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The Pillars (Spring 2020)

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pickering college

the

s p r i n g 2020

PILLARS

our

global

community


CONTENTS

A Nova’s Sky by Anna Makulova, Grade 12 “I decided upon this name as the word “nova” means a star showing a sudden increase in brightness. The title personifies the star, indicating that the planets are its sky and that which it strives to shine upon, much like how humans on these planets strive to reach the stars. It is painted on the geso board and paper with acrylic paints, glue. First, I painted every detail on paper and then glued it to the board.”

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Boarding Life: Building community while having fun!

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Indigenizing Learning: PC is leading the way among independent schools.

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Graham Birt: PC teacher is recognized with Governor General Sovereign’s Medal.

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Jim Spring ’47: A lifetime of involvement and philanthropy in support of PC.

4 Head Shots  6 Indigenizing Learning  8 Parent Survey Results  10 Student Life  18 Athletics  20 Boarding Life  22 Teacher Feature: Graham Birt 24 Meet the Directors of Middle School and Senior School 26 Jim Spring ’47: Fifth Pillar Award 32 Reunion Weekend 34 Alumni Connections 40 Alumni Profile: The late Hugh Edighoffer ’47 42 15th Annual Holiday Home Tour  44 Board and Corporation Update  45 Thank You to Donors  62 Upcoming Events

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As I write this introduction, Australia is on fire, Indonesia is

drowning, Venice really has been sinking and the 2010s have been declared the hottest decade in recorded history. Whether you believe in climate change or not, our global community faces an emerging threat unlike any we have ever faced before. Our ability to respond to these catastrophic climate events, let alone agree to long-term solutions, will test humanity’s capacity to exist peacefully, cooperatively, safely and with hope for the future. The world is at a crossroads. The scale of the problem we face will require a solution of a similar scale. The direction we choose may very well determine our fate as a species and the face of life on earth. The challenge being faced was expressed by Albert Einstein in the mid-20th century when he pointed out that, “The problems that exist in the world today cannot be solved by the level of thinking that created them.” Addressing this issue will require a new form of problem solving, a renewed commitment to collaboration among people of different nations, a new acceptance of the balance between economics and environment and a re-evaluation of our dominant world views. We need to make transformational change. We also need to consider who should be leading that change. We need to look at not just the faults in the status quo, but the fault with the assumptions that created the status quo in the first place. We need to seek change in ways that challenge the underlying beliefs, myths and power structures that got us here. We can no longer accept incremental changes as solutions to a system so badly broken. The theme of this issue is “Our Global Community” and it is my belief that our hope for transformational change lies in this global community. Many of the answers we seek already exist in the vast diversity of our global community. But we have to be willing to be open to the wisdom that comes from different places and that therefore challenges our thinking. If we are prepared to listen, the answers may come from those most silenced; if we are prepared to work, the inspiration may come from those whose hands have already been dirtied; if we are prepared to learn, the lessons may come from those who remain closer to the natural laws that govern our planet; if we are prepared to look, we may see the vision of a more sustainable, equitable world revealed to us by those whose eyes see opportunity defined differently than we do. What makes me most proud is that a microcosm of the global community on which we need to rely already exists here at Pickering College. Within our school, innovative approaches to problem solving and a recognition of the power of collaboration combine with a belief that every individual has value and worth and dignity. This inspires our students to listen, work, learn and see the opportunity that people from around the world have to contribute to making the place better. If we can do it at Pickering College, we can export that approach to people all over the world. That is a very hopeful prospect indeed.

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HEAD SHOTS Reflections on our global community with Peter Sturrup, Head of School

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Leading the way among independent schools in

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INDIGENIZING LEARNING When the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada released its concluding report in December 2015, it included 94 Calls to Action to help repair the harm caused by residential schools and the resulting intergenerational trauma for Indigenous Peoples. As the only Canadian partner school with Facing History and Ourselves, Pickering College’s faculty felt it was important to consider how reconciliation should be reflected in our curriculum, our values, and our purpose as an educational institution. Joshua Armstrong, a faculty member in our Senior School, is the chair of the Pickering College staff Reconciliation Committee, which is comprised of a variety of passionate members. As a History major in university, he freely admits that residential schools were inadequately taught in university courses and he, in fact, learned about them primarily after graduation. As such, he is striving to ensure that Pickering College’s students don’t end up in that same situation.

“What we’ve done is rework our course plans to ensure we are integrating the Ministry of Education’s revised Indigenous education updates, integrating topics such as the Indian Act, treaties, and residential schools. We strive to provide our students with the historical knowledge to have a fruitful conversation about a serious chapter and ongoing struggle in our nation’s history,” says Armstrong.

With 25 per cent of the school’s student population hailing from outside of Canada, it has meant PC’s teachers are not only making reconciliation relevant in the Canadian context but in broader terms of what it means to be Indigenous. “We’ve taken intentional steps to provide our students the context necessary for a conversation around the negative impacts of colonialism and how we’ve all been implicated. Really, we all should care about that story,” says Armstrong. continued on page 31

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Survey says... Parents report high level of satisfaction with Pickering College experience Every two years, Pickering College surveys our parent community to help improve the Pickering College experience. The data collected provides us with valuable insights to assist with planning, increasing parent satisfaction, and increasing services to our students. This year, of our 144 survey respondents, 14 per cent had children in the primary division, 12 per cent in the junior division, 30 per cent in Middle School and 62 per cent in Senior School. I would encourage other parents to enrol their children at Pickering College because ...

“ ... it is a school that cares about its students. It has a real sense of community that you can feel with both the students and parents. It is a school that prides itself on its founding values which include being a servant in your community and giving back to others. It is a school on the cutting edge of today’s education. Its Global Leadership Program is unique to Pickering and is providing students with the tools they need to be effective leaders when they graduate.” “ ... the teachers are passionate, the quality of education is higher than public schools and your child will be challenged to lead and be the best they can be.” “ ... PC offers so much more than any other school. PC has truly thought of the whole picture and supports each student as an individual not as a number. I love the fact we are a small school. The feeling of community is very strong here.” “ ... I believe there is a sense of security inherent at PC that does not exist in public school with respect to safety, faculty dedication, breadth of academic and nonacademic opportunities, sense of community and expectation regarding acceptable behaviour.” “ ... Pickering College is the whole package ... it is focused learning, inspiring, opportunity, community, worldly, family.” “ ... it has allowed our children to grow in ways we never thought were possible and we are so pleased with the school.”

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OVERALL PARENT SATISFACTION

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PARENTS WHO ANSWERED STRONGLY AGREE OR AGREE

PARENTS REPORTED TO BE MOST SATISFIED WITH: • Safety 97% • Homeroom/Advisor Support 96% • Expertise of the Teachers 94% • Passion of the Teachers 93% • Quality of Classroom Instruction 91% We also asked our parents to state their level of agreement with the statement, “the school fosters the following traits in my child” and provided them with a list of 25 traits, qualities and values that we work to instil in our students. THE STRONGEST LEVELS OF AGREEMENT WERE ON THE FOLLOWING TRAITS: • Accountability 95% • Independent Work habits 95% • Collaboration 95% • Compassion 93% • Independence 93% • Acceptance 92% • Creativity 92% • Environmental Stewardship 92% • Integrity 92% • Self-Regulation 92% As a result of the survey, we will review areas of our academic program, including the possibility of introducing additional Advance Placement (AP) courses; our food services program and the concept of perpetual enrolment.


“A sense of hope and promise for the future” “Through the Global Leadership Program at Pickering College, and with the support of their teachers and parents, each of them is making a difference—in their neighbourhood and beyond.” –Her Honour, The Honourable Elizabeth Dowdeswell, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario

Pickering College recently received an impressive endorsement of our school and Global Leadership Program. Last spring, we had the privilege of hosting Her Honour, The Honourable Elizabeth Dowdeswell, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, for the Grade 5 My Key Idea presentations and Key Ceremony. In late December, Her Honour published an article about the time she spent with our students and how they have inspired her with their understanding of their place in the world and how they can make a difference. She wrote: “When I was invited to witness their graduation ceremony, I expected the usual proud parents and teachers, but was unprepared for the students’ eloquence and confidence as they presented original solutions to global problems. Many of the problems they brought up provoke a sense of hopelessness in adults, but these young people, armed with the power of education, viewed them as issues to overcome in order to ensure their future potential.”

This endorsement of our Global Leadership Program is an important one. Her Honour’s career in the public service spans several decades and includes a past role as Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme and Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations, headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya. Her Honour recognizes the value of the program our school offers, and that caring about humanity and the planet begins at an early age. It is our focus on taking action that makes the Global Leadership Program, and our students, stand out. Whether it is through day-to-day classroom learning, or culminating projects like My Key Idea (Grade 5), Expression of Self (Grade 8) or the Capstone Project (Grade 11/12), our students experience the process of problem solving, generating a solution and working through implementing that solution. Our students are doing important work at Pickering College. With the guidance and support of our exceptional faculty, our graduates leave inspired to reach their full potential. We are confident our students, like PC graduates before them, will tackle challenges as innovative, courageous and compassionate global citizens who take action, true to Quaker values. To read Her Honour’s article about Pickering College, visit: www.lgontario.ca/en/2019/12/16/pickering-college/

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JUNIOR SCHOOL STUDENT LIFE

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On September 30, Pickering College participated in Orange Shirt Day, a day to honour the difficult journey faced by residential school survivors and their families. Grade 1 drew pictures which represented their understanding that every child matters and all children should be treated equally. The students were excited to have their illustrations transformed into buttons that they wore proudly. 1 Our Grade 5 classes ran the polling stations for October’s CIVIX Student Vote. Grades 5-12 had the opportunity to vote for a candidate in the federal riding of NewmarketAurora and these votes were

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counted together with over one million other students across Canada as part of the CIVIX national campaign to promote youth engagement in our electoral process. 2 Is pizza one of your favourite foods? Kindergarten students have identified pizza as one of their favourite foods and have been learning about its history and roots in Greek and Italian culture. Through their inquiry, they created many unique pizzas using dough, discovered the concept of fractions using felt pieces, created surveys, and designed chef aprons to be used for when they cooked their own pizzas in the PC kitchen.

For Take Me Outside Day, Grade 3 had a great time participating in a nature scavenger hunt and a game of In Plain Sight. Take Me Outside Day is a reminder to do just that—it’s an invitation for schools to extend the classroom beyond four walls and a desk and engage with school grounds and natural areas. 3 In Grade 2, what started out as a simple investigation into our family coat of arms, turned into some magnificent thinking and creativity. Inspired by the Reggio Inquiry method, Mrs. Doyle provided a history lesson on coats of arms and Ms. Johnson lent the class library books

on heraldry. Students took what they learned about the symbols behind colours and animals to create their own personal coats of arms on a cardboard shield, featuring everything from dragons to lions to stags. 4 Grade 4 students participated in Postcards for Peace, an opportunity to thank those who served Canada in times of war, military conflict and peace. This learning activity allows youth to remember the sacrifices and achievements of Canadian Veterans. Our students’ postcards were sent to veterans at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, in time for Remembrance Day. 5


LEV MOSKALTCOV Curious for history An articulate and thoughtful speaker, Lev Moskaltcov is no ordinary Grade 5— rather, he is a young historian at heart. With an interest in the sciences, politics, and history, Lev has demonstrated a deep understanding of what is going on in the world. Having moved to Canada at the age of two from the major port city of Vladivostok, as a Grade 4 student he took on an early civilization project that allowed him to explore his Russian roots and focused on the Kievan Rus, one of the earliest peoples in Russia. “Nobody here had ever done it before, so I thought that was pretty interesting,” explains Lev. “That project was probably my biggest accomplishment so far.” Active in both piano and swimming lessons, Lev is also part of the Chess Club here at Pickering College. In his spare time, he enjoys reading and playing video games. “I mostly like strategic war-based games,” says Lev. “Games that let you operate a country and build divisions.” Lev credits much of his passion for discovery to his mom Liza. “My mom would encourage me to research more about the topics I was interested in, even at a young age,” he explains. “She would always answer my questions, even the tough ones.” When Lev took an interest in pirates at age five, he began researching about ships. “From that, I discovered the Japanese super ship Yamato, which was the lead ship built for the Imperial Japanese Navy right before World War II,” explains Lev. And that one ship is what got him interested in learning more about the World Wars. As a curious young man, Lev enjoys fully understanding how everything in the world operates. “I just find everything fascinating.”

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MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENT LIFE

1 Grade 6 students participated in a classy critters workshop, where they had the opportunity to examine and learn more about their lab specimens.

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One of the key things Middle School will focus on this year is the concept of kindness. To support this learning, students have been participating in workshops on communication and empathy, as well as gaining a better understanding of anxiety and stress during a wellness session with Ms. Sugar (the school’s new Social Worker). At a Morning Meeting earlier this year, Director of Middle School

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Julie Clement asked students to reflect on how they have been kind. “I was moved by their responses and enjoyed the discussions we had around their actions and how they felt those actions demonstrated kindness.” 1 Grade 7 visited the farm twice in the fall as part of their Pillar Pursuit projects. They surveyed a piece of land as the seasons changed and documented all that they

found living in that space. 2 Four Middle School students travelled to Onondaga Camp near Minden for the annual CAIS Middle School Student Leadership Camp. Approximately 160 students participated from CAIS schools from as far west as Vancouver Island to as far east as Halifax. Grade 8 students Oliver Lahey, Heather Golding, Moira


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Boland and Sarah Golding proudly represented PC. 3 In early November, students and staff took part in Booker’s Run, a time-honoured tradition of a three-kilometre race around Fairy Lake. This annual event is named in honour of the late Keith McLaren, a former teacher, coach and Assistant Headmaster at Pickering College, who was known for doing everything “by the book.” The run began in 1980

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by former French teacher, Larry Thornton, a cross-country enthusiast, and was designed to make use of the school-owned farmland during the transition period between fall and winter sports. When the farm was sold, the run was switched to Fairy Lake. Congratulations to Middle School top finishers Moira Boland and Zack Da Ponte! 4,5 Middle School debate participated in a friendly

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competition at Villanova College in late November. The resolution was: This House believes that financial support for space exploration should be discontinued. PC had three top-six finishers including Thomas Bianco (2nd), Zack Da Ponte (4th) and Melody Tsui (6th). Congratulations, team! 6 Grade 8 recently created public service announcements that focused on a local

or global water issue. In preparation, students participated in a series workshops on integrative thinking, climate change, data analysis and film editing which helped them think creatively, critically and strategically about challenging issues, how to communicate their understanding of them and spur others to take action. The week culminated in a film festival where they showcased their work. 7

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SOPHIE TRUSSELL Striving for a new challenge Reading, writing, horseback riding, and basketball are only a few activities among the extensive list of Sophie Trussell’s interests. Now in her final year of Middle School, Sophie has been keeping busy throughout her nine years as a Pickering College student. Along with basketball, which she started playing in Grade 5, Sophie has also been actively involved in both volleyball and track and field. Last year, she was voted volleyball team co-captain. “I felt pretty good when I was voted team captain because it gave me more of a leadership role,” says Sophie. As a Grade 8 who spends her time engaged in a variety of athletics, Sophie believes that her competitiveness motivates her to be the best version of herself. “When it involves a team, I’ll get really excited, energetic, and motivated to help our team win,” she says. Not only does Sophie have a passion for athletics, but she also cares deeply about the environment. Last year, Sophie completed a sustainability project based around the topic of air pollution. “I made a presentation on what air pollution is doing and what our world would look like if we didn’t have it,” she explains. “I think it’s really important to have an awareness of what’s going on in the world because if we know what’s happening, then we can try and come up with ways to help.”

