ISSUE 01
C A P T I VAT E
M AY 2 0 1 7
SPECIAL THANKS Jane Doe, Magazine Person Jane Doe, Magazine Person Jane Doe, Magazine Person Jane Doe, Magazine Person Jane Doe, Magazine Person
04
A WORD FROM PETER
05
OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS
07
OUR EXECUTIVE TEAM
09
ALUMNI PROGRAM
10
ALUMNI FEATURES
19
BRAND STORY
21
BUILDER SERIES - BOB TOLSMA
23
PETRYK SCHOLARSHIP
24
UNLEASHING THE POWER OF SOCIAL MEDIA
25
CONTRIBUTORS SERIES
27
ADVISORY BOARD
28
ALUMNI DEFINITION
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SHARE YOUR STORY
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UPCOMING EVENTS
Many alumni have shared that their CA experiences helped shape them into the successful people that they are today.
A WORD FROM PETER Dear Alumni, Calgary Academy first opened its doors in 1981 and since
Calgary Academy has a supportive and vibrant Alumni
that time has served more than 4,000 students from the
community and we would love to hear from all of you. Please
Calgary community.
let us know what you think of Captivate, and what you’d like
Over the years, we have truly appreciated Alumni dropping in to chat. It’s inspiring to hear about your specific accomplishments
to see more of in the future. This is meant for you! Yours truly,
and successes after Calgary Academy. Many Alumni have shared that their CA experiences helped shape them into the successful people they are today. More specifically, they say as students they learned to believe in themselves and developed the “grit” that continues to serve them well. A number of Alumni have indicated a keen interest in keeping
P eter Istvanffy PETER ISTVANFFY President & CEO
current on the school and their peers are up to now. So as we
HELLO FRIENDS,
start our 36th year of operation we are delighted to announce
For those of you who haven’t met me yet, my name is Maureen Schwartz, and I joined the Calgary
the creation of this Alumni magazine, Captivate.
Academy community in April of 2016. I bring 20 years of Alumni development experience from my time at the University of Lethbridge, and when I was offered the opportunity to build a new
We want this magazine to be a meaningful engagement
program here at CA, I couldn’t turn it down. The more I learn about the school and the people
piece for you; a place to reconnect, learn more about what CA
who work and learn here, the more I love it. I’ve been truly welcomed into the CA family, and can’t
and our Alumni are up to now and how you can get involved. Many Alumni have volunteered their time and expertise for
wait to start adding joy to your lives the way you’ve added it to mine!
This magazine is one of many tools I’ll be using to connect with you and other CA alums – be they former students, graduates, faculty and families. No student graduates without help from his or
various Alumni events over the last year, including for our
her support network and our Alumni community will honour everyone who has contributed to
speaker series and Career Day. A special thank you is due to
those successes. You can expect to see this magazine twice a year, and within it, we’ll share recaps
those Alumni: you have helped enhance the work we do to
of major events, features of outstanding Alumni, the benefits we can offer you and upcoming events and opportunities for you to stay connected to the CA community.
support current students’ futures. We value the inspiration you give and hope you find engaging with them to be a rewarding and fun experience too!
Please feel free to share this with anyone you think may be interested, and reach out if you have any questions. I’m listening!
MAUREEN SCHWARTZ Alumni Engagement Lead, Calgary Academy
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04
OUR BOARD Great
organizations
leadership,
and
require
Calgary
great
Academy
is
fortunate to have an outstanding Board of Directors. Led by the incomparable Jim Gray (read more on page 25) and supported
by
a
team
of
passionate
advocates for education and learning, our Board of Directors provides governance, support and community advocacy. With a team that includes prominent business people, parents of students and Alumni and a co-founders of Calgary Academy, our Board’s commitment and dedication to CA exemplifies the impact one school can have on a community.
05
Great organizations require great leadership, and Calgary Academy is fortunate to have an outstanding Board of Directors.
DOUGLAS MAY
GARY PURCELL
DAVID ROBINSON
SALIMAH WALJI-SHIVAJI
JOHN R. STANKIEWICZ
JAMES K. GRAY
WAYNE HENUSET
LAWRENCE H. LEE
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OUR EXECS For many years, Calgary Academy has
operated
independently
of its foundation and research team. In June 2016, the three organizations were aligned under one new umbrella organization, the Headwater Learning Group, with a single Board of Directors and a coordinated executive leadership team. The executive leadership team is tasked with charting the strategic direction of our organization and
PETER ISTVANFFY
in turn, with ushering in a new
TIM CARLSON
DANA BRAUNBERGER
NIGEL ISTVANFFY
JESSICA RICHMOND
President and CEO
Chief School Officer
Chief Performance Officer
Chief Business Officer
Chief Innovation Officer
As an education leader for more
As Calgary Academy’s current Principal,
A former Calgary Academy teacher,
A proud Calgary Academy alumnus,
A former Calgary Academy teacher
than 40 years, Peter has led the
Tim balances his strategic responsibilities
academic dean and principal, Dana brings
Nigel works as Chief Business Officer,
and principal, Jessica championed two
growth
and
with being the senior face of the CA
a wealth of remediation and education
responsible for the strategic leadership
key Collegiate initiatives, an electives
the transformation of our subsidiary
leadership team. A former academic
experience to the leadership team. As
and senior management of all business
program and new X Block class, which
businesses into the Headwater Learning
dean and vice principal, Tim now
CPO, Dana is responsible for developing
functions
quickly became flagship components
Group. A former teacher and principal
leads the daily operations of Calgary
the systems and tools that measure
Nigel also provides strategic oversight
of the Collegiate program.
