Grove News Vol.II 2019

Grove News Lakefield College School | Vol.II 2019

INSIDE:

Head of School and Foundation Can “Community” Save Our Kids?

Good People Build Better Worlds Alumni in Tech & Innovation Q&A With Joanna Dafoe ’04

Events 2019

Visit lcs.on.ca/events for details

Trustees 2018/19

Lakefield College School Board Chair Nicole Bendaly ’93

SEPTEMBER 27

Grove Society Grade 9-10 Parent Reception (Peterborough)

27

Grove Society Grade 11-12 Parent Reception (Peterborough)

27 - Home to The Grove Weekend: Fall Fair and 29 Alumni Reunion (LCS) lcs.on.ca/HTTG 29

Andy Harris Cup: LCS Golf Tournament (Lakefield)

OCTOBER 19

Admissions Open House

26

LCS and LCS Foundation Trustees’ Day

NOVEMBER 7

Alumni Social (Ottawa)

29

Parents’ Day (LCS)

DECEMBER 8

Grove Society Christmas Social (LCS)

JANUARY 11

Friends of LCS, UK Dinner (London)

lcs.on.ca/events

Be sure to regularly visit our events page online to view all upcoming alumni receptions and other events.

Past Chair Nick Lewis ’77 Joel Allen ’01 Bianca Bell ’06 Tim Bell ’00 Marilynn Booth Carlo Bos ’94 Max Brandes ’19 Lorraine Brown Jennifer Cameron Stephen Coates ’90 Tim Cooper ’98 Chonée Dennis Paul Desmarais III ’00 Peter Dunn ’62 Whitney Dunn ’95 Isaac Eshikaty Amanda Ethier ’98 Ann Farlow Romina Fontana ’94 Ian Fung ’00 Rory Gilfillan Sue Guest Terry Guest* Neil Hamilton James Hicks ’84 Alan Ingram Brett Jackman ’03 Warren Jones ’88 Anne-Marie Kee Zack Kembar ’87

Janet Lafortune Kim Little ’53 Ross Little ’81 Hugh Macdonnell ’85 Lara MacGregor Kevin Malone ’77 Patrick Marshall ’90 Jim Matthews ’58 Karen McKnight John McWilliams ’65 David Miller ’77 Riona Mohan-Goad ’09 Bill Morris ’70 Margaret Nelligan Jonathan Popper ’87 Tony Pullen ’63 Vicki Pullen Sean Quinn ’82 Danielle Saputo Bishop Riscylla Shaw Murray Sinclair ’79 Scott Smith ’87 John Stelzer ’00 Tom Stevenson ’78 Losel Tethong ’89 Stuart Thompson ’91 Richard Tucker ’77 Emilia Voudouris ’19 Cara Westcott Chris White ’90 Terry Windrem His Royal Highness, The Duke of York ’78

LCS Foundation Honorary Chair His Royal Highness, The Duke of York ’78 Board Chair Jock Fleming ’74 Chair Emeritus Paul Desmarais Jr. ’73 Emilio Azcarraga Jean ’87 Marilynn Booth Bruce Boren ’87 Michael Cooper France Deshaies Andrew Durnford ’85 Bernard Gault John K. Hepburn ’68

Suzanne Legge Orr Angus MacNaughton ’48 Jim Matthews ’58, (Secretary) Bill Morris ’70 Marc Parent Rosemary Phelan Donald Ross ’48 John Ryder ’77 Thomas Ryder ’53 Murray Sinclair ’79 Nancy Smith Tom Stevenson ’78 Géza von Diergardt Richard Wernham Directors in Bold * Honorary Alumni

A Time and Place to Grow As I write, tens of thousands of wildfires burn across the

Lakefield educations that enabled them to be where they

Amazon jungle. Many parts of the world have recently

are today. I’m certain that future alumni will have similar

hit record-breaking temperatures. In ways various and

things to say about using new methods to learn calculus

sundry, humanity’s disconnection from the fundamental

in the classrooms of our mathematics teachers including

elements of life is beginning to reach its natural limits.

Program Area Leader Joe McRae’s (p. 10).

Our potential has never been greater: for destruction, but

I am amazed to witness the level of support that so many

also for learning, contribution, and transformation. It

in our community have given to LCS. For example, the

couldn’t be a better time for our community to reflect on

incredibly generous support of the Hepburn Family and

the importance of giving back to the people and places,

Parent Family (p. 28), who have made donations in

like The Grove, that have nurtured us and allowed us to

support of the school’s strategic priorities and the

grow.

construction of a new dining hall and residence,

This Grove News issue features students, teachers, leaders, parents and alumni who are living that awareness. Through their personal achievements, collaborative triumphs and contributions to the school and beyond, we’re reminded that a much better world is possible—if enough of us share this understanding.

Highlights from this past school year (p. 16) include students organizing The Grove’s first Pride Week, another step to ensure that all members of our

respectively. These demonstrations of confidence in the value of an LCS education remind us how far the ‘Lakefield difference’ can reach. Yet more evidence of the same is seen in our latest Hepburn Alumni Challenge results (p. 33).

Within this issue, you’ll also enjoy a Q&A with Joanna Dafoe (p. 59), my classmate from the Class of 2004 who’s working in a senior policy position with Canada’s climate change ambassador.

community feel truly included; our 1st Girls’ Soccer

I hope you’ll be as inspired as I am by the ethos of

team demonstrating girt and working together to win

contribution that Lakefield embodies, sends out into the

CISAA Gold; and the creation of a school play, The Heart

world and receives back to itself time and again.

of Robin Hood, which dramatized the moral transformation of its characters, much as the actors themselves were transformed by the challenge of bringing this story to the stage.

In this issue, you’ll also meet four alumni who are innovating in the tech industry and in software design (p. 39) and who’ve identified specific things about their

Contributing Editor Brendan Fell ’04 works in the Guidance Office at Lakefield College School. He is a member of the Writers’ Group of Peterborough and is a frequent contributor to local film projects.

ii | Grove News Vol.II 2019

Table of

CONTENTS 2

Head of School and Foundation—Can “Community” Save Our Kids?