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SENIOR SCHOOL STUDENT LIFE

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With the goal of increasing awareness and facilitating positive change in the area of nutrition, Pickering College formed its first ever student-led Healthy School Committee. Through a series of brainstorming sessions, consultations with experts, and their own research, the committee was able to identify the health benefits that PC’s food has to offer. Following an audit process by the Ontario Physical and Health Education Association (OPHEA), Pickering College achieved the highest level (Gold) as a “Healthy

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School.” It is one of only two independent schools in the province to earn this certification. Thank you to Senior School students Mary Gefter, chair of the Healthy School Committee, Dakota Bagshaw, Harper James ’19, Paris Johnson, Avery Maclachlan, Anastasiia Moskaltsova ’19, and Bethany Suen ’19 for their efforts throughout this process of school-wide improvement. 1 During the outstanding fall weather, 13 members of the LEAP class participated in a hiking trip to Algonquin Park. The group picked up

their fully-outfitted backpacks from Algonquin Outfitters and proceeded to complete a three-day loop on the Western Uplands trail. They carried, cooked and hung their food, filtered water and took turns navigating their way around the loop. Students showed grit, tenacity and determination to walk 38 kilometres and ascend a total of 700 metres carrying all of their own camping equipment along the way. To put it into perspective, that is the same distance as walking from PC to the Ontario Science Centre in Toronto! 2

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PC’s Debate Team reaches new school record Katherine Starr, Hillary Krofchak and Ava Khansari competed in a highlycompetitive International Independent Schools Public

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SENIOR SCHOOL STUDENT LIFE

Speaking Competition (IISPSC) in Boston, joining over 160 competitors from nine different countries. Every student competed in three categories, with six preliminary rounds of public speaking and debate before the top competitors qualified for the finals. The PC team excelled by finishing 8th out of over 40 schools—a new PC record! Katherine’s exceptional results in all of her categories scored her a 2nd place finish overall the best result in PC debating history! Congratulations to the entire team for a great performance. 3 Grade 9 science spent time in the fall doing some invasive species eradication work on campus. During their class, they learned how to identify invasive plant species and how to use the proper tools in order to help remove these plants from our forests. Our students have contributed to making more outdoor learning space for our Junior School students. 4

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Our Senior School music students had a master class in jazz performance, working with New York Citybased drummer, composer and bandleader Curtis Nowosad. They discussed the universal language of music, technique and were treated to an improvisational jazz performance by Mr. Nowosad and PC’s own Mr. Barbanchon. 5

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YAGMUR OZTURK Born to discover Over her two years at PC, Yagmur Ozturk, a Grade 12 boarding student from Turkey, has accomplished an impressive array of milestones, which have helped her grow as an individual. Not only does she play volleyball, piano, and cello, she also exemplifies strong academic interests. As the Zetzl Family Science Award recipient, Yagmur excels in both science and math. “I have always been interested in learning about how things work,” explains Yagmur. Last year, she completed a personal research paper that focused on analyzing ECG graphs and determining whether or not fractal dimension can be used to diagnose cardiac diseases. This research paper was published in the International Journal of Current Engineering and Technology and she won a silver medal at the 2019 York Region Science and Technology Fair for her work. Through her passion for science, the avid sailor has developed a deep appreciation for the environment and serves as the chair of the Green Team. “Partly because of my scientific background knowledge of what’s going on in the world, and partly because of my sailing experience, I realized how water pollution can badly affect ecosystems, which is why I joined the Green Team.” In addition, Yagmur continues to build her leadership capabilities. As part of her Capstone Project, she was granted a license to host a TEDx Conference, which took place at PC in February. As innate as these subjects are to her, Yagmur is constantly researching new topics and making new discoveries. “There is always more to learn. No matter what I study, I can always find a way to connect it back to what I’m interested in.”

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ATHLETICS

It has been a successful fall term for our PC Pumas!

Competitive Athletic Teams at PC Boys’ Soccer - Senior Girls’ Soccer - Senior Boys’ Soccer - Junior Girls’ Soccer - U15 Boys’ Soccer - U14 Soccer - U12 Boys’ Basketball - Senior Girls’ Basketball - Senior Boys’ Basketball - Junior Boys’ Basketball - U14 Girls’ Basketball - U14 Boys’ Basketball - U12 Girls’ Basketball - U12 Girls’ Volleyball - Senior Boys’ Volleyball - Senior Girls’ Volleyball - Junior Boys’ Volleyball - U14 Girls’ Volleyball- U14 Boys’ Volleyball - U12 Girls’ Volleyball - U12 Cross Country - U14 Track and Field - Senior Track and Field - U14 Track and Field - U12 Boys’ Hockey - U12 Boys’ Hockey - U14 Alpine Ski Team - Senior Girls’ Softball - Senior Slow Pitch - U12 Badminton - Senior Mountain Biking Ultimate Frisbee - U14 Ultimate Frisbee - Junior Ultimate Frisbee - Senior

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Not only did our Senior Boys’ Soccer team defend their Division III CISAA Championship title for a third year in a row, but both our U14 Boys’ Soccer and our U14 Girls’ Basketball teams also brought home first place in their Division III championships.


U14 GIRLS’ BASKETBALL Not only did our PC Pumas dominate the pitch, they also took home first place on the court. Winning their final game 50-22, our U14 Girls’ Basketball team received tons of support from the whole PC community. “When we won the championship, it felt amazing because everyone else’s excitement made us even more enthusiastic,” explains Moira Boland, Grade 8, point guard and MVP award recipient. Though the team was not the tallest, strongest, or the most aggressive in the league, “they won because they played together and were really determined and ambitious,” explains Andrea Cleland, faculty member and one of the coaches. Moira agrees, adding “it’s so true that having the right attitude can take a team really far, and this positive attitude ended up playing a huge part in the season’s outcome.” SENIOR BOYS’ SOCCER Kicking off the season with only three seasoned soccer players, the Senior Boys’ Soccer team worked extra hard to bring home that championship title explains Steve Cope, faculty member and team coach. Starting the season with doubt and apprehension, the players managed to learn, communicate, and adapt throughout the season, leading them to win the semi-final with a sudden-death goal, and ultimately winning the championship final 4-1 against Albert College, a strong competitor. Cope believes the team’s success came from an overall desire to win. “The team tasted success early on in our first two games, and the momentum kept on building.” After a couple victories, the boys went from feeling doubtful, to realizing it was possible. “It was probably the best example of teamwork that I’ve ever seen on a soccer team.” U14 BOYS’ SOCCER Following their lead, the U14 Boys’ Soccer team had a similar season winning 5-2 in the championship final. “After losing many of our best players to the Senior School, I was pleasantly surprised with the many new and talented players that joined us this year,” says coach Dave Fiscaletti.

“ It was probably the best example of teamwork that I’ve ever seen on a soccer team.” –Steve Cope, faculty member and team coach

One of them being Diego Payan, Grade 8, captain and MVP award recipient. Diego explains how everyone had the same goal throughout the season: to win first place. “When we won the championship, I was very happy since we had put in a lot of effort all season, and the trophy was the best tangible thing to show what we accomplished.” What made this group unique was the mix of players explains Fiscaletti. “Once they started playing on the field, they just knew how to play with one another and so it was easy to achieve chemistry with this group.”

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BOARDING LIFE Building community while having

Students in our boarding program have the opportunity to experience Canadian culture, to develop new skills, and to gain a greater understanding of the international community in which they live. As a member of a “boarding family” that is headed by an Associate Faculty member, each family is comprised of students from all different grades, allowing for mentoring relationships to develop and flourish within a caring community. Outside of school hours, boarding students participate in a broad range of evening activities, weekend excursions and fun oncampus events like theme dinners and birthday celebrations. Every Tuesday evening is family dinner night, where all of the students sit with their boarding families and after dinner, participate in collaborative activities in competition with other boarding families.

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Fun!

One of the most popular events that takes place each year is the annual Multicultural Dinner. Students work together in teams in various kitchens on campus to prepare international dishes that showcase the cultural diversity within our boarding community. “We endeavour to organize several mandatory activities, like Multicultural Dinner, YMCA Cedar Glen, weekly Family Dinner, the Holiday Variety Show and the Toronto Boat Cruise Dinner/Dance to allow students the opportunity to get to know one another and enhance the close-knit community for which Pickering College is known,” says Laura Mason, Director of Boarding and Health Services. “We believe that giving enough opportunities allows everyone to experience something in which they are interested.”


Greg King for NewmarketToday

“If I could describe Pickering College in two words, I would use the words global community. I see PC as a world, and in the PC world, we have a lot of different people from many different countries, coming together, sharing cultures, respecting each other’s cultures and languages—I think it’s just a really good place.” –Kae Ishikawa, Grade 12

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Graham Birt

recognized with Governor General Sovereign’s

The Canadian Olympic Committee made a surprise presentation to Senior School faculty member Graham Birt, awarding him a Governor General Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers, for his role as a volunteer at the last six Olympic Games. Birt has been a member of the Canadian Support Staff from Beijing 2008 to PyeongChang 2018, running orientation sessions and acting as a troubleshooter for Canada’s Olympians. The award presentation by Céline DesLauriers, Canadian Olympic Committee, coincided with a celebration of the school’s 2018-2019 athletic championship teams and was a surprise for students, staff and for Graham Birt.

The medal, according to the Governor General of Canada’s website, “recognizes the exceptional volunteer achievements of Canadians from across the country in a wide range of fields and pays tribute to the dedication and commitment of volunteers. They embody the caring country we aspire to build.”

DesLauriers says Birt is among only seven Canadian Olympic volunteers to receive this prestigious award, out of the hundreds of volunteers who help to make the Olympic Games a successful and positive experience for Team Canada. His hard work and dedication does not go unnoticed—it can be at times physically demanding, requiring him to volunteer 12-20 hour days during the lead up to the Games. But DesLauriers says Birt takes it all in stride and maintains an incredibly positive attitude. “He has a smile every single day—even though we may have just completed an overnight packing adventure—he will wake up the next day with a smile on and the athletes have no idea that he is exhausted. That is really what defines him for us. We want him on the team because he brings that positivity and he doesn’t say no to anything—he wants to push through every objective, he wants to make sure we’re able to reach any of the goals we’ve set for ourselves,” says DesLauriers. As for Birt, the surprise of receiving the award in front of his colleagues, students and his family, including his parents who secretly flew in from Calgary, was truly special. “I am incredibly fortunate to have had the opportunity to support our athletes on the international stage and I am humbled to have been nominated for this award by the Canadian Olympic Committee,” he says. “I am grateful to Pickering College for seeing the value in my experiences for our students and for supporting me every step of the way.” “We’re really thankful to Pickering College and his family for letting him take 3-4 weeks at a time to come and continue to support Team Canada and the Olympic movement,” says DesLauriers. “That, to us, is what makes this moment so special, to come to the school and present it to him here, in front of his day-to-day people.” Birt is looking forward to joining Team Canada again this summer at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan.

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Beijing, China

Medal for Olympic volunteer work

Vancouver, Canada

London, England

Sochi, Russia

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

PyeongChang, South Korea

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Meet the Chris Schneider Director of Senior School “Why did I choose Pickering College? About 10 years ago, I attended my first CAIS Leadership Institute and Peter Sturrup led one of the modules I completed. It was a great experience and I knew that it would be great to work with him. I had kept my eye on Pickering ever since and over the last few years, I became even more interested in the school for its Global Leadership Program; it is exactly the type of education we need to be providing to kids. Needless to say, I was excited to see that PC was looking for a new Senior School Director.”

Q. Why did you choose Pickering College? About 10 years ago, I attended my first CAIS Leadership Institute and Peter Sturrup led one of the modules I completed. It was a great experience and I knew that it would be great to work with him. I had kept my eye on Pickering ever since and over the last few years, I became even more interested in the school for its Global Leadership Program; it is exactly the type of education we need to be providing to kids. Needless to say, I was excited to see that PC was looking for a new Senior School Director. Q. What’s your educational background? I completed a BA and an MA in Political Science from the University of Calgary. I then moved to Mexico for a year with my family and taught English in a private university—ITESM. That solidified things for me, and I knew that I wanted to become a teacher, so I completed my BEd when I returned to Canada. Q. What is your favourite subject to teach and why? I tell people that I am a recovering economics teacher. I taught courses in economics for more than 10 years and I loved it. The subject matter is always relevant and it was easy to link course material to what was happening in the world. I started teaching in the discipline in the years leading up to the global financial crisis, which really challenged the prevailing conventional economic wisdom of the day in a significant way. The students were so engaged by it and we were able to do such interesting and relevant things in the classroom together. I think every student should take courses in economics. Q. What interests do you pursue outside of the classroom? From a young age, I’ve been involved in board sports—skateboarding, surfing and snowboarding— and I still like to hop on a board whenever I can. I took up skiing as well when my children were younger. Heading to the mountains was something we enjoyed doing together as a family. Now that I am no longer close to the Rocky Mountains, I have to re-adjust things. I think I’m going to get serious about fishing and get reconnected to mountain biking. I’m living in Uxbridge now—the Trail Capital of Canada—and Lake Scugog is just down the road! Q. What is the greatest success you have had in teaching? I developed a highly successful Model United Nations Program at my previous school. For so many of the students who participated, it opened their eyes to seeing the world, and their place within it, in a very different way; that was where the success lay. Regardless of the area of study they intended to pursue after graduation, they genuinely developed a sense of responsibility to make the world a better place and saw the necessity of collaboration in that endeavour. It also opened their eyes to other ‘non-traditional’ opportunities for post-secondary study and I remember how happy I was to hear that one of my former ‘Munnies’ was heading to Columbia University to study international human rights law. How cool is that? Q. What is something most people don’t know about you? My first part-time job when I was 16 years old was driving the Zamboni at the Glencoe Club in Calgary! Q. What are you currently reading for enjoyment? I just reread De Niro’s Game by Rawi Hage. I really enjoy reading historical fiction. Now, on my wife’s recommendation, I’m reading A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry. Q. What’s the best thing about your job? The best thing about my job has always been working with kids—never a dull moment and I look forward to going to work every day. Q. If you weren’t following this particular career path, what would you be doing? I think I would be pursuing a career in politics.