at Calgary Academy, Peter has since
Academy and nurtures and supports
performance across the organization.
in the identification, envisioning and
Chief Innovation Officer, Jessica leads
served as President and CEO for over
the implementation of new ideas and
She is also responsible for the academic
development of business, partnership
the applied research and development
20 years.
innovations throughout the school
oversight of the Reading, Writing and
and
team as they identify, design and pilot
Math Learning Centres; which, provide
Headwater in the community.
era for Calgary Academy and the Headwater Learning Group.
of
Calgary
Academy
CA
and
community
students
within
consulting
the
organization.
opportunities
for
Now as
education innovations.
with
individualized remedial support.
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08
ALUMNI PROGRAM
A L U M N I F E AT U R E
Built on the vision of a global community in which all
A lot has been accomplished. First and ongoing, we
Alumni engage with each other and Calgary Academy,
had to find you, our Alumni, and in today’s age, there
CA has taken great steps to develop a program where
is no greater way to do that but to establish an Alumni
all Alumni can participate.
Facebook group. The number of Alumni that have
It has been just a year since a permanent position was hired to assist with turning this vision into a reality. Through connecting Alumni with students and developing Alumni benefits, this position is striving to meet the needs of all Alumni.
At Calgary Academy, we know the definitions of success are as unique as our students. To that end, our goal is always to give students the tools
remained in contact with their teachers, years after
they need to define their futures, for themselves, in their own ways
they have graduated, is astonishing. This is a testament
- and that’s reflected here, in the Alumni Feature. From idle curiosity
to the incredible impact our teachers make on our students. The task of tracking all of our Alumni down is huge and ongoing, with new members added to our database daily.
First Alumni Student Career Day – Grades 9 – 12. After the success of the Lecture Series, word rapidly spread through our Alumni community that coming back and telling their story was an option, and we realized there was an opportunity to host the first ever Career Day. We were overwhelmed by the number of interested participants and can’t
Alumni Strategic Plan is
First Alumni Student Lecture
approved. Recognizing Alumni
Series. Our Alumni have incredible
are great CA ambassadors, the
life journeys and have used their
strategic plan was built around
experiences at CA as building
Alumni pride and the positive
Calgary Academy establishes
01
their efforts – both professional and personal. We sat down with four Alumni from an array of graduation years for in-depth interviews. What we learned is there are multiple roads to success.
many people actively giving back to the CA community.
First Alumni Networking
Andrew McMurray, who came back
Launch of Alumni Benefit Card.
and spoke with Grade 11 and 12
We asked ourselves, why should
students about how his six years at
Universities be the only ones
CA gave him the skills required for
with Alumni benefit cards? So
Calgary Academy knows the
An Alumni Engagement Lead
Event. Around our already
success in both university and as
we started our own. This card will
started mid-April, with the
successful “Dig Pink” event, our
an engineer. His presentation was
give all of our Alumni perks and
the value of Alumni as part
important task of developing
Alumni met at World Bier Haus
fantastic and clearly impacted the
discounts at multiple Calgary
of the CA community, the CA
a global Alumni community in
and reconnected with each
students, as they were lined up for
stores and eateries – most often
executive team made the
which all Alumni can engage
other. We were ecstatic to see
over an hour after the event to ask
with direct ties back to the CA
decision to create a full time
with each other and the Calgary
graduates from a wide range of
Mr. Tolsma “how can we do what
community. Read more about
Alumni position.
Academy community.
years participate.
he does?” Thank you, Andrew!
these cards on page 28.
2017
2016 APRIL
our Alumni have experienced and in turn, celebrating and recognizing
came out to talk to our current
value of Alumni. Recognizing
FALL
graduated, this section is about telling the unique stories and journeys
lecture series event featured alum
community.
