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THE
ANDREAN Fall 2023: volume 67, number 2
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The green, green grass of home GROUNDS for CELEBRATION: The St. Andrew’s campus is a paradise found PLUS: ANNUAL REPORT 2023 SAS is NOW OPEN! Old Boys News Sports Roundup + MORE
CONTENTS Fall 2023: volume 67, number 2 FEATURES 4 12 17 26 29 34 36
Published by St. Andrew’s College for Old Boys, parents, and friends of the school Editor Julie Caspersen
The Grass is Always Greener Generations
Director of Communications Nicolette Fleming
ANNUAL REPORT 2023 School News: Pipes & Drums Scotland Trip and SASSAW From The Archives: Riding Homecoming Weekend St. Anne’s School Update: Grand Opening
COLUMNS 3 30 32 38 48 57
The ANDREAN
The Head’s Up Community News
Art Direction, Design, and Photography Paul Mosey, Creative Lead Contributors Gabby Bablanian Natasha Daley Sean Maillet Jim McGillivray Angus Murray John Sandham ’13 Chris Traber Telephone 905-727-3178, ext. 333
Sports Roundup
Email admission@sac.on.ca oldboys@sac.on.ca theandrean@sac.on.ca
Old Boys Profiles Old Boys News Obituaries
Website www.sac.on.ca Front Cover
Groundskeeper, Patrick Ueberer, does some fall cleanup on the Quad.
Back Cover
Welcome to The Andrean, your alumni magazine since 1956. Coming from a newspaper background, I was accustomed to working in a cubicle and, for a couple of years, was one of the fortunate people to have a window view of our parking lot with Hwy. 404 in the background. Upon my arrival on the St. Andrew’s campus in 2017 to start a new career, I saw for myself how a workplace can also be beautiful, lush, and uplifting, something that Head of School, Kevin McHenry, reinforces at the beginning of each new school year. SAC truly is a picturesque place to attend classes, work, and raise a family. St. Anne’s School is following in those footsteps; as one young Cygnet reports on Page 37, “It’s amazing, gorgeous, spectacular!” If you haven’t been back to campus in a few years, I hope you enjoy our feature on the grounds and are inspired to visit us soon.
Julie Caspersen, Editor
We belong to the following associations:
Looking straight down the spire of Memorial Chapel from 200 feet above, a unique perspective on a treasured St. Andrew’s landmark.
The Andrean magazine supports the St. Andrew’s College mission: “developing the complete man, the well-rounded citizen,” connects Old Boys and parents to the school, and reflects St. Andrew’s College’s enduring value to the constituents it serves.
off the top
OUT OF FOCUS? At first it may appear that the volleyball Michael Sim ’25 is about to hammer is badly out of focus. The blurry ball is, in fact, part of the Bedard Gymnasium mural on the wall behind the player benches. The real ball dropped into place after this image was captured and Michael won a point against UCC at this year’s Homecoming game.
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Bird’s-eye view of water sports at Camp Winnebagoe during the Middle School’s Beyond the Gates excursion in September.
TTL
Director of Piping, Matt MacIsaac, gives a reassuring glance to his pipers as they prepare to play at the Prayer Circle.
Through The Lens
A selection of favourites from school photographer, Paul Mosey Two minutes for Slashing: Jordan Sanderson ’27 rocks out during an intermission performance at a First Hockey game in the La Brier Family Arena. Right: Liam Milenov ’25 channels Blues Brother Jake in the Upper School Halloween costume contest.
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As God is my witness, I thought turkeys could fly... Ethan Charter ’26 finished the annual Cross-Country Run in second place with a unique head covering.
THE HEAD’S UP
W
ell, it’s official: St. Andrew’s has a partner school! St. Anne’s School (SAS) held its grand opening ceremony on Tuesday, September 5, and we couldn’t be more thrilled. See Page 36 for details of this momentous occasion. As you will notice throughout this edition of The Andrean, it’s hard to write a story without mentioning St. Anne’s and its staff and students. Their history is starting and merges tightly with ours. It’s part of our culture; it’s what makes us unique. Our grounds crew now has a second campus to beautify (see the article on our campus landscape on Page 4) and our feature on a four-generation Andrean family (Page 12) reveals their take on the addition of SAS. This chapter in our growth is the result of years of dedication and collaboration. We express our deepest gratitude to all who made it possible, whether you invested your time, talent, or treasure. Undertaking a school for girls was ambitious, but establishing it across the road will pay off in dividends, enriching us socially, culturally, and economically for generations. We had to go for it. Throughout the development of St. Anne’s School, I have emphasized that our success has been built on partnerships and connections. From our ongoing collaboration with organizations such as the Shining Hill Group and the Town of Aurora to our work with the Board of Governors and countless others, these partnerships have evolved to bring 174 girls to a spectacular Jacobean manor on St. John’s Sideroad, now referred to as Dunin House.
students, staff, and parents of both schools. We are witnessing remarkable connections already developing between the students in such activities as ballroom dancing in the cocurricular program and special events like Saints Day and Arts Night. There was an incredible display of support at Homecoming this year as SAS students and parents cheered on our Saints. It’s not just our students forging these connections; our parents are uniting through co-hosted events, strengthening the bonds that will shape our shared future. And this is just the beginning of a beautiful friendship between our two schools. As our joint school video highlighted, we are two great schools, one inspired community. Over the next 15 months, we will delve deeper into our partnership, crafting individual and collaborative strategic priorities that will shape the future of both schools. These insights will be unveiled to our community in January 2025, when we release our comprehensive strategic plan. We eagerly anticipate the journey ahead, confident in the continued growth and success of St. Andrew’s and St. Anne’s as we embark on this exciting new chapter. X
Kevin R. McHenry, Head of School
But the key to realizing this dream was the invaluable relationship we nurtured with the Dunin family. Their support and commitment were pivotal in turning their house into our vision. While we remain wholly committed to educating boys, our partnership with SAS expands even further to include Fall 2023 The ANDREAN
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By Julie Caspersen
O
ne of the objectives behind the 1926 move from Toronto to Aurora was the promise of a healthy environment. School spirit soared as, according to an editorial in the MidSummer 1927 Review, students were reported to “take fresh root and flourish beyond all precedent in our new Aurora home.”
From the floral extravaganza that greets you at the campus gates to the stately, century-old trees enveloping the Quad; from the meticulously manicured athletic fields to the acres of surrounding forest –St. Andrew’s is a paradise.
Behind this welcoming, vibrant environment where students can find inspiration and tranquillity is a dedicated grounds crew led for the past eight years by Justin Carter, who started at SAC in 2007. He and the rest of the Grounds Department care for 136.5 acres of diverse terrain, from flood plains and forest to interlocking brick and swaths of grass. “The grounds are the first thing people notice when they come onto the campus, 4 The ANDREAN Fall 2023
so we need to always put our best foot forward,” Justin says. “We strive to be the best school in Canada.”
The crew works year-round to maintain the grounds, and their collective goal extends well beyond landscape duties. They deal with wildlife, property management, athletic field preparation, fleet maintenance, mail delivery, snow removal, garbage, irrigation, and turf maintenance. Justin is particularly proud of the maintenance process that keeps the turf field in the best possible condition for our student-athletes, their guests, and those who rent SAC facilities.
The St. Andrew’s curb appeal is so alluring, it’s been mistaken for a golf course. Justin recounts the time he spent a good 15 minutes convincing a would-be golfer that the course he sought was a few kilometres away, and not through the gates. However, anyone passing by the lush lower fields can easily understand the man’s error. While the SAC campus, including Willow Farm, measures 126 acres, the grounds
people are also responsible for the upkeep of St. Anne’s School, whose 10.5-acre campus opened in September a short drive north of campus on St. John’s Sideroad. While individuals on the grounds crew are specialists in horticulture and arboriculture, for example, they all have one thing in common: pride in their work and their workplace.
“Detail and quality are two important things we strive for every day,” Justin says. “We need to provide what other schools don’t and do better than our competitors.”
The founders of SAC understood the value of making a great first impression, and their vision is being honoured to this day. But how much work goes into maintaining the “natural” beauty of our environment? “A lot of the daily tasks are at the whim of the weather,” Justin says. “Mother Nature changes by the hour and our schedule has to adapt to accommodate.” During grassgrowing seasons, the lawns get tended to weekly although this can change based on rain, drought, frost, and even school events.
“From spring to fall we perform our turf program that includes fertilizing, aerating, top dressing, and rolling,” he explains, adding that cooperation from the elements is needed to accomplish this as well.
In the winter months, the crew clears snow and ice as needed. In between, they prune trees, perform machinery maintenance, engage in extra training, and, to the delight of the students, maintain the outdoor rink on the Quad.
At SAC, the landscape is mature and boasts decades of loving care and deliberate design, as well as the beaten tracks created by generations of boys trying to quickly get from one place to another. At SAS, the grounds are just starting to take shape as new sod takes root and a floral garden graces the north end of Dunin House.
In addition to our robust academic curriculum, stellar athletic program, and enticing arts offerings, the landscape is a vast resource. Our Admission team wants prospective parents to ooh and aah over the vista when they enter the campus for the first time. And, of course, our Advancement team would prefer donors and stakeholders find the environment aesthetically pleasing. Our students also benefit, whether they realize it or not. The look and feel of a campus can play an unexpectedly large role in brightening a student’s day. The atmosphere provided on any school campus can either add or detract from the student experience, so, at both SAC and SAS, the physical feel of our campuses is incredibly important when it comes to productivity and well-being. See the story on the following page to learn how students interact with our outdoor spaces.
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The manicuring crew, left to right: Chris Walters, Patrick Ueberer, Jason Drosi, Jonathan Falcao, Nick Carmosino (mechanic), Justin Carter, Brendan Heffernan (also below), Mark Leadbitter (also above), Patrick Rutherford. Missing: Ty Alexander, Nick Uden
Spencer Kerr
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a breath of fresh air This year, the Middle School began holding outdoor science classes each Friday at Willow Farm. “Our outdoor experiential program for Middle School fosters a deep connection with nature, cultivates a sense of curiosity, and provides hands-on learning experiences that inspire students to become active participants in their own education,” says Stephen Holmes, Middle School science and math teacher who treks with his students to Willow Farm for hands-on lessons. Grade 5 boys are building picnic tables, Grade 6 students are studying invasive species on campus, Grade 7 classes are building and repairing bridges on the campus trail system, and Grade 8s are assessing the water quality of Shad Creek.
Harry Wang ’26 catches some air on a trail while mountain biking in the forest on the western part of the campus.
F
rom the top of the high ropes course to the streambed of Shad Creek, our students take advantage of all facets of our campus grounds. “We are so fortunate to have such a large and varied campus,” enthuses Angus Murray, the Coordinator of Outdoor Education. “The pockets of forest are unique; the stream is unique; Willow Farm is unique. The fact that we have all these different ecosystems and areas on our campus is incredible.” He says he was blown away when he arrived at SAC more than five years ago for his job interview and was walked around the entire campus by Maj. Brian McCue, who heads the Outdoor Leadership program. Angus was in awe of the size and variety of the terrain on the 126 acres and believes the outdoor spaces and forest on the campus are valuable assets of the school.
Angus has spent four years working with students and on his own developing, connecting, and expanding the trail system, which students and staff use for:
◆ cross-country running ◆ mountain biking ◆ mindfulness walks ◆ snowshoeing and cross-country skiing ◆ stream studies ◆ outdoor leadership activities such as
hiking, mapping, fire building, and shelter-making
Angus says students are responsible for expanding and improving the trail system, and he relies on boys to help maintain the secondary trail that connects the school to Willow Farm, a site where many outdoor activities and Leadership lessons are based.
Middle School boys also plant trees during community giving days, helping to naturalize forested parts of the campus, an initiative that will stand for generations. “The sugar maple trees planted here 160 years ago by the first settlers who lived at Willow Farm provide sap for the boys to make maple syrup. The students are also eating apples from trees planted over a century ago,” Angus reflects. “An amazing aspect of spending time outside on campus for students is the connection to the people who were here before: the Indigenous inhabitants, the settlers, the students, the staff, and community members.”
Today’s students are literally walking in the footsteps of past generations of Andreans. They’re building shelters in the same woods, travelling the same trails, admiring the same trilliums that have sprouted on the highest point of the campus for centuries. New this year is a nine-hole disc golf course embedded in the heavily wooded area beyond the La Brier Family Arena.
“The course uses the back forest’s unique geographic landscape to create diverse Fall 2023 The ANDREAN
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holes that are fun for experienced players and beginners,” enthuses Joe Commisso, Upper School teacher in the Canadian and World Studies Department. He says he discovered disc golf during the pandemic and was hooked.
“I love hiking and traditional golf, and this was a way of doing both without having to leave the city. I fell in love with the game and have since been an avid player,” Joe explains. “With elevation changes and various wooded areas, this will be an excellent course for those looking to get active in nature or, in true Andrean fashion, excel in the ever-growing sport of disc golf.”
Students Diego Cina ’24, Guanwei Lu ’24, and Winston Zhou ’24, who serve on the Community Involvement student group, learned how to remove invasive flora species and facilitate the installation of the course, which boasts red baskets ordered from Finland, courtesy of ChainLink Disc Golf, a Toronto company that designed and helped build the course in conjunction with Community Involvement Council student members and our grounds and maintenance teams. 8 The ANDREAN Fall 2023
Top image: Fun on the SAC ropes course. Inset: Aleem Khan ’29 works on his drilling skills at the Willow Farm property. Above: Diego Cina ’24 stands with faculty member, Joe Commisso, as the first disc golf basket comes out of the box.
Athletic Director, Joe Foote, says disc golf will be a welcome addition to the physical education program for all students. The course can also be used by boarding students, has the potential to be used for Leadership programming, and will be offered as an intramural program. Passion for the great outdoors is evident in the 2023-2024 school year. Beyond a
doubt, students are flourishing in the great outdoors: their appreciation for nature is sparked, their physical fitness needs are met, and creativity and curiosity are nurtured.
The buildings and grounds never looked more beautiful than they have this term. Seven summers of wise planning and hard work (a cheer for Harry Davis) have made them almost perfect. The town of Aurora, as you know, lies in a kind of saucer. We are on the upper rim among the woods and hills. Come up some time with Alan Ramsey and have a cup of tea. “And how do you like living in Aurora?” So asks every Old Boy, and we truthfully reply, “Even better than living right in Toronto.” Now more than ever, we realize that the choice of this site for our permanent home was a wise one. We are proud of the place and of what has been done.” – Editorial in the Christmas 1932 Review Alan Ramsey, Class of 1908, attended SAC from 1902 to 1908 and was a staff member from 1921 to 1926 and again from 1947 to his retirement in 1960 when he became secretary of the Old Boys Association. The school’s first house for day boys was named after him. Harry Davis was a cricket coach and the head groundskeeper at the Aurora campus; he lived in the building known as McLeod’s Tavern on the school grounds.
We have a good school, beautiful grounds, a healthful climate, wholesome food and all kinds of advantages. Let us profit in this position. Every boy should ask himself this question: “What have I also put into this school? How can I personally help to better it?” We love our school and know it is the best in Canada, but by arousing interest and each using his own influence properly, we can make St. Andrew’s College, Aurora, Ontario, a name, held in high esteem all over the world. Mrs. Macdonald
Possessed of artistic gifts of a high order, she added charm to everything she touched: much of the beauty of grounds and buildings at Aurora, which has so justly been admired, is clue to her interest and forethought; nothing was too small to escape attention; the many pleasing details of the chapel which has proved so great an addition to the school are of her devising; it was her wish that the windows should be of clear glass and that they should be low enough to command the view over the playing fields and the surrounding country.
– W.R. (Bill) Howson ’47 in the Mid-Summer 1945 Review
Bill attended SAC from 1942 to 1947. He was a Prefect and played First Football and First Hockey.
– An excerpt from the Christmas 1937 Review A memorial honouring Mrs. Macdonald, who passed away on Oct. 20, 1937. She was married to the second Head of School, Rev. D. Bruce Macdonald.
In my travels around England while on Army work and pleasure, I have encountered several Public Schools. While some of them have lovely old vine-covered buildings and nice grounds, they do not compare with St. Andrew’s for buildings and grounds. Of course, this might be a prejudiced opinion from a St. Andrew’s Old Boy. – James Boyes ’30; Overseas Mail section of the Mid-Summer 1942 Review James attended SAC from September 1928 to December 1929. He played First Rugby.