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Directors Q. What’s your educational background? I was raised in Ontario, having started elementary school in North Bay then moved to Trenton for the rest of elementary and high school. I moved to Montreal to attend McGill University, where I completed two undergraduate degrees: one in science (biology and chemistry) and the other in education. I returned to McGill to complete my MA in Educational Leadership while teaching full time.

Julie Clement

Q. What is your favourite subject to teach and why? It always has been and always will be science! I love coming up with new ways to experiment so that we can explore and better understand our world. The look of amazement when a student first uses a microscope or observes something unexpected in an experiment brings me a lot of joy.

“I chose to join the Pickering College community because of its mission of instilling in each individual the ability and responsibility to make the world greater, better and more beautiful than they discovered it. This really spoke to me as it is how I was raised to view my own life and what guides my own actions in the world.

Q. What interests do you pursue outside of the classroom? I am an enthusiastic basketball mom who cheers on my daughter’s competitive basketball team. I also love to travel and visit new places. Q. What is the greatest success you have had in teaching? I would have to say the March Break trips I planned and experienced with my students are some of my greatest successes. They were some of the most fun adventures I have ever been on and I really got to know my students well because of the opportunity to travel together. Seeing the tortoises of the Galapagos Islands, exploring the Amazon, waterfall rappelling and zip lining in Costa Rica, snorkeling with sharks and manta rays in Hawaii and seeing the glow of Kilauea’s crater at night; these are all experiences I have had with my students that I will never forget. I also think that these experiences were incredibly impactful on my students and gave them more of an appreciation for their world. Q. What is something most people don’t know about you? I have a second family in Nigeria. In 2017, I was asked to sponsor a 6-year-old girl, named Gemma, to have surgery on her legs at the Shriners’ Hospital in Montreal. Gemma has Osteogenesis Imperfecta, which means her bones are brittle, break easily and then curve when healing. The hospital performs the surgery for free, but someone local needed be accountable for her and her mom while in Canada, which I volunteered to do. Gemma returns to the Shriners’ Hospital each year for a checkup. She has become like a second daughter to me. I have learned so much about perseverance, resilience and hope from her and her mom, Mercy.

Director of Middle School

Interestingly, since announcing I was coming here, I actually found out from a cousin that my greatgreat-great uncle attended Pickering College in 1881, back when it was still in Pickering.”

Q. What are you currently reading for enjoyment? I am about to start reading Dare to Lead by Brené Brown for a book club I am in with other education leaders from across Canada. I currently spend a lot of time listening to podcasts, including one called Someone Knows Something by CBC Radio, which follows an investigative reporter who is looking into missing persons’ cold cases. Q. What’s the best thing about your job? The best thing is getting to be around young people and their energy every day. I love hearing their ideas, supporting them in solving problems and helping them with discovering more about who they are. Q. If you weren’t following this particular career path, what would you be doing? This is a really tough question because I really feel like education is where I was meant to be. I originally started university though with a goal of being a storm chaser or working in a hurricane centre. Natural disasters fascinate me but I also wanted to do more to help people to not be so negatively impacted by them. I realized that I wanted to work more with people so I decided to focus more on education. If I hadn’t of become an educator, I probably would have gone into counselling, social work or humanitarian work.

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5TH PILLAR AWARD PRESENTED POSTHUMOUSLY TO

JIM SPRING ’47:

A LIFETIME OF INVOLVEMENT IN SUPPORT OF PICKERING COLLEGE

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AND PHILANTHROPY

The 5th Pillar The 5th Pillar Award recognizes lifelong and exceptional dedication to Pickering College. This is only the fifth time the award has been presented in the school’s 177-year history. 5th Pillar Award Winners Bruce Foster ’47 Awarded 2005 Sheldon Clark Awarded 2006 Brian Blackstock ’56 Awarded 2014 Beth Egan Awarded 2016 Jim Spring ’47 Awarded 2019

On hand for the 5th Pillar Award presentation were the Spring family and a number of Spring Family Scholars, both current students and alumni. Clockwise from front centre, pictured with the 5th Pillar Award, sons of Jim Spring ’47; Jim Spring ’81, Jake Spring ’78; Yagmur Ozturk ’20, Matheson Spring ’05, Zeynep Eren ’19, Rayi Singh ’20, Louis Engel ’09, and Leticia Mortozo Nascimento Rodrigues ’18.

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“I just love my school.”

RECOGNITION OF A LIFETIME OF INVOLVEMENT AND PHILANTHROPY On October 26, 2019, the PC community gathered for Reunion Weekend, and a special posthumous presentation of the prestigious 5th Pillar Award to Jim Spring ’47. Spring was recognized for a lifetime of involvement at PC and his generosity towards the school. Also announced was an incredible gift of a $5 million bequest to Pickering College. Spring died December 29, 2018 at the age of 90. “The contributions of Jim Spring embody the tenant of philanthropy that PC strives to instil in our students—to give back to their community, with time, talent, and to someday perhaps be able to add philanthropic financial generosity. Jim’s legacy gift reflects his deep loyalty and appreciation for the incredible education and community at Pickering College. He believed that education could have a life-changing impact on an individual and his gift will have a life-changing impact on our school and our community for generations to come. Donations like Jim’s help us reflect on the history and traditions of our 177 years, and they also allow us to move toward the future, inspiring our students to make their world not less, but greater and more beautiful than it was transmitted to us.” –Kelly Mason, Chair of the Board

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Spring felt strongly that education could have a life-changing impact on an individual, and credits his experience at Pickering as being instrumental in setting the path for his future. His loyalty to PC began as an involved student and his affiliation continued as he sent his children and two of his grandchildren to Pickering College. He kept in close touch with his former classmates, often reminiscing about their time at PC, as well as keeping up to date on current PC developments. SHARING THE GIFT OF EDUCATION Sharing memories was not the only way Spring shared his love of PC. In 2002, he

–Jim Spring ’47

established the Spring Family Scholarships, at that time one of the largest donations in Pickering College history. To date, 24 students have benefited from his generosity. Many of these students, now Pickering College alumni, have attributed the significant impact of their PC education to Spring. “The Spring Family Scholars have come to embody all of the qualities we seek in a PC student,” says Peter Sturrup, Head of School. “Jim Spring has been one of the greatest supporters of Pickering College over his lifetime association with the school. His gifts have been transformational: changing the lives of students by allowing them to achieve their dreams and reshaping the learning environment in which our students and teachers teach and learn. We are grateful to Jim, who with humility, kindness and generosity has enriched our school and our community.” Spring’s generosity continued throughout his life, benefiting every aspect of Pickering College academics, athletics, and student life. His donations included support for the 40’s Student Lounge, Egan House, endowments

“I will forever be grateful to the Spring Family for their contribution to my education.”

–Adam Camenzuli ’06 (Canada)

What the scholarship has meant “My years at Pickering College were an integral part of my life ... it prepared me well for university and my personal and professional life thereafter. I hope in the future to have a successful career such that I too will be able to provide scholarships to deserving students.” School attended after PC York University, Schulich School of Business Where he is now East Africa social impact


and the restoration of the Pillars. “These contributions helped to provide the space and facilities for outstanding students to thrive,” says Sturrup. “We know the legacy of Jim Spring will be felt for many, many generations of PC students to come.” HUMBLE, GENEROUS AND KIND Humble, generous, and kind, are words repeated often when speaking of Jim Spring ’47. He was also lovingly referred to by son Jim Spring ’81 as a “curmudgeon” who would have shunned any recognition of the incredible generosity he has shown to the PC community. His gifts to the school were simply a reflection of the strong attachment

he had to Pickering and would tell friends and family “I just love my school.” RETURN TO PICKERING The sons of Jim Spring ’47—Jake Spring ’78 and Jim Spring ’81—returned to Pickering in October 2019 to accept the 5th Pillar Award on behalf of their father and spoke about how he said not a day would pass when Pickering College was not in his thoughts. Jim Spring ’81 recalled, “In the stories that he would tell us about Pickering it was always about the friendships he had with the other students, the relationships he had with the teachers, and just the whole environment that Pickering College

“If it wasn’t for Mr. Spring’s generosity and value for education, perhaps I would have never been able to experience any of this, but he saw something in this girl from Tanzania with big dreams.” –Belindalucy Nyamrunda ’14 (Tanzania) What the scholarship has meant “At Pickering College I met great people, I have taken part in life-changing opportunities and most of all, was successful academically. This scholarship not only enabled me to attain the excellent Canadian education but also participate in many activities that are out of class. I remember the great community at PC ... as they say, the people are Pickering. Most importantly, I made friends that despite time and distance are still very much in touch and are some of the best people I know.” School attended after PC University of British Columbia, Bachelors of Applied Science in Mining and Mineral Processing Engineering Where she is now Working as an Engineering Intern on a tunneling project for Metro Vancouver

“Thank you Mr. Spring for believing in me!” –Duc Huy Tran ’19 (Vietnam) What the scholarship has meant “I would not be where I am without the help and support of the Spring Family and my scholarship to Pickering College. Receiving the Spring Family Scholarship is a huge gift, both financially and emotionally. It’s amazing to know that there are other people besides your family who believe in you and are there to help you reach your full potential.” School attended after PC University of Toronto, Commerce, Rotman School of Management Where he is now First-year university

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JIM SPRING ’47: A LIFETIME OF INVOLVEMENT AND PHILANTHROPY

presented to him. He just really, really enjoyed his time here. He loved this school.”

“Your desire to contribute to your community is truly inspirational.” –Louis Engel ’09 (Saint Martin) What the scholarship has meant “I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to Jim Spring for creating this opportunity for so many students to attend Pickering College over the years. I am excited to do so in the future when I’m more able to. Thank you for providing a scholarship to those of us who may not otherwise get the chance to experience a different world.” School attended after PC Western University, Undergraduate in Biology, Post-graduate diploma in Clinical Trials Management Where he is now Self employed as a motivational speaker

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As to why their father initially set up the Spring Family Scholarships, Spring ’81 again talked about the love his father had for the school. “He wanted to give folks the opportunity to come in who might not have it to come in and experience this.” When Spring ’81 was a student, he formed a friendship with one of the boarding students from Kenya who hadn’t gone home for the summer. Meeting students from very different cultures was not just a new experience for Spring ’81, but one that his whole family welcomed. Spring ’47 considered being able to meet and study with students from so many different countries to be a great benefit

to a PC education. Fittingly, the Spring Family Scholarships have benefited students from 15 countries. In summing up his father’s outlook on life, Spring ’81 shared this life advice he thinks Jim Spring ’47 would have given current students or young alumni: “He lived by ‘hard work, be true to yourself, be true to others, do the right thing whenever you can.’” An additional guiding value from the elder Spring, according to Spring ’78, would be “… and have some fun while you are doing it.” Thank you to the Spring family, Spring Family Scholars, alumni, and other members of the PC community who joined us for such a memorable afternoon in the Meeting Room.

“Receiving this scholarship, helped my parents in Barbados to send me to Pickering College, where I had amazing teachers who helped me reach my full potential.” –Zoë Thompson née Ingrahm ’08 (Barbados) What the scholarship has meant “I graduated from Pickering College in 2008 as an Ontario Scholar and was accepted into all seven universities. My Pickering College leadership teacher encouraged me to look into universities in Nova Scotia—I ended up choosing Saint Mary’s University. I met my husband there and we married in 2013. I gained a stepdaughter, Nora, and we had three sons; James, Leo and Mark. We live in Nova Scotia, where I am currently a daycare provider with an agency and will be returning to school to do my master’s degree in Psychology, once our children are older.” School attended after PC Saint Mary’s University, Bachelor of Arts, major in Psychology, minor in Religious Studies Where she is now Mother and daycare provider, returning to school for a master’s degree in Psychology


Leading the way among independent schools in

INDIGENIZING LEARNING

continued from page 7

local community connection through class activities and Global Leadership Projects. In teaching students, we want them to understand that by responding to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Call to Action report, students are provided with an opportunity to become an active citizen. This also encourages students to consider what it really means to be a citizen and effect change in the world.” That legacy is one of the reasons why Pickering College’s faculty has really taken this to heart. At a recent professional development session, faculty participated in the Kairos Blanket Exercise, where an Elder leads participants through the history of the First Nations in the span of a few hours, including experiencing the land being taken away from them. It was a powerful, moving session that was “the beginning of our journey as a community of trying to grapple with reconciliation while coming to an understanding of what it means to us as a school,” says Kimberly Bartlett, Senior Director of Teaching, Learning and Strategic Partnerships. It is a challenging, but important conversation, that now begins early at PC, with the stage being set as young as Kindergarten. “It definitely does live in the curriculum naturally within the social sciences, beginning in the primary grades, but some of the things we have done is thanks to Sheila Johnson, who has an important influence on the content available through our Learning Commons. She has helped to develop lessons on residential schools for the Middle School and she has been collecting more resources for the library. We want to ensure accuracy when teaching our students about historical concepts; for instance, the difference between appreciation versus appropriation,” says Bartlett. By Grade 10, students are prepared to

examine Canada’s relationship with Indigenous Peoples in their Canadian History and Civics courses, through the lens of what Bartlett calls the four Rs: a lack of respect for culture, the residential schools, their resistance towards the government, and the need for reconciliation. By Grade 11, Armstrong builds on what students have learned the year prior, adding “I no longer need to begin with what a residential school is, as I can assume my students have enough prior knowledge to build on previous conversations and add more depth to the discussion. It’s allowing us to reach understandings that require deep thinking and empathy that was previously difficult to achieve,” he says. “We have integrated the historical issues in different classes and disciplines, including art, the social sciences and through outdoor education and experiential trips including the Nahanni river expedition. The age and stage of our students is something we deeply consider when planning because of the complexity of the issues,” says Bartlett. “We are proud that our students are learning about the past while considering our future potential as a country. This provides our students an understanding of political leadership, culture, community and environmental stewardship; it integrates into everything. I also think this is an authentic learning experience as we are asking students to be global leaders. This provides opportunities for a

With that, one of the areas that the staff Reconciliation Committee is continuing to reflect on are possibilities to Indigenize the school and the learning environment so that it doesn’t exclusively represent a colonizer’s point of view. “I love the expression ‘don’t decolonize, Indigenize’ because it provides a positive perspective. When you say ‘decolonize,’ it strips out other histories, which can marginalize people. Whereas when you Indigenize, you share a wider story, while celebrating the rich tapestry of our history. It is an enrichment for everyone,” says Bartlett. Pickering College is leading the way in this area among the Conference of Ontario Independent Schools. In November, Armstrong, Bartlett, and Johnson collaborated with Facing History and Ourselves, and the Art Gallery of Ontario, to run a one-day conference for educators called Planting Seeds of Possibility. The conference (pictured above) invited participants to experience and explore approaches, pedagogical practices, and inspiring examples for the Indigenization of student learning and educational spaces. “What our community is doing is being held as an example for other schools,” Bartlett says. “We are very pleased as a school that we are being looked to as a positive example, particularly as we are now a UNESCO school. We recognize that this will be an ongoing journey and we are only at the beginning, which is why I am extremely appreciative of our faculty and our community.”

