Ashbury NewsFall2022 Getting Back Alumni Events8 Philanthropy at Ashbury16 19 NAVIGUER VERS LE FUTUR STEERING TOWARDS THE FUTURE
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We recognize the enduring existence and contributions of all First Nations, Métis and the Inuit peoples across Turtle Island. As an educational institution, we are committed to increasing the awareness of Indige nous peoples, advancing Truth and Reconciliation and developing mean ingful and positive partnerships with Indigenous peoples in our region.
Ashbury College reconnaît que son campus est situé sur le territoire traditionnel non cédé de la Nation Algonquine Anishinàbe Omàmìwininì, présente en ces lieux depuis des temps immémoriaux. Nous reconnaissons les membres de la Nation Algonquine Anishinàbe Omàmìwininì comme gardiens et défenseurs traditionnels du bassin hydrographique de la rivière des Outaouais et de ses affluents. Nous rendons hommage à leur longue tradition et à leur constante protec tion de cette terre, ainsi qu’à leur rôle dans la sauvegarde de ce beau Nousterritoire.reconnaissons l’existence et les contributions durables de tous les peuples des Premières Nations, des Métis et des Inuits de l’île de la Tortue. En tant plessignificatifstionprogresserauxgeonsd’enseignement,qu’établissementnousnousengaàaccroîtrelasensibilisationpeuplesautochtones,àfairelavéritéetlaréconciliaetàdévelopperdespartenariatsetpositifsaveclespeuautochtonesdenotrerégion.
Ashbury College acknowledges its campus is located on the traditional, unceded territory of the Anishinàbe Omàmìwininì Algon quin Nation whose presence here reaches back to time immemorial. We recognize the Algonquin An ishinàbe Omàmìwininì Nation as the traditional keepers and stewards of the Ottawa River Watershed and its tributaries. We honour their long history and ongoing protection of this land and their role in caring for this beautiful territory.
This Land Acknowledgement was developed by Ashbury College in partnership with Ashburians from the Kitigan Zibi Community (MacGregor Family and Misko ’17), the Kitigan Zibi Director of Education (Anita Tenasco) as well as liaison with partners at University of Ottawa and Carleton University. The Kitigan Zibi Band Council approved this acknowledgment for our use in October. The statement and approval will be reviewed on an annual basis.
Land Acknowledgement
Ashbury Kichi Kikinàmàdinàn ogìkenindànàwà atenig An ishinàbe Omàmìwininìwakìng Algon quin ega wìkàd kà mìgiwàniwang akì, Ninisidawiniwànànigwayeshkàd. Anishinàbe Omàmìwininiwag Algonquin wìnawà nàgadawàbandamowàdj kaye nàgad awenindamowàdj Odàwà Zìbì kaye kakina wàkahì sìbìn. Ni Kijewenin mànànig ondje àyànikàdj odànikeyàd jimowiniwàn eji nàgadawàbanda mowàdj iyo kechi kwenàdjiwang akì. Nigìkenindànànàn kìbi ànimiziwàdj kaye kì mino pagidinigewàdj ogog kakina Màyàmindji Nitam Pemàdiz idjig, Àbitawizìg, kaye Àshkìmeg eyediwehì enigokwàg iyo Mikinàk Minitig. Niga pàjigwàdizimin kidji kikenindamokìyàng kàbi Awakàzodjig ogog kà abidjig kikinàmàdinànikàng, ashidj niga mino wìdjikiwemànànig ogog Màyàmindji Nitam Pemàdizidjig ondaje wàkàhì.
Table of Contents News & Notes Birchbark6 Canoe Getting8 Back Ashbury10 Guild Round18Philanthropy16Volunteer14Retirements12AwardsSquareUpdate Ashbury Alumni Upcoming19 Events Alumni20 Panels In27Chatter22MemoriamUpdateMOVING?your FallAshburyalumni@ashbury.caaddress,News2022 Ashbury News is published twice a year and sent to over 4,000 alumni, parents, and Submitfriends. news or story ideas andInstagram,ConnectTamaraDesignPhoto:ClassonBackPhoto:2022.onbirchbarkFrontcommunications@ashbury.ca.tocover:Ashbury’scanoewaslaunchedtheRideauRiverinJuneJustinRouthiercover:Familiesgatheredcampustocelebratetheof2022.JustinRouthierandlayoutbyRomcevicwithusonFacebook,Twitter! @ashburycollege 261916106 NewsAshbury|3
come such a long way this year and learned so much, and those who attended Closing ceremonies might have noticed two things that help symbolize our year together.