The grounds and the buildings where the school lives, moves, and has its being are as lovely as ever – lovelier perhaps as each year adds its mellowing influence. A brief but destructive storm not long ago shattered two trees on the front Quad – one was saved, and the other had to be removed. Harry Davis has retired after a very long period of unassuming service to the school, leaving his indelible mark wherever he set his hand. The hedges, perennial beds, the playing fields (especially the Cricket Pitch) - a good part of the beauty that is so evident about the school grounds will be a permanent reminder of Harry. Before the end of term, the boys presented him with a school blazer and a painting of the playing fields with cricket in progress. (Later on, Harry asked the artist, Ken Ives, if he’d be good enough to exchange it as he had really seen enough of the cricket pitch!). – The Andrean, October 1958 Ken Ives taught at St. Andrew’s from 1937 until his retirement in 1973. He taught English and math, coached every sport, and played a major role in the school’s cultural life. We have many of his paintings in the St. Andrew’s art collection.
Harry Davis
From the ARCHIVES... Some excerpts from the past that pay tribute to caregivers of the land we hold dear NOTE: excerpts are original text from the source material Fall 2023 The ANDREAN
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Meanwhile, the back stretches of the school grounds are providing cover for all sorts of other “critters.” A large doe and two fawns surprised some boys one Sunday, “early Church” time. The does were grazing by Shad’s Creek on the lower playing field (Malone). Muskrats still slither and splash in said same creek, too (when not frightened off by a Prefects-vs-school tug-of-war across it).
Ordinary things like plowed roads, cold Pepsi, and mowed lawns are often taken for granted. So are the people who provide these ordinary things. We take them for granted, too. In 1988, we saw the retirement of two extraordinary ordinary people, Isobel and Roy McNicol. For a total of 88 years, these deeply committed Andreans saw to it that the snow was plowed, the Pepsi kept cold in the Tuck Shop, and the grass on our playing fields manicured. Isobel, or “Mabel” to 45 years of young Andreans, came to the school as a kitchen helper. Soon, she made the Tuck Shop her special domain and saw to it that morning and afternoon thirsts and hungers were satisfied. Roy, born on the farm at Pickering College, joined our groundskeeping team in 1945 and became its foreman and chief in charge of anxiety . His days often began at 4:30 a.m. (Mr. Smith would not have been happy coming up the hill on his bike and fighting 3” of fresh snow, would he?) Together, Isobel and Roy gave the school a model commitment - to each other, to their daughter and grandchildren, and above all, to St. Andrew’s. They often said that this was the only home they ever knew. Certainly, no home ever received more loving and unheralded care…Their memories, all good ones, are all Andrean. The staff presented them both with First Team sweater coats. They are First Team Andreans in every way!
– The Andrean, January 1964
– By R.W. Meagher in The Andrean, September 1988
The development of “Homecoming” as a major fall event is designed to encourage Old Boys to return to the school for a variety of reasons. They will see a number of changes and improvements to the physical plant. The newly tiled lower field and enhanced landscaping of the grounds will show the school at its best this fall. – The Andrean, September 1986
Bob Meagher was a staff member at SAC from 1972 to 1987, when he was sworn in as a Federal Court of Citizenship Judge. He is the namesake of the R.W. Meagher Prize for Improvement in English as a Second Language.
If the adage “First impressions are lasting ones” is true, then surely those coming to visit our campus for the first time must be quite taken by what they encounter. Of our one hundred and ten acres, ninety acres are considered to be “dressed.” Flowerbeds, trees, hedges and shrubs throughout the campus are tended. Each season brings with it different challenges. During the warm seasons, sports fields require constant attention. These facilities include four football fields, seven soccer fields, six tennis courts, one cricket practice pitch and three playing pitches, one baseball diamond, and one track. Winter means snow removal from roads, parking lots and footpaths, and forming and maintaining the outdoor rinks. It is not uncommon for Rennie to start snow removal at 3 a.m. Five full-time members of staff assist Rennie in carrying out these tasks. There are three tractors, two trucks, and a multitude of landscaping tools to operate and maintain. Trees need attention and sometimes must be removed. Loads of split and dried firewood are delivered to fifteen locations around the campus, the result of pruning and culling of diseased trees. – The Andrean, spring 1995, marking 25 years of groundskeeping by Rennie Van Dyk, the fourth head groundskeeper at the Aurora campus Rennie Van Dyk cared for the St. Andrew’s grounds from 1968 to 2001.
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Before we were here A
n exerpt from the book, Not An Ordinary Place, by William Scoular, Head of Drama & Film, provides information on the SAC grounds before the school was built in 1926. Aurora was 32 miles north of Toronto with a small population, 1,561 in 1901, 2,205 in 1921 and 3,998 in 1947. Originally an [Indigenous] settlement, as the name Red Willow Creek suggested, the community, in which there was a strong Quaker element, had developed slowly in the early years of the 19th century. Its growth had been, in part, promoted by its proximity to the highway known as Yonge Street, which had been constructed by the lieutenant-governor of Upper Canada, John Simcoe, to strengthen Canada’s defence against the Americans and to protect the northern lakes and fur trade. This thoroughfare had been named after Sir George Yonge, the British secretary of state for war between 1783 and 1794.
Located on Yonge Street, in the vicinity of the site where St. Andrew’s was to be built, was a building known as McLeod’s Tavern, which had been a rallying point for the Loyalist forces in 1838 after the suppression of [William Lyon] Mackenzie’s rebellion; in the late 1920s, the house was to be occupied by the school’s cricket coach and head groundskeeper, Harry Davis. The original settler of the property had been Philip Cody, whose house, built in 1791, was on the site of the tavern which he sold to McLeod. He was the grandfather of Colonel William Cody, better known as Buffalo Bill.
A
s we appreciate our home at St. Andrew’s College, we also pay homage to those who have come before us, respecting their legacy here. We honour the voices, traditions, achievements, and resilience of original inhabitants, whose presence continues to impact an evolving Canada.
St. Andrew’s adopted a territorial acknowledgement to recognize the land and the people who lived on the land before colonization. Students learn about Indigenous peoples through conversations in Memorial Chapel and in the classroom, where Indigenous history is taught. The Indigenous way of Knowledge and Indigenous literacy have also been embraced in other disciplines throughout the school. At every major school event, students are reminded of our commitment to Truth and Reconciliation. X
BONUS FACT 1: St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church was the third
church established in Aurora and was built, coincidentally, by SAC’s founder, the Reverend George Bruce.
BONUS FACT 2: The town was christened Aurora to commemorate the Greek goddess of dawn and the Aurora Borealis.
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By Gabby Bablanian, Archivist
Generations W
hat defines St. Andrew’s College? Our students, certainly. Our dedicated teachers and staff, of course. But there’s another pillar essential to the school’s foundation: our families. And with an almost 125-year-long history, it’s no surprise some families have been with the school for a long time. The Rowans are one such family. Don Rowan, Class of 1936, arrived at St. Andrew’s in 1932 and established himself as an accomplished athlete in multiple sports, including First Cricket and First Rugby, and as Captain of First Swimming. He was a Prefect during his final year.
He met and eventually married Marneyie Ellsworth, youngest sister of George Ellsworth ’29.
Throughout Don and Marneyie’s childhoods, the Rowan and Ellsworth families often gathered together since they lived quite close in Toronto. After Don graduated from St. Andrew’s and became a lieutenant in the Royal Canadian Army, it is speculated that he may have rekindled a friendship with Marneyie while they were active members of the Armed Forces social scene. They married in 1941, and their two sons comprised the second generation of 12 The ANDREAN Fall 2023
Rowans to attend St. Andrew’s. Doug ’61 came to SAC in 1953, and Bob ’63 arrived in 1954.
Sending the boys to a boarding school was practical rather than nostalgic. Doug surmises that they became boarders to lighten the workload of their mother, who was caring for five children. St. Andrew’s was already a familiar place, so it made sense to send the boys here.
Doug recalls the first day he was dropped off at SAC at the age of 11. “I remember waving goodbye to my parents as they drove away and looking down at the Quad. I was apprehensive since I didn’t know what to expect, and boarding life was unfamiliar. But by the next day, we were so busy I didn’t have time to be anxious.” One of the main distractions was the allure of sports. Like his father, Doug was a superb athlete. He was Assistant Captain of First Hockey, Vice-Captain of First Football, and a Track & Field team member. It was through sports that he made lifelong friends with classmates and teachers. One faculty member Doug remembers fondly is Terence Adamson ’44, an English teacher and soccer coach. Terence took the time to teach Doug the art of punting until his kicks were perfected. Developing that kick
is one of Doug’s favourite SAC memories. He became the football team’s punter, carrying this skill to his university football days. Doug learned a practical lesson in the art of diplomacy. Having no choice but to live in proximity to hundreds of other boys quickly taught him how to get along with everybody, regardless of whether or not he liked them. Keeping the peace was important in such close quarters, although not always possible.
In the 1950s, Toronto might as well have been Mars when you were living in rural Aurora. The distance from home was an obstacle for Doug to overcome. His family was too far away to pick him up every weekend, so, except for major holidays, he remained at school for much of the academic year. In addition, the strict nature of the school made it difficult to leave campus to explore Aurora and beyond to mingle with others. This isolation translated into another concern: girls. On the rare occasion Branksome Hall students visited for dances, overcoming shyness was always a challenge for the boys and girls. “The boys would stand on one side of the dance hall and the girls on the other,” Doug laughs. “We didn’t know how to talk to girls. We
Jeff ’90, James ’25, and Doug Rowan ’61 on the St. Andrew’s Quadrangle Fall 2023 The ANDREAN
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Generations The Ellsworth / Rowan Family Tree
A.L. Ellsworth
Don Rowan ’36
Peter McNabb
Jayne McNabb (nee Rowan)
David McNabb ’04
Mrs. Ellsworth
George E. Ellsworth ’29
Marneyie Rowan (nee Ellsworth)
Jane Rowan (nee Mason)
Janice Rowan
Doug Rowan ’61
Jeff Rowan ’90
Bob Rowan ’63
Grace Ellsworth (nee Gibson)
George Ellsworth ’57
Mary Rowan
James Rowan ’25
had no practice since it was just us boys most of the time.”
This experience – or lack of experience – has Doug pleased about the opening of St. Anne’s School. “This interaction between students is exactly what St. Andrew’s needs to complement this era of social media.” In 1984, SAC enrolled the third generation of Rowans with Doug’s son, Jeff ’90. Throughout his childhood, Jeff regularly visited St. Andrew’s with his father and fell in love with the school through sports. “Growing up, years before I became an Andrean, Dad would take me to important SAC home games like Homecoming. I was in awe of the football and hockey players. They seemed like gods to me, especially watching them take on the big teams from UCC, Ridley, and TCS. The boys on those First teams seemed immortal to me then. Those were the knights in shining armour that I wanted to aspire to.” Jeff’s first day was similar to his father’s. “I was excited and nervous. It was quite 14 The ANDREAN Fall 2023
intimidating, and I was a bit homesick at first. But those feelings faded quickly. There was so much to do, so many people to get to know, and so much schoolwork. It was wonderful and daunting at the same time.” As a boarder, Jeff learned to navigate sharing his space with others. He roomed with three boys: one talkative, one shy, and one who became a friend, Ed Bowen ’90.
Like his father, he fondly remembers a particular teacher who took him under his wing: Bob Meagher. He was Head of Academics for Middle School, led the Grade 9 program, had pastoral duties, and took a genuine interest in his students’ well-being.
“He had time for me, which made a huge difference and took away that apprehensiveness,” Jeff recalls. “The fact that he sought me out, sort of pushing all the right buttons and coaxing me in the right directions, at that early stage of my St. Andrew’s career, made all the difference.” This mentoring led directly to Jeff receiving the Colonel Tilston Award, honouring students who “set the best example in their
class for effort, persistence, and tenacity, in their studies and in all other school activities,” following Grade 9.
Jeff also recalls the personal attention bestowed on him by then-Assistant Head of School, Geoff Smith. “Mr. Smith was a force of nature during my six years at St. Andrew’s. As all Andreans of his era will recall, he had a dry wit and the uncanny ability to compliment your latest achievements and call you out on any current deviations, such as driving too fast past his office window in Dunlap Hall, all in the same moment. I remember how he really knew every boy well. He was a great coach, and his guidance ultimately led me to my post-secondary path.”
Unlike his dad, Jeff went home most weekends for home-cooked meals and to do laundry, and as he got older, he began taking regular excursions to explore Aurora and Toronto. The post-Second World War military strictness experienced by Doug had relaxed, and students had more freedom to socialize outside of school. Jeff
Generations Three other SAC families with multiple-generation Andreans
is similarly excited about the opening of St. Anne’s. “It’s a nice hybrid version of what was starting to happen in my era. It will build camaraderie and spirit. It’s the right direction to go in.”
Bob ’63, left, and his brother Doug ’61 with their father Don Rowan ’36.
This September, the fourth generation of Rowans started at St. Andrew’s College. James ’25 didn’t decide to attend until he entered Grade 11.
“It wasn’t really in my field of vision at all. It was just (the school) that my dad went to, and his dad went to. My experience might differ from most just because I didn’t know anything about the school.” When James was presented with an opportunity to experience high school at SAC, he was enticed by the stories shared by his Andrean family members, such as David McNabb ’04, Jeff’s first cousin, who played First Football in his graduating year and was a key member of the team’s championship season. James joined the community as a boarder. And, like his dad, the allure of sports sealed the deal. He earned a position on the First Soccer team and looks forward to the inter-house competitions.
For James, Jeff, Doug, and Don, attending St. Andrew’s was more of a choice than an expectation. No matter their class year, the Rowans say the school offered something that made them decide to grow up here and a school spirit that keeps them coming back. X
NOTE: see the class note by Pedro Martin, Class of 1910, from the inaugural Andrean on page 56. Fall 2023 The ANDREAN
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EXPLORING ST. ANDREW’S VIRTUALLY By Nicolette Fleming
In a world increasingly dominated by screens, pixels, and the ever-evolving landscape of technology, we’ve launched a new website designed to spotlight the captivating beauty and educational abundance offered at St. Andrew’s. It’s not always easy to stand out, but with the tall task of attracting prospective families to explore St. Andrew’s, the result is a perfect mix of text, video, and photography. Whether you live across the street or across the globe, the website offers a truly absorbing experience illustrating why St. Andrew’s offers everything and more. The website is the digital gateway into the heart and soul of our school, a virtual journey into all that St. Andrew’s has to offer. Designed to awe and inspire, it welcomes visitors with a modern, userfriendly interface that captures the essence of our academics, athletics, and arts. From the opening video and visuals and easy-touse navigation, the website is immersive from the very first click. Gone are the days of static, text-heavy websites. Our new platform utilizes a blend 16 The ANDREAN Fall 2023
of text, video, and imagery to convey the life, energy, and endless opportunities that characterize SAC. Prospective parents and students can explore our stunning campus, get a glimpse of engaging classroom experiences, and witness the spirit of our community in high-definition videos. The powerful imagery showcases not only our facilities but also the people who make St. Andrew’s a home away from home. You’ll find yourself walking down the corridors where countless success stories began, exploring the sports fields and sprawling trails, and experiencing the cultural vibrancy that pulses through our halls. For those passionate about SAC sports, we’ve also launched a dedicated athletics website, a hub of information beyond mere scores and stats. This website provides an in-depth look at our sports teams and their journeys. Follow the ups and downs, the heart-stopping victories, and the hard-fought defeats. Our athletes are more than just players; they are champions, scholars, and ambassadors. The launch of the athletics website is a testament to the dedication and passion of our coaches,
Use this QR code to access our new website.
