School Ties: 2009, Fall Issue - St. Michaels University School

Transcription

FALL 2009 • ST. MICHAELS UNIVERSITY SCHOOL
School
Alumni Weekend
Revisited
A look back at
reunion celebrations
for the classes of
’59, ’74, ’79,
’84, ’89 and ’99
Building a
Sustainable
SMUS
Making the
Environment
their Business
What the school
is doing to reduce
our impact
Alumni working
toward a
greener future
School Ties is distributed to more than
5,200 members of the St. Michaels
University School community, including
current families, friends, and current and
past staff and students. The goal
of the publication is to communicate
current activities and initiatives and
provide articles and reports on the alumni
community. If you have any comments or
suggestions regarding this publication,
please email [email protected].
Published by the Advancement Office
St. Michaels University School
3400 Richmond Road
Victoria, British Columbia
Canada V8P 4P5
Telephone: 250-592-2411
Admissions: 1-800-661-5199
Email: [email protected]
Contents
2 Travellers
As he embarks on a three-month sabbatical,
Head of School Bob Snowden wonders
what lessons his travels will teach him.
20 Feature: Making the
Environment Their Business
Find out the many ways our alumni are
working towards a sustainable future.
3 The SMUS Review
26 It’s Not Easy Being Green
News stories from all three campuses
published on our web forum, The
SMUS Review.
Editor Laura Authier and guest editor
Craig Farish on the lessons learned from
pulling together a green issue.
8 Retirees
27 Building a Sustainable
SMUS
School Ties magazine and archive
copies can be found in the publications
section
of
the
school
website:
www.smus.bc.ca/publications
We bid farewell to two teachers and a board
member who were also alumni.
If you are interested in attending school
events, call 250-592-2411 for further details,
or visit the school’s website Calendar of
Events: www.smus.bc.ca
Sports highlights from March to
June 2009.
31 Being Part of the Cycle
12 Paul Rowe ’33
Editors: Erin Anderson, Laura Authier,
Gillian Donald ’85, Peter Gardiner,
Louise Winter
Guest Editor: Craig Farish ‘90
One of our University School alumni will
be the subject of a forthcoming book.
32 Alumni Weekend
Reunions, Receptions
Contributors (in no particular order):
Robert Snowden, Robert Wilson, Peter
Gardiner, Laura Authier, Kent Leahy-Trill,
Erin Anderson, Brenda Waksel, Louise
Winter, Gillian Donald ’85 and SMUS
community members. We apologize for
any omissions.
Arts highlights and news featuring our
students and alumni.
Photos: Evan Effa, Kent Leahy-Trill,
Erin Anderson, Peter Gardiner, Gordon
Chan, Diana Nason, Lindsay Brooke, Jake
Humphries, Lindsay Ross, Wendy Shergold
Design and Layout: Reber Creative
Printed in Canada W
by Hillside Printing Ltd., Victoria, BC
Correction: Our caption in the last
issue should have identified these
Grade 6 (now Grade 7) Barnacle
housemates as Simon Gray and
Hayden Hopkins.
10 Athletics Highlights
13 Arts Highlights
Craig Farish reports on SMUS’ successes
and setbacks in the struggle to go green.
A quick guide to carbon-free commuting.
Pictures and reviews from our alumni
gatherings.
37 Alumni Updates
News from our alumni around the world.
16 Celebration of Poetry
Two literary alumni read their work
alongside our Grade 12 poets.
Alums in this Issue
Renee Duggan ’90 – p. 8
Craig Farish ’90 – p. 3
Leif Reinhold ’90 – p. 21
Michael Welwood ’90 – p. 22
Jessica Woolliams ’91 – p. 25
Steven Price ’94 – p. 18
Dave Crothall ’95 – p. 25
Curran Crawford ’96 – p. 21
Chantal Schauch ’97 – p. 24
Emily Huddart ’98 – p. 23
Kevin Morin ’99 – p. 22
Clea Adair ’00 – p. 22
Pete Panasupon ’03 – p. 24
Claire Battershill ’04 – p. 18
Christine Ottmar ’06 – p. 21
This issue of School Ties was printed on FSC-certified Lustro Dull paper, made with 936
pounds of post-consumer waste instead of virgin fiber. St. Michaels University School saved
the following resources by using this paper: 6 trees, 509 pounds of solid waste, 560 gallons of
water, 730 kilowatt hours of electricity, 0.9 months of electric power required by the average
U.S. home, 925 pounds of greenhouse gases, 749 miles travelled in the average American
car, 4 pounds of HAPs, VOCs, and AOX combined, and 1 cubic yard of landfill space.
Calculations based on research by Environmental Defense and other members of the Paper
Task Force.
School Ties - Fall 2009 • 1
Paul Rowe ’33 – p. 14
David Anderson ’44 – p. 25
Tom Rigos ’61 – p. 9
Nigel Hawkesworth ’62 – p. 23
Tony Keble ’62 – p. 9
Chuck Lenfestry ’65 – p. 22
John McIntyre ’66 – p. 10
Charlie Weiss ’72 – p. 22
Tee Jin Gan ’77 – p. 21
Will Sloan ’78 – p. 22
Malcolm Penn ’82 – p. 23
Susan (McKibbin) Telfer ’84 – p. 17
Betsy Donald ’86 – p. 22
Michael Talbot ’86 – p. 21
Ian Scanlon ’87 – p. 23
Maureen Gordon ’89 – p. 24
head of school
Travellers
On a three-month sabbatical this fall, Bob Snowden is looking forward to the lessons that
travelling in unfamiliar locales will teach him.
2 • School Ties - Fall 2009
O
ne of the rituals of schools, since I first found myself in one,
is the summer reading list. Now, as I write this in September,
many conversations with friends and colleagues do in fact turn
to what we read over the summer. The novelist Graham Greene
distinguishes between escapist books, which take us out of
ourselves, and more serious books, which take us into ourselves
even when they take us out into a wider world. There is a place
for both: unrelieved self-improvement is hard to sustain, and
those who manage it are intimidating beings.
Likewise with travelling the world. During the summer we
held our customary Management Team retreat. The theme was
a book study of Cosmopolitanism, by Princeton philosopher
and teacher Kwame Appiah. One of the questions we asked
early, on the topic of the encounters between people of different
cultures, was “are you a tourist or a traveller?” Along the same
lines, a question I tend to ask prospective applicants to the
school – who have had the opportunity to travel – is “one often
hears that travel teaches us more about ourselves than about the
places we visit. Is this true?”
I hope the answer is yes. This fall, from the beginning of
October until the middle of December my wife Joan and I
are fortunate to have the opportunity to travel, the result of a
sabbatical our board has awarded in my fifteenth year of service
at the school. The countries on the list include Spain, Morocco,
Turkey, Jordan, India, Nepal, Cambodia and Laos. I confess
I am not a great tourist – after a modicum (what would be
for some, a minimum) of museums, historical buildings and
galleries my attention falters, and I prefer to walk through a
market, speak to someone in a restaurant, or observe the ebb
and flow of a town square from a sidewalk café.
We have never visited any of our destinations, so in some
obvious respects we will be tourists. We do expect to discover a
lot about both ourselves and new places: the Prado Museum in
Madrid, the Medina of Marrakech, the Blue Mosque and Hagia
Sophia in Istanbul, Petra in Jordan, the Taj Mahal, Angkor Wat,
the Annapurna hills of Nepal, the old city of Luang Prabang in
Laos. Equally interesting is the array of exceptional schools we will
be visiting in these countries: from the very established such as
Robert College in Istanbul, to the newly prominent such as King’s
Academy in Jordan, to Woodstock School in the Indian foothills of
the Himalayas (with whom we are arranging a student exchange),
to the most primitive and rustic schools of southern Laos.
Remarkable in this tour of duty is the extent to which school
connections have ensured that our experience will be more that
of traveller than tourist. For instance, King’s Academy in Jordan
was founded in 2007 by King Abdul of Jordan, on the model
of Deerfield Academy, the prominent New England boarding
school which he attended. The first Director of Admissions
at King’s was an alumnus of our school, Renee Dugan ’90. It
is a remarkable school, and I will return from that and other
visits full of reflections about our own possibilities at SMUS.
Other alumni and parents have been equally helpful in creating
exceptional encounters at every stop.
By the time anyone reads this article, we will have logged
a few thousand of our intended miles. The Head’s Blog will
continue with postings from our different destinations, as
much to allow me to stay in touch as vice versa. I am certain
that the most echoing phrase in my head, and perhaps in the
pages of my blog, will be the phrase from the SMUS Vision:
“discovering the promise in our selves and the world.”
Visit http://blogs.smus.bc.ca/head/
T
he SMUS Review publishes weekly on our website (blogs.smus.bc.ca/review) and covers school news from all three campuses. The
following highlights were taken from stories published from March to June, 2009. You can read more about these stories by going to our
home page and selecting “SMUS Review” from the News and Calendar menu.
March
School News
Highlights from the SMUS Review
■Grade 4 students prepared for Spring
Break by assembling supplies to send
along with the Senior School students,
who spent their holiday volunteering
in Kenya. Students Laura Bass, Lucie
Marchessault and Nick Considine
spearheaded the initiative, making a
presentation to Grade 4 students and
organizing all the kits their peers brought
in. The 50 school and health kits were
given to students at the rural school our
senior students were helping to build.
Lucie Marchessault, Nick Considine and Laura Bass with kits for Kenya.
■The International Council and our
Korean students infused the Senior School
campus with contemporary and traditional
Korean culture for one of the school
year’s many culture weeks. The day and
boarding students showcased their culture
by bringing in a professional group to
perform samul nori, traditional percussion
music, and by performing themselves,
singing and dancing to contemporary pop
songs as well as demonstrating historical
Korean entertainments, such as a piano/
danso collaboration and buchaechum, a
dance incorporating colourful fans.
Jae Ho Lee, Kevin Kim, and Andy Sung
cheer on a dancing David Park.
April
this year, which aimed to make the
fundraising effort more personal by
connecting each participant in North
America to an individual in Africa.
■Many of our students went a
whole day without saying a word, a
challenge they undertook for Amnesty
International’s Day of Silence, which
focuses on lesbian, gay, bisexual and
transgendered harassment and the
silencing of political dissidents. By not
speaking in class or chatting with friends,
the students modeled the silence imposed
on individuals all over the world who are
unable to speak freely. Now in its third
year at SMUS, the Day of Silence is
the largest event put on by the school’s
Amnesty International club and a huge
fundraiser for the organization.
■Eight Senior School students
attended
World
Vision’s
Youth
Empowered Conference on the global
food crisis. Topics included local farming,
fair trade and food’s cultural connections.
Two teenagers from Tanzania spoke to
the assembled students about their lives
and the many difficulties they had to
overcome. The conference also tied into
the 30-Hour Famine’s new approach
School News
April (continued)
■Our highest-ranked debate teams in
the junior and senior divisions competed
in extreme debating, battling each other
in an impromptu parliamentary debate
in front of many of their fellow students.
Throughout the lunchtime contest,
Charles Leitz and Kristijan Gjorgjevik
argued that “there can be no shepherds
without sheep,” while Eric Protzer and
Chris Groot argued the opposite. For the
SMUS Review, Kristijan and Eric wrote a
point/counterpoint review of the debate,
in which they both argued that their
team won.
bench-pressing competition and Walk for
Water t-shirts, designed by student Shun
Kinoshita, were new additions to the
annual event. Co-organizers Anna Fretz
and Nikki van der Wal directed the funds
the event raised towards the village they
are sponsoring in Sri Lanka.
Kaylynn Purdy and teacher David Kerr sort
garbage into compostable and recyclable
materials.
Eric Protzer attempts to sway the crowd
to his side in extreme debating.
■Over 80 students and staff showed
solidarity with the millions of people
around the world who must travel long
distances for water during Walk for Water,
which raises funds as well as awareness
about the global need for better water
access. Participating Senior and Middle
School staff and students spent their day
carrying jugs of water around campus in
the Walk for Water relay. A water-themed
Emily Mulroney walks for water.
■Five Grade 11 students attended
the 2009 CAIS student leadership
conference and explored a variety of
issues facing the world today and the
role individuals play in solving them.
Students from around the world worked
together in teams and created plans to
tackle problems such as world poverty and
hunger, corruption and political apathy,
slavery and trafficking, statelessness and
refugees, and environmental issues.
■Senior and Middle School students
took action in honour of Earth Week.
By giving each day a different theme,
students drew attention to electricity use,
garbage and recycling, food production,
transportation, and water management
with demonstrations and calls to action.
Special guest Derek Masselink spoke in
Senior School chapel about sustainable
communities, including the importance
of using local food sources and growing
your own food.
May
■The Grade 1 class visited the
University of Victoria in order to
learn about post-secondary education.
President David Turpin welcomed the
students and answered their questions
about the university and his job. The
students then conducted surveys of the
university’s wild rabbit population before
settling down to some chemistry, creating
a goopy concoction similar to silly putty.
■The graduating class of 2009 held
the annual SMUS Grad Fashion Show,
where close to 400 people enjoyed music,
performances, cake, and high fashion. In
addition to models showing off many
ensembles put together by Victoria’s most
fashionable stores, the show featured
interpretive and breakdance routines and
more than a few runway stunts.
Makayla Lintott explores chemistry at UVic.
Brett Adam performs a high-flying runway
stunt with Stephanie Passmore in the
Grad Fashion Show.
May (continued)
Ricky Fabris delights his audience with
his humorous poem “Homework.”
A model of the Great Wall built by Grade 7
students for the annual museum night.
■Grade 4 students took over local
coffee house the Black Stilt to share poems
with their siblings, parents, grandparents
and teachers. Each student read a poem of
their choice and each class recited a poem
as a group. The children also showcased
artistic abilities by presenting paintings to
accompany their poetry. The Vancouver
Olympics, nature and favourite pets were
some of the subjects of the short verses,
which incorporated personification, visual
imagery, and abstract ideas.
environmental impact. The international
food fair relied on compostable dishes
while Craig Farish and the school’s
E-team established recycling stations,
eventually collecting enough recyclables
to fill an entire classroom.
■Grade 7 students re-created treasures
from cultures around the world –
including ancient China, Egypt and early
Rome – for their annual Museum Night.
Catapults, sacred cats, pyramids, gardens,
towers and a chariot built almost to scale
dazzled visitors. After their tour, families
could then enter the café where students
■One of the Middle School exploratory
classes visited the Luther Court Society
care facility, where they performed music
for a very appreciative audience of senior
citizens. Students performed on the piano,
cello and violin as well as sang for the 60
residents, who joined in for classic
numbers “Amazing Grace” and “My
Favorite Things.” Students also spent an
afternoon painting with some of their new
older friends.
School News
served couscous, falafel, dates, pita bread,
hummus, tzatziki and dried apricots.
Jason Chiu presents a picture he drew for
a Luther Court resident, based on stories
he heard about the man’s life.
A young Spring Fair goer gets a pony
ride.
Charlotte Colby gets a ride from Brennan Bellavance and Jonas Robinson.
■Grade 5 students wrapped up
their study of Greek mythology with
presentations, games and feasts. Students
dressed up as Greek gods and goddesses,
playing the roles of the deities they had
researched, and spent a memorable
morning participating in a variety
of activities, including chariot races,
Parthenon-building (using only paper and
tape), Greek dancing and a trivia game.
Teachers Mrs. Yorath and Ms. Newsome
also dressed up, and provided the students
with a great feast, featuring many foods
enjoyed centuries ago in Greece.
Visit the SMUS Review blogs.smus.bc.ca/review
■The semi-annual Spring Fair
returned, bringing much family fun to our
campus, with an international food fair,
live entertainment, carnival games and all
kinds of new and used goods. Everyone
enjoyed the many activities as well as
the beautiful weather. The fair was also
an achievement this year in terms of its
School News
May (continued)
informational displays about different
places, including their culture, economy,
history and significant individuals. Some
students even dressed up to represent the
country or shared culinary specialties
from the region.
■The Victoria Bug Zoo welcomed
Ms. Galloway’s Grade 1 class as the
students followed up their insect studies
by meeting a few special creatures similar
to the ones they had been learning about.
Students enjoyed some very hands-on
lessons as they played with a leaf insect,
a praying mantis and a tarantula (which
Jake McCloskey keeps the beat.
■The Richmond Road campus was
dotted with hot pink t-shirts as hundreds
of students participated in Keep the Beat,
an annual SMUS event. The t-shirts were
sold along with CDs featuring many
popular SMUS musicians to raise funds
for War Child Canada. Over the lunch
hour, musically inclined students were
invited to perform in the Christine Duke
theatre by organizers Emily Reid and
Jake McCloskey, and both the Middle
and Senior Schools held talent shows in
support of the cause.