8

Closing 2019 Highlights

A Message from the LCS Board Chair

Putting Students in The Driver’s Seat Problem-based Learning in Math

6

10

12

Investing in Our Co-Curriculars—Sailing, Nordic & Musical Theatre

26

Chapel Talks—Sharing Life’s Defining Moments

30

LCS Thriving—The School Year in Review

34

1879 Society Impact and Appreciation Event

38 48 55

School Highlights

16

History in The Making— A Gesture of Uprecendented Support for LCS

Re-envisioning Our Common Spaces

Home to The Grove Weekend

28

32

36

Good People Build Better Worlds. Critical Thinking Makes Careers: Jason Tsao ’96: On An International Odyssey Kelly Bignell-Asedo ’04: Design For People Nick Desmarais ’03: Achieving Peak Performance Christina Chan ’12: Learning to Learn LCS Alumni Class News In Our Memories

54

Q&A with LCS Alumna Joanna Dafoe ’04

Editor: Christine Vogel Editorial Committee: Heather Avery, Adam Bishop ’04, Vicky Boomgaardt, Theresa Butler-Porter, Dave Darby, Anne-Marie Kee, John Runza, Tim Rutherford, Shane Smyth ’96. Contributing Photographers: Simon Spivey, Will Callaghan. Please address correspondence to the Communications Office: Lakefield College School, Lakefield, ON, K0L 2H0 705.652.3324 communications@lcs.on.ca

HEAD OF SCHOOL AND FOUNDATION From

THE

2 | Grove News Vol.II 2019

Can “Community” Save Our Kids?

The scourge of anxiety, depression and loneliness among teenagers today

responsibilities and expectations,

is all the talk among educators. And it should be, because we see it every

everything gets more intense and

day in the students we are charged with preparing for their next stages

complicated. But it can also be a time of

in life.

building confidence, pride in

It’s put down to all sorts of causes. Parental pressure to get high grades,

accomplishment, exuberance and, yes, fun.

build a resume and get a job. Speculation that the jobs of tomorrow don’t

At Lakefield we have a long tradition of an

exist today. Stories of unemployed graduates with useless degrees. Social

emphasis on character-building and strong,

media pressure to present a perfect picture of happiness, beauty, sexuality,

personal relationships between students,

prosperity, fashion awareness or whatever other winds fill the sails of

teachers, staff and alumni. As a school with

popularity. Then there’s the pervasiveness of electronic devices, which can

280 boarders, many of our students actually

connect people—or make all connection remote and two-dimensional.

live together in the same houses. Teachers,

And of course, the lack of time to “just be kids.” That’s only a taste. The list

staff and their families also live in quarters

is long.

within the houses. Our students, boarding

All take their toll, it’s true. I see it, and it worries me as much as anyone. As the head of an independent school to 380 students from over 45 countries, I can tell you that we see all the same threats to happy, well-balanced teens. We think we have an inside track in the fight against it, but we engage in the battle just as every other school does, private or public, day or boarding.

What can we do about it?

and day, all know each other—and together they study, play sports, attend advisor sessions, go to morning Chapel, compete in our quirky spirit house competitions, sing, go on canoeing and camping expeditions and, generally, grow as close as a family.

That’s our community. And to reinforce its stitching, we dedicate significant resources,

There cannot be one answer. The list I’ve just rhymed off tells you that the

time and programming to physical well-

battle has to be fought on many fronts. But perhaps there’s a theme that

being, positive psychology, outdoor

should tie all these efforts together.

education and building the habits of good character that last a lifetime—all the tools of

One thing that we have seen works well at LCS is a culture of community.

resilience.

That is, a place where people care about one another, form lifelong friendships and feel a bond of trust. A place where everyone knows one

Yes, kids sometimes get down on

another in a genuine, deeply connected way.

themselves or others, feel overwhelmed or lonely, or make poor decisions. But as a

Secondary school marks a unique time of life—as everyone knows who has

community, we’ve seen it before. We know

gone through it. It’s a time when relationships become more than just kids

the signs and we know how to step in. We

“playing” together. Socially, academically, physically and in

do it not to blindly enforce rules or to act as the cop; we do it because we care.

Grove News Vol.II 2019 | 3

Everyone is a part of the community, and that’s how a

imminent, bringing about the next social transformation

community works. Our teachers and staff are doing a

in the same tradition as the civil rights movement,

great job of contributing to this supportive culture. I say

feminism or environmentalism. Brooks’ new book, The

this not to brag but to share what I have seen work to

Second Mountain, is worth a read.

help kids handle and adapt to stress. I applaud and encourage community-builders everywhere.

At the high school level, we can certainly see how strong this movement can be, and how it can have wide

The idea of a culture of community—in schools and

application. Recently, our school received one of the

throughout society—has recently been gaining

largest donations ever to an independent school in

momentum. The Canadian-born New York Times

Canada from Jane and John Hepburn who graduated in

columnist and political and cultural commentator David

1968 (p.28). What would motivate John to make a

Brooks has undertaken an initiative called Weave: The

multimillion-dollar contribution to the high school that

Social Fabric Project under the auspices of the Aspen

he left 51 years ago?

Institute, a think tank based in Washington, DC.

The answer is that he felt a commitment to our

Weave deliberately addresses isolation, loneliness and

community and what it does for teenagers, both in

societal divisions by advocating a “community

education and developing resilient personalities.

movement.” Highlighting the works of community

He believes strongly in the value of personal

activists at the neighbourhood level around the United

connections, mentoring among teachers and students in

States, Brooks believes a “community movement” is

an environment of global and socio-economic diversity,

4 | Grove News Vol.II 2019

and the character-building productivity of time simply

Can all schools create communities? I believe they can.

spent together, whether in play or on tasks. He always

It’s about creating opportunities to care for and learn

admired the way in which our school’s routines get

from each other, not just in class but also in “down”

people talking, working, studying, debating, living and

time, perhaps without phones, that includes talk, play

eating together—creating our community.

and eating meals together in a communal, face-to-face

So, while some of the funds will go toward a new dining

way.

hall, for example, it’s about more than a new building.

Creating a culture of community is a prioirty for us at

It’s about what happens within the building: all the

Lakefield, as are the many other pieces that contribute to

connections that create a community. It’s also about the

the fight against anxiety, depression and alienation

diversity of people that “get connected” in a community.

among teenagers. For example, the need to put aside

John Hepburn ’68—and many others as well—has for

time for outdoor activity to counter the “nature deficit”

decades funded financial assistance to make sure

in kids’ lives; the cellphone conundrum; the need to put

students who could not otherwise afford to attend

career fears in perspective.

Lakefield can do so. Why? Because communities benefit from multiple points of view and backgrounds. A third of our students now receive tuition assistance, and they make the experience of living and going to school together all that much richer, and the connections that much stronger.

But in the context of a our community at LCS—where face time, shared activity and the attention of concerned adults with experience in navigating the challenges of growing up is present—we can win this battle. A community movement may well be our best weapon.

Grove News Vol.II 2019 | 5

A MESSAGE

from THE LCS BOARD CHAIR

Nicole Bendaly ’93

their passion for making a difference in the lives of our students and the families we serve, to continually look to the future, build trust and thrive, that have helped get us to where we are today—the school that everyone is talking about for all the right reasons.

Our community’s shared passion for Lakefield is what drives our perseverance, and the powerful combination of the two make Lakefield College School strong.

Lakefield’s secret sauce isn’t so secret.