Head of School
Probitas, Virtus, Comitas, Norman Southward Head of School | Directeur
First, more than 60 flags surrounded us in Maclaren Hall and on our fields, representing not only our students’ na tionalities but also the challenges and opportunities each of our nations faces. Cette année, nous avons continué à interagir les uns avec les autres, en mettant l’accent sur notre orientation internationale en tant qu’école et en adoptant la notion de pluralisme à Ashbury. I am pleased with our respectful dialogue this year as the news of global and local events entered our classrooms and homes. We remain committed to developing inquir ing, knowledgeable and caring young people to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect.
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FROM THE
Second was the canoe that our students and staff built over the past six months with Anishinàbe canoe builder Pinock Smith. In The Politics of the Canoe, Chuck Com manda, Larry Mcdermott and Sarah Nelson explored the meaning behind the The Birchbark Canoe in the Algon quin Community noting that “building a birchbark canoe is a creative act requiring skill, knowledge, and empathy, and draws on seven sacred teachings of love, honesty, humility, respect, bravery, wisdom and truth. […] How we build a canoe reflects how we treat each other.” As with any canoe journey downstream, you will face choices about which way to steer. In much the same way, the flow of life that we have come to expect can change quickly. How you re-route your plans will help shape who you are and how you can best take time to contribute to our beautiful yet complex world. Migwech to our canoe builders – as we all take time to navigate the future meaningfully together.
We’ve
ABBY I came to Ashbury back in 2016, entering Grade 7 with my twin brother. Looking back, thank goodness I did because I instantly thrived in the Ashbury environ ment. I had never truly understood the idea of enjoying attending school until I was greeted by Ashbury›s Junior School. I dedicate so much of who I am today to my first teachers and friends here, and I am lucky to have them by my side still six years later. I have been truly lucky when it comes to my experiences throughout my Ash bury career. I›ve travelled to Colombia, won a rugby City Championship with my best friends, and even dissected a fetal pig with my favourite lab partners. These experi ences are what make me be lieve so deeply in seizing the moment. Charlie and I started off the year with the mantra of embracing every opportu nity you are given. In a direct quote we told the student body, “join that club, try out for that team, and have fun doingWhileit!”we are sad our time at Ashbury rapidly approached its end, we are extremely grateful to have had an in-person spring term, being able to run events that we haven’t been able to run in 3 years. Our glow-inthe-dark disco dance was a hit on May 6, followed by a successful Springfest on May 14. Other highlights of our spring term include Indigenous Day, Inclusivity Week, Pink Shirt Day and Earth Week. As student leaders, we want to leave Ashbury knowing everyone who comes after us will feel safe, comfortable and included every single day.
This school year started off with a bang. With a fully in-person Orientation Week, we welcomed the new students with fun games and icebreak ers out on our fields. The fall term continued with the annual House Run, an iconic Halloween costume competition, a memorable Internationalism Week, and finished with a festive Holiday Cheer Week. This was just a glimpse into our jam-packed fall term, so as you can imagine, the excitement for being back in person was clear and extremely contagious.
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We started the new year off a little different, back at home for the first few weeks, but we were lucky enough that it didn’t last as long as last time. We celebrated our annual Wellness Week, where we promoted the importance of students’ mental health, as well as our Spirit Week, which included five different days of themed celebrations in order to uphold school spir it within Ashbury. Just before we left for March Break, we held our school-wide winter carnival. Winter games were enjoyed by all grades from 4 to 12 at Ashbury, with Wooll combe house taking first place in our annual house competition winter relay. This year we were joined by Anita Tenasco, Kitigan Zibi’s Director of Education, as she set up a station showcas ing Indigenous artifacts and everyone’s favourite, maple taffy. This ended our winter term off with a bang.
CHARLIE I came to Ashbury in Grade 9, knowing very few people and certainly nervous to begin a new chap ter in my life. Very quickly, I noticed the kindness and welcoming nature of the school and the positivity that radiates the halls. All throughout my years at Ashbury, I was so excited to join sports teams, clubs and anything that could get me involved in student life. Pretty quickly, strangers became my classmates, and those classmates became my best friends. The past four years have been full of ups and downs, but I’m sure that, looking down the road, I will only remember my favourite teachers,
by Abby Parkes ’22 andFrankCharlie’22
laughing in the halls with friends and definitely those long Maclaren hall lineups.
To conclude, our time at Ashbury has been something we will remember forever. Despite the ever-so-changing world, the Ashbury community is one that remains pos itive and never gives up. It’s been an exciting year and an exciting past four years, but like everything, all good things must come to an end. AN
NEWS & NOTES
FROM OUR SCHOOL CAPTAINS Reflections
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The students who were involved in the canoe build had a chance to showcase their work at the Ottawa Riv erkeeper Gala. Andy Wang (Grade 4), Edward Li (Grade 7), and Connor Wakegijig (Grade 7) volunteered as greeters for the event before they made their way to the canoe display with Pinock to answer questions.