who fill these pages with stories of victory, defeat, and lessons learned. We encourage you to check out this new virtual experience. We guarantee you will see why St. Andrew’s offers everything and more. Visit us at www.sac.on.ca for three new campus videos and incredible photo galleries. And, for all your sports needs, our athletics website, www.sacsaints.ca, awaits your exploration. X
Annual Report 2023
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Welcome from the
Executive Director of Advancement It is my distinct pleasure to provide you with this year’s Annual Report – our way of showcasing the generosity of, and saying thank you to, our Andrean community. The 2022-2023 school year was a memorable and historic year at St. Andrew’s, and as excitement builds toward our 125th birthday celebrations in 2024, it is certainly an exciting time here on campus. Last year, we officially opened St. Anne’s School, our partner in single-gender education and a sister school for St. Andrew’s. We welcomed two sections of Grade 9 students, comprised of 38 girls, to our campus for the year as construction and finishing touches were being completed on their permanent home, Dunin House, just across St. John’s Sideroad. We are thrilled to have opened the SAS campus in September, with a growing enrolment now at 174 students. We look forward to the developing partnership between both schools. Our ongoing Legacy Campaign is an inspired fundraising project that endeavours to support and give opportunity to young men today and in the future. Growing our Endowment Fund through annual and planned giving makes a St. Andrew’s education more affordable, enhances our programs and traditions, and provides overall long-term strength and security. Our goal: $100 million in combined endowment and planned giving assets. With the tremendous support from our community, I am pleased to report we have surpassed the $86-million mark, and are well on our way to reaching our target. Growing and enhancing our network of St. Andrew’s Old Boys, parents, and friends around the globe is a priority for the Advancement office. We aspire to foster these relationships by hosting events on and off campus, visiting you in your hometown (be that in Toronto, Mexico City, or Hong Kong), developing mentorship and career opportunities amongst Andreans, and supporting the educational pursuits of future generations. Your relationship with the college is important to us, and we welcome and value your feedback on how we can continue to serve our community. Lastly, and on a personal note, I would like to express how honoured I am to serve as the new Executive Director of Advancement, a position I respect and hold in the highest regard. Since beginning my professional career at St. Andrew’s in 2008, I have admired the work of our two previous executive directors – Scott Hayter and Greg Reid – who were pivotal in guiding the school’s advancement efforts. I am grateful for their guidance and leadership over the past 15 years. I am equally appreciative of the mentorship of Jim Herder ’64 and the foundation he laid during his 23-year tenure as director – and the last Old Boy to lead this office. Jim took over the office from another Old Boy, Jim Hamilton ’33, who held the post from 1965 to 1985. Thank you once again for your continued support of our great school. Please continue to be on the lookout for communications on upcoming events and school news, and I hope to see you soon. Yours truly,
Nicholas Weedon ’02 Executive Director of Advancement 18 The ANDREAN Fall 2023
SAC Foundation - Statement of Operations Year Ending June 30, 2023
2023 2022 Revenue Donations $5,605,630 $7,907,095 Net Investment Income $845,931 $357,187 Total Revenue $6,451,561 $8,264,282 Expenses Bank and Broker fees $7,245 $13,723 Planned Giving $166,947 $166,174 $174,192 $179,897 Distributions Capital Projects $1,432,151 $2,340,680 Scholarships, Bursaries, Awards $1,352,798 $1,305,898 Unrestricted Donations $808,673 $721,159 Designated Donations $400,174 $498,878 Gifts-in-Kind $119,938 $3,120 Total Distributed to St. Andrew’s College
$4,113,734
$4,869,735
Endowment Fund Summary
Excess Revenue over Distribution $2,163,635 $3,214,650 Unrealized (Loss) Gain on Investments $3,523,462 -$3,873,083 Fund Balance, beginning of year $40,474,946 $41,133,379 Fund Balance, end of year $46,162,043 $40,474,946
LEGACY CAMPAIGN UPDATE
as at June 30, 2023 Campaign Launch (Nov. 2019) Endowment Fund (Market Value) $42,468,139 $34,475,000 Life Insurance Policies $29,099,662 $27,800,000 Confirmed Bequests $10,350,000 $4,100,000 Cash & Outstanding Pledges $4,354,720 $0 Total $86,272,521 $66,375,000
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Emy stands on the steps of St. Anne’s School, while Amedeo ’85 stands on the steps of Dunlap Hall at St. Andrew’s.
20 The ANDREAN Fall 2023
Donor Profile
Amedeo ’85 and Emy Cericola are making a difference on two campuses By John Sandham ’13
Y
ou don’t have to go far from the main entrance of St. Anne’s School before you encounter the Cericola Café, a space named in recognition of a family whose generosity will enhance the experience of Cygnets and Andreans for years to come. Amedeo Cericola ’85 was a member of the St. Andrew’s First Soccer team and boarder in Memorial House. He and his wife, Emy, have seen their sons, Claudio ’21 and Matteo ’24, attend St. Andrew’s College. And now, thanks to the unique partnership with St. Anne’s School, their daughter, Julia ’26, is enjoying many of the same opportunities and experiences as her brothers and father. “It’s going to be great to have my daughter become part of my tradition,” says Amedeo, whose brother, Anthony ’91, is also part of that tradition. “St. Andrew’s is not just about education. It’s about building a good understanding of work ethics.” Emy recalls being skeptical when Amedeo related stories about his time at SAC, which he remembers as “a community” and a place that prepared him well for life after high school. “I was not actually believing everything he was telling me,” says Emy. “But seeing the kids so happy about it, I was so glad they switched to St. Andrew’s.” The decision to send their sons to SAC was sparked by Claudio’s enthusiasm after attending an open house. He and Matteo, both day boys, started their St. Andrew’s careers at the same time. That left the couple’s daughter, Julia, on the outside. “That’s something that really broke my heart,” says
Amedeo. But with the realization of the St. Anne’s dream, that all changed. “It just seemed like a no-brainer for us to have our daughter here.” When deciding to support both St. Andrew’s and St. Anne’s, the family broke their donation into three parts, one for each of their children. That included a gift to the St. Anne’s School Capital Fund, as Amedeo knows more infrastructure is needed. “This environment is not just for me; it’s also for my kids,” says Amedeo. “We want this place to be amazing. We want it to succeed. And I wanted to say thank you as best I can.” That gratitude goes both ways. “The generosity of the Cericola family is foundational to the student experience,” says Sabrina D’Angelo, Head of St. Anne’s School. “In offering support, they ultimately offer opportunities for students to thrive at SAS.” Sabrina notes the Cericola Café is the “hub” of the school, where St. Anne’s community members gather daily to find connection and enjoy nourishing food. “Shared spaces at Dunin House that provide opportunities like this support the social-emotional development of girls and young women, and we know this is critical for a successful school experience,” says Sabrina. “The Cericolas have been instrumental in building this important aspect of school life.” Emy believes the SAC/SAS family tradition will continue into future generations. “It becomes part of your family,” she says. “Our grandkids will be coming here, for sure.” X John Sandham ’13 is the SAC Alumni Relations Coordinator
St. Anne’s School is proud to have embarked on our groundbreaking Dream it Forward Campaign, the first capital campaign in St. Anne’s history. With the generosity of our community, we aim to raise $20 million in Phase A, to transform Dunin House into a space that fosters our students growth, fuels their passions, and unlocks their boundless potential. Fall 2023 The ANDREAN
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LEADERSHIP ADDITIONS 2023
NEW GOVERNOR AND TRUSTEE INTRODUCTIONS NEW GOVERNORS:
1
4
Rick co-founded NOVADAQ Technologies Inc. in 2000 and has held numerous positions within the company, including the role of CEO from 2000 to 2003 and from 2016 until the company was sold in 2017. Under his leadership, NOVADAQ became a pioneer in facilitating medical professionals with relevant, point-of-care imaging solutions that enhance the lives of patients and their caregivers.
Lisa has led the Gala Sign-Up Parties committee, organized grade events for parents, and served as Homecoming Vice-Chair. Lisa spearheaded the school’s first Christmas Market in 2021 with resounding success, coordinating vendors, volunteers, advertising, and entertainment. The event has become a cherished holiday tradition.
Dr. Rick Mangat completed his undergraduate science degree at the University of Toronto and his graduate work at the University of Manitoba. While researching his PhD thesis in pharmacology, Rick co-invented the SPY Imaging System. This product can be used in surgeries to assess blood flow and perfusion, thereby improving patient outcomes and assisting doctors worldwide.
Rick and his wife, Dana, have a son, Brennan ’24, and two daughters. The family lives in Aurora. Rick served as a Trustee of the SAC Foundation from 2019 to 2023.
2 3
Cailey Stollery has been elected a voting member of the Board of Governors. She served on the 2022-2023 board as a non-voting member when she was president of the SAC Parents Guild Executive. Her full bio is available in the 2022 Annual Report.
Ann Chow leads this year’s St. Andrew’s Parents Guild Executive after volunteering with the guild as a New Family Mentor, then taking on the role of a Class Ambassador, and, in 2021, joining the Parents Guild Executive. Originally from Vietnam, Ann came to Canada at the age of 8. After graduating from the University of Toronto with a Bachelor of Commerce degree, she went to the Philippines to franchise her family’s business in the booming cellphone industry. She moved back to Canada after the events of 9/11, launched a dental IT company and incorporated ITEK Solutions in 2004, which expanded to the United States as Metallic IT in 2022. In an increasingly digital world, ITEK-Metallic cyber defence focuses on cyber security solutions and their importance in protecting individual privacy, businesses, and the overall stability of modern society. Ann and her husband, Wayne, live in Vaughan, and their three children are part of the SAC and SAS community: Brandon ’25 and Daniel ’27, attend St. Andrew’s and Celena ’30, started at St. Anne’s this year.
Lisa May is the first president of the St. Anne’s School Parents Guild Executive. As a parent of a St. Andrew’s College graduate, she has volunteered in the SAC community since her son joined the school as a Grade 5 student in 2015. Her contributions to the SAC Parents Guild were invaluable, showcasing organizational skills and a commitment to enhancing the school experience for students, parents, and employees.
Lisa holds a bachelor’s degree in political science with a minor in law. Upon completing a Bachelor of Education degree, she taught in the Toronto District School Board and the York Region District School Board. As an elementary teacher, Lisa recognized the significance of providing tailored support to struggling readers, leading her to specialize in reading recovery, a research-based early intervention program aimed at helping Grade 1 students overcome reading difficulties. Lisa and her husband, Scott, live in Aurora. Their daughter, Charlotte ’26, is a First Cygnet, and their son, Ethan ’23, is attending Carleton University in the Honours Computer Science Co-op program. Ann and Lisa are non-voting members
NEW TRUSTEE: Matthew Wettlaufer ’99 has over two decades of experience in the automotive, management consulting, and financial services industries. Matthew is vice-president and head of business process re-engineering, strategy and transformation at RBC. In this role, he helps drive productivity, revenue enhancement, cost optimization, and other cross-enterprise strategic topics. Prior to this, Matthew spent nearly 10 years at Scotiabank, holding progressively more senior roles across wealth, retail banking, and, finally, as an executive at the enterprise level. One of his key accomplishments was standing up and deploying a world-class intelligent automation/AI and robotics team that automated over 50 per cent of the bank’s processes. Before his time at Scotia, Matthew worked in the strategy and operations practice at Deloitte Consulting and worked overseas as an expat in Germany and China. Matthew holds an MBA from the Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto, and a Bachelor of Business Administration (Hons.) from Wilfrid Laurier University. He and his wife, Jenn, live in Toronto. X
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MEET THE UNIVERSITY COUNSELLING DEPARTMENT
T
he St. Andrew’s University Counselling team provides a comprehensive and customized service to our students in their high school years, helping them make decisions for their future based on well-planned and careful research. Teri Groves, Head of University Counselling, says her team guides, recommends, refers, suggests, and informs in a way that finds each student’s best fit. “We are dedicated to helping grads on their road to independence and their future as well-rounded citizens who will make positive contributions to the lives of others,” she says. Some of the services offered:
◆ College and university research ◆ University admissions liasing ◆ Athletic recruitment ◆ Application support ◆ Financial aid and scholarship assistance ◆ Standardized test preparation ◆ Career counselling ◆ Academic counselling ◆ Personal statement and essay writing assistance ◆ Course selection and academic planning ◆ Interview preparation ◆ Post-secondary preparation
UC
THE
TEAM:
Chris Papalia, Tanya McCormick, Teri Groves, and Nikki McDaniel
Teri has worked at SAC since 2006, becoming head of the department in 2017. Tanya joined the college in 2012, becoming Associate Head in 2017. Nikki was welcomed to the team in April 2022. New this year is the addition of Chris Papalia as Associate University Counsellor. Chris has been with SAC since 2012 as a math teacher, Head of Memorial House, and coordinator of SAC Summer School. His additional role allows the team to support student-athletes during the recruiting process. With the expertise of the University Counselling team, families never need to hire outside sources for help with the application process for post-secondary studies. “Our greatest accomplishment is helping our students transition to their post-secondary destination equipped with the knowledge, skills, and confidence they need to thrive and make meaningful contributions in their chosen fields and communities,” Teri says. X
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AMERICAN ACADEMY OF DRAMATIC ARTS - LOS ANGELES Jaxon Iatan BERKLEE COLLEGE OF MUSIC Carter Hadcock
QUEEN’S UNIVERSITY Nathan Chin, James Gillingham, Charlie Guy, Sam Hutchison, Karrar Jaber, Anthony Lio, Kian Pouragha, David Rubtsov, Syarique Syahrizal, Ashton Watson, Gary Yu
BOSTON COLLEGE Hiram Chen
SHERIDAN COLLEGE Ryder Fenske
BOSTON UNIVERSITY *Jack Pridham
ST. FRANCIS XAVIER UNIVERSITY Mackenzie Fullerton, Ethan Pearson
BROWN UNIVERSITY Daniel Zhao CARLETON UNIVERSITY Jordan Lam, Ethan May
THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA Seamus Martin, Steven Sun
CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY Muyang (Leo) Zhuang
THE UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH Sami Al Hinai
COLGATE UNIVERSITY *Lucas Veilleux
TORONTO METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY Ashton Houghton, Andy Wang
CORNELL UNIVERSITY Jonathan Castagna, Charlie McDonell DALHOUSIE UNIVERSITY Jaden Richardson
TRENT UNIVERSITY *Conor Stewart
EMORY UNIVERSITY Daniel Mei, Joseph Yan
UNIVERSITY IN GERMANY Konstantin Sauer, Karl Todtenhaupt
GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY Basil Al Balushi
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA-DAVIS Yutai Deng
HARVARD UNIVERSITY Tinaye Ngorima
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA-LOS ANGELES Shawn Chen, William Zhang
HUMBER COLLEGE Joseph Aitoro LONGWOOD UNIVERSITY Matthew Lyons MARIST COLLEGE Kai Erkkila MCGILL UNIVERSITY Ethan Thomas, Johnson Wang MCMASTER UNIVERSITY Carter Leung NEW YORK UNIVERSITY Rohin Kaith, Teo Meng, Michael Zhang NOVA SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY Marcus Marek Tortorella POMONA COLLEGE Tony He
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UNIVERSITY OF EXETER Logan Nirenberski, Nicholas Tasker UNIVERSITY OF GUELPH Jack Bulmer, Ben Power, Dylan White UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN Flynn Ma UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS *Francesco Dell’Elce UNIVERSITY OF OTTAWA Tyson Line UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO Tom Bai, Tyler Easthope-Oletic, Kai Kang, Jack Liu, Austin McInnis, Teagh Tremain, Sean Wai, Eric Yu, Oliver Zhao, Yehor Zhukov
UNIVERSITY OF VICTORIA Ben Hilgendorff UNIVERSITY OF WATERLOO Mathias DeMello, Haadi Khan, Michael Tsui, Bryan Zhao, Oscar Liu, Peichen Meng, Aaron Wang UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON Evan He WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY IN ST. LOUIS William Wu WESTERN UNIVERSITY Ethan Baxter, Wyatt Biggar, Roan Binnendyk, Jack Cordingley, Daniel Kim, Ilya Rahimi, Cameron Veisman, *Sydney Wambua, Adrian Wei, Cevin Wei, Roy Xia HURON UNIVERSITY COLLEGE Adam Campagna, Ryan Cornacchia, Jonathan Criswick, Massimo Di Biase, Blake Duyn, Beckett Fullerton, Jack Hudson, Owen Kamphuys, Blake Kelly, Daniel Kloepfer, Cody Kumm, Matthew Macdonald, Markus Millar, Lucas Morrison, Dylan Murray, Alexander Nikols, Ronan Nordick, Andreas Petrozza, Andrew Poteriaiko, Sam Power, Quintin Roy, Riley Sullivan WILFRID LAURIER UNIVERSITY Nico Gupta-Baltazar, Jack Hargrave, Hudson Shea, Mathew Styka
BCHL Anselmo Rego USPHL Daniel Salmivuori GAP YEAR Seyi Akinbola, Fionn Keon, Declan Ste. Marie, Gabriel Ste. Marie, Brendan Wright RETURNING TO SAC Diego Cina * these grads have accepted a university offer and are planning a gap year
125TH LOGO CONTEST Celebrate 125 years of excellence with us! Calling all creative minds and design enthusiasts! We’re thrilled to announce the launch of our 125th Birthday Logo Contest, a chance for you to leave an indelible mark on our rich history. As St. Andrew’s approaches this remarkable milestone, we invite all constituents to be a part of our legacy by designing a logo that encapsulates this incredible milestone, our journey, values, and aspirations. This is your opportunity to showcase your artistic prowess and contribute to a logo that will be symbolic of St. Andrew’s throughout our celebration year and for years to come. Whether you’re a seasoned designer or someone with a flair for creativity, we encourage everyone to take part. Your design could be the one that perfectly captures the essence of 125 years of growth, innovation, and community. The winning logo will receive a special 125 prize and become integral to our year-long birthday celebrations. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to leave your imprint on history. Submissions are due by Jan. 8, 2024, to the Communications Department via email at: communications@sac.on.ca Don’t hesitate to reach out with your questions. We look forward to seeing your imagination run wild.