The Lakefield difference, our ‘secret sauce’, is our culture. Our culture is special, it is a culture unlike any other. Lakefield’s warmth and charm are immediately felt as soon as you walk through it’s red front door. Our culture is fed by the relationships we build, it is fed by the trust, respect and care we demonstrate for one I have had the honour of being the Lakefield College School Board Chair for three and a half years and I could not be prouder of how much we have accomplished in such a short time. As my term now comes to a close, I share some of my reflections with you.

Lakefield has grit.

another, and by the shared desire to create an environment where students feel safe and free to be themselves, can truly tap their full potential, and are able to let their individual and unique gifts shine and develop, whatever they may be.

We treasure the values that are at the foundation of our culture; they are sacred cows. At the same time, Lakefield

When I began my term as chair, the school had been

doesn’t shy away from embracing innovation. We pursue

going through a period of dramatic transition. Needless

new and bold directions (with grit!) while making values-

to say, stepping in during that pivotal time was daunting.

based decisions that protect, honour and enhance our

But my fear soon turned into resolve and confidence that

culture and stay true to our mission.

we would not only come through this transition thriving as a school, but that everyone would be talking about us (for all the right reasons)!

My confidence was sparked by the grit I saw in our staff and faculty, and in our board members and volunteers.

Psychologist Angela Lee Duckworth defines grit as the intersection of passion and perseverance, and our staff and faculty have demonstrated both—in spades. It is

6 | Grove News Vol.II 2019

Lakefield’s governance is a key success factor.

Our governance model is complex. We have two boards of directors (the school and the foundation), two bodies of trustees (the school and the foundation) and the school’s Leadership Team, led by our Head of School and Foundation, Anne-Marie Kee. This includes

approximately 98 people, all engaged in the governance of the school in some way, shape, or form. This complexity ensures a great amount of engagement from our community; a great number of voices, skill sets and unique perspectives that, when harnessed effectively, are what enable us to remain competitive and move forward in the right direction.

A little support goes a long way.

Our volunteers, teachers and staff give fully of themselves because they are committed to The Grove and to providing the best possible educational experience for our students. My experience as chair reconnected me to those who give so much to our community and has reminded me of the importance of

A third-party governance review (completed a few years

recognition and taking the time to demonstrate genuine

ago) recommended keeping our current model,

appreciation for the efforts of others. Let us continue to

commending it as a key success factor for Lakefield. Our

ensure that those who are contributing so much to the

ability to engage so many stakeholders was identified as

school and to our students feel supported and

an advantage, one that should be enhanced. Areas for

appreciated along the way.

improvement included clarifying and strengthening communications within and across governing bodies;

The right leaders at the right time.

decision-making processes; engagement with

As I look to Lakefield’s bright future, I am more

stakeholders; ensuring alignment and collaboration

confident than ever in Lakefield’s leadership with Anne-

while maintaining a clear separation between the school

Marie as our Head of School and Foundation and Hugh

and the foundation; improving how we recruit and

Macdonnell ’85 as our incoming LCS Board Chair. With

identify future trustees and board members so that we

the new strategic plan there is a lot of exciting and hard

can meet the needs of the school now and far into the

work to be done; the school will be in exceptional hands

future, and most important, how to effectively empower

with Anne-Marie and Hugh leading the way. My sincere

and support our Head of School.

thanks to the members of the school board and the

Two years later, significant progress has been made and our governance is stronger than ever. Of course, our goal is to continually improve, to build best-in class governance so that Lakefield remains in solid hands now and into the future.

Leadership Team. Your focus, determination and courage to lean into challenging conversations and your ability to come to consensus to make the right decisions for the school has led us to where we are now. The school community is lucky to have you all.

A group of LCS Trustees and staff learned about teaching using the Harkness method and how to use learning protocols while discussing the school’s latest strategic initiatives during the May Trustees’ Day meeting.

Grove News Vol.II 2019 | 7

Closing 2019

Highlights

NICOLE BENDALY ’93, LAKEFIELD COLLEGE SCHOOL BOARD CHAIR “I’m often asked, ‘Why do you give so much of your time to Lakefield?’ I give back because I love this school, but there’s another very important reason why I give back: because Lakefield brings me a deep amount of joy. We intentionally create joy in everything that we do here. I derive joy, not just from contributing and being here, but from knowing the experiences that our students have here, and the impact that you are all going to have on your community and the world around you.”

DR. LEO GROARKE, KEYNOTE SPEAKER President and Vice-Chancellor of Trent University “I would like you to look at education as a way to find out and discover what career you want, what job you want, what you want to do for the rest of your life. To do this well, you need to be open to change...and my message is to embrace change. That is the path to joy.”

2018/19 CO-HEAD STUDENTS MAX BRANDES ’19 AND EMILIA VOUDOURIS ’19 “All the opportunities we said ‘yes’ to, all the moments we decided to live fully, and the relationships we built, have brought us to the place we are today. Looking forward to this new adventure we are about to embark on, this new chapter of our lives we are about to begin, is not something we have to feel anxious or nervous about. For we know that the foundation that this community has given us will continue to support us throughout the coming years. How lucky we are to be able to call Lakefield home.” EMILIA VOUDOURIS ’19

CELEBRATING OUR RETIRING STAFF MEMBERS

MIKE ABEN 8 | Grove News Vol.II 2019

MARNIE BOWCOTT

DEBBIE BUCKLEY

VERA WILCOX

On June 15, Lakefield College School celebrated its 140th Closing Ceremonies and welcomed 92 graduates into our alumni community.

View the Closing highlights, photos and videos at lcs.on.ca/Closing2019

97.5% The average for Grade 12 Top of Form student and recipient of the Governor General’s Medal, Jason Chen ’19

89%

of Grade 12s were Ontario Scholars (averages of 80% or higher)

Duke of Edinburgh 14 Award recipients 4 Bronze Awards Grace Bender ’22, Olivia Cantelon ’22, Dylan Clement ’21, Rowan Harris-Stoertz ’22

4 Silver Awards

902

Most community service hours completed this year, Liam Davidson ’20

Clara Mindjimba ’19, Anna Rasmus ’19, Ella Shanahan-Guay ’19, Mitch Stedman ’19

6 Gold Awards Lily Coates ’19, Nick Latimer ’19, Janelle Lawes ’19, Ally Lovick ’19, Keely Matsusaki ’19, Mitch Stedman ’19

View more Closing highlights including videos at lcs.on.ca/Closing2019

ABOVE: Top to Bottom (L-R): Rev. John Runza and Anne-Marie Kee walk through the Grade 12 honour guard during the Closing Chapel Service on Friday evening; Grade 11/12 hug line; the J.R. Anderson Award recipient Kit Wright ’19 with Dr. Leo Groarke; Candid from friday evening’s all school photo; Matt Zhang ’20 receiving the Grade 11 AP Prep Chemistry Award; the Senior Edson Pease Prize recipient Jheeven Salvarajah ’19 with Dr. Leo Groarke.