An Exciting Canoe Building byProjectAndyWang (Grade 4)
is one of the guiding statements of Ashbury’s strategic plan. According to the Global Centre for Pluralism, education is critical to building inclusive societies that are resilient to fear and hate. Equipping learners to engage positively with difference is an urgent global challenge. To support the integration of pluralism across different contexts, and with the support of the Ashbury community, we hired Pi nock Smith, a master canoe builder from Kitigan Zibi, to help our students build a traditional birchbark canoe over the winter months.
Last winter, Ashbury College started a canoe building project. Our canoe club completed the birchbark canoe in six months with Pinock’s instruction. As a Grade Four student, I was pleased to join the club and work with Pinock. I learned a lot of things from this project.
The canoe project began with preparing materials. All parts of the canoe were made by hand, and it was a lot of fun but a little difficult. A large wooden horse was used to smooth the cedar wood. We had to make it perfect or else the birchbark canoe would be ugly. Next, we began to prepare the birchbark. This type of bark was chosen because it is soft and easy to bend and carve. We cleaned the birchbark by using a small knife and weighed it down with a metal brick to flatten it. This was hard work.
Our birchbark canoe was launched in June on the Ride au River. It will serve as a physical land acknowledge ment on the Ashbury campus. Many thanks to Pinock for leading us through this project using traditional materials and processes. Thank you to the dedicated students and staff who spent 6 months building the canoe!
Ashbury’s Birchbark Canoe
Pluralism
The last step was putting the spruce gum in the cracks to seal it, which makes the canoe unsinkable. Now, the birchbark canoe was completed, and it was ready to set sail on its maiden voyage. We launched the canoe in the Rideau River on Friday, June 10th, 2022. Elders from Kitigan Zibi came to help us smudge and honour the traditional knowledge that was passed to young chil dren. Pinock tied a rope to the canoe, so we wouldn’t get lost downriver. I went on the canoe myself and so did Mr. Southward. After everyone took turns trying, we ate some bannock and berries, drank strawberry juice to celebrate the canoe’s first voyage.
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Thanks to our canoe master, Pinock Smith, our teach ers: Ms. Raina, Ms. Rock, Mr. Storosko and Ms. Smith, our teammates: Quinn, Connor, Edward, Ayaka, Ann and me, Andy. Organized and guided by our master and teachers, we helped each other and worked together to make our job easier. Daniel “Pinock” Smith is a canoe master with a rich experience in Algonquin birchbark canoes. He is also a great craftsman of snowshoes, wigwam, sleds and other traditional items. He is very nice and shared a lot of interesting skills and knowledge with us. We like him very much and we are happy he is coming back to lead a summer camp at Ashbury.
I AM PROUD THAT WE ARE INHERITING THIS CULTURE
The canoe build was an exciting co-curricular program which gave students at Ashbury a valuable experience. I learned the process to build a birchbark canoe by hand using only raw materials. I also have learned all Algon quin words about the canoe from our master and how to cooperate with adults and teens on our team. I am proud that we are inheriting this culture. This beautiful canoe is the result of grit and great teamwork. AN
After that, our team cut the bark to proper size with a saw and curved it into a canoe shape. We sewed the bark by using strong and flexible spruce roots. The team mates who were older than me split the cedar wood into many narrow and long wood slices and placed them on the bottom of the birchbark canoe. We curved the ribs into U shapes by using a steaming machine and put them inside the canoe as the “skeleton” of it. This formed the proper canoe shape and made it strong. The canoe was on display at Ashbury’s Springfest and the Ottawa River keeper Gala event. The visitors really loved it!
Junior School Closing
NEWS & HighlightsNOTESfrom
Getting Back Run
Senior School Orientation Day
House
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our year back together
#Elxn44 Student Vote
NEWS & NOTES
NCSSAA Tier 1 City Champions!
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International
Spring Concert
Holiday Cheer
Winter Carnival Week
In
NEWS & NOTES
October, students traveled the globe without leaving the school’s neighbourhood! Ashbury families had an exclusive opportunity to visit the grounds of fifteen different diplomatic residences to ex perience sights, sounds and tastes from around the world with our first-ever International Walk. A little rain (or a lot!) didn’t dampen any one’s spirits and we had a sold-out guest list of over 175 participants. Thank you to the Ashbury Guild and the diplomatic community for all your support with the Walk.
