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CONTENTS

Eden Watercolour illustration My artwork is about the story of Eden. The three characters in the front are Adam, Eve and the Serpent. The three windows behind them are the flaming sword to guard Eden, the tree of life and a goat skull to represent the devil. The quote has two different meanings in the story. The blissful Eden can represent the sun, while the mortal world represents the shade. Another interpretation is that the forbidden fruit of knowledge is the sun, and ignorance is the shade. When I first heard the story of Eden, I thought if I could live in paradise but stayed ignorant, I’d rather choose to bear the suffering in the mortal world. This thought inspired me to draw this piece. –Isabella Tan, Grade 12

Thoughts on Democracy At this turbulent time in our history, the idea of democracy has never been more important— or under threat. In this edition of The Pillars, we asked members of the PC community to share their thoughts about democracy, how they contribute to it and why it is important.

It was a symbolic ending to a tumultuous year. As the rain teemed down, we celebrated the achievements of the Class of 2021 at an outdoor ceremony.

PC’s students have a variety of opportunities to explore work in advocacy. The Youth Action Organization (YAO) has been at the forefront of the school’s student-led social justice initiatives.

We are excited to have heard from so many of our alumni for this edition, including Jack Houghton ’47. Keep the updates coming!

4 Head Shots 6 John Trueman ’96: Helping to Give People a Voice 9 Legacy Project 10 Student Life 14 Youth Action Organization 18 Boarding Life 22 Teacher Feature: Dan Thompson 24 Kindergrad 25 Grade 8 Graduation 26 Congratulations, Class of 2021 28 Staff News 30 Alumni Connections 40 Class of 1842 Welcomes Roger Warren ’51 42 Jim Waters and CHOP FM 44 PCA Update 46 Three Cheers For Our Volunteers 49 Power of Community: Kirk Tobias’ Jab & Java 50 Upcoming Events

HEAD SHOTS Reflections on democracy with Peter Sturrup, Head of School

It seems that democracy is a little wobbly these days. Around the world and close to home, democracies are facing internal and external challenges from many sides. So it is timely to have an issue of The Pillars entitled “Democracy in Action.” At first glance, I thought of the idea of democracy in action as an examination of where democratic principles are being applied to ensure that decisions are in the hands of people; or that democracy in action can be personified by social activists bringing the ideal of democracy to societies where it has not existed before, nurturing democracy in its infancy to bring it to maturity. After reflecting on the state of the world these days, I think that democracy in action in today’s world needs to focus a little bit more on those places where democracy has already taken root and flourished, but where it is now under pressure or attack. Many formerly democratic countries have become more authoritarian. Even the birthplace of modern democracy—the United States—is facing some significant challenges. American historian and journalist Jill Lepore wrote in a column in The New Yorker last year that, “It’s a paradox of democracy that the best way to defend it is to attack it, to ask more of it, by way of criticism, protest, and dissent.” In this sense, true democracy in action is about constantly questioning, challenging, testing, debating, listening, accepting, revising and renewing the very foundation of the principle of democracy. This process, Lepore argues, is the way to fix democracy. It is not easy, it is not clean, it is not happy, nor is the outcome ever certain. But it may be the only way to identify what a country or society values and what it is prepared to do to achieve that outcome. An alumnus once told me that Headmaster Joe McCulley (’27-’47) believed in the ‘perfectibility of the human spirit.’ This ideal of the perfectibility of the human spirit obviously needs the right environment in which to grow and thrive—an environment that believes in the ‘perfectibility of society.’ Coincidentally, in the very same era that McCulley was inspiring his charges at Pickering College, Winston Churchill was writing, “Many forms of Government have been tried, and will be tried in this world of sin and woe. No one pretends that democracy is perfect or all-wise. Indeed it has been said that democracy is the worst form of Government except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.” For me, that captures the essence of democracy in action—the recognition that the concept of democracy is imperfect, and that only way to perfect it is to continue to challenge it. Perhaps the reason this all resonates so deeply with me is that this idea of democracy parallels the idea of education. Transformational education, is a process of questioning, challenging, testing, debating, listening, accepting, revising and renewing. Those are the skills we want to be instilling in our students in their time in school; those are the skills we want our students to be taking into the world to address the issues they will face; those are the skills that can support a fledgling democracy in other societies; and those are the skills that can preserve democracy in our own countries. Education, done right, is the path to the perfectibility of the human spirit and to the perfectibility of our society. What an overwhelming responsibility. What an inspiring cause.

Peter Sturrup, Head of School

Helping to Give People a Voice For John Trueman ’96, his interest in the law was piqued at a young age. “Probably the earliest I can think of is sort of this innate feeling of injustice. And it’s hard to even define, because a feeling that something is unjust is very visceral—something isn’t right or isn’t fair, really kind of sparked it.” After he graduated from Pickering College, Trueman completed his undergraduate degree in Canadian Studies from Simon Fraser University. With his sights set on a career in law, in 2003, he decided to first take on what was meant to be a two-year position with a new alternative dispute resolution project. That project quickly morphed to become the place where survivors of Canada’s residential school system could seek and receive compensation for the abuse they faced as Indigenous children at the hands of these institutions. “It became very apparent to everyone that the scope of what we were doing was not sufficient to address the broader legacy of residential schools.” In 2005, the Government of Canada

appointed Frank Iacobucci as its representative to negotiate and reach a final settlement agreement by mid-2006 to try to make amends for the legacy of residential schools. Trueman continued with the project, relocating to Ottawa as part of the implementation team. “There were several aspects to the settlement agreement—one of them was reshaping the alternative dispute resolution process into the Independent Assessment Process (IAP), which was a confidential adjudicative process for residential school survivors who had claims of sexual abuse or serious physical abuse,” explains Trueman. “The best known, of course, is the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC). The way I would describe it is TRC was the public part of the settlement, and the IAP was the private part of the settlement. It was the survivor’s option whether to do one or the other, or both. In the IAP, where people were seeking compensation, we had specially-trained adjudicators who would ask questions in a confidential process in order to draw out the story and determine whether they were eligible for compensation.” Trueman managed policy and litigation for the Chief Adjudicator of the Residential School Settlement. The process had been designed to manage claims for about 12,500 people with the intention to settle them within a five-year period. By the application deadline in 2012, they had received 38,000 claims—about three times as many as had been expected. “When I started, almost none of my friends or relatives had any idea that residential schools had even existed, and over that time we saw the Prime Minister’s apology and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission national events leading up to their final report, which has greatly increased public awareness,” says Trueman. “It really reminded me how much more still needs to be done, because there was an entire volume of the TRC’s report on missing children and unmarked burials, but that didn’t have nearly as much impact as the Kamloops confirmation in the spring of 2021. That singular announcement was so concrete, it made it real for people in a way a lengthy report could not.” While still working at the Independent Assessment Process, Trueman began law school at the University of British

Columbia, graduating with his Juris Doctor in 2018. From there, he landed one of the most sought-after clerk positions, working at the Supreme Court of Canada. The experience, he says, was tremendous, working alongside three other law clerks supporting Justice Sheilah Martin, who was the newest judge at that time. It was his job to help Justice Martin prepare for appeals, assisting her with writing decisions, and researching and writing papers and speeches. “You get to see and assist with how the law evolves because the Supreme Court of Canada has an important role in not only correcting errors, but in the advancement of developing the law,” he says.

“One of the most important things that lawyers do is they help give people a voice.” Constitutional and administrative law are the two areas in which Trueman specializes, leading him to his current role as an Associate at Arvay Finlay LLP in Vancouver, one of Canada’s leading constitutional law firms. The firm that has argued some of the most important constitutional law cases in recent history, including some “blockbusters” such as establishing that sexual orientation constitutes a prohibited basis of discrimination under the Canadian Charter and the right to medical assistance in dying. “One of the most important things that lawyers do is they help give people a voice,” says Trueman. “I have another appeal coming up that involves a 79-yearold woman who is fighting to protect her own right to make her own decisions about managing her property, against people who are saying she’s too old and too incapable to do that. Last fall, we intervened in a Supreme Court of Canada case on behalf of a small First Nation in Manitoba whose land was taken away and flooded for a major hydroelectric power plant. And, like many First Nations, their story was ignored and forgotten, and so that is an important role that lawyers play, which is to help people exercise their rights to speak up against

things that are unjust.” Ensuring everyone has access to fair representation is one of the reasons he believes pro bono work for lawyers is essential. He is the first to admit that legal services are “outrageously expensive” and the people who most need legal help are often the least able to afford it. In his experience, some of the most meaningful and satisfying work comes in on a pro bono basis and helps level the playing field. “Without the availability of pro bono lawyers, we really run the risk that the law becomes a tool that is wielded by the already powerful to consolidate and protect their power to the detriment of others,” he says. “During the pandemic, we have really seen some gross abuses by governments, employers and others— everyone is trying to use the law to their advantage in a crisis, to reapportion the risk in their favour. People are not usually aware of their rights and don’t really have the knowledge and skills to be able to assert their rights in court or elsewhere.” Trueman says as a concept, the rule of law is inseparable from democracy. He finds that is often oversimplified as meaning “majority rules” or the ability to vote. However, he says a major function of the law is to temper the whims of the majority—constitutional law involves protecting fundamental values against majoritarian sentiment, which history shows us is critically important. “When I was at Pickering, we didn’t learn about residential schools but we did learn about the Japanese internment. In the midst of a crisis, during a war, existing anti-Asian sentiment built up, especially on the west coast, which led to the forced relocation and dispossession of Canadian citizens,” he says. These actions were carried out by the federal government of the day, under the authority of the War Measures Act. “Today of course, with the Charter of Rights, those kinds of actions and decisions are subject to review. Rights under the Charter are not absolute, but the Charter itself contains a method by which governments have to justify infringements of rights. That is one area where law and democracy are inseparable.”

Thoughts on Democracy Natasha Krstajic ’13

Press Secretary and Parliamentary Advisor to Ontario’s Attorney General Toronto, Ontario

Natasha Krstajic ’13 says there is no doubt in her mind that her education at Pickering College played a pivotal role in ultimately shaping her future career in politics. “In fact, I can pinpoint the exact ‘aha’ moment in Ms. Bartlett’s politics class when I realized my fascination with the subject. I recall we were learning about political leaders and other prominent figures, both past and present, and I couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like to be involved in writing history,” she says. After graduating from Pickering College, Krstajic pursued a double degree in political science and international development at Queen’s University, followed by an MBA at Lund University in Sweden. She began her career in politics in a role with Ontario’s Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, working as the Director of Public Appointments. Since then, she has moved to her current role as Press Secretary and Parliamentary Advisor to the Attorney General of Ontario, the Hon. Doug Downey. Krstajic acts as the Minister’s spokesperson and is responsible for all aspects of public outreach and media relations from within the Minister’s Office. Both positions have afforded Krstajic with an in-depth understanding of the importance of government as a well-oiled machine and she has gained valuable insight into the inner workings of government institutions and the core functions of our political system. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about extraordinary challenges to nearly every aspect of life as well as to public institutions, including the justice system. “Professionally speaking, I’ve watched as Ontario’s justice system has been called upon to meet many challenges. To keep Ontarians safe and maintain the critical administration of justice, the Office of the Attorney General has worked swiftly and decisively,” she explains. “By making use of technology and innovative practices, we are gradually reducing the number of unnecessary courthouse visits, successfully putting more services online, and making it easier for people to access the justice system, no matter where they live in the province. As Minister Downey likes to say, “justice accelerated is justice delivered.” With regards to democracy, Krstajic admits it is not a perfect political system. Nevertheless, she says it is a powerful tool that brings us a step closer towards “achieving our fundamental freedoms, including liberty and respect for human rights, universal suffrage and the rule of law, and greater equality and accountability for all. I am honoured to play a small part in maintaining the good function of our democracy here in Ontario.” As for what’s on the horizon for democracy, Krstajic says it will be interesting to see how the advent of new forms of media will affect the political landscape. “I suspect the rise of new media, as well as the speed of communication and dissemination of information, will have radical implications on the ways in which citizens are socialized and educated on political issues.”

ETHAN BONERATH RECEIVES ONTARIO VOLUNTEER SERVICE AWARD Grade 11 student Ethan Bonerath has been volunteering at a longterm care home near his house for the past three years, providing whatever support is needed: helping residents get to and from activities, delivering books and supporting performers who visit the facility. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he has been able to continue volunteering by converting music from CDs to digital format, so that residents can enjoy it. He was hoping to work on a program connecting youth and seniors, but unfortunately the lockdowns prevented it from happening. Although his efforts have been interrupted, Ethan has no intention of discontinuing his volunteer work. “I love it there. I’m hoping to continue volunteering there even after my school. It just depends where university takes me and how far away I’ll be,” he says. In March 2021, Ethan received an Ontario Volunteer Service Award for two years of service. “It was nice to be appreciated,” he says of the award. Ethan’s father Ruben offered some words of support: “I’m really happy for him. It’s a lesson that there is recognition to hard work, dedication, devotion to a cause.”