PUTTING STUDENTS

IN THE

DRIVER’S SEAT

Problem-based learning in mathematics.

There is great discussion among educators about the skills students must acquire in order to thrive in the modern world. At Lakefield College School we have fairly tight agreement on this overarching skill set. It is often summarized as a combination of critical thinking, collaboration, posing relevant questions, creativity and problem-solving. LCS social sciences teacher Stuart Lee describes these essential learning skills in three layers of development: 1) Foundational facts and knowledge; 2) Asking questions; and 3) Developing a higher order of thinking. He further shares,“There’s always going to be an element of knowledge required to engage properly in a conversation. This aspect of education hasn’t changed. What has changed is the importance of asking questions and developing this higher order of thinking.”

Joe McRae, Lakefield’s Program Area Leader for Mathematics, brings a lot to the table.

A mechanical engineer by profession, he reverse-engineered himself into his current role at LCS. He studied Engineering at the University of Alberta and worked at General Motors (GM) for the better part of a decade. His interest in teaching was sparked

10 | Grove News Vol.II 2019

through coaching robotics teams at GM.

To push critical thinking while developing foundational knowledge is not an easy

From there, he pursued his Master’s Degree

task. From Joe’s perspective, it requires two separate tracks: one where knowledge

in Education at the University of Toronto.

is learned, and another where students are asked to creatively apply it.

“The important thing with math is to create structured problems that minimize

“We’re trying to change the idea of what math fundamentally is at the high school level.”

His experience makes him uniquely suited to integrate critical thinking with a difficult

variables. Doing this helps to provide a greater understanding of deeper concepts.

We’re able to set a stage where students can work through problems collaboratively. One student will take the class through how they solved a problem, then they discuss its validity—and alternative solutions—as a group.”

“We can teach students to critically evaluate situations and think far beyond what a Google search can do.”

subject area. This idea is formally known as “problem-based learning.”

There is tremendous value in this approach. “Mathematics is such a potent tool.

With problem-based learning, starting from Grade 9, we can teach students to

For many, the idea of creative problem-

critically evaluate situations and think far beyond what a Google search can do.

solving with calculus can be a challenge.

They learn to tackle questions they haven’t seen before.”

The learning curve is steep, and figuring out which end is up is difficult enough. While Joe and his fellow math teachers can relate, he presents a completely different viewpoint of what they are trying to

Joe makes a point to emphasize that these are new skills students are developing. It’s a new approach to mathematics at the high-school level that puts students in the driver’s seat, making math more exciting, relevant and interesting. This transfer of ownership is a major change.

achieve: “We’re trying to change the idea of

“Gone are the days with a teacher at the front lecturing. Problem-based learning

what math fundamentally is at the high-

puts students at the forefront, asking questions, collaborating and problem-

school level. It’s a tool, just like any other

solving. The teacher is just part of the conversation.”

tool, that can be used to solve authentic, relevant, real-life problems. It’s a very

JAKE DUDAS ’90

powerful and clear way to share ideas.”

Grove News Vol.II 2019 | 11

Investing in Our Co-Curriculars

SAILING, NORDIC & MUSICAL THEATRE Differentiating LCS as a Leader Among Canadian Independent Schools At LCS, we are incredibly proud (and lucky!) to have one of

(sailing), Nordic skiing and musical theatre. Each provides a

the largest waterfront campuses among Canadian boarding

compelling answer to the question: How do we create a

schools, providing our students with unique access to a rich

transformative learning environment/experience for our

natural environment. Science tells us this access offers

students? We believe each contributes to delivering a

tremendous benefits to our students, that having the

transformative experience by offering opportunities for

opportunity to move in, interact with, and be present in the

personal challenge, community-building, getting outdoors

natural world is quintessential to learning. Physical activity

and authentic ‘real-world’ learning. Each program offers

enhances creativity and cognitive flexibility, while natural

flexibility according to skill level, creating openings for

vistas improve attention and self-regulation. Outdoor

beginners and experienced students to discover or develop

challenges based on team work, communication and

existing passions while at high school. Each of the three

collaboration contribute to the developing of grit and

programs also complement and support skills that we are

resilience. By embracing the challenges and learning

working to develop within our curricular offerings. Both

opportunities that interacting with the natural world offers,

team racing and Nordic skiing compliment the skills taught

our students benefit mentally, physically, emotionally and

in outdoor education, and musical theatre draws upon and

spiritually. It is a fundamental differentiator for us to have

strengthens the skills being developed in our curricular

this amazing resource that we can leverage to provide a

music, art, dance and drama programs. All three represent

range of unique and powerful curricular and co-curricular

areas of our co-curricular programming where we are

experiences across our two campuses. It is, in part, what

already well-positioned to lead and grow. We believe that

enables us to create a transformative learning environment

strengthening these three programs will differentiate us,

for our students, one that encourages them to be outdoors

making us a leader in these areas among Canadian

every day, inspired to reflect, to share, to innovate, to lead

independent schools.

— to be their best — all while deepening their connections with, and responsibility to, nature and the outdoors.

It’s ideas like these, centred on providing natural and transformative learning environments that are informing our strategic choices in all areas of the school’s programming. Recently, we’ve invested time and energy in the review and development of our co-curricular programs.

We were keen to explore which programs had the greatest potential to create transformative learning experiences, increase demand and inspire student engagement. It was also important to identify programs that have strong alignment with our mission and values, and with our strategic plan outcomes, in particular, determining programs that existed in the sweet spot that is the intersection of Community First, Outdoors Every Day and

TEAM RACING (SAILING) This spring we piloted a new element to our co-curricular sailing program which we plan to grow into a robust and competitive program for the future: Team Racing. Team racing offers a fun and fantastic opportunity for authentic learning while nurturing community and leveraging the benefits of being outdoors and connecting with nature.

The waterfront has always played a significant role in the education and lives of our students. For over 140 years, the school has been providing meaningful experiences through boating, canoeing, kayaking, sailing and other activities connecting students to the water and their environment.

Authentic Learning (read more at lcs.on.ca/

In late 1939, the Grove Naval Cadet Corps was officially

visiondirectionfocus).

recognized at LCS, It was the only school in Canada, at the

Three co-curricular programs, rich with potential, have been identified as priorities for investment—team racing

12 | Grove News Vol.II 2019

time, to which authority was given to establish and maintain a Sea Cadet Corps. From the late 30s to the late 60s, the

Grove News Vol.II 2019 | 13

school ran a robust cadet program, and every fall and spring a significant portion of our students spent their days on the waterfront—it was viewed as an opportunity for students to become the future leaders of Canada.