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AN
The International Walk
l Sezlik.com l Star Motors of Ottawa & Mercedes-Benz Ottawa Downtown l Hickman Specialist GroupNEWS & NOTES
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Ashbury Lunar Ball
What an incredible evening! Not only was the Ball fun-filled and a tremendous show of generosity with approximately $200,000 raised, but it was also a wonderful celebration of our community coming together in support of student pro grams and needs-based financial assistance. A special thank you to our hard-working Ball Committee, our generous event sponsors, and our auction supporters. AN SPONSORS
PRESENTING
Ashbury’s Retirements
Louise Di Prisco, Boarding, Admissions, and Programs, 2015-2022
Ian MacKinnon, Junior School Athletic Director, Teacher, and Coach, 2000-2022
NEWS & NOTES
Dave Beedell ’80, Senior School Science Teacher, 1999-2022
Dawn Closs, Executive Assistant to the Head of School, 1994-2021
THERE
Vicky Wilgress, Advancement and Alumni, 1987-2022
John Richardson, Head of Senior School English Department, 1997-2022
e wish Dave Beedell, Dawn Closs, Louise Di Prisco, Ian MacKinnon, James McKirdy, Tui Noonan, John Richardson, and Vicky Wilgress well in their retirements and thank them for their years of dedication to Ashbury. These Ashburians spent countless hours over the years teaching, coaching, and helping students, as well as offering their sage advice to our teams.
SCHOOL.”NEWS & NOTES
“THESE ASHBURIANS SPENT COUNTLESS HOURS TEACHING, COACHING, AND HELPING STUDENTS WITH ALMOST 200 YEARS OF COMBINED SERVICE TO THE
Thank you all for your unwavering support of our school community over the years. There are thousands (yes, thousands) of students, families and alumni who will remember you fondly as supportive and friendly figures in their lives. You will be deeply missed by the students, staff, and Ashbury community! AN ARE THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS, FAMILIES AND ALUMNI WHO WILL REMEMBER YOU FONDLY.
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James McKirdy, Senior School Science Teacher, 1998-2022
Tui Noonan, School 1994-2021Nurse,
W
We owe a debt of gratitude to the many volunteers who support Ashbury College with heart, passion, and a commitment to moving the school forward
The Jean Teron Award winner is Martin Parizeau
This award was founded in 2013 in honour of the ded icated and prolonged service Jean Teron has given to Ashbury College. It recognizes individuals who have provided exceptional and sustained volunteer service to the College and its community.
After more than 16 years of leadership volunteer service to Ashbury College, our gratitude to Martin cannot be overstated. Martin served ten years as a Governor on the Ashbury College Board, leading as Chair from 2012–2014, and where he continues today as a Governor Emeritus. An accomplished business executive, Martin’s exemplary leadership skills, his strong sense of teamwork, and his
balanced business thinking – in both the corporate and non-profit categories – have provided tremendous value to Ashbury College and his Board colleagues. Contribu tions to the Enrollment & Communications Committee, Finance and Audit Committee (Chair 2011–2012), Legal Ad visory Committee, Governance and Nominating Commit tee, and Head Selection Committee (Chair) have made an important and lasting impact on the direction and leader ship of the school. Martin was instrumental in Ashbury’s evolution to co-education in the Junior School and has remained committed to affordability at Ashbury through tuition and financial assistance strategies. Martin’s son, Eric, graduated in 2013, and his daughter Alexandra grad uated in 2016. Martin’s wife, Sheryl, has been a dedicated Ashbury volunteer, serving on the Guild from 2006–2010.
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Our annual volunteer awards recognize the significant contributions from members of our community, and our 2021–2022 award recipients are listed below. On behalf of our students, faculty, and staff, thank you, merci!
JEAN TERON AWARD
OUTSTANDING ALUMNUS/ALUMNA VOLUNTEER AWARD
VolunteerAlumnus/AlumnaOutstandingAward NEWS & NOTES
Volunteer Recognition Awards
Meghan Kennedy ’95
This award recognizes an alumnus or alumna whose willingness and dedication to contribute their time and effort which led to a positive impact on the school, its programs, and activities.
NEWS & NOTES
Lei Wei Outstanding Parent Volunteer Award
OUTSTANDING PARENT VOLUNTEER AWARD
The Parent Volunteer Award goes to Tracy Rait-Parkes, the mother of Gillian ’20, Abby ’22 and Jack ’22, and mar ried to alumnus Scott Parkes ’88. Tracy has been volun teering since 2015 in many capacities: Refugee Sponsor ship Initiative, Ball Chair, Round Square committee, CAIS Accreditation, Ball Lead, and several Guild positions, in cluding Guild President. Tracy embodies the best qualities of a leader: she leads with grace and empathy, strives to consider different perspectives, and allows space for oth ers to lead. She will be missed as her youngest children graduate this year, but Ashbury warmly welcomes her to the past parent community.