2015
outstanding and inspiring accomplishments they’ve achieved since they
students. It is amazing having so
blocks for success today. Our first
effect Alumni have on the CA
a full time Alumni position.
thank enough all of those who
about what your former classmates are up to, to shock and awe at the
OCTOBER
NOVEMBER
2018 JANUARY
10
DENIS SIMONS 1990 For Denis Simons, attending Calgary Academy for grades 11 and 12
Advantage Health again proved to be a successful model and rapidly
gave him the structure needed to succeed. “I needed CA’s structure
grew. In 2009, Denis and his partners sold the practice to a larger
to help get me across the finish line.”
national company, and although he initially stayed on to run several
That first finish line was graduating high school and that led to a degree in biology (he laughs that prior to CA, he’d failed a high
Denis’ work today involves bridging multiple practices and as a
subject). Following his undergraduate program, he attended the
result redefining how health care is enacted. Instead of “pinballing”
Western States Chiropractic College (now the University of Western
around the health care system, clients can visit Momentum Health
States) in Portland, Oregon, graduating magna cum laude.
for a variety of collaboratively delivered services including sports
that required doing things his way. After receiving certification, his entrepreneurial spirit took hold and he started Penny Lane Chiropractic and Health. The clinic was multidisciplinary with two other healthcare professions: massage therapy and Traditional
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Advantage Health and founded Momentum Health Westbrook.
school biology class, and now has a post-secondary degree in the
For Denis, doing things differently was always in the cards, and
Don’t let obstacles get in your way: find a way around them, get creative. You need to figure out what you’re good at, and then go do that...
Alberta locations, he soon left and rejoined his original partners from
medicine, physiatry, nurse practitioners, chiropractic, physiotherapy, massage therapy, injection therapy and others. The vision is to create a truly collaborative care system under one umbrella, and it is in this setting that Denis leads the Westbrook team as the clinic director.
Chinese medicine. The practice grew steadily until 2006, when
He’s come a long way from failing biology 10, and throughout it
the Penny Lane building was torn down, and Denis had his sights
all, his biggest life lesson is how far positive energy can take you.
on a new challenge, and a new kind of clinic. Partnering with a
“Don’t let obstacles get in your way: find a way around them, get
physiotherapist, Denis joined Advantage Health. At the time,
creative. You need to figure out what you’re good at, and then go
Advantage Health was one of the first practices in the city to
do that. And if there’s parts of your dream that you aren’t good at,
combine those two disciplines. Today, the combination is now
find someone to help you who passionately wants the same things
commonplace, particularly across Alberta.
as you.”
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S E A N F E TA Z 2 0 1 2 Many people dream of a career on stage or in front of the camera,
Since graduating, Sean’s done work in theatre and in film. Over the
but few actually get there. Sean Fetaz (’12) is one of the persistent
summer, he worked with Theatre Calgary’s Shakespeare by the Bow
ones. The Academy graduate attended Calgary Academy for grades
in A Comedy of Errors – his first professional theatre gig. It was
10-12, and since then, has worked in film and television on a variety
meaningful because it was the first time he got paid for what he
of projects, many that you’ll recognize.
loves to do. Throughout university, he kept busy with extra work in
If you think the trick to his success was knowing what he wanted from a young age, and diligently pursuing it over 12 years of school, you’d be wrong. Sean’s “aha” moment didn’t hit him until grade 10, when, while wandering down a CA hallway one day he heard
major productions you’ll know the names of: the television show Hell on Wheels, and the Oscar-nominated films Interstellar and The Revenant. He’s also photo doubled (like a stand-in, but in costume) in the show Fargo as a guy getting stabbed in the back of the head.
students rehearsing for the upcoming West Side Story. Caught
Today, Sean has just wrapped up Wynonna Earp, a new SyFy
spying, Sean was welcomed into the Black Box Theatre and a
television show that features his first speaking role on TV. The show
role was still available. After an initial hesitation – he had never
premiered on April 1, and Sean can be found in episode 13 as the
attempted to sing and dance – Sean signed up, and the acting bug
character Chip. He was also just cast as the male lead in Calgary’s
was officially caught.
upcoming Ignite! Theatre Festival in the theatre show A Millenial’s
His Grade 11 year featured him in the lead role for the musical Oliver (his first singing role), as well as stage-managing the junior show of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Then in Grade 12, Sean again took the lead, this time in Big: the musical; where he put forth a performance that impressed teachers, parents and his peers – turns out he was good at the acting stuff too. So how did he turn high school performances and a dream of professional acting into a reality? By not having a backup plan. “In terms of your career, never have a plan B. By planning to fail, you tell yourself its OK to fail. I never had a backup plan. I’m going for it.” He tempers his ambition and enthusiasm with a hint of reality. “I’m not giving up until I get my Oscar, but I know it might take some time.”