Jonah Wilmott is tickled by a giant
millipede.
was held by their parent chaperones). The
students were also able to see a scorpion
and to play around with millipedes,
whose multitudes of legs tickled the
young students’ hands and faces.
■Students from Grades 6-8 showed
off their musical gifts and their moves at
the Middle School Talent Show. Fresh
from their Keep the Beat activities, the
students sang, danced, played instruments
and entertained a gymnasium full of
their peers with their abilities and
showmanship, singing and dancing to
popular songs from artists like Kelly
Clarkson, Taylor Swift, and the Black Eyed
Peas. Not to be outdone, the teachers gave
a graceful performance of the well-known
ballet “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies,”
complete with homemade pink tutus.
■On May 31, many SMUS families
took part in the World Partnership Walk
fundraiser. Both the Junior and Middle
Schools are huge supporters of the WPW,
which funds development programmes
in the world’s poorest regions. With
many Junior School families involved
in the walk itself and the Middle School
holding its annual basketball fundraiser,
SMUS managed to raise almost $20,000
for the cause.
Nicholas Loughton, Sarah Fellows and
Joshua Liggett at the Grade 6 Around the
World night.
■The Middle School became a global
microcosm as Grade 6 students showed
off what they had learned about different
countries during Around the World
night. Students teamed up to create
Orla Glen competes for a good cause in the World Partnership Walk basketball game.
■The class of 2009 put together an
exceptionally entertaining leavers’ chapel,
using their skit (a take on Slumdog
Millionaire) to re-enact some of their
favourite memories from the year, point
out their teachers’ quirks and have a laugh,
often at their own expense. As Bhupinder
Dulku competed to win one million
rupees, his fellow students acted out
moments from the Grad Fashion Show,
Valentine’s Day musical performances
and the capture of the Boot.
an egg toss, a mathematical clapping
game, and an environmental relay, which
included a recycling sort. The annual
tug-of-war hit a snag when Harvey and
Barnacle broke the rope, so the remaining
reserves of water balloons brought the
games to a close with a splash.
Tomoya Tago holds up the remains of the
House Olympics tug-of-war rope.
■The annual Middle School Colours
Day brought all of our Grade 6, 7 and
8 students to the SMUS field, where
they competed in their house teams.
The games kicked off with team cheers,
followed by a series of relay events. After
two teams tied for first place in the threelegged race, all four teams were tied going
into the tug-of-war for the first time in
Middle School house games history. In
the championship battle, the Bolton
team triumphed over Barnacle.
School News
June
■Chantal Kreviazuk and Raine
Maida, the lead singer of Our Lady Peace,
ended the school year with a very special
performance in Schaffter Hall to raise
funds for War Child Canada. During this
intimate, acoustic event in a small venue,
over 100 concert goers enjoyed a one-ofa-kind performance from the Juno-award
winning artists, as well as a reception,
silent auction and photography exhibit.
War Child founder Dr. Samantha Nutt
also spoke at the event.
Alison Phillips, Sheena Campbell and
Patricia Halim relive Valentine’s Day in
their last chapel service.
■Boarding House Olympics started
off with the classic pre-game “surprise”
water balloon fight and a round of cheers
and skits by each house. Beginning with
an obstacle course – a race of balance,
flexibility, chopstick skills and water jug
tossing – the games went on to include
Mitchell Newman and Haydn Hopkins
have some fun with fellow Grade 6
student Simon Gray on Middle School
Colours Day.
Alums on Campus
Middle School students Carmen Lizola
and Ashley Hoydal-Payne enjoy a cool
treat on Ice Cream Day.
■In June, alumnus Renee Dugan
’90 returned to SMUS to give a
presentation to our students about
New York University’s new campus in
Abu Dhabi. Renee is the Director of
Admissions for the university, which
opens to undergraduates in September
of 2010. The university is funded by
the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and
is powerfully endowed – any student
who is accepted will be financially able
to attend. English is widely spoken in
Abu Dhabi, and will be the language
of instruction at the university.
■On a day when the temperature
hit a record high, Chris Spicer ’70,
Michael Symons ’63, Mervyn LougherGoodey ’56, Brian Cameron ’70,
Philip Sherwin ’69 and Bruce Holms
’71 enjoyed a cold treat with hundreds
of happy students on all three campus
during the 78th annual Ice Cream
Day. The event began in 1931, on St.
Michael’s founder Kyrle C. Symons
50th birthday.
Chantal Kreviazuk performs for War Child
supporters in Schaffter Hall.
School News
Alums Retire from School Life
Wishing our retiring teachers a fond farewell is always bittersweet, but this year’s tributes
are particularly poignant as we say good-bye to two long-serving teachers and a board
governor who got their start at SMUS as students.
Tony Keble ’62
Born in Sri Lanka, Tony came to University School as a student when
his father, Tom Keble, began teaching English at the school in 1956.
Former classmates remember Tony as a fleet-footed winger on the highly
successful 1st XV rugby team (1961-62) and as a senior track champion,
always competing against fellow winger David Chapman ’62 for the win.
Tony began teaching at St. Michael’s School prior to the amalgamation,
making him the last active St. Michael’s teacher and the longest-serving
alumni-faculty member: with the exception of a three-year break, he has
been with SMUS since 1972. Tony will be remembered by colleagues
for his concern and consternation regarding the student dress code; and
on this the matter he was always a fine role model: a picture of sartorial
elegance.
While at the school he has been an influential force. With a master’s
degree in Spanish from New York University, Tony introduced the language
to the SMUS curriculum. He was part of the driving force behind the
introduction of soccer to the school and for many years was an enthusiastic
coach. But, above all, he is known for his style of teaching Spanish to
his students, which includes the fascinating cultural elements of both
Spain and Mexico. Many of his former students have fond memories of
participating in Tony’s epic trips to Mexico.
“Tony has a passion for life. He loves to entertain, eat, prepare amazing curries.
He is the consummate host and an extraordinary raconteur who would have been
legendary in an oral culture. Nothing is ordinary to Tony. He can describe
a cardboard box and make it sound like a treasure chest.” – Peter Gardiner
John McIntyre ’66
During his five years as a student at University School, John McIntyre’s
incredible facility for trivia became well-known. A day student at
University School, John went on to get a degree in American, British and
military history from the University of Victoria, followed by a master’s
degree in American history from the University of Oregon.
He began his teaching career in 1973 at the newly amalgamated St.
Michaels University School. John will always be remembered for his
dedication to school activities, his passion for American history and the
hours he spent on the playing field. He coached the 3rd and 4th XV
rugby teams with Grenfell Featherstone ’67 throughout the 1980s, when
the school dominated the Independent Schools Association circuit. He
has also coached the girls soccer teams and the golf team.
His faculty colleagues will miss him most when they next take on the
student team in the annual staff/student Reach for the Top challenge. In
his tribute to John at this year’s retirement celebration, Pete MacLeod
presented “Reach for the Top – the John McIntyre version.”
“You are history at SMUS.” – Pete McLeod
In which time period did John McIntyre first attend
University School?
A) 1962
B) Precambrian Era
The number 103 is significant to John because:
A) It is the age of the school
B) It was John’s best score in the Alumni Golf
Tournament
Often referred to as the Fab Four, this group is credited
with influencing an entire generation. The group is:
A) The Beatles
B) John McIntyre, Mel Jones, Peter Gardiner and
Tony Keble
27,000 is:
A) The number of students John has taught
B) The number of minutes John has spent in
staff meetings
Borrowing from history, John has affectionately
referred to SMUS’ “Age of Enlightenment” as:
A) The day the school became Co-ed
B) The day Pete McLeod was hired
School News
Reach for the Top – the John McIntyre version
5 is:
A) The number of headmasters John has worked
under at the school
B) The number of useful minutes John has spent in
staff meetings
Tom Rigos ’61
by Rob Wilson
Tom originally enrolled at University School as a Grade 8 boarder from
Tacoma, Washington, at the same time another retiree, Tony Keble ’62,
arrived as a fledgling Grade 7 student.
Tom Rigos enjoyed a highly successful career at University School, and
in his Grade 12 year, he was the dominant person of his class: Head Prefect
and winner of the 1961 Ker Cup, the school’s most prestigious award,
which is based on scholarship, athletics, leadership and character – qualities
that Tom possessed in abundance.
Tom attended the University of Washington in Seattle and obtained
his bachelor’s degree in mechanical and industrial engineering, and later
his MBA. His business career was in medical technology and he was
the Director of Engineering Operations for Medtronic Physio-Control
in Redmond, Washington. Tom retired in 2005 as Vice President of
Medtronic’s Emergency Response Systems.
In his 10 years on the school’s Board of Governors, Tom has given stellar
service on many committees as well as being both vice chair and secretary;
he has also made an impressive contribution in his financial support of
the school, donating generously to the School House renovation and the
school’s endowment. In 1999, he initiated a fund in the name of one of his
old teachers at University School, and more recently has directed his contributions to a Rigos Family Fund, which he established
with his brother, Jim Rigos ’60, who has also given unstinting support to the school for many years.
“I have known Tom Rigos since 1958, and it is one of the real pleasures of the
teaching profession to see young people develop and do well at school, and then to
see them flourish and prosper in later years. Tom Rigos has done just that – and
it is further satisfying to note his loyalty and continuing contributions toward the
betterment of St. Michaels University School.” – Rob Wilson
SPORTS
Highlights from the Athletics Week in Review
You can read more about these stories by visiting the Athletics Week in Review blog at blogs.smus.bc.ca/athletics.
March
■The Grade 9 girls basketball team
faced PCS in the Victoria City final.
After a tightly contested regular season
encounter against PCS, the game started
at a competitive pace and by the end of
the first quarter, the teams were tangled
in a 7-7 tie. In the second quarter, SMUS
faced some early foul trouble and found
themselves down 20-14 at the half. Sara
Taylor, Madison Hadfield and Ali Pollen
delivered standout performances and the
SMUS team pulled together to make it a
near-win: 39-35 for PCS.
■Our Senior squash team played
in the BC Junior Closed Tournament
against the best youth players in BC. Five
girls and five boys represented SMUS this
year, with outstanding results:
Girls U17 and U19
1st place U17 (Nicole Bunyan)
1st place U19 (Nicole Bunyan)
Girls U19 B
1st place (Samantha Dark)
2nd place (Charmaine Niewerth)
4th place (Emily Feng)
5th place (Lisa Evans)
Boys U17 and U19
1st place U17 (Tyler Olson)
2nd place U19 (Tyler Olson)
Boys U17 B
1st place (Lachlan Glen)
3rd place (Cole Turner)
4th place (Justus Koenigs)
Tyler Olson shows off his skills in the
SMUS courts.
■Three SMUS athletics teams
competed at the provincial level in
March. After a first-place finish at the
Island championships, the Grade 9 boys
basketball team captured 13th place after
defeating Oak Bay and Centennial. In the
AA provincial championships, the Senior
girls basketball team suffered an early
loss to Windsor, which placed them on
the consolation side of the tournament,
where they eventually took 12th place.
The Senior badminton team finished
11th in BC with a record of three wins
and three losses.
■At the Brentwood International
Regatta, the largest athletic event hosted
by a single high school, SMUS competed
against crews from all over BC and the
United States. Our team of 11 athletes
entered eight events and made finals for
six of these events, medalling in every
final we raced. Middle School rowing
crew Erynn Pawluk, Taylor Ellison, Liam
Hyatt and Luke Friswell won the Junior
C (Grades 7-8) Quad and raced in the
Junior A (Grades 11-12) Third Varsity
4+, where they made the final, placing
fifth overall.
Brentwood International
Regatta Results:
Junior A Women’s 1x: Silver
Liz Fenje
Junior A Men’s JV 2x: Bronze
Jon Cunningham and
Maxim Ellison
Junior A JV Women’s 4+: Bronze
Caryn Dooner, Lexi McColl, Sydney
Stockus, Jessica Spoor and Chris Fenje
Junior A Women’s 2x: Gold
Liz Fenje and Maryann Watson
Junior A Women’s School 8+: Gold
Liz Fenje, Maryann Watson, Mickey
Aylard, Lexi McColl, Caryn Dooner,
Rachel Ellis, Sydney Stockus,
Jess Spoor and Chris Fenje
Liz Fenje and Maryann Watson on the
podium (above) and on the water (below)
April
SPORTS
■SMUS hosted the Junior Girls
Soccer ISA Tournament and in their
first game, SMUS faced Shawnigan
Lake School. The Blue Jags were able to
secure a 2-1 win with goals from Laura
Simandl and Mary Lapp. Next, SMUS
faced West Point Grey Academy and
the Jags were able to win the game 2-0.
In the their third game, SMUS battled
York House. The SMUS squad led the
game 4-0 at half time and the final score
was 6-3 for the Blue Jags. This secured
the girls first place in this tournament, a
first-place medal for each player, and a
large trophy to showcase for the year!
The Junior girls soccer team
May
■The tennis team competed in
the Island tournament. After a loss to
Shawnigan Lake and an 8-3 win over
GNS, SMUS faced Brentwood, the firstplace team in Pool A. With a chance to
qualify for the provincial championships
for the first time in seven years, the
SMUS side took up the challenge and
played their best tennis of the year,
winning the match 7-4. In the Island
final, SMUS ended a six-match losing
streak to Lambrick to win the Island
championships and move on to the
provincial championships as the numberone ranked team from Vancouver Island.
■In the Island championships,
the Senior girls soccer team came out
strong against Mark Isfeld, scoring a 3-1
SMUS victory. Next, the team played
Parkland. The girls took their first goal
three minutes into the game and two
more in the second half producing a final
score of 3-0 for SMUS. A 2-0 win over
Brentwood led the team to the Island final
versus a strong Gulf Islands team. SMUS
had a dream start when Samm Dark hit
a magnificent strike from the top of the
18-yard box to give SMUS a one-goal
lead. The score was 1-1 at the half and
at the end of the game. A penalty-kick
shootout went to eight shooters apiece
before Shelby Boehm brought home the
win and the Island title.
■At the Grade 6 rugby jamboree, our
Grade 6 players opened with a tough win
over Bayside and a victory over George
Bonner from Mill Bay. They faced St.
George’s in the semi-final, where some
tremendous running rugby was played
and a spot in the final secured. Versus
Lansdowne, the SMUS squad was able
to get on top, through some free-flowing
movements, to score a well-deserved win.
On the day, Max Pollen, Kieran Large,
Graeme Hyde-Lay and Mitch Newman
delivered noticeable performances. The
team went on to play in an independent
school tournament with five other teams
and ended their season unbeaten.
■Though they suffered a few defeats
throughout the season, the 1st XV rugby
squad delivered some remarkable victories
that sent them to the provincials. SMUS
faced Vancouver’s number-two seeded
St. George’s Saints. St. George’s had the
ball for much of the opening half and
led 7-0 at the break until Tom Bridger
scored with a penalty kick. A converted
try from the opposition brought the
score to 14-3, but Tom Bridger then
converted a try of his own to make it 1410. For the deciding score, Grade 11 left
wing Charlie Southwell sped through the
Saints’ defense with a pass from fellow
Grade 11 Mike Fuailefau, landing SMUS
a 15-14 victory.
In the final, SMUS faced Shawnigan
Lake, who took silver last year. Outside
Visit the Athletics Review blogs.smus.bc.ca/athletics
Justus Koenigs on the court
Senior girls soccer
SPORTS
May (continued)
centre Tom Bridger was the first player
across the goal line giving SMUS a 7-0
lead. Just before the half, Shawnigan tied
the game up and went on to score two
more tries, defeating the Blue Jags 21-7
and capturing the BC Secondary Schools
Rugby Union AAA championship.
Though it was not the ending the players
or fans were hoping for, the team put forth
an admirable effort, which was partially
recognized by Jared Sweet being named to
the Commissioner’s XV.
Provincial rugby finals against St. George’s
Paul Rowe – Alumnus and CFL Hall of Famer
by Rob Wilson
As this year’s Grey Cup celebrations kick off in Calgary, Rob Wilson takes a look at the
life and career of legendary Stampeder, Hall of Famer and SMUS alumnus Paul Rowe.
Another name came to light in July 2008
after a visit to the archives by Bobby Rowe,
son of Paul Rowe, who was a student at
University School from 1924-33. Paul
Rowe went on to become a star running
back in the Canadian Football League,
and was inducted into five Canadian
halls of fame after his spectacular career
with the Calgary Bronks (1938-40) and
Stampeders (1945-50).