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REUNION WEEKEND 2019

CALL OUT FOR 1950S ALUMNI! Charles Beer ’59 and Brian Purdy ’56 are working to find some of our “lost” alumni and re-connect. Pass on the news to fellow alumni, and get in touch with Brian (brianpurdy@ sympatico.ca) or Charles, (timothy house@rogers.com). For any other questions, please email the Alumni office at alumni@ pickeringcollege.on.ca.

Thank you to all alumni who attended Reunion Weekend. We had a great turn out from our ’60s boys who celebrated their 50-year anniversary, including James Brown ’69, Monty Bourke ’69, Greg Dopulos ’68 and Ron Veitch ’69 who attended. Congratulations to the 2009 graduates celebrating their 10-year anniversary, with Louis Engel ’09, Barry Mason ’09 and Zachary Oushalkas ’09 in attendance.

Although not celebrating an anniversary year, Reunion Weekend also included alumni from the ’40s, ’80s, ’90s, and some recent graduates. Reunions are a great opportunity to bring together students from past to present. If you would like to make connections with your classmates and help plan a reunion, or other gathering, please contact the Alumni Office by email at alumni@pickeringcollege.on.ca or call Alice Souvannakhily, Parent and Alumni Coordinator, at (905) 895-1700 ext. 257.

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“The most beautiful discovery true friends make is that they can grow separately without growing apart.” –Elisabeth Foley

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ALUMNI CONNECTIONS

Do you have an alumni story idea or something to share in The Pillars? We’d love to hear from you! Please send your updates, ideas and high-resolution photos to the Alumni office at alumni@ pickeringcollege.on.ca or call (905) 895-1700 ext. 257.

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1930s

In memoriam, we have learned that Gordon (Gord) Hay ’39 died in Ottawa surrounded by family on September 14, 2012; he was 91 years old. Gord attended Pickering College from 1937-1939. During his time at PC, Gord was chairman of the school committee, captain of the football team, a member of the Glee Club, and played hockey, lacrosse, and track. In memoriam, we have learned that Robert Herdegen ’38 died on November 4, 2005 at the age of 86. He attended Pickering College from 1934-1937 and was the yearbook photo editor, secretary for the school committee, participated in cross country, and was the first PC basketball team manager.

1940s

In memoriam, Hugh Edighoffer ’47. He attended Pickering College in 1944 and graduated with the class of 1947. During his time at PC, he was a member of the Glee Club, the Thirty Club, played senior football, senior basketball and was part of Silver House. In 1988, Hugh was inducted into the Pickering College Class of 1842 in recognition of 25 years of service to Ontario. The 1842 recipients are an esteemed group of individuals honoured, recognized or appreciated by faculty of Pickering College for service, achievement or for contribution to education. Please see the article on page 40 to learn more. 1 (second from left) In memoriam, Leonard Chase ’47 passed away peacefully, surrounded by family on February 16, 2019 in Nova Scotia. While at Pickering College, Leonard

participated in junior rugby, hockey, football and worked behind the scenes for the Glee Club production of The Pirates of Penzance. 2 In memoriam, Newton (Newt) Thomas LL.B ’43 passed away on April 8, 2017 at the age of 94, in London, Ontario. Newton attended Pickering College from 19421943. Newton was an active member of the senior corridor and a versatile athlete, ranging from bantam football to first team hockey. In 1944, Newt enlisted in the Princess Louise Dragon Guards, Canadian Army Corps and went overseas in September of the same year. After the war, Newt finished his BA at Waterloo Lutheran University and then completed his Law Degree in Toronto at Osgoode Hall. In memoriam, William Bayes ’48 passed away peacefully in Almonte, Ontario, at the age of 89. After a teaching career, Bill and his wife Lorna established Jasper Apple Farm in their retirement years. Bill was a proud Rotarian with over 50 years of service. While at Pickering College, Bill participated in the Princeps Club where members would analyze informative topics like “Should Pickering College be co-educational” and was part of the junior “B” rugby team. 3 In memoriam, Edward (Ted) Cannon ’49 passed away on June 28, 2015 in Tweed, Ontario. While at Pickering College, Ted participated in Glee Club, Camera Club, Root of Minus One Club and was the team captain for Silver House. Ted had a strong interest in music and arts.

In memoriam, Charles (Mike) Walton ’43 died peacefully in England on May 28, 2017 at the age of 92. While at Pickering College, Mike was a member of the Dramatic and Polikon Clubs, and played football. Mike was experienced at long bow and a fantastic pianist.

and curling. Jonathan lived in Naples for 25 years and worked in property management.

1980s

Congratulations to Jonathan Knaul ’87, past member of PC’s Board of Directors and Corporation, on his retirement and new journey. Following a Canadian Armed Forces 1950s In memoriam, Ronald Zwarych career spanning over 33 years, Major Jonathan Knaul retired ’54 died peacefully at home on September 25, 2017 at 83 years in September 2019. Jonathan joined the Canadian Armed old, in St. Catharines, Ontario. Ronald graduated from Pickering Forces (CAF) in the summer of 1986 as a naval radar operaCollege in 1954 and was the tor at Her Majesty’s Canadian sport captain for Silver House. ship York in Toronto. Through his career, Jonathan has been Brian Purdy ’56 has been posted across Canada, in honoured with the Finalist Europe and deployed twice Award (2nd place) from the to Kosovo and Afghanistan. Tourism Industry Association of While serving in several areas, Ontario at the Ontario Tourism Awards of Excellence gala event Jonathan spent time in the lab at Blue Mountain Resort on Oc- getting his PhD and is proudly tober 30, 2019, in the category finishing his military career as a research and development of 2019 Tourism Champion of the Year for his contributions to lead. Over the past 26 years, Jonathan’s primary jobs were the Niagara Gateway Informaboth tactical helicopter pilot tion Centre facility. He also received a Certificate of Congratu- and an experimental test pilot. lations from the Government of Jonathan started a new job in January 2020 as a civilian test Ontario. 4 pilot instructor at the National Test Pilot School in Mojave, 1960s California. Jonathan joined In memoriam, George Winthe military not only for the ston Durand ’62 passed adventure, but to give someaway in Brantford, Ontario on September 24, 2016 at 77 years thing back to the wonderful country of Canada that did so old. During his years at Pickermuch for his parents. Jonathan ing College he participated in attended Pickering College football and hockey. George at the time of the school fire, farmed in Brant County for 50 participated in public speakyears and had a passion for ing, photography, yearbook, business, flying and horses. 5 was a duty assistant, sports day captain of Blue House and 1970s valedictorian. Jonathan was In memoriam, Jonathan Foss active in many sports at PC, ’72 passed away peacefully on March 26, 2019, in Naples, Flor- including track, alpine skiing, cross country running, soccer ida. While at Pickering College, and rugby. 6 Jonathan resided in the lower north corridor, played tennis

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ALUMNI CONNECTIONS

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Steve Widdrington ’83, Bill Mollard ’82 and Doug Finlayson ’82 met in Toronto for lunch in late October. “The three of us have not seen each other for 37 years. And still, seeing each other and talking about our time at Pickering was nothing short of awesome. Amazing how memories can seem so real like it was yesterday ...” says Widdrington. (see page 60 for more on the Widdrington family) 1 Many thanks to Dag Spicer

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’80 who has scanned over 200 archived photos since 2018. This project has been an important step to preserving PC history. If you are interested in helping Pickering College preserve its history and would like to contribute your time, or have photos or artifacts to donate, please contact: alumni@pickeringcollege. on.ca 2

David Howard ’88 is the owner and founder of David Howard’s Music Studio in Newmarket. He is a performer, composer and author. David is a first place Silver Medallist from the Royal Conservatory of Music Toronto and has won numerous first place awards for his breathtaking musicianship. In 2018, David performed at the Newmarket Old Town Hall and it was wonderful that students of

the Pickering College guitar class and teachers came to support him. 3

1990s

Congratulations to Michael (Mike) Dullege ’99 for his promotion to Major in the Canadian Armed Forces. Since the last update, Michael has provided a total of 13 years of service and on return from Afghanistan, he instructed tank maneuvering at the Canadian Armoured


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Corps School in New Brunswick. After two years of instructing, he returned to Alberta and was awarded the Sovereign’s Medal from the Governor General in 2016 for his continued volunteerism across Canada and internationally. Currently Michael works at the Canadian Army Simulation Centre as the operations and training officer. 4,5 Past junior faculty member

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Ian Jackson ’96 has been creating and facilitating programs in team building, diversity, inclusion and belonging in various settings for more than 20 years. Over the past decade, he has delivered leadership development, and community-building programs to students and staff as part of Harvard’s Division of Continuing Education. In 2019, he launched Building Bridges

Leadership (BBL), providing facilitation and consulting for small to medium-sized businesses. Additionally, Ian writes and hosts a weekly story podcast for kids, Tales from the Moosiverse, which includes an invitation to kids to create their own stories. Ian and his wife Angel have three kids (ages 12, 8 and 4) and live in Chelmsford, Massachusetts. 6

2000s

Congratulations to Jaime Gianopoulos ’06 and her new husband Claudio Cruz who were married in Greece on July 26, 2019. This film-making couple recently received a $50,000 grant from StoryHive to create their next film What About Our Future. The film is a comingof-age story of a teenage environmental leader facing the climate crisis. 7,8

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ALUMNI CONNECTIONS

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Congratulations to Karlie Sikura ’07 who married Jordan Wrightly in July with classmates from ’07 in attendance—Avish Sood, Jen Gautier and Riane Tse, as well as Talia Black ’06 and Jaime Gianopoulos ’06. 1

he went to Switzerland’s École Hôtelière de Lausanne, to enrol in the Hospitality Management Program, and returned to Japan for a short time to work as a human resource recruiter. 2

Keitaro Tatematsu ’09 currently lives in Thailand and is working as a revenue inventory manager. Keitaro manages two 5-star hotel and resorts in Bangkok. After graduating from PC in 2009,

Maximiliane (Maxi) Lindemann ’12 attended Pickering College as part of Experience Canada. She returned to Germany to complete the remainder of high school and graduated

2010s

in 2015. She is now living in Hungary studying medicine at University of Pecs (Pecsi Tudomanyegeytem). In memoriam, James Hare ’15 died on September 9, 2019 at the age of 22. He attended Pickering College for a few years and later joined the Canadian Coast Guard, dedicating himself to marine search and rescue. During his last two years, he worked as a coxswain and demonstrated leadership by training new recruits. He will

always be remembered by colleagues, friends and family for his passion for leadership and always trying to make a positive impact on the world around him. 3 Calvin Nunn ’15, visited Pickering College to speak to the Grade 10/11 computer science class. After graduating from PC, Calvin enrolled in the Game Development program at UOIT. Calvin discussed pursuing game design with the students as a


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post-secondary program. He demonstrated his project, a multiplayer 3D game called Knightcore, and allowed students to play the game. Calvin highlighted many of the various details needed in game development and the importance of working in a team. It was a great opportunity for the class to see the technical aspects of game development and the opportunities computer science has to offer.

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Leticia Rodrigues ’18 is currently living in Toronto attending University of Toronto in the Civil Engineering program. Leticia visited Pickering College for the Reunion Weekend Luncheon and 5th Pillar Award to speak about the impact of receiving the Spring Family Scholarship. 4 Congratulations to Zachary Daleman ’18 and his skating partner who won the Minto Summer Skate in August 2019.

Zach and his partner will be the first of two Canadian teams assigned a second Junior Grand Prix in Croatia. The competition took place on September 14, 2019 and the pair came in 10th. 5 Tony Zhang ’18 had a surprise reunion with current faculty Lindsay Rife and Erin Matthews on their way to the Engineering for Educators training in Toronto, Ontario. 6

In memoriam, Sean Green ’19, who graduated in June, passed away on September 19, 2019 at the age of 18 in a tragic accident. He had a smile and charisma that left an impression on everyone who met him, loved spending his time on the ski hills, and participating in watersports in the summer. Sean will be missed by the PC community. 7

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ALUMNI PROFILE

Hugh Edighoffer ’47 WELL-RESPECTED FORMER SPEAKER EDIGHOFFER PASSES AWAY by Andy Bader, editor of the Mitchell Advocate newspaper. Reprinted with permission and our thanks.

The one-sentence in his obituary humbly summed it up best: He was a small businessman, mayor, town councillor, Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) and Speaker of the Ontario Legislature. Hugh Edighoffer, a widely-respected longtime politician and businessman, passed away at his Mitchell home July 2. He was 90. The sentence at the tail end of his obituary was a low-key sentiment to a man who was humble, kind and gracious, people who knew him noted. “He was a true statesman,” said Stratford Mayor Dan Mathieson, who as a 14-yearold helped volunteer during Edighoffer’s provincial election campaign in 1985. “He was more about public service than –The Honourable David Peterson, former Premier of Ontario partisan politics. He was about serving the people.” Mathieson remembered his parents wanted him to learn politics from someone respected in the political game and formally introduced him to their family friend, Edighoffer, who at that time had been elected to represent the Perth riding on five previous occasions (1967, 1971, 1975, 1977 and 1981). Edighoffer won in 1985, and again in 1987 before retiring before the 1990 election after a 23-year career in provincial politics.