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EDITOR’S NOTE: The Ignite! Festival for Emerging Artists will run in Calgary from June 6-10, 2017. For details on the productions, and how to see Sean in action, visit sagetheatre.com
Guide to Dating in the 21st Century. It’s currently audition season, so you’ll find Sean busy looking for his next production - the next step in his only plan. We always hear the cliché “do something you love and you’ll never work a day in your life” – isn’t it nice to hear someone who listened? Congrats, Sean, and don’t forget us when it comes time for that Oscars acceptance speech!
Surround yourself with people who want to see you thrive and who support who you want to be in life. 14
DR. MICHAEL GALLAGHER 2001 As a child, Michael dreamed of being an astronaut. Later on, visions
“Patients push you to be a better version of yourself. What I’m doing
of becoming a heart or brain surgeon became his goal. While at
comes with a lot of responsibility, which is a huge motivation to
Calgary Academy for grades 8-12, the career goals continued to
keep studying, keep learning, keep trying to be the best I can be.”
shift and drift, but years later, he’s pursuing those original dreams in tangible, albeit different, ways.
In 2010, while still in medical school, Michael completed an aerospace medicine elective at Kennedy Space Center where he
For Michael, there never was one particular “aha” moment. “My
was part of NASA’s medical triage forces during the launch and
career progression has always been something that evolved
landing of space shuttle Discovery. That brought him back to his
naturally. I looked at university as a way of figuring out what I’d like
childhood dreams, and now Michael also works as President and
to do. Ultimately I ended up in the life sciences program. Then when
CEO of Astronauts4Hire, an organization that designs medical
I applied to medical school, I didn’t get in at first; so I took some
space experiments and technologies.
time to consider my options. That time helped me confirm being a doctor was what I wanted to do, so I gave it one more shot. Luckily, I got in.”
In terms of major life lessons learned, Michael has one major theme: “Keep a few options on the table. Have a few futures planned out. At any point, I could pivot to this or that with a minimal shift.” This
Today, Michael works as a primary care physician at the Canadian
allows the minor disappointments – like not getting into medical
Forces Base in Edmonton, working with soldiers and their families
school the first time – to push you to reflect on your commitment
as patients. He also works at the Miseriacordia Community Hospital
and your readiness so that you are fully prepared for whatever
and in small communities on rural locums.
comes next.
Looking back and seeing where you started can make you really grateful for how far you’ve come. 15
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E R I N L I N D S KO G 2 0 0 6 For Erin Lindskog (’06), she’s always known what she wanted to do,
With a clear love of travel, Erin was looking for a career that would
but it’s been a winding route to get there. Following graduation,
be challenging, inspiring and flexible. A flight attendant role with
Erin’s path blended the traditional with the unconventional,
WestJet checked all of the boxes. Four years later, Erin wouldn’t
beginning with two years at St. Francis Xavier University in Nova
have done it any other way. “In any given week, I’m in at least four
Scotia. “I never wanted to go to university; I wanted to be a pastry
different cities, exploring downtowns and meeting people.”
chef. But my parents encouraged me to at least get a degree. And they were right – my university experience was incredibly valuable.”
But as everyone who’s been on a plane knows, while the destinations and passengers are exciting dynamics, the actual flight experience
After two years of school, Erin was ready for a belated gap year,
is routine. As time went on, Erin realized she needed a creative
during which she moved to Copenhagen to work as an au pair (a
outlet to balance the day job she loved.
nanny). “That was the year I grew up, and learned the importance of being lonely and learning to survive.” She then moved back to
“Last July I was encouraged to just launch the pastry idea that had been kicking around in my head since high school.”
Canada to finish school, transferring her degree to the University of Calgary and completing a Bachelors of Communications. With the degree checked off her “to-do” list, she uprooted once again and moved to London to finally pursue her true dream – pastry school at Le Cordon Bleu. She further honed her craft with an internship at The Ritz London, before returning home.
And so Humble Pie and People was born. Through a new website and an Instagram account featuring artisan shots of her works of art, demand for Erin’s pies skyrocketed. “It was just this fun experiment that turned into much more than I anticipated!” Online buzz led to an interview on CTV, and now, her online success has drawn international attention. With plans to start an apron line and invitations to teach pie-making workshops in Europe, Erin’s looking to the future. “I don’t really have a plan – I’m just going with it for now and enjoying every moment of it.” When asked if her unconventional balance of careers gives her any second thoughts, she’s quick to shake her head. “I love the excitement of not knowing exactly where things are going, and
EDITOR’S NOTE: You can learn more about Erin’s pies at @humblepiesandpeople on instagram.
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having the potential to create something entirely my own.”