Connecting Across Generations to Explore the World’s Complex Challenges

In Spring 2021, four Pickering College students, Ethan Bonerath, Shyam Subramanyam and Javir Obhan (who all start Grade 11 this fall) and Siobhan Bonerath (going into Grade 9), took part in a five-week discussion series conducted by the Legacy Project. The Legacy Project is the Toronto-based independent research, education and social innovation group behind the 7-Generation initiative, which seeks to bring together various generations to solve the world’s problems and create systemic change. The name comes from the Indigenous concept of considering the impact of any action on seven generations. To further their research and support the UN Development Project’s high-level dialogue on energy and climate change, the Legacy Project undertook a warm data sprint in the form of five weekly Zoom discussions with a nominal focus on climate change and energy, as an experiment to explore alternatives to addressing or contemplating complex challenges. They partnered with the International Bateson Institute (IBI) and used its warm data approach, which seeks to “find other species of information and new patterns of connection not visible through current methodologies.” Roughly 50 people (including some UN staff) took part in each week’s call. After a brief introductory discussion around a question such as, “What are you attending to now?” participants were placed into breakout rooms of three

community, to figure out how I can help the people around me.” to five people for the bulk of the 1.5hour session. Each room would receive a discussion focus related to the main question, such as science, history and culture, law or the environment, but according to the students, other topics often arose spontaneously. At the end, participants would regroup to share their thoughts and learnings.

Javir initially found himself somewhat in awe of the other participants, but got more comfortable as the sessions went on. “These are some people that I would never think I would actually ever talk to. Doctors from New Zealand, a tech CEO in Sweden … but I found it really interesting how I was actually able to connect with them,” he says.

Ethan and Siobhan’s mother Sonya connected with the Legacy Project through her work, and the entire family was invited to participate in the sprint. Ethan brought his fellow classmates Shyam and Javir on board. All four PC students who took part in the sessions say they learned a lot from the discussions and appreciated meeting people who were very different from themselves.

What Shyam appreciated was that the students’ ideas and experiences were given equal weight in the discussions: “As young people, you feel almost intimidated by the level of intelligence and eloquence and the wisdom that these people carry … [but] they are always willing to hear new ideas and care about everybody’s voice.”

“Especially with COVID … it’s been very refreshing to talk to new people and share ideas,” Ethan says. “I think we learned a lot about how everyone is interconnected, and although we may seem separate in our lives, everyone is brought together and has shared similar experiences. Everyone is human.” His sister Siobhan agrees: “I had my own idea of what life is and my own idea about who I am as a person and what everything around me is. When I joined the group, I heard from so many different people about the things that are going on in their communities … and so I made it a point to check out what’s going on in my

Ethan and Siobhan’s father Ruben was thrilled that these young people had the opportunity to be part of the sprint. “It gives them permission to express themselves. It gives them permission to be heard. It also gives them the notion that they can make a difference.” The students all agreed that the opportunity was a positive one for them and that it had broadened and sharpened their worldview. “Now I’ll be a lot more observant of people that I feel are nothing like me. I’m going to start looking a little deeper into how we are connected,” Javir says. “I think what we learned the most about through this experience was really ourselves,” Shyam adds.

JUNIOR SCHOOL STUDENT LIFE

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Junior School students participated virtually in PC’s 16th annual winter Carnaval— a highly-anticipated day filled with activities, games and delicious treats celebrating French language and Francophone culture. Students were encouraged to build snowmen, forts and sculptures and to recreate some of our traditional French Canadian food at home. We had students speaking French to parents and siblings, reading stories about Bonhomme Carnaval and watching the traditional French movie Le Chandail by Roch Carrier. Students submitted videos and photos of themselves singing, dancing and playing the spoons to traditional French Canadian music. 1,2

In February, the Grade 1 class celebrated their 100th day of being in Grade 1. The students brought in 100 small items to use while they participated in a variety of fun and engaging activities. Some items included pasta noodles, stones, LEGO pieces, beans, counting discs, beads, coins, marshmallows and cubes. The children participated in a variety of activities where they used their items and challenged themselves to read, write, count and measure in order to gain an understanding of the number 100. 3 Students in Grade 3 learned about stable structures from scientist Sonia from Scientists in School. Using a variety of

materials to build structures, students tested their ability to support weight and pressure. Grade 3 learned that the triangle is the strongest shape, and that not all materials will support weight in the same way. 4

To mark World Book Day, students in Junior School had the opportunity to dress like their favourite book character while sharing their chosen book with their class. We loved seeing all the creative characters come to life! 6

The Grade 5 students presented their Talk 120 personal speech assignments using the public speaking skills they have developed throughout the year. Students prepared a speech on a topic of personal interest and presented it outdoors while remaining physically distant. The videos were recorded with a telephoto lens and a lavalier microphone. 5

The Grade 2 class enjoyed a week filled with activities based in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math). Activities included making 3D solids out of found materials, a Star Wars-themed inquiry, coding activities, creating stop-motion movies, experiments with household items to investigate chemical reactions, air pressure and buoyancy, as well as a design and build engineering challenge. 7

NOELLE SIMPSON Leading new initiatives

“As the 2021 Grade 6 representative, I’m looking forward to giving new ideas and leaving Pickering more beautiful than I found it,” says Noelle Simpson, current Grade 6 student at Pickering College. Moving to Canada from England in 2016 with her family, Noelle has been a student at Pickering College since Senior Kindergarten and has been actively involved in the school’s many co-curricular offerings. As last year’s Grade 5 representative, Noelle is continuing with her leadership roles as she transitions to Grade 6 class rep. Throughout her time at Pickering College, Noelle has participated in a number of competitive co-curricular activities including basketball and volleyball. She was also a member of the Junior School Green Team as well as the Hilltop Skating Club. Outside of school, you can find Noelle spending time with her family, working on her karate, playing the piano or the flute, engaging in winter sports including figure skating, snowboarding and skiing, improving her crochet skills and reading.

“PC has helped me develop my collaboration and public speaking skills, as well as thinking outside of the box.”

As part of the Junior and Middle School Student Committee, Noelle took initiative this past spring to organize World Book Day—an annual event celebrated globally that recognizes the importance and joy that comes from books, authors and illustrators, as well as reading itself. This celebration invited Junior and Middle School students to plan and prepare a costume of their choice representing their favourite book character. “I’m a huge bookworm,” says Noelle. “I’m really proud that I got World Book Day going at PC and that we were all able to celebrate some of our favourite books.” With a deep interest in extracurricular activities, Noelle also loves finding new ways to explore her creativity through new subjects and skills. “PC has helped me develop my collaboration and public speaking skills, as well as thinking outside of the box,” she says. “I like that there are different ways to come to the same solution and that you don’t have to do it exactly one way.” When it comes to challenging herself, Noelle is always eager to learn more and to improve her knowledge and skill set. “I want to keep pushing because I know that if you just keep going, you’ll get there and you’ll be so proud when you make it; you’ll be so happy.”

MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENT LIFE

In preparation for their water issues project connected to their Pillar Week, the Grade 8 students gathered virtually to participate in an environmental workshop with the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority. They participated in a water trivia game, learned more about our local water connections including Fairy Lake, and focused on how humans are impacting these water systems. 1 Throughout the spring, the Grade 8 students participated in workshops and sessions in preparation for the achievement of the Freedom pillar, one of Middle School’s four pillars, along with Adventure, Wisdom

and Community. This pillar represents the student’s choice in determining the topic and design of their culminating project, called the Expression of Self. The project represents a student’s ability to identify, develop and communicate their passions and interests in order to answer the questions, “Who am I?” and “What can I do?” 2 Nearly 100 students participated in the Middle Public Speaking Competition in the spring. Despite not being able to present in person, students turned on their webcams and expertly used their public speaking skills including voice projection,

stance, eye-contact and pace to inform or persuade their audience. On the other end of the camera sat a group of judges from the PC community who offered detailed analysis and feedback. 3 Meghan Dent in Grade 7 organized a spring street cleanup with her neighbours and family. In just a few hours, their efforts resulted in 20 garbage bags filled with litter. “I am happy to say that we got lots of volunteers. Our road is looking cleaner and hopefully, we will get to do this next year to help the environment,” says Meghan. 4 In the Grade 6 curriculum, students study immigration

and Canada in the 1600s, which includes learning about New France as part of an interdisciplinary project in both social studies and French. This program strives to provide the students with a greater appreciation for what daily life was like and the role the Filles du Roi have played in Canadian history. Our students spent time completing two Nouvelle France-inspired outdoor education challenges, including building a fire that could warm a meal of traditional pea soup and participating in a survival game that highlighted the challenges the Habitants faced in their first few years settling the lands in New France. 5

DIMA MAROUF Exploring her interest in social justice issues

As a member of the Middle School Debate Club as well as the Youth Engagement Organization (YEO)—a Junior and Middle School club that meets to discuss social justice and sustainability issues and ideas—Grade 8 student Dima Marouf seamlessly integrated herself into all that PC has to offer. Having just completed her first year at PC, Dima is a member of the Junior and Middle School Student Committee as Blue House Chair for 2021-2022. Last year she, along with other YEO members, led the holiday giving campaign, raising awareness and funds for local organizations including Rose of Sharon and Sandgate Women’s Shelter. During the winter term, Dima led a Morning Meeting for International Women’s Day and another that focused on anti-racism. “My favourite thing about YEO is that I am surrounded by people with the same interests as me, such as social issues like anti-racism—because I am Muslim, I have a more personal approach to that one,” says Dima. During the month of Ramadan, Dima helped her classmates to build awareness about the celebration. “I like to talk about my cultural background because it lets people learn more about it,” she says.

“My favourite thing about YEO is that I am surrounded by people with the same interests as me, such as social issues like anti-racism.”

In the spring, Dima was one of the lead students in YEO who planned, facilitated and delivered the Middle School and Junior School’s Green Week and Mental Health Week. She planned activities and lessons geared at promoting sustainable choices in our community and facilitated a Morning Meeting that highlighted the accomplishments of the students throughout the week. “At first when I joined YEO, I didn’t really know what it was all about, I thought maybe it was going to focus on just talking about social issues but it ended up being much more than that—there was more discussion involved, learning skills and opportunities to take action.” When Dima is not dedicating her time to a YEO initiative, you can find her spending time with her family, reading, writing or playing basketball. “My family and I often talk about social issues and learning more about them just makes me feel passionate. I love expanding my knowledge so after a conversation, I’ll often read news articles to learn more about the topic,” she says. Dima looks forward to continuing her studies at Pickering College this year. “I love how PC has people from around the world, there is so much diversity. I also specifically like how the clubs have helped me want to make a change in the environment more so than it did when I first started here.”

Developing compassi At Pickering College, our mission is to instil in each individual the ability and responsibility to make the world greater, better and more beautiful than they discovered it. Through the Global Leadership Program, course studies, Morning Meetings, clubs and co-curricular activities, students have the opportunity to explore their interests and pursue their passions in an environment that encourages thoughtful discussions. “I think we all have very different opinions, and there’s nothing wrong with having different opinions, but I do think that the most important thing is that we are able to have civilized discussions. I think there is no greater feature of a true democracy than the voice of the people being represented,” says Shyam Subramanyam, current Grade 11 student at Pickering College and this year’s Youth Action Organization (YAO) Chair. As a co-educational day and boarding school, Pickering College is comprised of students from across the globe.“When you bring all these different people from all these different walks of life, all these different countries and all these different life paths, you bring up this opportunity for great discussion,” says Shyam. “It’s almost like this intersection in the sense that it brings together—it [Pickering College] connects all these paths.” Specific to the Global Leadership Program, students delve into topics that are meaningful to them. “A lot of what goes on in society and a lot of our lives, doesn’t exactly deal with the tangible, it focuses more on the intangible and the stuff that you can’t control and the stuff that you learn with experience. The Global Leadership Program gives you that freedom of exploring the ideas or the changes you want to see,” says Shyam. SOCIAL JUSTICE THROUGH A YAO LENS Offering a variety of opportunities for students to explore work in advocacy, Pickering College’s Youth Action Organization (YAO) has been at the forefront of our student-led social justice initiatives. Students who join YAO are often interested in topics of social justice and enacting change.

