sat in on the meetings, asked questions, and learned how life insurance works. He felt proud to know that one day he would leave a lasting legacy to St. Andrew’s College,” says Bianca.
Absorbing life skills is, of course, essential to a St. Andrew’s education, alongside academics and a vast array of co-curricular activities. This breadth, more than anything, explains why families such as the Harrises are so interested in giving back. “The School really supports our boys to become well-rounded citizens,” says Jonathan. “It’s the complete package.” He cites St. Andrew’s global reach as one of its strongest aspects: “Here, you’ve got opportunities to travel and see the world—whether it’s through historical trips or meeting classmates from 31 countries.” Jonathan now travels extensively for work; he has encountered Andreans in places as far afield as Hong Kong and Athens, Georgia, where his company has apparel-manufacturing plants. “Even when you’re a long way from home,” he says, “you’ve got that instant connection.” In fact, the Harris ties to St. Andrew’s are so extensive that the School might almost be considered a family member itself. Jonathan’s father Peter was SAC Board Chairman from 1979 to 1996, while Bianca’s brother Oliver Herbst ’88 is also an Old Boy. Fittingly, the couple (who met while students at the University of Toronto) were married in St. Andrew’s Memorial Chapel. Bianca chaired the Red & White Gala last year, and currently serves as Vice-President of the Parents Guild. It’s an illustrious story that promises to continue for many years to come. Life insurance is a long-term investment, where benefits accrue toward a large payout in the future. Which, when you think of it, is a perfect metaphor for the Harris family’s happy Andrean experience. Continues on next page WWW.SAC.ON.CA 23
“Establishing a trust fund was an opportunity for us to repay some of that generosity, and put something in place that will help the next generation …”
F
or Tony and Rosemary Nichols, paying it forward is what counts. The Aurora-based couple have never forgotten that independent school education for their own three children (including son James ’93) was made possible, in part, by the generosity of donors in the School community. Now, they want others to enjoy the same extraordinary benefits. There was never any question that St. Andrew’s College was the right choice for James: “We hadn’t realized how bored he was in the public system,” says Tony. Switching to an independent school—first at Ottawa’s Ashbury College, then at St. Andrew’s—changed all that. “His whole perspective changed; he started to smile again and was really very happy. He got an awful lot out of it.” Tony counts teacher dedication, sports, and access to facilities that are “beyond compare” as being especially significant to James’ experience at St. Andrew’s. A standout football player in high school, he went on to play on the varsity team at McGill. “The camaraderie associated with St. Andrew’s athletic programs was such that James continues to have strong associations with the School,” continues Tony. “But the arts programs are a great stimulus too, for those who aren’t athletically inclined. Overall, I think the extra-curricular programs are as valuable as the teaching.” To this day such advantages remain equally powerful for Tony’s grandson and James’ nephew, A.J. Nichols ’21, who is in grade 7 this year. Growing up, both Tony and Rosemary benefited from private school education themselves: Rosemary at Genazzano College in Melbourne, Australia, and Tony at Tonbridge School in his native England. “So we always had a preference for it for our children, if we could ever afford it,” says the retired chemical engineer and business executive. However, funding 18 years of first-class education for James and his siblings proved understandably difficult. “We couldn’t possibly have done it without financial assistance—which meant assistance from parents and the schools themselves. 24 FALL 2015
That made it all possible. Establishing a trust fund was an opportunity for us to repay some of that generosity, and put something in place that will help the (l-r) A.J., James, Rosemary, and Tony Nichols. next generation of students going through St. Andrew’s.” So it was that eight years ago, Tony and Rosemary established the Nichols Family Trust Fund. Each year they contribute securities rather than cash, resulting in what Tony calls a “double benefit” from a tax perspective: in addition to receiving initial relief for their donation to the School, the family’s donations are also exempt from capital gains tax that could be applicable to the securities. The positive effects of this form of giving are certainly wide-ranging. In addition to ongoing tax advantages and the satisfaction of repaying the kindness previously shown them, the Nichols family know that they are sustaining a tradition of financial aid that, with rising costs, is becoming ever more important. This is the first year that money will be disbursed from the trust; the Nichols family will consequently be allowed to know who is benefiting from their donation (and student recipients, in turn, to know who has helped them). Financial support of such boys, says Tony, is “increasingly desirable: both to broaden the selection of students and to increase opportunities for them to get an independent school education. St. Andrew’s has long had an excellent Foundation, which provides backing too. But there is always room to do more. And that will only happen if more people are prepared to give.” If you are interested in learning more about planned giving, please contact Edna Collins at 905-727-3178, ext. 239 or edna.collins@sac.on.ca.
ANNUAL REPORT 2015
Parents Guild
Enriching student life and Andrean community spirit
The Parents Guild was recognized for its significant contributions to the School in June with the naming of the foyer outside Ketchum Auditorium in its honour. The Parents Guild has over 200 active volunteers who dedicate their time to countless initiatives to benefit the School and its students. As well, the PG Executive has contributed and pledged $1 million to the Not An Ordinary Place Campaign.
Angela Wood-Macgregor, 2014-2015 Parents Guild President, member of the SAC Board of Governors, and mother of Chase ’16 and Cole ’15 Macgregor. Prior to relinquishing her role to 2015-2016 PG President Lenore Collis, Angela said she felt it was fitting to change the tag line “St. Andrew’s is not an ordinary place” to “St. Andrew’s is an extraordinary place.” At Prize Day, Angela presented Kevin Chong ’15 the Donald B. Spence Award for Creative Writing.
WWW.SAC.ON.CA 25
New Board Appointments Members give generously of their time to serve the College
ANDREW DALTON ’78
LEN GURR
TED MERCER ’96
earned a bachelor of arts degree from the University of Toronto in 1982. While attending university he played hockey for the U of T Varsity Blues. After graduation, he joined the family-owned Dalton Company, where he is now Chief Executive Officer. It was The Dalton Company that built SAC’s new Centre for Leadership, Innovation & Performance. Andrew returns to the Board of Governors at St. Andrew’s where he served as a Director from April 2005 to June 2010. During his tenure he chaired the Finance and Audit Committee and the Property and Facilities Committee, as well as serving on the Foundation Renewal and Executive Committees. He is also a previous Chairman of the Sterling Hall School. Andrew and his wife, Julie, have three children Blake ’05, and daughters Kelly and Holly.
joined the faculty of St. Andrew’s College in 2005, teaching history in the Upper School. He currently serves as the Housemaster of Smith House, Head Coach of Varsity Football, Assistant Coach of Varsity Baseball, and faculty advisor for the Andrean Life Council. He is also a member of the School’s Standing Committee for Excellence in Teaching and Learning, is currently completing the CAIS Leadership Institute program, and is in year two of a three-year schoolsponsored research project focusing on best practices to motivate students. Len holds a BA (Hons.) with a double major in English and history, an MA in history, and a B.Ed. from the University of Western Ontario (now Western University). He also holds the ‘Honour Specialist’ accreditation in history. He lives on campus with his dogs, Jackson and Maximus.
holds a degree in business from Wilfrid Laurier University and passed the Chartered Accountant’s examinations with KPMG Toronto. After several years working for KPMG offices in London, England, and Sydney, Australia, Ted moved back to Toronto and became vice-president sales with software technology company, ResolverGRC. In addition, he has conducted due diligence for Bruce Croxon, a former investor on the CBC TV show Dragons’ Den, and along with his brother, Will Mercer ’98 and two partners, makes investments in food distribution companies. Ted served on the board for the Metro Toronto Movement for Literacy for five years and currently serves on the board of the University Club of Toronto. He and his wife, Victoria Smart (Appleby ’98), are expecting their first child in December of this year.
St. Andrew’s College and Foundation – Advancement
programs. We will respect the wishes of anyone who requests anonymity and/or instructs the School
St. Andrew’s College (School) and its associated Foundation recognize the importance of pro-
and the Foundation to refrain from using their personal information for development purposes.
tecting the personal information of our alumni, family of past and current students, volunteers,
If you have any questions about how the School Advancement Office uses your personal
and supporters. Any personal information collected by the School’s Advancement Office is
information or no longer want to receive information from the School, please contact Edna Collins,
handled with the utmost attention to how it is attained, secured, and utilized. This personal
Associate Director of Advancement, at edna.collins@sac.on.ca or 905.727.3178 ext. 239.
information is kept private to the School and the Foundation. We will not sell, rent, or trade personal information with anyone outside the School. The Advancement Office will use this information for development purposes such as processing donations, maintaining accurate donor records, communications, Andrean and Old Boy relations, and fundraising
26 FALL 2015
READ MORE
The entire 2015 Annual Report, including a complete list of donors, is available online at
www.sac.on.ca/2015AnnualReport
Andrean Diploma with Honours Awarded Distinguishing boys who best live the School’s mission
A
new SAC-specific diploma in recognition of educational and co-curricular excellence was awarded for the first time at Prize Day 2015. The Andrean Diploma with Honours is the product of many years of discussion around the concept of the best way to celebrate the unique breadth of students’ SAC experience, given the mission of the School. The new diploma was recognized as a priority in SAC’s 2011-2016 Strategic Plan and complements both the Andrean Diploma and the Ontario Secondary School Diploma. The program launched three years ago, when Class of 2015 members were in grade 10 and is now well embedded in the fabric of the Upper School. The rationale behind the creation of this type of recognition was twofold: first, to celebrate boys who live the School’s mission, not only in academics but also in their respective sports and co-curricular endeavours; second, to provide boys with a means of differentiating themselves from their peers in the university admission process. While every graduate receives an Andrean Diploma, those who meet with the mission statement going forward will receive the Andrean Diploma with Honours. As outlined in the omnibus (www.sac.on.ca/omnibus), the honours diploma is awarded on the basis of a student’s performance and involvement in grades 11 and 12 in all areas of achievement. A student must receive a composite score of 3 out of 4 in order to earn this distinction. This score is tabulated based on student results, participation, and commitment to each of the five areas of achievement: academics, athletics, co-curriculars, leadership, and community service. A zero in any category will preclude a student from receiving the award regardless of his cumulative scores in other categories. In June, approximately 40% of the 124 graduating students received this special distinction. This program and its accompanying certificate serve to validate and document accomplishments throughout a boy’s SAC career.