Since then, recreational sailing has long held an important role in Lakefield’s history of water sports. The school has deep roots throughout the global sailing community including world championship sailors David TellesLangdon ’75 and Sarah Douglas ’12, and Olympians Greg Douglas ’08, His Majesty King Felipe VI of Spain ’85, David Wright ’00, Tam Matthews ’73 and Michael de la Roche ’73.

Team racing fosters teamwork, strategy and leadership skills and in so doing, promotes a positive school culture. It is a sport packed with opportunities that teach self-reliance, adaptability, and resilience among other things. Sailors learn to manage complex, highly competitive and everchanging conditions. Highly competitive teams can include both beginners and experienced sailors (and can be all-male, all-female or co-ed), making the sport incredibly accessible for our students. Team racing is also now the predominant format used in university sailing programs, providing our students with an opportunity to continue competing after graduating from LCS. As part of this initiative, the school is developing a partnership with Sail Canada (the national sailing authority) and Ontario Sailing. Looking to the future, our vision is to become the Canadian leader in high school team racing programs, offering students the opportunity to compete in Canada and the USA while developing the skills and characteristics that will prepare them for life.

NORDIC SKIING Where sailing capitalizes on our waterfront in the fall and spring, Nordic takes advantage of the natural beauty of our fields and woods in the winter, encouraging students to be outdoors every day while developing resilience, perseverance and grit.

Our plan is to leverage Lakefield’s unique position in the Nordic ski community by virtue of our location, facilities, staff and history to create a nationally recognized program of excellence that attracts families and athletes. Nordic or Cross-country skiing has been a staple of Outdoor Education classes since at least the 1960s, and LCS has had a 14 | Grove News Vol.II 2019

competitive racing team that has spanned most of the same

to engage more alumni and community volunteers in our

time period. Nordic skiers Davin MacIntosh ’95, Erin

event hosting. Needless to say, investing in our Nordic ski

Freeland-Ballantyne ’99, Megan Lohmann (nee Walsh)

program will provide additional opportunities to enhance

’00, Anna Harris ’20, Thomas Larson ’22, and Evan

our culture of skiing at LCS by including all staff and

Armstrong ’23 have all competed beyond LCS at the

students in opportunities to learn and develop as a Nordic

provincial and national level, and Davin, after winning the

skier, both on their own and through organized activities.

OFSAA Nordic Ski Championships in 1995 as a Senior Boy, was invited to join the Canadian National Development team and later became the CEO of Cross Country Canada, the national sporting body for Nordic skiing.

Strengthening the Nordic Ski program will create opportunities for committed Nordic skiers to develop their potential to the highest level. Our plan is to ensure athletes compete at events appropriate to their ability by offering high-quality races on campus, and by travelling to suitable events in Eastern Canada. We will introduce Nordic skate

MUSICAL THEATRE Some programs naturally emerge on their own as differentiators. Lakefield College School has a longstanding history of educating “artists and athletes” captured within the collective memory of our older alumni who often refer to the Harris-Armstrong-Jones era at the school (late 1950s80s). Since then, LCS musicals have continued to garner incredible attention and support from our local media and

skiing in Outdoor Education classes, and welcome and

audiences. We are recognized in the greater community as

support all levels of athletes to the LCS Nordic Ski Racing

a school that produces professional-quality amateur shows,

program, offering a path to high performance by facilitating

often selling out all performances. Strengthening our

athletes in their pursuit of excellence at the Provincial and

musical theatre program allows us to strengthen our

National level, through additional training time, coaching,

reputation for excellence in programming and, most

and travel.

important, to promote a positive school culture through the development of skills such as empathy, teamwork,

In addition, we will strive to offer the number one Nordic

creativity and self-confidence. A strong musical theatre

ski experience available on any high-school campus in

program integrates many disciplines: instrumental and

Canada. We intend to accomplish this by enhancing our

vocal music, drama, dance and visual art (production).

Nordic trails to make them a top choice for training, racing

While musical theatre performances often take place within

and casual skiing; ensuring regular quality training and a

the theatre, the recent expansion of our arts program has

longer season by introducing snowmaking; expanding

included events such as Gallery in The Grove and Art in Our

cross-country running on campus through a partnership

Hearts, making use of our outdoor spaces and encouraging

with Nordic skiing and an improved trail network that gives

students to connect social awareness, the arts and well-

greater training and racing potential; providing first-class

being in nature.

coaching and leadership that can meet the needs of all Nordic skiers and racers in our program, and building

The arts are thriving at LCS. Our drama program already

indoor space for hosting, waxing and training that supports

draws prospective students locally and internationally.

the year-round needs of Nordic skiers and racers.

With passionate and engaged faculty and dedicated, talented students, investing in a musical theatre program

There are so many ways in which the Nordic ski program

will strengthen our existing position among independent

will help us to build a strong culture of community while

boarding schools in Canada.

encouraging healthy habits for a lifetime of well-being.

Many of the initiatives we have been researching will strengthen and build our community of Nordic skiers and supporters. For example, we would be best-positioned to invite teams to race at LCS both in Nordic skiing and crosscountry running, by offering fun, high-quality and competitive events. We could introduce elementary school students to next-level training by offering training camps on campus for Nordic skiing and cross-country running or partner with Kawartha Nordic to host events and share our trails. This would provide us with additional opportunities

Investing in team racing, Nordic skiing, and musical theatre programs will not only enhance the student experience, but it will increase opportunities for Lakefield College School to be seen on the local and global stage and for visitors to experience our beautiful campus, our students and their talents. Building and strengthening these programs will encourage students to be artists and athletes for life while offering them truly engaging and authentic opportunities— transformative learning experiences—which is at the heart of what we do at LCS. Grove News Vol.II 2019 | 15

School

Highlights 1st Girls’ Soccer Wins CISAA Gold Between the rain and thunderstorms on Regatta Day, the 1st Girls’ Soccer team hosted the CISAA Final Four. The girls faced St. John’s-Kilmarnock School in a challenging match-up. With the score tied at 2-2 before half time, LCS knew that if play stopped due to inclement weather, they would need another goal, and they delivered— Kennedy Bardawill ’20 drove up the left wing, to the net, to take LCS up 3-2 just before the referee stopped the game due to thunder and heavy rain. After a 40 minute delay, the game resumed.

Protecting the lead was a priority. Our players battled through fatigue, illness, and pain, never giving up and continuing to drive to the net. LCS battled and prevailed with a final score of 5-2, and the gold medal around their necks. Coaches Saunders, Confesor and Runza were incredibly proud of our athletes—not only for their overall technical talent and speed, but also for their strength, encouragement, positive attitude and strong character.

Congratulations to our 2019/20 Co-Head Students Congratulations to Madia McGowan ’20 and Santiago Paz Contreras ’20 who were elected as Co-Head Students by their peers and staff this spring.