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SCHOOL NEWS
Pipes & Drums Scotland trip A PERFECT INTRO TO PIPE BAND COMPETITION By Jim McGillivray
I
t was an unnerving morning on Aug. 19 as the St. Andrew’s College Pipes & Drums took to the field on Glasgow Green, a massive park area in the centre of Scotland’s largest city. The students approached the competition field with what might be described as confident trepidation. They had rehearsed the material diligently for months. The judges awaited, looking expectantly at the group of 25 young Andreans, which included three Middle School boys. The band had only competed once before, in July. It was early – a 9:08 a.m. performing time – and, while not yet raining, it was windy, with a chill in the air. Now was the moment of truth. This was the band’s first visit to Scotland, the historical home of pipe bands and the World Pipe Band Championships. Only four weeks earlier, the band had played its first full-band competition in Cambridge, Ont., performing well and taking third place. But rather than the eight bands they faced in Cambridge, the field in Scotland would consist of two groups of 17 bands, with the 26 The ANDREAN Fall 2023
six best in each group playing off for the title of Novice B Juvenile World Champions. Preparation for the trip began in September 2022, with the students learning set pieces for the competition. This four-minute collection of tunes would be practiced and perfected for the next 11 months, with the boys learning the importance of tight unison playing, careful expression of the music, and blowing the pipes steadily once they have been tuned. Circumstances necessitated a small group of younger drummers holding down the back end of the band. Though short on experience, they were long on effort and attitude and rose to the challenge over the last three months. But the trip wasn’t all practice. The towns of Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Stirling hosted the band for day trips. A 25,000step walking day in Edinburgh included traversing every inch of the Royal Mile (twice) and climbing Arthur’s Seat, an ancient volcano. The magnificent
Stirling Castle provided several hours of exploration. We also stopped at Bannockburn, the site of a historic 14thcentury battle, where we held a practice on the battlefield.
Time in Scotland also allowed us to expose the students to high-quality piping and drumming. The famous Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo gave them a taste of music, marching bands, and dancing from all over the world. An evening concert by the six-time World Champion, Simon Fraser University Pipe Band, wowed the group, including the teachers. One morning, after our practice in Kelvingrove Park, the students saw 13-time and thenreigning World Champion, Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band, from Northern Ireland, conduct its final practice before the big event. Many students also attended the Alasdair Gillies Memorial Recital Challenge, consisting of solo performances by five of the best pipers in the world, including
Photos by Matt MacIsaac
our Director of Piping & Drumming, Matt MacIsaac. Matt won the event last year and put on a stellar display of piping for an enthusiastic crowd. Numerous band dinners and a slower schedule for the final couple of days rounded out the week, with a Friday band practice on the very spot where the event would be held the next day. It was a memorable week. All roads led to the starting line at Glasgow Green on Saturday, where the boys were poised and ready. The Pipe Major gave a “By the right, quick march!” command, and practice became reality. Parents, teachers, and spectators gathered around to watch the boys perform as four adjudicators circled the band and made their judgements.
In the end, some slight nerves, the chill, and the unfamiliarity of the occasion came into play, and the boys were not able to eclipse the personal-best performance they had given at Cambridge the month before. An eighth-place finish put the band just out of the final.
“We were all extremely proud of how the boys played on the day. Success in competition requires experience. We were short of that, but hopefully, the future will see us explore competition more frequently,” says Matt. “We were also very proud of the way the boys conducted themselves on the trip.
Even the bus driver on World Championship day commented on what a great bunch of kids they were. It was a fantastic bonding trip for the band, and we all learned a lot – teachers and students included.” X Jim McGillivray is Executive Director, Pipes & Drums Opposite page: Practice at Bannockburn. Above, from top left: First day in downtown Glasgow; post-Edinburgh tattoo; watching 13-time World Champion, Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band, practice; 5,000-strong massed bands at the World Pipe Band Championships closing awards. Left: Bandmates atop Arthur’s Seat.
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By Angus Murray, SASSAW Lead Facilitator
SASSAW 2023 THE SASSAW EXPEDITION TO ECUADOR WAS A HUGE SUCCESS. Fifteen intrepid Grade 11 students spent 16 days in Ecuador, involved in service projects, learning about Ecuadorian culture, and climbing Cayambe, the highest point on the equator at 5,700 meters.
Emily Keating, Upper School math and science teacher and Head of Flavelle House, and I, Coordinator of Outdoor Education, led the August trek. It was the first international service expedition since the pandemic hit in March 2020. SASSAW stands for St. Andrew’s Society for Service Around the World, but we’ve been known to use a shorter acronym to explain the expedition: S – service, A – adventure, and C – culture. We travel to a new country each year to provide service, pursue adventure, and experience the region’s unique culture. We do all this through the lens of how that region or country balances tourism with the development goals of the local populace.
The students spent a day outside Quito, the capital of Ecuador, orienting themselves before flying 1,000 kilometres west over the Pacific Ocean to the Galapagos Islands. The islands are known for many endemic species, such as the giant tortoise, the bluefooted booby, and Darwin’s finches. Charles Darwin stopped at the islands in 1842 while on his round-the-world voyage of discovery on the HMS Beagle. His discoveries on the Galapagos Islands helped formulate his theory of evolution.
The St. Andrew’s team was able to get a close look at the amazing giant tortoises. Once facing extinction from introduced rats, which eat the eggs and the young tortoises, and being captured for food by passing ships, the tortoises are now at a healthy population level. They are bred and raised in captivity for 10 years, then introduced into the wild. For four days, we helped feed them and maintain the ecology park in which they are protected. It was a privilege to work with these unique animals. 28 The ANDREAN Fall 2023
SASSAW 2023 team members proudly display the St. Andrew’s flag, and arm-inarm alongside a giant tortoise on the Galapagos Islands portion of the trip.
It was illuminating for the students to experience how the islands balance tourism, development, and environmental initiatives. After spending six days on the islands, we returned to the mainland to acclimate for our attempt on Cayambe, a volcano that last erupted in 1786. Hiking and camping were made difficult due to the rain and the thinner air. Driving to the alpine hut at the base of Cayambe was an adventure. The road was being rebuilt, and the four-wheel drive vehicles laboured through the volcanic mud to arrive safely.
Once there, we strapped on our crampons as we needed traction to travel over snow and ice. After another two days of training and climbing to 5,100 meters, Mother Nature had the final say, and we were unable to summit due to extremely high winds and falling snow. We came down with a new appreciation for climbing mountains at high altitudes. On our final day, we visited a museum that sits on the equator and stood as a group with a foot in each hemisphere. We finished with an Ecuadorian breakfast at McDonald’s, a strange but fitting end to a great trip. The SASSAW 2024 class will be going to Morocco next August to support Berber communities recovering from September’s devastating earthquake.
Students receive a senior-level geography credit for the course and enrol for one of three reasons: the sheer adventure of travelling to a new country, earning their Duke of Edinburgh Award, or bolstering their university application. X
FROM THE ARCHIVES 100 years ago, an equestrian component was added to the Rosedale campus. At left is the coverage in the Christmas 1923 Review (original text).
Riders in Rosedale, left to right: William Kirkland ’26, David Marshall ’27, William Lentz ’27, Fred Russell ’26, and William Murchison ’25.
BONUS FACT 1:
According to Dick Boxer ’35 (pictured above with Mr. Bishop), who attended for the 1925-1926 school year, Mr. Bishop was known to “bring around five or six horses to some of the boys’ homes every morning so they could ride to school.” Dick didn’t make the move to Aurora and chose to continue his education in Toronto, but visited the current campus and was even a Reviewing Officer at the 2001 Cadet Inspection. He passed away in 2012.
BONUS FACT 2:
Sid Bishop moved to Aurora with the school and continued in his role until the stables burned down in 1928. He returned to Toronto and became farm manager for Windfields on Bayview Avenue, the former estate of E.P. Taylor, a legendary Canadian philanthropist and entrepreneur. In its heyday, Windfields was one of the top thoroughbred racing stables in North America. Its stable of horses included Northern Dancer, the first Canadian horse to win the Kentucky Derby. Fall 2023 The ANDREAN
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COMMUNITY NEWS Stephen Holmes
and his wife, Taylor, welcomed their second child, Cameron, on July 28, a brother for Charlotte, 2. Stephen teaches in the Middle School Science and Mathematics departments.
ARRIVALS Dave Greaves is our new Head Security Guard,
bringing two decades of experience in security supervision. He was security manager with the University Health Network in Toronto, where he recruited, trained, and supervised over 100 guards, developed safety procedures and policies, led parking enforcement, and oversaw building access control, CCTV monitoring, and emergency response.
Carol McLeod joins the business office as
Taylor Johnston
and Laura Moor were married on July 8, at The Great Hall in Toronto. Taylor teaches Upper School English, is the Co-Head Coach of U16 Hockey, Assistant Coach of Varsity Track & Field, Assistant Head of the Outreach Council, and CoLead of the Leadership Psychology program.
Services. Nancy was hired as a Prep Cook in 2007 and, within a year, was promoted to Assistant to the Director of Food Services. Her responsibilities evolved to include staff scheduling, payroll, and organizing and costing catered events.
Michael Nadon joined the IT team as an IT
Jeff LaForge is the new Head of Perrier House
Services Coordinator. Michael worked at the Town of Newmarket as a systems technician/ application support specialist for several years before opening his own business, providing IT support to small businesses.
Anthony Reyes joined SAC as a Laptop and
Helpdesk Specialist. He recently graduated from the computer networking and technical support diploma program at Seneca College.
Flavelle House after serving as Assistant Head of House in Flavelle for four years and two years as Math Res Don in Macdonald House. She is the first female Head of House in SAC history! Emily continues to teach math in the Upper School. after 10 years of experience as Head of Flavelle House and Assistant Head of Macdonald House. Jeff is the Head of Canadian and World Studies.
Marcello Lio is the new Head of Sifton House. He is an Upper School math teacher, Football Director, First Football Head Coach, and First Basketball Assistant Coach.
Paul Mosey has accepted the position of
Creative Lead for SAC and SAS. For the last 12 years, Paul has provided creative services as a contractor and has developed a deep understanding of the school culture.
Chris Papalia takes on additional responsibility
PROMOTIONS AND NEW TITLES
as an Associate University Counsellor specializing in NCAA. He is a former NCAA athlete who completed the Guidance and Career Education AQ. Chris teaches math and AP Capstone in the Upper School and is the SAC Summer School Coordinator and Head of Memorial House.
Laura Byl has been promoted to Associate
Davide Pontone is the new Director of Food
Director of Advancement, Major Gifts & Planned Giving. Laura joined the Advancement team in January 2021, immersed herself in the culture of SAC, and is successfully building a consistent and dynamic stewardship and planned giving program.
Joe Foote accepted the position of Athletic
Director. Joe joined the St. Andrew’s faculty in 2008 as the Head of Health & Physical Education after 14 years as a teacher, health and physical education department head, and athletic director in the public school system. Joe has coached virtually every sport, privately and professionally, and has a particular affinity for football and hockey, two sports he continues to coach at the Varsity and U16 levels. 30 The ANDREAN Fall 2023
Nancy Jones is the new Assistant Director, Food
Emily Keating has been promoted to Head of
team as an HR Associate. He graduated from the Lazaridis School of Business at Wilfrid Laurier University with an Honours Bachelor of Business Administration – Human Resources Management and is a Certified Human Resources Professional with HRPA.
and her husband, Michael, welcomed their son, Grayson, on Sept. 10. Katie is the Grade 5 core teacher and the core team leader for Middle School.
Administrative Associate role. She joined SAC in 2017 and has supported the University Counselling and Upper School Administration departments.
Associate Director, Finance. She brings extensive experience in financial and capital planning, forecasting, and reporting after more than 20 years at Bell Canada. She holds a Bachelor of Administration and Commercial Studies – finance and economics from Western University.
Yuvraj Sidhu joined the Human Resources
Katie Still
Amy Hewson accepted the Middle School
Services. Davide was recognized for his culinary expertise by achieving Red Seal accreditation. He came to SAC in 2006 as a Chef and was promoted to Executive Chef in 2011.
Greg Reid assumed the interim role of Deputy
Head for the 2023-2024 school year. Greg has held various leadership roles since being hired in 2000, including Director of Athletics, Assistant Head of School, School Life and Operations, and, most recently, Executive Director of Advancement.
Joanne Stock has been promoted to Associate Director, Retail Operations. This role includes managing the SAC and SAS campus stores, the concession stand, all retail services and staff, clothing design, sourcing, and inventory.
RETIREMENTS
Grace Wyvill SAC 2007-2023
By Julie Caspersen
Joining St. Andrew’s in 2007 as the Food Services Manager, Grace brought an impressive threedecade-long background in catering and food services management. Her vision from the outset was to elevate the culinary experience in Cole Hall by introducing a diverse range of offerings while prioritizing nutritional excellence. Under her guidance, the department achieved a momentous milestone in its first year, receiving the prestigious York Regional Eat Smart Award for upholding exceptional standards in safety and nutrition. Grace was promoted to Director of Food Services in 2009 and is the first to acknowledge the importance of teamwork, attributing much of her success to the dedication of her staff, whom she praises for their commitment to delivering outstanding results. “Always have a good team because you want people to want to come to work, to feel like their work is important,” Grace says, sharing a nod with the food services staff members gathered to wish her well.
Natasha Daley
Saying grace in the dining hall has taken on new significance over the past 16 years, with Grace Wyvill at the helm. Grace Wyvill getting a big hug from good friend, Nancy Jones, at the June retirement party in Cole Hall.
me; you pushed me to bring me to the next level,” he told her during a reception in her honour before the end of the school year in June, when things are a bit quieter in Cole Hall. The dining hall is usually a bustling hub of activity, serving more than 1,600 meals every day: breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, catering, and fine dining. Despite the demanding nature of the job and the long hours involved, Grace always exuded calmness and confidence, traits she’s passed along to her team. Grace has also shown great resilience as she faced mobility challenges due to multiple surgeries. Her friends at SAC never hesitated to drive her to hospital appointments or the grocery store – or rescue her from beneath a parked car when her dogs pulled her over. Speaking of dogs, Grace is also the author of a children’s book about her late dog titled Charlie Basset, A Hound’s Tail.
“I’ve had a very whole and satisfying career. It has been particularly an honour and a privilege to work at St. Andrew’s.”
Grace says her next steps include golfing, visiting friends, and entertaining.
Nancy Jones, Grace’s assistant, is quick to toss the compliments back to Grace. “Strength and tenderness are two words that come to mind when I think of Grace,” she says, adding she admired Grace’s attention to detail and willingness to be a mentor.