Now that this program is entrenched, it becomes another marker in measuring student success. Mr. Michael Paluch, Assistant Headmaster, Academics, hopes that more boys will come to understand the value of involvement in every facet of SAC life, and that after graduation, they will look back and realize that they didn’t miss any opportunities by sticking to the safe and familiar. In visits with universities, the premise of the Andrean Diploma with Honours has become a discussion point with admission officers. “In a world where mark inflation is rampant, it is becoming increasingly difficult to differentiate one student from another; this diploma may serve to provide valuable insight into the candidacy of our students,” asserts Paluch. “We are codifying the intangibles,” he says. “It is so difficult to measure a boy on the basis of his marks alone because you might miss the sparkle in his eye, his capacity for giving, his talent on the stage, or his strength of character as a leader on the soccer pitch. We owe it to our students to find ways to show the world just how distinctively talented they are.” CINDY VEITCH WWW.SAC.ON.CA 27
HOMECOMING
(l-r) Yannick Harou ‘12, Fraser Sopik ‘15, Headmaster Kevin McHenry, Eddie Meredith ‘11, Jamal Kett ‘12, Zach Marcus ‘14, and Duncan Robertson ‘15
Richard Rong '20 28 FALL 2015
Alex Carter '16 & Aidan Bertolis '16
(l-r) Angela Wood-Macgregor, Lenore Collis, Sharen Turner, Pam Merkel
WEEKEND 2015 First Football
Oliver Dunlap '20
Tyler Iwai , 7, (top) & Jack Kempczinski '20
Davide Zadra '20 (left) & Nolan Michelberger '20
Ben Schmidt '17
Cole D’Angelo '22 (left) & Vito Buffone '22
(l-r) Carson Ricca '18, Dara Goharchi '18, and Max Lombard '18
Alastair '19 (left) and Roan Binnendyk '23 with their puppy, Hudson
Dutch Smith '20 with dad, Stony
Vendors' Marketplace
Grade 12 student Jerry Tuzi’s mother, Sabrina, and his grandmother, Maria
Pablo Gosain Karam '20 WWW.SAC.ON.CA 29
REUNION DINNER Staunton Gallery was the place to be on October 2 as classmates from graduating years ending in '0s and '5s socialized prior to a Reunion Dinner in Cole Hall. Some Old Boys hadn’t seen each other since graduating, so there was much catching up to do; not only with each other, but also with the many faculty and staff in attendance. Alumni arrived from across Ontario, other parts of Canada, and from countries such as Italy, the U.K, Hong Kong, China, Antigua, Bahamas, Barbados, and the United States. Several Reunion celebrants stayed on to attend Homecoming Festivities the next day. For more photos, visit: www.sac.on.ca/old-boys. And for the '1s and '6s, watch for the Old Boys e-newsletter for details on the 2016 Reunion Dinner!
2005
Simon ‘00 and Natasha Bayley
Don MacKay ‘70, Chricket Yule, Mac Yule ‘70, Norm Wilkie ‘70
Andy Kilpatrick ‘75, York Pei ‘76, and Christopher Yip ‘75
1995
Doug ‘80 and Luci Crawford
1990
1985
30 FALL 2015
CommunityNews a post-graduate diploma in Education from Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia. Kristen gained AP teaching experience at her former school, PCA, in Markham, Ont.
Soccer and 1st Hockey teams. The family lives on campus.
Middle School for four years. The Smiths live in Newmarket.
Alexina Cameron started teaching in the Middle School in September 2014. She holds a B.Ed. from McGill University in intermediate and senior social sciences and recently completed an M.Ed. at OISE, University of Toronto. She holds additional qualifications in French as a Second Language, and Special Education, part 1. While studying in Montreal, Alexina completed four teaching placements and held the position of camp coordinator at a bilingual city day camp. At SAC, Alexina teaches grade 7 and 8 French, coaches U14B Soccer and MS Swimming, and assists with the Middle School Drama Club. Alexina became engaged this summer and plans to marry next year. Kristen Kang joined SAC as an AP economics teacher in the Upper School this September. She is a graduate of the Ted Rogers School of Information Technology Management and holds
Emma Porter and her husband, Jeff, welcomed their first child, Dean Bradley, on May 4, 2015. Emma joined the Modern Languages Department in September 2012 to teach AP and Extended French and has since taught French to all Kristen enjoys team sports and is currently coaching U16 Squash and co-coaching U16 Volleyball. Jeff LaForge married Julie Watchorn on August 8 in Memorial Chapel. Jeff teaches law and history in the Upper School. He is Assistant Housemaster of Macdonald House, where he and Julie live. Jeff coaches 1st Football, U16 Football, and U13 Basketball; he is also involved with the Model UN Club and the Holiday Heroes program. David Manning and his wife, Nicole, welcomed their first child, Libby Marie, on August 15. David teaches computer science in the Upper School. He is also Assistant Athletic Director, as well as Head Coach of the 1st
Matthew Wyatt joined SAC in 2014 as a visual arts teacher in the Upper School. He holds a masters in fine art in new media from Transart Institute (Berlin/NYC) and a bachelor of fine arts (hons.) in visual arts (studio) from Lakehead University. Prior to joining SAC, Matt taught art and English in Tokyo, where he lived for six years. Outside of teaching, he has worked in musical performance, marketing, and design, and he also maintains a fine art painting practice. This year, he helped to design and introduce
grades—5 through 12—at the School. She now teaches French in the Middle School. Lori Smith and her husband, Landon, welcomed son, Hunter Graham, on June 20. He is their first child. Lori has taught math and science in the
the new broadcast journalism course and student news program. Matt lives on campus with his wife, Nao, and their two children, Hana and Ryu. WWW.SAC.ON.CA 31
Sports Update
Exciting Season for S pring sports teams enjoyed great success with 39 medals earned in the Canadian Independent Schools Athletic Association (CISAA) and the Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations (OFSAA) finals. The 14 gold, 16 silver, and nine bronze medals were earned across all levels of play. SAC’s badminton, lacrosse, tennis, and track & field teams advanced to OFSAA. The medal tally for all three 2014-15 terms was 97 individual and team medals: 45 gold, 34 silver, and 18 bronze. Congratulations to all the boys and coaches on their achievements!
Nicholas Giorgio ‘21, U12 Softball
BADMINTON VARSITY CISAA Champions 5 gold OFSAA Silver U16 CISAA Bronze 1 silver 1 gold U14 CISAA Silver
Lucas La Brier ‘18 32 FALL 2015
BASEBALL VARSITY CISAA Silver SAC Tournament Champions Garett Styles Memorial Tournament Champions TCS Tournament Champions
SOFTBALL U12 CISAA Silver CRICKET VARSITY CISAA Silver LACROSSE VARSITY CISAA Silver OFSAA Silver
TENNIS VARSITY CISAA Bronze OFSAA Antique Bronze TRACK & FIELD SENIOR CISAA Bronze 1 gold 1 silver 1 bronze
JUNIOR 2 gold 1 silver 3 bronze MIDGET 2 gold 3 silver 1 bronze
TRIATHLON SENIOR 1 gold 2 silver 1 bronze JUNIOR 1 gold 1 silver
Julian Smith-Voudouris ‘16
Spring Teams A+ for Athletics
W
ith academics, arts, and athletics forming the backbone of a St. Andrew’s education, it is no surprise that the College offers one of the most comprehensive athletic programs
in the country. The philosophy of the athletic program at St. Andrew’s has remained virtually unchanged since its inception. Physical activity is not only good for one’s health, but is also intellectually, socially, and emotionally important. Our 621 boys play on 71 teams across 22 sports. All students are mandated to participate in sports throughout the year for either a representative team or within our robust house league program. Regardless of ability, there is an athletic activity for everyone. Additionally, our Saints compete against the largest independent schools in every Tier I sport offered and augment this with numerous ‘second’ and ‘third’ teams across all age divisions. Several of our teams travel to tournaments across North America, and many athletes go on to play university-level sports.
James Stevenson ‘16 and Victor Li ‘16
********************************************************
J.P. Martin '17, Joseph Yazdani '17, Callum Murphy '17, Elias Taylor '17
Austin Valjas ‘15
Filip Grantcharov ‘17
Follow sports at www.sac.on.ca/athletics ********************************************************
Andre Chan ‘15, OFSAA silver in Varsity Badminton WWW.SAC.ON.CA 33
OldBoysNews 1953
1934 BILL NEAL
celebrated his 100th birthday on July 9 in St. John’s, Nfld. Bill was sent a letter of congratulations from Headmaster Kevin McHenry noting that he is now the oldest living Andrean! Bill also received birthday greetings at his retirement home from a representative of the St. John’s Board of Trade (above), of which he was a founding member and former president.
1957
1961
JIM WYSE (right)
CARL INGWALSON, JR. (left)
and Gord Robertson ‘55 competed in the 40th Annual Snoopy’s Senior World Hockey Tournament in Santa Rosa, Calif. Jim, Gord, and their West Vancouver Silver Bullets won the 70A division. Jim and his wife, Midge, live in Oliver, B.C., where they own and operate Burrowing Owl Vineyards.
along with Luis Benito ‘84 and Kirk Gardner ‘60 (right) enjoyed lunch together in San Diego this past April. Carl is a lawyer, arbitrator, and mediator in the city, where he lives with his wife, Wilma.
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DAVID PARKER and his wife, Marilynn, visited campus in July for the first time in many years and were eager to see the new additions. “I was awed by the theatre, the impressive graphic arts, the advanced business facilities, and, of course, the hockey arena where my brother George ’53 would have loved to play rather than travel to the old Aurora arena. One of the more memorable experiences from the visit was seeing the former basketball gym, where I spent my most exciting times at SAC, still partially preserved. I could visualize our coach, Hoary Kendall, admonishing each of us to excel beyond the norm and my own efforts to try and emulate our 1952 star, Coulter Osborne, who went on to star at Western University and on the Canadian Olympic team. Perhaps the best part was to experience the original Quadrangle in its historic state, highlighted by the symbolic Chapel. Visiting it again after all these years brings back both fond and embarrassing memories. What an outstanding environment for young men to grow strong!” David and Marilynn live in Jacksonville, Fl.
1965
JERRY INGWALSON retired from his role as director of sales (U.S. and Canada) for Johns Manville Corp. in 2012, where he worked for 33 years. Jerry is enjoying retirement, travelling,
and volunteering for non-profits. He is the proud father of Matthew and Kathryn, and grandfather to three grandchildren. Jerry lives in Littleton, Col.
1966
JIM MCKEEN retired as a professor at the Queen’s School of Business in Kingston, Ont., and now holds the distinction of professor emeritus. In retirement, Jim continues to lead the CIO Brief— an organization that brings together Torontobased CIOs to exchange best practices in IT management. In October, he was appointed honorary colonel with the Canadian Forces Aerospace Warfare Centre in CFB Trenton. Jim and his wife, Shelley, live in Belleville, Ont.
1966
STEVE MCPHAIL has had a busy year with the release of his “Uncle Steve” greatest hits CD collection Feed the Hummingbirds, as well as with the publication of his supernatural western story Outlaw Trail—a Screenplay. The book has been published as both a paperback
and e-book. Steve’s son, Shawn, and daughter, Zingarro, are both healthy and creatively active, making him proud, as they have found their place in the sun. In addition, Steve now has three grandchildren: Luca, Dante, and Julian. Steve lives in Toronto.