Madia recently described the best part of her

clear that to enjoy life, I had to have a passion and change my mindset. I found this through sports and pushing my physical ability. I learned that I enjoyed trying new things, experiencing life, and doing things that I will not regret in the future…I feel like I’ve been able to thrive in the LCS community…I have learned to be myself in this safe community and with this, I’ve been able to grow as a person, an athlete and a student.”

Pitch@Palace Six students from Lakefield College School’s Entrepreneurship Team, along with Head of School Anne-Marie Kee, were lucky enough to attend the Pitch@Palace Canada 1.0 Boot Camp at the BMO Institute for Learning, Toronto.

Pitch@Palace provides a platform to amplify and accelerate the work of entrepreneurs from around the world. One member of the Pitch@ Palace team commented on how mature and professional our students were during the networking periods of the day. The LCS group also shone whilst taking part in an experiential workshop, facilitated by a BMO educator, that focused on the importance of demonstrating empathy when striving to be a successful entrepreneur and innovator. For LCS, Pitch@ Palace allowed our students to transform an abstract career in business into a tangible and achievable goal.

LCS experiences, from the field hockey field to

Celebrating Pride Week

the CAIS Senior Student Leaders’ Conference, as

This spring, LCS celebrated its first Pride Week.

“the people I have had the chance to work and

The week was organized by Kit Wright ’19, Sophie

play with…[they have] taught me the value in

Gray ’22 and Claire Campbell ’19 along with LCS

understanding that great leaders need to be great

alumna and Associate Faculty Member Emma

listeners. You cannot understand people unless

Trottier ’03. Kit, Sophie and Claire are student

you listen to them, and during my years here I

members of both Safe Space and THRIVE, who

believe I have evolved into a great listener.”

Santiago shared three character strengths that define him today—zest for life, compassion for others and a strong moral compass. “Once I learned English, I made friends that pushed me to look at the world in a different way. It became 16 | Grove News Vol.II 2019

OPPOSITE (Top to Bottom) L-R: CISAA Gold Medal winning 1st Girls’ Soccer team; LCS Entrepreneurship Team with Anne-Marie Kee and Darren Moffatt at Pitch@Palace in Toronto; our incoming Head Students Santiago Paz ’20 and Madia McGowan ’20; Claire Campbell ’19, Kit Wright ’19, Sophie Gray ’22 and Emma Trottier ’03 during Pride Week.

Mackenzie

wins the Paper House Cup

sixteen hours of stage combat training for spring play The Heart of Robin Hood

3

Ondaatje Challenge Medals Awarded

10 km run, 15 km cycle, 650 m swim, 3 km solo paddle Drew Crix ’19 Anna Harris ’20 Aidan Melville ’21

329

23

offers of admission to universities around the world

hours building hand-carved wooden side tables in the Building Better Communities class

6 new 420 double-handed racing boats for the Team Racing Sailing program

sixty-five students travelled internationally this year, including: 12 on exchange to Australia, France, Germany, Scotland, South Africa and Tasmania

4 to the Round Square Americas Regional Conference in Peru

38 on Global Learning trips to Ecuador, Morocco and Peru

10 on the Ondaatje Expedition to Mongolia

Grove News Vol.II 2019 | 17

shared a communal vision of promoting equality

have made here at Lakefield will be those that

and fostering inclusivity. Throughout the week,

you keep in touch with over the years… that your

activities included chapel speeches and rainbow

Lakefield friends will become your old friends.”

cupcake decorating, as well as interactive bannermaking. A huge success for the group and the wider LCS community was the selling out of LCS Pride shirts! The students have been thrilled with the success of Pride Week and the chance to give the entire school community the opportunity to learn, be challenged and supported.

Watch highlights from Pride Week and hear from

At the core of that heartfelt message that left many of the students in tears was exactly what made Lakefield such a special place to them. That little message and the evening they spent in each other’s company is, after all, so Lakefield.

Read the full blog post on the LCS Learns Blog:

bit.ly/AVeryLakefieldGoodbye

our students: lcs.on.ca/MediaGallery

Celebrating our Writers

A Very Lakefield Goodbye

Grade 10 students Nicole Liu and Jeewoo Lee,

“I can’t pick a single memory. I love Lakefield.

Everyone is so kind and really cares about you.”

Grade 11 students Liam Davidson, Juniper Lai and Teresa Saller, and Grade 12 student Emilia Voudouris, have earned places of recognition in

These are the words from just one of the 20

the very competitive and well-respected Lakefield

students who came to Lakefield for one year and

Literary Festival Young Writers’ Contest.

will not be returning next school year. In June, this group of students and a handful of their teachers and residential staff (handpicked by the students themselves) gathered at the Head of School’s house for a goodbye celebration dinner.

The room in which they all gathered buzzed with excitement, positive energy and a modicum of sadness, as teachers and students alike reflected on the past year and what was in store for the future. They dined and laughed, told memorable stories, and thanked each other for a great year in everyone’s company. “These students,” one teacher reflected, “are some of my favourites, my best. I will miss their energy and laughter in my classroom.” This energy and laughter were present throughout the entire night.

The Lakefield Literary Festival attracts countrywide attention and admiration, and the writers who are featured during this festival are renowned. Michael Ondaatje, novelist and poet, attended the festival this year.

Nicole, as the winner in the Junior Non-Fiction category for her piece, Pain, was invited as a person of honour to a special dinner during the Festival this summer.

Rock Choir, Live at The Venue The LCS Rock Choir (comprised of close to 50 singers and musicians!) performed live for a studio audience at The Venue in downtown Peterborough as part of Michelle Ferreri’s Live In Show series. The choir performed We Will Rock

These students are leaving The Grove, the

You by Queen and It’s a Long Way to the Top by AC/

place that they have called home for the entire

DC right before the intermission, and closed out

school year, and where they met some of their

the show with Home by Phillip Phillips. Romano

now closest friends and experienced their most

Watt ’19 was interviewed by Ms. Ferreri about his

formative experiences. It was discovered that

experience at LCS and being a member in the rock

a few of the students families live a few streets

choir.

away from each other—two of them are even neighbours—and before coming to Lakefield,

See video from their performance:

they had no idea that they lived so close together.

bit.ly/RockChoirMichelleLiveInShow

“We live ten minutes away from each other and we didn’t know before we came to Lakefield, but I am glad that we do now, ” one of these students reflected.

“You can’t make old friends,” Ms. Kee shared with the students, “but I hope that the friends that you

18 | Grove News Vol.II 2019

OPPOSITE (Top to Bottom) L-R: Lakefield Literary Festival Young Writers’ Contest winners Teresa Saller ’20, Nicole Liu ’21, Juniper Lai ’20 and Emilia Voudouris ’19; the Rock Choir live in concert; our one-year students during their celebration at the home of Anne-Marie Kee, Head of School and Foundation.

