Interim Head of School David Baird’s Experience with Alumni
It is my great pleasure to introduce to you this issue of The Totem. We are privileged to have such a thriving group of former students, and I do hope that you will enjoy reading our features. From Sherman Mak’s exploits in the film industry, to Raz Gal-or and Tyler Schamlenberg’s adventures in China and Claudia and Denise Chan’s confectionary business, these are just a few of the success stories of our alumni which you will read about.
In June, the CDNIS alumni family got a little bit bigger as we welcomed 136 members from the Class of 2017. It was wonderful to celebrate these graduates as they embarked on their next journey. It was also fantastic to welcome back so many alumni at our Summer Homecoming event, which was a resounding success. I was honoured to show many of our former students around the campus and show off the many changes which have taken place over the last few years, including the Science and Innovation Lab and 3/F Science Corridor. During the campus tour, we also explored the Leo Lee Arts Centre, Green Roof and swimming pool, areas of the campus which have been in use for some time, but were not around when some of our alumni were students. I was also able to provide a sneak peek at other planned campus improvements which will happen over the coming months. Something else that is sure to be a huge hit with our alumni is the bespoke CDNIS Monopoly game. This limited edition game includes special CDNIS tokens including a totem pole and Timba, and features various campus facilities. If you would like to buy a game, please visit this link to make your purchase as they are sure to sell out quickly! Further details can be found on Page 5. I’m always keen to have CDNIS alumni who are not plugged into the school community to reconnect with us. There are so many ways to get involved – from joining us as we celebrate Alan Dick Day, to offering to share your university experience with a soon-to-be CDNIS graduate, to hosting even a small alumni gathering in your current city of residence – reach out to us and ask how you can get involved. I love to hear how our alumni are doing, so please stay in touch and share your stories. I also hope that many of you will also be able to join our Winter Homecoming event on Thursday, December 21. You will find all the details on Page 1 of this magazine. I am going to be in London for a staff recruiting fair in mid-January. I plan to host a dinner for alumni on Wednesday, January 17, and would love to meet alumni who are studying or working in London. Sincerely,
David Baird Interim Head of School