1976 ERIC JOLLIFFE
1974
PAUL HUTTON spent two amazing years in Vietnam, from 2012-2014, as the secondary principal at the Canadian International School. Last year, he was principal of the International School of St. Lucia in beautiful Rodney Bay. In 2014, Paul and his wife, Susan, welcomed their first grandchild, Ellia Carruth, and are expecting a second grandchild this fall. The couple resides in Bracebridge, Ont.
DREW HARMAN enjoyed reading about his former teacher and coach, Jo Lunn, in the spring 2015 Andrean. Jo introduced Drew to computers and skiing, things that are still central to his life 35 years later. Drew spends his weekdays in Silicon Valley as a tech entrepreneur and most winter weekends skiing with his family in Lake Tahoe. Drew and his wife, Liyang, and their three children, Yaya, Yuli, and Shen, live in Portola Valley, Calif.
1984
1966
DOUG SIMMONDS visited campus in August to tour the new facilities. He was impressed with the many new additions, especially the La Brier Family Arena, where he found his name on the puck wall. Doug, who hails from Ottawa and is now retired, is a former principal of Stantec Geomatics Ltd., a professional consulting firm.
1982
MICHAEL MAURA JR.
was presented with a Diversity, Equity & Inclusivity Award for Service. This bi-annual award recognizes the work of individuals and organizations across the province that are trailblazers in these areas. Under Eric’s direction as York Region’s Chief of Police, the York Regional Police Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Bureau has undergone major expansion and now consists of 12 full-time members with a mandate focused on extensive community engagement, relationship building, and community partnership opportunities. Eric has a 35-year career with the York Regional Police.
is the president of APD Limited. APD is the owner and operator of the Nassau Container Port and Gladstone Freight Terminal in Nassau, Bahamas. The port facilitates container and general cargo shipping in the Caribbean and around the world. Michael and his wife, Christina, live in Nassau.
1985
DUNCAN JACKMAN and his wife, Rochelle, welcomed their first child, Oliver Newton de Goias, on December 24, 2014. Duncan is chairman, president, and CEO of E-L Financial Corporation Limited. He and his family live in Toronto.
1981
TREVOR ARKELL and his wife, Melissa, welcomed their second child, Ryland, in May. Big sister Leah, 3, is excited to have a brother. Trevor is a coordinator of the Department of English at Humber College. He and his family live in Whitby, Ont.
WWW.SAC.ON.CA 35
Old Boys News
1986
1987 PAUL MANTROP (far right) recently had his work accepted to Roberts Gallery in Toronto. It is Canada’s oldest fine art gallery and handles the work of contemporary artists in addition to historical works by such iconic artists as the Group of Seven. Paul’s work will be on a permanent rotating display with two annual exhibitions. His first exhibition took place in October. “I am very honoured to be joining their ranks,” says Paul, who was told they have some SAC alumni as clients. In July, Paul travelled to Rankin Inlet, a hamlet on the shores of Hudson Bay in Nunavut, to teach his fourth art camp for Inuit youth and adults. Paul was joined for the second year by fellow artist and Old Boy, Rob Saley ‘89 (left), and assisted by Inuit artist Andrew Qappik (not pictured), famous for designing the Nunavut flag and coat of arms. The camp’s aim is to develop students’ abilities and to help those interested in pursuing art find advanced schooling. The collaboration began in 2007, when Paul met the camp sponsor through his travels with Rob as part of their shared artist collective, Drawnonward. One of the first art camp students went on to attend Emily Carr University of Art and Design in Vancouver, and is now employed as an animator. “Rob and I both love working up there,” says Paul, who has made many friends while living in the community, tasted new food such as bannock, whale, walrus, and caribou, and experienced some awesome sights, like the caribou migration and hunt they witnessed this summer.
1989 JON GREEN is livin’ the dream with his artist wife, Sarah, and their daughter Poppy (Penelope Carnegie Merry Green). Poppy has three older brothers: Lazlo, Noah, and Finnigan. Jon’s work takes him across Canada and into the U.S. where he has been fortunate to work with the P.J. Phelan Sailing Foundation, supporting Canadian High Performance Sailing.
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ALEX ROTHWELL and his wife, Ann, along with their children Jackson, Katie, Paige, Julia, and Harry moved to Victoria, B.C., this summer for a change of pace. After working for 20 years in the equity markets, most recently as president of Macquarie’s Canadian investment banking and capital markets business, Alex is taking some time to get settled out west with his family before taking on his next challenge. Alex invites Andreans to look him up if they are in Victoria.
1986
TIM WATSON left his role at Bank of America Merrill Lynch in March and joined AltaGas Ltd. as executive vicepresident and assumed the role of chief financial officer. He is responsible for corporate and business development as well as corporate strategy. Tim also finished his role as president of the Calgary Winter Club, a memberowned athletic and social club. Tim oversaw the first phase of the club’s expansion of new athletic and recreation facilities and set the plans in motion for the club’s second phase, which addresses its beverage and dining needs.
1987
PAUL PATTERSON married Dr. Joanne Nash on April 2, and they welcomed their first child, Paul Thomas Stephen Bryan Nash Patterson, on April 13. Originally from York, U.K., Joanne
is an associate professor of neuroscience at the University of Toronto, while Paul is working with Next Edge Capital, a Toronto-based alternative investment firm.
1990
CHRIS BLAKELY and his partners purchased Taylor Investment Counselors and subsequently changed the name to NBW Capital, LLC, where he is now COO and partner. NBW Capital is an investment firm in Boston. Chris lives with his wife, Laurie, and their sons, Hayden, Owen, and Geoffrey in Wellesley, Mass.
1990
SCOTT BRYK has served as president of The Grounds Guys since 2011. It is North America’s fastest-growing lawn care franchise system. Recently, he helped to navigate its sale to The Dwyer Group, one of the largest franchise systems in the U.S. Scott is the new executive director of the Highway of Heroes Tribute—planting 117,000 trees along Highway 401 from Toronto to Trenton; one for every fallen Canadian soldier since the First World War. It is an ambitious five-year plan that will see a living, growing tribute to Canada’s fallen that will also help mitigate climate change and beautify the 170km stretch of North America’s busiest highway.
Profile Dr. F. Murray Hall ’44
Oldest Pipe Major Recalls Wartime at SAC
I
In keeping with this issue’s Pipes & Drums’ 100th Anniversary theme, we spoke with Dr. F. Murray Hall ’44. At 89 years of age, he is SAC’s oldest living Pipe Major. Murray played in the Pipes & Drums during lean times when the pipers and drummers taught themselves. He remembers senior band members giving instruction and borrowing a set of bagpipes for the summer when school adjourned. It was a time when the topic of war was on everyone’s lips. “The war had a big influence on this school when I was there in the 1940s,” recalls Murray. He says that as the war continued, Cadet Corps became more common at schools as they served as recruitment sources for the Canadian Forces. “Jack Wright, one of the Lower School teachers, ran the SAC Cadet Corps. He was our chief instructor, but he was also a member of the active army, which allowed him to remain at SAC. “At that time there was an army base in Newmarket where advanced training took place. We fired Bren guns and experienced gas that irritated our eyes when dispensed in the enclosed building. We learned war manoeuvres and were issued textbooks with pictures of war airplanes, signals, and first-aid. It really did feel like we were getting ready for battle.” Murray says band members took the same advanced training as the Corps, depending on their age. At the School, drills took place on the Quad, on the lower playing field, and in classrooms. He remembers a white-clad winter platoon that undertook drills and ski patrols in fields adjacent to the campus. “One of the well-known Ketchum brothers, Ken, was our
Headmaster. But the military required his services and during the war transferred him to Esquimalt, B.C., where there was a school for navy instructors. Several of our teaching staff left the School to join one of the services. Fortunately, a number of new teachers were found to fill the vacancies and did very well.” When Murray graduated in 1944, he went on to study medicine. “During the war, if you went to university you were selected for military service if you passed a medical exam. The University of Toronto detachment had a pipe band. We paraded at least once a week and had to attend summer camp at Niagara-on-the-Lake.” After his 1949 graduation from medicine, Murray interned in Ottawa and at the newly-opened Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto. Then came private practice in Toronto. He later spent many years as a medical examiner in the insurance industry, as well as growing a business in preventative medicine. “One of our early clients was CFRB Radio,” he remembers. “Next thing I knew, I was appearing on a weekly radio show on health and wellness and related subjects. That ran for 10 years.” Murray retired from medical practice in 1992. “It played out pretty well, as I hoped it would,” he says. “I enjoyed my career. In fact, if I’d known then what I know now, I might have gone on for another decade.” In 1954 Murray married his Branksome Hall sweetheart, Beverly. They have four children and six grandchildren. Murray and Beverly live in Newmarket, and he is a regular visitor to the School. JIM MCGILLIVRAY WWW.SAC.ON.CA 37
Old Boys News
1992 PETER LAU
works for Cape Breton University, located in North Sydney, N.S., where the family resides.
1992
1990 BLAIR LEGGETT and his wife, Jean, travelled from their home in Barrie, Ont., to Los Angeles in September to sponsor a conference called Story Expo for their company, One More Story Games. Blair founded his video game publishing company in 2013 after 15+ years of working in the industry. To date, they have raised nearly a quarter-million dollars to launch their interactive story-writing software, StoryStylus, designed for writers to create a hybrid of ebook meets video game. Over the summer, private video game camps were offered at their Barrie office, teaching 22 teens how to create storytelling games. One More Story Games is working with Charlaine Harris, the best-selling author of the Sookie Stackhouse novels that inspired HBO’s True Blood series and is in early stage negotiations with other notable authors and major television franchises to gamify their story worlds. Jean represented the company at the Future of Storytelling summit, an invitation-only event for 500 global visionaries of storytelling, in NYC in October. The couple were also on campus in October to celebrate Blair’s 25th Class Reunion Dinner.
is a microbiologist who has conducted many years of research on bacterial biofilms using 3D microscopy. He has recently transitioned into 3D printing, with an eye on bioprinting applications. Peter’s new 3D printing company, Makerwiz, promotes the Maker Movement and has become partners with three major players in the industry: MakerBot, 3D Systems, and Filabot. He says he is enjoying his exciting new life as an entrepreneur. Peter, his wife, Rose, their son Thomas, 6, and daughter, Victoria, 3, live in Richmond Hill, Ont.
1992 1990
1992
STEPHEN ROTSTEIN
TOM FARR
is vice-president, policy & regulatory affairs & general counsel at the Financial Planning Standards Council. He was recently elected vice-chair of the Canadian Corporate Counsel Association, where he will serve as its chair next year. Stephen is also in his second year as chair of the Four Villages Community Health Care Centre, located in the High Park area of Toronto. Stephen, his wife Christina, and their two daughters, Avery, 6, and Lily, 4, live in Toronto.
is owner of King Forest Products & Lumber Brokerage in Huntsville, Ont. He says the move for him and his family away from the “hectic city” of Toronto was the right decision. Tom, his wife Beth, and their children, Maxwell and Gabriella, reside near the lake in Huntsville.