“ Everything that’s good about Canada, Hugh represented.”

The Liberal Party, which had been out of power since 1943, formed a minority provincial government after the election of 1985 and Mathieson said he vividly recalls travelling to London on a bus with the Edighoffer campaign team to celebrate with newly-elected Premier David Peterson. Peterson, when reached by Postmedia for comment, had high words of praise for Edighoffer.

During his time at Pickering College, Edighoffer was a member of the Glee Club, the Thirty Club, played senior football, senior basketball and was part of Silver House. In 1988, Hugh was inducted into the Pickering College Class of 1842 for 25 years of service to the people of Ontario and the Provincial Legislative Assembly.

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“Everything that’s good about Canada, Hugh represented,” Peterson said from his home in Caledon. Peterson, who first met Edighoffer in 1975, used words such as understated, sweet, decent and community-minded to describe his friend. “He was a model to everybody,” he said. “He was one of those guys who was extremely well-liked by all sides because he wasn’t an aggressive, pushy, screaming-and-yelling guy. He was gentle and consensusorientated.” Current Perth-Wellington MP John Nater, also a Mitchell resident, said he was 14 when he purchased Edighoffer’s 160 bound copies of Hansard from his time at Queen’s Park. “I was later fortunate to enjoy our many conversations,” Nater said in a statement. “Hugh was a caring man who was always very generous with his time and I thank him for his tireless service to our community, our province and our country.” Nater said Edighoffer was a loyal public servant for the community and a strong representative for Perth, also calling him a “cornerstone” in the community of Mitchell.


Hugh Alden Edighoffer was born in 1928 and worked as a retail merchant in the family’s clothing business that was downtown for more than 75 years. He first served on the town council for Mitchell in 1958 and 1959 and was mayor from 1960 to 1961. He ran for the Ontario legislature in the 1963 election, but lost to Progressive Conservative J. Fred Edwards by over 5,000 votes in the constituency of Perth. Edighoffer ran again in the 1967 election, and defeated Edwards by 187 votes. He never lost again. Edighoffer, who had served as Deputy Speaker in a previous minority parliament, was appointed Speaker of the Legislature on June 4, 1985. Edighoffer was nominated and seconded for the Speaker’s position by the leaders of all three political parties represented in the legislature, and was generally regarded as an impartial officeholder. He was re-appointed as speaker on Nov. 3, 1987 following that year’s provincial election. He served in the position for another three years. Edighoffer and his late wife Nancy retired to Mitchell and built and sold condominium estates close to the Mitchell Golf & Country Club, of which he was a member. West Perth is discussing a fitting tribute to the former Speaker of the House in the municipality. West Perth lowered the flags at the municipal office in Mitchell to half mast in tribute last Wednesday, July 3 once news of his death spread. Brendan Knight, President of the Perth-Wellington Provincial Liberal Association and chair of the Perth-Wellington Federal Liberal Association, also issued a statement, saying he will be remembered for his service to his community, both inside and outside of the Ontario Legislature. “His advice, support and commitment to both the provincial and federal Liberals will be missed,” he said. Former MPP John Wilkinson also had high praise for his mentor. “He gave us invaluable and very practical advice on how to prioritize our young family, despite the inevitable stresses placed upon it by elected office. Our family will always be so grateful for their wise counsel,” he said. Wilkinson said he also remembers how when first elected to Queen’s Park he was struck by how the people he met who worked at the Ontario Legislative Assembly would ask him to say hello to “Mr. Speaker” some 13 years since his departure. “They all just loved and admired Hugh, who to this day is considered the finest Speaker to have ever served our province,” Wilkinson said. Mathieson said Edighoffer always had a wide smile and a hearty laugh.

Passings

Sherita Clark, former spouse of Headmaster (1978-1995) Sheldon Clark, passed away in July 2019. She is survived by her daughter Amber Clark McPhail, son-in-law Ryan Wesley McPhail, and grandson Foxlo Clark McPhail. Sherita enjoyed a distinguished career as a dental hygienist, first practicing in Toronto, and then in Newmarket. She was known for her professionalism, joyful personality and witty sense of humour. Sherita was a member of Yonge Street Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), and her ashes have been interred in the Newmarket Quaker Cemetery.

“He had a presence, when he walked into a room people took notice. It was the way he was impeccably dressed which came from his time as a clothing retailer ... and it wasn’t because he had an air about him, it was because he was truly a gentleman,” he said. I think of the way he treated his late wife Nancy, she was the love of his life, and he treated so many women with that high degree of respect and kindness. He was just so good that way.” “Hugh was truly a ‘gentleman politician’ who I admired both as a friend and a mentor,” Wilkinson added. “I believe everyone in Perth County can be proud and thankful for his exemplary service to the town, county and province he loved so dearly.” Edighoffer is survived by his three daughters Susan Beard (Tim), Katie Southon (Michael) and Jan, as well as son Bob. He is also survived by 11 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren, and remembered by his sisters Maxine, Mary, Lloy and their families.

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PICKERING COLLEGE

E

HOL ID

N

OV

19

P ICK

E R I NG

L

G LE

ME TOUR HO AY

CO

View the gallery of photos from this year’s event online!

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EM

B E R 15 & 1 6

,2

0

The 15th Anniversary Pickering College Holiday Home Tour featured six unique homes in Aurora, Newmarket, Sharon and Stouffville. Our committee was thrilled to welcome new designers Amanda Shields Interiors, Design Details, Patti Wilson Interior Design, DiMatteo Designs, and iStage & Organize to this year’s tour, adding to the spectacular designs of long-time supporter ADM Design & Décor. The vast array of décor themes provided a rich experience for tour guests. Features such as an antique sleigh ready for tea, CDA performers as “Little Red Riding Hood,” an assemblage of art, the “Dailene Rose” gift game, sponsor giveaways, scrumptious appetizers and inspiring entertainment enhanced the festive feel of this year’s event. The Saturday Seasonal Boutique & Café provided a dazzling assortment of gift items and treats for our holiday shoppers with complimentary raffles generously provided by


Visit www.pickeringcollege.on.ca/hhtphotos Anita Kotsovos and “Living Luscious” gift store. Thank you to our Seasonal Boutique sponsor Select Art Galleries, to the Pickering College school sponsor Anita Kotsovos, RE/MAX Realtron Realty, and to the Boutique Décor sponsor Grand Entrance Design. Over the years, the Pickering College Holiday Home Tour has supported numerous agencies throughout York Region. This year the tour raised funds benefiting both Pickering College and Rose of Sharon. A heartfelt thank you to our Title sponsor, Buckley Insurance Brokers Ltd., and to our lead sponsors, advertisers, caterers, entertainers, tour guests and Seasonal Boutique vendors for their support. Thank you to our talented event designers and florists, and to our generous homeowners. Finally, thank you to the 2019 Holiday Home Tour committee and event volunteers for their commitment to the success of this year’s event.

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BOARD MEMBERS 2019-2020 Kelly Mason, Chair Mirella Morra, Vice-Chair Steve Barratt ’86 Sal Bianco Beric Farmer Ajit Khanna Christopher Lane Ailene MacDougall Patrick Turner ’97 Ron Veitch ’69

AGM

2019

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PC ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING At the AGM in November, we had the opportunity to thank members of the Pickering College Board and Corporation, an exceptional group of volunteers who provide leadership and direction for Pickering College. They generously give the gift of their time, insights and resources in support of the school. BOARD NEWS We are pleased to welcome current parent Sal Bianco and alumnus Steve Barratt ’86 to the Board of Directors and thank outgoing Board members Adam Floyd, Vivian Lee and Karen Whetstone for their dedication and service. CORPORATION NEWS For the 2019-2020 year, we welcome nine new members to the Corporation including Vanessa Carson, Susan Cooper, Trevor Hunt, Isabelle Payne ’98, Kurt Richardson ’02, Roger Warren ’51, Lee Webb, Kevin Wietzes, and Jason Yip. Thank you to outgoing corporation members Peter Sturrup, Janet Downer, Charles Boyd, Jonathan Knaul ’87, Donna Fordyce, Jane Zavitz-Bond, Brian Purdy ’56, Adam Floyd, Ed Rynard ’70, and Tony Van Bynen, for their dedication and service.

CORPORATION MEMBERS 2019-2020 Steve Barratt ’86 Christina Bianco Sal Bianco Vanessa Carson Susan Cooper Peter Dobbs ’87 Beth Egan Beric Farmer Trevor Hunt Bev Jackson Ajit Khanna Christopher Lane Heward Lee ’78 Ailene MacDougall Kelly Mason Mirella Morra Daniel Nelson Isabelle Payne ’98 Helen Pei William Prittie Ian Proudfoot Ed Richardson ’45 Kurt Richardson ’02 Tara Roy-DiClemente Debra Scott Colleen Sexsmith Adam Shully ’78 Riane Tse ’07 Patrick Turner ’97 Ron Veitch ’69 Duncan Walker ’69 Roger Warren ’51 James Waters Lee Webb Karen Whetstone Kevin Wietzes Stephen Widdrington ’83 Jason Yip


THANK YOU TO DONORS REPORT TO THE PICKERING COLLEGE COMMUNITY 2018-2019

45


THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROSITY

We appreciate the opportunity to recognize the incredible generosity of our parents, alumni, faculty, staff and friends who have donated to Pickering College. Your support and generosity ensure that our students continue to benefit from the opportunities that a Pickering College education provides. Your gifts benefit the students attending today, and they will have an impact on future generations of students, by ensuring a legacy of excellence in education. In this issue of The Pillars we are featuring a very special alumnus. Jim Spring ’47 has had a monumental impact on our community. Jim’s legacy lives on through the Spring Scholars he and his scholarship fund have supported and continue to support. Over the years, Jim has also made significant contributions to our campus, including the 40’s Student Lounge. Jim impacted our Light The Way campaign with a very significant leadership donation. His legacy is felt throughout the hallways of Pickering College and in the students he has touched with his generosity. Jim often spoke of his time at Pickering College, the love of his school and the lifelong impact it had on him. He believed that it helped shaped him as a person and he felt a responsibility to provide the same opportunity for future generations of Pickering students to embrace that passion. Jim’s dedication is an inspiration to us all. He reminds us that we all have a unique role to play in the present and future of Pickering College. Annual donations, bequests, capital gifts, attendance and sponsorship at signature events and the Light The Way campaign all offer you a unique opportunity to find your personal way to provide support to the school and the outstanding education Pickering College provides to our students. Donating today ensures that our facilities, unique learning opportunities, financial aid, facilities enhancement and so much more keep Pickering College on the leading edge of world-class education. Your giving demonstrates the care you have for our students and their future. We are grateful for your continued support and generosity.

With kindest regards,

Peter Sturrup Head of School

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Kelly Mason Chair, Board of Directors


6,063,061

$

WAS DONATED IN 2018-2019.

341,698

$

WAS RAISED LAST YEAR TO SUPPORT

ENDOWMENTS INCLUDING GENEROUS GIFTS TO INCREASE FINANCIAL AID FOR DESERVING STUDENTS.

376,194

$

ANNUAL GIVING

IN 2018-2019, $344,088 WAS RAISED IN CAPITAL DONATIONS (AS OF JUNE 30, 2019), BRINGING THE LIGHT THE WAY CAMPAIGN TOTAL TO $6.5M OF OUR $10M GOAL.

AND SPECIAL EVENTS

THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN TO ALL OF OUR PARENTS, STUDENTS, ALUMNI, STAFF, BOARD AND CORPORATION, FAMILY, FRIENDS AND SPONSORS. YOUR PHILANTHROPIC AND EVENT SUPPORT FOR PICKERING COLLEGE DEMONSTRATES TO ALL YOUR COMMITMENT TO THE SCHOOL AND THIS COMMUNITY.

13,547

$

GIFTS IN KIND

WERE RECEIVED BY PICKERING COLLEGE, INCLUDING INSTRUMENTS, BOOKS, GIFTS OF ART AND PRIZES FOR OUR WONDERFUL EVENT AUCTIONS.

5,001,082

$

LEGACY GIVING

THANK YOU TO OUR CARING COMMUNITY OF FIRELIGHTERS, WHO HAVE REMEMBERED PICKERING COLLEGE IN THEIR ESTATE PLANNING.

ADDITIONALLY, GENEROUS PC VOLUNTEERS DONATED COUNTLESS HOURS TO ACHIEVING THE SCHOOL’S GOALS.