Outstanding Parent Volunteer Award: Lei Wei
Martin Parizeau Jean Teron Award
Two parents are being awarded in 2022: Outstanding Parent Volunteer Award: Tracy Rait-Parkes
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The Outstanding Alumnus/Alumna Volunteer Award winner is Meghan Kennedy ’95
This award recognizes a parent whose willingness and dedication to contribute their time and effort which led to a positive impact on the school, its programs, and activities.
Thank you to all the Ashbury volunteers! Your commitment to students makes a difference every day at Ashbury.
The Parent Volunteer Award goes to Lei Wei, the mother of Bruce Chen ’23. Lei has been a key contributor to many parent events, organizing the Chinese New Year celebra tions, Chinese tea, and Chinese food ceremonies in recent years. She was also an integral volunteer for the Ashbury Lunar Ball. Ashbury is grateful for the time, effort, and energy Lei has dedicated to enriching our community with many treasured and meaningful Chinese cultural traditions. AN
Tracy Rait-Parkes Outstanding Parent Volunteer Award
The Outstanding Alumna/Alumnus Volunteer award goes to Meghan Kennedy ’95. Meghan was a long-time member of the Ashbury Alumni Executive, serving on the committee for 7 years (2014–2021). She brought a high level of energy and passion to her work, helping support alumni community engagement and connection with Ashbury College. Through her efforts, Meghan contribut ed to fostering a strong alumni community at Ashbury. Meghan truly represents the best qualities of our alumni.
Your commitment to daydifferencemakesstudentsaeveryatAshbury.”
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NEWS & NOTES
“Donors like you change Toshkalives.”Besharah-Hrebacka
Previous recipient of needs-based financial assistance
WilgressVicky
’21
1891 DAY – THANK YOU, PhilanthropyDONORS! at WILGRESSAshburyARCHIVES
In honour of the Wilgress Family, who have spanned a century at Ashbury College, with Vicky Wilgress as the school’s longest serving staff member (retiring this fall after 35 years of ser vice), Ashbury is creating a museum and archives space in the historically significant Rhodes Hall, located beneath the Ashbury Chapel. The renovation is nearing completion, and supporters of the project are invited to a special unveiling and Archives dedication ceremony on November 2, 2022. For more information, please contact Stephanie Young, Director of Development.
Rendering of Wilgress Archives
“Thank you for being a supporter of Ashbury and students like me. I am studying biomedical science at the University of Ottawa, balancing the demands of being on the Canoe Kayak National Canadian team, with dreams of a career in paediatric medicine. Ashbury played a meaningful role in my journey, made possible through the generosity of donors like you.”
1891 Day, Ashbury’s day of giving, returned in November with a renewed focus on needs-based student financial assistance. The response from members of the Ashbury community from around the world was extraordinary and resulted in the creation of the ProbitasVirtus-Comitas Bursary (Honesty, Courage, Kindness, the Ashbury motto), specifically designated for students with demonstrated need from historically underrepresented, marginalized, or Indigenous groups. Hundreds of donors contributed to supporting Ashbury’s students and programs with donations of all sizes, totalling more than $225,000, making an impactful and lasting difference in the lives of deserving young people, ultimately benefitting the full community. Thank you!
Bob Gray Fieldhouse
with team
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NEWS & NOTES
Bob coachingGray
Ashbury’s front entrance was rebuilt over the summer after a near half century of Ottawa winters have taken a toll on this area of the school. The stairs, portico, ramp, basement access, and interlocking stone entrance and paths were rebuilt and renewed to maintain our heritage character but modernize the space to meet the needs of all visitors. Ashbury is seeking philanthropic support from families and individuals who are in a position to help the school with this priority project. Our gratitude to donors who supported the restoration cannot be overstated. Special donor recognition opportunities remain for prospective supporters who might be interested in supporting the project. For more information, please contact Stephanie Young, Director of Development at stephanie.young@ashbury.ca or 613-749-9630 ext. 283.
Photo of John Henderson and Stephanie Young, Director of
Touchdown, Ashbury! Update on the Bob Gray MemorialEXPANDOPPORTUNITIESCollege:SupportingBursaryAshburyTOGETHER,
FRONT ENTRANCE RESTORATION AND RENEWAL
John decided to donate the equivalent of a year’s worth of tuition in support of needs-based student financial assistance to help students, like him, continue their Ashbury experience, regardless of their family’s financial circumstances. John is one example of Ashbury’s generous and thoughtful supporters, making a lasting impact on our community.
15 years ago, the goal to bring the Bob Gray Memorial Bursary to $250,000 was estab lished to expand access to Ashbury for deserving students with financial need. In turn, the Ashbury College field house would be named in Coach Gray’s honour. Ashbury is proud to announce the goal has been reached thanks to generous donors of all ages, from Canada, the US and abroad. Ash bury will dedicate the field house in Coach Gray’s honour at Homecoming on Saturday, September 24, 2022.