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TIM MORRISSEY visited campus in August with his wife, Diana, and their children, Colleen, 10, and Sean, 8. Tim
CHRISTIAN STEIN and his wife, Claire, welcomed their first child, Maximilien, on December 12, 2014. Christian is CEO & founding partner of Old School Agency, a brand and advertising consulting agency in Paris, France, where he and his family live.
1993
JASON BAUN held the SAC pole vault record for 22 years until being bested this spring by Austin Valjas ’15. It was a great run, and in keeping with true Andrean spirit, Jason came out to support Austin at the Metro OFSAA qualifiers at Varsity Stadium earlier this year. “It’s wonderful to see the track program is as strong as ever,” says Jason. “That is a testament not only to the members of the team but also to Dave Galajda, who has successfully led the program for years. Although I wish I still held the record, it was a pleasure to see Austin draw a new line in the air." These days Jason is an investment banker, who lives and works in Toronto.
1995
(l-r) Dave Galajda, Austin Valjas, Jason Baun
1993
JAMES NICHOLS and his wife, Carla, welcomed daughter, Alexandra Diane, on February 25. Already a Saints fan, Alexandra is keen to watch her older cousin, A.J. Nichols ‘21, compete on campus. James and his family live in Toronto.
JEFF LEWIS competed in the Canadian National Aerobatic Championships at the Hanover/Saugeen Municipal Airport in Hanover, Ont., August 15-16. The competition included pilots from Canada, the USA, and even one from Australia. Jeff finished sixth overall. When Jeff isn’t flying planes, he is the vice-president, aviation, at Fortress Transportation and Infrastructure, a global company that owns and acquires high-quality transportation equipment and infrastructure, headquartered in New York City. Jeff, along with his wife, Paige, and daughter, Scarlett, currently live in Oakville, Ont., but are relocating to Miami in November.
1992
DAN NELLES visited with close friends and classmates at his parents’ home in Toronto during the Canada Day weekend. Dan is the sports specialist for Julien’s Auctions, an auction house specializing in high-profile celebrity and entertainment auctions, in Beverly Hills, Calif., where he lives. Dan was the lead drummer of the Pipes & Drums while at SAC and spent his initial years in California as a professional drummer. He still pursues this career on a part-time basis.
(front, l-r) Mark Etherington ’92, Dan Nelles ’92, Paul Etherington ’95; (middle) Carl Milroy ’92, Mark Shillum ’92, Doug Andrews ’92 (holding son Callum); (back) Brad McMullen, Mike DeAngelis ’92, Jon Ginou ’92, Darcy Montgomery ‘92
1995
JONATHAN PARKER
1998 1995
KAI BROWN and his wife, Nicole, welcomed their second child, Rener Sterling, on July 11. Rener’s older sister, Reese, is excited about the new addition to the family. Kai is chief privacy officer and senior legal counsel for PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP in Toronto. The family lives in London, Ont.
was awarded the United States Navy and Marine Corps commendation medal by the U.S. Secretary of the Navy. He was subsequently promoted to LieutenantCommander and posted to the Canadian Naval Staff Headquarters in Ottawa.
ANDREW WEEDON and his wife, Tanya, welcomed their second son, Walker Vaughn Gregory, on May 16, a little brother for Riley, 4. Andrew is a chiropractor in Newmarket, and Tanya works in SAC’s University Counselling Office.
Lt. Commader Jonathan Parker ‘95 (right) with Rear Admiral Newton, Commander Maritime Forces Atlantic
WWW.SAC.ON.CA 39
Old Boys News
1997
1999
ALEX CHURCHILL married Ceilidh Young (Branksome Hall ‘99) on November 8, 2014 on the beautiful pink sand beach of Harbour Island, Bahamas in front of family and friends. Alex and Ceilidh met while attending Acadia University. The newlyweds live in Toronto.
(l-r) Paul O’Hea ‘99, Dan Herce ‘97, Jamie Taylor ‘98, groomsman Chris Gooderham ‘97, Alex and Ceilidh, John O’Hea ‘97, master of ceremonies Mark Gooderham ‘99, friend of SAC Dave Maloney, and Sean Dudley ‘99.
1997
1998
married Rouba Korkmaz on August 2 at the Shangri-La Hotel in Toronto. Old Boys in attendance included classmates Jeff Slightham, Shawn Bruce, Tommy Adamson, and brother Dale ‘98. Raymond says it was a wonderful celebration with good friends and family. Raymond is vice-president of sales for Siamons International Inc. in Toronto, where he and Rouba live.
and his wife, Carrie, welcomed their second child, Natalie, on September 23, 2014. Older sister Kate is delighted with the new addition to the family. Brook is a financial advisor at Edward Jones in Burlington, Ont., where the family lives.
RAYMOND JORDAN
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JOSEPH FARRUGIA co-founded Toronto Art Restoration Inc. in 2012 with Alicia Coutts. This summer he found himself working on the restoration of a painting by another Old Boy, Lawren Harris 1903. The painting was a classic example from Harris’ time as a member of the Group of Seven, and Joseph says it was both a delight and a privilege to help to preserve an iconic work of Canadian art. He says it is a great business to be part of and is glad to be putting all his “art and historical nerd-knowledge” to work. Some days they are working on paintings, other days it’s a gun from the battle of Waterloo, or others it’s to project-manage the restoration of a giant bank hall such as the Commerce Court in Toronto.
Paul Henry, and Tom Hirmer ‘98. Ben is a chartered accountant with his own accounting and tax practice in Toronto.
1999
NEIL NG-A-FOOK married Casey Burge on August 15 in South Haven, on the beautiful shores of Lake Michigan. Old Boys in attendance included Joseph Farrugia ‘99, Tom Larivière ‘98, and Brad Ferris ‘98. Neil is project coordinator for the City of Windsor and lives in Ypsilani, Mich., with Casey.
2001
BROOK DYSON
1999
BEN HEW married Jacqueline Ching-Ling Leung in July 2014 at Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Thornhill, Ont. Old Boys in attendance included classmates Daniel Melville, Matthew Wettlaufer, Leon Nakagawa,
GORD BIRKETT and his wife, Sarah, welcomed their second son, Charlie Kenneth,
Profile Roger Strand ’52
Living the life of the ‘complete man’
D
“Dedicated to the development of the complete man, the well-rounded citizen.” Some St. Andrew’s alumni take the School mission statement very seriously and clearly Roger Strand ’52 is one of them. You’ll rarely meet a man who has explored so many avenues and explored them so thoroughly. After SAC, Roger, a native of Tarrytown, N.Y., returned to the U.S. where he attended Hamilton College in Clinton, N.Y. He then joined the U.S. Navy serving as an ensign for one year before moving on to serve on an admiral’s staff in Norfolk, Va. Law School at Cornell beckoned in 1961, and shortly thereafter Roger began his law career and moved to Phoenix, Ariz. Six years later, he was appointed a Superior Court judge. In 1985, President Reagan appointed him a U.S. district judge for the district of Arizona, a position he still holds, though at age 81, without an appreciable caseload. But Roger has never been one to let a demanding professional career stand in the way of good fun and personal fulfilment. Immediately after arriving in Phoenix, he and his wife, Joan, who married Roger in 1961, became involved in the Phoenix Art Museum, and for Roger, the local Men’s Art Council. The local chapter of the Arthritis Foundation also benefited from their community commitment, with Roger serving as president. He also served on the Phoenix Rotary Club 100 board of directors for a number of years. But the enterprising couple didn’t stop there: they both earned their amateur radio licences and operated ham radios for many years. They also learned to fly, investing in a Cessna 172 single-engine airplane, which they enjoyed flying around the
country for many years. Both became certified commercial pilots, and Roger earned his flight instructor and multi-engine flight instructor ratings as well. Sailing was added to the couple’s slate of activities and interests when a friend introduced them to the sport. Not one to do anything by half, Roger qualified as skipper of a 40-foot sloop that he and Joan sailed off Belize in Central America. The same friend introduced them to skiing, which became yet another beloved pastime. Roger believes his active way of living began during his time at St. Andrew’s, which has had a great impact on his life’s trajectory. “I started at St. Andrew’s in 1947 and I well remember Housemasters [Barney] Tudball and [Jack] Wright, teachers [Stan] MacFarlane and [Dick] Gibb, and Headmaster Ken Ketchum,” he says. “Ketchum was a wonderful leader, and these men had a great influence on me.” The School and his parents promoted the lifestyle he would ultimately lead. “My parents encouraged me to look on my going to St. Andrew’s as exploring a new way of life, exploring new avenues,” he recalls. “They told me and my sister [a Branksome Hall alumna] that hard work was important, but that we should also enjoy life.” It was a simple message, one that Joan and he have heeded through 54 years of marriage. “We’ve thoroughly enjoyed our lives, and I would tell today’s St. Andrew’s students to engage in life so that it brings new opportunities and sources of interest and fun. That will broaden your life and make it much more enjoyable and productive.” It’s surely a dictum that Headmaster Ketchum and his contemporaries espoused and which Roger clearly took to heart. JIM MCGILLIVRAY WWW.SAC.ON.CA 41
Old Boys News
1999 PAUL O’HEA and his wife, Joanne, welcomed their second child, Charlotte Mary, on April 16. She is a little sister for brother Patrick, turning 2 in December. Paul is an equity trader with Scotiabank in Toronto where he and his family reside.
2000
STEPHEN AMELL (second from right)
met with (l-r) Scott Hayter, Executive Director of Advancement, David Galajda, Director of Residential Life, and Headmaster Kevin McHenry while the three were in Vancouver in September attending an Old Boys Reception. Stephen is a proud Andrean whose acting career has really taken off. He plays the lead role in the CW Network TV hit series Arrow and recently finished filming as Casey Jones in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II, premiering in theatres next year.
2000 JAMIE NEAR
and his wife, Sarah Kennedy, welcomed their third child, Samuel Gregory, into the world on June 25. Samuel is a brother to Lydia, 2, and Murray, 4. Jamie works as an assistant professor in the Departments of Psychiatry and Biomedical Engineering at McGill University, where he develops new brain imaging techniques for mental health research. Jamie and his family reside in Montreal.
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on November 21, 2014. Charlie is a little brother to Thomas, who turns 3 in November. Charlie was baptized in SAC’s Memorial Chapel on July 26 by the Rev. Bruce Roffey. The Birkett family resides in Newmarket.
2002
RYAN AUSTIN is a serial entrepreneur currently involved in two start-ups. GoFish Cam is a patent-pending, wireless, underwater, action-adventure camera that sits on a fishing line and captures the real action of the sport in conjunction with a mobile app. It’s expected to be released in early 2016. His brother, Brandon, manages the day-to-day operations. Ryan’s second start-up is ExpertKnowledge.com, a company that allows organizations to use digital authoring and publishing tools to create e-learning programs. Both Ryan’s companies are currently undergoing investment rounds.