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LEADERSHIP GIVING: CIRCLE OF FRIENDS FOUNDATIONS CIRCLE ($100,000 +)

CIRCLE MEMBERS ($1,000 - $ 2,499)

Hong Kong Alumni 1970s & 1980s Wilson Leung ’79 Wang Chiung-Liao and Long-Shing Liao Ed Richardson ’45 L The late Jim Spring ’47 Anonymous (1)

Margalit Gavrilov and Kourosh Asgari Talia Black ’07 Bloomsbury Kitchens and Fine Cabinetry L Kirsten Nicolson and Brad Boland BrokerLink Insurance Josie Zhao and Bob Cai L Canadian Tire Newmarket Elsa Feng and Yuzhen Cao Chantal’s Dance Academy ShuangMei Tang and YaJun Chen L Susan and David Cooper Susan and Andrew Cowen, RE/MAX Hallmark York Group Realty Inc. Creekside Family Dental L Rolph Davis ’60 L Laurie and Corey DiCarlo Peter Dobbs ’87 Nicole and Greg Duyn Enginess Gu Yan and Zhijun Fan Kaia and Patrick Farmer L Sharon and Wayne Ford L Donna and Allan Fordyce Jacqueline Wong and Alan Fung Dan Yu and Sheng Ning Gao Deanna Bosschaert-Gruhl and Stephen Gruhl Shan Ping Choi and Edwin Ham Handle This Ltd. Krista Robinson-Holt and Derek Holt Christie and Philip Ingram Tokiko and Masamichi Ishikawa Michelle and David Johnson Rekha and Ajit Khanna Elhan Ardestani-Zadeh and Vahid Khansari Heejung Mun and Siwook Kim The Daryl King Team, RE/MAX Hallmark Realty Ltd. Leona Alleslev and Ted Krofchak ’81 Junrong Cui and Donghan Li Tieny Ho and Ming Li Cui Lan Deng and Tian Cong Liang Yu Hsuan Lu and Chi Iuan Lin Ning Ding and Lin Lin Qin Chen and Nian Liu Lu Zhang and Xiaoyun Liu Xinxin Li and Zheng Liu Venus Iu and Howard Lu Wen Liu and Jian Lu Hui Li and Lei Luo Lisa Zhai and Xin Lyu Ailene and Dan MacDougall Veronica and Paul Mason Meridian Brick L Renee and Rob Merrick L Heather Smith-Morton and Barclay Morton L Newmarket Huskies Track Club

HILLTOP CIRCLE ($25,000 - $99,999) AYCO Charitable Foundation, The Blondy Family L Sheila and James Waters

PILLARS CIRCLE ($10,000 - $24,999) CAS Accounting for Insurance Inc. L Beth Egan L The Egan Family Foundation Beverley and John Hagias Patricia Lawson Colleen Sexsmith L Lisa and Peter Sturrup L Ronald Veale ’63

SILVER CIRCLE ($5,000 - $9,999) L Charles Beer ’59 James Brown ’69 Buckley Insurance Brokers Ltd. Xiaoli Yu and Zhenfu Chen Erie Otters Hockey Club L Kelly and Malcolm Mason L Jefferson Mooney L Mirella and John Morra Lingling Song and Yun Teng L Daniel Weinzweig Yuji Xing and Biwu Zhao

BLUE CIRCLE ($2,500 - $4,999 ) Maria and Eugen Arion Richard Arnold ’49 L Christina and Sal Bianco Jennifer and Ronald Carlton Lulu Wang and Qiang Fu L Joanne and Christopher Golding Ling Zhou and Gangfeng He Nancy and Lloyd Kerswill L Anita Kotsovos, RE/MAX Realtron Realty Inc. Chunxia Li Janice Wang and Chi Hsiung Mao L Mason’s Masonry Supply Ltd. McAlpine Ford Lincoln Sales Ltd. Roman Building Materials Select Art Galleries L Kim Bilous and Darren Slind SMC Project Realization and Management Inc. Anna Zalewska and Pawel Zalewski Shukui Huang and Yang Zhou

5+

Newmarket Toyota Scion, Auto Group North Thi Phuong Diep Nguyen and Tien Dung Ngo Thi Mai Dung Le and Quang Vu Nguyen Nola Nikols, Royal LePage Your Community Realty Pfaff VW / H.J. Pfaff Audi Hong Yen Nguyen and Nguyen Phu Ellie Chai and Lei Ping Leigh Ann and Rob Pitre L Prep Academy Tutors L Jayson Rose ’84 Harleen Kaur and Rupinder Sangha Qin Shao and Jialong Shao Gail and Colin Simpson L Gerry and Anita Smith Family Foundation at Toronto Foundation Janice and Nelson Squires St. Marys Cement Inc. Deneine Drover-Stubbs and Stephen Stubbs Minna Sturrup Grace Lin and Chih-Lang Tai Tao Yang and Shengpei Tang Taylor Mead Team, Main Street Realty L Terra Brook Homes Inc. L Shona Torrance Yvonne Woloszczuk and Gary Townsend Tony Van Bynen Karen Benson and Ron Veitch ’69 L Danielle and Gerry Visco Jingyu Yang and Di Wang Helen Pei and Harry Wang Xiaoyan Du and Fuan Wen Yan Zhang and Jie Weng L Stephen Widdrington ’83 Patricia and Kevin Wietzes Huiping Xu and Zeming Wu Cai Hong Hu and Dun Hai Xu Lina Liu and Honglou Xu Fangyu Wang and Hua Yang Hong Mei Zheng and Ying Wen Ye Lu Lin and Zhen Yu Duanyu Yan and Zhong Yu Li Liu and Fanyi Zeng L Alex Zetzl ’05 L Joan and Bert Zetzl Hongxia Chen and Shouping Zhang Kai Wang and Wei Zhang Ivy Tan and Xi Zhang Kaiyu and Xiaoming Zhang

THE LAMP OF LEARNING, as found in the Pickering College crest, recognizes those who

have given for the past five or more consecutive years.

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PARENT SUPPORT Rizalyn and Masoud Abedi Maria and Eugen Arion L Margalit Gavrilov and Kourosh Asgari L Su-Ping Yuan and Alex Au Yong Carmela Vaccaro and Albert Baker Baljit and Salim Bardai L Elaine and Stephen Barratt ’86 L Amy Beth L Christina and Sal Bianco Kateryna and Michael Bilinski L Kirsten Nicolson and Brad Boland L Magdie and David Buder Josie Zhao and Bob Cai Jianman Xu and Qian Cao Elsa Feng and Yuzhen Cao L Penny Lawson-Cameron and Scott Cameron Jennifer and Ronald Carlton L Vanessa and Donald Carson Lei Li and Hai Chang Licong Pan and Lixun Chen Di Zhang and Ning Chen Pu Wang and Wanquan Chen ShuangMei Tang and YaJun Chen Xiaoli Yu and Zhenfu Chen Andrea and Ryan Cleland L Anna and Richard Cook L Susan and David Cooper Miren Edurne Aguayo and Santiago Cortina Krystal and Ryan Davey Jennifer Russell and Jason Dent Carrie and Rico Dente L Andie and Kevin Desforges L Lisa Jeppesen-Dhanjal and Prabh Dhanjal L Laurie and Corey DiCarlo Alessandra and Paulo Dorca Nicole and Greg Duyn Pamela and Brian Fabian Gu Yan and Zhijun Fan L Diane and Beric Farmer Shannon Hussey ’05 and Donald Flynn ’05 Trina and Michael Forbes L Donna and Allan Fordyce Danielle and Kirk Francis L Shelley and Jamie Frank Alina Li and Jianning Fu Lulu Wang and Qiang Fu Jacqueline Wong and Alan Fung L Alexis and Roland Furlan Violet and Adrian Gal Dan Yu and Sheng Ning Gao L Pamela and Kevin Gardner Sally Baghbani and Kasra Ghaed-Sharafi L Joanne and Christopher Golding Lisa and David Graham Linda and Daniel Gregatto Deanna Bosschaert-Gruhl and Stephen Gruhl Christine and Tony Gu Shan Ping Choi and Edwin Ham Jamie and Greg Hambly Shannon and Bill Harlow Ling Zhou and Gangfeng He Thi Thuy Sen Le and Sy Thuy Ho Krista Robinson-Holt and Derek Holt Tiffany and Dan Houle L Julia and Trevor Hunt

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Christie and Philip Ingram Tokiko and Masamichi Ishikawa Monica and Christopher Jeffrey Amy Wang and Zhongjie Jiang Ying Gan and Song Jin L Diane and David Johnson Michelle and David Johnson Ian Johnston Kelly Gallacher and Perry Kereakou Nancy and Lloyd Kerswill Elham Ardestani-Zadeh and Vahid Khansari Heejung Mun and Siwook Kim L Lisa Simmonds-Kim and Thomas Kim L Yoko and Sadahito Kimata Catherine Christakis-Kiriakou and Nick Kiriakou Leona Alleslev and Ted Krofchak ’81 L Keith Kupsch Linglan Shen and Shen Wei Lao Eva and Hector Lara Ingrid LeClaire Seung Min Chung and Taehyun Lee Chunxia Li Junrong Cui and Donghan Li Wenwen Yu and Jinrong Li Fong Tsang and Kenneth Li Tieny Ho and Ming Li Bobo and Xi Li Dongfeng Xu and Zhifeng Li Yi Li and Zhi Jiang Li Cui Lan Deng and Tian Cong Liang Yu Hsuan Lu and Chi Iuan Lin Yan Xu and Daosheng Lin Ning Ding and Lin Lin Qin Chen and Nian Liu Lu Zhang and Xiaoyun Liu Han Li and Yifeng Liu Xinxin Li and Zheng Liu Venus Iu and Howard Lu Wen Liu and Jian Lu Hui Li and Lei Luo Lisa Zhai and Xin Lyu Amy and Robert MacAlpine Janet Lo and Perry MacDonald Janice Wang and Chi Hsiung Mao Kellie and Sean McKay Sandra Moore and Duncan McLeod L Renee and Rob Merrick Lisa Campeis and Eric Milligan L Mirella and John Morra L Heather Smith-Morton and Barclay Morton L Nicole and Thomas Murphy Thi Phuong Diep Nguyen and Tien Dung Ngo Thi Mai Dung Le and Quang Vu Nguyen Maria Eugenia Molina and Alfredo Pantano Susan Lahey and Paul Park L Noeline Burk and James Pataran Veronica Conde Solis and Jacobo Payan Espinosa Farrah Haniff and Tony Persaud Hong Yen Nguyen and Nguyen Phu Ellie Chai and Lei Ping Leigh Ann and Rob Pitre Wei and Brian Porter Neiva and Pramen Prasad Catherine and Craig Proctor L Willa Wang and Alex Qiu

Deana Ho-Yan and Mark Ritchie L Krystie and Matthew Robinson-Vincent L H and E Romkema Tara and Michael Roy-DiClemente Olena Sabirova and Eldar Sabirov Marcella and Jon Sanderson Harleen Kaur and Rupinder Sangha Tanja and Dirk Schaefer Diane and Sean Sexsmith-Brosseau Xin Liu and Feng Shao Qin Shao and Jialong Shao Karen and Ron Sharpe Gail and Colin Simpson L Karen Burrows-Smith and Jason Smith Janice and Nelson Squires L Margo Starr L Sherry Barclay and Kevin Still Suzette Strong Deneine Drover-Stubbs and Stephen Stubbs Jennifer and Bun Suen Tatyana Suleimanova and Adilzhan Suleimanov April Sun Xiaozhou Sun Tao Yang and Shengpei Tang Mayumi and Daisuke Taniguchi Lingling Song and Yun Teng Paula and Kirk Tobias L Shona Torrance Yvonne Woloszczuk and Gary Townsend Jianmei Gao and Chi Kin Tsui L Yuliya Eltsova and Anton Udaltsov Rachel and Andrew Vallance L Danielle and Gerry Visco Jingyu Yang and Di Wang Helen Pei and Harry Wang Xiaoyan Du and Fuan Wen Yan Zhang and Jie Weng Patricia and Kevin Wietzes Megan Wilson and Leonard Wong Fei Xie and Shengyuan Wu Huiping Xu and Zeming Wu Cai Hong Hu and Dun Hai Xu Lina Liu and Honglou Xu L Vivian Lee and Lei Yan Fangyu Wang and Hua Yang Hong Mei Zheng and Ying Wen Ye Lisa and Jason Yip Daihong Wang and Hongfei Yu Lu Lin and Zhen Yu Duanyu Yan and Zhong Yu Anna Zalewska and Pawel Zalewski Hai Yan Yang and Wei Ning Zang Li Liu and Fanyi Zeng Peggy Pan and Qingyu Zeng Lin Lin and Tao Zeng Chang Zhou and Jian Zhang Hongxia Chen and Shouping Zhang Kai Wang and Wei Zhang Ivy Tan and Xi Zhang Kaiyu Zhang and Xiaoming Zhang Kristen Gong and Gary Zheng Shukui Huang and Yang Zhou Cuihua Wang and Zhengzhong Zhu Zoe Yang and Yan Zou


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ALUMNI SUPPORT 1940s

1960s

1980s

2000s

Richard Arnold ’49 L David Dixon ’46 Currie Gardner ’40 Hartley Greenbaum ’44, in memory of Martin Shubik ’43 L The late Hugh Edighoffer ’47 James Harrison ’47 Jack Houghton ’47 Irving Newson ’48 Ed Richardson ’45 Wilfrid Robinson ’47 L The late Jim Spring ’47

L Robert Bryant ’60 Thomas Bryant ’66 James Brown ’69 L Rolph Davis ’60 L David Douglas ’60 L Kenneth Greason ’64 Ronald Hons ’60 John Lewis ’67 Robert Rayner ’62 L Robert Russel ’67 L Herschell Sax ’64 L Ronald Veale ’63 Ron Veitch ’69 Richard Viberg ’60 L Duncan Walker ’69 Anonymous (1)

L Stephen Barratt ’86 Peter Dobbs ’87 Stuart Hunt ’87 L Jonathan Knaul ’87 Ted Krofchak ’81 Eddie Lee ’86 L Jayson Rose ’84 Dag Spicer ’80 Glenn Stants ’87 L David White ’88 L Stephen Widdrington ’83

David Allan ’02 Chantal Belley ’05 Talia Black ’07 Justin Calderone ’09 Kristen Egan ’05 Robert Egan ’06 Donald Flynn ’05 L Amanda Hamm ’05 Shannon Hussey ’05 Amy MacKenzie ’05 Kristin Marshall ’05 Caleb Sturrup ’04 L Gareth Sturrup ’09 L Alex Zetzl ’05

1950s Bernard Baril ’51 L Charles Beer ’59 L Bill Bryant ’58 Kenneth Hills ’59 L Stefan Israeler ’52 Henry Jackman ’51 Edward Lowry ’51 L James Murray ’57 Peter Smith ’58 David Starling ’56 Gordon Willson ’59

1970s Philip Allan ’71 Louis Cardinal ’74 Robert Gardner ’72 Wilson Leung ’79 L Brian Meharg ’78 L Brian Reynolds ’70

1990s L Robert Desouza ’96 L Robert Doyle ’96 Francis Fung ’97 L Raymond Ng ’99 Thomas Tam ’95 Patrick Turner ’97 Ryan Turner ’99

2010s

Taylor Foote ’13 Emily McMahon ’13 Andrew Murphy ’14 Emily Nunn ’14

PAST PARENTS, FORMER STAFF AND FACULTY, GRANDPARENTS AND FRIENDS SUPPORT Ann and Simon Armstrong AYCO Charitable Foundation, The Blondy Family Kim and Alan Barlow Sarah and Rick Belley Karen Benson J.E. Tim Benson L Toby Hatch and Joel Berger L Tracy and Kevin Beswick Kathryn and Robert Bray Bonny and Robert Brissenden Anne and Robert Browne L Danielle and Marc Caron James Carpenter CAS Accounting for Insurance Inc. Kathy Clubbe Arthur Dorland L Beth Egan L The Egan Family Foundation Lisa Gragtmans and Douglas Elliott L Jaime and Michael Elliott Kaia and Patrick Farmer L Debbie and Adam Floyd Katharine and Gary Foch L Susan Hamlen and Robert Foote Bennett Foster Karen Whetstone and Richard Geurts L Carol and Peter Grys Beverley and John Hagias L Elizabeth Hempen HG Holding Company Limited