Kevin Knight
Director of Food Services, Davide Pontone, is one of Grace’s many mentees. “You’ve been a terrific role model for me; you brought out the best in
LEAVING FOR SAS
Michele Derwin joined SAS as a science and physical education teacher. Whitney Elliott joined SAS as the Core Grade 6 teacher and wellness lead. Dennis Kanzira is the SAS Laptop & Helpdesk Coordinator. Emilia Macdonald is leading the STEM program at SAS.
Following 23 years of serving the SAC community, Kevin Knight retired in June. As a custodian, Kevin worked in many sections and buildings of the school, including Middle and Upper School and the boarding houses. Since he was hired in April 2000, Kevin has built a rapport with students and staff, and his presence will be missed. X Fall 2023 The ANDREAN
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SPORTS ROUNDUP By Sean Maillet
It’s time to celebrate the successes of our student-athletes as we look back on the winter and spring term sports. St. Andrew’s College was well-represented at the Conference of Independent Schools Athletic Association (CISAA) and Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations (OFSAA) levels, marking another excellent year for athletics.
WINTER 2022-2023 U18AAA Hockey Gary West Tournament Champions CISAA Silver Curling Division 1 CISAA Gold Division 2 CISAA Gold Nordic Ski Senior Boys CISAA Gold – top overall team Alpine Ski Senior Boys CISAA Gold – top overall team OFSAA Bronze – slalom First Swim CISAA Champions, Senior Boys OFSAA Gold, Senior Boys’ High School Division
SPRING 2023 First Lacrosse CISAA Champions – The First Lacrosse team beat St. Michael’s College School 13-8 in the finals to secure back-to-back CISAA Championships. First Golf CISAA Champions, Senior Boys – The team won by an incredible 21 strokes and, for the first time in school history, won back-to-back CISAA Championships. OFSAA Silver, Senior Boys First Badminton CISAA Champions Top to bottom: U18AAA Hockey, Curling, Nordic Ski, Alpine Ski, First Swim, First Badminton, First Lacrosse, First Golf.
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FIRST HOCKEY’S DEUTSCHLAND ADVENTURE By Sean Maillet
On the eve of the Thanksgiving break, the members of the First Hockey team completed the annual Cross-Country Run before taking off to Europe. They played four games in ten days, travelling by bus across Germany and Czechia with stops in Mannheim, Düsseldorf, Cologne, Prague, and Karlovy Vary. On their first real trip as a team, Head Coach, David Manning, emphasized how travelling together plays a vital role in creating bonds and establishing the culture of the team. “We wanted to build our team’s identity, focus on togetherness, and learn about the guys on the team. And I think the overall cultural experience is something they will remember forever,” he says. Long hours on the bus allowed the team to bond and discover each other’s unique talents. David recalls with a chuckle, “We call Paolo Frasca ’25 the ‘Camp Counsellor’ since he introduced campfire games to the team.” Instead of being focused on their phones, they passed the time playing camp-style games, something David hadn’t seen on the bus in his 16 years as Head Coach. “The boys were addicted; they couldn’t stop playing. Seeing the guys from a different perspective was pretty neat, and I got the sense right away that they were all on the same page.” The games on the bus translated to success in their games on the ice, as they won all four matches on the trip while adjusting on the fly to the larger ice and larger opponents. “We were playing against mostly older, bigger teams. And I think being physically up to the challenge was good to see.”
NHL Draft Update: With another player selected in the latest NHL Draft, our hockey program continues its trend of developing high-character citizens and future NHLers. Among its standout stars is Jonathan Castagna ’23, who was selected in the third round, 70th overall, by the Arizona Coyotes at the NHL Draft in June. Since 2014, nine players have been drafted directly from the First Hockey program, and at this year’s draft, SAC was well-represented once again. After Jonathan was selected 70th overall, two more Andreans followed: Brad Gardiner ’23 was taken 79th overall by the Dallas Stars, and Aydar Suniev ’22 is going to the Calgary Flames at 80th overall.
On-ice highlights from the trip include Paolo shutting the door with big save after big save in their first game against HC Sparta Prague U20; Dean Letourneau ’24 with a beautiful goal off the rush where he essentially went around everyone against Cologne; and Sebastian Dell’Elce ’25 scoring his first of the season in the last game against Düsseldorf. However, the heart of this journey lay in the connection between the First Hockey team and the Jungadler Mannheim team in Germany. “In 2016, we were connected through a former Mannheim men’s team coach, Greg Ireland. They were hosting an event, and they needed a strong team. We fit the bill. That’s how it all started,” explains David. The Adler Mannheim is one of the top professional teams in Germany, and their U20 team, Jungadler Mannheim, has a list of impressive graduates to reach the NHL, including the likes of Leon Draisaitl, Tim Stützle, and Moritz Seider. This connection has blossomed into a powerful partnership, leading to reciprocal visits and cultural exchanges each year, including Jungadler Mannheim playing in the MacPherson Tournament several times. This tale of two nations, connected through the universal language of hockey, leaves a legacy for future generations of First Hockey players at St. Andrew’s. X
Left: The First Hockey team at St. Vitus Cathedral - Prague Castle. Above: Facing off against Düsseldorfer EG at SAP Arena in Mannheim, Germany. A July Toronto Star article celebrated the prominence of our First Hockey program and its talented players, including Jonathan Castagna ’23.
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HOMECOMING WEEKEND 2023 Class reunions, family fun, reconnecting with old friends, and sports galore
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34 The ANDREAN Fall 2023
ew Dalton
r, with the
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Head of School, Sabrina D’Angelo, on opening day
36 The ANDREAN Fall 2023
It’s Official! St. Anne’s School Campus Now Open By Nicolette Fleming
The Sept. 5 grand opening of St. Anne’s School scripted another chapter in what will be a long and storied history. What started in a temporary home with a small group of 38 First Cygnets on the St. Andrew’s College campus is now a bustling sea of red blazers that 174 girls in Grades 5 to 10 are making their home. On Sept. 10, 1899, one could only imagine where St. Andrew’s would be nearly 125 years later. While we’ve seen drastic changes in location, facilities, and educational pedagogy, the opening of SAS will go down as a particularly bold and ambitious endeavour, one that will change the landscape of teaching and learning at SAC and within the Canadian independent school scene. While the learning spaces between the two schools remain separate for each gender, SAC and SAS students will have plenty of opportunities to come together for extra-curricular activities, such as the fall play, the Arts/Co-curricular Plus program, special assemblies, and more, with both campuses welcoming each other openly, offering the best of both worlds. The ribbon-cutting ceremony featured a host of speakers near and dear to the project, including Mark Etherington ’92, Chair of the Board of Governors, Tom Mrakas, Mayor of Aurora, Kevin McHenry, Head of St. Andrew’s, and Sabrina D’Angelo, Head of St. Anne’s, and joined by donors, dignitaries, and employees. Standing in the glow of the rising sun, Mark took to the podium with the student vestibule as his backdrop, opening the presentations. “It isn’t every day that a new school opens, and I dare say that they rarely occupy a place as magnificent as this.” One by one, the speakers addressed the magnitude of SAS to the community, independent education, and the girls who will learn in these spaces. Reflecting the broader community’s commitment to education, Mayor Mrakas remarked, “Our town supports any chance to provide young women with a progressive means of learning.”
Chair of the Board of Governors, Mark Etherington ’92, left, and SAC Head of School, Kevin McHenry. Below: Sabrina D’Angelo and Kevin McHenry with Anne and Andrew Dunin in front of their former home.
empowering them through education, and the need for a platform where girls and boys can engage meaningfully and authentically. “Our goal is to raise a generation of women who are not just academically accomplished but socially conscious and compassionate,” says Sabrina. The journey to this momentous occasion was not easy, but the schools are steadfast in the vision to offer a similar experience to girls that the boys of SAC have experienced since 1899. Sabrina reminded all in attendance that the impact of St. Anne’s transcends its physical boundaries. The institution will shape future leaders, thinkers, innovators, and advocates who will go forth and make a profound difference in the world. With those words, Sabrina officially launched the grand adventure of learning and growth at St. Anne’s, setting in motion a bright future for generations of young women. In the following days, the laughter of 174 girls echoed through the hallways. A new school year quickly began with Fall Flight trips to Muskoka Woods and Campfire Circle, establishing new friendships and school spirit before tackling academic and co-curricular schedules. “It’s going to be a fabulous year,” declared Sabrina.
The roots of St. Anne’s trace back over a decade, driven by three profound beliefs: the immense potential of girls and young women, the necessity of
“When I first arrived at St. Anne’s for orientation, I was shocked. It was not what I expected. St. Anne’s was so pretty. I was going to be taught in a castle! It was a dream come true.” – Catherine Malkhassian, Grade 6
“It is amazing, gorgeous, spectacular, and more. From the views, the feeling when you are in the rooms, natural lighting, and more. I am so fortunate to have the chance to go to SAS.” – Meghan Dent, Grade 10
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Dan Near ’99 in an adidas World Cup of Hockey jersey, and far right, with his 1998 CISAA-winning First Football teammates.
38 The ANDREAN Fall 2023
OLD BOYS PROFILES & NEWS
This edition’s PROFILES:
DAN NEAR ’99 ROBERT GIANNOU ’62 SCOTT BONNELL ’94 RAOUL ’63 and ROY BENVENISTE ’64
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DAN NEAR ’99 A HEAD FOR HOCKEY By Chris Traber
S
ports superstar status isn’t necessarily reserved for athletes who suit up and compete in their respective fields. Case in point is Dan Near ’99. The congenial 43-year-old Global Head of Hockey and Senior Director of adidas America’s Creation Center Portland since 2016 was named one of 100 People of Power and Influence for 2023 by The Hockey News. The honour, according to the esteemed journal, was bestowed on Dan for “his leadership and commitment to the game we all love.” With a humble smile, Dan reflects on the industry’s homage, saying, “If you told me as a youngster that I’d be deserving to be pictured beside Wayne Gretzky and people who have an impact on the sport, it’d be hard to believe. That’s incredibly cool.” The professional distinction wasn’t his first. 40 The ANDREAN Fall 2023
Left: Dan on parade at the 1999 Annual Cadet Inspection. Right: Dan with his family (Lori, Haley, Taylor, and Charlie) on July 11 in Portland, Ore., at adidas’ North American HQ, at an event celebrating the arrival of Leo Messi to the MLS.
In 2016, he received the 5 to Watch Award from George Brown College’s Centre for Business, which recognizes five influential and inspiring individuals under the age of 40 in the sports business field. In 2013, he was named to the Top 40 Under 40 by Sporting Goods Business magazine in honour of industry professionals who exemplify leadership, innovation, entrepreneurship, and energy. At the time, he was director, consumer products licensing for the National Hockey League (NHL) since 2006.
Creativity and innovation are hallmarks of the man who works and resides in Portland, Ore., with his wife, Lori, son Charlie, 13, and twin daughters, Haley and Taylor, 12. When the NHL granted an expansion franchise to Seattle, Wash., in 2018, Dan and his adidas hockey team were selected to develop the team’s brand, including name, logo, uniforms, and colour schemes. “That was a long journey,” says Dan. “We auditioned with many companies.” He proudly declared that the Seattle Kraken project was among the most
Left to right: Cree Nation Bears logo, Seattle Kraken logo, Vegas Golden Knights logo
successful expansion brand launches in sports history. Dan also headed the adidas team that helped brand the Vegas Golden Knights as the team entered the NHL in 2017. adidas remains a powerhouse in sport apparel and branding, including creating reverse retro uniforms for all 32 NHL teams. However, one of Dan’s most poignant projects involved a collaboration with Fred Perowne ’97, founder of First Assist, an Indigenousrun charity that advances educational achievements through sports in remote communities. When the Cree Nation Bears PeeWee team applied for a Quebec hockey tournament in 2022, Dan and the adidas design staff worked with Landen Spencer, an artist in the Cree town of Mistissini, Que., to develop NHL brandlevel logos and colour schemes for the home and away jerseys. The sweaters were designed to evoke Indigenous pride, tradition, and history and as a reminder of the adversity Indigenous people have endured. In addition, players’ names were spelled in Cree syllabics. “The adidas mission is to impact lives and create access to sport,” says Dan. “My team and I are just as proud of the Cree Bears uniforms as any NHL project.” Growing up in Markham, Ont., Dan was a gifted athlete. Upon his arrival at St. Andrew’s College for Grade 9, he was the First Hockey Assistant Captain, the First Lacrosse Captain, and played First Football. SAC was a family affair when his brother, Jamie ’00, followed while their mother, Nancy, was president of the Ladies Guild (now the Parents Guild) and served on the Board of Governors until 2017. “St. Andrew’s changed the course of my life,” Dan says. “The dimension of
With Fred Perowne ’97, left, on Dec 9, 2021, in Oujé-Bougoumou, Que., at the event celebrating the launch of the Cree Nation Bears logo and identity.
the SAC experience makes for success. The balance of athletics and academics and learning to deal with adversity is enriching. The school instills standards and self-sufficiency and sets people on the right trajectory in life.” Following SAC, Dan studied finance and administration at Huron University College at Western and earned an MBA at Miami University, Ohio. People will have to wait until Feb. 4, 2024, when adidas unveils the new NHL All-Star Game uniforms in Toronto. “It’s one to look out for,” he says. “It’s never been done before.” X
The dimension of the SAC experience makes for success. The balance of athletics and academics and learning to deal with adversity is enriching. The school instills standards and self-sufficiency and sets people on the right trajectory in life. – Dan Near ’99 Fall 2023 The ANDREAN
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witticism and explicit recall. “I’m in good physical shape, survived medical issues and racing injuries, and don’t feel my age. In fact, I only want to get younger every year,” he quips. “This year I’ve decided I’m 79. I now only worry about reaching the age of zero.” Robust and blessed with a Hollywood visage, Robert recalls how early life as a shy, overweight only child transformed him as a result of a fatherly prognosis. “It was called SBS, spoiled brat syndrome,” he says with a chortle, reminiscing how his dad, George, and uncle, Dr. Harry Roberts, suggested he join his cousins, Edward ’57 and Doug ’62 Roberts and, at St. Andrew’s College. “It was the best thing that ever happened to me.” A reluctant first-semester athlete due to a back injury, Robert was “encouraged” by SAC coaches and teachers to participate. Robert played First Football, was on the gymnastics team (1960-1961), ran long distance on the Track & Field team (1959-1960), and was on the intramural clan hockey champion team. Robert credits football coaches and teachers, Hugh Warburton, Aubrey Holmes, Frederick Richardson, and Dick Gibb, for building his confidence and instilling a passion for academia and athletics.
ROBERT GIANNOU ’62 FAST AND CURIOUS By Chris Traber
A
profoundly proud born and raised Newfoundlander, Robert Giannou ’62 epitomizes the dictum that the road less travelled should not only be taken but also be driven fast and fearlessly. At 81, the newly minted octogenarian and an inductee to the Canadian 42 The ANDREAN Fall 2023
Motorsport Hall of Fame Class of 2022 continues to throttle full speed in an eclectic array of corporate and road racing ventures. Residing in St. John’s with his wife, May Soo, Robert curates a long, riveting life in progress with self-deprecating
“St. Andrew’s helped me grow up in a rush,” he says. “They taught me to take risks and that no idea was stupid. The influence was huge. I learned to get along with people and developed selfconfidence.” Robert left St. Andrew’s in 1961 and went on to study arts and engineering at Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia and sociology and philosophy at Concordia University in Montreal. He earned an executive MBA degree through Harvard University extension courses. A long-time auto and mechanical devotee and car, aircraft, and boat model builder, Robert, who joined the St. John’s Motor Club in 1958 and is an international FIA racing license holder,
They taught me to take risks and that no idea was stupid. The influence was huge. I learned to get along with people and developed self-confidence. Opposite page: Robert and May Soo at the Bay of Fundy in the Maritimes. This page, top: Robert with Jim Herder ’64 in Newfoundland. Below: Robert still motoring in one of his beloved cars.