“A guiding principle for democracy

onate global citizens “As they pursue these issues, they realize that government plays a role in addressing inequalities and the students begin to shape their own ideas about government and citizen responsibilities,” says Janet Downer, Assistant Head of School, Academics and Student Programs. While normally hosting fundraising events such as an open mic night, PC’s YAO embraced the challenges they encountered due to the ever-changing landscape of the global pandemic and instead got creative with their fundraising and awareness initiatives this past school year. Some highlights include: • Hosting a special Morning Meeting to raise awareness for International Women’s Day • Running a Thanksgiving Food Drive which raised $ 2,700 CAD for the Newmarket Food Pantry (Due to COVID-19, YAO sought out monetary donations) • Leading a Christmas Gift Card Campaign which raised over $1,000 in gift cards for Women’s Centre of York Region • Partnering with CHATS (Community & Home Assistance to Seniors) in December to write holiday cards to seniors Sarah Asgari ’21, the 2020-2021 YAO chair and current PC alumna studying political science at McGill University, expresses gratitude towards her team as well as to the rest of the community. “I would not have been able to do all the things I did without such a devoted group. Everyone was receptive to the new ideas and was donating more than enough; more than they had to. I am just extremely appreciative.” “We all have the responsibility to make ourselves aware of the struggles of others and to take action to make a difference in someone else’s life,” says Ms. Downer, who acted as the YAO faculty advisor. “Whether that difference is feeding someone, providing shelter, educating or providing comfort, our small actions can lead to big change.” And as we begin another school year, Shyam will be paying it forward using his leadership roles. “What I really try to do is advocate for other people and make sure that they get the same chances as me. If life is a race, I don’t want to win because I started ahead of people. I want to win along with others and help others start at the same place so that we can all get to the finish line, and that we can all succeed,” says Shyam. “If you see someone that’s fallen, you help them up. It’s that same principle.”

is equality and human rights.” -Janet Downer, Assistant Head of School, Academics and Student Programs

SENIOR SCHOOL STUDENT LIFE

Several students attended the virtual Quaker Youth Leadership Conference with this year’s theme, “Staying Proximate, Staying Progressive, Staying Positive.” Our students had the opportunity to participate in a variety of team-building workshops and attend sessions led by keynote speakers. This conference is a great opportunity for our students to connect with the broader Friends school community in the United States. This year’s conference was hosted by Friends Select School in Philadelphia, PA, USA. 1 Grade 9 Science participated in an at-home lab/demo experiment that looked at the most effective ways to clean up an oil spill. This activity was created by the Ontario Science Centre’s Science at Home curriculum resource, which was then adapted for this class. They recorded observations and then used the Rotman I-Think’s ladder of inference tool to analyze their data and draw conclusions about effective ways humans

can attempt to fix these environmental disasters. 2 In our Grade 10/11 Forces of Nature physical geography class, students explored an ‘earth beneath our feet’ unit. Students analyzed and explored igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks (24 rocks in total) while using rubber gloves, magnifying glasses and their touch and sight senses as tools. They observed elements such as colour, texture, layers and grain size. Using glass, they examined the hardness of the rock on the Mohs scale—if the rock scratches the glass it means it is a hard rock. 3 Despite the pandemic putting a halt to many sports, we are so happy to see the continued accomplishments of our student athletes. Congratulations to Tyler Da Ponte, now Grade 11, for his outstanding swimming performance. Swim Ontario has selected him and two others to join their Youth ID program—a program which falls under the “umbrella of preparation” for the 2022 Canada Summer Games. 4

This spring’s Capstone Pitch competition winner was Sasha Au Yong, who focused on raising awareness for Parkinson Canada. Sasha wrote and illustrated her own children’s book, which she shared with Junior School students on World Book Day. She looks forward to publishing her work in the near future. The Capstone Project is the culminating assignment for Grade 12 students, where they are tasked with developing an innovative solution and implementing a measurable action plan for an issue of local or global significance. 5 In Grade 10 English, students have leaned into some challenging conversations about grief, loss and prejudice. Students have explored how compassion and empathy can allow us to understand the perspective of others and have reflected on the tragic discovery of the graves of 215 children whose remains were found at the former residential school in Kamloops. Students wrote responses as they reflected on the image of

215 children’s shoes that were placed on the steps of the Vancouver Art Gallery as a memorial. Scan the QR code to read our students’ moving responses as they try to process this unimaginable tragedy. 6 In early spring, Shyam Subramanyan, now in Grade 11, was one of 12 Canadian students who attended the student budget consultation hosted by CIVIX. The virtual meeting included the Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Canada’s Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister, who was very interested in speaking directly with young Canadians regarding their priorities for the upcoming federal budget. Student participants had the opportunity to voice their priorities and Freeland responded directly to their concerns. Shyam focused his concern on the future of youth as well as income inequality, as he believes it encapsulates many issues including sustainability, education, housing and wages.

SHYAM SUBRAMANYAM Establishing his voice through leadership opportunities

Current Youth Action Organization (YAO) Chair, captain of the Senior School debate team, Student Co-curricular Chair, member of the diversity club, math club, Green Team, as well as Pickering College student ambassador, Grade 11 student Shyam Subramanyam establishes his voice in a variety of leadership positions. Along with his many leadership roles, Shyam has also been an active volunteer with the Middle School debate team to help them build on their skills and has attended numerous leadership conferences. A recent example includes the You Belong Conference, hosted by the Bishop Strachan School in early 2021. Attending with a couple of PC students, “the main focus was helping break down the various stereotypes that we hold and the preconceived notions that we believe in order to establish a greater rapport and greater sense of community,” says Shyam. “It’s almost like getting the chance to hear different ideas and perspectives; to break down some of your own walls while building up bridges.” Starting his third year at Pickering College, Shyam looks forward to reaching ahead with his studies by taking AP Calculus as well as AP Comparative Government and Politics.

“I’ve always thought the idea of arguing for people’s rights and arguing to settle disputes is a really interesting thing.”

“I want to understand more about the executive branch and the legislative branch. I know a decent bit about the history of the Supreme Court of the United States because I recently just completed self-studying for the AP US History Exam.” On top of that, Shyam is also excited for psychology, as well as anthropology, sociology and economics. “Psychology has always appealed to me and I think it’s kind of related with understanding people, understanding how the world works and how the government works,” says Shyam. Outside of school, Shyam enjoys reading books (typically non-fiction), practicing debate, watching movies and documentaries, communicating with others and seeking out any opportunities that allow him to gain a better perspective and understanding of the world. “Personally, I’ve always been interested in how the law works. I’ve always thought the idea of arguing for people’s rights and arguing to settle disputes is a really interesting thing.” During the summer of 2020, Shyam registered for an online course at Harvard University that focused on justice and discussed the many philosophical ideologies of various enlightenment thinkers. “It deals with the ideas of natural rights, where government derives its power from and the consent of the government. I think what had the greatest appeal to me was really the whole concept of where does our government get our power from, how does it work and how can we best help the people that don’t get their voices heard,“ says Shyam.

BOARDING

LIFE

BOARDING LIFE: A PANDEMIC REFLECTION BY LAURA MASON, DIRECTOR OF BOARDING & HEALTH SERVICES The COVID-19 pandemic has presented an interesting, some might say scary, array of dilemmas for families and for our boarding program. It was a time of uncertainty and we endeavoured to do our very best with the information we had available to us, keeping community safety at the forefront of all decisions. We grappled with the fact that while we could keep boarding as a “bubble” with most boarding students remaining on campus, we could not guarantee that it was a sealed bubble. We had to plan for the fact that day students, some boarding students and staff would come and go. This meant that the same precautions that were required in class had to be maintained in boarding. These included mask wearing, physical distancing, hand hygiene, respiratory hygiene, daily health assessments and enhanced cleaning and disinfecting. Everyone played a role in maintaining a safe boarding community. One of the greatest challenges to overcome is that most adolescents are not designed for physical distancing and strict mask wearing … but they were able to make the necessary adjustment for all the right reasons. The pandemic pushed us to take a close look at our regular boarding programming

and reimagine it. All off-campus trips were cancelled and sign-outs were restricted to only essential trips that were accompanied by staff. We continued to engage our boarding community with group activities but made them virtual to include students who had not yet arrived in Canada due to paperwork delays and travel restrictions.

that our community was able to have a much more closed bubble, living and learning with their friends. They could do much of what is “normally” simple and it could be done safely. Throughout, our students were well supported by our boarding and Health Centre staff, with the addition of remote access to our school social worker.

Our boarding community enjoyed outdoor movie nights, bonfires, outdoor games and activities, contests, bingo nights, hikes around the local Newmarket area, opportunities to cook things and make things and trivia contests—just a few of the activities planned and delivered by our dedicated boarding staff. As soon as was possible, students were also able to access the fitness room and the Old Gym to maintain their physical fitness. We also held weekly walking/running contests to see who could log the most to encourage everyone (students and staff) to get outside and keep moving.

Boarding is about community, living with and supporting others, learning to work as a team, giving and taking and being part of something much larger than each individual. A sense of community is interwoven into the Pickering College identity and experience, and it was more evident than ever in boarding. Many students returned home before year-end when it became clear that classes would remain online. This was sad, but thanks to the benefits for technology, we were able to keep in contact and our students were even able to join us virtually to participate in graduation.

When the Ontario government mandated that school must move online, our boarding students had the benefit of being able to learn with their peers, plus ongoing support from boarding staff. For them, the upside of online learning was

We have learned a lot over these last 18 months. Our boarding program continues to grow and evolve, and we will incorporate what we have learned into future planning to continue to make the boarding experience greater, better and more beautiful for generations of students to come.

Thoughts on Democracy Ron Veale ’63

photo courtesy of Vince Fedoroff, Whitehorse Star

Retired Chief Justice of Supreme Court of Yukon Whitehorse, Yukon

A robust democracy is best served by adhering to the duty to consult the people affected by a development project. I participated in an early example of the duty to consult in the Berger Inquiry commissioned in 1974 to examine the social, environmental and economic impact of the proposed Mackenzie Valley gas pipeline. Tom Berger, a judge, was the Commissioner and decided to hold community hearings in the 35 communities impacted by the project which included my client, the people of Old Crow, now the Vuntut Gwichin First Nation. Judge Berger recommended that the pipeline be delayed for 10 years to permit land claims to be settled. Although the Yukon land claim took 20 years to settle with the Yukon Umbrella Final Agreement, the pipeline was never built. Democracy is important to ensure that every citizen has the right to vote for the person or party that they wish to represent them. Citizens should also have the right to freely express their opinions on the issues of the day without fear or reprisal and to be consulted on the development projects that affect their lives. As we have seen in recent years, democratic rights cannot be taken for granted and must be vigilantly exercised and protected.

Thoughts on Democracy Ray McLellan ’67

Public Policy/Economics, Legislative Assembly of Ontario Oakville, Ontario

The committee system within Westminster parliaments offers an opportunity for the public to participate on an ongoing basis on policy matters, as well as in the development of legislation. My office would report to the Speaker on such matters as identified by the Standing Committees on Finance and Economic Affairs, Estimates and Public Accounts. Throughout history and in present day, we have witnessed actions that have attempted to undermine democracy. Free and open debate promotes accountability and integrity in the wider society and respects the rule of law and the institutions that enshrine human rights. In this century we have witnessed the attack on democratic institutions throughout the world. Democracy is fragile and it is not sustainable without an informed and engaged populace at all levels of government. This engagement extends to international entities such as the United Nations and multilateral agreements.

SOFIIA KOVTUN Taking opportunities to make the world greater, better, and more beautiful than she discovered it

Sofiia, who recently completed her first year as one of PC’s newest boarding students from Ukraine, worked diligently to pursue her dreams of studying at Pickering College. “I was in PC’s summer camp, and ever since then, I fell in love with Pickering College and was like ‘yes, I want to study here.’” In January 2020, Sofiia won the Pickering College Global Leadership Scholarship—a scholarship that recognizes the potential of a student entering Grade 9 as a significant contributor to the school and the Global Leadership Program. “I honestly am so grateful because if it wasn’t for the scholarship, I probably wouldn’t have been able to come to PC.” With a passion for social and environmental justice issues, Sofiia has spent three years attending business school in Ukraine where she was given opportunities to work on her own social projects and present them in worldwide competitions. “I made a social project every year because from my early childhood, my parents taught me to always support people whenever possible,” says Sofiia.

“I was in PC’s summer camp, and ever since then, I fell in love with Pickering College and thought ‘yes, I want to study here.’”

Last year, Sofiia and her group won Pickering College’s Puma’s Den— the Grade 9 culminating project for the Global Leadership Program which tasks students with designing and prototyping an innovative solution for making Pickering College or the local community more sustainable. Sofiia’s group focused their initiative on eco-friendly stickers that bring awareness to the environmental impact of plastic products. “I was so proud of myself and my team when I found out we won first place with our project, especially because it was our first year at PC. None of us are native English speakers, but we tried to figure it out together and were recognized for it!” says Sofiia. “We didn’t have this goal that we had to win, we just worked and wanted to present our project on a good level at least to change people’s minds.” Sofiia looks forward to continuing her studies at PC along with the many opportunities she will have to voice her opinions. “I’m especially looking forward to being a boarding proctor! I am happy because I have some changes and ideas I would like to bring to boarding.”

In Convers Dan Thompson Faculty Q: What is your educational background? I received my Honours Bachelor of Arts from the University of Waterloo in History and Classical Studies. I did my Masters of Arts in History also at the University of Waterloo and my Bachelor of Education at Western University. Q: How long have you been teaching at Pickering College? This is my seventh year at Pickering College. Q: What are four adjectives that best describe yourself? Adventurous—I love exploring, seeing new places and trying new experiences. Easy-going—I roll with the punches and take things in stride. I’ve had to deal with stressful situations and I think a calm presence goes a long way. “I love having the ability to share historical or philosophical stories daily, educate students and engage in academic discourse. As a social sciences teacher, I think we have this unique opportunity to help create socially active students ... while simultaneously teaching them to stand up to injustice and be global leaders.”