Put yourself in a position when you are happy and challenged and motivated, and the rest works its way out. 18
BRAND STORY We Are Calgary Academy: Bringing a community together Byline: Cassandra Bianchini, Marketing Manager
For more than 30 years, Calgary Academy had grown and
STEP 1
developed into a school unlike any other. In response to increasing business and market complexity, in August 2014, school leadership made the decision to hire a full-time inhouse marketing role. This decision allowed me to build off the incredible work the school had accomplished, and I came in ready to help make sure the community saw the CA brand
STEP 2
reflect the exemplary school I’d come to learn it was.
school, CA had no formalized brand. It had several versions of a similar logo, and lots of different pieces, but there was little consistency in how it described itself, or how it presented itself. As I spent time getting to know the people who work and learn here, I began to understand the underlying brand characteristics. A staff fiercely proud of their students and their school, but also inordinately humble. Students who diligently and confidently face their learning challenges. This was a culture unlike any other because it is a school unlike any other. Calgary Academy was a place of new beginnings, a place where students who were struggling with their school experience could realize their full potential and where new opportunities were created every day; where nurturing and understanding staff transformed worn down students into vibrant, curious people. This school was so much more than the current brand, and that signaled a tantalizing opportunity.
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STEP 3
A new visual identity. A brand is so much more than its logo, but
We believe CA connects with both
of the purples from the primary logo
the logo is a person’s first impression, so
associations and purple gave us that
colour palette.
it has to be perfect. A total of three logos
freedom to be ourselves. Orange and
were developed for Calgary Academy, a
yellow were chosen as supplementary
primary logo, a formal logo and a Knights
colours because they are associated with
Athletics logo.
energy and fun. The most common word
THE PROCESS To reflect the people who make this place amazing, talk to them. We needed to ensure what we developed was based on what the people who learn and work here experience and know to be true. We asked them what CA means to them? What matters most about the CA community? And what keeps them coming back and connected? All told, we had 42 face-to-face interviews with staff, students, parents and Alumni.
• The intent of this logo is to provide a badge of honor to our graduates and to
give our Alumni an image that is all their own.
used to describe the CA experience by students was fun, and all it takes is a walk
PRIMARY LOGO
down our halls to see and feel the energy.
The primary logo is the hand, which was designed to symbolize the integral pieces of CA.
• Finally, we have a special font to represent CA. What you’ll notice is that the
ATHLETICS LOGO Finally, it was time to refresh our Knights logo.
horizontal line in the A has a slight curvature – a quirky feature. This is intentional! We are a unique group of people and always want to celebrate it!
Validate the trends. Qualitative data was translated into a quantitative survey to provide all staff and parents the opportunity to share their insights and further validate our findings.
From an outsider’s perspective, despite being a remarkable
STEP 4
40% of our current parents completed the survey and 100% of staff participated.
SECONDARY LOGO
• This new version is inspired by the plume
• First, knowing that REACH is such an integral part of the school each finger
The secondary logo is an updated coat of
of a knight’s helmet.
of the hand represents one element
arms – as Alumni, this is your logo!
• Using the yellow and orange from the
of these guiding principles. Develop the framework. To unearth what makes CA so special we needed to develop two things: brand values and brand characteristics Brand values represent what matters most to a specific community. In the case of CA, those values are REACH, consistency, support and innovation. These values were shared across the groups: parents, staff, students, Alumni, and so together these values bound our community and enabled the growth of deep roots and connections. Brand characteristics are unique in that they are not dictated by the community, but instead are identified by the team of researchers we worked with, as characteristics emulating what our perceived personality is - after meeting us. Our four characteristics are: enthusiasm, unique, compassion, intentional. They are extremely important, as every piece of communication must reinforce at least one of them.
logo, the plume was updated to look like
• The slight curvature creates a welcoming
flames to show everyone that CA is a force
to be reckoned with. The asymmetrical
feeling, something everyone experiences
design
when they join the CA community.
STEP 5
• One of the biggest changes made was the decision to move away from blue as
modernizes
the
logo
while
keeping the helmet design the focus. Put the new brand to work!
our official colour, and it wasn’t taken
To bring the brand to life, we’ve updated
lightly!
the colours inside the school, changed the
After
much
debate
over
what blue means, other schools and
organizations using it and the experience
we create at CA it was decided that blue didn’t represent the best of CA. We chose to move to purple because it has
• Does
it
look
familiar?
It
should!
This modern take on our traditional coat of arms allows us to pack a lot of punch in a small space. • This
see
sophistication,
sophisticated while incorporating all of
prestige, even royalty. Others associate
the key elements from the original coat
of arms. It also exclusively utilizes one
and
see
purple with creativity and enlightenment.
is
both
name a few things. We’ve also redesigned the
Calgary
Academy
website,
and
brought consistency to all promotional and external pieces. We also worked with
two primary associations. Some people purple
logo
signage, and updated our apparel – just to
prestigious
and
the Alumni department to deliver this fully branded new magazine exclusive to you!