Paul Rowe with his athletics trophies as a
young University School student
University School’s Black and Red
magazines show that Paul Rowe was a
fine and versatile athlete. Over his nine
years at the school his athletic prowess was
noted in rugby, track, gymnastics, boxing,
cricket and swimming. He was a real force
on the 1932-33 rugby 1st XV and was
outstanding in track, notably the sprint
events. After leaving University School,
he was prominent in the Victoria sports
scene in both rugby and track, but at
some point in the 1930s, gridiron football
captured his interest. In 1936 and 1937,
he enjoyed highly successful seasons in
US College Football with the University
of Oregon Ducks, before embarking on
his Canadian Football journey in Calgary
in 1938. Unfortunately, his career was
interrupted by World War II, a time
which took Paul Rowe to Europe with the
Canadian Armed Forces.
Between 1945 and 1950 the nowCalgary Stampeders became a force in
the CFL and in 1948, they won their
first Grey Cup and were finalists the
following year. In the 1948 triumph,
Paul Rowe was the team captain and the
first Stampeder to hoist the trophy.
The 2009 Grey Cup is to be played
in Calgary, a date which comes 100 years
after the inaugural game in 1909. The
Grey Cup was originally for amateur
participants but it is now the professional
CFL’s national championship played on
its most feted day of the year. The city
of Calgary will surely celebrate the event
with its customary gusto, and history
buffs will fondly recall past events and
the exploits of former stars such as Paul
Rowe. To coincide with the November
2009 festivities in Calgary, Bobby Rowe
is publishing a book about his father’s
life and football career. This might be of
interest to some alumni and others in
the SMUS community who either knew
Paul Rowe, or have a keen interest in the
Canadian Football League and its history.
Our singers, musicians, actors and artists continued to do our school proud on stage and canvas. Of the many creative triumphs from
current students and alumni in the last six months, here are a few of our favourites.
March
ARTS
Arts Highlights
■The Middle School musical The King
of Elfland’s Daughter – which featured
an original script by teacher Douglas
Manson-Blair and an original score by
teacher and alumnus Ian Farish ’89 –
launched to much applause. The magical
production told the story of two lands
and one young prince’s quest to return
magic to his father’s kingdom. Students
not only lent their vocal and theatrical
talents to the production, but they also
contributed to make-up, set construction
and filming.
Lindon Carter and Rachel Sibbald share a song on stage.
April
■The Grade 5 students performed
There’s a Monster in My Closet, a musical
comedy about a sleepover that goes awry
when a group of girls attempt to capture
a monster. The humourous and magical
story featured wonderful dramatic and
vocal performances from the hardworking young actors. Alums Laura
Christensen ’04 and Evan Willms ’03
helped out behind the stage by doing
make-up and sound, respectively.
■Choral students from Grades 4-12
performed at the annual Cross-Campus
Choral Concert at the Christ Church
Cathedral, which was filled to the rafters
with parents, faculty and students who
came for the eclectic show featuring fun
and contemporary pieces as well as more
traditional fare. Under the guiding hand
of Mr. Duncan Frater, the Grade 4 and
5 choirs kicked off the evening, while
the Grade 9-12 Men’s Chorus had the
honour of capping off the concert with a
surprising Beach Boys’ number, complete
with Hawaiian shirts.
Jasper Johnston performs as a mischievous and musical monster.
Janine Hsu plays a piano piece at the
Concerto Concert.
■Our musicians delivered another
excellent Concerto Concert, a special
performance which comes once every two
years. The concert included extremely
challenging classical pieces from some
of the most respected and renowned
composers, played by various ensembles,
as well as notable solo performances
from some of our strongest vocalists and
musicians.
ARTS
May
■Middle School students and parents
gathered to hear Grade 8 students share
some of their favourite pieces of original
poetry. The Middle School poets read all
kinds of verse, from haikus to elegies,
which they composed in class. For the
first time, all Grade 8 students had their
work published in an anthology called
Discovery, which joined Senior School
anthology Between the Red Walls in the
SMUS literary library.
One of Ninnart Siripun’s images for the
New Extremes show.
■Several students were featured at the
Art Gallery of Greater Victoria in a show
celebrating the students’ participation in
the New Extremes programme, which
connects high school students with local
artists. For their projects, the SMUS
students worked with digital artist Yoko
Takashima to produce three images that
expressed different concepts of themselves:
“who I think I am, who people think I
am and who nobody knows I am.” Each
image was the size of a CD cover and
was accompanied by a CD, which played
music connected to the identity concept.
■Thirty-five Middle School students
had their art on display at the annual
Independent School Association (ISA)
Art Show, which featured work from 11
different schools. Throughout the year,
each grade had been working on many
different projects and the ISA show
showcased Grade 6 name quilts, Grade 8
graffiti designs, and Grade 7 paper molas,
which are made by cutting designs out of
layers of coloured paper. Other art projects
from this year included Grade 8 clay bowls,
Grade 7 tape sculptures, Grade 6 optical
art, Grade 7 freaky faces, and Grade 6
stained glass paintings.
■The busy spring concert season hit a
crescendo with the annual Cross-Campus
Band Concert. The collaborative effort
between the Middle School and Senior
School gave us a glimpse of band teaching
technique and showcased the breathtaking
progress our band students make from the
first day they pick up an instrument to the
day they graduate. Highlights included
teachers Kevin Cook and Pete MacLeod
dancing dressed as gnomes to “Irish
Washerwoman” and the massed bands
finale of John Kinyon’s “Royal March.”
The SMUS massed bands perform “Royal March.”
Middle School student Max Gallant hits
all the right notes at Jazz Night.
■At the annual Jazz Night, one of
the most swinging events of the concert
season, the Middle School Jazz Band,
Senior Jazz Band, Vocal Jazz Ensemble
and Swing Band were all on hand to treat
their audience to a number of up-tempo
and melodious pieces. For many of the
musicians and singers, it was their last
collaboration, as the Grade 12 performers
departed SMUS in June. The evening is
always a special highlight of the school’s
music scene, especially because it includes
a serving of ice cream for every audience
member.
May (continued)
ARTS
■The SMUS Student Theatre Society
presented Murder Can be Habit Forming,
a murder mystery parody that showed a
different side of the student performers. In
Murder, a convent of nuns, who have all
taken the name of Mary, find themselves
taking in a busload of strangers, one of
whom is almost certainly a serial killer who
targets women called Mary. Delivering
comedy and suspense in equal doses, the
student production showed off the diverse
talents of those on stage as well as those
working behind it.
Brenda Moore solves the mysteries of Murder Can Be Habit Forming.
Olivia Krusel (pictured) and Benji Schaan
both captured prizes at the Performing
Arts BC Provincial Festival.
■At this year’s Performing Arts BC
Provincial Festival, two SMUS students
won big. Grade 11 student Benji Schaan
took home first place in the Intermediate
Musical Theatre category and was
runner-up in the Intermediate Vocal
Variety while Grade 10 student Olivia
Krusel, who performed with Benji in
West Side Story won the Junior Classical
Voice Vocal Variety Category.
■Grade 11 student Holly
Trew was one of seven Victoria
student artists featured in the
Community Arts Council of
Greater Victoria’s first Youth
Group of Seven Show. The
exhibit showcased talented
artists in high school or
university, allowing them to gain
gallery experience. Holly, who
is the granddaughter of famed
Barbados artist Jill Walker, was
thrilled to have her artwork on
display.
One of Holly Trew’s
octopus paintings.
SMUS Reads
Visit the SMUS Review blogs.smus.bc.ca/review
Susan Tefler (McKibbin) ’84 published her first book of poetry
this September. House Beneath is a collection of her work, which has
been published in many literary journals, including The Malahat
Review, The Antigonish Review and Grain magazine. Her poems
catalogue the beauty and pain of Canadian landscapes as well as
her personal struggles with different generations of her family with
vividness and imagination. Currently, Susan is a high
school teacher in Gibsons, BC, where she lives with her husband and
three children. Susan, who has won the Sunshine Coast Arts Council
Gillian Lowndes Award for her artistic growth, hopes to visit Victoria
to promote House Beneath this fall.
Poetry
In honour of poetry month, SMUS hosted a poetry festival in
April that featured five local poets along with alumni Steven
Price ’94 and Claire Battershill ’04, who recently won the CBC
Literary Prize for fiction. Well-respected poets Patrick Friesen,
Eve Joseph, Catherine Greenwood and Steve Noyes shared their
work with students and guests, and even allowed some of their
work to be printed in The Ivy.
“I wanted people who are not necessarily well-known in
the public eye, but who are accomplished poets,” says Terence
Young, who has spent much of his time at SMUS fuelling the
creative writing programme.
The festival also launched the 10th edition of Between the
Red Walls. Three current students read a poem each during the
afternoon event, including Petra Kenney Prize-winner Vickie
Yang, and in the evening a few student musicians performed
along with Vancouver group The Fugitives, who blend music
with performance poetry.
Stev
en P
rice
ARTS
A Celebration of
“Every year, we have exceptional writers among our students,”
says Mr. Young, who hasn’t ruled out making the festival an
annual event.
Q&A
Claire Battershill ’04
Q
I would describe my relationship to both forms as somewhat
awkward. I have trouble writing poetry and fiction at the same
time. It’s like dating one person of each gender simultaneously.
How confusing!
A
Q
e Ba
tters
h
ill
I made a rather abrupt transition between forms, actually.
When I started writing, I pretty much only wrote poetry. I was
stubborn and deliberate about that. Terence requires a story
of his students in Writing 12, and it seemed torturous, at the
time, for me to write fiction. I don’t think I even finished that
story at all, in the end, I just wrote the required fifteen pages or
whatever it was and handed it in with no ending.
I’m not quite sure what I had against it, but for some
reason I was much more comfortable with pieces of writing
that were very small and could be done all in one sitting. I had
always read a lot of fiction, but never really felt that I would be
able to write it successfully. I was also for some reason much
more certain about my poetry than my fiction. Now,
I’d almost say the opposite. I’d been writing
more and more prose poems by
2007, and, finally,
the
Circus
story just sort
of took me
by surprise by
being so much
fun to write. Since
then, I’ve written
very few poems,
and a lot of stories.
Clair
You recently won the CBC Literary Prize for fiction,
but you began your writing career as a poet. How did
you begin writing fiction and how would you describe
your relationship with both forms?
What did you take away from your time in creative
writing at SMUS?
A
For one thing, I don’t think I would have published
anything so early if I hadn’t done writing at SMUS. So, I took
encouragement from the Writing 12 class not only to write but
to think of having readers, and even to think about what I liked
as a reader and how I might make something that would give
other people that kind of enjoyment. This was a big, important,
and abiding idea for me. I remember Terence saying that writers
should always have a submission in the mail. This, I think, has
been excellent advice. I nearly always have something in the
mail. I also just had a lot of fun in the class, and with all the
associated readings and work for the Claremont Review and
with putting Between the Red Walls together. I had no idea how
lucky I was, at the time, to have been in this programme.
Q
You started your post-secondary studies at Oxford
and now you’re at the University of Toronto – how did
you find the transition to life in England?
A
As far as the SMUS to Oxford transition, it was a big
change, but eventually I loved living in England. The first year
especially took some adjustment, but I like cobblestones and
cups of tea, so those were silver linings all along. There is a great
value for literature there and wonderful bookshops, and it was
You worked with Margaret Atwood on her CBC
Massey Lectures. Tell us about that experience.
A
It was a lot of fun. I was one of her research assistants for
the lectures. She sent me a list of things to look up, and then I
did a whole lot of interesting reading and sent her quotations
and summaries. That was sort of the gist of the work. Margaret
Atwood was lovely to me, always checking in and making sure
I was at ease at the promotional events (of which there were
many!). She is so funny and so charismatic, and has continued to
be kind to me as I’ve published a couple of things since. I think
I was a bit shy with her, especially as I lived at Massey College
when I was working on the lectures and I once ran into her after
dinner in the Common Room at the college while I was wearing
gigantic plushy lion slippers! She liked them, though.
Q
What qualities do you possess that you think help
you be a good writer?
A
Speed on the base paths, a cannon for a throwing arm,
and a great eye at the plate. Oh, wait. Sorry. That’s baseball.
Hum. I’m not sure I really think I am a good writer. I do think,
though, that my writing has improved in the last couple of
years since I’ve relaxed a little and thrown some jokes in. I have
fun writing. It’s what I choose to do any chance I get.
Q
Who do you consider to be contemporary authors
worth reading?
A
Q What advice would you give aspiring writers?
A Read. A lot.
Varnished oak doors swing inward,
beckoning neighbours
to enter from shadowed halls,
their shoes stacked as
poker chips.
Behind kitchen shutters,
clouded year after year in oil and vapour,
metal knives strike
against marble counters,
the grease-lacquered wok
spits fat out its lip,
fire flashes from the stove’s
glowing embers.
TV trumpets in tune with children
vying for attention, no match for the solid table squared
and dressed,
salty and sweet and sour heat that wafts up
in tendrils to make all eyes water.
Grandma, Grandpa, that cousin I never met,
drawn from their hives to bask in the
suger-sweet sunshine of one another,
all converging this Mid-Autumn Eve
under a ripe, round moon, ready
to fall from soot-black skies.
Their hums strain across the Pacific,
ghosts treading among my thoughts,
notes calling for my return.
–Vickie Yang
I had to laugh a little at this question because according
to me it’s worth reading as much as possible. Almost anything
is worth trying on for size and I think it’s good to read in lots
of different genres and so forth. But OK, I certainly won’t turn
down a chance to talk about what I love...Daniel Handler is
amazing. He wrote the kids series Lemony Snicket, but Adverbs
is his grown-up book of stories. It’s the tops. Other short story
writers I adore are Sheila Heti, Annabel Lyon, Miranda July, and
Amy Hempel. For novels, Russell Banks and Michael Chabon
are great, and I really liked Heather O’Neill’s Lullabies for Little
Criminals. Andrew Kaufman’s All My Friends are Superheroes is
a sweet and lovely and funny book. I recently read Sarah Ruhl’s
Collected Plays, and those are brilliant, especially Eurydice and
The Clean House. Even her stage directions are masterpieces. For
poetry, Karen Solie, Anne Simpson, Louise Gluck, Jan Zwicky,
Seamus Heaney, Michael Longley, and Patrick Friesen are
some of my favourites. I also read newspapers and all sorts of
magazines and I still read Archie comics, though I’m scandalized
that he chose Veronica.
Back home, in China,
where the heart lies
though my presence fades, memories, like
muted shadows, waver behind paper screens,
their distorted whispers still tickling.
A simple room, brick walls and roof,
a tungsten light that leers over
lilting waves of laughter, another wave
starting before the last one dies.
Vickie
Yang
Q
Mid-Autumn Eve
ARTS
so good to be learning about literary history so close to where it
was made. Academically Oxford was demanding and exciting,
and I’m grateful for that training now. Also, I had the best of
friends there. That makes any transition worthwhile.