Humourous—I try to keep the class laughing. It could be through stories, cartoons, jokes or wit; I feel that creates a warmer learning community. Although sometimes it is maybe more pity laughter or eye rolls but I appreciate the effort anyways. Positive/Happy—I genuinely enjoy teaching, showing up to campus and staring at the Neo-Classical architecture of Rogers House, so it is always easy to keep a smile on my face.

ation with: Q: What interests do you pursue outside of the classroom? I love to travel and visit historical sites from all around the world. I’ve been fortunate to have had the opportunity to visit sites all across Europe and even organized and led some trips with our Pickering College students to Greece and Italy. In recent years, I have also been trying to see a baseball game in every MLB stadium—I am about a third of the way through that quest! I enjoy cooking and barbequeing—there is something inspiring about creating a good meal from scratch. I also like to spend time outside either jogging, biking or reading—depending on my motivation level that day. I am an avid Toronto Sports fan, constantly cheering on the Blue Jays and Maple Leafs. I enjoy playing some adventure-based video games and watching comedy movies or sitcoms on TV. Q: What is something you are proud of when it comes to your teaching? I have loved the work that our department has done embedding different school partnerships into our social science classes. Being able to offer a history program that teaches students empathy, ethical reflection and critical thinking through the Facing History and Ourselves lens is so important in today’s day and age. While at the same time, incorporating the UNESCO sustainable development goals and the thinking tools developed by Rotman’s I-Think allows our students to promote and understand their own critical thinking skills. I also take pride in the work that Mr. Bishop, Mr. Kupsch and I have done, in creating a sustainable and competitive public speaking and debating program. Although the goal is to teach students the tools to make them better speakers and debaters, it is always gratifying to see some of them recognized with regional, provincial, national and world level accomplishments. Q: What is it that drew you to teaching? I have always been fascinated with history from hearing stories spoken by my grandfather or my war-reenactor uncle. It might sound a little cliché coming from a history teacher but Indiana Jones made the career look pretty cool as a kid! In terms of actually teaching, I was inspired by some of my teachers growing up and spent both of my “take-your-kid-to-work”days with family members who were teachers. I love having the ability to share historical or philosophical stories daily, educate students and engage in academic discourse. As a social sciences teacher, I think we have this unique opportunity to help create socially active students who are knowledgeable and aware of the mistakes that have happened in history while simultaneously teaching them to stand up to injustice and be global leaders. Q: What is something most people don’t know about you? I am introverted—I am a very reflective person who generally doesn’t like to be the centre of attention. For some reason, I chose to be a teacher … and a public speaking coach. It does surprise the students when I tell them that I hated public speaking when I was in high school. At the same time, I feel that allows me to relate better to some of the quieter students in the classroom. You don’t have to be the eccentric, outgoing person to create a fun-filled learning community. On another note, I also dedicated a lot of time in university learning Latin and Ancient Greek—two languages that are never used today (outside of the Vatican). Q: What are you currently reading for enjoyment? I do like to read non-fiction history books in my spare time. I just finished a book on the history of Alcatraz and I am currently working my way through one of the theories around Stonehenge’s creation—what a beautiful place to visit, by the way. When reading fiction, I enjoy thrillers or historical fiction. Anything by Dan Brown or Steve Berry is right in my wheelhouse. I also enjoy reading comic books and graphic novels—I am reading a Star Wars comic book collection right now.

KinDeRGrAd!

On June 15, our Senior Kindergarten students graduated in a virtual ceremony attended on Zoom by their families, friends and teachers. Each student shared their fondest memory of their time in Kindergarten and what they want to be when they grow up. Though we were unable to be together in person every day, seeing your faces throughout the year has truly put smiles on ours. See you in Grade 1!

rist t e m o t p o

Zooke

eper

teacher

veterinaria n & moth er

international chess master

Veterinarian

baseball player

scientist

dentist

Congratulations, Grade 8! June 16 was a chilly morning for an outdoor ceremony, but we were thrilled to be able to mark this big milestone in person! The students received their diplomas and a number of awards were presented for academic achievements, school involvement and more. Congratulations Grade 8s—we can’t wait to welcome you to the Senior School this fall.

Emily Zalewski Valedictorian Instrumental Music Language Arts Science GLP with distinction Middle School Scholar Brendan Chen Good Friend Award Zack Da Ponte Student Committee Chair Adrian Hammell Rogers Cane GLP with distinction Rebecca Liang Steward Award Shianne Liang Grade 9 Math Language Arts GLP with distinction Sofia Pantano Phys-Ed Sandra Rohani Community Service Rourke Drama Award Alec Uglow Athlete Award Ophelia Wang Visual Arts Instrumental Music Grade 8 Math French GLP with distinction Anson Wu Phys-Ed Bryan Wu Social Studies Amanda Zeng French GLP with distinction

Thoughts on Democracy John Taylor

Mayor of Newmarket Newmarket, Ontario

Democracy ensures that government functions in a way that respects the desires and needs of the public. Democracy also ensures that minority voices and individual voices are heard and have ways of being heard. Democracy avoids the travails of dictatorships or oligarchies. Democracy protects (imperfectly) against abuse of power and governing for personal gain.

This year’s graduates hail from Canada, China, Germany, Hong Kong, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Mongolia, Russia, South Korea, Turkey, Ukraine and Vietnam. The Class of 2021 has a bright future ahead of it:

100% university acceptance 92% graduating as Ontario

Scholars, earning an average of 80% or greater in their six best Grade 12 courses

93% earning the Global Leadership Diploma, in addition to their Ontario Secondary School Diploma Graduates are attending universities at home and abroad this fall in Ontario, Nova Scotia, Quebec, Alberta, British Columbia, the United States and the United Kingdom.

Congratulations_

Class of 2021

It was a symbolic ending to a tumultuous year. On June 18, Pickering College hosted an outdoor, in-person Commencement ceremony for the Class of 2021, as the rain teemed down for the first time in several weeks. In his address, Head of School Peter Sturrup remarked that it has been a year of challenges and obstacles, yet opportunities and triumphs. Despite the odds, the school was able to undertake an in-person event to recognize the achievements of graduates and even the rain was not going to get in the way of that. It was a day that will become part of the lore of Pickering College, and one that those in attendance, in person or virtually, will not soon forget. This year’s ceremony was very different than anything the school had undertaken before. Many of the school’s international graduates had already made their way home, spending the final months of the academic year learning online and joining the ceremony virtually from afar. As a result, the ceremony was a blend of in person, recorded and virtual live speeches, traditional readings, awards and recognition. Valedictorian Thera Sze joined the event in realtime from her home in Hong Kong to give a moving valediction on behalf of the Class of 2021. Congratulations to the Class of 2021 as they make their way into the world as creative, innovative and courageous agents of ethical and positive change, true to Quaker values.

GRADE 12 COMMENCEMENT AWARDS Sasha Au Yong Lt. Governor’s Community Volunteer Award • Howarth Fine Arts Award • Widdrington Award Sarah Asgari Newmarket Historical Society Award • Widdrington Award Phillip Carson Science Subject Award • College Scholar Award • Governor General’s Academic Medal Tom Dang Joshua Weinzweig Memorial Literary Award Tyler Dhanjal Broadcaster of the Year Award • K-12 Graduate Jacob DiCarlo Computer Science Subject Award Joseph Galeota Broadcaster of the Year Award Nicholas Hansraj Canadian and World Studies Subject Award • Four Pillars Award Kyu Hun Lee Visual Arts Subject Award Jenna Husein Senior Vocal Music Award • Harry M. Beer Award Justin Jeong English Subject Award • Boarding “Lifer” Grade 7-12 Meghan Kim Stewards Award • K-12 Graduate Leo Li Widdrington Award Louis Li Blackstock Award • Student Committee Chair • Widdrington Award • Stewards Award Jordan Ngo Modern Languages Subject Award • Good Friend Award Huy Nguyen Computer Science Subject Award Tam Nguyen Widdrington Award • Stewards Award Tuguldur Otgondorj Humanities Subject Award Omar Ozturk Athlete of the Year • Student Committee Chair • Widdrington Award Grace Still Garratt Cane Award • K-12 Graduate Thera Sze Valedictorian • Boarder Cup Award • Widdrington Award Kathy Wang Instrumental Music Award • University of Toronto National Book Award Jane Weng Math Subject Award Beverley Zeng Zetzl Family Science Award Eric Zhao Math Subject Award Monica Zhu French Book Award

STAFF NEWS It is with mixed emotions that we wish all the best to Noeline Burk, Tom Lewis, Stephanie Pickering and Lisa Sturrup, who retired in August and to Kim Bartlett, who has left Pickering College to become Associate Head of Progressive Education at St. George’s School of Montreal. We thank them for their hard work and dedication over their time with the school.

Congratulations to Kim Bartlett, who left Pickering College to become Associate Head of Progressive Education at St. George’s School of Montreal. In Kim’s 21 years at Pickering College, she touched the lives of many students, alumni, staff and parents. She began as Associate Faculty, progressed to Grade 4 teacher, Social Sciences teacher, Social Sciences Department Head and Curriculum Co-ordinator. In her latest role as the Senior Director of Teaching, Learning and Strategic Partnerships, K-12, Kim developed significant educational partnerships with UNESCO, Rotman School of Management’s I-Think program (University of Toronto), Facing History and Ourselves, the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority and the Simon Wiesenthal Centre. We are grateful to Kim for her dedication to Pickering College and for her constant impetus to ensure an outstanding academic program and wish her all the best at her new school.

Noeline Burk joined Pickering College in August 2013 as Head of the Arts Department and Visual Arts teacher; she has made many contributions to academic and student life through her passion for working with students. Noeline led the Green Team, which took on initiatives such as the school garden, the Urban Cultivator in the kitchen, Earth Week and the school attaining Platinum EcoSchool Certification. Noeline oversaw the production of our outstanding yearbook and guided members of the Arts Council in their endeavours. As a Department Head, Noeline worked tirelessly to support drama productions such as Little Shop of Horrors, Bye Bye Birdie, Macbeth, School of Rock and The Tempest. She supported our Music Department’s Christmas and Springfest concerts. Noeline headed up the CHOP FM Advisory council for the first three years of its existence and she was a member of the CHOP FM Board.

Tom Lewis joined PC in the fall of 2008 in the role of Director of Leadership and Community Service. He taught the leadership courses and organized volunteer opportunities, including fullschool service days in the community. He also coordinated the Duke of Edinburgh Program, which resulted in several Gold and Silver recipients. Tom, along with his wife Patti, initiated several international service trips to Kenya and Ghana. Tom shared his love of adventure with students through Lure of the North winter camping and Nahanni River excursions. When Tom retired in 2013, he took on the part-time position of Outdoor Education Specialist and under his leadership we have an Outdoor Education program that excites and engages students and teachers. The program makes extensive use of the Blue & Silver Farm and the on-campus green space for curriculumbased classes and activities from Kindergarten to Grade 12 that fosters a love of the outdoors.

Thoughts on Democracy Alex Au Yong

Junior School teacher Newmarket, Ontario

Stephanie Pickering joined the Junior School faculty in October 1999 as French Specialist Teacher. Stephanie is known by students for making French fun, and by her colleagues for her quirky sense of humour and her love of the stage. A highlight of our annual Carnaval has always been the anticipation of Stephanie’s appearance as Ellen DeGeneres. Her creativity and energy brought the “Ellen” Carnaval show to new heights each year. Stephanie has brought laughter and fun to the Junior School environment for 22 years through her presence, her smile and her creative forms of entertainment.

Lisa Sturrup joined the school community in 1986 when she moved into residence with her husband, Peter, a new teacher, and her young family. In the early years she spent time supporting our boarding students before being appointed in June 2002 as the Grade 1 teacher. Lisa has been fully immersed in every aspect of the school. She skillfully taught our students through their critical foundation years, imparted her knowledge and experience through mentoring many new teachers and Associate Faculty and she has helped lead the Junior School faculty in the development of our Global Leadership Program. Outside of her regular duties, Lisa also took a voluntary leadership role within the Hilltop Skating Club and held several positions during this time as treasurer, secretary and acting chair. Throughout, Lisa has worked tirelessly as a partner to Peter in his role as Head of School, hosting countless events in their home, travelling the world to visit alumni, volunteering for special events and providing her generous support to staff, students, parents and alumni. Her presence, her passion for teaching, her logical approach to challenges and her expertise will be truly missed.

If our students can be better informed, civic-minded citizens, they are better positioned to take action on issues of local and global importance. Making sense of current events, developing critical perspectives and meaningful involvement in our communities are important ways in which our children can learn to confidently participate in a healthy, democratic society.

DID YOU KNOW THAT PICKERING COLLEGE STAFF HAVE A SOCIAL JUSTICE FUND? Pickering College’s Staff Social Justice Fund is supported by our faculty and staff members demonstrates to the students our commitment to social justice. Originally envisioned over 10 years ago by Dean Gessie, former English teacher and Head of the English Department at PC, participating staff make bi-weekly donations and are asked for suggestions as to what social justice cause they would like to support. This past year, the fund allowed us to make donations to Inn From the Cold, which provides shelter for those experiencing homelessness; The Small Project, a Newmarket-based charity that works in Kenya to sponsor children to attend boarding schools; and The Woodland Cultural Centre in Brantford, which serves to preserve and promote Indigenous history, culture, language and art.