52

Claudine and Roger Hubbard Beverly Jackson Heather and Kevin Jenkins L Sandra and Philip Kaszuba L Michelle and Ken Kavanagh Gayle Climpson-Kennedy and David Kennedy Rekha and Ajit Khanna Catherine and Christopher Lane Deandra Lanzarotta Patricia Lawson L Patti Lewis Ning Li Wang Chiung-Liao and Long-Shing Liao Gabriele Lowry L Weiping Lu L Jane Lynes Ailene and Dan MacDougall Audrey Dehan-MacRae and Bradley MacRae L Kelly and Malcolm Mason Veronica and Paul Mason Karen and Christopher McCleave Carol and David McDougall Cathy and John McGill Andrea McMullen L Jefferson Mooney Newcap Financial Inc. L Newmarket Huskie Track Club Doris Nicolson Carrie-Ann Nihmey-Smye Mary Jane and John Omand L Kathy and Paul Oushalkas

L Lori and Jim Pedersen L Nancy and William Prittie L Kathy and Ian Proudfoot Donna and David Rouselle Jennifer and Mark Sawyers Sherine and Norm Seawright Penny and Steve Sedore Colleen Sexsmith Lorie and Glenn Sikura L Kim Bilous and Darren Slind L Gerry and Anita Smith Family Foundation at Toronto Foundation Peter Smith Trading Ltd. The late G. Allan Snider L Darla and Peter Somerville Estate of James George Spring Maureen Soukoreff Linda and Mitchell Stevenson Minna Sturrup Grace Lin and Chih-Lang Tai Tony Van Bynen L Sheila and James Waters L Daniel Weinzweig L Nicky Wood York Regional Optical Labratories Yuh-Dak North America Inc. Jane Zavitz-Bond L Joan and Bert Zetzl Yuji Xing and Biwu Zhao Anonymous (1)


STAFF AND FACULTY SUPPORT L Jill Abramowitz Kylah Adams Joshua Armstrong L Alex Au Yong Lotem Baram L Patrice Barbanchon Elaine Barratt L Kimberly Bartlett L Ethan Bishop L Charles Boyd Irina Bratz Jennifer Brett Fraser Kim Browner L Noeline Burk Gordon Chiu Andrea Cleland Teresa Clune L Chris Collingham Glenn Connors L Anna Cook L Steve Cope L Naomi Côté L Chris Coyne Sylvia Da Silva L Michael Daleman Paige Daoust L Michael Davis

L Marc de la Bastide L Sarah Demarco John Dew L Maria Di Mambro L Janet Downer Donna Doyle L Cristy Drake Ryan Dukovic Jessica Ellis Kait Finlay L David Fiscaletti L Jay Fletcher Stephanie Forgie L Shelley Frank L Alexis Furlan L Joanne Golding Jillian Goodall L Alexis Hamilton L Amanda Hamm ’05 L Wilfred Hickey Ethan Hodges Monica Hoppe L Susan Hundert L Julia Hunt L Sheila Johnson L Ian Johnston Charlotte Jones

L Shannon Kelly Nancy Kerswill L Elaine Kliem Fengwen Kong Karen Krawec L Keith Kupsch L Myriam Lafrance L Penny Lawson-Cameron Tom Lewis Rebecca MacDonald L Jeff Mason L Laura Mason L Arnold Massey Erin Matthews L Lisa Maunder L Carol McKnight L Karen Meisel L Renee Merrick L Shirley Moffett Laura Murgatroyd L Nicole Murphy L Rosanna Naccarata L Khoeun Pang Patrick Peotto L Laurie Philp L Leila Picazo L Stephanie Pickering

Errol Platt L Helena Pollakova L Lindsey Rife John Robertson L H. Romkema L Jessie-May Rowntree Magdalena (Meg) Searles Jason Simm L Sheri Simon Ann Smiley L Jason Smith L Kim Smith L Heather Smith-Morton L Gareth Sturrup ’09 L Lisa Sturrup L Peter Sturrup L Heather Suters Ricky Tam L Dan Thompson Emily Van Nostrand Justine Verkuyl William Waugh Mike Weiler Ellen Wells L Steve Wood Jacqueline Wurangian

OTHER SUPPORT LEARNING COMMONS (LIBRARY) TRIBUTES Kateryna and Michael Bilinski L Kirsten Nicolson and Brad Boland Jianman Xu and Qian Cao Elsa Feng and Yuzhen Cao Krystal and Ryan Davey Carrie and Rico Dente L Laurie and Corey DiCarlo Shannon Hussey ’05 and Donald Flynn ’05 L Alexis and Roland Furlan Jamie and Greg Hambly Ling Zhou and Gangfeng He L Julia and Trevor Hunt Christie and Philip Ingram Monica and Christopher Jeffrey Eva and Hector Lara Ning Ding and Lin Lin L Renee and Rob Merrick Ellie Chai and Lei Ping Neiva and Pramen Prasad L Krystie and Matthew Robinson-Vincent Gail and Colin Simpson Xiaozhou Sun L Yuliya Eltsova and Anton Udaltsov Daihong Wang and Hongfei Yu Chang Zhou and Jian Zhang Shukui Huang and Yang Zhou Zoe Yang and Yan Zou

GIFTS-IN-KIND

CLASS OF 2019 GRAD GIFTS

Carmela Vaccaro and Albert Baker L Elaine and Stephen Barratt ’86 L Christina and Sal Bianco L Anna and Richard Cook L Joanne and Christopher Golding Nancy and Lloyd Kerswill L Yoko and Sadahito Kimata Leigh Ann and Rob Pitre L Willa Wang and Alex Qiu Tanja and Dirk Schaefer Jennifer and Bun Suen Lisa and Jason Yip

Heather Kirk John Lockyer Shirley Prittie and Robert Prittie ’49 Remington Medical Equipment Ltd

ENDOWMENT GIFTS AYCO Charitable Foundation, The Blondy Family Hong Kong Alumni 1970s & 1980s Ed Richardson ’45 L The late Jim Spring ’47 L Ronald Veale ’63 L Daniel Weinzweig

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CAPITAL CAMPAIGN GIFTS Thanks to our generous donors, we are now at over $6.5 million towards our $10 million goal for the Pickering College Campus Master Plan. We continue to work diligently to move forward with plans for our new building, which will offer teaching and learning spaces firmly focused on the future of education. This building will allow what is already an excellent educational experience to flourish and meet demands for this and future generations of global leaders. Our sincere appreciation to everyone who has demonstrated the vision and commitment to support this campaign. We are delighted that you have chosen to join us on this exciting journey. F or more information on the Light The Way capital campaign, and how you can help, contact Ann Smiley, Executive Director, Development, at asmiley@pickeringcollege.on.ca or 1 (877) 895-1700 ext. 260.

Masayo and Norimichi Adachi Aecon The late Henry Aguayo ’48 David Allan ’02 Philip Allan ’71 Debbie Khan and Ali Alshubil Katie Armitage ’04 Ann and Simon Armstrong L Margalit Gavrilov and Kourosh Asgari Baljit and Salim Bardai Kim and Alan Barlow L Elaine and Stephen Barratt ’86 Jock Bates ’61 L Charles Beer ’59 Jim Beer ’63 L Roxana and Jean-Pierre Berlan L Dawn and David Beswick L Christina and Sal Bianco Diane Li and James Bihari Talia Black ’07 L Kirsten Nicolson and Bradley Boland James Brown ’69 L Bill Bryant ’58 L Robert Bryant ’60 Patricia and Donald Cameron Susan Cameron Susann Cannon The Cannon and Trussell Families L Vanessa and Donald Carson CAS Accounting for Insurance Inc. Susan and Edward Chant James Christakis Eunyoung Lee and Chansoo Chung L Susan and David Cooper Miren Edurne Aguayo and Santiago Cortina George Cox ’57 YanLin Liu and Dongtai Cui Eleanor and Troy Cumiskey L Andie and Kevin Desforges Direct IT Recruiting Inc. Greg Dopulos ’68 Arthur Dorland

L David Douglas ’60 Robyn and Tony Eames L The late Hugh Edighoffer ’47 L Beth Egan L The Egan Family Foundation L Richard Elston ’56 Tom Everson ’84 L Diane and Beric Farmer Mitchell Fasken ’74 L Diane and Brian FitzGerald L Debbie and Adam Floyd L Sharon and Wayne Ford Jeffrey Forde ’82 L Donna and Allan Fordyce Man Lu Wang and Qiang Fu L Alexis and Roland Furlan Karen Whetstone and Richard Geurts L Joanne and Christopher Golding L Janice Fleming-Gole and Robert Gole Michelle Zhang and Bin Gong Lisa and David Graham L Carol and Peter Grys James Harrison ’47 Kenneth Hills ’59 Anthony Jackson ’79 L Beverly Jackson Natalie Owen-James and Michael James Maria Jordan Zahra Kara Kelly Gallacher and Perry Kereakou Rekha and Ajit Khanna Elham Ardestani-Zadeh and Vahid Khansari L Yoko and Sadahito Kimata Donald King ’46 Heather King Cathy Christakis-Kiriakou and Nick Kiriakou L Mukta and Murali Krishnan Krishnan Medicine Professional Corporation Catherine and Christopher Lane

Peter Lau ’82 Yim Yin Yung and Terrence Lau In Memory of James A. Lawson b y Patricia Lawson, Penny Lawson-Cameron and Pamela Lawson Mary Madigan-Lee and Heward Lee May Ling Ng and Wai Leung Wilson Leung ’79 Zhao Hui Li Wang Chiung-Liao and Long Shing Liao Victor Liu ’95 Lone Star Group of Companies Limited L Weiping Lu L Jane Lynes L Vida Sernas and Alan MacDonald L Ailene and Dan MacDougall The late Michael Mackenzie ’45 Janice Wang and Chi Hsiung Mao L Kelly and Malcolm Mason Veronica and Paul Mason L Mason’s Masonry Supply Ltd. Cathy and John McGill Victoria and Michael McGinn Kellie and Sean McKay Donald McLaren ’76 L Brian Meharg ’78 John Meisel ’43 L Renee and Rob Merrick L Nicolee Hathaway and Pierre Mevissen Lisa Campeis and Eric Milligan Rocklyn Mohammed ’93 Gillian and Graeme Montgomery L Mirella and John Morra L James Murray ’57 Daniel Nelson Clara and Johnny Ng Doris Nicolson Mary Jane and John Omand Cora Pataran ’24 L Lori and Jim Pedersen Patrick Peotto Wei and Brian Porter Jill Powell L Ashley and Matt Powell William Powell L Juli and Paul Prochazka L Kathy and Ian Proudfoot Brian Purdy ’56 Xiaojun Wu and Guorong Ren L Brian Reynolds ’70 Lorena Rodriguez Christopher Rogers ’70 David Rogers ’76

Stephen Rudberg ’82 L Robert Russel ’67 Tanja and Dirk Schaefer Magdalena (Meg) Searles Jocelyn Yee and Simon Seow Colleen Sexsmith Diane and Sean Sexsmith-Brosseau Karen and Ron Sharpe The late Martin Shubik ’43 L Corianne and Anthony Simpson L Kim Bilous and Darren Slind L Gerry and Anita Smith Family Foundation at Toronto Foundation Bo and Orest Sochaniwskyj L Darla and Peter Somerville Dag Spicer ’80 L The late Jim Spring ’47 Janice and Nelson Squires L Linda and Mitchell Stevenson Mary and Robert Stevenson L Sherry Barclay and Kevin Still Minna Sturrup L Lisa and Peter Sturrup L Jiage Guo and Chenggang Sun Grace Lin and Chih-Lang Tai L Tim Hortons – The Floyd Family Townline Self-Storage Belinda and Mark Trussell Ryan Turner ’99 Tony Van Bynen L Roger Veale ’61 Karen Benson and Ron Veitch ’69 Carol and Richard Verity L Duncan Walker ’69 Anna Hu and Dali Wang Helen Pei and Harry Wang L Sheila and James Waters L Wayne Ford Sales Limited L David White ’88 Patricia and Kevin Wietzes Yun Mi Lee and Bong Cheol Woo L Vivian Lee and Lei Yan Samuel Yen ’89 Lisa and Jason Yip Nicole Cortese and Paul Yue Anna Zalewska and Pawel Zalewski L Jane Zavitz-Bond L Alex Zetzl ’05 Lu Chen and Jigui Zhang Karen Lin and Jim Zhang Hongxia Chen and Shouping Zhang Ivy Tan and Xi Zhang Wanping Zhang and Zhenchen Zhang Yuji Xing and Biwu Zhao Anonymous (6)

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SIGNATURE EVENTS Signature events enhance the student experience by raising funds, which support capital projects, academic programs, and innovative technology. Signature events such as the gala, the annual golf tournament and the Holiday Home Tour & Seasonal Boutique also serve to bring parents together to get to know one another encouraging a cohesive community highlighted by mutual respect, and appreciation for our diverse community.