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BUILDER SERIES BOB TO L SM A C A R EER DEV ELOPMENT DIRECTOR At Calgary Academy, we’ve always had outstanding staff willing to go
The premise of the comprehensive program is simple, and yet at the
the extra distance for our students. We’ve also been fortunate to have
time, it was incredibly unique: in grade 10, Bob and the students have
an exceptional few who stand out even from their esteemed peers.
a conversation about the students’ interests and future goals. Then
We call these people the builders.
in grade 11, they meet again to review that student’s grades and course selection, and look for alignment with their end goal. Finally,
They’re the people who come to CA and leave more than an enduring mark on our students; they leave a legacy for the entire organization. We are thrilled to kick off this series with Mr. Bob
grade 12 brings the realities of those decisions: exploring program requirements, comparing schools, applying to post-secondary and looking at scholarships.
Tolsma who has made an immeasurable impact as the builder of our Career Development Program.
It’s no quick and easy task. All in all, Bob spends over 30 hours of individualized time with every high school student. When asked
Thirty-one years ago, Mr. Bob Tolsma started at CA as the grade 12 English teacher. As he supplemented classroom instruction with informal guidance on students’ plans after graduation, it quickly dawned on him that CA needed a more methodical and systematic program to help students plan and prepare for life as graduates. He took over the Alberta Education-mandated class, Career and Life Management (CALM), of which about 30% of the program focused
to estimate how many students he’s helped, there’s no hesitation: thousands. In his 31 years, Bob has helped, in one way or another, every CA student with his or her aspirations after graduation. Bob’s support is there for as long as students, or Alumni need it. He even continues to offer guidance, advice and support to Alumni after they’ve secured
My high school experience was rather checkered… I have a lot in common with kids here – their path is an evolutionary process.
their diploma and crossed the graduation stage. “I’m here to help students for as long as I can… My door is always open.”
on career planning. School President and CEO Peter Istvanffy was there in the program’s Mr. Tolsma began to develop a comprehensive three-year career development program, as he believed the CALM program, completed in one semester, wasn’t enough to set students up for lasting success.
early days, and has seen the positive outcomes of it firsthand. “Bob has left an indelible imprint on our students and Alumni. His program has given students greatly increased confidence in the decisions they
“It occurred to me that up until grade 12, most students had never
make in high school. We see our students increasingly sticking with the
had to make a decision about their future before. Year after year, it’s
choices they’ve made, exponentially more than before.” And for that we
determined for them. I didn’t want them making that first choice
say “thank you Bob. You have built a truly special and unique piece of
lightly.”
the CA program. Your impact has and continues to be immeasurable.”
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UNLEASHING THE POWER OF SOCIAL MEDIA By: Jenna Matthews, Social Media Specialist
PETRYK SCHOL ARSHIP Alumnus Gives Back
Consistent in everything we’ve learned about CA is that
While we’ve already begun our journey, your support will
our people are proud – and rightly so. For more than 35
help get our message out louder and faster. Like, follow and
years, Calgary Academy has positively impacted the lives
tweet us! CA doesn’t need any internet gimmicks – we’re
of more than 4,000 students. Many of our students faced
simply showcasing our school, our students and our people,
adversity before coming to us, but through commitment
and that authenticity is what will help us connect with others
and perseverance, and with the help and support of our
around the world. The CA community is filled with amazing
staff, they achieved success in and outside of the classroom.
people, and our social media accounts will simply provide
Leaving CA, they have the skills, knowledge and confidence
the stage you all deserve.
to conquer future challenges.
Check us out on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn
Nick Petryk (’12) has worked with Calgary Academy to establish the
During Nick’s time at Calgary Academy, he credited his teachers
Nick Petryk YES (Youth Empowered for Success) Scholarship for
with making a difference in his life. “The teachers [at CA] are
This story is a happy one, and we believe it needs to be shared
and Pinterest. If you have any questions, please email us at
grade 12 students beginning in May 2018. One $1,500 scholarship
focused on more than just your success in high school classes; they
with as many people as possible. We’re leveraging the power
social@calgaryacademy.com
will be awarded annually to a grade 12 student with an intent to
are interested in you achieving success throughout your life.
of social media to shine a spotlight on the amazing work our
pursue business after graduation, who achieved an average of 70% or higher in his or her grade 11 year. Describing CA as his “beloved school,” Nick always knew he wanted to establish a scholarship for
“The main thing is that CA figures out your particular learning style and caters to that rather than trying to fit you into a predetermined box.”
ambitious and hardworking CA students. The Nick Petryk YES Scholarship will be the newest addition to the “I vehemently believe that everyone should have the opportunity
more than 15 scholarships offered by Calgary Academy each year.
to do what he or she wants and become their own definition of success. I want this scholarship to be based on their vision of themselves in the future.”