Brett Adam
(University of British Columbia)
Sarah Ankersen (University of Victoria)
Olev Anniko
(University of Victoria (2010))
Rachael Baptiste (York University)
Colin Beban (Gap Year)
Amuel Bhinder (University of Alberta)
Shelby Boehm
(University of Western Ontario)
Melissa Bosworth
(Dalhousie University)
Kyle Bridge (Carleton University)
Thomas Bridger
Jessie Cai
(University of Southern California)
Sheena Campbell
(University of Waterloo)
Johnny Chang (McGill University)
Kelly Chang (Boston College)
Calvin Cheng
Aleesha Cheta (University of Toronto)
Johnson Cho
Yoo Shin Choi
(Waseda University)
Yun Jeong Choi (McGill University)
Nicholas Chow (University of Toronto)
Brendan Chwyl (University of Waterloo)
James Coates (McGill University)
Christian Colquhoun
(Carleton University)
Candice Cooper (Gap Year)
Megan Cooper (University of Victoria)
Jonathan Cunningham
(St. Francis Xavier University)
Geordie Dafoe (Camosun College)
Samantha Dark
(Huron University College)
Kabir Daswani (Queen’s University)
Rachel Davel (University of Victoria)
Callum Davies (University of Victoria)
Olivia de Goede (University of Victoria)
Andrew Dorman
(College of the Holy Cross)
Bhupinder Dulku
Lauren Dunn (University of Victoria)
Stephanie Duvenage
(University of Victoria)
Benjamin Effa (McGill University)
Alastair Fehr (University of Waterloo)
Emily Feng (University of Toronto)
Liz Fenje (Stanford University)
Reilly Fong (University of Victoria)
Riordan Forsyth (University of Calgary)
Anna Fretz
(University of California Berkeley)
Rui Fu (New York University)
Laura Gilmore (Dalhousie University)
Kristijan Gjorgjevik (McGill University)
The Class
of
2009
Nicole Godwin (McGill University)
Sasha Gray (University of Victoria)
Douglas Grimmer
Patricia Halim (McGill University)
April Hall (American University in Paris)
Jennifer Hamilton
Kelsey Harbord (Colgate University)
Ashley Hawes (Camosun College)
Neil Hayden (McGill University)
Emma Houghton (McGill University)
John Humphries
Mizuho Inai (Osaka University)
Aiman Ismail (University of Toronto)
Adrienne Jones
Saleha Khan (Queen’s University)
Forrest Kilgour (University of Victoria)
Kim Robin
Shun Kinoshita
Lauren Kipp (McGill University)
Jake Kislock
Katherine Kohler
Karolina Koziol
(Thompson Rivers University)
Lauren Kullar (University of British
Columbia)
Masaki Kunimoto
Benjamin Kwok (Yale University)
Rory Lattimer (McGill University)
Athina Lavidas (University of Toronto)
Allegra Lee (New York University)
Charles Leitz (University of Victoria)
Rebecca Li (University of Toronto)
Kevin Lin (University of Waterloo)
Daniela Loggia (University of Victoria)
Evan Louie
Kevin Ma (Columbia University)
Ceilidh MacLeod
This June, the SMUS Alumni Association welcomed its newest
members into its ranks. We wish the grads of 2009 luck as they
pursue studies and new adventures all over the world.
Colin Nixon Musgrave
(University of San Francisco)
Marlise Nussbaumer
Hiromi Ogawa (Keio University)
Hayley Pallan
Beau Parker (University of Victoria)
Stephanie Passmore
Philip Petranek (University of Alberta)
Alison Phillips (University of Victoria)
Amrita Pooni (McMaster University)
Francis Quinlan
Sarah Reed (Southern Alberta
Institute of Technology)
Emily Reid
(Belmont University Nashville)
Juliette Repole (McGill University)
Hanmi Richards (Dalhousie University)
Heather Roseblade (McGill University)
Karia Rosenberg
(University of Victoria – 2010)
Rimi Maehara (Waseda University)
Chad Margolus
Kirsten Marsh (University of Victoria)
Lulu May (Gap Year)
Jake McCloskey
Lexi McColl (University of San Diego)
Steven Meng
Ryan Mitchell-Halter
(University of San Francisco)
Harmon Moon (McGill University)
Taylor Moon (University of Victoria)
Brenda Moore (McGill University)
Alfya Mukhammetzyanova
(Music College in Russia)
Tsumugi Murata (University in Japan)
Joel Nason (McGill University)
Carol Ng
Joyce Ng (York University)
Charmaine Niewerth
Monica Rossa
Jamie Saunders (Ryerson University)
Trevor Scagliati (Memorial University
of Newfoundland)
Colin Sedgwick (University of Victoria)
Gaurav Sekhon (University of Victoria)
Sam Sherrod (University of Victoria)
Julie Shim (University in Korea)
David Shin (University of Toronto)
Samuel Simons
Ashley Solmer (McGill University)
Dorothee Steiber
(University in Germany)
Koryn Steinbok
(Glasgow School of Art)
Vaughn Stokes (Gap Year)
Mac Stone (Camosun College)
Bryan Sun
Jared Sweet
Scott Swinkels (University of Victoria)
Tomoya Tago (Queen’s University)
Jeffrey Tak (Cornell University)
Austin Thind (McGill University)
Brendan Thomson (Queen’s University)
Brenda Tong (University of Toronto)
Miklos Tusz (University of Victoria)
Paul Tut (University of Waterloo)
Nicole van der Wal
Jesus Vidaurri (Colby College Maine)
Jimmy Wang (University of Toronto)
Matther Warner (Harvard University)
Sean Wiggins (University of Victoria)
Athabasca Witschi
Justin Wong
Timothy Wu
Frank Xu
Jasmine Yan
Vickie Yang (Queen’s University)
Ernie Yeung
Edmond Yiu
Emily Yoon (University of Pennsylvania)
Adora Youssefian
(McGill University – 2010)
Linda Yu (McGill University)
Dion Yzenbrandt (University of Victoria)
Michael Zhou
(University of Washington)
Michael Zhu (University of Waterloo)
FEATURE
Making the
their
Environment
Business
Meet just a few of our alums who are building businesses, studying or working in
sustainability fields all over the world.
Stories by Gillian Donald ’85 and Erin Anderson
T
hough the environmental movement is not new, it is
increasingly becoming a focus in all of our lives. More and
more, people consider the effect of their lives on the planet,
from the products they buy to the companies they work for.
It’s no surprise that many of our alumni are working in this
ever-important field, but what is surprising is the wide variety
of ways in which they are making an impact.
Ecopreneurship
Pete Panasupon ’03 has dramatically changed the way his
30-year-old family business operates, producing artificial
flowers in the greenest way possible. “Real flowers are infested
with pesticides and only last for a few weeks,” says Pete. Instead
of disposable flowers harvested (and shipped) from all over the
world, Pete hopes his new, arrangeable man-made versions will
gain ground.
After studying strategic design and design management, Pete
has big plans to dramatically change production strategy so that
his company uses only non-toxic materials and paints, which will
benefit the environment, his employees and his customers. “We
are still doing a lot of research on materials, so that we can really
produce toxic-free flowers,” says Pete. “If this project becomes
successful, it will also become another milestone for design
thinking as a practice, and provoke people to rethink the roles of
design in businesses and even societies.”
Maureen Gordon ’88 and her husband, Kevin Smith, offer
ecological sailing tours through Maple Leaf Adventures.
Maureen Gordon ’88 and her husband Kevin Smith run an
ecotourism company that provides people with an opportunity
to experience nature while supporting its protection. Maple
Leaf Adventures offers low-impact excursions to destinations as
far away as the Galapagos Islands on their 92-foot classic fishing
schooner and donate a portion of their profit to conservation
groups. For Maureen, an avid outdoor education student at
SMUS, the planet is a factor in all decisions.
“Sustainability is not anti-business,” says Maureen. In fact,
the environment itself is a key to her business; ensuring the
survival of salmon will maintain the spectacular grizzly bear
viewing and whale watching that brings so many people to the
wilderness of the West Coast.
Dave Crothall ’95 has been finding new ways for his coffee
shops to operate more sustainably and responsibly.
About a year after opening, Victoria coffee house owner Dave
Crothall ’95 started to expand his recycling and start composting;
now, his two-location chain is carbon neutral. Over 95% of
Black Stilt’s waste is diverted to compost and recycling systems
and the business has become over 15% more energy efficient.
Small changes such as compostable to-go containers and an ondemand water heater have made the Black Stilt a prominent
eco-business. The café sells biodegradable travel mugs, made
Carbon-Reduction
In the United Kingdom, Michael Talbot ’86 is helping the
country’s government achieve its goal of an 80% reduction
of carbon emissions by 2050, starting with a 34% reduction
by 2020 (based on 1990 levels). Working for Foresight, a
government think tank, Michael
and his coworkers utilize current
scientific data to determine different
scenarios for the UK in 2050 and
work backwards, shaping government
policy in a way that will help the UK
realize the best possible vision of its
future self.
“At last I can live my life-long
M i ch a e l Ta l b o t ’ 8 6
ambition
of telling people at parties
works for Foresight,
a British government that my job is saving the world,”
think tank.
jokes Michael.
FEATURE
from North American corn, and when building his second
location, Dave used reclaimed wood and eco-friendly paints.
For Dave, the Black Stilt is as much about social
responsibility as it is about sustainability. He has educated his
employees about the common cheap labour behind harvesting
coffee, and fundraises for both the Oughtred Coffee Trust and
the local Oaklands community centre. “People can feel good
about drinking our coffee,” says Dave.
Curran Crawford ’96 is also aiming to reduce our carboncreation, by acting as a faculty advisor to a team of UVic students
continued on page 22
Q&A
Jessica Woolliams ’91
MA | LEED-AP British Columbia Co-Director
Q
How did you come to be interested in sustainable
building?
A
When I was a student in my undergraduate degree, I
thought I wanted to be an architect, but I hated university.
It seemed so irrelevant to any real problems in the world,
so removed. You know how you get when you are 19. You
can do away with most of the world’s institutions with
just a wave of a hand. I took a couple of years away from
university and went to BCIT, feeling that people at colleges
and places like BCIT were closer to the real world, and
thinking that I would become an architectural technologist,
get a job, and design buildings that way.
Q Sustainability is one of the five streams of our new
leadership curriculum.The sustainability stream ensures
that students have all kinds of learning options –
from extracurricular clubs and activities, to classroom
linkages – that will help to fuel a life-long interest in
and sense of responsibility toward our environment.
What would you have liked to have seen the school do
when you were a student here?
A
As David Orr notes, we learn much more powerfully
from what is around us than from what is in our text
books. If our text books say we should have a “sense of
responsibility toward our environment,” but the building
you are studying in has a huge environmental impact,
students learn that it doesn’t matter. SMUS should commit
to not just LEED buildings, but to Living Buildings. We
have over 60 projects in North America aiming for that
goal, and a school project was completed the other day.
Q How has sustainable building changed?
A It’s funny. Then, things were hard to sell to developers,
government. Even three years ago when we launched the
Living Building Challenge, we got pushback from surprising
places. But now, things are really painfully clear in terms of
climate change and that is making things easier.
By the time my daughter is six (she is two now), scientists
estimate that 80% of our pine forests in BC will be ‘red and
dead.’ This is from pine beetle fall down and it is a direct result
of climate change. No one disputes that. So however I got
here, I have a daily reminder of the importance of this work.
After two years of
harder work than I’d ever
had at university, and less
time to think about life’s
big questions than I had
ever had, I was ready to go
back to university. I wanted
the chance to think about
problems before I solved
them. I discovered urban
design, and was really
excited about the idea of
designing not just buildings
but communities, cities, and of developing policy, of planning
for community development. Urban planning to me seemed
like the best way to address the world’s biggest environmental
and social challenges, through policy and design.
For my generation, climate change and other huge issues
of social equity have always been in the background, and I
discovered green building and sustainable design through my
time at UBC (in geography and planning) and was really
lucky to be able to work right away with the BC government
to help design Canada’s first green building programme –
Green Buildings BC – almost 10 years ago now.
Making the Environment their Business
FEATURE
continued from page 21
participating in the EcoCar Challenge,
a three-year competition among 17
universities to alter a 2009 vehicle in
a way that drastically improves fuel
economy as well as reduces emissions
and petroleum use. Dr. Curran’s team
recently took second place overall in
the first year of competition for their
design, which included a rechargeable Curran Crawford ’96
battery pack and an E86 ethanol acts as a faculty advisor
engine. Also, Curran is researching to the UVic EcoCar
ways hydro and wind power can be Challenge team.
used in BC’s electrical grid to fuel the vehicles.
Agriculture
Clea Adair ’00 believes local agriculture is a key to sustainable
living. She has been running a small farm in the Comox Valley
with her husband since 2007, supplying chicken and duck
to many local Vancouver Island restaurants. While teaching
at a local French immersion school, Clea manages over 600
animals and grows her own feed. Though she and Daniel were
novice farmers when they began, their belief in sustainable
living brought them to agriculture and agritourism, as they
also offer a rental suite year-round. For more information visit
www.smithlakefarm.com.
Leif Reinhold ’90 is also working on
vehicle efficiency. As an employee
of WABCO, a global technology
leader for commercial vehicles that
produces a range of products that
improve vehicles’ efficiency, Leif
handles sales and leads the Swedish
regional company. WABCO increases
recyclability and eliminates harmful Leif Reinhold ’90 lives
substances in both its manufacturing and works in Göteborg,
process and the products it creates, Sweden.
which range from brake systems to
pressurized air generators.
“A significant amount of [our] products can be clustered into
the category of efficiency,” says Leif, “because they are enablers
and make a large contribution to issues like reduction of fuel
consumption, reduction in weight, reduction of emissions such
as exhaust gases.”
Tee Jin Gan ’77 works for a company that produces palm oil in
Malaysia, which has recently undertaken the construction of a
biodigestor to reduce their environmental impact.
Palm oil is harvested through a process that extracts oil from
fruit. Traditionally, the de-oiled juice flows into a series of lagoons
for treatment before it is discharged to a river; this process converts
the juice into carbon dioxide and methane, which is over 20
times more powerful a greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide. The
new biodigestor will allow these gases generated to be captured
and combusted for energy for the mill. The project is expected to
generate about 40,000 tonnes of carbon credits a year.
In a later phase, the company plans to install biogas engines
to generate electricity to supply about four Megawatts of
energy to the national grid, replacing the use of fossil fuels with
renewable energy.
“There are around 410 palm oil mills in Malaysia, and
perhaps another 500 in Indonesia,” says Tee Jin. “Within
a decade, I expect that most mills would have voluntarily
upgraded to greener technologies, reducing GHG emissions
very considerably. Let’s hope they do.”
Clea Adair ’00
Building
“Enough talk already!” says Charlie Weiss ’72 about the green
label that seems to proliferate these days. “Where’s the action?
All these great new things are possible, in energy efficiency, in
water conservation, in local and sustainable materials.”
It was this realization that motivated Charlie’s company to
build two “super-green” residences in Portland, Oregon. The
houses, which are a block away from public transit, capture and
use rainwater, consume less than half the energy of conventional
houses, and use lumber from FSC-certified forests.
“Today we’re up and running,” he reports, “both houses
performing as expected.” Over 1300 people have toured the
project so far and Charlie shares his knowledge with anyone
interested in building greener.
“After completing my business administration degree, I wanted
to find work with a local company that had a global focus and
shared my values – including my passion for solving global
environmental issues,” says Kevin Morin ’99.
Kevin found the kind of job he was looking for with Power
Measurement in Saanichton, which had developed a reputation as
the world leader in advanced metering technology. Now a business
development specialist working in New York City for Schneider
Electric’s Energy Solutions division, Kevin works with engineers
and property owners to develop integrated energy management
systems that track and report on energy performance. Accurate
and detailed information on energy consumption allows building
owners to find ways to eliminate unnecessary energy use and
achieve Energy Star ratings, or LEED (Leadership in Energy and
Environmental Design) certification.
“One of our customers recently completed the world’s first
LEED Platinum skyscraper,” says Kevin.
Michael Welwood ’90 is also working on sustainable
building. Currently with Broaddus & Associates, Michael is a
LEED-accredited professional and in the midst of obtaining his
project management professional certification. His company
manages governmental, institutional, healthcare and research
projects, as well as private and commercial developments.
Michael is currently working on Lone Star College, a
Houston-area community college, where he is utilizing methods
to increase active and passive solar energy, reduce heat island effect,
reduce environmental/site impact, improve indoor air quality and
improve monitoring. Michael’s company is also assisting in the
implementation of improved mechanical and electrical systems to
lower consumption and increase existing capacities.
“Not only do the proposed improvements lower our clients’
long-term energy consumption and facilities/operational costs,”
says Michael, “but they also improve the user group’s comfort
and health and therefore improve productivity.”
In addition to his full-time job, Michael has lent his LEED
knowledge to many of his friends, such as a friend in New
Mexico who wanted his home to achieve LEED Platinum status.
Chuck Lenfestry ’65. Former owner, Sir Speedy Printing
and Marketing Services of Seattle/Tacoma
Will Sloan ’78 assesses how a company is doing from the
overall environmental perspective.
Natural Resources
Since 2001, Will Sloan ’78 has been working independently
with the BC provincial government, SAI Global, and a number
of forestry companies to assess their environmental impact. By
interviewing staff, observing operations, and reviewing project
documents, Will is able to determine whether industrial activities
adhere to a variety of environmental voluntary standards. With
the outbreak of the mountain pine beetle, wildfires and land
base deletions, the future of forestry is especially uncertain.
“Although forestry is a renewable resource, without proper
management and practices, the resource can be depleted and
degraded to the point where it is no longer sustainable,” says
Will. “What I am doing provides some level of assurance
with regards to the sustainability of the resource for future
generations and also gives an indication of how a company is
doing from the overall environmental perspective.”
Business and Development
“All my working life has been involved with development issues
and the environmental perspective has been at the forefront for
15 years or so,” says Nigel Hawkesworth ’62.