ALUMNI CONNECTIONS 1940s

Daniel (Dan) Sherry ’42 attended Pickering College for the last three years of high school. Now at age 97, he has had time to reflect on all the positive memories at Pickering College. Dan is the first of three family members who graduated from PC. Following him were half-brother Robert Sherry ’61 and son Bruce Sherry ’70. A few of Dan’s cherished memories are being in three of the Gilbert and Sullivan plays and playing football, hockey and tennis. He credits his time at the school for providing the foundation that led to his future successes and would like to thank Robert (Bob) Rourke for his influence and encouragement in math and physics, as well as Joe McCulley for his unique and interesting view of history. Dan was honoured to have received the Garratt Cane award in 1942. After graduation, he completed a 33-week military training program at the University of Toronto and served in the Canadian Armed Forces. When he returned to Canada, he enrolled at McGill University where he obtained his degree in electrical engineering. During his career, Dan travelled extensively, working for major American companies. In 1989, he retired and spent some time in Mexico before returning to Quebec, where he now resides. He enjoys living near the lake and bird watching. The last time Dan visited Pickering College was in 2010 and remarked how much the area has changed. 1

1950s

Jack Houghton ’47 is an active alumnus who continues to stay connected to the school and enjoys sharing stories of the time he spent at PC. Jack credits his personal and career achievements to the teachings received at Pickering College. He gained confidence, perseverance and leadership skills. Jack attended what is now known as OCAD University to continue working on his artistry and his passion for photography. Now at the young age of 91, Jack continues to capture the beautiful world around him and can often be seen around his town with a camera in his hand ready for that next shot.

In memoriam, Michael (Mike) Widdrington ’55 passed away on January 6, 2021, at the age of 84. Although Mike spent a short time at Pickering College, he had fond memories and stayed connected with the school over the years. Mike is one of three family members who attended Pickering College. In addition, his father Gerard (Gerry) Widdrington was Assistant Headmaster for 12 years in the early 1930s and was inducted into the Class of 1842 in 1982. Gerry’s contribution to extracurricular life led to the establishment of the Widdrington Award. This award is presented annually at the Commencement Ceremony by the faculty to one or more members of the graduating class who has made an outstanding contribution to an intangible aspect of school life. The original plaque bears the following epigraphs—“the second mile,” and “thy neighbour

as thyself.” Michael’s brother Peter Widdrington ’48 also attended PC, as did his son Steve Widdrington ’83 who is on the school’s Corporation and is a former Board Member. After leaving Pickering College, Mike had a successful career in radio and television. He was passionate about sports and an avid hockey and slow pitch-participant and a devoted fan of the Toronto Blue Jays, Maple Leafs and Buffalo Bills. Mike will be remembered for his kind heart, sense of humour and dynamic personality. 2 In memoriam, Walter Plettner ’55 passed away on May 8, 2021, at the age of 85. Walter attended Pickering College from 1953 to 1955 receiving his high school diploma. Walter was the first of his siblings to attend Pickering College, following him were Otto Plettner ’58 and Reinhold Plettner ’64. PC friends would remember Walter as a skilled skier, a proud member of the Rooters and Commercial club. Walter was also a member of the first PC soccer team. He attended the University of Monterrey in Mexico and graduated in electromechanical engineering. Walter worked for nearly 36 years at an international industrial plant design and construction company in Mexico City and Houston. In 2002, he retired to work in the family business; a coffee plantation and processing facility in the south of Mexico. Later, he and his wife Irmhild moved to Vancouver, British Columbia, where he enjoyed relaxing and spending time with family. Walter had wonderful memories of his time at Pickering College and appreciated the opportunity to have reconnected with a few of his classmates.

Charles Beer ’59 is semi-retired after a long career working in both the private and public sectors. He has kept in touch with Pickering College even after his time serving on the Board and Corporation, where he helped to ensure that all PC students have the same wonderful educational experience that he did. Most recently, Charles helped lead a focus group discussion where alumni from various decades shared their thoughts and perspective on keeping the PC alumni community active and engaged. Alongside Brian Purdy ’56, he is looking forward to bringing together a group of the ’50s alumni soon! 3

1960s

In memoriam, Harry Chapman ’64 passed away on February 11, 2021, at the age of 77. Harry had fond memories of his time at PC and was a recipient of the Rogers Cane award in 1959. One of his favourite and most memorable activities at Pickering College was caring for the various animals at the farm. Harry started his career in finance and mortgages, later moving into real estate and then establishing Team 100 Realty Inc. in the mid-1980s. He continued to work as a realtor until he retired in 2011. Harry was a successful investor and creative cook. He enjoyed spending time with his family, bird watching, travelling and camping at Two Island Lake. As a passionate volunteer, he lent his knowledge as a member of the board of directors at the Salvation Army, as a member of the advisory committee at the Canada Games Complex and helped in the kitchen at the 55+ Centre. Harry will be remembered for being honest, reliable and ethical. 4

Barry Jacobs ’66 attended Pickering College for three years and recalls being the first Jewish student to go with Harry Beer and his wife Elizabeth for prayers at the Quaker Meeting House on a sunny, cold Sunday morning. Barry fondly recalls the couple as being the nicest and kindest individuals he had ever met and thinks that the world would be a better place if more people were like them. After completing high school, he went to the University of Rhode Island and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in 1969. For 48 years, Barry operated an electronic repair centre and has since closed the business. Now 75 years young, he has come out of retirement to help his stepsons with delivering products. Barry feels he has been reborn!

1970s

Donald (Don) Kerr ’72 and his partner operate a digital marketing agency that has done work with private/independent schools and their alumni programs. Their work with these schools has rekindled many memories of his short but important time at Pickering College. Don says many of those memories are of teachers as they helped shape the foundational perspective that empowers PC students to successfully reach their goals. His Grade 13 English teacher Ken Draayer ignited a real, lasting interest and appreciation for theatre and writing which led him to study at Mount Allison University, majoring in theatre and medieval studies. Pickering College instilled the importance of lifelong learning. One of Don’s oldest and dearest friends in life was the late Brian Blackstock ’56 and he is often reminded of all the lessons learned from him on the shores of Mazinaw Lake as a camper, tripper, counsellor and program director. 5

ALUMNI CONNECTIONS

4 1

Robert (Bob) Mok ’73 attended Pickering College for Grade 13 as a boarding student. Bob attributes his growth and development to his English teacher Sheldon Clark and Headmaster Harry Beer. He believes the confidence and skills they provided strengthened his ability to conduct business in his career. Bob worked for 20 years at a pressure vessels manufacturing company as a quality auditing manager. He then became an ISO Quality Systems consultant for another 20 years before retirement. Bob is currently involved on several boards as an executive member and also writes columns in a Chinese newspaper as the English ambassador. Bob looks forward to reconnecting with his classmates soon! 1 Adam Berel Wetstein ’73 is a HVAC designer after working in Bristol, UK, as a production manager for the BBC’s Antique Roadshow. 2 Nalton Brangman ’78 spent four years at Pickering College as a boarding student from Bermuda. During his time at Pickering College, Nalton was involved in

football, senior soccer and was a member of the student committee. Nalton is currently a director at IMG Bermuda Ltd. 3 Anthony Jackson ’79 currently resides in Woodstock, Georgia, with his wife Orlinda. The couple celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary in April. He is a proud father of 18-year-old son Jarren and 14-year-old daughter Jala. Anthony currently works in finance and pricing analytics for a major distribution company. Anthony credits Pickering College for setting the foundation of who he is today and recalls having a great experience meeting so many people from all over the world. He has continued to stay in contact with Mike Ramsey ’78, Brian Meharg ’78 and Charles Boyd. 4

1980s

Reid Sirrs ’82 is one of three family members who attended Pickering College. After graduating, Reid then completed his post-secondary education at Western University. In 1998, after 12 years of working in the private sector, he joined the Government of Canada where

he has held several senior leadership positions, as well as postings to Central America, Africa and Asia. In October 2020, he was appointed as Canada’s ambassador to Afghanistan. In midAugust, Canada suspended diplomatic operations in Kabul until the security situation in Afghanistan improves. 5 James (Jim) Penrose ’84 spent six years at Pickering College and excelled in academics and was a sports enthusiast. Jim then attended Trent University and Seneca College majoring in business. He later went to work for Imperial Oil Limited for 16 years and relocated to Muskoka. Jim changed careers and became a golf course superintendent working at Taboo Muskoka in Gravenhurst. He has now moved to Kitchener and is employed at Golf North Canada. It has been several years since Jim has connected with his classmates and he is looking forward to making connections again soon! 6 In memoriam, Jayson Rose ’84 passed away on January 19, 2021. Jayson lived an active life, with a positive outlook and a keen sense of adventure. He also

Do you have exciting news or recent life events that you would like to share in The Pillars? We’d love to hear from you! Please send your updates, ideas and high-resolution photos to the Office of Development, Alumni & Parent Relations at alumni@pickeringcollege.on.ca or call (905) 895-1120 ext. 257.

enjoyed a rewarding career as a master electrician and was a partner in the family business, Rogol Electric Company Ltd. Jayson will be honoured with a Tribute Hole for his many contributions to the annual Pickering College Golf Tournament over the past decade. Seen in this photo at the 2018 tournament with (L-R) Steve Widdrington ’83, current parent John Morra, and daughter Alexa, Jayson’s enthusiastic spirit will be missed. 7

with his wife and two daughters. He is the global marketing director for the MR Linac, a machine that combines radiation and high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to target cancerous tumours and monitor their response to radiation with unprecedented precision. Before moving to the United States, Justin worked in Hong Kong, Singapore and Australia, but always felt like he had a calling to return to North America. 9

José Aguayo ’86 has continued to stay in contact with Pickering College and his classmates. José and his family have been taking advantage of day trips supporting local businesses around the Vermont area. José is seen in the photo with his family enjoying the creemee (a soft-serve style ice cream found in Vermont) stand at Morse Farm. 8

Owen Sirrs ’88 spent four years at Pickering College completing Grades 9 to 13. Owen is currently teaching cultures and histories of the Middle East at the University of Montana. He is the author of Nasser and the Missile Age in the Middle East (2006), The Egyptian Intelligence Service: A History of the Mukhabarat (2010), and in 2018 released Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence Directorate: Covert Action and Internal Operations. Owen lives with his wife Julie, who practices tax law, and has two daughters Lucy and Susan. Lucy is a university sophomore and Susan will be starting college. 10

Justin Turpin ’87 recalls his time at Pickering College being the highlight of his youth and met many amazing students and teachers that have shaped him into the person he is today. He currently lives in Atlanta, Georgia,

ALUMNI SHARE THOUGHTS ON BUILDING A STRONGER COMMUNITY In the spring, eight alumni from various decades and geographical locations participated in a focus group, offering their perspectives on developing stronger alumni programs and encouraging future participation in reunions. Thank you to Charles Beer ’59 who led the group discussion with Ed Rynard ’70, Dag Spicer ’80, Ivan Pooran ’82, Rob Doyle ’96, Riane Tse ’07, Neil Proudfoot ’08 and June Gleed ’15. Do you have an opinion or ideas you’d like to share? Ccontact us at alumni@pickeringcollege.on.ca to share your experiences and help us to develop and enhance alumni programs.

ALUMNI CONNECTIONS

1990s

Courtney Gillan ’96 currently resides in British Columbia as a business development and partnerships advisor for Crimson Education (New Zealand) and Educate Online (Russia). She has travelled around the world as a marketer and ambassador for international and boarding schools. Courtney brings her passion for education to helping students access the same kind of education she received at Pickering College. 1 Robert (Rob) Doyle ’96 attended Pickering College for five years as a boarding student. Rob was the class valedictorian and won the Garratt Cane award. He currently lives in Toronto and wears many different hats including busy realtor, father of two children and two stepchildren and dedicated volunteer for Meals on Wheels. Rob continues to stay connected with Pickering College, attending events and participating

in the Pickering College Annual Golf Tournament. Most recently, Rob participated in an alumni focus group and offered his thoughts on alumni programs and services. He looks forward to seeing fellow classmates this year to celebrate their 25th reunion anniversary! 2 Christina Jones ’97 lives on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, with her husband and two amazing children. She is a leader and champion of learning, diversity and inclusion within Victoria’s growing technology community. In 2015, Christina changed her career path from insurance and finance to technology after volunteering as the youth chapter lead of Canada Learning Code, a charity that promotes digital literacy education with a special emphasis on women, girls, people with disabilities, Indigenous youth and newcomers to Canada. This work introduced Christina to the Victoria Innovation, Advanced Technology

organization (VIATEC) where she proudly holds a seat on the board of directors. Christina is the current vice president of RaceRocks, a company that applies cutting-edge technology to advance training and learning across Canada with a focus on military and aerospace clients. She has been a key contributor in building a team culture of collaboration based on inclusion, motivating highperformance teams to do their best work to deliver the company’s highest standards. Christina continues her love of learning and plans to complete her master’s degree in arts, learning and technology at Royal Roads University. 3 Adam Bradley ’98 has been working for acclaimed writer/director Steven DeKnight, who developed the recently released Netflix series titled Jupiter’s Legacy. Pictured here with actor Josh Duhamel, one of the highlights of his experience has been the opportunity to travel back to

Toronto. Although it took a while for the episodes to be released, he is happy to see the series doing well on the streaming service. Adam continues to write and, last year, his screenplay placed at both the Austin Film Festival and Slamdance Film Festival writing competitions. 4

2000s

her undergraduate degree in International Bachelor of Business Administration (IBBA). She has since moved back to Hong Kong where she has been working in the human resources field. Charity is married with two children Brandyn and Bryanna, who are six and three years old. 7