– Robert Giannou ’62
spent the 1960s and ’70s working for Bell Canada and competing in road racing events, winning club, regional, and national titles in go-karting, rallying, hill-climbs, and A & B Sedan classes. Ever entrepreneurial and innovative, Robert established Corporate Services Limited in 1985. He continues to serve as president of the St. John’s-based organization specializing in corporate restructuring, labour relations, and management training. Since 2010, he has also led SuperMarine Technologies Inc. in St. John’s as managing director. The firm focuses on designing, creating, testing, and fabricating an ecologically sound, hybrid-powered, 222-foot-long aluminum mono-hull, ocean-going,
high-speed supply, crewing, and emergency response vessel. In 2001, Robert became president of Newfoundland International Motorsports Limited, the organizer of Targa Newfoundland, North America’s premier tarmac rally, which celebrated its 21st year this year. Its combined road racing events are the only ones of their kind in North America, with only one other (Targa New Zealand) happening elsewhere in the world. In 2010, he and his Targa team created the safety protocols that made Targa Newfoundland, an annual tarmac-based rally race covering 2,200 kilometres of roads closed to the public, for six days each September. The event is now the safest of the three main international Targa events, with incident rates being
reduced to less than 1.5%. During that time, Robert also held various roles with Canadian Automobile Sport Clubs, including race director, Atlantic Region, and assistant national race director. Robert dampens up when discussing the Motorsport Hall of Fame induction ceremony earlier this year. “I’m the first Newfoundlander to be inducted,” he says. “It’s a wonderful recognition.” He admits to weaning his Targa involvement with a pivot to negotiating a film production of the event, developing a “dream ride” sports car tour throughout Newfoundland, and building a museum-quality Second World War MGB-658 gunboat model. X
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SCOTT BONNELL ’94 BETWEEN THE ROCK AND A GOOD PLACE By Chris Traber
F
rom the Rock to the Big Apple, Scott Bonnell ’94 has traversed a serendipitous life path by embracing change while repelling trepidation as deftly as he did pucks as an elite hockey goalie. Born in St. John’s, N.L., and now residing and working in New York City, the congenial 47-year-old chief revenue officer at technology unicorn, Prove Identity, recounts how a “publicity stunt” ushered him from a quiet, bucolic East Coast life to a bustling cosmopolitan metropolis. At 15, the promising hockey prospect was offered a two-week contract to tend net for the St. John’s Maple Leafs, the American Hockey League farm team of the NHL’s Toronto Maple Leafs. The PR coup drew significant attention, particularly in the city’s 44 The ANDREAN Fall 2023
The Evening Telegram newspaper, which the Herder family had owned. Newfoundland native, Jim Herder, a St. Andrew’s College Old Boy from the Class of 1964 and the school’s Director of Development at the time, took notice of the young athlete’s maturity. Scott was offered the Jim Herder Scholarship Fund, awarded to a Newfoundlander who excels athletically and academically. “My dream was to be an NHL goalie, but my stature was too small to make it big,” Scott says, pun intended. “I didn’t elect to go the Major Junior route. Rather, I looked for a blend of hockey and school, a decision that appealed to both my family and me because it advanced career opportunities.” Scott acclimated quickly at SAC, he says.
“The adjustment to life at SAC was both significant and exciting for me. I was eager to live up to the rigorous academic expectations and embrace the global culture and perspectives. I was fortunate to have the support of my family, friends, and many patient people across the St. Andrew’s community who helped me adjust and thrive. The experience opened my eyes to what it meant to pursue a broad educational foundation.” Scott explains. “Life-long learning was my biggest takeaway. St. Andrew’s is a special place.” Scott attributes his warm welcome to the diversity of his roommates, including Benjamin Thwaites ’94 from Jamaica, Antonio Fernandez ’93 from Mexico, Hong Kong-born Tommy Kong ’95, and Andrew Beach ’94,
who grew up in Toronto. He expresses gratitude to his hockey coach, Al Dunford; assistant hockey coaches, Stephen Kimmerer and David Galajda; then-Head of School, Robert Bedard – “a class act;” Head of Memorial House, Geoff Smith, for his calming influence; and Head of Flavelle House, Aubrey Foy, among others. Scott served as a Prefect, Student Head of House, and House Captain. He played First Hockey and was named MVP in 1994, and was a member of the 1993 Ontario Federation of School Athletic Association (OFSAA) championship team. He earned the Athletic A by being a team member on First Volleyball, First Lacrosse, and First Track & Field. He was awarded the 1992-1993 MacPherson Shield, presented to the most spirited clan member in the school. After graduation, Scott was recruited to play hockey at Hobart and William Smith Colleges in New York, where he joined Brian McKague ’93 and Rob Mantrop ’92. He was named top rookie in 1995 and MVP a year later. He left for a more prominent hockey program at Colby College in Maine, where he earned an economics and history B.A.
while setting an NCAA single-season save percentage record with the college hockey team. Ever entrepreneurial, Scott returned home and established the province’s first goalie-only hockey school from 1997 to 2002, working with his family. With a desire to branch out, Scott’s career began an ascending trajectory.
technology is at the forefront of concerns for executives worldwide. The organization has over 350 employees worldwide and authenticates more than 20 billion transactions annually. Recreationally, Scott is an avid runner and reader and still plays goal in a Division 1 New York City hockey league, where the average age of the players is 27. “I’m holding on for dear life,” he quips. He is married to Kaena, an artist and art therapist. They have a son, York, 16, and a daughter, Nanea, 14. X
Life-long learning was my biggest takeaway. St. Andrew’s is a special place.
– Scott Bonnell ’94
He held a variety of leadership roles at both startup and large-cap organizations, including Oracle, Mocana, and Passlogix. He served as the vice-president of enterprise sales at Twilio, where he helped grow the company from $400 million to $4 billion in annual sales. In 2022, he joined Prove Identity, as identity
Opposite page: Scott with his family on vacation. Above: Between the pipes at the SAC MacPherson weekend over-40 game in 2018, and with his father, Aubrey Bonnell, on the ice after the game.
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RAOUL ’63 AND ROY ’64 BENVENISTE A PAIR OF ACES By Chris Traber
T
heir prominent careers couldn’t be more divergent, yet Raoul ’63 and Roy ’64 Benveniste, attribute their success to similar influences.
Roy, 77, echoes the sentiment and expresses gratitude for formative years among an international expatriate community.
The Cuban-born siblings assign credit for their distinguished life paths to their parents, Ino and Irma, who fled wartorn Paris, France, for Havana in 1940, just before the Germans marched into that city.
“We were incredibly lucky,” Roy says. “Our parents were multilingually fluent. We learned French, Spanish, and English, which helped throughout our careers.”
“Havana was a wonderful place to grow up in the 1940s and ’50s, very modern, many conveniences with excellent schools and medical facilities,” says Raoul, 79. “My brother and I did very well academically, thanks to parents who emphasized learning.”
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Life for the Benvenistes changed dramatically when Fidel Castro’s communist regime came to power on Jan. 1, 1959. His government closed private schools and made private business impossible. The expat community and many Cubans left. Two years later, to the day, Raoul and
his father flew to Toronto to enrol at St. Andrew’s College. Roy followed suit the following month, and their parents settled in Sarasota, Florida, with Roy joining his brother that autumn. “The school was highly recommended by expat friends in Cuba. We felt very fortunate to be accepted at SAC,” Raoul says. “My year and a half at SAC was intellectually stimulating and shaped my future career decisions.” The transition to Aurora was seamless, notes Roy, save for the weather. “The biggest challenge was the cold and that we didn’t ice skate.” Raoul played soccer and basketball. He also served as Editor-in-Chief of
The Review and joined the French and Science clubs. He won the Upper School General Proficiency Prize, Chairman’s Gold Medal, George Etienne Cartier Medal in French, the English Prize, and The Review Prize as the most valuable member of the yearbook staff. Roy played football and basketball, was on the First Rifle team and ran Track & Field. He won the Middle and Upper School General Proficiency Prizes, the Isabelle Cockshutt Prize in History, the Chairman’s Gold Medal, the H.E. Goodman Prize for proficiency in chemistry, and an Old Boys’ Medal in Mathematics. Roy also served as Prefect, Head Boy, and Editor-inChief of The Review and was a member of the Science Club and Le Cercle Francais. The brothers acknowledge the guidance provided by SAC instructors, with kudos to French teacher, Tibor Bozzay. “My first class was French with Mr. Bozzay. As a new boy, he asked me to read from a French book, and I started reading while seated at my desk. Much to my embarrassment, I didn’t know I was supposed to stand when addressed. So, I stood and was able to carry on a fluent conversation in French with Mr. Bozzay, apologizing and explaining my background,” Raoul recalls. “He and his wife were very supportive during my time in school and had me over to their house on campus for Hungarian goulash on numerous occasions.” The largest academic influence for Raoul was the chemistry class taught by Frederick Richardson. “His enthusiastic and informative lectures inspired me to type all my class notes at night in my dorm room. This probably drove my roommate, John Lathrop ’63, nuts and maybe my friend across the hall, Gordon Griffiths ’63,” Raoul says. “At
the end of the year, Mr. Richardson had all my chemistry notes (113 pages, typed on both sides and full of diagrams and formulas) bound into a book. A wonderful and inspiring teacher, he also autographed and gifted me two chemistry books. After receiving my PhD in biochemistry and molecular biology, I sent him some of my first scientific publications.” Another notable teacher was Hugh Warburton in English: “A detailed analysis of The Rime of the Ancient Mariner is permanently engraved in my brain.” Also memorable was geography class with Dick Gibb and his “midnight ramble” orienteering course through the woods. “I got thoroughly disoriented, and the next day, Mr. Gibb announced in front of the students: ‘Mr. Benveniste, you may be good in class, but you are lost in the woods,’” Raoul recalls. “St. Andrew’s was very influential for us,” Roy says. “My brother is a perfect example. He is an amazing, diligent scientist. St. Andrew’s instilled that. The school got me into MIT.” Raoul left SAC for Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, where he majored in biology and then received a PhD in biochemistry and molecular biology from the University of Wisconsin. He subsequently ran a research lab at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) in Bethesda, Maryland. Raoul also received a medical degree from the University of Miami and did his residency in internal medicine on the Osler Service at Johns Hopkins
Hospital. He eventually returned to NCI to pursue medical research on infectious diseases and virus research, including vaccines and antivirals for AIDS (HIV). He retired in 2004. After SAC, Roy went to MIT in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and majored in aeronautical engineering. His first job was with Bell Helicopter, where he worked on tilt-rotor aircraft designs and prototypes. Deciding to venture into marketing, Roy earned an MBA from Harvard University and joined the Berol Corporation. After five years, he became a principal at Booz Allen Hamilton, a New York-based consulting firm. A corporate marketing position followed at General Electric before joining a consulting firm in Park City, Utah, focused on the aviation industry. Roy retired early at age 50 to sail the world with his wife, Toni, before breast cancer took her life at 63. Raoul and his wife, Elizabeth, have been married for 40 years and have two daughters, Anne and Ellen, and one grandson, Theodore Finnegan. They live on the shores of Chesapeake Bay, Maryland, where they enjoy sailing the Bay on their English sloop. Roy and his second wife, Judy, reside in Warwick, Rhode Island. “I inherited a very nice family, including three grandchildren,” says Roy, who had no offspring of his own. The brothers remain close and often golf together. X Opposite page left photo: Roy (left), and Raoul at Roy’s home in Rhode Island. Opposite page right photo: Raoul (left), and Roy on the golf course. This page: Roy (top), and Raoul in their St. Andrew’s days.
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1959 Dem Rogers
AND NOW FOR THE
OLD BOYS NEWS
visited the Cabaret-Rouge British Cemetery near Souchez, France, in August. He paid his respects at the gravesite of his great-uncle, 2nd Lt. Clarence E. Rogers, Class of 1909, who is among the 104 Fallen Andreans killed in the First World War. Joining Dem on this emotional trip was his son, Ian ’91, and his grandsons, Bryce ’24 and Kyle ’26. They paid a visit to Vimy, as well. The family was also in Glasgow, Scotland, for the World Piping Championships. Bryce and Kyle are in the SAC Pipes & Drums, which competed at the event.
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he passed highest in the flying tests. Clarence was sent to France and earned a reputation as a daring aviator. In June 1916, he was reported missing; his aircraft was seen falling behind the German lines. In December, it was confirmed that he had been wounded at 3,000 feet in the air and killed shortly after.
1964 Jim Herder
received a visit from Head of School, Kevin McHenry, his wife, Karan, Executive Director of Enrolment Management, Michael Roy ’85, and Executive Director of Advancement, Nicholas Weedon ’02, at his cottage in Newfoundland in the summer. He presented Kevin with an OFSAA hockey championship jacket for donation to the SAC Class of 1954 Archives.
Head of School, Kevin McHenry, and Jim Herder ’64. The Rogers family, from left, Bryce ’24, Dem ’59, Ian ’91, and Kyle ’26, at the gravesite of Dem’s greatuncle, Clarence Rogers, Class of 1909.
Clarence Elias Rogers entered Lower School at St. Andrew’s College in 1902, leaving in 1905 to attend school in the United States. In September 1909, he returned for what was called “honour work.” During this final year at SAC, Clarence played on the First Football team and helped them win numerous victories. After leaving SAC, he was one of the first to qualify for his pilot’s certificate at the Curtiss Aviation School and obtained his commission as Sub-Lieutenant in 1915. He trained in England, where, in April 1916,
1967 Peter Love
was awarded the 2024 Clean50 Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his contributions to Canada’s clean economy as a leading advocate for energy efficiency and promoting a culture of conservation. Peter serves on five boards and is chair of two, including the Centre for Community Energy Transformation. His career started in the early 1970s with the team at Pollution Probe that developed the now familiar material conservation paradigm: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.
1968 Alex Dougall
and his sons, Anthony ’98 and Jonathan ’00, work together running a manufacturing company in Jamaica that he launched in 1984. His wife, Susan, is an artist. The couple also have two daughters, Julia and Anna, who both live in Cayman. Julia manages the Jamaican reggae artist, Sean Paul, and Anna runs a furniture
their home in Lake Placid, New York, to be closer to their children, Griffin ’21 and Paige.
1983 Jon Tyner
Alex Dougall ’68, centre, with his family: children Anthony ’98, at far left, Julia, fourth from left, Anna, fourth from right, Jonathan ’00, second from right, and all the grandchildren.
and home décor distribution business. Alex and Susan have 11 grandchildren, ranging in age from 2 to 13.
1972 Michael Hogg
participated in the Ride to Conquer Cancer for the fifth straight year, cycling over 200 kilometres from Niagara Falls to Hamilton and back over two days in early June. His team, “Amby’s International Aces,” has participated in the event for 15 years, raising nearly $2 million to fund research at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre. Michael thanks all his sponsors for their support: “It’s a cause that affects everyone,” he says.
met up with classmates, Geoff Crawford and David Rolph, in the Campus Shop to pick up SAC merchandise during their class reunion on Sept. 22. Joining them for dinner were fellow 1983s, John Heimbecker, Geoff Hutchinson, Andrew Lane-Smith, Michael Lem, Scott Nirenberski, and Steve Suarez. The group enjoyed lots of laughs and talked about the days on the football field and rugby pitches. Jon says the campus looked fantastic on a beautiful fall day.
construction. Their latest project is with Boxabl, a modular construction company delivering prefab “casitas,” houses that can be unfolded within an hour. In addition to his passion for technology, Jamie manages the 2024 “think brave” Formula Ford race team in the Toyo Tires F1600 Championship from his EnGauge Inc. race facility in Belle River, Ont. You can also find him at the EnGauge race suspension engineering facility at the Nürburgring racetrack in Germany. Jamie encourages Andreans to visit if they are in Belle River or at the Nürburgring in Germany.
Class of 1983 friends, Geoff Crawford, Jon Tyner, and David Rolph.
1984 Kevin Yearwood
presented the Craig R. Leslie Memorial Award at the fall Academic Assembly on Sept. 7. The award was created by Kevin and his classmates in honour of Craig Leslie ’84 and is presented to a senior debater who has made a significant contribution to the program. Kevin is the coordinator of the Diversity in Hockey program at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto. Jamie Britnell ’78, far left, with his sons, Emerson, a suspension engineer living in Germany and father of two, and Sebastian, an automation machine builder in Ontario.