John attended Ashbury for one year, from 1962-1963. John was in boarding, and home was Simcoe, Ontario, located six hours west of Ottawa in Southwestern On tario. John’s one year at Ashbury was deeply impactful, providing an abundance of new experienc es, friendships, and academic and personal growth. John’s family’s circumstances did not provide the opportunity for him to continue his studies at Ashbury, and leaving the school he loved and the teachers and coaches he admired was extremely difficult.
Ashbury College is a non-profit or ganisation and registered charity. Like most independent schools in Canada, tuition covers the basic operating ex penses of the school. Enhancements to programs, facilities, and expand ed access to needs-based student financial assistance requires philan thropic support from our community. Donations are eligible for a charitable tax receipt and donor recognition opportunities. For more information, please contact Stephanie Young, Director of Development.
DevelopmentJohnHenderson
Why I Give – John Henderson ’65
If students, staff, parents, or alums are interested in get ting involved with this conference as volunteers or host families, please contact M. Eric Lavergne, Ashbury’s Round Square Coordinator, at elavergne@ashbury.ca. We are ex cited to bring the RS world back to Ashbury in 2023!.
We
Round Square at Ashbury in 2018.
thing positive from it, and “to carefully consider what we take from our environment and from the people around us, and always put back more than we take.”
In addition to travelling to conferences overseas, Ashbury hosted the RS International Conference in 2018–bringing RS students to our campus, city, and homes of our students. RS schools also host smaller focused conferences each year specific to regions but open to schools around the world in building on one or more of the RS IDEALS of Internationalism, Democracy, Envi ronment, Adventure, Leadership, and Service. Plans are developing for Ashbury to host our own conference in February 2023 with a winter theme on adventure, cli mate, and the environment.
are very excited that plans are in place for our students to travel again and interact with our international school peers within the Round Square network. The Round Square International Conference in En gland confirmed that they will host Ashbury’s delegation of 15 amongst the over 1000 delegates attending from around the world in September.
The RSIC2022 will start with three days at Oxford University before splitting out to four UK schools for the remainder of the week. This year’s conference theme was developed by students who felt that the past two years have provided an opportunity to understand what it means to “take less and be more.” Students noted that they have learnt to live with less in lockdown and were reminded that what they truly missed was being able to spend time with friends and hug family members. This conference is an opportunity to share that experience with their peers from around the world and make some
AN
Round Square NEWS & NOTES
Exciting News for Ashburians!
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CONNECTIONS THROUGH OUR GLOBAL COMMUNITY ON ASHBURY CONNECT!
CONNECT
FIND
Find and reminisce with fellow graduates, see what they have been up to and stay in touch. GIVE BACK Introduce, employ, and offer to act as a mentor to our graduating students. EXPAND Leverage your professional network to get introduced to people you should know. Visit www.ashburyconnect.com to sign up today! Upcoming Events: London UK Alumni Reception – September 21 Homecoming 2022 – September 23–25 Kingston Alumni Reception – October (Date TBC) Montreal Alumni Reception – November 1 Contact alumni@ashbury.ca for details. Follow us on social media: Instagram @ashbury.alumni Facebook /ashburians NEWS & NOTES
Stay Connected
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Alumni
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The StudiesSargaskayevwelcominglogicalTechnoDesignclasshadthepleasureofbackalumnusDulat’19,nowastudentoftheBachelorofArchitecturalprogramatCarletonUniversity,todiscusshisuniversityexperienceandfuturecareergoals. McGuire.ChristianDilawri,Johns,Wang,gen,CailinBenMcSweeny,Gay,toThankdestinations.universityaboutdecisionsinformedmaketo12GradewithexperiencessharedBusinesswhoAshburiansstudiedtheirour11andstudentshelpthemmoretheiryouKatieConnorRogers,CraiLaurenSophieNikand
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The Ashburian Network spans the globe, and we are fortunate to have so many alumni willing to help and connect with others!
’03
for a living and how they
A panel of alumni who are studying Computer Science spoke to students about their program and the journey that led them there. Becky Xie, Kyle Oppenheimer, studentssharedAlymovaAkhavan-Sarraf,RaminIrinaandMasonXiaotheirstorieswithandfaculty.
Panels
Andrew Huang joined for event of what they do got spoke pas sionately about pathway to a musician.
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Education and Career Pathway Panels
The Advancement Office, in partnership with University Counseling and Academic Department Heads, hosted a series of Education and Career Pathway Panels featuring a cross-section of alumni representing various univer sities, programs, geographic locations, and career path ways. Over the last year, senior students were invited to virtual panels for Engineering and Science, Social Scienc es, Computer Science, and Business. Panel sessions have helped foster the student-alumni connection and provid ed practical and applicable advice and guidance.