Nigel worked in Zambia, Bangladesh, Kenya and Uganda
before founding Nordic Consulting Group, a Danish company
that specializes in development issues and advises the Danish
government and the World Bank. Most recently, Nigel has
been designing and evaluating environmental programmes that
manage natural resources in Kenya and Cambodia.
“Climate change adaptation strategies and renewable
energy are focus areas now,” says Nigel. Though he considers
himself semi-retired, Nigel continues his work around the
world, including Palestine, where he supports efforts to limit
the environmental degradation caused by the conflict.
“Sir Speedy Printing and Marketing Services has long since
turned the ‘chemicals corner,’ with the goal of becoming
chemical free as technology drives our industry. Soy inks
for the press means that clean-up sheets can be put in the
regular recycle bin. Direct-to-plate technology allows us
to produce printing plates that may be used once and
put into the garbage as opposed to chemically storing
them for reuse later on. We also use waterless presses for
easy clean up. Not to mention the explosion of recycled
paper stocks.”
FEATURE
“We are hoping to get started on exceptionally green
modular houses as our next step,” concludes Charlie. “Once
you’ve been there, it’s hard to imagine going back.”
Making the Environment their Business
FEATURE
“A business model for the future will recognize the
interconnectedness of everything,” says Ian Scanlan ’87, “and
profitably render a product or service which is good for both
society and the environment.”
After leaving his career as a pilot in 2001, Ian travelled
and lived in Brazil, where he was confronted with profound
economic imbalance. The experience led to Ian founding Turiya
Amazonia with Rafal Kalus and creating a business that drives
social development, rather than just economic.
Turiya is developing sustainable fruit harvesting, with a
focus on the açaí berry, supplying açaí pulp to US companies
as well as to local companies like Vancouver’s Happy Planet. By
providing rainforest communities with what they need to make
their lands sustainably productive and encouraging cooperation
among different groups, the company is finding that success is
both possible and rewarding, as their work will improve the
lives of some 25,000 Amazonian residents.
“One hectare in the Amazon has been calculated to have a
value of $6820 if intact forest is sustainably harvested for fruits,
latex, and timber; $1000 if clear-cut for commercial timber (not
sustainably harvested); or $148 if used as cattle pasture,” says Ian.
Turiya Amazonia works with several stakeholders in the
Amazon, including the government and the Federal University
of the Amazon (UFAM) to develop a broad consensus on
community development. Alternative energy production,
improvements in worker safety, and broader capacity building
in communities are just some of the company’s initiatives.
Ultimately, Ian and Rafal’s goal is for rural Amazonian
communities to become self-sufficient, but the pair would also
like to enable foreign business schools to come to the region
to learn and contribute. Eventually, they would like to see
the establishment of a United World College in the Amazon,
where culture and information could be exchanged between
communities throughout the world and the small communities
in the Amazon, which Ian calls “one of the most significant
ecosystems for all of the world’s citizens.”
Christine Ottmar ’06, is currently studying Business and
Management at University BiTS in Iserlohn, NRW, Germany.
As a member of the student executive for the 2009 Campus
Symposium – an event where leading personalities from the
Christine Ottmar ’06 with Tony Blair at the 2009 Campus
Symposium in Iserlohn, Germany.
worlds of politics, science and business come together to
discuss concepts, innovations and ideas – Christine arranged
speakers for this year’s event, which focused on green business.
The Campus Symposium was held on September 3 and 4, 2009
and featured keynote speaker Tony Blair, the former prime
minister of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, who advocated
drastic reduction in carbon emissions and increased reliance on
renewable resources during his time in office. Find out more at
www.campus-symposium.com.
Sustainable Research
Betsy Donald ’86 is an associate professor in the Department of
Geography at Queen’s University in Ontario, where she teaches
and does research on the urban creative food economy. She
became interested in the rise of organic, ethnic and specialty food
“For the past eight years I’ve been working for the New Zealand
government on an erosion control project on the east coast of the North
Island, in a town called Gisborne. Because of its combination of weak
geology, steep terrain, high rainfall, and deforestation by humans, this area
has some of the worst soil erosion on the planet. Our program provides
funding to owners (primarily sheep and beef farmers) of eroding land to
plant trees and fence off areas from livestock to allow natural regeneration
of forests. My current role on the project is to manage all the mapping
using GIS software. Over the past year my work has also expanded into
climate change issues and specifically mapping ‘Kyoto compliant’ land
throughout New Zealand that is eligible for afforestation grants from the
NZ government.” – Malcolm Penn ’82
Eroding gully off the east coast of the North Island of New Zealand
As a PhD student at the University of Alberta, Emily
Huddart ’98 is analysing the connections between reduced
material consumption and increased quality of life. Emily’s
research is directed toward how sustainable consumption and
environmentally supportive behaviour have positive effects not
just on our environment, but our selves. “I have tried to look at
sustainability from a positive point of view, instead of viewing
it as a sacrifice,” says Emily. “There is a very strong argument
to be made for the relationship between mindful consumption
while still maintaining a high standard of living.”
FEATURE
in North America, when
she wrote a report on
preserving prime farmland
around Canadian cities.
“It struck me as odd that
many of the farmers
farming on the urban
fringes were growing
commodities that were not
necessarily demanded by
the local consumers. I saw
an enormous opportunity
Emily Huddart ‘98 is working for farmers in Canada to
on a doctorate in sustainable
embrace the organic and
consumerism.
local trend.” Betsy is
currently writing a book, From Kraft to Craft: how the rise of the
creative food economy is transforming our everyday lives in North
American cities.
Chantal Schauch ’97 is a communications consultant and
president of ImmerseUs Communications based in Vancouver.
Specializing in strategic communications, project management,
and partner relations, she works with leading ecopreneurs and
not-for-profit organizations on ventures and initiatives for
social and environmental change. One of the latest projects
she’s excited to be part of and for which she’s found herself
reunited and working with Nick Stanger, fellow SMUS Grad of
’97, is the Robert Bateman Centre and associated sustainability
initiatives at Royal Roads University. Chantal has also just
completed her MA in professional communications with a
thesis research focus on ecopreneurship and communications.
Profile: David Anderson
ratification, meeting the targets would
have been possible and it did have the
support of then-Prime Minister, Jean
Chrétien.
“Whether the accord succeeds or
fails is not really the objective; the
objective is to reduce emissions,” says David. “Unfortunately,
with the election of a new government, [meeting our targets]
is no longer possible.”
David has just completed two-and-a-half years as
director of the Guelph Institute for the Environment.
Currently, he is on the advisory board of the Wild Salmon
Centre in Portland, Oregon, and is president of the World
Fisheries Trust, which is working with CIDA in Brazil. He
is continuing to speak about climate change and at the
time of our interview had just returned from a speaking
engagement at Oxford. When asked what he considered the
one greatest environmental challenge, he had this to say:
“I’m not optimistic about the future. I’m sure technology
will produce what we need to survive, but what I consider
the most important change would be a universal recognition
of a moral element. We need to recognize that our lifestyle
is actually killing people. Our way of living and consuming
is a component of what will lead to death and misery
in other parts of the world. I believe that it might just take
a shocking event to wake people up to the realities of
climate change.”
The Honourable David Anderson ’44-’47 has been
internationally recognized for his efforts on behalf of
conservation and the environment, both as Canada’s longestserving environment minister and as an active member of
many environmental groups.
His interest in the environment stems from a childhood
spent on Vancouver Island. His grandfather and great uncle
were both keen outdoorsmen, and had a strong influence
on him. As a child, David spent many summers outdoors
at a ranch with fellow alumnus David Newbigging and also
attended a Saturday programme at the Royal BC Museum.
“I loved it there,” says David. “We studied sea birds, and
the differences in their wings. We also loved watching them
feed mice to the rattlesnake in the aquarium.”
As Canada’s Minister of Environment, David’s work
centred around biodiversity and climate change. After three
attempts, he was successful in getting the Species at Risk
Act passed by Parliament and signed into law in 2004.
“I spent a great deal of time on the Species at Risk Act,
something that as a cabinet minister you just don’t have,” he
says. “It was a very difficult piece of legislation, and really it
is a concept which is out of date. Working on a biodiverse
ecosystem is what makes sense, what we need to protect
now is species habitat.”
David had first-hand involvement in ratifying the Kyoto
agreement, something that he considers one of his greatest
achievements while in office. He says that at the time of
FEATURE
It’s not easy being
Green
Editor Laura Authier and guest editor Craig Farish ’90 on the lessons learned from
pulling together a green issue.
B
y its nature, a publication like School Ties is a resourceeating endeavour. During the editing phase, countless pages
get printed for proofreading. More reams of paper, along
with electricity, ink and water, are devoured by the process of
printing 5200 copies. These are packed into cardboard boxes
and trucked off to the mail house, where this issue will be stuffed
into an envelope along with the annual report, then loaded
onto trucks and planes for their journey to your mailbox. In
fact, the environmental credentials of a print magazine are so
slender that it’s hard to look at the slew of “green” issues hitting
the streets as anything but an oxymoron.
When we first planned to highlight sustainability in a School
Ties issue, we recruited Craig Farish, SMUS’ dean of green,
to be our guest editor. He was an enthusiastic participant in
brainstorming and editorial meetings, but more importantly,
Craig’s participation was the impetus that drove us to learn
more about what “green” really means in the print world.
Asking ourselves what it would take to produce School Ties
and other school print materials in a more sustainable way,
we set out to visit some of our local printers to find out what
green options were available to us. As we learned during these
field trips, green printing is no longer just about using paper
made with recycled material – it’s also important to consider
how the paper was made, what the ink is made of, and what
emissions are released and what resources are consumed during
the printing process.
The good news is that our print suppliers are already doing
much of the green work for us. The sustainability movement
has hit the printing industry like a tsunami, resulting in a
remarkable transformation of their business. Advances in print
technology have given printers a much-needed boost in their
ability to ply their trade while reducing their impact on the
environment. Innovations like soy-based inks and printing
presses that make more efficient use of electricity and water have
meant that older equipment – most of which wastes energy and
uses harsh chemicals – can be phased out. Many printers are
going further, implementing programmes to reduce waste and
recycle as much material as possible.
As much as our print suppliers are helping us to produce
our materials in a more sustainable way, we are not completely
off the hook. There are still dilemmas to ponder and choices to
make if we want to call ourselves green.
The first dilemma is how far down the post-consumer waste
road can we afford to travel? Typically, there are two major
drawbacks to using paper with a higher percentage of postconsumer waste (PCW): it tends to be more expensive and the
paper doesn’t hold the ink as well as those made with virgin
fibre. Although the price of recycled paper has come down
significantly in the last few years, finding a paper that has the
perfect mix of high recycled content and good ink adhesion can
be prohibitively expensive.
For this issue of School Ties, we have adopted a paper with
30% post-consumer waste and FSC and SFI Chain of Custody
certifications. The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and
Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) award these certifications
to manufacturers who have demonstrated responsible practices
going all the way back to the forest floor.
The second dilemma is whether to print fewer copies and
risk running out or to print more copies and risk having to
recycle unused material. We printed 5700 copies of the Spring
2008 issue of School Ties, and still have two boxes of them
tucked away in a storage closet. For the Fall 2008 issue, we
reduced that number to 5500. By the last issue, we took the
print run down again to 5200. For this issue, we’re holding
steady at that number, having saved 21,200 printed pages in
the last year mostly by winnowing duplicate recipients out of
our mailing list.
The final bit of soul-searching that every well-meaning, greenseeking publication goes through is the question of whether
it needs to be printed at all. The online universe offers many
inducements to abandon print, such as the capacity to augment
stories with video, sound, or links to other sources; or the ability
to publish more easily and therefore more frequently. The
digital medium is also more forgiving than print: the window of
opportunity to clean up errors that made it past the proofreading
stage never closes. Perhaps it is this feature that makes the
historians and archivists in our midst the most uncomfortable.
If we are always able to edit the past, what reliable record will we
have to show us where we have come from?
Despite predictions of an imminent paperless universe that
now stretch back more than 30 years, we find that people still
form an attachment to print that has yet to be replicated by
any online format. The printed page still holds a mystique that
seems hard to shake. Maybe this amounts to little more than
nostalgia and the students that roam our hallways today will
later wonder why we bothered with printing past the dawn of
the computer age. But it seems that – for now – School Ties
makes its most powerful connection with the majority of our
community when they can hold it in their hands, flip through
its pages and reminisce.
We are always interested to hear your thoughts. Please send your
comments and ideas to [email protected].
Building a
As the lead champion for the Sustainability programme at SMUS, Craig Farish ’90
has found that to teach students about the issues and practices of sustainability, you
sometimes have to learn alongside them.
The Green Cup Challenge:
“How could we possibly lose?”
W
hen St. Michaels University School signed up for
the Green Schools Alliance Green Cup Challenge last fall,
we were confident that we would do well. There were 120
schools participating in the competition to measure and reduce
electricity use, emissions, waste, and water – SMUS the only
Canadian school among them. We felt certain that our twoyear-old sustainability programme would help to propel us
to the front of the pack. In truth, we were so confident that
winning seemed not only possible, but likely.
When February arrived and the challenge got underway, the
students in the Senior, Middle and Boarding E-Teams began
promoting the challenge through presentations in assemblies,
lights-out days, posters and reminders, and by making energysaving changes such as installing new faucet aerators and low-flow
showerheads. The students even promoted the wearing of tacky
sweaters in support of the cause. Things were looking great!
Then, halfway through the Green Cup Challenge, I received
some news. I quickly passed on the information in an email
to Oliver Brooks and Sheena Campbell, heads of the Senior
FEATURE
Sustainable SMUS
School E-Team: “Hey Guys, Good news: SMUS is still the top
school in Canada in the Green Cup Challenge. Bad news: So
far we have used 10% more electricity per day than our 3-year
February average.”
As we entered week three of the month-long Green Cup
Challenge, it became apparent that we were going to lose, badly.
While other schools were reducing their electricity consumption
by up to 20%, we were actually using more electricity than
usual. What was worse: we didn’t know why.
What happened?
At the end of the month-long challenge, we took stock. Instead
of using less power than our three-year February average, we
had used 9.4% more. It was a bit of a shocker. How could
we hear so many stories of people making small but significant
changes and still see electricity consumption go up? What had
we missed? Who was the energy-guzzling culprit? There was, I
must admit, a bit of finger-pointing. Was it the students, the
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staff and faculty, lights and computers, heating, weather, hot
water, boarding, Brown Hall, or the dreaded “phantom load?”
At a complete loss, we began to work at splitting the puzzle
into smaller, more manageable bits. During the Green Cup
Challenge, we were relying on data from the single electricity
meter measuring power going to the entire Richmond Road
campus. What we quickly came to realize was that this level
of data wasn’t really useful when trying to understand the
consumption patterns of a dozen different buildings and their
occupants.
Following the competition, with support from a friend of
the school, meters were installed in each of the boarding houses
and the whole system was linked up over the school network.
The meters confirmed our suspicions that the classroom
buildings have very different power signatures than the boarding
houses, but we were also amazed to learn that relatively similar
buildings were also remarkably different. The three boarding
houses, which one would expect to be quite similar, were also
completely different in power consumption. One of the three
was using 60% less power than the other two!
Now, we have a much clearer idea of how much electricity
each building uses and when it is being used. With that
information, the e-teams can research and promote buildingspecific behavioural changes, while the Board of Governors’
Facilities committee can identify and prioritize physical or
technical upgrades. Reducing power consumption in Crothall –
a new, efficient classroom building used primarily during the
day – has much more to do with fostering sustainable occupant
behaviour than in the double gym, which is going to get new
efficient light fixtures.
We are starting to figure out the puzzle and we are heading
in a more sustainable direction.
A common goal with
individual solutions
In our first Green Cup Challenge experience (and early on in
the efforts of the Sustainability initiative), there were moments
when we thought the challenge of sustainability was too big and
complicated to figure out. There wasn’t one single path to follow
and we kept getting stuck. There were so many variables, and it
was difficult to know where to begin. Where was the answer key?
Well, as it turns out, there isn’t a singular solution. When
trying to make sense of environmental impact – in the Green Cup
Challenge, the Sustainability programme, and our own lives –
we won’t find a common answer, but we can find a common
goal that helps to keep us heading in the right direction.
As an example of possible starting points, I humbly submit
some of my personal goals:
• Be more cognizant of the environmental impacts of my
actions.
• Consider the potential short-term and long-term
environmental, social and economic impacts of my decisions.
• Do more things that are good for the planet and fewer
things that are bad for the planet.
• If in doubt, go with what my Nana would have done.