Thanks, Nick!
students, staff and Alumni are doing within the walls of CA and in our community. As part of a comprehensive social media strategy, in
Twitter: @CalgaryAcademy Facebook: wearecalgaryacademy
February we launched an official Facebook page and shifted
Instagram: CalgaryAcademy
the focus of our Instagram and Twitter accounts to position
Pinterest: calgaryacademy
CA as a leader in specialized education experiences. With your help, we’ll be showing the city of Calgary and the world
LinkedIn: Calgary Academy
the potential we help unleash in our students.
To apply, students will submit a 1-page essay on “what being a leader means to them.” In addition to financial support, recipients will also receive opportunities for mentorship as they pursue their business goals - either in school or through their entrepreneurial endeavors.
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CONTRIBUTORS SERIES
THE FOUNDING FOUR When a group of committed individuals come together, amazing
with second-hand office furniture, it rented space in unused wings of
things can happen. That’s the story of Calgary Academy, known
CBE schools and it ran with a talented, but minimal staff.
today as a pillar in the special education community. But back in the beginning, it was a fledgling school striving to meet the unique needs of students with learning disabilities who had not found
As our school grows older each year, it becomes
A school cannot exist or succeed on its own, and
more important to reflect on where we came
our lasting success is the culmination of the efforts
from, and the people who helped us get to where
of so many, including the wholly altruistic efforts
impassioned advocates pushing for government and community
we are today. It took the tireless efforts of so many
of our external contributors.
action, Calgary Academy would not be where it is today without the
to ensure our survival, particularly in the early days. This Contributors feature will showcase and recognize the ones outside our organization who committed their time, their talents and/or their financial support to the CA legacy.
For us, there was no better starting point for this feature than our founding four, and the story of the four men on a mission to start this school and ensure its long-lasting success.
success in the traditional education system. From the initial concept, to the driving forces behind turning that idea into a reality, to the
enduring support of its four founding members: Jim Gray, Doug Rogan, George Perry and James Chaput.
years later they had 83 students and 19 staff. But with growth came other challenges. They’d outgrown their rented space, and they were teetering on the brink of bankruptcy. Something needed to change, and our founders weren’t afraid to keep adjusting until they got things perfect. 1985 was a year of dramatic change that effectively charted the course for the successes we see today. First,
The first name you need to know when it comes to Calgary Academy is James K. Gray, or as he likes to be known, Jim. A prominent geologist and oilmen, he was also the father of a child who was struggling with ADHD and performing poorly in school. Recognizing the public system wasn’t set up to help students like his son, Jim went looking for alternative options, and he found the Denver Academy - an American school that specialized in helping students with learning disabilities. Jim’s son saw immediate success in the program, and in the summer of 1980, Jim decided there was a need to bring the Denver Academy model to Calgary.
Jim and Doug had to use their savvy business skills to mitigate the probability the banks would call CA loans, during a time that saw interest rates dramatically rise and other small non-profits crumble. Concerned by how far in the red CA was running, the board took on a more active role, and that started with appointing a new chairman of the board, someone we describe as the “fourth founder” Jim Chaput.
Bringing a school from concept to reality isn’t a job for just one person,
Another parent of a Calgary Academy child and a Jim Gray business
so Jim reached out to his business colleagues to help. The first step
partner, Mr. Chaput led the school like it was his own. He was a visible
was to establish personal guarantors for the financial commitment
leader in the school, present, engaged and essential to bringing the
to start the school; Jim called upon his long-time friend and fellow
school community together. With that leadership, only two years later,
engineer Doug Rogan who readily jumped on board. George Perry,
in 1987, Calgary Academy was back in the black, bigger than ever and
a Red Deer-based accountant, contributed financial expertise and
officially graduated Alberta’s first fully learning disabled class.
support, and joined them on the project. The school’s initial founder group was established.
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And it worked. The first year they had 45 students and 12 staff. Three
Jim Chaput knew that for long-term success, the school needed a leader who had a unique blend of expertise in education, business and
Even before Calgary Academy’s first days, Jim, Doug and George were
entrepreneurship. Someone ambitious, charismatic and someone he
united in the perspective that the school had to run as a business and
could work hand in hand with to continue to build Calgary Academy.
that the goal had to be financial independence. Any other way, the
That leader’s name was Peter, and in the next edition of Captivate,
school wouldn’t survive. So they kept costs low: the school was filled
we’ll tell his story… 26
ALUMNI DEFINITION For the purposes of this advisory board, as well as future alumni efforts, we’ve created a definition of who is a Calgary Academy Alumnus: At this time, there is no distinction
HONORARY MEMBERS
ADVISORY BOARD
We’re pleased to announce the formation of the first-ever Calgary
ASSOCIATE MEMBERS GRADUATE MEMBERS
Any person who did not graduate from Calgary Academy but completed at least one year
Any person who has graduated from Calgary Academy.
at the school.