OUR PEOPLE LCS Staff Snapshot

Stu Lee

Social Sciences Teacher Life Before Lcs “Before University, I was told by a mentor that I should go into teaching. After working in the hospitality industry across the country, the cycling industry, and finishing my Masters, I eventually realized that I got satisfaction through sharing and helping which brought me back to teaching.”

B.Ed, University of Toronto MA (Political Science), York University BA (Political Science & Economics), Trent University

unique achievements “I have lived and worked in many different places in Canada and the World. Before University I milked cows, by hand, in Uruguay, and guided students in stream studies in Burford. I have worked in 7 different communities within 3 provinces. I taught E.S.L. in Suwon South Korea after my B.A, and then landed a job at one of the best places to work in the cycling industry after my Masters was finished.”

current passion project “I have been fortunate to be able to teach World Issues, Economics, AP politics and now AP Microeconomics.

It has allowed me to build upon the theoretical foundation I have, and really go deep in my own learning, sharing my passion for what I am learning and continue to learn through teaching.

On a personal level, I am trying to keep up with my kids by getting as much air as I can on my Mountain Bike so that we can fully enjoy a planned trip to Whistler. I have been coaching climbing for over 10 years now, and I have come to appreciate the sport of climbing; it is very satisfying to see students grow in their own way on the wall. It is very analogous to the challenges in life.”

OUR PEOPLE LCS Staff Snapshot

Val Confesor lcs associate faculty Life Before Lcs B.Ed, Nipissing University Research with the Bachelor of Physical and Health Education program at Nipissing University in physical literacy in elementary school kids and healthy active living

unique achievements I played five years of varsity soccer for Nipissing University and then had the opportunity to be part of the coaching staff.

During my time as a player, I was invited to try out for the Philippine National Team and went to a training camp in California for three weeks. Another achievement is that I graduated with the President’s Medal at my school (highest GPA in my program). As a varsity athlete and having to balance sports and academics, I was really proud of that achievement.

current passion project “Being part of residential life again at Rashleigh House, and the Grade 9 team is what I’m really excited about this year. I am looking forward to finding a balance with both roles and to continue encouraging young people to be active members/learners within the LCS community and beyond. I am also looking forward to opportunities to incorporate positive education/psychology practices in my classroom.”

20 | Grove News Vol.II 2019

Watch Regatta Day highlights: lcs.on.ca/MediaGallery

Grove News Vol.II 2019 | 21

From the Classroom to Real Life The Grade 10 Introduction to Computer Science class took their in-class studies out into the real world to work with a group of Grade 4 students at a local elementary school to build a custom educational app to their specifications.

Following the experience, Scott Doggett ’21 had this to say about the process, “The game I made for my students is a Mario-themed 2D Treasure Map Hunt. The player moves around using the arrow keys on a cartesian grid. They travel to different parts of the map and are given math questions in order to get points and advance in the game. The game teaches the player about coordinates on a grid and basic multiplication.

The first time we gathered ideas for what they wanted us to create, the second time we showed them our plan for our game and the third time, we showed them a minimum viable product and got suggestions for what to improve. And then met-up again to show off our final product!”

Another student shared, “This culminating task was meaningful because I actually talked to people and it felt like I was really communicating with a user. Being with kids who have a lot of ideas was helpful because I could make my game development more focussed.”

the idea of imagery that spoke to Lakefield welcoming students from all over the globe; which resulted in origami birds. The birds fly out of the book (representing knowledge), small and in muted colours. They grow and become vibrantly coloured and individualized as they fly away.

In April, approximately thirty Grade 10 students came together to start painting the large mural panels and the birds. A core group of Grade 10 students continued working evenings and weekends, committed to completing the painting, touch-ups, varnishing and installation.

Through the process, students were encouraged and guided by Victoria Wallace and Angie Zavitz, along with Libby Dalrymple, our LCV Grade 10 Mentor.

The Heart of Robin Hood Pulls No Punches At its core, The Heart of Robin Hood is a story about transformation and its modern interpretation does not shy away from violence.

Initially, while Robin Hood certainly robs from the rich he does not give to the poor. Instead, he distributes appropriated gold to his band of merry men who have not only sworn an oath of fealty to him but also agreed not to allow any women into

The Garden Mural: Community, Collaboration, Creativity

either their band or their lives. Women, according

LCS students tested their skills and creativity

initially cast in a morally dubious light, a reading

while collaborating on a new mural for the

that is perhaps much closer to the historical

school led by professional mural artist Victoria

truth than many interpretations. This accord is

Wallace and LCS art teacher, Angie Zavitz,

undermined when he robs Maid Marian and her

to Robin Hood, distract from their agenda.

Consequently, the character of Robin Hood is

servant Pierre. This chance encounter causes Early in the school year, Grade 10 student mural

Robin Hood to begin questioning the principles

designers were challenged to include elements of

that have thus far driven his life. In The Heart of

each of the LCS values within a cohesive design.

Robin Hood, love redeems and ambition destroys

They chose to work with the idea of growth and

and all characters are transformed by both.

the knowledge gained while at Lakefield, and where, in life, that takes them.

Experience leaves an indelible mark. A play isn’t just a way to entertain people for two hours.

Their goal was to make a space that was

It’s more than memorizing lines, but feeling

inviting, fun and colourful. The idea started

them. It’s not simply timing or rote movement,

with Fernanda Fulcherberguer ’21, who came

but practicing so much that it becomes natural to

up with the concept of flowers growing from

you. At its core, the play is an invocation to say,

an open book. Other artists, Leonie Dill ’21,

“yes.”

Chelsea Yue ’21 and Nancy Lu ’22, contributed to the idea which evolved into a tree as a symbol of Lakefield’s values, strength and permanence. Caroline Chen ’21 introduced 22 | Grove News Vol.II 2019

Read more about this year’s spring play, and see highlights at bit.ly/LCSRobinHood OPPOSITE (Top to Bottom) L-R: Computer science student Ilana Mohamed ’21 with students from Lakefield District Public School; The Heart of Robin Hood leads Faith Dickinson ’20 as Maid Marian and Santiago Paz ’20 as Robin Hood; Caroline Chen ’21 and Maha Bukari ’21 painting an origami bird for the Communty Garden mural; Grade 10 students at the mural unveiling.