1982 Steve Ardill
1978 Jamie Britnell
is a senior solutions engineer for Brave Control Solutions Inc., a technology company delivering custom automated solutions for offsite
retired from Ernst & Young in June after 15 years with the firm. Most recently, he served as senior partner and consulting account leader. He is currently the managing director at Ardill & Associates Consulting, based in Dubai. When not in the Middle East, Steve and his wife, Kelly Anne, try to spend as much time as possible at
Kevin Yearwood ’84 presents the Craig R. Leslie Memorial Award to Prefect, Ben Wang ’24. Fall 2023 The ANDREAN
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1987
1988
Conrad Bona
Cam Carey
attended the Sept. 5 opening of St. Anne’s School alongside Mark Fell ’87 and John Dunlap ’88. Conrad is the father of a First Cygnet, Celeste ’26, and two St. Andrew’s students, Tristan ’24, and Roman ’28.
recently finished construction of a house in Nassau, Bahamas. He welcomes his Sifton House brothers to visit anytime. Cam and his wife, Magdalene, work in corporate services.
Glenn Hant
and his wife, Catherine, moved to Oakville, Ont., where Catherine started a new position as head of school at St. Mildred’s-Lightbourn School. Glenn is continuing his journey as a real estate broker with Sotheby’s Realty. Glenn and Catherine celebrated their 30th anniversary the same weekend as Glenn’s SAC 35th anniversary reunion in September.
Mark Fell ’87, Conrad Bona ’87, and John Dunlap ’88.
Steve Dengler
and his father, Bob, were awarded the Guinness World Record for the first father and son to circumnavigate the world by aircraft. The award recognizes their 2017 Canada 150 Global Odyssey circumnavigation, flown in honour of the 150th anniversary of Canadian Confederation. Steve and Bob flew a Canadian-made Bell 429 helicopter over 36,950 kilometres around the world.
1990 Stephen Rotstein
was elected a bencher (board member) of the Law Society of Ontario in May. He is the past president of the Canadian Bar Association and a member of the Federal Judicial Advisory Committee for the Greater Toronto Area. Stephen was awarded the Robert V.A. Jones Award for his exceptional contribution to the in-house counsel community. He was joined at the ceremony by Ian Michael ’92, a partner at Bennett Jones LLP and a member of the SAC Board of Governors.
Ian Michael ’92, Stephen Rotstein ’90.
1992 Jeff Hobbs
is a financial advisor with Life Long Planning Group, located in North Bay, Ont., but covering the majority of the province. Jeff and his wife, Dana, have been married for 28 years. The couple has three children and welcomed their first grandchild last year. Jeff is involved with the local Rotary Club and serves on committees for the Northeastern Ontario YMCA. He encourages Andreans to reach out if they are spending time in Northern Ontario.
1997 Graeme Martin
and his wife, Wendy, welcomed their first child, Wynn Emerson, on June 19. The family lives in the Lakeshore Village neighbourhood of Toronto. Graeme is co-founder and partner at Bridgewell Financial.
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1998 John Lowes
joined TMX Group in April as managing director, enterprise risk management. He returned to campus in September for his 25-year class reunion, where he and Andrew Weedon ’98 toured the Saints dressing room at the La Brier Family Arena with First Hockey Head Coach, David Manning. John and his wife, Susie, live in Toronto with their three children, Charlotte, William, and Sophie, but spend most of their winter weekends on the ski hills in Collingwood, Ont.
footsteps by studying pastry arts at Canadore College in North Bay, Ont. She plans to attend Le Cordon Bleu Ottawa Culinary Arts Institute after graduation.
2002 Nicholas Weedon
2001 John Lyons John Lowes ’98 and Andrew Weedon ’98.
Jonathan Price
took a backcountry ski touring trip near Revelstoke, B.C., last winter with classmates, Brad Gooderham and Brook Dyson. Jonathan says the entirely human-powered experience was awesome but much harder than expected. Jonathan and his family live in Thornbury, Ont.
Angeles, Calif. Paul hosted members of the Andrean community, including Head of School, Kevin McHenry, his wife, Karan, Executive Director of Advancement, Nicholas Weedon ’02, Darren Katic ’92, and his wife, Millie, at the L.A. Coliseum for a USC versus Utah football game in October. Paul and his wife, Lindsey, have two sons, Henry and Cole. Darren and Millie live in Hermosa Beach, Calif., with their two daughters. Darren works in the oil and gas industry, as does his brother, Robert ’90.
and his wife, Susan, welcomed a son, Caleb, in May. John manages the design and construction of some of Canada’s largest buildings and infrastructure projects through his consulting company, Crimson Oak.
Paul Perrier
is executive senior associate athletic director at the University of Southern California in Los
assumed the role of Executive Director of Advancement at SAC in July. Nicholas has held multiple advancement roles at St. Andrew’s since being hired in 2008. He holds an MBA in global leadership from the University of Fredericton, a B.A. (Hons.) in political science from Western University, a CAIS Next Step Diploma in advanced leadership, and a CAIS diploma in independent school leadership. Nicholas lives in Aurora with his wife, Ashley, and their three children, Abigail, 9, Bennett, 7, and Lincoln, 3.
Brook Dyson ’98, Jonathan Price ’98, and Brad Gooderham ’98.
Jeff Thompson
and his wife, Sheena, brought their daughters, Alyse and Leah, on a visit to SAC in August. The family lives in Nassau, Bahamas, where Jeff works as the executive chef at Sandyport Beach Resort. Alyse is following in her dad’s
From left, Millie and Darren Katic ’92, Karan and Kevin McHenry, Head of School, USC head basketball coach, Andy Enfield, Paul Perrier ’01, and Nicholas Weedon ’02. Fall 2023 The ANDREAN
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2003 Jordan Ross
and his wife, Carly, welcomed Harper James on July 27, a sister for Layla, 2. The family lives in Toronto. Jordan is the chief operating officer for Voxtur Analytics. He stays in touch with many Old Boys during their Saints Cup golf tournament, pictured above, which is in its 11th year. Participants had a live schoolyard draft and two days of playing in Ryder Cup format, where Team White, captained by Paul Ross ’06, beat Team Red, captained by Scotty Johnstone ’06.
Joseph Rothwell
and his wife, Tory, welcomed their second child, Rooney John, on July 29, a sibling for Tessa, 2. The family lives in Massachusetts. Joseph works in Boston as a senior director and trader at Manulife Investment Management.
life in the Beaches neighbourhood, catching up with many SAC friends, including classmates, Tim Birkett and Darryl Stock.
and crayons to playtesting and manufacturing. The students had more than a dozen questions for Darrin before they headed back to class to brainstorm concepts for their own SAC-themed board games. Muskoka: The Board Game was released this summer by Darrin’s company, Canazee Games. “From initial sketches, prototypes, and samples, hundreds of hours were poured into the artwork, playtesting, development and manufacturing of our first game, and we’re so proud of the result,” he says. Canazee raised over $17,000 through its Kickstarter campaign and has already delivered games to hundreds of happy customers.
Faisal Ratansi Darrin Henein
2004 Matthew Gnyp
visited St. Andrew’s on Jan. 13 to speak to Middle School students about a board game he designed called Muskoka: The Board Game. Darrin inspired students with the story of how the game was developed over hundreds of hours, going from prototypes made using Bristol board, markers,
and his wife, Laura, welcomed their second child, Sam, on Oct. 4, 2022, a brother for Millie, 5. Matthew is a sales director with Omdia, a technology research and advisory group. He and his family moved back to Toronto in 2019 after six years in New York City and are now enjoying
SUBMIT YOUR CLASS NOTE TO APPEAR IN THE ANDREAN
theandrean@sac.on.ca deadline: Feb. 28, 2024
52 The ANDREAN Fall 2023
Couples and business partners, Alicia and Darrin Henein ’04 and Brenna-Lynn and Trent Hansen.
and his wife, Fatima, welcomed their first child, Noura Karin, on May 10, named in honour of her grandmothers and as an ode to her strong family matriarchy. Faisal calls Noura “a rockstar, just like her mum” and has already started working on her St. Anne’s School application.
2005 Jared Leslie
and his wife, Meg, moved to New York City in August. Jared, a Major in the Canadian Armed Forces, is seconded to the United Nations. Jared, Meg, and their children, Ella and Jack, are thrilled to start a new adventure and enjoy everything NYC has to offer.
Jeremy Slessor
joined the St. Andrew’s Advancement team in August as the Major Gifts and Stewardship Officer. Jeremy began working in the not-forprofit sector nearly ten years ago, serving at both the local and head offices of Heart and Stroke Foundation and, more recently, at Baycrest Foundation as the event manager for the Bike for Brain Health. As an Old Boy, Jeremy has a strong understanding of the importance and impact of a St. Andrew’s education on young men.
2011 Ben Hanlon
and Sam welcomed their first child, Parker, on June 7. Ben is the owner of Hanlon Developments, a professional building and design company of custom homes and seasonal residences around Blue Mountain, Ont.
2007 Greg Vandemark
and his wife, Julia, welcomed their first child, Phoenix Charles, on May 18. Greg is the sales manager for Salus Technologies in Vancouver, B.C., where he attended the Old Boys pub night in April. Greg and his family live in Port Moody, B.C.
2006
Dylan Hewko
and his wife, Olivia, welcomed their first child, Leonore Tera, on March 27. The family moved back to Burlington, Ont., from New York City in 2021. Dylan is the associate vice-president of finance for the Canadian Premier League and Canadian Soccer Business.
Michael Lara
and Nataliia Golovanova were married at Galiano Island in B.C. in 2022. In attendance was Michael’s uncle, Luis Lara Olmos ’83. Luis recently celebrated the wedding of his daughter, Fernanda, at Cambium Farms just outside of Toronto. Attending Fernanda’s wedding was Thijs Maaskant ’06, so Michael spent the evening celebrating with a fellow Old Boy. Michael and Nataliia live in Surrey, B.C., and he is a senior data architect and data scientist with the B.C. government. Luis is enjoying retirement in North Vancouver with his wife, Alejandra.
2009 Hayden Beck
and his wife, Calee, welcomed their first child, Fletcher Anthony Leple, on March 29. Hayden is a partner at EBT Chartered Professional Accountants in Medicine Hat, Alta. He attended the annual Old Boys Golf Tournament in June and plans to return next year.
Andrew Pacione
and his wife, Alexandra, welcomed their second child, Jack Joseph, on Aug. 15, a sibling for Mia. The family lives in Innisfil, Ont.
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2012 Kevin Park
and his mother and father visited campus in early June, their first stop on a family road trip across Ontario. Kevin lives in Montreal, where he works in the restaurant industry. He recounted some fond memories during the visit to St. Andrew’s and noted it was his parents’ first time at the school.
2013 Mario Chiodo
joined IG Wealth Management as a consultant in July after over two years as Alumni Relations Coordinator at St. Andrew’s College. During his time at SAC, Mario helped coach First Football, a team he was a part of for three years as a student. In his new role, Mario assists clients in achieving their financial goals through strategic planning and expert guidance.
media content creator. Before returning to SAC in July, John was an editor and reporter for CityNews 680 in Toronto.
Alexander Seto
and Samantha Jones-Jackson were married on June 10. The ceremony took place in the Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens, with the reception held at a restaurant overlooking Niagara Falls. Niagara Falls is particularly significant to Alexander and Samantha, who is originally from the United States, as it symbolizes the overlap of the Canadian-U.S. border. In the wedding party were Alexander’s brother, Zachary ’12, and classmates, Stefano Scaini and Muhammad Salyani.
2014 Alec Mulder
married Julia Ferreira in Memorial Chapel on April 22. His brother, Nick ’11, was the best man. Classmates, Zachary Petrachek, Christian Philbert, and Geoffrey Wei, were in attendance.
John Joseph Mitchell
and his wife, Andrea, welcomed a daughter, Nora, on July 9. “It is amazing the amount of things you can still accomplish in a day on such little sleep,” says this new dad. John Joseph attended his 10-year reunion in September, and Andrea and Nora joined him the following day to take in Homecoming; it was Andrea’s first visit to SAC. The family lives in Bracebridge, Ont., where John Joseph is a realtor with Forest Hill Real Estate Inc. Brokerage working in Muskoka and the surrounding area.
Will Pidduck Dylan Sikura
married Bianca Parsons on July 8. The ceremony was held at Blessed Sacrament Parish in Toronto, and the reception took place at Casa Loma. In attendance were his brother, Tyler ’10, classmates, Spencer Harris, Jacob Kearley, Jonathan McConnell, Jack McDonald, Nick Moutrey, Liam Neuman, Jack O’Neill, Austin Pugliese, Chance Rodin, Conner Rowntree, C.J. Sifton, and Burke White, as well as Matt Iwai ’15, Matthew Sovereign ’11, and Bowman Webster ’10.
is a resident doctor in the Department of Family Medicine at the University of British Columbia. Will received his MD from Queen’s University in 2022 and previously worked as a research assistant at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto.
2016 Jerod Forte
purchased Bellissimo Pizzeria and Ristorante in January. Bellissimo is an Italian restaurant in
John Sandham
is the new Alumni Relations Coordinator at SAC. He remained connected to the school after graduation by guest directing at the Focus Festival of the Arts in 2018 and speaking at the 2022 Church Parade. John has enjoyed a career in media as a news anchor, radio personality, and multi54 The ANDREAN Fall 2023
downtown Toronto, located a five-minute walk from St. Lawrence Market. Bellissimo received an award of recommendation from Restaurant Guru for its pizza, and Jerod welcomes all Andreans in the area to stop by.
2018 Tyler Black
was a recipient of the 2023 Robin Yount Performance Award, given to the Milwaukee Brewers minor league player of the year. The No. 51 prospect in baseball, according to MLB Pipeline, Tyler started the 2023 season with the Double-A Biloxi Shuckers. He joined the Triple-A Nashville Sounds on Aug. 6, recording at least one hit in each of the final 14 games of the season, going 24 for 53 over that span. For the season, Tyler recorded an average of .284, with 73 runs batted in and 55 extra-base hits.
2019 Axel Ravera
and classmate, Thomas Childerhose, graduated from the Royal Military College of Canada on May 18, 2023, and were commissioned as Second Lieutenants in the Canadian Army on June 28. They are posted to CFB Gagetown, N.B. “It has been great having another Andrean along. We did basic training together and were in the same division at RMC. Many of the skills learned at SAC have definitely helped us along the way: teamwork and cooperation, leadership and decision-making, hard work ethic, and dedication to duty are some of the lessons we took from SAC and put to use in the military,” Axel says.
was named the 2023 Student Leader of the Year in May by Enactus Canada, the country’s largest student leadership development organization. The award recognizes the leader who has made the most outstanding contribution to their Enactus team. While studying at Wilfrid Laurier University, Alexander’s team won six regional competitions and back-to-back national titles, representing Canada globally twice.
Alexander Smith ’19 and Ian Aitken, founder and chair of Enactus.
Matthew Stienburg
Anthony Pennino
visited New York City over the July long weekend with classmates, Dylan Henderson, Cameron Hillis, and Lucas La Brier. Anthony says the friends don’t get to spend much time together because Cameron, a professional hockey player, lives in Illinois during the winter, so the summertime trip was a good chance to reconnect.
Alexander Smith
Thomas Childerhose ’19 is to the left, and Axel Ravera ’19 is at right, with a friend in the centre.
signed a two-year contract with the Colorado Avalanche, the team that selected him 63rd overall in the 2019 NHL Draft. Matthew spent the last four years at Cornell University, recording 46 points in 73 career NCAA games. He finished the
Graham Stanley-Paul
graduated from Queen’s University in April with a BAH in global development and political science. He works for National Defence in Intelligence in Whitehorse, Yukon, and works part-time for Yukon Emergency Medical Services as a responder. He lives with his partner, Emily, and is busy restoring an old truck in his backyard and volunteering at the local fire department.
2018 classmates, Anthony Pennino, Dylan Henderson, Cameron Hillis, and Lucas La Brier.
Brady Reid
joined the IT team at SAC as a Laptop and Helpdesk Specialist in 2023. Brady completed an eight-month work term at SAC in 2022 as part of the Bachelor of Computing (Hons.) program at the University of Guelph.
2019 classmates, from left, Axel Ravera, Martin Skachkov, Mikey Bahen, Graham Stanley-Paul, Alexander Smith, Jacob Crocker, and Eric Baker.