Congratulations to Jaime Leigh Gianopoulos ’06 and partner Claudio Cruz who premiered their sociallyconscious documentary What About Our Future? in April. The documentary highlights the Sustainabiliteens, a group of teens who organized the largest climate strike in Vancouver’s history and includes appearances by famous environment activists Greta Thunberg and David Suzuki. Jaime Leigh is passionate about women’s Charity Ip ’05 attended Pickering College empowerment, Indigenous rights for four years as a boarding student from Hong Kong. After PC, Charity continued her and innovative solutions for climate change and lends her voice through the studies in Canada at the Schulich School creations of documentaries. She credits of Business at York University, receiving Kristen Egan ’05 continues to stay connected to Pickering College. Kristen recently started an Instagram page dedicated to healthy living. She provides full healthy recipes, meals, ideas and inspiration for fitness. Her goal during difficult times this year is to provide hope, motivation, and positivity. You can follow her @lean.living.365 5

Pickering College as the reason why she pursued filmmaking as a career path. 6 Riane Tse ’07 attended Pickering College from Grades 9 to 12. Riane is passionate and dedicated to helping alumni stay connected and engaged with each other and the school and recently participated in the alumni focus group. As an active member of PC’s Board and Corporation, she hopes to share her knowledge in law, governance and strategy. 8 Emily Nesovic ’09 attended the University of Toronto, completing a degree in English. She currently works at a Toronto law firm as a document and learning specialist. Emily and her fiancé Ryan grew up with family cottages next to each other and are excited to be planning their wedding. They hope to have a small ceremony with family in Haliburton. 9

ALUMNI CONNECTIONS

2010s

In memoriam, Jonathan Kellock ’10 passed away on January 5, 2021, at the age of 29. Jonathan was a competitive alpine skier who represented Canada internationally. He was well-rounded and passionate about sports and excelled in golf, boating and mountain biking. Jonathan is one of four family members who attended PC. Jonathan treasured his family and friends and will be greatly missed. 1 Chiara Naccarata ’12 completed two makeup artistry diploma programs at the College of Makeup Art & Design, nails and waxing certificates from the Canadian Beauty College, and the hairstyling program at Georgian College. Chiara’s passion and expertise have resulted in opportunities and projects in a variety of film and television shows including Northern Rescue, Letterkenny, Locke & Key, Nine Films about Technology, We’re All in This Together and several Hallmark Christmas movies. Chiara recently led a team of four makeup artists, designing

the hair and makeup looks for the film Stargazed. Chiara holds a permit with the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) in Toronto and is working towards becoming a full member by next year to work globally. Chiara has also opened a hair salon. 2

from the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College, where she spent four years completing her doctor of chiropractic degree and is officially Dr. Kayli Demirli. She is thankful to family and friends who have supported her along the way. 4

Jaden Lithopoulos ’13 While in town visiting family, Jaden recently came by for his annual visit with Ms. Downer and Mr. Cope and shared that he will be starting his master’s in marine engineering and naval architecture at the University of British Columbia in September.

Erika Galata ’13 is a qualified registered psychotherapist and a member of the College of the Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO). She is grateful for receiving her education in psychotherapy and mental health and is currently conducting virtual mental health therapy for young adults and adults. Erika enjoys making a positive impact and helping others. 5

Ioana (Pop) Otrocol ’13 is currently working for SunLife as an advisor specializing in life insurance, critical illness and investments. She is looking forward to resuming face-to-face interactions soon and hopes to reconnect with former classmates in the upcoming year! 3

Congratulations to Belinda Nyamrunda ’14, who is officially engaged to her boyfriend Ray. An event was organized with close friends and family for a formal engagement celebration. 6

Congratulations to Kayli Demirli ’13, who recently graduated summa cum laude

Alexander (Alex) Floyd ’14 spent nine years of his academic career at Pickering College. During his time at PC, Alex

was involved in student committee, soccer, hockey and track and field.He was also dedicated to the arts, where he performed in both Grease and Little Shop of Horrors. At graduation, Alex was recognized for his academic excellence, receiving the Harry M. Beer Drama Award, Widdrington Award and the Garratt Cane. Alex currently lives in Vancouver doing virtual classes, working towards completing his master’s degree in architecture at the University of British Columbia. His thesis research is focused on designing the multi-sensory architecture of the deaf and hearingimpaired population. During his spare time, Alex has been taking advantage of the Vancouver amenities including skiing, hiking, runnin, and cycling. Alex plans to return to Ontario after graduation, where he will begin working at an architectural firm. 7 Lottie Funk ’14, pictured here at the Veterinary Medicine Coat Ceremony earlier this year as she successfully completed veterinary studies at St.

Matthew’s University and is now going on to Washington State University to complete a clinical year. 8 Isaiah Fong ’15 completed his undergraduate and master’s studies at Durham University and Warwick University in the UK, focused on history and politics. In April 2020, Isaiah moved to Hong Kong to work for Bloomberg L.P. in their analytics and sales graduate program. Isaiah is grateful for the friendships he made at Pickering College and has continued to stay in touch with Eddie Han ’15, Joe Li ’15, and Sam Wu ’15 even though they all live in different time zones. 9 Samantha Tan ’15 runs ST Racing, a team that races high-performance factory-built BMWs in the United States and abroad. This year, her team won the 2020 Pirelli GT4 America SprintX Silver Class Team Competition. Samantha started racing at 16 years old in the National Autosport Association and attended the University of California

where she completed her degree in economics. She has shared her academic and career experiences with students along with her passion for building awareness of race and gender issues in a male-dominated sport. 10 Sterling Mancuso ’17 attended Pickering College from 2013 to 2017, graduating as class valedictorian. Sterling completed his first year of law school at the University of Toronto. This past summer Sterling was excited to take on a summer student position in the civil litigation division at Henein Hutchison LLP in downtown Toronto. 11 Congratulations to Sydney Stevenson ’17, who graduated from McGill University this spring with joint honours in international development and political science with a minor in environmental studies. She began a master’s program at the London School of Economics this summer in international development and humanitarian assistance. 12

ALUMNI CONNECTIONS

Alexandra Cumiskey ’17 was one of 20 individuals out of 2,500 applicants to be accepted into the fine arts honours program at Queen’s University. For her fourth-year art thesis, she specialized in oil painting and focused on the topic of depicting the emotions felt by sexual assault victims in non-literal ways. The topic was chosen with the hope of bringing awareness to others along with minimizing the stigma around the subject. Alexandra graduated in May with a bachelor of fine art, honours (BFA). Earlier this year, Alexandra started a cosmetics business, Provo Cosmetics, combining her passions for fine arts and business. She plans to expand her business and travel before beginning her master’s in business administration (MBA) in September 2022. 1 Hannah Floyd ’17 was selected as the 2021 Grad Class Speaker for Brescia University College. In June, she graduated with a double major in disability studies and leadership studies, honours. Hannah has always had an interest in working with children with disabilities. She volunteers with the Special Olympics and while at Brescia was part of the Best Buddies club, which partners students with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the community. In addition, Hannah was

inducted into Brescia’s honour society, joining 292 fellow members dating back to 1951. To qualify, students must have high academic standing, have been involved in university life and played an active role in maintaining the school’s empowering spirit. Next year, Hannah plans to train as a teacher through the CanTeach program in New Zealand before returning home to create her own learning centre for children with intellectual disabilities. 2

2020s

Paris Johnson ’20 is currently enrolled at Wilfrid Laurier University studying business administration and has been enjoying her first year of living in residence. Being a student from Pickering College has unquestionably prepared Paris for university. She appreciates that she has developed amazing study habits and time management skills that have helped her stay on top of her work. She will always be grateful for the lifelong friendships made at Pickering and will miss being able to see her friends each day, but is excited to be able to get together soon! 3 Alexandra McCutcheon-Dawson ’20 is attending York University studying dance, music and concurrent education. Her first year has been online and she

loves it! The thought of being in a university lecture hall with 300 to 400 people felt overwhelming. The pandemic has helped Alexandra to better transition to university life. Alexandra shared her first-year experience with Grade 12 students at the alumni transition event held in May. 4 Daniel Jiang ’20 is student at the University of Michigan majoring in computer science with a minor in music and electrical engineering. This summer, Daniel worked as a research assistant with the Transportation Research Institute at the University of Michigan, focusing on crash safety for automated vehicles. Daniel also spent time outdoors with his new puppy Simba over the summer. He hopes to stay in contact with PC friends virtually and appreciates the opportunity to have connected with students and teachers at the alumni transition event in the spring. 5 Nelson Squires ’20 is studying biology at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh. Nelson is interested in exploring volunteer opportunities at veterinary clinics and plans to take time for a vacation. Although it has been a challenging year, Nelson is fortunate to have stayed in contact with friends through online gaming and chatting on the phone. 6

Thoughts on Democracy Dr. Eric Breton ’87 Public Servant Ottawa, Canada

Thoughts on Democracy Ivan Pooran ’81

Economist New York, USA

I have lived in several countries in the world but have always stayed close to my home country of Colombia. I have actively participated in voting and supporting Colombian elections abroad. Democracy is important because it maintains a system where any voice is heard and respected. This allows for the development and progression of the human race. Furthermore, it allows us to live freely within societal limits. The challenge is to allow freedom but that does not lead to abuse or to lack of decisions. I am a strong believer in Magna Carta and the balance of powers between executive, judicial and legislative branches of authority.

My five years at Pickering were foundational in setting my sense of the importance of community. At university, I studied politics, philosophy, economics and sociology, all of which honed my understanding of the ways people and communities organize themselves and the fundamental challenges inherent in doing so. My doctoral dissertation dealt with reconciling individual and collective rights in diverse communities; and my public service career has largely focussed in policy areas related to these subjects. I have made a point of championing diversity and equity as a volunteer in my personal life and also advanced federal government policy files related to access, recognition and inclusion in the roles I have held in line departments and Central Agencies. Democracy is in some ways the pinnacle of grounded human expression because it is (or should be) a ground for free expression of individual and collective will in a political community about the ways in which we choose to live together as members of the community and the circumstances under which we welcome others and include them in our discourse.

CLASS OF 1842

Class of 1842 welcomes Roger Warren ’51 “Pickering College gave me a good education, taught me how to live with others and got me involved in athletics and other activities.”

CLASS OF 1842 is a group of individuals who are honoured, recognized and appreciated by Pickering College for their service beyond Pickering, achievement in various fields of endeavour and/or their contribution to education. This is the highest honour that the school awards to alumni, former faculty and staff who distinguish themselves. The award also recognizes those whose accomplishments provide inspiration and reflect the values of Pickering College. There was no leaving class in 1842, since the school was established in the fall of that year. We look forward to celebrating Roger Warren ’51 and Ron Veale ’63 joining the Class of 1842 as soon as we are able to gather again in person.

A conversation with Roger Warren is peppered with the words he has used to guide his life. Community. Giving. Generosity. Everyone who has the good fortune to come in contact with Warren has the pleasure of a conversation full of interesting stories and the impression that Warren has truly left the world a better place in every aspect of his life. He is fittingly being awarded the “Class of 1842” by Pickering College. Warren has spent his life giving back— the list of organizations he has helped is long. University of Prince Edward Island, University of Guelph, McGill University and Pickering College have all benefited from his philanthropic support. The Canadian Council of Education awarded Warren with the 2021 Friend of Education Award for his lifetime of support to students, programs and institutions. He has been the recipient of multiple honourary degrees. Along with his late wife Mary, Warren set up the Rathlyn Foundation to direct their giving. Their

donations have supported numerous causes including medical education and research, veterinary education, Indigenous students and persons with disabilities. Warren has often been described as a “true philanthropist”—his support has incuded his time and talent. Warren has played a pivotal role at Pickering College over the years. He was an active student and maintained that connection as an alumnus. He was the first board member on the scene in 1981 when Rogers House suffered a devastating fire. His actions as Secretary-Treasurer helped spearhead a quick recovery, the interim “Trailer City” and prompt rebuilding of Rogers House. Today, Warren sits on the Corporation and is an active member of the Finance Committee. He enjoys speaking directly with students, and talks honestly about his challenges. One of the highlights of his regular visits to McGill is meeting with business students in the entrepreneurship classes and also students with learning disabilities. He shares the challenges he has faced with honesty, talking not just about dyslexia, but how his competitiveness and discipline were key to his success. He also credits his international experience in New York and London in the early part of his career as being critical to learning his trade. In speaking of his career of 60 years in investment banking, Warren humbly recounts his professional achievements, “I was lucky my career was successful, I was financially awarded accordingly and it has allowed me to be generous giving back.”

THE HISTORY OF THE ROGERS FAMILY AT PICKERING COLLEGE Roger Warren’s family has a long affiliation with Pickering College. His mother was a member of the Rogers Family. In 1892, Samuel Rogers gave a leadership gift that helped to begin the process of rebuilding Pickering College in Newmarket after a fire tore through the school in Pickering, Ontario. Samuel’s son, Albert S. Rogers donated the farmland on which PC is built. Albert’s sister, Ella Rogers Firth was named the first Principal for the Girl’s School at PC. Albert’s son Edward S. Rogers, joined PC as a student in 1915 and in 1920 he established a telegraph station in a vacant wing of Pickering College. He chose the space not only for the elevation on the Hilltop but because it was the place his ancestors settled when first coming to Canada in 1801.