2002
JIMMY HEALEY and his wife, Laura, welcomed their first child, Makenzie Jane, on June
26. The family lives in Melrose, Mass., on the outskirts of Boston, where Jimmy works for Salem Five Bank as a commercial lender.
2002
ADRIAN HO (centre) and his family, including brother,
Garrick ’07 (right), toured SAC this summer. Adrian had not visited since moving to Hong Kong in 2007. Adrian became a certified public accountant in 2011 and married his wife, Agnes, also a CPA, in 2012. Garrick passed the final exam and will become a CPA this fall. Adrian is the financial controller of Alter Domus, a leading European provider of fund and corporate services, overseeing regional offices in Asia Pacific, while Garrick is a senior auditor for PricewaterhouseCoopers.
2002
PETE MCCLELLAND worked for two years as an investment banker with Scotiabank and is now with OMERS Private Equity in Toronto. OMERS, short for the Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System, has a global portfolio of over $70 billion in assets spread across public markets, real estate, infrastructure, and private equity.
2002
2002
TAREK MERCHANT married Claudia Battello on Aug. 31, 2014 in Florence, Italy. Their special day was shared with 115 guests who had travelled from all over the world to be with them. Tarek is the founder and CEO of ImRecruitable.com, an athletic recruiting company helping high school student-athletes simplify the college recruiting process. They host some of the largest college tennis showcases in the world and work as recruiting agents for many top junior tennis players and golfers. Tarek says they are currently building an online recruiting
BRAD SMITH is the new host of Chopped Canada on the Food Network. The former CFL player and star of the premiere season of The Bachelor Canada started filming season three of Chopped Canada in June; it is slated to air in 2016. Prior to this role, Brad was entertainment co-host for Breakfast TV Toronto.
network for all sports that will allow athletes to create a player profile, find colleges, open roster spots, and connect with college coaches. Tarek and Claudia live in Miami.
2002
FREDERICK TANG married Gloria Lun Shi on August 2 in SAC’s Memorial Chapel. Old Boys at their wedding included Alexander Chow ‘02, Christopher Chang ‘02, Candace Tam ‘02, Alex Tse ‘01, Bosco Tse ‘03, Vincent Leung ‘01, and his brother, Alexander Tang ‘06. Photographer and Old Boy Bernard Lee ‘99 took advantage of the beautiful weather and picturesque campus to capture photos in various locations. Frederick works in Shanghai for HSBC as an associate director and deputy head of a multinational corporate sales team within the Global Markets Department. He moved to China seven years ago after obtaining his post-graduate degree at the Warwick Business School in the U.K.
2002
WARREN PRINGLE is in the third year of a four-year powerline technician apprenticeship in Thunder Bay, Ont. He and his partner, Catherine, are also in their second year of running The Ecobus, a mobile environmental and renewable energy education centre located on a fully modified school bus that showcases the use of waste vegetable oil, as well as solar and wind energy, as fuel. Warren and Catherine have two sons: Reid and Innis.
2003
ANDREW CUMMING is a marine systems engineer with the Canadian Navy in Ottawa having previously been posted in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que., Victoria, B.C., Portsmouth, U.K., and Halifax, N.S. His role involves the manage-
ONE ANDREAN, ONE EXPERIENCE ALADDIN DIAKUN ‘02
I recently completed an MA in global governance at the Balsillie School of International Affairs in Waterloo, Ont., specializing in global security and environmental governance. I received funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council to support research on climate engineering (CE), an umbrella term for controversial proposals to mitigate global warming through deliberate intervention in the climate. I participated in an interdisciplinary summer school on the same topic at Harvard University. My research developed a framework approach to help situate, evaluate, and respond to concerns about patent and trade-secret claims in CE-related technologies. I worked concurrently as a research fellow on Arctic governance and Asia-Pacific security at the Centre for International Governance Innovation. I’m also involved in the Reexamining Japan in Global Context project, which brings Japanese and Western experts together to discuss Japan’s experience in dealing with challenges such as energy insecurity, long-term growth constraints, and demographic aging. I’m impressed consistently by the warm hospitality of the Japanese people and the incredible dynamism and resilience of their society. In June, I was privileged to stay with a family in Fukushima Prefecture. I was able to get a local take on the complex politics of nuclear power and internal displacement, and the slow, painful realities of recovery in a beautiful part of the country, where whole towns still lie abandoned and cordoned off. Post-MA, I’ve been teaching ESL and freelancing as an editor in Toronto, while working on my Japanese, looking for full-time work, and studying for the LSAT. I’d love to re-connect with any Old Boys in and around Toronto.
WWW.SAC.ON.CA 43
Old Boys News ment of a department overseeing the ship’s hull, propulsion plant, power generation, and hotel services. He is also working on a major capital project that is part of the National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy.
2003 2002
GIANCARLO TRIMARCHI and his wife, Kristen, welcomed their second child, Maya James, on February 25. Older sister, Ella, is delighted with the new addition to the family. Giancarlo is part owner of Vince’s Country Market, which operates three stores in Newmarket, Sharon, and Uxbridge.
2002
NICK WEEDON (left) became the first SAC staff member to capture the Manhattan Open Golf Tournament. Nick’s sizzling score of 34 on the back nine propelled him to an overall 74 to win the title. The 17th Annual Event raises funds for the Charlie Edwards ’70 Memorial & Class of 1970 Bursary. The tournament is held at the beautiful Muskoka Highlands Golf Club, owned by the event’s co-host, Don MacKay ‘70 (right). It is co-hosted by Mike Edwards ‘79, who kindly supplied fresh East Coast lobsters for the dinner. Nick is the eighth Old Boy (and the youngest by about 30 years) to have his name added to the prestigious Manhattan Open Trophy. Nick, who wore former champion Don’s jacket for the trophy presentation, will have a jacket of his own tailor-made by Tony Wong ’70 from his shop in Hong Kong. Each year, Tony graciously provides a jacket for the winner.
2002 PETER WAN
and his wife, Peggy, welcomed their first child, Eliana, on October 23, 2014 in Taipei. Peter and Peggy lived in the U.S. for three years before moving to Taiwan in 2009 and marrying in June 2010. Peter is a pastor at an international church of nearly 500 people. 44 FALL 2015
STUART MANCHEE and his wife, Catherine Grondin, welcomed their second child, Malcolm Ben, on March 23, 2015, a brother to Harrison Tate, 2½. Stuart purchased a music hall/nightclub in Sarnia, Ont., in June. It is currently called Rustic, but a name change is part of his plans for a full overhaul. The renovation is expected to be completed late 2015. Within the first few months of ownership, Stuart booked major headlining acts and had several sold-out show successes.
2003
JOEL FORD (below) married Shirley Lai on June 27 at Uluwatu Surf Villas in Bali, Indonesia. Old Boys in attendance
included Joel’s brother, Adam ‘04, Phil Benhaim ‘03, and Mike Charlebois ‘02. Joel is a pilot with Emirates Airlines based out of Dubai.
2003
MATT MITCHELL married Amy Holman on June 6 in Toronto. Former SAC classmates in attendance included Stephen Thompson, who served as MC, David Woodcock, Tyler Hurst, David Amadori, Luc Zoratto, and Jordan Ross. Amy and Matt live in Barrie, where he works for Bayshore Financial Group.
Profile John Omstead ’77
Rebirth, Passion, and Treating People Well
I
It was a circuitous route, but a young John Omstead ’77 blazed his own trail as a successful entrepreneur, moulding a refreshing business philosophy that has won him countless awards and served him—and others—well. The Omstead name can be traced through several generations of Andreans, so it’s easy to understand John’s passion for the School. It is matched by his undeniable passion for business, people, and life. Following a one-year diversion to the University of Western Ontario (now Western University), John studied industrial engineering technology at St. Clair College in Windsor. He worked during co-op terms on the F-18 Hornet, Boeing 767, and other aircraft for Canadair in Québec. But the unstable political environment in the early 1980s led him to move to Omstead Foods. “There was no nepotism in the Omstead family,” John explains. “You had to work hard, prove yourself, and earn your way.” To John’s surprise, the shareholders of Omstead Foods sold to Labatt Breweries in 1984, though he stayed on until 1989. On April 1 of that year, he and his long-time girlfriend, Shannon, were married, and 48 days later he walked away from the company because the business philosophy did not resonate with him. Instead, he chose to become “a vegetable trader.” This new company, Family Tradition Foods, grew slowly until 1995, when it purchased the Green Giant processing plant in Tecumseh, Ont. “Green Giant was our biggest customer,” John recalls. “We issued seed, contracted growers, processed product, froze it, canned it, packaged, and shipped it.” In 2009, when John sold to a multinational, the company had surpassed Omstead Foods in sales and employment, peaking at close to 2,000 employees during the high season.
It was time for another rebirth. John O Foods, a freshwater fish-processing company specializing in imported as well as Great Lakes fish, was the next move on John’s career trajectory, tapping into his background in industrial engineering technology. “In 2013 we had seven employees,” John says. “Now we have 80 and are at the forefront of our industry in automation, technology, and operational accreditations.” But it is not the technology that John is most proud of—it’s the positive environment he fosters with his employees, vendors, and customers. “The biggest shortage I see in business today is companies who treat their vendors and their employees consistently well,” John explains. “Anybody can treat customers well, but to pay employees and suppliers a sustainable wage, offer a fair price, and deliver on time is important to me. Working with good people, cultivating good relationships, and evolving a socially-conscious environment makes business sense for me.” John recalls SAC as a rare educational institution where teachers are given the freedom to become inspirational instructors in their own ways. The tradition at SAC is another element of the School that John appreciates. “I also loved Cadets and the leadership principles it taught,” he says. “Those principles helped get me here today. “More than ever and in all aspects of my life, it’s the people who are most important. I live at a better pace; I don’t let situations dictate how I’m going to live. I try to encourage young entrepreneurs to do things differently, to be passionate in whatever they do, and to treat people well.” John and Shannon live on Lake Erie in Kingsville, Ont. They have two daughters, Brittany, 25, and Tara, 22; and two sons, Everett, 19, and Andrew ’16, age 17. JIM MCGILLIVRAY WWW.SAC.ON.CA 45
Old Boys News
2003 BOSCO TSE
married Lily Yu in SAC’s Memorial Chapel on August 1.
2004
2004
2004
ANDREW CARNOVALE married Kristen Wolstencroft at Canoe Restaurant in Toronto on July 18. Old Boys in attendance included classmates Ricky Reininger, Rob Ferguson, Alex Bacardi, and Alex Boileau as well as Brad Levick ‘05 and Rick Reininger ‘73. Andrew works as client relationship administrator for Leon Frazer & Associates in Toronto. The newlyweds live in Aurora.