In March, we held an interactive anti-racism session with inclusion and anti-racism con sultant Destine Lord. During this 90-minute dialogue-based session, Destine built upon her October 2020 anti-racism presentation to the Ashbury alumni community, reviewing concepts related to allyship and sharing examples for alumni of where they can play a role. Destine’s presentation was rooted in the practical, focusing on how to apply these concepts in real life. AN
EducationDiversity
Anti-Racism Education
In April, we invited alumni to join us for a gender diversity education session with Dr. Lee Airton, Assistant Professor of Gen der and Sexuality Studies in Education at Queen’s University. In this interactive talk, Dr. Airton introduced us to the spectrum of gen der diversity and helped us leverage our own resources to lead a gender-friendly climate: one that welcomes all the ways in which people live gender. We also heard about Dr. Airton’s ongoing work with Ashbury staff and administrators to foster a gender-friend ly climate throughout the school community.
PANEL SESSIONS HAVE HELPED FOSTER THE STUDENTALUMNI CONNECTION AND PROVIDED PRACTICAL AND APPLICABLE ADVICE AND GUIDANCE.Gender
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earned New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) and New England Women’s Intercollegiate Women’s Soccer Association (NEWISA) all-conference first-team honours after going 8-2-5 with a 0.45 goals against average in goal for Babson College Women’s Soccer Team in the 2021 season.
Babson Athletics
’92 joined the finance faculty at NYUStern and assumed the leadership of the Stern Center for Real Estate Finance after six years serving as Dean and Silver stein Chair of the NYUSPS Schack Institute.
Jen Nash ’89 wrote a book called The Big Power of Tiny Connections - How Small Interactions Spark Awesome Outcomes, that was published on Jan 1 2022. The book has been discussed on CTV, and was selected as top book to read in 2022 by podcaster Zibby Owens “Mom’s Don’t Read Books” on Good Day DC (Fox).
BrendanMcGovern’09 ofthegynaecologyinresidentShannongovernmentforBrendanTorontocurrentlyandtage.family2021,onShannonmarriedBrentAugust1,attheircotBrendanShannonliveinwhereworksthefederalandisadoctorobstetricsandatUniversityToronto.
ASHBURY ALUMNI
ChatterMorganFedosiewich’19
SAshburyameerChandan
Toshka Besharah-Hrebacka ’21 won a bronze medal in the K2 200m event at the 2022 ICF Sprint Canoe and Paracanoe World Championships in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. Toshka also won a bronze medal in the K1-200m event at the 2021 Junior & U23 ICF Sprint World Championships in Monte mor-O-Velho, Portugal.
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Pamela Kajjouni ’08 and her husband Matthew Zahalan wel comed a baby boy named Tristan on November 27th.
Julianne Zussman ’04 (left) and Maggie Cogger-Orr ’09 (right), pictured during the recent Pacific Four Series in New Zealand have been selected to officiate at the upcoming Rugby World Cup 2021 New Zealand, October 8 - November 12, 2022.
Caroline Mierins ’10 married Matthew Parrott on October 15, 2021 at the Boston Public Library. The couple met in the Queen’s Commerce program and now live in New York City.
Kyla
Armstrong-Miller ’00 and Brent Devenne are proud to announce the arrival of their baby boy. Hudson James Douglas Devenne was born July 9th at 11:09 a.m. at Montfort Hospital in Ottawa. They hope Hudson will be a student at Ashbury College.
Lloyd Pandi ’17 capped off a re markable career with the Carleton Ravens in U Sports basketball, earning Carleton Men’s Athlete of the Year, OUA Men’s Athlete of the Year, OUA East Men’s Basketball MVP, U Sports Men’s Basketball MVP, All-OUA and All-Cana dian honours in 2021-22.
Paul Deepan ’78 recently published a book with Danny Geoffrion titled To Hold it High: Four Generations of Hock ey’s Most Storied Franchise. To Hold it High is a family story that recounts the on and off ice story of four gener ations of the Morenz-Geoffrion family who played for the same professional sports franchise (Montreal Canadiens), a feat not duplicated in any profession al sport.
Kiki Hamilton (née French) ’06 and husband Stuart welcomed daughter Isabelle Grace Hamilton on July 20, 2020. Older broth er Henry has been enjoying getting to know his little sister!
Valerie Wutti, Blitzen Photography
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Tyler Wilgress ’03 and Julie Chabot are pleased to announce the safe arrival of Dana Rita Wilgress, born on Friday, December 31, 2021. Thrilled grandmother is Vicky Wilgress, staff at Ashbury College.
Alex Polis ’07 married Cristina Ameneiro on September 11 at Son Dob lons in Mallorca, Spain. Alex and Cristina both live and work in London, England after meeting while studying in Madrid.