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NO

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01 8

14th Annual Holiday Home Tour and Seasonal Boutique November 16 & 17, 2018

M BE 16-17, 2 R

TITLE SPONSOR Buckley Insurance Brokers Ltd. SPONSORS Chantal’s Dance Academy Creekside Family Dental Foch Family Landscape Design Services L Anita Kotsovos, Re/Max Realtron Realty Inc. Brokerage McAlpine Ford Lincoln Sales Ltd. Mercedes-Benz Newmarket Metroland Media Group Ltd. Select Art Galleries HOMES Michelle Berwick Vanessa and Domenic Ferro Ailene and Dan MacDougall Nola Nikols Sue MacLeod and Rob Ringwald Stephanie and Joe Vincec HOME SPONSORS Bloomsbury Kitchens and Fine Cabinetry L Canadian Tire Newmarket Handle This Ltd. Pfaff VW / H.J. Pfaff Audi L Prep Academy Tutors

REALTOR HOME SPONSORS Susan and Andrew Cowen, RE/MAX Hallmark York Group Realty Inc. Daniel Foch ’09, Royal LePage Your Community Realty The Daryl King Team, RE/MAX Hallmark Realty Ltd. Nola Nikols, Royal LePage Your Community Realty Carol Taplin, Royal LePage Your Community Realty Taylor Mead - Main Street Realty GIFT IN KIND SPONSORS Amano Kitchen Aramark Canada Ltd. Arcadia Academy of Music Aubergine Kitchen & Bar David Howard’s Music Studio Jason Laidler Nature’s Emporium Neon Flamingo Java & Ice Bar Queen’s Court Riding Academy (QCRA) Stacey Kaniuk Music Sushi Den Teppanyaki The Arts Music Store The Piano Studio The Summerhill Resto Pub Belinda Trussell Union Chicken Village Juicery Newmarket Saveria Volpe

INTERIOR DESIGNERS/DECORATORS ADM Design Incorporated Design Line Studio Inc. Grand Entrance Design Michelle Berwick Design R.E. Ringwald Design Build Saturday Afternoons Home Store Vanessa Ferro Design Inc. FLORAL DESIGNERS Astilbe Floral Boutique Luda Flower Salon Mid Valley Gardens Ltd. Room to Bloom Seasons Floral Studio Sweet Stems Floral Designs ADVERTISERS Hempen Fine Jewellers Ltd. Studio Five Hair L Terra Brook Homes Inc. L The Royal Wood Shop Wietzes Toyota HOLIDAY HOME TOUR COMMITTEE Susan Cooper, Co-Chair Donna Fordyce, Co-Chair Vanessa Carson Daniel Foch ’09 Vivian Lee Kellie McKay Andrea McMullen Krystie Robinson-Vincent Patti Wietzes

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SIGNATURE EVENTS continued The 20th Annual Pickering College Golf Tournament June 20, 2019

TITLE SPONSOR Mercedes-Benz Newmarket DINNER SPONSOR Erie Otters Hockey Club AUCTION TECHNOLOGY SPONSOR Leith Wheeler Investment Counsel Ltd. GOLF CART SPONSOR The Roman Group of Companies Ltd. BANNER SPONSOR The Look Company 19TH HOLE SPONSOR Horn IT Solutions HOUSE SPIRIT SPONSOR Counterpoint Engineering Inc. BEVERAGE CART SPONSOR L Terra Brook Homes Inc. COURSE PACK SPONSOR MacNab Transit Sales Corp. ENTERTAINMENT SPONSOR Dr. Robert MacAlpine Optometry LUNCH SPONSOR BrokerLink TROPHY SPONSOR Enginess

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RAFFLE SPONSORS L Morel Benefits Consulting Services Ltd. Robins IDA Pharmacy BEAT THE PRO SPONSOR Jarislowsky Fraser, Global Investment Management CLOSEST TO THE PIN SPONSOR Mercedes-Benz Newmarket FEELING HOT, HOT, HOT! SPONSOR Control Fire Systems Inc. HOLE IN ONE SPONSOR Mercedes-Benz Newmarket PUTTING CONTEST SPONSOR L Anita Kotsovos, Re/Max Realtron Realty Inc. Brokerage HOLE SPONSORS L Advertek Graphic Solutions Apple Suites Aramark Canada Ltd. Canada Fire Door & Frame Crate Designs Furniture Diamond Groundskeeping Services Ltd Diamond Perfected Stone (DPS Countertops) Dol Turf Restoration Ltd. Dusty Miller Landscaping L The Frank Family Graydor Flooring Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa, Barrie

Innovative Spine & Wellness Le Chouff Cream Puffs Melcour Security Solutions L Miller Waste Systems Inc. Mr. Janitorial Supplies Inc. Newmarket Office Equipment Ltd. L Northstar Pharmaceutical Inc. PHA Project Management Inc. Roadside Paving Ltd. L Rogol Electric Company Limited The Everest Group - TD Wealth Private Investment Advice The Fresh Tea Shop Todays Taxi Vital Float Centre Wietzes Toyota DONORS Baghbani Law Professional Corporation Catherine and Christopher Lane Gayle Climpson-Kennedy and David Kennedy L Jane Lynes

E.S. Fox Ltd. L Formula Brands Inc., Mitch and Linda Stevenson Celeste and Harrison Frank t he 2019/2020 Senior and Junior Committee Chairs Gatherings Floral Studio Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa, Barrie Mason House Gardens Mercedes-Benz Newmarket L Miller Waste Systems Inc. Nails for You, Aurora Ontario Powersports Rentals Rail Yard Wake Park Rocco Picheca Salon Snapdragon Designs TaLii Towels The Briars Resort & Spa The Lube Factory Vital Float Centre Wine Lovers Agency

GOLF TOURNAMENT COMMITTEE Stephen Gruhl, Co-Chair Margo Starr, Co-Chair Charles Boyd GIFT-IN-KIND DONORS Robert Desouza ’96 Aramark Canada Ltd. Aurora 2020 Vision, Dr. Robert Corey DiCarlo Robert Doyle ’96 MacAlpine Violet Gal BWG Dental Centre Perry Kereakou Cardinal Golf Club Thomas Kim Co.Unity Kitchen Robert MacAlpine Gail and Colin Simpson Ryan McCluskey ’06 Crypto Escape Rooms Danielle Larice, Independent Rebeca Riojas-Ozturk Arbonne Consultant L Deerhurst Resort Design Line Studio Inc.


BOARD MEMBERS 2018-2019 Kelly Mason, Chair Mirella Morra, Vice-Chair Beric Farmer Adam Floyd Ajit Khanna Christopher Lane Vivian Lee Ailene MacDougall Patrick Turner ’97 Ron Veitch ’69 Karen Whetstone CORPORATION MEMBERS 2018-2019 Steve Barratt ’86 Christina Bianco Sal Bianco Charles Boyd Peter Dobbs ’87 Janet Downer Beth Egan Beric Farmer Adam Floyd Donna Fordyce Bev Jackson Ajit Khanna Jonathan Knaul ’87 Christopher Lane Heward Lee ’78 Vivian Lee Ailene MacDougall Kelly Mason Mirella Morra Daniel Nelson Helen Pei William Prittie Ian Proudfoot Brian Purdy ’56 Ed Richardson ’45 Tara Roy-DiClemente Edmund Rynard ’70 Debra Scott Colleen Sexsmith Adam Shully ’78 Peter Sturrup Riane Tse ’07 Patrick Turner ’97 Tony Van Bynen Ron Veitch ’69 Duncan Walker ’69 James Waters Karen Whetstone Stephen Widdrington ’83 Jane Zavitz-Bond

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GENERATIONS OF GIVING TO PC Steve Widdrington’s association with PC started before he was even born. As the grandson of Gerry Widdrington, Assistant Headmaster under Joe McCulley from 1927-1939, the Widdrington family was destined to be connected to Pickering College for generations to come. PC alumni include Steve’s uncle Peter Widdrington ’48, and his father Michael Widdrington ’55. Steve says attending Pickering College was a foregone conclusion but one he is very grateful for. “I only spent two years at Pickering but it was probably the best two years of my life. When I come back, I walk into the school and I feel everything I felt 37 years ago. It is just a very special feeling. It’s the grounds. It’s the people.” Steve regularly visited Pickering College following graduation in 1983, returning for events such as Sports Day, and stayed connected to a close-knit circle of friends. He has been involved in various volunteer roles, including with the annual PC Golf tournament, Gala, sitting on the Board, and currently on the Corporation. “I wouldn’t do it if I didn’t have a passion for the school. I believe in the school, I believe in the people, the kids and what they are doing in school, and Peter. If I didn’t believe in that I wouldn’t be doing that. I am not a millionaire but every little bit counts. I have been donating for a number of years, it is just second nature now. I continue to press my fellow alumni to do whatever they can.” Steve encourages others to stay connected to PC—whether they are new grads, or older alumni. “When I present the Widdrington award at graduation I am blessed to have all the graduating students there—and I tell them not to forget—don’t forget what you’ve built at the school. Don’t forget your friends. Don’t forget your teachers. Don’t forget what got you to the next step. Keep that fire alive. Keep supporting the school any way you can.”

Gerry Widdrington

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Peter, Michael and Stephen Widdrington in the 1980s


WAYS TO GIVE At Pickering College, we are inspired that our community—parents, alumni, Board and Corporation, staff, family and friends alike—demonstrate their commitment to the tradition of philanthropic support by donating so generously to ensure a bright future. There are many ways to make a gift to Pickering College: Gifts by Credit Card, Cheque or Cash You can choose to make a one-time gift or a monthly gift. These gifts are payable by cheque, credit card, or wire transfer. Your monthly donation can be charged to your credit card. Gifts of Securities and Mutual Fund Shares You can reduce your capital gains tax by donating appreciated publicly-traded stocks and securities to PC. It’s a wonderful way to benefit both you and the school. Gifts in Kind Gifts in Kind can include auction items for events, services to assist our school operations, or gifts of art or property. Planned Giving Please join Pickering College’s Firelighter community by making a gift in your will as part of your estate planning. You will have the comfort of knowing that the legacy of your generosity lives on for future generations. As we would like to acknowledge your planned gift in a future issue of The Pillars, please contact the Development Office to confirm your bequest intention if you have not already done so. Matching Gifts Many companies offer a Matching Gift program. Please contact your HR Department to inquire whether a Matching Gift is possible. Commemorative/Tribute Gifts Through your donation, you may choose to pay tribute to someone special. This gift can be made in honour of a teacher, advisor, coach, or friend who has had a positive influence and made a difference in your PC experience. Tribute Gifts can include: Dining Hall Chair and Table Dedications, and library resources through the Learning Commons Tribute Program. Grad Gift The graduating class participates in deciding what their grad gift will support each year. This has included establishing endowments, supporting programs and investing in the Light The Way capital campaign. International Gifts PC uses FRISBE (Friends of Independent Schools and Better Education) to facilitate donations from US alumni and friends. FRISBE is a US non-profit organization and can issue US tax receipts. We are happy to send a Canadian charitable tax receipt to donors residing outside of North America. For further information about PC’s Firelighters or any other method of making a gift to Pickering, please contact Ann Smiley, Executive Director, Development, at asmiley@pickeringcollege.on.ca or (905) 895-1700 ext. 260. Thank you for donating so generously to the school. With the Campus Master Plan underway, your continued support is more important than ever, to ensure a robust future for Pickering College. Charitable Registration Number: 11909 2815 RR0001

If you would like to speak to someone further about the many ways you can support Pickering College, please contact us: (905) 895-1700 advancement@pickeringcollege.on.ca Executive Director, Development T. Ann Smiley Manager, Special Events Shelley Frank Manager, Annual Giving & Constituent Engagement Taylor Jennings Development Manager, Major Gifts Laura Padula Alumni Ambassador & Former Faculty Charles Boyd Parent & Alumni Relations Coordinator Alice Souvannakhily Development Administrator Karen Meisel

PRIVACY OF INFORMATION: Pickering College is committed to protecting the privacy of your personal information. When you as a parent, student, alumnus or other individual provide personal information to the school, such as your name, address and telephone number, it is shared with the Development Office so that we may communicate with you through various publications and so that we may solicit your financial and volunteer support. Under no circumstances is the information rented, sold or given to any organization outside Pickering College. Access to the information is restricted to authorized staff members. For further information on our commitment to protecting your privacy, please contact PC Privacy Officer at privacyofficer@pickeringcollege.on.ca or (905) 895-1700. Thank you. DISCLAIMER: Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the listings in this report. Please note that your support may be indicated as Anonymous should you so chose. We regret and apologize for any inadvertent errors or omissions and ask that corrected information be provided to the Executive Director of Development, Pickering College, 16945 Bayview Avenue, Newmarket, Ontario, L3Y 4X2 advancement@ pickeringcollege.on.ca

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Staff News

JANET DOWNER PROMOTED TO ASSISTANT HEAD OF SCHOOL, ACADEMICS Janet Downer began the next chapter of her career when she accepted the position of Assistant Head of School, Academics and Student Programs, effective August 2019. Janet has spent over 30 years at Pickering College working in a variety of areas including Teacher Librarian, Dean of Residence, Junior and Senior School Teacher, and, since 2014, Middle School Director, and Senior School Director. She holds a BA, BEd, MA, MLIS, and the Principal’s Qualifications. In 2018, Janet led the school through a very successful CAIS accreditation process which resulted in Pickering College receiving its full accreditation. Well beyond Janet’s work experience and qualifications, she has a deep understanding of the school’s history, traditions, values and mission.

VOLUME 41

ISSUE TWO

MANAGING EDITOR

JESSIE-MAY ROWNTREE

Executive Director of Admission

and Marketing

EDITOR

NAOMI CÔTÉ

Communications Manager

CONTRIBUTORS

JENNIFER BRETT FRASER

JULIE CLEMENT

SHELLEY FRANK

KAREN MEISEL

ALICE SOUVANNAKHILY

CHRIS SCHNEIDER

ANN SMILEY

PETER STURRUP

SAVANNAH TRAN

GRAPHIC DESIGN

VANI ROUSE

TO SHARE YOUR COMMENTS, IDEAS OR FOR ADVERTISING RATES AND INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT

JESSIE-MAY ROWNTREE

(905) 895-1700 EXT. 234

jrowntree@pickeringcollege.on.ca PICKERING COLLEGE

16945 BAYVIEW AVENUE

NEWMARKET, ONTARIO

CANADA L3Y 4X2

TEL: (905) 895-1700 FAX: (905) 895-8916 www.pickeringcollege.on.ca THE PILLARS ARE YOU RECEIVING EMAILS FROM PICKERING COLLEGE? Please complete the form that came with The Pillars or visit the alumni section of our website to update your email address. You will receive PC news, invitations to alumni events, reunion information and more. We’ll be sending out an Alumni Survey by email this spring to ask about your interest in reunions and other ways to connect with the school and your fellow alumni. Questions? Please contact alumni@pickeringcollege.on.ca

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IS PUBLISHED BY THE ADMISSION

AND MARKETING OFFICE FOR

ALUMNI, PARENTS, STUDENTS,

STAFF AND FRIENDS OF PICKERING

COLLEGE.


A PICKERING COLLEGE SIGNATURE EVENT

in support of

T H E L I G H T T H E WAY C A P I TA L C A M PA I G N

Spring 2021 Egan House, Pickering College ď ?

Tables of 10 or individual tickets www.pickeringcollege.on.ca/gala (905) 895-1700 ext. 403

Learning For Life. Creating The Future.

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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

JOIN US FOR AN OPEN HOUSE

SPEND-A-HALF DAY

Meet students, staff, faculty and parents. Learn more about our specialized programming and go on a personal tour of our historic campus.

Spend the morning at PC—attend class, meet our teachers and join us for lunch! Please note: Registration is required.

Wednesday Admission Tours: Contact our Admission Office at (905) 895-1700 ext. 259.

Visit us at www.pickeringcollege.on.ca


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