JEREMY SPRINGER graduated from medical school at Dalhousie University, class of 2015. He is now in his first year of general surgery residency training at McMaster University.
RICHARD COLTON married Lindey Caves on July 18 in Kingston, Ont.
2004 (l-r) Tim Birkett ‘04, Ryan Bryce ‘05, Daniel von Diergardt ‘04, David Del Zotto ‘04, Richard Colton ‘04, Matt Gnyp ‘04, Clinton McCullough ‘05, Anthony Greco ‘04, Billy Burke ‘04
2005
JULIAN HUI visited the campus on July 13, along with his wife, Sandy, his aunt, and his grandfather. Julian and Sandy were married in October 2014 in Hong Kong, where Julian works for a small company doing business development.
2005
BRIAN DALY graduated from East Carolina University with a bachelor of science degree in construction management and a minor in business administration. Brian currently resides in Toronto where he works for the Royal Bank of Canada providing real estate advisory services for its corporate real estate department.
2005
DUNCAN GIEL married Danielle Neilson on August 29 in Muskoka, Ont. Michael Genin ’05 (left) was the best man and Braden King ’05 (right) a groomsman. Duncan is a banking consultant with Manulife
BRAD LEVICK (right) and A.J. Masson ‘09 competed together for the Barrie Blizzard in the Canadian Lacrosse League Championship (indoor lacrosse) known as the Creator’s Cup. Brad, A.J., and their Blizzard teammates captured the overtime win to secure Barrie’s first Canadian Lacrosse League Championship. A.J. successfully defended his thesis for his master of science degree in ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of Toronto. He recently started his PhD in the same program. Brad is working in the sports marketing and team business division of Under Armour, servicing universities as well as professional athletes.
46 FALL 2015
Bank and Trust in Waterloo, close to the couple’s home in Elmira, Ont. Duncan is the son of SAC teacher, Rob Giel.
(photo credit: Seven Skies Studio)
2005
BASIM MIRZA married Ramsha Ali during a multi-day wedding held August 20 to 23. Venues included the Intercontinental Toronto and Harbour Banquet & Conference Centre in Oakville, Ont. Old Boys present were Basim’s brother, Hamad ‘08, Ankush Sondhi ‘05, Jonathan MacKenzie ‘05, and Matthew Leon ‘06. The newly-married couple run a marketing agency based in Mississauga. Basim is also a speaker and author, and the couple lives in Oakville.
White Point Beach Resort in Liverpool, N.S. Old Boys in attendance included classmates Pierce Cassidy, Justin Lemieux-Reale, James McArthur, Adam Laing, Brandon Richards, and Arthur Wong. The newlyweds live in Toronto, where Amy works as a financial planner for RBC and Nirushan for RBC Capital Markets in the corporate banking group, primarily focused on infrastructure financing and lending to power and utility companies.
2007
SCOTT GIROUX married Ashley Murphy on July 25 in Kingston, Ont., where the two met during their undergraduate studies at Queen’s University. The ceremony took place at St. Mary’s Cathedral with a reception following at The Renaissance. Ashley and Scott, who is a construction project manager, returned to Toronto from Alberta where they had been working for two years.
2005
ADAM ZORATTO and Jennifer Piccolo welcomed their first child, Sofia Renée, on April 9. The family is living in Vaughan, Ont., as they await the construction of their new home in Etobicoke. Adam has been working in sales for Cintas Corporation for five years and recently achieved Presidents Club as top 10% in sales in Canada, number 2 overall.
2006
NIRUSHAN THAMBIRAJAH married Amy Nicole Mackenzie on July 11 at
(top row, l-r) from the Class of 2007, Grant Burke, Jonathan Tozzi, Peter Goitanich, Cameron Tait, Ben Calvert, Colin McCullough, Philip Oram, Richard Shouldice; (bottom row) Eric Tozzi ‘05, Alex Calvert ‘05, Scott and Ashley, Adam Lebar ‘07, Neil Osien ‘07, and Kevin Fullerton ‘02
2007
ROB KAY graduated from the University of Toronto in 2013 with an honours bachelor of science degree, majoring in immunology and molecular genetics. Upon graduation, he was
ONE ANDREAN, ONE EXPERIENCE LOUIS-DAVID LORD ‘04
In the fall of 2014, I began my PhD studies in computational neuropsychiatry at the University of Oxford in England. My doctoral research is at the intersection of neuroimaging, network theory, computer science, and psychiatry, as I investigate how networks in the brain become unbalanced in neuropsychiatric disorders. While the biology of the brain is incredibly complex in its own right, the brain also has remarkable computational abilities that can be studied using principles derived from physics and mathematics. One aspect of my research is to generate computer simulations of the brain’s global network activity that may eventually enable us to “tune” the activity of abnormal brain circuits in individual patients and improve their condition. I particularly enjoy the multidisciplinary nature of my studies and the opportunity to collaborate with world-class experts from various academic fields. Beyond the lab, Oxford is an incredibly inspiring academic environment steeped in rich history and tradition, and I never take for granted what a great opportunity it is to study here. SAC truly was the initial catalyst in my educational journey. The lessons learned not only in the classroom, but also on the playing fields and as a student leader have provided me early on with the necessary set of skills to succeed in higher education. I am also grateful for the excellent scientific training that I subsequently received at Bowdoin College, Imperial College London, and Harvard University where I have built a strong foundation for a research career. Looking ahead, my long-term goal is to pursue a career in academic medicine, but I am also excited about the possibility of working at the interface of business and science. Either way, I am interested in translating neuroscientific discoveries into clinical applications that can impact the lives of patients and their families in tangible ways. WWW.SAC.ON.CA 47
Old Boys News
2005 LENNON SWEETING was a member of the eight-man winning team at the third Annual Saints Cup that took place September 11-13 at National Pines Golf Club. It was hosted by the Ross/Ekers family. The group of 16 Old Boys were divided into two teams and competed in a Ryder Cup format. The Red Team took home the Saints Cup. Lennon is a corporate dealer and G10 strategist for CanadianForex Inc. in Toronto.
awarded the Provost Scholar by Trinity College for graduating in the top 10% of his class with a 3.92 cumulative GPA. During his five years at U of T, Rob played hockey for the Varsity Blues and was awarded various athletic and academic scholarships in each year. He is currently attending University College Cork in Ireland, where he is in the third year of a four-year medical degree. Rob reports that, sadly, there are not many ice hockey rinks in Ireland. He has, however, traded his ice skates for inline skates and won a gold medal with the 2014-2015 Cork Wolfpack.
2007 (l-r) David Woodcock ’03, Chris McFarlane ’03, Luc Zoratto ’03, Scott Johnstone ’06, Lennon Sweeting ’05, Logan Hurst ’06, Jeff Johnstone ’03, Graham Thompson ’06
2006
LOGAN HURST
(photo credit: Snapd Richmond Hill)
is senior account executive with Triton Sales & Marketing, which celebrated its 30th anniversary in March at their office in Richmond Hill.
(l-r) Tom Mastorakos (special assistant to former Richmond Hill MP Costa Menegakis), Mayor of Richmond Hill, Dave Barrow, Jack & Rita Hurst (Logan’s parents), and Logan ‘06.
48 FALL 2015
ALEX SUNG was the guest speaker at the Annual Church Parade in April and spoke about the importance of the connections he has maintained with Old Boys and others within the Andrean community. The benefits, he said, helped him immensely throughout some major life transitions. Alex recently finished his articles of clerkship at Mass Tsang
LLP in Toronto and was called to the bar on September 25.
2007
RYAN THOM is working as an associate at The Carlyle Group, a global private equity firm, where he focuses on transportation, logistics, and other infrastructure assets in North America. Prior to joining Carlyle, he spent four years at Berenson & Company, a New York-based investment bank, where he completed M&A and restructuring assignments across North America and Europe, as well as in the Middle East and North Africa. Ryan has been living in New York since graduating from Tufts University in 2011 and spends his free time “running red lights on his bicycle, playing men’s league hockey, and collecting records.” He occasionally finds James Morgan ‘91 in the East Village on his WWII Desert Fox-styled motorcycle.
2008
JASON WILSON left SAC after Middle School, later pursuing a career in professional hockey. Memories of camaraderie
Profile Mitchell Myers ’03
Sailing a self-made career
A
A love of sailing came early for Mitchell Myers ’03. “I started sailing at summer camp when I was eight,” he says. “I got hooked pretty quickly. I spent a few summers in my early teens visiting family in New England, competing in the classic antique racing circuit. I was 15 years old getting paid to do this, which I loved to do, so that stayed in my mind.” After graduating from SAC, Mitch attended McGill University. It was a limited stay. “After second year, I delivered a yacht,” he recalls. “I knew then that the yachting industry was where I wanted to establish my career. I left McGill and started to focus on my marine education. “In this industry, experience is king,” he explains. “I found work with a sailing school in Toronto Harbour, and in the winter went to Florida and earned a commercial U.K. captain’s license.” The state is a major world hub for licensing boat captains. However, Canada and the U.K. have limited reciprocity with certification, so when Mitch had trouble getting quality marine work he took a job in the hospitality industry at Four Seasons Hotels—front of house, fine dining, and high-end service. “At the time it was just a job,” he says, “but it later proved to be valuable experience.” In stepped luck, hard work, and good timing. “A chance meeting with an old university roommate led to a shipboard position in the Toronto Harbour. “After a summer of long hours, I had the necessary sea time to cross over my U.K. licenses to Canadian, and I found myself back in a captain’s seat with my career on track,” he says. And then things started to click. “I’d developed a reputation for reliability, hard work, and never turning down an offer,” says Mitch. “Pretty soon I was getting behind the wheel of bigger ships. In 2011, I captained my first private yacht for a jet-set owner. My Four Seasons experience of attention to service and detail really served me well, and I discovered I excelled at running private boats.” In the summer of 2013 when a stunning Hinckley Talaria 48—cream of the powerboat crop—steered into Toronto
Harbour looking for a captain, Mitch was recommended for the job. “I’ve been full time with the owner since then,” he says. “I maintain and operate the yacht, manage food and beverage, and act as the owner’s representative. It’s a one-man show, though I may bring on other staff for events.” Winters and downtime find Mitch furthering his marine education and building his newly incorporated marine products business, called BLKWLF Marine Ltd. “I like working for myself,” says Mitch. “I get lots of offers to pick up boats all over the world—some amazing trips—but I’m now at the point in my career where I can pick and choose what I want.” Mitch continues to explore other marine business opportunities, though at present he says his current job is hard to beat. “It’s a fantastic gig,” he says, “and exactly where I set out to be nearly a decade ago. I couldn’t be happier.” But knowing Mitch Myers, more is sure to follow. Mitch lives in the Toronto Harbour, though, he says, “as little as possible in the winter!” JIM MCGILLIVRAY WWW.SAC.ON.CA 49
Old Boys News among the students and the dedication of teachers stayed with him on his journey through the OHL, and ultimately, to his position as a player with the New York Rangers hockey organization. Jason credits the values he learned at SAC— hard work, dedication, passion, and drive—with inspiring him to think beyond the rink for his future. Jason is now a real estate agent with Chestnut Park.