• Current and Past Members of the Board. • All current faculty and staff of the Calgary Academy. • Past faculty and staff also referred to as Alumni Staff
in terms of benefits or services provided to the different classifications of Alumni. If you have questions or comments regarding the Alumni Advisory Board, please contact Maureen Schwartz, Alumni Engagement, at alumni@calgaryacademy.com
• Family of graduate and associate members. This would include parents and grandparents.
Academy Alumni Advisory Board! The Alumni Advisory Board will assist with
BENEFITS
identifying opportunities for Alumni to engage with Calgary Academy. The Board will also provide advice to CA on issues involving Alumni, and serve as the representative voice of the entire CA Alumni community. In the fall edition of this magazine, detailed profiles of our advisory board members will be available for you. Until then, the group wants to hear from you! If you have ideas for events or how to strengthen the relationship between you and the school, email alumni@calgaryacademy.com.
Did you know our growing Alumni program offers services exclusive to you? In addition to planning engagement events, we’re hard at work developing benefits that will add value to your life as a Calgary Academy Alumnus!
ALUMNI CARD Calgary Academy Alumni are eligible for our new Alumni Card, which entitles them to discounts at a variety of local businesses, and the list keeps growing! Many businesses with connections to CA or local to Calgary have extended a special discount. Simply show your discount card at a participating business and enjoy the discounts! For more information on the card and a list of the businesses, email Alumni@calgaryacademy.com. On a related note, if you own a business and would like to discuss extending a discount to our Alumni body, please contact us!
career change, looking to take your career to the next level, or considering beginning or continuing your advanced education, we have the resources to help. Alumni are always welcome back to access our Career Services. For more information, email btolsma@calgaryacademy.com.
FINDING A CLASSMATE As the years pass by, people move around and last names change, but you may be looking to reconnect with old classmates. We can help. If you’re looking to contact a particular alumnus, send us an email with your contact information, and we’ll make contact with the person you’re looking to reach. We’ll share your information with them (with your permission), and if they reach out, you can reconnect! *Please note, we are committed to protecting the privacy of any personal
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CAREER SERVICES
information that we have on file. This means that the Alumni Office cannot give
Career planning and development doesn’t stop at graduation, and neither does our support. Whether you’re considering a
information directly to you, nor do we share any of the information in our database with third party organizations.
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S H A R E YO U R S TO RY It is your turn to shine. Your classmates and former
JAN 2017 DARBY YOUNG (’00)
teachers want to hear about the amazing things
In the fall of 2016, Darby won the 2016 Calgary
you’re accomplishing. Share your story with us so
Stampede Western Legacy Award for Innovation
we can celebrate your successes with you.
for her work in creating accessibility around the
Simply email Alumni@calgaryacademy.com with your update. Please include your full name, date of graduation and telephone number along with your story. We can’t wait to hear from you!
world. In January 2017, the Calgary Herald named Darby one of the Top 20 Compelling Calgarians for 2017.
FEB 2017 RACHEL MCDOUGALL (’16) Rachel won ACAA’s Rookie of the year, 1st
UPCOMING EVENTS
Team All-Star and All-Canadian at the Atlantic
SEPT 2016 MORGAN BIRD (’11)
Collegiate
Morgan competed in swimming at the 2016
presentation for volleyball. Rachel is currently
Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro. Morgan swam a
attending Mount Allison University.
Athletic
Association’s
award
Canadian record time of 31.49 seconds in the S8 50-m freestyle for the sixth best qualifying
MARCH 2017 KAITLYN VAN BAKEL (’16)
time and was a team member of women’s 4x100
Kaitlyn will be joining the Team Canada
metre individual relay.
basketball coaching team for the 2017 Special
JUNE 9
Join us as we celebrate our Grade 12 students. This is a great opportunity for our Alumni to network and share their experiences with our students.
OCT 2016 AARON & JUSTIN LOGAN Aaron and Justin of Evolution Engineering
RSVP: alumni@calgaryacademy.com
announce that their company was the 2016 Award
Achievement
in
Winner Applied
for
Calgary Academy 11:50 am – 1:30 pm All alumni are invited
Olympic Summer Games.
ASTech
GRADE 12 STUDENTS AND ALUMNI BBQ
Outstanding
Technology
and
Innovation.
OCT 2016 DOUG COOK (’95) Doug’s film “Burning all the Past Away” was
FALL
CAREER DAY Calgary Academy Building on the success of our first event, we’ll be growing our full-day high school event to include more alumni speakers and sessions.
awarded Best Animation/Experimental Film at the Edmonton Short Film Festival.
For more information on any of these events, please contact alumni@calgaryacademy.com.
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Alumni Engagement Calgary Academy 1677 93rd Street SW Calgary, AB T3H 0R3 Email: alumni@calgaryacademy.com Tel: 403-686-6444 ext. 339