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2022-2023 season playing with the Avalanche’s AHL affiliate team, the Colorado Eagles. During his time at St. Andrew’s, Matthew collected 160 points in league play and another 10 in eight post-season contests, serving as team captain during the 2018-2019 season.
2021 Aiden Kirchmair
utilized the SAC Connect platform while starting his real estate marketing consultancy, Realty Ascend. Aiden made use of the network to connect with Sandy Mackay ’04, founder of Mackay Realty Network. Sandy provided Aiden with meaningful mentorship and facilitated a vendor partner deal to help Realty Ascend scale its business. Aiden looks forward to continuing to scale his business while completing his software engineering degree at Western University.
2023 Jonathan Castagna
was selected 70th overall by the Arizona Coyotes in the 2023 NHL Draft. Jonathan finished the 2022-2023 season with 72 points, including 29 goals in 50 games with the First Hockey Saints, while serving as team captain. Jonathan will spend the next four years at Cornell University playing for the Big Red, a program that has won the NCAA championship twice and produced dozens of NHL players.
ANDREAN IN SITU The inaugural edition of The Andrean was a four-page bulletin published in October 1956.
2022 Callum Arnott
has committed to the University of Minnesota Duluth. He is entering his second season with the Penticton Vees of the BCHL, registering 24 points, including three goals, in his rookie season with the team. Callum also had five points during the Vees’ post-season run, culminating in the 20222023 league championship.
Aydar Suniev
was drafted in the third round, 80th overall, by the Calgary Flames in the 2023 NHL Draft. The left winger played for the Penticton Vees of the BCHL during the 2022-2023 season, ranking third on the team with 90 points and tied for first in goals with 45. His nine goals and 14 assists in the playoffs helped the Vees to their second consecutive BCHL championship. Aydar played 11 games for the First Hockey Saints during the 2021-2022 season, collecting 23 points in those contests, including 13 goals.
Francesco Dell’Elce
alongside fellow Penticton Vees players, Anselmo Rego ’23 and Callum Arnott ’22, met with Head of School, Kevin McHenry, and Deputy Head of School, Greg Reid, after a 5-2 home victory over the Prince George Spruce Kings on Oct. 11, 2023. In CISAA play last season with the First Hockey Saints, Francesco led the league in scoring among defensemen with 20 goals and 62 points. Francesco has committed to the University of Massachusetts for the 2024-2025 season. X
Pages 3 and 4 were filled with notes from Old Boys around the world, updating others on their goings-on.
The very first note was a short message submitted by Pedro Martin ’10 (as in 1910). Here is what he had to say: Pedro Martin writes from Mexico that he has hopes of forming a local Old Boys’ Association and that many Old Boys met Sir Neil Ritchie when he was recently in Mexico City.
Deputy Head of School, Greg Reid, Anselmo Rego ’23, Callum Arnott ’22, Francesco Dell’Elce ’23, and Head of School, Kevin McHenry.
56 The ANDREAN Fall 2023
As the first of a four-generation family to attend St. Andrew’s, he was certainly an engaged and enthusiastic alum. (General Sir Neil Methuen Ritchie was a British Army officer who served in both World Wars.)
OBITUARIES 1948
Robert Worling passed away on Aug. 7,
2023, in Trenton, Ont. He attended St. Andrew’s from 1940 to 1948, coming to Canada from Scotland as the Second World War broke out in Europe. He was a Prefect, Head Librarian, and a Lieutenant in the Cadet Corps. According to his obituary, “Robert excelled both academically and in sports. His poems and accomplishments can be found throughout the 1940 to 1948 SAC yearbooks.” Robert played Second Football, Second Hockey, and was on the Track & Field and Rifle teams. After graduation, he attended the University of Toronto for medicine and started a family medical practice in Hamilton, Ont. He then studied psychiatry and worked at Toronto General Hospital. In 1980, he was appointed lecturer at the Department of Psychiatry at Dalhousie in Halifax. In 1985, he became the director of mental health for P.E.I. Robert is survived by his wife, Karin, children, Susan and Robert, stepchildren, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his brother, Douglas ’50.
1951
George Guy passed away on May 11, 2023, in
Toronto. He attended St. Andrew’s College from 1947 to 1951 as a boarder and enjoyed being part of the Cadet Corps and playing football. After graduation, George attended Trinity College at the University of Toronto. During the summers, he served in the Canadian Navy on the frigate, The Swansea. After graduating from U of T, George earned his MBA from the Richard Ivey School of Business in 1957. For the next 40 years, he dedicated his career to Dominion Securities across Ontario, working in Brantford, Kitchener, and finally, Toronto. George is survived by his children, Jennifer, Sheila, and David; five grandchildren, including Charlie ’23; and his brother, Jim ’57. He was predeceased by his wife, Beverly, and son, Geoffrey.
James (Jim) Munro passed away on April 19,
2023, in La Sarre, Que. He attended St. Andrew’s from 1950 to 1953. While at St. Andrew’s, he was a cross-country athlete and enjoyed skiing on the Sr. Ski Race team. He was a member of The Review staff and a Chapel Boy. After graduating, he attended McGill University and the Centre d’études industrielles in Switzerland. He found success in trade finance and international project finance and spent 36 years with the Royal Bank of Canada. James is survived by his wife, Micheline, children, Tony and Heidi, and four grandchildren. He was predeceased by his brother, Bob.
Michael Burns passed away on June 10, 2023,
Tony Stapells passed away on Oct. 14, 2022,
Tony Stapells ’50 presented his bronze sculpture, Victory, to St. Andrew’s College at the school art show and sale in September 1994.
1954
1956
1950
in Toronto. He attended St. Andrew’s College from 1946 to 1950 and found joy in extra-curricular activities, particularly as part of The Review staff, starting as Assistant Art Editor and working his way to Art Director in his final year. He also served as a Librarian. After graduation, Tony continued pursuing his artistic talents, earning his Associate of the Ontario College of Art and becoming a sculptor. He taught fine art in the Toronto area with various boards of education. He was involved with the Ontario Archaeological Society and the Toronto Historical Society, which was dedicated to preserving the heritage of Toronto. Tony is survived by his daughter, Amanda. He was predeceased by his wife, Shirley, and brother, Bredin ’42.
80s. He is survived by his wife, Barbara; children, Julia, Mary, and Katie; three grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. He was predeceased by one grandson.
George Guy ’51 with his grandson, Charlie Guy ’23, in front of Flavelle House in October 2022.
1952
Coulter Osborne passed away on April 19,
2023, in Toronto. He attended St. Andrew’s College from 1950 to 1952. Coulter was a Prefect, Captain of First Basketball, Co-Captain of First Cricket, and a member of the First Football team. He won several awards, including the Cricket Bat, Cricket Cup, Macdonald Medal, and the Isabelle Cockshutt History Prize. After graduating, Coulter attended Western University and then Osgoode Hall Law School. He took time out of his studies to join Canada’s Olympic Basketball team for the 1956 Summer Olympics in Australia. He returned to Australia 44 years later to carry the torch at the Sydney Olympics. Coulter was called to the Bar in 1959 and became a partner at Lochead, Sills, Osborne, Madorin, and Bean, becoming a senior partner in 1970. He had the honour of being appointed to the Supreme Court of Ontario, High Court of Justice, in 1978. In 1990, he was appointed to the Ontario Court of Appeal. Following this, Coulter assumed the role of Integrity Commissioner for the Province of Ontario and continued working as an arbitrator into his
in Toronto. He attended St. Andrew’s from 1946 to 1951. At SAC, he participated in cross-country, soccer, football, hockey, swimming, and cricket. He went on to attend Cornell University and followed in his father’s footsteps by working at Burns Brothers and Denton. He became the chair and CEO of Crown Life, Extendicare and Crownx and served on many corporate boards. Michael supported many charities, including scholarships and prizes at SAC. He is survived by his children, Charles and Shelly; stepdaughters, Kate and Tracey; Judy, his children’s mother; grandchildren, Jack Bahen ’15, Mikey Bahen ’19, and Trevor Kirton ’19; as well as his brother-inlaw, John Cathers ’54; nephew, Richard Day ’90; and great-nephews, Blake ’19 and Colton ’22 Phillips. He was predeceased by his wife, Sue.
1964
Bill Westfall passed away on Aug. 18, 2023,
in Toronto. He attended SAC from 1958 to 1964. He was born in Indianapolis but came to Canada for his high school years and became a proud Canadian and devoted Andrean. He served on the Student Council and Athletic Society and was Assistant Sports Editor of The Review. He played First Basketball, First Football, and cricket. After graduating, he attended Trinity College at the University of Toronto, where he obtained a doctorate in Canadian history. He taught history and humanities at York University for nearly 40 years, and the William Westfall Canadian Studies Prize was created in his honour for his continuous commitment and contributions to his field of study. He is survived by his partner, Jane; children, Bram, Luke, and Jennifer; four grandchildren; and his brother, Jim’ 62. Bill was predeceased by his stepbrother, Mike Murnane ’65. >> Fall 2023 The ANDREAN
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1967
1975
1992
in Littleton, Colo. He attended SAC from 1960 to 1967 and had a great love for theatre and the debate team. Reed served on the Student Council and was Advertising Editor for The Review. After graduation, he attended York University and Western University, dedicating his career to promoting education. He worked in many libraries throughout Ontario, ending his career as director of the London Library System. Reed is survived by his wife, Teresa, stepchildren, Katie and Andrew, and first wife, Elaine.
18, 2022, in Orillia, Ont. He attended St. Andrew’s from 1969 to 1975. He was a Prefect, played on the First Soccer and curling teams, and was third in command of the Cadet Corps. After graduation, Don attended Northwood University in Dallas, Texas, to pursue an automotive marketing and business management degree. He was a family member of Slessor Motors in Newmarket until he established Brothers Appliances. He received a behavioural health and addictions degree from George Brown College, spending his later life helping those going through substance addiction. Don is survived by his children, Jeremy ’06, Lillian, and Angela; four granddaughters; siblings, Peter, John, Ted, and Bonnie; and nephew, D.J. ’80. He is predeceased by his sister, Carole. His wife, Jane, also passed away in August 2022.
2022. He lived in Hong Kong. Michael attended St. Andrew’s from 1990 to 1992. He played First Volleyball and First Badminton and was on the mathematics team. After graduation, he attended the University of Toronto to pursue a Bachelor of Applied Science in electrical engineering.
Reed Osborne passed away on July 27, 2023,
1970
William “Bill” Good passed away on May
17, 2023, in London, Ont. He attended St. Andrew’s from 1965 to 1967. Bill attended Ryerson Polytechnical Institute to study hotel management. He travelled across Europe and returned to London to officially commence his “career in sales and mischief,” according to his official obituary. Bill is survived by his brother, Jim ’68, and sister, Barbara. He was predeceased by his father, James ’41, and sister, Catherine. The Andrean staff and all those who work at St. Andrew’s College extend our sincere condolences to the families and friends of those mentioned in our obituary section. Please email us at theandrean@sac.on.ca if you wish to share news of an Old Boy who has passed away for inclusion in the next Andrean.
58 The ANDREAN Fall 2023
Donald “Don” Slessor passed away on Aug.
1978
Bruce Wild of Owen Sound, Ont., passed
away on July 29, 2023, in Itasca County, Minn. He attended St. Andrew’s from 1975 to 1978 and played First Football and First Curling, was a Drum Sergeant, House Captain, and Jazz Band member. After graduation, he went to York University and found success in his career as a financial advisor (Manulife Securities). Before this career, Bruce was part of the global security solution provider, Intercon Security, and was particularly proud of driving the motorcade for Pope John Paul II during his papal visit to Canada in 1984. He is survived by his wife, Liza, children, Jonathan and Annie; stepsons, Mickey and Joseph, and two grandchildren.
Michael Kwong passed away on Sept. 1,
STAFF Peter Stuart
passed away on March 21, 2023, in Newmarket, Ont. He came to St. Andrew’s in 1971. Throughout his tenure, Peter oversaw discipline, taught math, coached First Soccer and Second Hockey, and became the Assistant Head of School. His contributions to St. Andrew’s extended beyond academics and sports; his unwavering commitment to fostering character, scholarship, and extra-curricular involvement led to the establishment of the Peter L. Stuart Award, given to the Grade 10 student who exemplifies outstanding character, scholarship, and selfless contributions to extra-curricular activities. Peter retired from St. Andrew’s in 1994. He is survived by his wife, Pat; children, Hugh ’76, Neil ’81, and Karen; seven grandchildren; and two greatgrandchildren. X
Angus Glen Golf Club Thursday, June 20, 2024 11 a.m. registration and lunch 1:30 p.m. shotgun start Dinner and prizes to follow Contact John Sandham ’13 to reserve your foursome john.sandham@sac.on.ca
Fall 2023 The ANDREAN
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It seems fitting that Dr. D. Bruce Macdonald’s grave can be found at the highest point of the Aurora Cemetery. To this day, he remains a prominent figure in the history of St. Andrew’s.
HALLOWED GROUND
Taking over the reigns shortly after the school was established in 1899, Dr. Macdonald guided St. Andrew’s through the tumult of the First World War, the relocation to Aurora, and The Great Depression.
Perched on a hill just over four kilometres from the gates of the school, his headstone bears the scars of six decades in the elements. After a good scrub with restorative stone cleaner, the monument looked refreshed and ready for its closeup. On a brisk November afternoon, Pipe Major Bryce Rogers ’24, and Cadet Commanding Officer Preston Corrado ’24 were photographed flanking Dr. Macdonald’s grave (photo opposite page). Bryce then played Amazing Grace in a fitting tribute to a St. Andrew’s legend. Dileas Gu Brath.
Above: Dr. Macdonald’s weather-beaten stone before cleaning. Inset above: The portrait of Dr. Macdonald that hangs in Towers Library, done by Lawren Harris, Class of 1906.
60 The ANDREAN Fall 2023
CONTENTS Fall 2023: volume 67, number 2 FEATURES 4 12 17 26 29 34 36
Published by St. Andrew’s College for Old Boys, parents, and friends of the school Editor Julie Caspersen
The Grass is Always Greener Generations
Director of Communications Nicolette Fleming
ANNUAL REPORT 2023 School News: Pipes & Drums Scotland Trip and SASSAW From The Archives: Riding Homecoming Weekend St. Anne’s School Update: Grand Opening
COLUMNS 3 30 32 38 48 57
The ANDREAN
The Head’s Up Community News
Art Direction, Design, and Photography Paul Mosey, Creative Lead Contributors Gabby Bablanian Natasha Daley Sean Maillet Jim McGillivray Angus Murray John Sandham ’13 Chris Traber Telephone 905-727-3178, ext. 333
Sports Roundup
Email admission@sac.on.ca oldboys@sac.on.ca theandrean@sac.on.ca
Old Boys Profiles Old Boys News Obituaries
Website www.sac.on.ca Front Cover
Groundskeeper, Patrick Ueberer, does some fall cleanup on the Quad.
Back Cover
Welcome to The Andrean, your alumni magazine since 1956. Coming from a newspaper background, I was accustomed to working in a cubicle and, for a couple of years, was one of the fortunate people to have a window view of our parking lot with Hwy. 404 in the background. Upon my arrival on the St. Andrew’s campus in 2017 to start a new career, I saw for myself how a workplace can also be beautiful, lush, and uplifting, something that Head of School, Kevin McHenry, reinforces at the beginning of each new school year. SAC truly is a picturesque place to attend classes, work, and raise a family. St. Anne’s School is following in those footsteps; as one young Cygnet reports on Page 37, “It’s amazing, gorgeous, spectacular!” If you haven’t been back to campus in a few years, I hope you enjoy our feature on the grounds and are inspired to visit us soon.
Julie Caspersen, Editor
We belong to the following associations:
Looking straight down the spire of Memorial Chapel from 200 feet above, a unique perspective on a treasured St. Andrew’s landmark.
The Andrean magazine supports the St. Andrew’s College mission: “developing the complete man, the well-rounded citizen,” connects Old Boys and parents to the school, and reflects St. Andrew’s College’s enduring value to the constituents it serves.
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THE
ANDREAN Fall 2023: volume 67, number 2
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The green, green grass of home GROUNDS for CELEBRATION: The St. Andrew’s campus is a paradise found PLUS: ANNUAL REPORT 2023 SAS is NOW OPEN! Old Boys News Sports Roundup + MORE