2009
2010
DYLAN STAFFORD (right) graduated from Queen’s University in May with a bachelor of arts degree. He now works for his cousin, owner of Ledson Winery in Sonoma, Calif. Dylan has been fortunate to work in many different areas of the business and, of course, taste the very best of Californian wines.
2011
ESTIAN COETZER graduated in June from Queen’s University with a bachelor of science degree in mining engineering. He is now working as a mining engineer with international potash company, Mosaic.
2011
WEITONG XU graduated in June from UCLA with a bachelor of arts degree in economics. He is currently working for Ferrari North America, Inc. as a sales and marketing coordinator. He is primarily overseeing marketing and advertising activities, organizing events, and managing customer relationships on the regional dealership and national levels. Weitong lives and works in New York City. 50 FALL 2015
TAYLOR BRYCE is a web developer for Allied Global Holdings Inc. at the company’s headquarters in Newmarket. His responsibilities include managing the internal and external websites used by the company’s 150+ clients worldwide and 1,000+ employees, as well as manipulating the incoming financial data into web applications and various software. His major projects have him developing new sites for incoming clientele; and one project which particularly excites him is the development of a client- and consumer-based web and mobile application.
2009
JASON DURST
married Brittany Chapman on June 26 at the Holland Marsh Winery in Newmarket. Old Boys in attendance included classmates Aaron MacDonald, Phil Whitfield, Brian King, Boris Wong, and Jacob MacDonald ’08. The newlyweds live in Waterloo, Ont., where Jason is working towards his master of development practice degree at the University of Waterloo.
2009
MICHAEL GOITANICH is in the first year of a two-year master of fine arts program in creative producing at Columbia University. The university admitted only six percent of its applicants this year, with 45 in the director stream and 24 in the producer stream (Michael’s focus). The program is intensive, focusing on shooting, directing, and producing in year one with more focus on producing in year two. This past year, Michael spent time working for a production company in Toronto and working on a feature film in Owen Sound, Ont.
2009
MARK JENKINS has joined ResolverGRC in Toronto as a sales development representative. He manages the sales and account management of a software product known as Resolver Ballot, an anonymous voting solution for large organizations to perform risk-assessment workshops, visualize risk data, and build consensus and discussion around strategies for mitigating risk and achieving business
objectives. Mark enjoys the fast-paced nature of the job and works alongside classmate Bobby McDonald, who was also hired by Ted Mercer ‘96.
2009
JOSH PHILLIPS is in his fourth year at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Conn., where he plays hockey for the Pioneers. In the past three seasons, Josh, a defenceman, has amassed eight points in 85 games. He is studying finance and economics.
2010
CRAIG DAVIS is working for Frito-Lay in Alliston, Ont., as a sales representative/merchandiser. Craig graduated from St. Lawrence University in May 2014 with a bachelor of arts in economics and business. During his time at St. Lawrence, he was a member of the Saints varsity mens’ soccer team. Craig lives in Richmond Hill.
2011
CHRISTOPHER HO graduated with distinction from Queen’s School of Business in April. While attending Queen’s, he shared a house with fellow classmates Andrew Carr, Dylan Hewko, and Connor Pugliese. Christopher started a new adventure in June as an investment banking analyst with Evercore Partners in Toronto, with a focus on mergers and acquisitions. Christopher lives in Toronto with former classmate Arun Partridge.
from Queen’s University with a bachelor of commerce degree in May and is now working for Deloitte in Toronto while pursuing his degree as a chartered accountant. Stefan studied at Queen’s for two years before transferring to the University of Toronto and will earn a degree in philosophy in May 2016.
2012
DANIEL MILNE spent the past three seasons with the Owen Sound Attack of the Ontario Hockey League where he accumulated 111 points in 161 games in the regular season and 13 points in 22 playoff games. He is now studying in the Desautels Management program at McGill University, where he is playing hockey for the Redmen.
2013
MICHAEL CHIANG (right) dropped by SAC with Jonathan Tse ‘13 in early September. Jonathan is enjoying his time at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology. He is very involved in extracurricular activities, and is co-founder and co-president of the robotics group. Michael is
ONE ANDREAN, ONE EXPERIENCE FELIPE GONZALEZ ‘10
My family moved to Dubai during the summer of 2007. I had just finished grade 9 and had been at St. Andrew’s College for four years. I was sad and apprehensive to leave life as I knew it at the College. But time passed and sadness became nostalgia, which turned into pride, as I came to understand the enduring truth of SAC’s values, which remain deeply ingrained within me. I have many wonderful memories, including debating with Mr. Kyle. Dubai delivered even more experiences, which will also stay with me forever. I completed high school in the British system at Jumeirah College and then moved again, this time to England, where I attended Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge. It was there I earned an LLB (Hons.) degree. I went on to study the legal practice course with a master’s degree in business at BPP Law School in London, which I completed this past June. I have been fortunate in the intervening years to have interned at top U.K. law firms, including Norton Rose Fulbright, Field Fisher Waterhouse, and Clintons as well as top firms in the Cayman Islands such as Maples and Calder and Carey Olsen. I cherish not only the academic knowledge I gained at SAC but also every experience at St. Andrew’s College that helped shape me into the person I am today. I have now moved back to Toronto where I am currently accrediting my U.K. degree and will look to begin my articles in September 2016.
2011
DYLAN HEWKO (above, right) and Stefan Ferraro ‘11 stopped by campus in August to take in the new Centre for Leadership, Innovation & Performance as well as the La Brier Family Arena. Dylan graduated
If you or someone you know has a story to share, please email theandrean@sac.on.ca. WWW.SAC.ON.CA 51
Old Boys News
2013 GRAEME ALLISON (second from left) participated in Western University’s motionball event in support of the Special Olympics Canada Foundation. It was a day-long sporting event to raise awareness and increase youth engagement with the Special Olympics movement. Graeme’s team, which included Mackenzie Baker ‘13 (far left), Andrew Begg ‘13 (far right) and Jack O’Neill ‘13 (not pictured), raised over $1,200 for motionball, a not-for-profit organization founded in 2002 by brothers Paul ’95, Sean ’94, and Mark ’92 Etherington.
having a great time at the University of Edinburgh. He began studying architecture but has changed to physics. He has also recently taken up piping. He was surprised and happy to discover that his quantum physics professor is an Old Boy, Christopher Stock ’96. Michael was delighted to be taking his retired driveway banner back to Scotland.
2013
AARON DEGAGNE
Training Room in honour of their late father, Scott ’79. After the plaque unveiling, a reception was held in the Yuill Andrean Room for family and friends. The event was held September 20, exactly one year after Scott passed away. Conner is studying broadcasting at the College of Sports Media.
2015
SAM HARDING
2013 JOHN JOSEPH MITCHELL (left) & SCOTT WOOD have a passion for the outdoors. Following the completion of their second year of university, John Joseph at Western University and Scott at Royal Military College, the two embarked on a five-day hike of the Bruce Trail. They started their trek in Tobermory, Ont., and covered roughly 12 kms per day. Although challenging at times, John Joseph said the beautiful lookouts made the trek worth it.
spent this past summer in New York City working for RBC Capital Markets and living in New Jersey. He took in many of the sights and sounds the big city has to offer, including both a Mets and a Yankees game. He is currently studying abroad in Angers, France, for the fall semester. Aaron is in his third year at the University of Notre Dame.
2013
CONNER ROWNTREE and his sisters Brynlyn and Jordyn (above, right), attended the naming ceremony for the Rowntree Weight 52 FALL 2015
is in his third season with the Oshawa Generals, defending Memorial Cup Champions. Oshawa defeated the Kelowna Rockets 2-1 in overtime at the 2015 MasterCard Memorial Cup in Québec City. In two seasons with the Generals, Sam has recorded 38 points in 123 games. Sam was good enough to visit the campus in August and bring the Memorial Cup with him.
The SAC Connection Just got More Powerful Online tool “Switchboard” increases Old Boy reach
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ld Boys may not have a secret handshake, but they do have membership to an exclusive group that brings many rewards. With a 6,000-strong world-wide network—extending to thousands more if you include parents, grandparents, faculty, and friends—it is vast and powerful, with value beyond providing boys an exceptional education. How to harness the power of this network has long been a challenge. Old Boys living in the same area, belonging to the same class, or able to attend events at SAC or in their city may have opportunities to come together. And the stories are legion of Old Boys finding each other while travelling because someone is spotted wearing a piece of SAC clothing. This fall, the College invested in an online networking platform to better enable connections. “Switchboard” allows Old Boys to connect in ways they have never been able to through an exclusive but simple and straightforward interface. Whether looking for career advice or a job, or simply wanting to rent a place while travelling, Old Boys will be able to connect in a myriad of rewarding ways. Membership is free and signing up is easy. Simply go to sac.switchboardhq.com to register. Once signed up, you can post an “ask” or make an “offer.” You can ask for anything from career advice to ideas on where to vacation, and you
ASK. OFFER. CONNECT WITH THE ST. ANDREW’S COMMUNITY. sac.switchboardhq.com
(l-r) Rob Mackay ‘05, Devon Daniell ‘05, Paul Fell ‘05
can offer your spare bedroom to a grad student or an internship at your company. Switchboard recommends asks and offers be polite and specific. A descriptive post with specific detail will help other members understand and help you. There are filters to sort messages by geographic region and category (i.e., jobs, housing, goods, advice, etc.). Once a connection is made, Old Boys have the ability to communicate with their new Andrean acquaintance via private message. Old Boys will soon realize that increased reach is the greatest benefit. In the past, when an Old Boy was looking for a job, he might send out multiple emails and make numerous phone calls—all to a fraction of the existing Old Boy network. With Switchboard, the scope becomes global. The community will grow exponentially as each new post is made. Ultimately, the success of Switchboard depends on your involvement and on your contributions. Nothing can beat spending facetime with a fellow Andrean; however, the beauty of leveraging connections across such a widely-dispersed network might just be the next best thing. NICK WEEDON ’02 WWW.SAC.ON.CA 53
Old Boys Obituaries 1944 JOHN HORWOOD
John Vernon Horwood passed away March 5 in Guildford, Surrey, U.K. He attended St. Andrew’s from 1942-44 where he was Head Prefect. John was heavily involved in school activities; he was a member of the Boxing team and captain of the Gym team, winning all-round gym champ. He was also a member of the Literary Society, co-editor of The Review, and Sgt. Maj. of the Cadet Corps. After graduation, he joined the Royal Air Force in England. After retiring from the RAF, he became the information officer for the Guildford Area U3A (University of the Third Age) where he taught Danish to senior managers in England. He is survived by his wife, Caryl; children, Sue, Claire, and Debbie; and four grandchildren. 1944 JOHN BRADLEY John D. Bradley passed away September 12 in Chatham, Ont. He attended St. Andrew’s College from 1942-44 where he played First Football and was a member of the Gym team and The Review staff. After graduation, John served his country in World War II, following which he attended the University of Guelph. John 54 FALL 2015
joined the family farm business in Dover and later developed a number of businesses with his brothers, including raising and marketing Christmas trees. John was active in the Chatham-Kent community and created the Country Kitchen restaurant; the Thames Lea Plaza shopping centre; the Chatham Holiday Inn; Chatham Towers and a number of other high-rise apartment buildings; the ‘Birdland’ subdivision; Union Gas headquarters; and a local Trust company – Kent Trust & Savings. In 1973, he developed the Wheels Inn, which grew to include the Wheels Fitness and Racquet Club, the Wheels Country Spa, the Wheels Bowling Centre, and the Wild Zone Amusement Park. John sat on the Board of Union Gas Ltd., St. Joseph’s Hospital, and Orchestra London. He was also instrumental in helping set up the Chatham Kent Community Foundation. John is survived by his wife, Mary Alice; brother, David (Vye); children, Larry (Mary), Dean (Jeanne), and R. Jay; and eight grandchildren. He is predeceased by his brother, Robert; first wife, Betty; and son, Stephen. 1946 ROBERT MONTGOMERY Robert (Bob) Archibald Fraser Montgomery passed away April 2 in Calgary. He attended SAC from 1941-45 where he participated in First Hockey, Track & Field, and Boxing. He was a member of The Review staff and the Rifle team, winning the Strathcona Medal for shooting. After graduation, Bob attended Royal Roads Military College, Queen’s University, and the University of Toronto.