Solutions need to be individual because – like the buildings
at SMUS – we are all remarkably different. That may seem
obvious, but it’s a critical piece of the sustainability puzzle.
We have different transportation options, our houses and
apartments are different, and so on. For people with an older
house in Victoria, the best idea might be to insulate their house,
while a person in an efficient condo could choose to buy more
local produce and bike to work three days a week. When we
begin to work towards our common goals, we do so in very
different and personal ways.
We all talk about the stuff we are going to do. We say things like
“I should replace that old furnace with a more efficient one”
or “I should ride my bike more often.” But until we actually
start doing these things, nothing changes. We make a statement
every time we don’t do something. Each time we say “I should
do this,” but don’t, we are essentially saying, “This thing is a
good idea and I’m not doing it.” It’s an interesting and totally
contradictory message.
I’m not saying we should feel guilty for all the things we
haven’t yet done, just that we need to think about what we are
saying and what we are actually doing to make things better.
We should do the things we think are important, because we
are teaching everyone around us all the time.
In the spring, I spoke with one of the gardeners at SMUS to
see if she would be interested in talking with the Middle School
E-Team about their plans for a school food garden. She replied
somewhat nervously that she “wasn’t really a teacher.” Her
comment led me to think about her influence at the school.
Although she doesn’t teach in a traditional classroom setting,
she is actually teaching about gardening and aesthetics every
day. She teaches us about seasons, plants, frost, colour, beauty
and natural spaces. Her classroom is the school grounds, and
there we can discover, learn and reflect.
As members of the SMUS community, we are all both
teaching and being taught. At our school, we are now being
taught that buildings should be as efficient as possible, whether
they are new or old. In our cafeteria, students and staff are
being taught through the composting system that food waste
isn’t really waste at all. The efforts of a teacher to look for more
socially responsible coffee suppliers not only teaches her peers
about her values and desire to see change, but she also learns
that the school values her individual efforts and is interested in
supporting initiatives from across the community.
Teaching may or may not be in your current job description,
but you are all teachers – whether you want to be or not. The
big question is: What do you want to teach? Do you want to
teach your family that climate change is an important issue? Is
a forest worth preserving? Is computer time more valuable than
outside time? We are teaching all the time.
FEATURE
If you know but don’t do,
then you don’t really know
Building a sustainable SMUS
“If you want to build a ship, don’t herd people to collect wood and
don’t assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for
the endless immensity of the sea.” – Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
So what is the Sustainability initiative and how does it fit
into the school? If we look to universities and colleges, we see
a wide range of possibilities for sustainability programmes.
Subsidies for bike and bus transportation for staff, paperless
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offices, paperless courses, use of renewable energy sources, off-grid
classrooms, school gardens, green roofs, bio-diesel production
programmes, energy-reduction competitions between residences
and entire schools – all of these are being done in Canada at
schools and universities right now.
How can we apply such “best practices” to SMUS? As an
example of a smaller puzzle that we’ve been working on, the
school is in the process of completing eco-energy audits on the
houses along Aldridge and Knight, where many of the house
parents live. In terms of building efficiency, the houses have
scored anywhere from 29 to 55 out of 100! Needless to say, the
house that scored a 29 now has insulation, half of which was paid
for in rebates from eco-energy grants.
Our new electrical metering system shows that one of the very
significant uses of electricity on campus is the hot water for the
boarding houses. So, as a larger project, we are now looking into
solar hot water systems for each of the boarding houses. Similarly,
investing in projects like green roofs significantly reduces the
heating and cooling expenses, while also creating habitat for birds
and insects in a space that was previously a scorching wasteland.
It also potentially provides fantastic connections for students and
staff in terms of curriculum and experiential education.
Over the next few years, you can expect to see new initiatives
at all three schools. In fact, we’ve already started: the first “green”
Spring Fair was a great success. The Middle School is getting
a new greenhouse thanks to the Parents’ Auxiliary. The Junior
School has begun composting and expanding their recycling
programmes. Students are getting environmental scholarships for
universities. The boarding houses are competing to save power.
We’ve grown from recognizing Earth Day to celebrating an Earth
Week. The Brown Hall cafeteria has gone tray-less to save water
and reduce food waste. The photocopiers and printers use the
most environmentally responsible paper that we can find. The
list goes on: we are recycling dead batteries, switching light bulbs,
installing motion sensors, replacing inefficient toilets, sharing bus
routes with another school, reducing idling, and planting trees.
My goal as coordinator of the Sustainability programme or
“Captain of the E-Team” is to help identify and effect change at
the leverage points in our school. By supporting the programme,
the school – with the backing of the Board of Governors –
recognizes that our societal values are changing. We are going
to spend the next few decades with climate change firmly in our
sights, so we should begin to address this issue at the school, both
in how we operate and how we prepare our students for their
futures.
Sustainability is a reflection on how we live: as a school, as
a boarding house, as individuals. It’s about sharing information
and resources, about helping people figure out how they can
participate. It’s about the power of small steps to travel a very
long distance. It’s about striving, constantly, to live the best way
we can.
Being Part of the
A quick-start guide to being a carbon-free commuter.
by Erin Anderson
While coal-firing plants aren’t doing
our environment any favours, one big
way that all individuals have an impact
on the earth is how we choose to get
around, especially how we get to work.
Carpooling and bussing are better than
driving alone across town, but cycling to
work is a way to travel carbon-free.
Commuting by bike is becoming
more popular, but it’s still not as popular
as driving. Though its benefits are many
(fitness, efficiency and environmental
impact are a few), it can be hard to
know where to start. To that end, here
is some advice on how to get your pedals
spinning.
Read Up. Find out what the rules of the
road are for cyclists where you live and
memorize them. Check out local bike
shops for cycling guides, which can tell
you about bike lanes and recommended
routes, as well as for general advice from
mechanics and experienced cyclists. You
can also go online to see if your city or
region has a cycling organization and to
read up on urban commuting in general
on sites like bikeforums.net.
Warm up. Depending on how far
away you work, you may find it difficult
or at least daunting to go the whole
way. Find out if there is a public transit
route near your home or work that can
accommodate your bike, and then split
your commute between the two, slowly
adding distance onto the cycling half
as you get more comfortable. You can
combine cycling with carpooling and
ride to a driving coworkers’ house.
Gear Up. Contrary to popular belief,
cycling doesn’t require much more
than a bike, helmet, lights and a pair
of legs. Start off with just the basics: a
comfortable helmet that fits, a red light
for the back of your bike, a headlight that
can be seen from 150 metres away and
reflective material for you and/or your
bike. A small backpack or messenger bag
can carry your work essentials or you can
invest in a rack of panniers (bags that
hang on your bike). To maintain your
bike, you’ll need at least a tire pump and
some chain lube. Bike shops often offer
workshops on repairing/maintaining
your bike, and you can also drop it off
for a tune-up.
Get Up. If you are just beginning to
ride to work, consider waking up earlier
both to avoid heavy traffic and to ensure
you get to work on time (since you may
not have a good grasp of your speed).
Wash Up. One of the most common
reasons people refrain from biking to
work is fear of coming into an office
environment sweaty and possibly smelly.
Fortunately, there are many solutions to
this, including changing clothes at work,
using baby wipes to freshen up, and
saving some of your morning routine,
like styling your hair, for after your
commute.
Step Up. However you start, keep
advancing your ride time. Once you feel
comfortable biking three days a week,
try four; if you usually stop biking come
October, invest in some warmer gear (and
maybe studded tires) and try to make it
to November. The key to enjoying cycling
is not to think of it as an all-or-nothing
situation or competition, but a journey
that can take you to better health and a
lighter environmental footprint.
FEATURE
Cycle
ALUMNI WEEKEND
Commemorated
Reg Wenman
with Bronze Statue
by Peter Gardiner
On the Friday of this year’s Alumni
Weekend celebrations, in brilliant
sunshine, a full-size bronze statue of
Reg Wenman in his cricket whites was
unveiled to about 200 alumni and friends.
The statue stands on the hill, adjacent
to the Wenman Pavillion, overlooking
the cricket square and colts rugby
pitch. These are places where Reg, in his
own inimitable style, taught skills and
The statue’s clay mold in Nathan Scott’s
studio
moulded the characters of many young
men. The ceremony began with a lively
performance by the Senior Brass ensemble,
conducted by Mr John Reid, followed
by introductory remarks from David
Angus ’62, Board Chair. Head of School
Bob Snowden welcomed everyone and
introduced Anthony Souza ’72 who gave
an alumni tribute. After the unveiling of
the statue, James Wenman ’66 responded
on behalf of the Wenman family with a
moving tribute to his father.
The project was a covert operation
for most of the year and not announced
until shortly before Alumni Weekend.
Local artist Nathan Scott, born and
raised in Victoria, is the sculptor of many
significant bronzes in the city, including
the Terry Fox statue at Mile 0. He was
quick to assess the character of the
man and using anecdotal material and
photographs produced a clay that was
eerily lifelike and in every respect, “The
Bird.”
The statue was commissioned by the
school and sponsored by five donors:
Brian Graves ’42, Eric Heffernan ’73,
Anthony Souza ’72, Michael Throne ’72
and Peter Gardiner.
Jim Wenman poses with the statue of his
father at the unveiling.
Archives an important stop for many on Alumni Weekend
Archivist Brenda Waksel is an important link for alumni to their school’s past
This past alumni weekend, the SMUS
archives recorded visits from 31
alums. Many came looking for specific
information or objects and some came
just to browse through the collection of
photos, stories and artefacts that is being
amassed and stored in the old house next
to the Middle School.
Not only are the archives a valuable
resource for School Ties, but alumni have
increasingly been using the services as
well. Archives received over 100 requests
for information this year ranging from
photos and yearbooks to the history
of trophies and ghosts. Alums are also
giving back to the archives – some of the
significant donations this year included
a pair of University School cufflinks,
the script from Ups and Downs, various
photos and newspaper clippings from the
1950s and 1960s, school clothing, videos
of school musicals and digital photos.
Brenda Waksel works in the archives
full-time during school breaks and
periodically throughout the year when she
isn’t busy in her other capacity in the Senior
School library. With a team of volunteers
that includes former headmaster and
frequent School Ties contributor Rob
Wilson, Brenda manages the organization
of the archives: acquisition, appraisal,
accessioning, arrangement and description
of items; development of finding aids and
access to materials; conservation of the
materials; and development of exhibits.
She was also responsible for
restoration, framing and hanging of
the sports composites that are currently
hanging in School House. She has
managed to go up to the 1990-1991
school year with her current budget
and is anxious to get the other 20 years
completed when the funding becomes
available.
ALUMNI WEEKEND
Alumni Weekend Reunions
Class of 1959: 50-Year Reunion
by Larry Devlin ’59 (University School)
Many adjectives can be used to describe
the school, much like the idea of a
community.
A community is a place where you
feel comfortable. It is comfortable
because you know its values and culture
as well as its landscape. Although you
may not have been part of it for some
time, coming back to a community is an
easy thing to do – something that you
want to do.
Perhaps this is why it was so pleasant
to help organize the 50th reunion of the
University School class of 1959. Once we
overcame the initial problem of finding
everyone (all 16 who graduated), the
enthusiasm of anticipation was evident.
People wanted to come back to renew old
friendships and memories and to see the
school of today. In the end, nine came and
three more were with us in spirit. Two of
our class had not been back in 50 years.
They were not disappointed. For
them, and for the rest of us, it was a
real thrill to meet again. In addition to
those from Vancouver Island, we had
classmates from Calgary, Edmonton,
Alaska and California.
What can we share with readers of
School Ties? First, an unequivocal pride
in being an alumnus of the school. Our
school of 1959 was a very different place
from the student-centered organization
of today. Notwithstanding, the harshness
of former years did not diminish the pride
in past memories and the appreciation
for what the school of 1959 did for us (as
well as to us).
Secondly, the school has, and always has
had, individual teachers and staff members
whose positive influence is remembered
Dale Simpson, Jim Smith, Larry Devlin, Garry Pearse, George Clark, Glen Simpson,
Fred Allen
with appreciation and, sometimes, with
awe. During our reunion we were hosted
by three school staff who went out of their
way to make our event a special memory.
Their generosity of spirit on a busy alumni
weekend was typical of the best that we
remembered from our youth.
To the school community, we can
say you are fortunate to have the kind of
staff who work for the school today. To
many alumni, teachers and staff are the
school – and always will be. The statue
of Reg Wenman symbolizes this fact of
our history.
Finally, the school feels the same as it
did many years ago. I know this is not by
accident. In the past 10 years, the Board
and the administration have renewed the
school in a way that is truly remarkable.
To achieve modernity while retaining
the historical “feel” of an organization
is not easy. This achievement requires
administrative vision and architectural
artistry as well as fiscal leadership.
That nine members of the Class of
1959 felt so much at home with the school
of today should be an encouragement to
all friends of the school who have worked
hard to shape its modern form.
Finally, since we were all taught to
think independently and speak freely, I
should note that after experiencing the
range of activities that made up Alumni
Weekend, one wag in our group asked
whether “humility” was still a value that
roamed somewhere on the impressive
grounds of the school? I assured him that
we had a mission statement but he was
not convinced.
Is humility still part of our community
culture? (I am sure it is). We will look for
it at our 60th in 2019.
VIVAT!
Class of 1974
The class of 1974 gathered at Swan’s: Harry Fowler and Bob Wright, Mike Marino and Peter Gardiner, Fritz Schulte and Peter Locke
ALUMNI WEEKEND
Class of 1979 Reunion
by David Achtem ’79
For the class of 1979, this alumni weekend
marked 30 years since we graduated from
St. Michaels University School as well
as the 30th year of girls at the school.
Therefore we decided to extend an
invitation to all those girls (the first girls)
who made history 30 years ago.
The weekend began with a round of
golf on Friday for seven of us. The weather
was beautiful, the greens were fast, and
one group of the golfers was a little slow,
as we were told to speed up after the 2nd
hole! The competitive edge must wear
away as one grows older, because we did
not even keep score. It was great just to
get out there with a bunch of old school
mates and hit the ball and then compare
notes over a few beers on the 19th hole!
After the golfing, it was down to the
school for some food and drinks where
we met up with others.
From there it was to the Fernwood Inn
for our class party. We were fortunate to
somehow have the entire back room to
ourselves. Here we were able to reconnect
with the past with some former classmates
who we have not seen for 30 years! The
turnout was great and we had a good
cross-section of the class of ’79. Everyone
had a good time; it would have been great
to get a few more out, especially some of
the locals. All told we had 20 class of ’79
alumni – four first girls, two from overseas
(Claire and Sonya), one from another
Ricky Hui, Martin Davis, Linda (Matuga) McCulloch, Gillian (Hughes) Montgomery and
Anna (Vanderspek) Powers, Melody Southgate
country (Anna), one from a small town in
northern BC (Gill) and a few others from
other years and some siblings of the class of
’79. In the words of one classmate, “I was a
fool to have missed these past reunions.”
After we closed the Fernwood, a few
of the lads still had room for a few more
pints so off we went.
Saturday, it was to the school to take
in the happenings there, then later out
for pizza (a slightly smaller group). We
were not stopping there. Sunday it was
a group breakfast at John’s Place, then
to Rob’s sailing yacht for more food
and drink. We just sat on the boat and
chatted; it was great, especially for those
who had not seen the ocean for 30 years!
And then for those who did not have to
catch ferries or planes it was off for a sail
with Captain Rob at the helm and first
mate Melody fixing cocktails. I heard the
sailing was awesome…we should include
this in the agenda for next time.
Thank you to all for making this a
success! For those who could not attend,
please try to attend the next one as it
really was a lot of fun! Just imagine that
in 10 short years we’ll get the invite to
the Headmaster’s place for a drink!
by Vanessa Young ’84
Our reunion celebration started with the
moving ceremony at the school Friday
evening, where the stunning bronze
statue of Reg Wenman was unveiled.
Many years have passed since we’ve all
stood on the field, in the setting sun, and
sung the school song. Later at the Bard
and Banker, we were able to reconnect
with friends and share memories of our
school days.
Saturday was a fun afternoon at
the school, as the rain held off, while
our rugby teams demonstrated their
might against Oak Bay. Some of the
alums from out of town enjoyed tours
of the school, now “new and improved”
from 25 years ago. We marvelled at the
library and even crept up into the Bell
Tower to enjoy the view of the stunning
grounds. The barbecue hit the spot then
a bunch of us headed over to my place
to watch the Canucks game and give
Rock Band a try – a first for several!
With lots of encouragement, everyone
took turns at the mic, with my son and
his friend (Grade 7 students at SMUS)
accompanying us on the drums and
guitar, until we were all fairly hoarse!