James Kenny ’02 and his wife Shannon welcomed son William Armstrong Kenny on December 26, 2021.
Christian Fabricius ’73 retired in July 2020 after 30 years as a lawyer in the Australian Public Service, preceded by three years in corporate and another four years following his graduation from the Austra lian National University (ANU) Law School in private legal practice. Christian worked on many notable files in his career, including assisting the Indig enous people in the Northern Territory to regain ownership of their land to the extent that they now own or have a claim to over 50% of the Northern Territory of Australia. Congrat ulations on your retirement, Christian!
Olivia Taggart ’08 and her hus band Arthur Manhire welcomed their first child on September 21, 2021: Bernadette (Birdie) Marcia Manhire, 8lbs, 1oz.
Colin Burn ’01 received a 2021 Lex pert Rising Stars: Leading Law yers Under 40 award, being recog nized for being an exemplary leader in his industry.
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Stevenson (née Rodrigues) ’07 and her husband Zachary welcomed their first child, Chloe Florence Stevenson on January 11, 2021. She is the first grandchild to all grandparents who could not be more thrilled with her arrival. The new family of three recently relocated to Naples, Florida, from Dallas, Texas, where they contin ue to both work as attorneys.
Rachael
Four generations of the Teron family! Standing behind Briar is her father Chris ’76, who is a Life Governor of Ashbury College. Next to Briar is her grandmother Jean Teron, who joined Ashbury College’s Board of Governors in 1978 and was the first woman Chair to the Board of Governors from 1986 to 1989.
Dylan Goodman/Harvard Athletics
Dr. Briar Dent (née Teron) ’04 and her husband Craig welcomed their first son, Christopher James on August 29, 2021.
David Zussman, life governor of Ashbury College and parent of Richard ’02 and Julianne ’04 was appointed as a Member of the Order of Canada for a long and distinguished career in academia, government and the not-for-profit sector.
ASHBURY
NoahKirkwoodA. ’17 was signed by the NBA’s Brook lyn Nets in June 2022, joining the Nets for the NBA Summer League. Noah capped off a inIvyours13CoachestionNationalthebeforecareerdistinguishedatHarvardsigningwithNets,earningAssociaofBasketballAll-DistrictFirstTeamhonandFirst-TeamLeagueHonourshissenioryear.
James Patrick ’05, de buted his most recent project, Son of a Critch, on CBC on January 4. The series tells the story of 11-year-old Mark Critch’s coming of age in New foundland in the 1980s.
Several Ashburians were in attendance
Alexa Young ’01 was named a recipient of the Business in Vancouver 40 Under 40 award for her contributions to the business and broader BC community.
L-R: Sarah Leenen ’05, Peter Leenen ’09, Marissa Castelli, Dr. David Leenen ’07, Michael Aquino ’07 and Rob Dunlop ’07.
ALUMNI
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Dr. David Leenen ’07 married Marissa Castelli (two time, U.S. National Pairs figure Skating Champion and Sochi Olympian) on September 24, 2021 at Ocean Cliff in Newport, Rhode Island. David recently graduated from Brown University’s Surgical Program. He will be moving to Portland, Oregon for a one year fellowship in MIS (Minimally Invasive Surgery) at Providence Portland Medical Center in Oregon.
Donna Carruthers, mother to Lisanne ’90, Allison ’92 and Kenny ’95
Dr. Parsegh Ashekian, father of Armen ’97
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John Kelly, life governor, father of Meredith, John, Andrew ’05, Bobby ’09 and Matthew ’07
Harold Wirth, father of Christopher ’82
The Honourable David Kilgour, former Board member, father of Margot, Eileen ’97, David ’00, Hilary ’03 and Tierra
Ean Higgins ’76
Pauline Grainger, mother of Stuart ’83 David Gueulette, former staff
Jill Bates, mother of Josh ’85 and Simon ’90 Roger (Tony) Bidwell ’43
Jeff Rockburn, father of Jasper ’23 Barry Turner, former staff Mike Widdrington ’56
Please note that every effort has been made to include members of the Ashbury community. Any omission from this list is accidental.
Chris Nowakowski ’55
Devon Gowling ’00
In Memoriam
Bruce Hicks ’79
John Lawson ’53 Mikola Mahiga ’93
Dr. Joel Niznick, father of Harrison ’08, Naomi ’10 and Liam ’17
Dr. Peter McLaine, former Board member, father of Andrew ’86, Ian ’90 and Michael ’91 Douglas Moulton ’48
Philip Garel-Jones, father of Philip ’13, Caroline ’09, and Nicholas ’16
OTTAWA CANADA Ashbury College 362 avenue Mariposa Avenue Ottawa, ON K1M Addressashbury.ca0T3errors and corrections can be forwarded to alumni@ashbury.ca