His career in law took him to Vancouver, Ottawa, Toronto, and finally to Calgary where he retired as a Justice of the Court of Queen’s Bench of Alberta. Bob is survived by his wife, Margaret; children, Fraser, Heather, and Scott (Sheila); sisters, Patricia and Mitzi; and seven grandchildren. 1948 GEOFFREY SOMERS Geoffrey (Geoff) Thomas Somers died on July 3 in Toronto. He attended SAC from 1944-48, where he was a Prefect. Geoff worked as president of Lewyt Group Ltd. and ended his career having co-founded the Wentworth Corp. in Toronto. He is survived by his wife, Jamie; his children, Geoff Jr., Chris, Susan, and Michael (Lucy); his brother, William ’51; and four grandchildren. He is predeceased by his parents, Geoffrey Sr. 1915 and Margaret; and his stepsister, Barbara. 1950 ROBERT OMSTEAD Robert (Bob) Allan Omstead passed away July 13 in Wheatley, Ont. He attended St. Andrew’s from 1945-46, where he participated in boxing, gymnastics, basketball, football, and crosscountry. After graduation, Bob joined the family business as plant manager (vegetable processing) at Omstead Foods Ltd. Bob also led the charge of the design and construction of the Wheatley Arena, with Omstead Foods matching the venture dollar for dollar. He is survived by his wife, Marion; children, Jeffrey (Melanie), Michael ’75 (Joan), and Sandra (David); brothers, Norman and
Arleigh ’53; eight grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and his cousins, Jake ’52, Leonard ’51, and Frederick ’66. He is predeceased by his siblings, Leonard, Duane, Rex, Gord, and Donna. 1951 PAUL JEWELL
Paul R. Jewell passed away September 26 in Toronto. He attended St. Andrew’s from 194651 where he played First Football and was a member of drama and debating. After graduation, Paul went on to earn a pre-med science degree from Western University, later graduating from Toronto’s Osgoode Hall Law School. He started his long law career at McCarthy, McCarthy before opening his own general practice in Elliott Lake, Ont. Over his career, Paul was granted the title of Queen’s Counsel and was awarded the H. Bruce T. Hillyer Award by the Ontario Trial Lawyers Association. Paul was also a senior partner at Jewell, Michael & Obradovich and obtained his special certificate from the Law Society of Upper Canada. Paul contributed to his profession serving 15 years as part-time faculty of the Bar
Admission course, teaching civil litigation to graduated attorneys. Paul is survived by wife, Desanka; children, Paul, Heather (Tom), Timothy (Louisa), and Angela (Pablo); his sister, Yvonne (John); and four grandchildren. 1952 WILLIAM LOVERING William (Bill) Lovering passed away August 17 in Toronto. He attended SAC from 1947-52 where he was a member of the First Hockey, First Cricket, Tennis, Squash, and Rifle teams. He was also a member of The Review staff. After graduation, Bill attended
Trinity College at the University of Toronto earning a BA degree. He spent 33 years with CIBC, with postings in Jamaica, Bahamas, and California before finishing his career in Toronto. Bill is survived by his wife, Sandra; sons, William (Melanie), Michael, and Peter (Kelly); and five grandchildren. He is predeceased by his parents William ’27 and Hildred; and his sisters, Judith and Janni. 1953 JOSÉ BELTRÁN José (Pepe) Beltrán Reuda passed away June 13, 2014 in Acapulco. He attended SAC from 1946-52
where he participated in cricket, track & field, gymnastics, and swimming. After graduating, he became a successful architect with his brother Marco ’56 in Mexico City. He was also a member of the Masters Appraisal Institute. Pepe is survived by his wife, Maria; daughters, Citlali and Donají; brother, Marco; and his grandchildren. 1955 GRANT SNOW Grant Albert Edward Snow died April 23 in St. Catharines, Ont. He attended SAC from 1953-55 where he was a member of First Track & Field and First Basketball. In his final year, Grant was awarded the Best Cadet Cup, the Old Boys Medal in Mathematics, and a General Proficiency Prize. He attended the University of Toronto, where he graduated with an M.D.
After interning for a year at the Toronto Wellesley Hospital, he completed a four-year residency program in psychiatry. Highlights of his career include appointments within the Department of Corrections, the Alcoholism and Drug Addiction Research Foundation, and two training schools for teenagers. During this time, he helped plan both the Vanier Centre for Women and the Ontario Correctional Institute, as well as establishing the liquid methadone program. He was also a member of the committee that established the forensic section of the Ontario Psychiatric Association. He is survived by his wife, Suzanne; children, Toni, Grayden (Kristen), and Joselyn (Michael); and five grandchildren. 1983 BROOKE BELL Brooke McCarthy Bell passed away June 6 in Toronto. He attended St. Andrew’s from 1976-83 where he was a Prefect and House Captain. He was very involved at SAC playing soccer, football, hockey, tennis, and cricket. In his final year, he received the SAC Long Service Medal. After graduation, he attended Trent University and went on to have a long career in environmental science. Brooke is survived by his parents Peter ’49 and Louise; and sisters, Martha (Robert), Barbara (Ken), and Nancy (Glenn). He is predeceased by his grandfather, H. Brooke 1915. 1985 RICHARD COSTLEY-WHITE Richard Costley-White passed away June 16 in Toronto. He attended SAC from 1980-85. After
graduating, Richard joined the family business, later earning his MBA from the Richard Ivey School of Business at Western University. During his career, he was chairman and CEO of Blackburn Radio Inc. and president of the Walter J. Blackburn Foundation. Richard served as the director of the Ontario Association of Broadcasters, director of the York Club of Toronto, and served on the board and campaign cabinet
of the London Health Services Foundation. He also served on the Board of Trustees for the St. Andrew’s College Foundation, the John P. Roberts Research Institute Council, and the Royal Patrons’ Circle Committee of the Royal Ontario Museum Board of Governors. In 2006, Richard joined the Board of Governors of the Stratford Festival where he chaired the marketing and communications committee and the nominating committee before retiring in 2013. Richard is survived by his wife, Caitlin; sons, Nathaniel and Jeremy; father, Peter; sisters, Sarah and Annabelle; stepmother, Faye; and stepsisters, Brooke and Devon. WWW.SAC.ON.CA 55
Editorial: From the Head of English
Keeping Reading Relevant for Gen Z’s
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In the world of hashtag tweets, the danger is that this becomes the lens through which students see and understand the world. Uninformed opinions are not only dangerous but detrimental to the 21st century learner. The challenge English teachers face daily is to legitimize the argument for reading in a digitally savvy group of individuals. At SAC, we embrace the struggle. The English Department understands the way students read has changed, and our methodology has adapted to meet this change. We not only want to foster a love of reading but also illuminate the relevance of humanities beyond the classroom. To this end, we have readily adopted a boy-friendly learning environment as best practice. This includes collaboration, some choice in reading material, artistic and creative interpretations, the introduction of the graphic novel, and a SLAM poetry competition … to name a few. The 21st century classroom is the foundation that supports higher-order learning: skills of analysis, evaluation, synthesis, criticalthinking, problem-solving, and strong judgement lead to new knowledge creation. This is the manifestation of what reading can do for students. Generation Z exists in a world of constant media manipulation. Being able to read, dissect, and unpack visual media and form questions and challenges is what we task students with daily. Beyond delving into a character’s life and experiences, reading allows one enjoyment and understanding and the challenge of expanding one’s mind with authentic insight. Stories repay richly over time the effort required in reading them. They foster a deeper, more real awareness of ourselves within our world and attempt to help us better understand our place within it. In a boy-friendly approach, the English department meshes the classics with new and exciting literature. Our 56 FALL 2015
hope is that the boys enjoy what they are reading enough to challenge their preconceived notions of what life is. Grade 9 challenges them to think about intolerance; grade 10 examines anger through self-identity and awareness; grade 11 looks at protest through purpose; and, grade 12 explores outsiders and the marginalized individual. Everyone likely agrees that there is a necessary place for the arts in society, and reading is an art. All writing is artistically constructed, and the art of fiction is understanding it, enjoying it, and being able to make a judgment about it. The art, therefore, is applying new knowledge in a real-world context. The 21st century learner needs to express individual and innovative points of view, marshal various pieces of evidence, display collaborative skills and invention, and demonstrate other advanced skills in written and oral communication. The old adage “reading is a lost art” seems to have found its way into Gen Z’s current mindset. This isn’t shocking, but it is concerning that reading doesn’t seem to be as important as it once was for students. This is where a boy-friendly approach to reading becomes all the more essential. Graphic novels such as The Silence of Our Friends and V for Vendetta invite boys to not only enjoy the visual aspects of a book but also the challenge of unpacking a story contextually. Visits from Holocaust survivor Elly Gotz and author Scott Chantler help the boys realize stories in a much more authentic and meaningful way. As well, the introduction of the broadcast journalism course helps engage boys in the art of reading through a creative outlet. Reading does not have to be a lost art for our boys. As much of a challenge as this is to our department, it is a challenge we are excited to undertake. FRASER COWELL