A very humble man, Roger Warren has made financial gifts quietly. “I don’t have my name in neon lights. The scholarships we started at Guelph are all the names of our dogs.” Crediting the influence of his mother, Warren points to philanthropy being a very natural responsibility. “We were brought up that we were supposed to be successful. And if you were successful you were to give back to the community. That has been my philosophy.”

Although his family members were not practicing Quakers, many of those values were ones he was brought up with and affirmed through his education. “Pickering College gave me a good education, taught me how to live with others and got me involved in athletics and other activities.” We look forward to welcoming Roger Warren ’51 back to campus as soon as COVID-19 protocols allow and awarding him with Pickering College’s highest honour, the Class of 1842.

Allan Rogers, a cousin of Roger Warren, was a Chair of the PC Board. Roger Warren has served in numerous volunteer roles at PC. He was President of the National Fundraising campaign for Pickering College in the early 1980’s; was Secretary-Treasurer of the Board of Directors at a pivotal time in PC history during the 1981 fire and subsequent rebuilding. He is currently a member of the Corporation and the Finance Committee.

Jim Waters

For many families, Pickering College becomes not only a place where their child finds their place, but where the entire family becomes part of the PC community. This is the case for the Waters family.

and said, “Here you go, here’s the 50 records, just keep playing them over and over.” That was in 1957. By the time we sold CHUM Ltd. in 2006, it was 33 radio stations and 33 television stations—all from one little AM radio station, 1050 CHUM, it all grew from that. Over the years we never bought anything that was making money, everything we bought was losing money, but dad was so

and CHOP FM Jim Waters, along with his wife Sheila, has been part of the PC family since their daughters Ellie ’05 and Maxine ’02 enrolled as students. Jim Waters’ leadership and financial support brought a campus radio station to Pickering College. CHOP FM is integrated into classes beginning in Junior School right through to a credit-course in Senior School. Why is broadcasting such an important thing to introduce to our students? Radio is an integral part of life for most people. It is how you get your information in the car, when you get up in the morning you hear the weather for your day, there is always going to be a place for radio in our lives. It seemed like an obvious thing to give young people a chance to experience how radio works, hands-on. For a lot of students it can bring them out of their shell. Media is a pretty formidable thing. It is a great way for young people do develop their communication skills. How did you get into broadcasting? My father Allan always wanted to work for himself and so went to the owner of the drug company he was working for, wanting to purchase it—and the owner said it was not for sale, but he had a radio station if he wanted to buy that. So my father decided to buy it and learn about radio. It was 1954 and he went down to the States and learned that the most successful stations were playing this weird and wonderful music called rock ’n’ roll. He came back to Toronto, threw out the records they had been playing on CHUM

confident in the people in the company he knew we could turn them around. My career was in radio from the day I finished school. I worked at CHUM for 35 years and at the end, I was Chairman of the Board. What compelled you to first make a donation to Pickering College and help PC with CHOP FM? My daughter Ellie became a different person when she came to Pickering. She needed more attention than she was getting from school before she came to Pickering. It was a critical move for us to make. Pickering played a very meaningful role in our family’s life and I wanted to return something to the College. That was all it was. What is the most gratifying is meeting parents who come up to me and tell me what the experience of being involved in radio had on their son or daughter. When I hear that, I know we are doing good, the experience is having the intended effect on them. What is so special about Pickering College? Any successful organization has a strong leader and Pickering has that with Peter. He lives by the values and the pillars of Pickering. He is a good soul and a good man. Anyone I have ever interacted with— the front office staff, the teachers—have been wonderful. Those Quaker values are significant, and the people that come out of Pickering live those values. You can feel it when you walk the halls and talk to the students.

102.7 CHOP FM Pickering College is the only JK-Grade 12 school in Canada with a CRTClicensed radio station, 102.7 CHOP FM. The student-operated radio station serves Pickering College and the wider Newmarket community. Broadcasting from New House, this fully functioning radio station provides a range of community-based programming including a live morning show, sports updates and feature programs. The radio station is one of Pickering College’s unique features, giving students the opportunity to become on-air hosts, producers, editors and interviewers, as they help manage the station’s dayto-day operations. PC also has a communications technology course on radio and audio production. Stream 102.7 CHOP FM and listen live from anywhere!

Thank you to the Waters family for your continued support of CHOP FM and introducing generations of PC students to broadcasting.

PICKERING COLLEGE ASSOCIATION

Thoughts on Democracy Kirsten Nicolson Lawyer, PC parent Newmarket, Ontario

While actively practicing law, I was engaged in First Nations litigation. Canada’s relationship with Indigenous Peoples has been, and remains, horrific to say the very least. Democracies must protect the rights and freedoms of minorities. Attempting to hold both the federal and provincial governments accountable for their actions, or inactions, is vital and both legally and morally correct.

Welcome from the PCA! The Pickering College Association is comprised of parents, past parents and alumni who work to plan engaging community activities, support school programs and fundraise through Signature Events. Join us at a monthly PCA morning social or book club. Come out for evening PC pickleball league or reenergize at PCA tai chi and yoga. Meet parents at your grade lunch, support a Signature Event or volunteer. There are so many ways to get involved. See you on the Hilltop,

Krystie Robinson-Vincent Watch for regular announcements in PC Connects or contact your Grade Representative for more details on upcoming opportunities.

Democracy, as a political system, is flawed and yet still provides hope. The hope that the voice of the many is more tempered than that of the voice of a select few. With proper checks and balances in place, governments that are held accountable by its citizens, courts and other institutions are among the best mechanisms to obtaining societal equality. A fully informed and fully participating citizenship is essential to the proper function of democracy. We all must be on guard to prevent the tyranny of the majority. This has become especially true with the current polarization of ideals and when an algorithm can control what information people view. Education, critical thinking and the freedom of ideas are vital. Without it we are lost. Every individual is entitled to equal treatment and the right to participate in our democracy. Some are shut out while others are forgotten. Awareness and accountability are key to the functioning of a fair and balanced democratic society.

Thoughts on Democracy Charles Beer ’59

Consultant, former MPP and Cabinet Minister in Ontario Newmarket, Ontario

Thoughts on Democracy Ian Proudfoot

Retired, committee chair of The Democracy Project Holland Landing, Ontario

As a parent, grandparent, corporation member and board member I saw firsthand the school’s commitment to student leadership and community service. Watching young people working to make a difference in society reinforced our belief that corporate social responsibility would build a stronger, loyal and passionate workforce with employees dedicated to making a positive difference in our communities. The idea of liberal democracy speaks to a concept of society that is just, equitable and peaceful with a right to free expression of ideas in a respectful manner. At the heart of this liberal democracy is equality of opportunity, recognizing that positive growth of a nation is best accomplished when all citizens have a sense of belonging and value. As citizens we have obligation to ensure democracy works through holding elected officials accountable, calling out injustice and standing up when rights are violated.

I took a strong interest in public affairs and being actively involved in my community from my years at Pickering. At university I was heavily involved in issues around nuclear weapons and Canada’s language policies. I did postgraduate studies at Laval University in Quebec City to broaden my awareness of French Canada. I spent a good part of my adult life working within the political process including as a member of provincial parliament and cabinet minister in Ontario. I led a variety of organizations focused on youth employment, international and Indigenous development and social justice. An important element of that work was to increase ordinary citizens’ participation in the democratic process. Democratic systems are not always perfect but they are better than any others in trying to ensure that every citizen has certain basic rights and is free to champion issues that are important to anyone. Ensuring open and transparent government remains a challenge, but we must do everything we can to involve all citizens. There are many ways to engage in the democratic process. Politics is obviously one, but it is by no means the only one. Increasingly we see citizen groups form around issues such as climate change, racism, disability rights and others. They can and do have a huge impact on improving our society. It is important that everyone engage in their community in some way to make it better.

THREE CHEERS

FOR OUR VOLUNTEERS

Volunteering is the essence of Pickering College’s community spirit. Thank you to all those who give their time and talent in support of the school’s many events and initiatives. BOARD OF DIRECTORS Mirella Morra, Chair Patrick Turner ’97, Vice-Chair Stephen Barratt ’86 Sal Bianco Beric Farmer Ajit Khanna Christopher Lane Ailene MacDougall Kelly Mason Riane Tse ’07 Ronald Veitch ’69 CORPORATION MEMBERS Stephen Barratt ’86 Christina Bianco Sal Bianco Vanessa Carson Susan Cooper Peter Dobbs ’87 Beth Egan Beric Farmer Jason Foulds Jason Herod Trevor Hunt Ajit Khanna Thomas Kim Christopher Lane Vivian Lee Heward Lee ’78 Ailene MacDougall Kelly Mason Mirella Morra Daniel Nelson Isabelle Payne ’98 Helen Pei Ian Proudfoot Kurt Richardson ’02 Krystie Robinson-Vincent Tara Roy-DiClemente Debra Scott Colleen Sexsmith Adam Shully ’78 Riane Tse ’07 Patrick Turner ’97 Ronald Veitch ’69 Duncan Walker ’69 Mareena Wallace ’13 Roger Warren ’51 Lee Webb

Karen Whetstone Stephen Widdrington ’83 Kevin Wietzes Jason Yip BOARD COMMITTEES Campus Master Plan Patrick Turner ’97, Chair Sal Bianco Kevin Desforges David Lehto Kelly Mason Mirella Morra Nicole Murphy Peter Sturrup Development Ailene MacDougall, Chair Vanessa Carson Susan Cooper Trevor Hunt Taylor Jennings Mirella Morra Laura Padula Jessie-May Rowntree Colleen Sexsmith Ann Smiley Peter Sturrup Jason Yip Digital Transformation Beric Farmer, Chair Joshua Armstrong Kimberly Bartlett Gordon Chiu Peter Dobbs ’87 Beth Egan Julia Hunt Mirella Morra Nicole Murphy Varathan Pathmanathan Debra Scott Lindsey Stefanovich Peter Sturrup Mareena Wallace ’13

Facilities Stephen Barratt ’86, Chair Chantal Belley ’05 Kevin Desforges Janet Downer Kyle Foch ’13 Malcolm Mason Mirella Morra Nicole Murphy John Paterson ’85 Peter Sturrup Patrick Turner ’97 Mike Weiler Kevin Wietzes Finance Christopher Lane, Chair Christina Bianco Jason Foulds Jason Herod Mirella Morra Nicole Murphy Peter Sturrup Ronald Veitch ’69 Roger Warren ’51 Governance Riane Tse ’07, Chair Ajit Khanna Mirella Morra Daniel Nelson Peter Sturrup Lee Webb Karen Whetstone Human Resources Ajit Khanna, Chair Janet Downer Shannon Kelly Melinda MacDonald Mary Madigan-Lee Mirella Morra Helen Pei Suman Seth Peter Sturrup

Nominations Kelly Mason, Chair Susan Cooper Mirella Morra Peter Sturrup Riane Tse ’07 Karen Whetstone Partnerships Ian Proudfoot, Chair Kimberly Bartlett Charles Beer ’59 Beric Farmer Julia Hunt Ailene MacDougall Kelly Mason Isabelle Payne ’98 Krystie Robinson-Vincent Tara Roy-DiClemente Peter Sturrup Patrick Turner ’97 Tony Van Bynen Risk Management Mirella Morra, Chair Janet Downer Thomas Kim Laura Mason Nicole Murphy Neil Proudfoot ’08 Kurt Richardson ’02 Jessie-May Rowntree Peter Sturrup Duncan Walker ’69 Strategic Collaborative Partnerships Advisory Council Ian Proudfoot, Chair Kimberly Bartlett Charles Beer ’59 Beric Farmer Julia Hunt Ailene MacDougall Mirella Morra Isabelle Payne ’98 Krystie Robinson-Vincent Tara Roy-DiClemente Peter Sturrup Patrick Turner ’97

PCA EXECUTIVE Krystie Robinson-Vincent, Chair Susan Cooper Violet Gal Carla Liberta Thomas Kim Mirella Morra Kirsten Nicolson Colleen Sexsmith Karen Whetstone Patti Wietzes Kevin Wietzes CHOP FM BOARD OF DIRECTORS James Waters, Chair Matthew Barbuto ’02 Marc de la Bastide Sarah Gardiner ’11 Ian Johnston Nicole Murphy Brian Purdy ’56 Peter Sturrup CHOP FM ADVISORY COUNCIL Alex Au Yong John Bordignon Jennifer Brett Fraser Noeline Burk Marc de la Bastide David Haydu Ian Johnston Laura Murgatroyd Brian Purdy ’56 Ann Smiley Gareth Sturrup ’09 William Waugh CHOP FM VOLUNTEERS John Bordignon Jennifer Buchanan David (Geets) Haydu Wally Lennox Brian Purdy ’56 Philip Smith Brad Snel Rex Taylor PC AMBASSADORS – ADMISSION EVENTS Thomas Bianco ’24 Sonya Bonerath Fernando Casanova Ochoa ’14 Sophia Fan ’21 Celeste Frank ’20 Danica Khanna ’23 Cecilia Lyu ’21 Tam Nguyen ’21 Tymur Sabirov ’21 Shyam Subramanyam ’23 Melissa Tavares Jane Weng ’21 Judy Woo ’19