Sunday morning, six of us met for
brunch at John’s Place, then most headed
back to the school for the cricket match
and more visiting. All in all, a great time,
leaving me, for one, looking forward to
our 30th!
Dan Jost, Gerald Drews, Nigel Stoodley
and Lee Matuga
J.R. Justesen and Dave Motherwell
ALUMNI WEEKEND
by Rick Stolle ’89
On May 1, 2009, over 50 of the
graduating class of 1989 assembled in
Victoria to mark 20 years since roaming
the Richmond Road campus! Travelling
from as far away as Mexico, New York, San
Francisco, and even Oak Bay, the ’89ers
rekindled memories and friendships, and
awoke the “party” atmosphere that had
served so well “back in the day.” With
two evenings of get-togethers, at the Bard
& Banker and the Castaways Clubhouse,
many alumni were found roaming the
streets of Victoria until the wee hours.
Hence, the Sunday farewell brunch was
almost a welcome event. The highlight
for many was the number of families that
did make it out to the Sunday brunch
at the Union Club, as there were 24
children present between the ages of 16
and three weeks.
Although some of our fellow
classmates were missing, including
several who didn’t want to miss the
weekend, such as Jennifer Scherer who
had a baby girl on the Monday right
after (see Jen, you could have made it!),
it was an amazing time to reminisce and
get caught up on the last two decades!
The best part about the event was that
Hani Zabaneh, Ian Farish, Peter Tongue, Rick Stolle, Peter Leekha, Vining Wolff, Mary
McLeish, Michael Davidson, Sarah Beeston, Jason Zurba, Trina Talarico, Ann (Gordon)
Patrick, John McIntyre, Alastair Muir, Lara Gaede, Julie Ford, James Lockwood, Ken
Smith, Liz Ewart, Ian Hyde-Lay, Mikhal Cohen, Ilana Porzencanski
such a great time was had by all, and that
discussions already began to focus on
the next time the ’89ers have a reunion,
which means it can only get better!
The ’89ers would also like to send a
special thanks to Louise Winter at the
school for all her help with coordination
of Alumni Weekend and making our
experience that much more fulfilling by
providing a school bus to get us downtown
on the Friday night. For those who actually
got on the bus, it was a “real trip down
memory lane!” In closing, I would like to
say that I believe that our weekend was a
truly terrific experience, and it embodied
a stronger level of camaraderie than that
which probably existed some 20 years ago.
I look forward to next time!
Cheers, Rick Stolle
by Graham Snowden ’99
Back Row (l to r): Maude Henri-Bhargava, Caitlin Smith, Janine (Copeland) Nowacka,
Ryan Jennings, Nicholas Isaac, Ari Shortt, Natalie Turner, Kelsey (Fowler) Garnham,
Stephen Chung, Kevin Morin. Middle Row (l to r): Graham Snowden, Sarah Wilson,
Jason Owen, Sabrina Loiacano. Front Row (l to r): Krystal O’Byrne, Reid Chambers,
Erik Larsen, Rebecca Taylor, Ramina Grewal
Grad ’99 welcomed back more than
60 classmates for its 10-year reunion at
the recent Alumni Weekend. Gathering
at SMUS on Friday evening for the
unveiling of the Reg Wenman statue,
the Grad ’99 class was hosted by some
of their Grad ’98 counterparts at the
Castaways Club House – holding true to
its ties to the school.
Saturday provided the opportunity for
alumni of all years to tour the school and
appreciate the numerous advancements
the school has made in a relatively short
period of time. Being the first trip back
to the school for many of the Grad ’99
class, the additions of the Crothall Centre,
expansion of the Barker Library, and
Schaffter Hall had alumni marvelling and
excited for current students; something
Tony Keble had promised the Grad ’99
ALUMNI WEEKEND
class when they were sitting in the first
Spanish class back in Grade 9.
With remarkable music performances
and the 1st XV taking the field, Grad
’99 found themselves reuniting with
classmates who had made the trip
from as far abroad as Europe and Asia.
Alumni traded recent updates, news of
engagements, weddings and newborns
while also reminiscing about their high
school adventures with each other as
well as with the many faculty that had
participated in their shaping as students
and adults.
One of the highlights of the weekend
was watching Jon Preston play his first
game on the Preston ’99 squash court
against Brian Graves ’42, whose generosity
made the squash courts possible. Ever the
competitor, Jon brought his best game
to the court. The entire Grad ’99 class
very much looks forward to the rematch.
Vivat!
Alumni Receptions
Seattle Alumni Reception March 5, 2009
Karen Kelley, John Davies, Robert Kelly, Nicola Stewart, Doreen Rigos, Anna (Vanderspek) Powers, Jim Rigos, Wim Vanderspek,
Erin Bogdanski, David Longridge, Lisa Vanderspek, Phil McCune, Bob Snowden, Joan Snowden, John Locke, Daine Murphy, Peter
Wilt, Lawrence Leake, Craig Doupé, John Finch, Christopher Collins, Robert Wilson, Kristina Kerr, Rodger Banister, Peter Gardiner
London, Ontario March 25, 2009
John Davies, Jeffrey Erasmus, Derek Stedman, Ajit Singh, Peter Jawl, Himat Singh,
Jesse Kliman, Niko Mavrikos, Jasmine Hendriks, Mykyla McIntyre, Ria Mavrikos,
Ryanne Johnson, Alex Reid, Yianni Mavrikos, Hudson Allison, Peter Gardiner
Tokyo Alumni Reception March 12, 2009
Blair Anderson, Koji Masuda, Ryusuke
Matsui, Alexander Miller, Chikara
Nakashita, Michael Passmore, Kevin
Saimon, Yuri Saito, Susan Sin, Paul Speed,
Chihiro Takahashi, Yasuko (Jody) Toda, Bob
and Joan Snowden, John Davies
WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!
The Alumni Updates section is a very
important part of our School Ties
magazine. It is a fabulous way to keep
in touch with your former classmates
and teachers, and also a great forum
to share the interesting and enriching
experiences of your lives after SMUS.
Please take a moment to tell us about
your studies, travels, careers, weddings
and additions to your family.
We also encourage you to register on our
alumni email directory. It’s simple! Visit
the SMUS Alumni website to register
(http://alumni.smus.bc.ca/).
If you would prefer to give us a call,
Louise Winter can be reached at 250370-6176. Many thanks for keeping in
touch!
Louise Winter, Alumni Relations
([email protected])
SAVE THE DATE:
ALUMNI WEEKEND
April 30 to May 2, 2010
If your class ends in “0” or “5” your
class will be honoured at Alumni
Weekend, April 30 - May 2, 2010.
How about organizing your class
get-together or a class gift in honour
of your reunion? We would be happy
to work with you if you are willing to
spearhead either effort. Please contact
Peter Gardiner: peter.gardiner@
smus.bc.ca or Gillian Donald:
[email protected] if you are
interested or for more information.
The ’50s
David Mulder ’55 visited the school in
July, and spent some time in our archives.
He provided this update:
“I attended University School from
1947-53, and from 1954-55. Visiting
the school several times during July
2009 brought back so many memories,
even though I hardly recognize the place
anymore! And girls are even attending
which nobody back then would have even
guessed would happen some day! But in
hindsight, I believe that co-education is a
better model to follow since boys should
learn as soon as possible that girls do not
think and act like us – something we had
to learn after we left the School during
that earlier era.
“After I left Vivat in June of 1955, I
attended Victoria College, now Camosun
College, for my Grade 13. I next earned a
four-year engineering degree at UBC and
specialized in geology since I wanted a life
outdoors. Since 1960 I have spent one
and a half years in geological exploration,
15 years as a mine geologist at three
mines across Canada and two in China, I
worked for two Alberta electrical utilities
for five years, and three and a half years
with Alberta Economic Development
in Edmonton. I rounded off my career
by teaching at three post-secondary
institutions in Edmonton for more than
18 years, some of which was part-time in
addition to full-time teaching.
David Mulder ’55 visited the school in July
“But mandatory retirement in 2003
saw me sitting in Edmonton in midwinter with nothing to do. I do have two
sons living in Edmonton and a daughter
in southern Alberta, but they have their
own lives and don’t want me hanging
around forever. So I visited my travel
agent and began taking overland trips
to 60 countries all over the world. The
year 2004 was my deep-sea fishing and
archeological year in Mexico, besides
house-sitting for Henry Boas ’54 (a
Vivat chum) in Penticton. I continue
to teach three quality-control courses
at The Northern Alberta Institute of
Technology in Edmonton whenever
there are sufficient students enrolled.
“But what did the school do to
prepare me for some of life’s challenges?
Setting aside the medals and cups and
ribbons and book prizes, a much more
intangible benefit was the person I
became. My mother was killed in a freak
racing car accident in May of 1947, and
that fall my father placed me as a boarder
in Founders House. What a shock that
was! I am an only child but Mr. Wenman
told me and my father that now I had
150 brothers. The school was different
back in those days, since the discipline
was severe. But this discipline taught
me self-discipline, and Mr. Wenman, in
particular, would take no excuses for not
putting forth your very best efforts. And
I do mean very best! There were ‘reasons’
and ‘excuses’ for screwing up, but Mr.
Calling the Class of ’70. Dave McPhee
’70 and Chris Spicer ’70 are planning
your 40th class reunion and they need
your help collecting photos. If you have
any old photos of either classmates,
teachers or the school that you would
be prepared to share please email them
to Louise: [email protected]. If
you have any suggestions or comments
about how you’d like to celebrate this
milestone event, please email David:
[email protected].
updates
ALUMNI UPDATES
alumni
ALUMNI UPDATES
Wenman could seldom be convinced of
the ‘reasons’ we would try to put to him.
My Headmaster, Mr. Timmis, also had
a profound influence on me. In the fall
of 1952, he called me into his office and
quietly urged me to put more effort into
my studies which I did soon afterwards,
and I even shared the class prize with
Brown in June of 1953.
“There were social etiquettes then;
you stood up when a woman entered the
room, you would never even think about
cheeking off a master (heaven forbid!);
and there were well-defined consequences
for screwing up. These intangible benefits
gave me the courage to solve my own
problems as much as possible. I have
experienced some trying moments in my
life: a nasty divorce, the suicidal death
of my youngest son, being blamed on
the job for things that I did not do, etc.
Mr. Wenman taught us the importance
of good sportsmanship on the playing
field, which I learned later in life does
not always apply in the workplace. But it
is how we deal with such problems, and
not what others might do to us, that is
important in the long run.
“I hope that these values will continue
to be taught at St. Michaels University
School, because it is these values that
will set us apart from some other private
schools in the world. And the parents of
future students will be looking for a wellrounded educational institution which
lives up to these values in an increasingly
secular world. Vivat!”
The ’70s
Tony Wilson ’74 dropped into the school
in March to tell us about a major victory
for UVic and the Island in the inaugural
Boughton/BCLI Great Debate.
“The British Columbia Law Institute
(BCLI) is a research organization
sponsored by the BC Law Foundation
and other public agencies, and is
mandated, in part, to assess shortcomings
in the current law and report on the
potential reform of those laws, taking
over what was the role of the BC Law
Reform Commission.
“The BCLI decided in the late summer
of 2008 to bring back the tradition
of ‘Spirited Debate’ to the BC Legal
Community and with the sponsorship
of Boughton Law Corporation of
Vancouver, hosted the first ‘annual’
Boughton/BCLI Great Debate, which
occurred at the Law Courts in Vancouver
on October 29, 2008 with a packed room
of lawyers, judges and former politicians.
The motion was: resolved that copyright
has no place in the modern world.
“Professor Bob Howell of the
University of Victoria Law School
and myself (licensing and intellectual
property lawyer at Boughton, a graduate
of UVic Law School, a member of the
SMUS class of 1974, and a former
Housemaster at International House),
lightheartedly argued on behalf of UVic
that the current laws are now out of step
with the rapidly changing technological
advances in cultural mediums (and were
served with an injunction in the middle
of the debate). UBC’s team, which was
comprised of UBC professor Joost Blom,
QC, and Karen MacDonald of Smart and
Biggar, fought in the corner of artists and
the need for them to be protected and
compensated for their creative works.
St. Michael’s School Centennial: June 4–6, 2010
Nihil Magnum Nisi Bonum
Dear St. Michael’s Old Boys,
Here we have it – the dates are set and plans are underway to celebrate
the centennial of “That Amazing Institution!” Please mark these dates on
your calendar and start making your plans to attend this weekend of fun,
reminiscing and reconnecting with those old childhood friends again.
1910
2010
Plans include a gala dinner on the weekend of June 5, and spouses or significant
others are more than welcome to join us for this special celebration.
We are busy with the early planning stages and would like an idea of attendance, so we can move ahead with the
organization. If you have not already responded to the email I sent out through the school, please advise either myself
or Gillian Donald ([email protected]) as soon as possible.
If you are in touch with any St. Michael’s Old Boys who may not be in contact with the school, please pass this
information on to them and have them contact me or Gillian.
I do have a request to make – if you have a favourite anecdote or story that you would like to share please forward it
to me so we can make up a small booklet of St Michael’s stories. Don’t be shy! And if you have any photographs of
the ‘old’ school that you are willing to offer the school’s archives, it would be greatly appreciated.
I am looking forward to seeing as many of you as possible at this happy and important occasion.
Sincerely,
Michael E. Symons ’63
Phone 250-598-1550
Email: [email protected]
The ’90s
Adrian Luckhurst ’91 has been living in
the beautiful tax haven of Jersey (Channel
Island off the coast of France) for the
past 11 years following his education to
become a chiropractor. Adrian undertook
a five-year master’s degree from AngloEuropean College of Chiropractic where
Christine Hibbard ’93 married Metin
Kannur on February 21, 2009 on the
island of Cyprus. The wedding took
place in his family’s village and included
wonderful traditional Cypriot music
and dancing. Angela Dunbar ’92 came
from Barcelona for the wedding as well
as family and friends from Vancouver
including her mother and brother. Sadly,
her father Bill passed away in 2005.
Christine is in her third year teaching
English for Academic Purposes at the
University of the Eastern Mediterranean
in Famagusta, North Cyprus. Since
graduating from SMUS she has completed
a BA from UBC and an MA in education
from the University of Manchester, UK.
Jaclyn Reid-Ivany ’97 graduated from
Queen’s University with a BComm
in 2002 and moved home to Victoria
shortly thereafter. In the summer of
2005, Jackie moved to Halifax where she
worked for the Nova Scotia Department
of Finance in a risk management role and
spent three years enjoying the East Coast
of Canada. Jackie married Major LouisOlivier Perrot in St. Thomas, US Virgin
Islands, in December of 2008. Jackie and
Louis have been living in Regina for the
past year as Louis currently holds the
position of Flight Commander at the
NATO Flight Training School (NFTC)
in Moose Jaw. Jackie has recently
accepted the position of Assistant
Treasurer, Credit and Financial Risk
Management with SaskEnergy and the
move to Saskatchewan has been a good
one for many reasons. Jackie especially
enjoys living close to her sister, Robyn
Reid-Ivany ’97 and her husband
Andreas, who live in Calgary. Jackie is
currently pursuing the CFA designation
and she is also enrolled in the distance
MBA programme through Dalhousie
University.
Jennifer Woodland ’99 completed a
double BA in English and Psychology
from Queen’s, then travelled to Bolivia
for four months on an international
development
programme
through
Queen’s University. Returning to
Victoria, Jenny acquired her Master
Limited – 60 Ton certification before
sailing the BC coast with a group of
friends in a boat she co-owned. They
travelled as far as Prince Rupert and
the Queen Charlotte Islands. Jenny
then earned her master’s degree in
international communications from
Royal Roads University and is now
working as communication manager
with Custom House in Victoria. Jenny
recently married Michael Saint Claire.
The ’00s
Marissa (Olson) Cotter ’01 graduated
from Emily Carr University in the spring
of 2008 with a BFA and has been working
from her home pottery studio space that
her husband, Chester Cotter ’01, built.
Marissa uses porcelain and stoneware clay
materials from close to her family’s farm
in southern Alberta. Marissa and Chester
live in Fanny Bay, BC, where Marissa
is involved with the Comox Valley Art
Gallery. She is much enjoying meeting
new artists and craftspeople from the rich
cultural community of the Comox Valley.