LIBRARY TRIBUTE PROGRAM Kirsten Nicolson, Chair Sheila Johnson Krystie Robinson-Vincent Michelle Tolley NISPA (NETWORK OF INDEPENDENT SCHOOL PARENTS’ ASSOCIATIONS) REPRESENTATIVE Carla Liberta STAFF APPRECIATION COMMITTEE Violet Gal, Chair Laurie DiCarlo Kristen Gong Hannah Murray Krystie Robinson-Vincent STAFF APPRECIATION VOLUNTEERS Aevah Aadya Arun ’28 Erica Cameron ’22 Da Ponte Family Peter Ding ’26 Heather Golding ’24 Sarah Golding ’24 Kristen Gong Tutu Guo ’30 Megan Hsueh ’25 Oscar Jiang ’23 Danica Khanna ’23 Keith Li ’29 Leena Li ’25 Michaela Morra ’22 Pantano Family Lochlan Price ’28 Krystie Robinson-Vincent Alan Suleimanov ’23 Rita Wang Sara Wietzes ’23 Eric Zheng ’23 Chloe Zou ’30 GRADE REPS Carla Liberta, Coordinator Natalie Akbar Laurie DiCarlo Tiffany Houle Venus Iu Leigh Ann Pitre Krystie Robinson-Vincent Tara Roy-DiClemente Jennifer Russell Diane Sexsmith-Brosseau Gail Simpson Patti Wietzes GLOBAL LEADERSHIP PROGRAM VOLUNTEERS Hugh Caines Erin Cerenzia Janet Downer Shelley Frank Melissa Mikel

Kevin Peesker Peter Sturrup Patrick Turner ’97 Ann Watson ACADEMIC AND STUDENT COMMITTEE EVENTS, CLASSROOM, PROGRAM, CO-CURRICULAR SPEAKERS AND VOLUNTEERS Moira Boland ’24 Ethan Bonerath ’23 Jenna Farmer ’20 Celeste Frank ’20 Jamie Frank Shelley Frank Sarah Golding ’24 Brandon Joo ’21 Melody Lee ’24 Vivian Lee Veronica Manalo Tam Nguyen ’21 Tara Roy-DiClemente Thera Sze ’21 Minh Truong ’17 Melody Tsui ’24 Ronald Veale, ’63 Saveria Volpe Jake Wu ’22 Rosie Xuan ’22 ALUMNI CLASS CHAMPIONS Charles Beer ’59 Robert Doyle ’96 Stephanie Fillman ’09 June Gleed ’15 Monika Jazyk ’95 Louis Li ’21 Deanna MacAlpine ’21 Neil Proudfoot ’08 Brian Purdy ’56 Edmund Rynard ’70 Dag Spicer ’80 Adam Starr ’16 Grace Still ’21 Thera Sze ’21 REUNION WEEKEND October 3, 2020 Kimberly Bartlett June Gleed ’15 Monika Jazyk ’95 Isabelle Payne ’98 Ivan Pooran ’82 Neil Proudfoot ’08 Edmund Rynard ’70 Nicholas Sopuch ’13 HILLTOP SKATING PROGRAM AND EVENT VOLUNTEERS Julia Hunt Eva Lara Janet Proctor Lisa Sturrup Tammy Ward

LUNAR NEW YEAR CELEBRATION February 11, 2021 Yunfei He Michelle Jiang Vivian Lee April Sun Amy Wang Michelle Wang Ann Xu CIRCLE OF FRIENDS RECEPTION March 4, 2021 Sasha Au Yong ’21 Alex Au Yong Gordon Chiu Bryson Cleland ’28 Harrison Frank ’24 Shelley Frank Simon Gao ’29 David Hein Graydon Houle ’24 Taylor Jennings Keith Kupsch Tom Lewis Zephanie Li ’32 Nafas Massir ’30 Karen Meisel Mirella Morra Laura Padula Lochlan Price ’28 Eva R. ’29 Irene Sankoff Chris Schneider Noelle Simpson ’28 Ann Smiley Lindsey Stefanovich Peter Sturrup Sophie Trussell ’24 Alexander Turner ’29 Daniel Weinzweig Ellen Wells Emily Zalewski ’25 ALUMNI FOCUS GROUP April 7, 2021 Charles Beer ’59 Robert Doyle ’96 June Gleed ’15 Ivan Pooran ’82 Neil Proudfoot ’08 Edmund Rynard ’70 Dag Spicer ’80 Riane Tse ’07 ALUMNI TRANSITION EVENT May 5, 2021 Nicholas Borowski ’20 Celeste Frank ‘20 Daniel Jiang ’20 Emma Kerswill ’19 Alexandra McCutcheon-Dawson ’20 Nelson Squires ’20 Katherine Starr ’20

THREE CHEERS

FOR OUR VOLUNTEERS

SPRING LUNCHEON May 12, 2021 Patti Wietzes, Chair Sarah Asgari ’21 Vanessa Carson Violet Gal Krystie Robinson-Vincent Rita Wang Sara Wietzes ’23 GRANDPARENT AND SPECIAL FRIEND AFTERNOON May 18, 2021 Colleen Sexsmith, Chair Aevah Aadya Arun ’28 Maria Di Mambro Jessica Ellis Krystie Robinson-Vincent Carissa Shum ’28 NEW FAMILY MENTORS Carrie Dente, Junior School Chair Laurie DiCarlo, Middle School Chair Marcy Sanderson, Senior School Chair Vivian Lee, International Family Mentor Natalie Akbar Feria Bacchus Susan Cooper

Marnee Da Ponte Venus Iu Claire Jones Bobo Li Jenny Li Mirella Morra Hannah Murray Krystie Robinson-Vincent Tara Roy-DiClemente Jennifer Russell Melissa Tavares Patti Wietzes NEW FAMILY WELCOME EVENT May 19, 2021 Natalie Akbar and Ben Akbar ’34 Cooper Family Da Ponte Family Venus Iu and Family Carla Liberta Krystie Robinson-Vincent Tara Roy-DiClemente Jennifer Russell and Meghan Dent ’26 Simpson Family Wietzes Family

21ST ANNUAL GOLF TOURNAMENT COMMITTEE September 18, 2021 Thomas Kim, Chair Richard De Ridder Rob Desouza ’96 Corey DiCarlo Robert Doyle ’96 Daniel Foch ’09 Robert MacAlpine LEGACY CHALLENGE PC ROAD RALLY COMMITTEE October 2, 2021 Kevin Wietzes, Chair Natalie Akbar Julie Axford Rosario Baucino Susan Cooper Shelley Frank Lauren Jenkins ’16 Heward Lee ’78 Robert MacAlpine Laura Padula Molly Robertson Stephen Widdrington ’83

HOLIDAY HOME TOUR COMMITTEE December 4, 2021 Susan Cooper, Chair Sophie Armstrong ’12 Sonya Bonerath Adam Darvay-Canavor ’13 Daniel Foch ’09 Shelley Frank Krystal Hopper Andrea McMullen Patti Wietzes 2020 GALA COMMITTEE Mirella Morra, Co-Chair Karen Whetstone, Co-Chair Julie Axford Susan Cooper Shelley Frank Vivian Lee Andrea McMullen Helen Pei Olessia Prescott Krystie Robinson-Vincent Stephen Widdrington ’83 Patti Wietzes

BOARDER HOST FAMILIES Desforges Family Fabian Family Larice Family Still Family

Thoughts on Democracy Tara Roy-DiClemente

Town Councillor, Pickering College parent East Gwillimbury, Ontario

As an elected official, my job is democracy in action! I feel there are two key elements to effective governance: the relationships among elected officials and the duty to those we represent. Respect for, and even appreciation of, differences of opinion among elected officials is fundamental to the democratic process. A genuine desire to build consensus in decision-making is also a key factor in effective council leadership. Further, elected officials have an obligation to provide open, accountable and accessible information to justify decisions that are made. Explaining why a decision was made, why I voted the way I did at the council table is an important aspect of my role. Because we don’t have a party system in place at our municipal level of government, I believe we have a closer relationship to true democracy, rather than having partisanship or politics play a role in the way I represent my constituents.

photo by Ebti Nabag

Serving up vaccines to underserved communities

When PC parent Kirk Tobias launched Fleets Coffee in early 2020, a global pandemic was about the last thing he thought he had to worry about as a new start-up venture. After a few months of trying to make a go of it, he decided to dust himself off and pivot his business to give back to the community during an unprecedented time. When vaccines first became available in the spring of 2021, getting them into the arms of underserved communities and industrial locations was proving to be a big challenge. It was here that the most COVID-19 cases were popping up and these communities had the least means to address it. And this is where Tobias’ idea began. In April, he posted on LinkedIn and tagged numerous government officials, including the Premier of Ontario and the Prime Minister of Canada, making his pitch. His vehicles contain fridges and freezers—which could hold tens of thousands of vaccines—and he was willing to donate the vehicles, drivers, gas and insurance. The only thing missing would be the vaccines and the health care workers to administer the shots. “Eventually, I was lucky enough to connect with Rocco Rossi, president and CEO of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce. He believed in what we were trying to do and introduced us to some people at the Ontario Hospital Association. That’s how we met the folks at Michael Garron Hospital, who decided to partner with us,” he explains. Throughout the summer, the medical team from Michael Garron brought their own coolers with temperature controls that could be constantly monitored by the pharmacy technicians on board. One truck was able to do between one to four pop-up clinics per week. “There are two types of pop-ups: mobile and fixed,” Tobias explains. “In fixed pop-ups, we went to a hot spot area or outside a school or community centre and people came to us. The team administered anywhere between 800 and 1,400 jabs on those days. In a mobile pop-up, they chose buildings known to have a lot of COVID cases and vaccinated everyone willing to get a shot. Those pop-ups administered 200 or 300 jabs a day across two or three stops. We loved it because we knew we were the perfect solution for this kind of vaccine clinic.”

Kirk Tobias sold his technology company and in 2018 began working on an idea that paired his knowledge of algorithms with his love of coffee. The result: a cashless mobile coffee shop that ensures customer orders are ready without any delay or lineup, outside GO Transit stations across the GTA. Now that most adults have received at least one dose, Tobias has further reimagined his business with the launch of a Jab & Java campaign, with a goal of delivering 15,000 free cups of coffee as a small incentive to overcome vaccine hesitancy in Toronto and surrounding areas. At their first event in late June, they served more than 760 coffees and are now well on their way to reaching their goal. “At times, it’s been so difficult to find positive things to focus on. But every single needle we help get into an arm puts us one step closer to the end of COVID,” says Tobias. “Seeing how appreciative the frontline medical workers are is so emotionally rewarding, not to mention the people receiving the vaccines. This has been a huge light for me in a bleak, dark period.”

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VOLUME 43

ISSUE ONE

MANAGING EDITOR

JESSIE-MAY ROWNTREE

Assistant Head of School,

Advancement EDITOR

NAOMI CÔTÉ

Communications Manager

CONTRIBUTORS

JENNIFER BRETT FRASER

ALISON LARABIE CHASE

LAURA MASON

KAREN MEISEL

PETER STURRUP

SAVANNAH TRAN

GRAPHIC DESIGN

VANI ROUSE

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TEL: (905) 895-1700 FAX: (905) 895-8916 www.pickeringcollege.on.ca

Friday, October 22

Virtual UN Day Morning Meeting

Saturday, October 23

Virtual Open House

Thursday, November 11

Virtual Remembrance Day Morning Meeting

Saturday, December 4

Virtual Holiday Home Tour/Marketplace

Thursday, December 16

Virtual Christmas Morning Meeting

Friday, December 17

Last day of classes before Christmas break

Tuesday, January 4

Classes resume

* Virtual and in-person events will be added/changed as COVID-19 safety protocols allow. Please check our website and keep your contact information up-to-date with the school to receive the latest updates and event invitations.

THE PILLARS

IS PUBLISHED BY THE ADVANCEMENT

OFFICE FOR ALUMNI, PARENTS,

STUDENTS, STAFF AND FRIENDS OF

PICKERING COLLEGE.

Thank you to our incredible PC community for your continued support during this unprecedented year.

It’s yet another reminder that THE PEOPLE ARE PICKERING. We could not have navigated this year without all of you.

www.pickeringcollege.on.ca

LEARNING FOR LIFE. CREATING THE FUTURE.

Consider Pickering College for Your Child, Grandchild, Friend or Relative Pickering College’s Global Leadership Program strikes the ideal balance between challenging students to develop critical thinking and real-world life skills that can be applied to their university career and beyond. As a result of their studies, students develop valuable skills, including: • advanced academic ability • time management and self-reliance • strong research and writing • critical thinking abilities

• leadership and mentorship • dialogue, communication and presentation • design, invent and problem solve

All Pickering College students—from JK to Grade 12—benefit from an immersed program that prepares and inspires students to make a difference in the world as ethical, compassionate and values-based decision-makers.

JOIN US FOR A VIRTUAL OPEN HOUSE Meet students, staff, faculty and parents. Learn more about our specialized programming and go on a Zoom tour of our historic campus. Saturday, October 23 at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, January 12 at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, January 15 at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, February 16 from at 6:30 p.m.

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