Ashley Heaslip ’02 is living in Toronto,
having just completed a master’s of
health science from the University of
Toronto’s Dalla Lana School of Public
Health. For her major research paper
Tony Wilson was part of the debating
team representing UVic Law School that
won the coveted Boughton/BCLI Great
Debate Trophy.
he met his lovely wife Andrea, who is from
Sweden. Adrian sent this note in July:
“We have been working very hard
over the past 5-10 years and have built
up a very successful clinic. In addition we
have in the last five years invested much
time and money into the restoration
of two beautiful Victorian properties
(which is becoming a little bit of a love/
hate thing). We are both passionate
outdoor people and plan all our holidays
around
snow-boarding,
mountain
biking, windsurfing, etc… No kids yet...
However, we are hoping to sell up here
and return to Victoria, BC next year
sometime. We want to take a year off
first to start a family (of course we will
be registering our boy or girl with SMUS
for their future education!), and when
ready would like to invest in and develop
new lines of business. Adrian and Andrea
wish you all the very best and would love
to bump into some old school mates
when we are back... VIVAT!”
ALUMNI UPDATES
“The debate was such a close contest
that CBC Radio One’s Rick Cluff, the
moderator, had to rely on Chief Justice
Brenner (a UBC graduate!) to determine
that Tony Wilson and Bob Howell of the
UVic Team were the victors of the first
Great Debate and got custody of the
coveted trophy. (I want it known that
it had nothing to do with the fact that
Rick Cluff and myself were in journalism
school and the same residence together
in 1975 at Carleton University). I got my
start in the debating field here at SMUS
between 1972 and 1974, along with
co-debators Fritz Schultz, Guy Tyrwitt
Drake and Brian Titus.
“The 2009 Boughton/BCLI Great
Debate will be held at the Law Courts
Inn in Vancouver and moderated by
CBC Radio One’s Rick Cluff again. I
have been asked to return (for the comic
relief ) and will be teamed up with UVic
Law School Dean Donna Greschner.
Myself and Dean Greschner will be
pitted against UBC Law School Dean
Mary Anne Bobinski and Michael Bain
of the Vancouver firm Hamilton Howell
in what may be a Battle of the Deans.
“2009’s Great Debate will tackle this
resolution: the hourly rate for lawyers is
like the asteroid to the dinosaurs.”
ALUMNI UPDATES
she worked with indigenous youth to
develop arts-based approaches to HIV
prevention leadership. After completing
a bachelor of arts from the University of
Victoria in 2006, Ashley took a year off
during which she traveled to East Africa
to work on HIV programmes, interned
with the Global Health Council in
Washington, DC and worked with the
Aboriginal Health Research Group at
the University of Victoria. Ashley will be
studying medicine starting this August
at the Michael G. DeGroote School of
Medicine at McMaster University.
If any current or past SMUS students
are interested in studying public health or
community medicine, Ashley would be
more than happy to share her experiences
with you. Please email her at: ashley.
[email protected].
Matthew Woodland ’02 returned to
Victoria in June for his sister’s (Jenny ’99)
wedding. After graduating in Business
Management from McGill, he went on
to Vancouver and began working as a
property investment analyst. Matt then
caught the travel bug and spent time in
Europe (east and west) and Africa (north
and east). He was able to fulfill a long-time
wish to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro. He is now
living in Melbourne, Australia, where he
works as property investment manager for
Super Investment Management PTY Ltd.
Pete Panasupon ’03 has returned to
Bangkok, Thailand, after six years of
university in Europe. He wrote to us in
June: “I have received my BDes (bachelor
of design) in product design from The
Glasgow School of Art, then a master’s of
European design, and a MA in strategic
design with concentration of international
design business management from the
University of Art and Design (Helsinki).
I was actually in Germany, too, on a
one-year exchange at Köln International
School of Design.
“I am going next to live in Pune,
India for two months doing design
research with a local company. I have
never been to India, and thought that
it is a great opportunity to work in an
environment and culture almost alien to
me. I am really excited about this trip.
I will definitely give you another update
after I come back! After India, I hope
to take a ‘break’ and come visit Victoria
again. I really miss my life at SMUS!”
Nadine Qureshi ’07 recently received a
Canada’s Top 20 Under 20 award. It is a
scholarship award involving a mentorship
component: 20 students from across
Canada will be paired with someone who
has won the Order of Canada and will be
mentored on leadership for a year.
From the Globe and Mail, June 3,
2009: “Nadine Qureshi won’t rest until
malaria is eradicated. Nadine spent three
years helping found the Mission Against
Malaria Society to help raise funds for
the eradication and prevention of the
disease. ‘I grew up with a background in
medicine and my dad was born in East
Africa, so I have known about malaria
and its infection problems.’”
Nadine’s love of volunteering began
at SMUS five years ago, starting with the
Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
She has also been involved with Free the
Children, World Partnership Walk and
Journey of Hope.
Nadine credits her twin sister Natasha,
now a director of Mission Against Malaria,
with helping the society’s growth. Both
recently completed the second year of
the cell biology programme at UBC, and
may pursue careers in medicine.
Last August, when Nadine was 19,
she travelled to Tanzania after helping
to raise $8,000 to buy mosquito netting
for 600 families. “Hung over a bed,
mosquito netting is very effective in
preventing malaria and it’s relatively
cheap,” she notes.
Nadine is hoping to visit SMUS early
next year to tell the school community
more about Mission Against Malaria.
For more information, please visit:
missionagainstmalaria.org
There were bells...
Christine Hibbard ’93 married Metin
Kannur on February 21, 2009 on the
island of Cyprus. The wedding took
place in Metin’s family village. Angela
Ashley Heaslip ’02 completed a Masters of
Health Science.
Nadine Qureshi ’07 (right) recently received
a Canada’s Top 20 Under 20 award.
Christine Hibbard ’93 and Metin Kannur
Regina for the past year as Louis currently
holds the position of Flight Commander
at the NATO Flight Training School
(NFTC) in Moose Jaw.
Jacklyn Reid-Ivany ’97 married Major
Louis-Olivier Perrot in St. Thomas, US
Virgin Islands, in December of 2008.
Jackie and Louis have been living in
Jennifer Angus ’98 and Alec Johnston
’98 were married on June 27, 2009, on
Hornby Island, BC. There were 23 alums
in attendance.
ALUMNI UPDATES
Dunbar ’92 travelled from Barcelona to
attend the wedding.
Jennifer Woodland ’99 married Michael
Robert Saint Claire on June 13, 2009
at Starling Lane Vineyard, Victoria BC.
Elizabeth Jawl ’00 and Roxanne Black
’98 were Jenny’s maids of honour.
Jacklyn Reid-Ivany ’97 and Major LouisOlivier Perrot
Jennifer Angus’98 and Alec Johnston’98
Jennifer Woodland ’99 married Michael
Robert Saint Claire
Alec Johnston & Jennifer Angus (both ’98) wedding (front l-r) Trevor Hoskins ’94, Jamie Angus ’64, David Angus ’62 (Bride’s Father),
Chris Fibiger ’60, Jack Angus ’62 (back l-r) Charlotte Paul ’98, James Peacock ’96, Anna (Thomas) Peacock ’98, Margaret Lapp ’07,
Kaeleigh Fletcher ’10, Mary Lapp ’11, Sam Paulos ’98, Jenny (Angus) Johnston ’98, Andrew Williamson ’98, Alec Johnston ’98,
Chris Noel ’98, David Angus ’94, Jamie MacIver ’95, Gavin Barry ’98, Christina Nadolski ’97, Rev. Keven Fletcher (SMUS Chaplain),
Rob Connolly ’96, Cara Yeates ’98, Andrew Rippington ’93, (missing from photo) Sasha Angus ’90.
ALUMNI UPDATES
Nicola Harper ’02 and Matthew Barber
were married on July 18, 2009 in the
chapel at St. Ann’s Academy in Victoria.
Members of the wedding party included
the bride’s brother Alec Harper ’04 and
sister Gillian Harper ’08. A reception was
held at the Inn at Laurel Point following
the ceremony. The couple are currently
living in San Francisco, where they are
both working towards graduate degrees
in molecular biology.
Emma Brownlee ’03 married Steven
Shelford on May 2, 2009 in Victoria
BC. The wedding party included SMUS
grads Hilary Punnett ’03, Maureen
Palmer ’03, Erin Langwith ’03, and
Chris Callendar ’99. It was a beautiful
day and a great party. The newlyweds
honeymooned in Costa Rica.
Erinn Grant ’88 and husband Gerry
Swallow welcomed Finley Gerard Grant
Swallow on July 6, 2009.
sleep! Stephanie would love to hear from
former classmates. Please email her at
[email protected].
Stephanie Lewis ’88 and Tim Sorensen
are happy to announce the birth of their
daughter Charlotte Chaffey Sorensen.
“Charlie” arrived on February 14,
2009. She weighed 7 lbs 9 oz and was
19 inches long. Stephanie and Tim are
thrilled to be parents and enjoying every
minute of her – including the lack of
David Margison ’88 and Olga Mureshko
announce the arrival of their son, Philippe
Davidovich Margison, born February 25,
2009, in Moscow.
Sarah Beeston ’89 and Gregor Klenz
welcomed a baby girl; Talia Soleil was born
April 5, 2009, at the very civilized hour of
2:30 pm, during a lovely sunny afternoon
after a very quick one-hour labour.
Mary McLeish ’89 and her husband,
Mike Shaw, welcomed their second child.
Andrew Russell was born on February 20,
2009, weighing in at 6 lbs 14 oz. His big
New on the scene
Sheryl Yung ’84 and her husband, Craig
Nicol, announce that James (Jamie) Ryan
was born on his due date, May 14, 2009
at 5:17 pm. Labour went super fast,
which was a relief, since Jamie weighed
in at a healthy 9 lbs 2 oz.
James (Jamie) Ryan Nicol
Philippe Davidovich Margison
Finley Gerard Grant Swallow
Nicola Harper ’02 and Matthew Barber
Andrew Russell Shaw
Emma Brownlee ’03 married Steven
Shelford
Charlotte Chaffey Sorensen
Abby Jane Farish
Jennifer Scherer ’89 and her husband
Vivek Rajan would like to announce the
birth of their daughter, Rainah, who is
now three.
Craig Farish ’90 and his wife Bonnie
Davison announce the arrival of Abby
Jane Farish, born March 16, 2009.
Damian Grant ’93 and his wife Ellie
welcomed their first child. Callum Terence
Grant was born on January 9, 2009.
Anna (Leong) Nazif ’93 and her husband
Omar welcomed their daughter, Sarah
Ann Irene Nazif, on August 27, 2008.
Angie (Freedman) Oshika ’94 and
her husband Johnny are delighted to
welcome their son. Tomio Phelan Oshika
was born June 10, 2009 at 4:18 am. The
labour was unexpectedly quick and the
baby unexpectedly heavy, weighing in at
9 lbs 9 oz (a full pound and a half more
than his sister!)
Jill Dorazio ’96 and husband Matt
Larose, announce the arrival of their baby
girl, Ava Karen Larose, born on January
21, 2009.
Kimberly Nordlund ’99 and her
husband, Robert Kindzierski, would
like to announce the birth of their son,
Evan Richard, on December 13, 2008.
Kimberly is a pharmacist working in
Edmonton and Robert is a 3rd year
Anesthesiology resident at the University
of Alberta.
ALUMNI UPDATES
sister Abigail, now three, is loving every
moment of him!
Robert Bateman ’97 and his wife
Madeleine Challies, welcomed their first
child, a boy. Pierre Nicolas Bateman was
born on April 19, 2009.
Emily (Heynen) Seru ’94 and her husband
Davu welcomed a son on March 5,
2009. August James Seru was born in
Saint Paul, Minnesota.
Callum Terence Grant
Ava Karen Larose
Sarah Ann Irene Nazif
Pierre Nicolas Bateman
Kimberly Nordlund ’99, husband, Robert
Kindzierski, with their son, Evan Richard
August James Seru
Tomio Phelan Oshika
ALUMNI UPDATES
Passages
Condolences and thanks to Rafael
Meléndez-Duke (1942-1948) who has
provided the following obituaries of his
brother and cousin. Rafael also provided
the photograph of both Maurice and
José taken in Victoria in June of 1942.
The photo and Rafael’s description of
University School boarder leave is an
interesting vignette of days past!
Maurice Meléndez-Duke (aged 86)
of Sidney, BC and José Mauricio LópezDuke (aged 87) of San Salvador, Central
America – first cousins, superb friends
and students at University School from
February 1937 to June 1942 – passed
away within two weeks of each other, in
June of 2009.
Both were born in El Salvador
and arrived by ship in Vancouver, not
knowing the English language, and were
met by well-remembered Headmaster
G.H. Scarrett.
Maurice excelled in rugby, tennis,
and was a prefect and cadet officer. Upon
graduation, he joined the Canadian
Scottish Regiment, landing at Juno
Beach on D-Day. V-E Day found him
José Mauricio López-Duke, Maurice
Meléndez-Duke, and Don MacKay ’42
in June, 1942, on Saturday Late Leave.
Once a month, from 4-9 pm, senior
boarders were able to be photographed
on Douglas Street, have a bite to eat, see
a movie and catch the 8:30 pm streetcar
back to Mount Tolmie.
in Holland where, during his unit’s sixmonth deployment, he met his future wife
Rosalie. They married in 1947. After an
accounting career in El Salvador, Canada
and the United States, he retired to Sidney,
BC. Maurice was predeceased by Rosalie
in 2000, and is survived by five children,
as well as their spouses and families.
While at the school, “López” (or
“Joe”) was a prefect and participated
eagerly in all phases of school activities.
He made many friends who asked of him
long after leaving VIVAT. Even though
he liked the school, he always claimed he
would have been “just as happy with a
Jesuit education in San Salvador.”
His working career led him to a
fledgling FedEx in Washington, DC,
bookended by stints in the coffee
business.
Latterly, with his architect brother
Lorenzo (US 1947-50, deceased), he
engaged in the construction of buildings
and houses. José is survived by his wife,
Bessie, a daughter and her spouse, and
two grandchildren.
is that it was he who designed the school
chapel. This also might have prompted
Adrian to leave the teaching profession,
for in 1963 he left to become a highly
successful designer of homes and home
renovations. Later he became a property
developer. In recent years, he returned to
teaching at a local design school. At his
funeral, the school was represented by
several former students: Andrew Timmis
’65, Giles Thorp ’63, Tony Keble ’62,
Michael Symons ’63, Jim Wenman ’66,
Larry Devlin ’59, and former colleague
and good friend, Rob Wilson.
Adrian Greenbank (University School
teaching staff 1957-63)
University School students of
this era will be saddened to learn that
Adrian passed away in May of 2009.
He was born and raised in England, and
attended art school there before coming
to Canada with his parents in 1956,
when he was in his early twenties. He
was an outstanding artist, sculptor and
a fine teacher. Adrian was also a topclass swimmer and coached the swim
team. Perhaps his most formidable
legacy, and one not commonly known,
Reid Dobell (1956-62) died May 29,
2009. He attended University School
as a boarder from Vancouver, and was a
good scholar. He successfully completed
two degrees, including a law degree from
UBC. He was a barrister and solicitor
in the Fraser Valley and was also an avid
sailor. For the last several years, Reid
fought a long, difficult and courageous
battle with cancer. It was only a brief three
years ago that we reported the loss of Reid’s
father, E.C. ‘Ned’ Dobell, who attended
University School from 1930-32.
Adrian Greenbank, taken in 1962
Kenneth I. M. Weaver (1965-67),
known as ‘Kim,’ died June of 2009 in
Victoria. On graduation from University
School, he went to the University of
Victoria. After post-university sojourns
in Central and South America, Kim
returned home to embark on a successful
career in Real Estate, both as an appraiser
and mortgage broker. Kim attended
some alumni reunion functions as part
of the loyal and supportive 1967
graduating class.
Reid Dobell, taken in 1961
Publications
Mail Agreement
#40063624
Mark your calendars
November 16
Okanagan Alumni and Friends
November 17
Edmonton Alumni and Friends
November 18
Calgary Alumni and Friends
November 26
Hong Kong Alumni and Friends
December 3
Tokyo Alumni and Friends
December 18
Victoria Alumni and Friends, Christmas Wine and Cheese
February 3
Vancouver Alumni and Friends
March 4
Seattle Alumni and Friends
March 5
Portland Alumni and Friends
St. Michaels University School
3400 Richmond Road
Victoria, BC, CANADA V8P 4P5
If undeliverable, return to
March 25
Montreal Alumni and Friends
March 26
Southern Ontario Alumni and Friends
April 30 - May 2
Alumni and SMUS Community Weekend
June 4-5
St. Michael’s Centennial Weekend

School Ties: 2009, Fall Issue - St. Michaels University School

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