OUR PEOPLE LCS Staff Snapshot

Jim McGowan

head of Matthews house, English Life Before Lcs Eight years teaching in the public school system in British Columbia, Belleville and Port Perry M.Ed, University of Toronto B.Ed, Queen’s University BA, Trent University

unique achievements I’ve been fortunate to travel alongside students on some really exciting field trips. When I taught in BC, I did everything from chaperoning a sports trip to Hawaii all the way up to taking students to see a production of One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest in a high-security prison. At LCS, I was lucky enough to travel to Nepal with the 2011 Ondaatje Expedition trek to Mount Everest. We had a blast and it was truly an adventure.

current passion project Alongside other members of the English department at LCS, I’ve spent the last four years learning and implementing the methodology that fuels Harkness-style learning. I believe that zeroing in on building great discussion skills (listening, speaking, detailed reading of source material) drives home what we value at Lakefield—relationships.

OUR PEOPLE LCS Staff Snapshot

Todd Harris

Mathematics, Nordic Coach, Information Systems Support Life Before Lcs Before LCS, I worked in outdoor education and I was a Camp Director. I also worked as a corporate computer consultant, and as a programmer and consultant for McMaster University. So, I count LCS as my third career. I worked all over in Outdoor Education—a couple different YMCA residential camps and Outdoor Ed. centres in Ontario, plus a few different Outdoor Ed. centres in England.

B.Arts Sci. (Hons.), McMaster University B.Ed, Brock University

Unique Achievements I am the head coach for a youth triathlon team. It is the largest of its kind in Ontario, and our team has been the Ontario Youth Club champions for four years in a row.

Current Passion Project My current passion project is most definitely the Nordic ski racing signature program. I am very excited by it and the prospect of taking Nordic skiing to a new height here at LCS.

Lakefield Difference For me, the Lakefield difference is that LCS believes in people. We expect a lot from staff and students because we believe in them, but we let them do their thing and shine, showing what they can achieve. It raises the bar, but brings everyone higher along the way.

See more online: bit.ly/GradJump2019

Grove News Vol.II 2019 | 25

CHAPEL TALKS

SHARING LIFE’S DEFINING MOMENTS I love our chapel. It is a sacred space. You can feel how different

hear that teens are more stressed than ever, the fact that 58

it is from the other spaces in our community. And it’s not just

seniors have chosen to do a chapel talk (for it is completely

the architecture that sets it apart (although it is a beautifully

voluntary) is amazing. Each person who chooses to do a chapel

constructed space), it is the memories that it holds. The photos

talk takes a slightly different approach to how they wish to

of the LCS boys and staff who died in the World Wars adorn the

communicate their central message.

walls. The brass commemorative plaques, the stately organ, and the stained-glass windows all carry stories. When we enter the chapel, we are welcomed into a community and we respond in kind by intentionally crafting stories that connect us to one another and provide for us more solid ground upon which to begin our school day.

Their central message is often deeply personal and many share their rough draft with me, fearful that it is not good enough. It’s not uncommon for students to believe that their writing is not good enough, that what they have to say isn’t good enough.

Sometimes, students come to me and say that they feel like they don’t have enough life experience yet to have something

One of the distinguishing features of the Chapel program is our

important to say, or that they are not sure if they even have a

chapel talks. There are few CAIS schools that have chapel talks

message. Shame and vulnerability researcher Brené Brown says

and we are the only CAIS school that “does” chapel talks in the

that “vulnerability is the first thing we look for in others and the

way that we do; our seniors are provided with the opportunity

last thing we wish to show.” One of Brown’s ideas that I quote

to craft 8 – 10 minute speeches in which they address the

most often to our seniors is “it takes great courage to be

defining moments of their life and how these moments have

vulnerable.” I encourage them to be vulnerable and to share a

shaped their identity.

story that really matters to them.

This year, for example, there were 58 chapel talks scheduled.

I approach the drafts they share with me with a strength-based

Our first chapel talk was on October 19—the earliest in the

lens. I focus on what is working and what has real power, and

history of chapel talks at LCS. At a time in education when we

what has possible connections for our community. In “The

26 | Grove News Vol.II 2019

Feedback Fallacy” (Harvard Business Review), co-authors,

zones, because that’s where our neural pathways are most

Buckingham and Goodall reinforced that a strength-based

concentrated. It’s where we’re most open to possibility, most

feedback approach is the way to go. They say: “neurological

creative, insightful, and productive. That’s where feedback

science…shows what happens to us when other people focus

must meet us—in our moments of flow.”

on what’s working within us instead of remediating what isn’t.” Based on my experience with chapel talks, students learn a great deal about who they are and what and who has shaped their identity. I have witnessed amazing progress in the writing of a chapel talk. Seniors have many “a-ha” moments, where the pieces of a puzzle start to come together, where they tell me a story that illuminates why they think the way they do.

I had an a-ha moment when I read this in the Buckingham/ Goodall article:

I see these very ideas living and breathing in front of me when I review a chapel talk with a senior. I listen closely to what they say and also to what they’re not saying. I ask lots of questions.

I ask for more examples. I ask them to think about their audience and whether their message will resonate for our Grade 9s. When they come to their “shout-outs” or what I like to call “gratitude statements,” I encourage our students to speak in their home languages, their “love” language when they are addressing their parents and siblings. I want them to

“Learning happens when we see how we might do something

feel like it’s more than just ok to be who they are; I want them

better by adding some new nuance or expansion to our own

to know that we celebrate their uniqueness.

understanding. Learning rests on our grasp of what we’re doing well, not on what we’re doing poorly, and certainly not on someone else’s sense of what we’re doing poorly. And second, that we learn most when someone else pays attention to what’s working within us and asks us to cultivate it intelligently.”

They go on to say, “We’re often told that the key to learning is to get out of our comfort zones, but these findings contradict that particular chestnut: Take us very far out of our comfort zones, and our brains stop paying attention to anything other than surviving the experience. It’s clear that we learn most in our comfort

From what I have witnessed, positive coaching helps our seniors be more open to take risks and speak from the heart.

Many seniors in their chapel talks advise our students to “get out of their comfort zone” because that’s where the most fun, the most memories are made. To take a step outside their comfort zone they need to feel that they are valued, that they are heard and that they are seen. The process of writing a chapel talk, preparing to say it in front of everyone in our community, and then actually sharing it, is one of the greatest learning experiences for our seniors. I have learned so much from them. We all do, every day.

LORRAINE BROWN Director of Spiritual Wellness and Diversity.

Grove News Vol.II 2019 | 27

HISTORY IN THE MAKING A Gesture of Unprecedented Support for LCS

This year, two Lakefield College School families expressed their support of the school through commitments of very generous gifts. Both the John ‘68 and Jane Hepburn Family and the Parent Family made very generous donations in support of a number of the school’s top strategic priorities.

If you have had the opportunity to read Vision. Direction. Focus. (lcs.on.ca/ visiondirectionfocus), you will have read about our Community First pillar, one of four foundational concepts driving our strategic planning for the future. Trusting relationships are the cornerstone to deep learning and the lens of Community First allows us to focus on, nurture and grow the qualities that LCS students and families love about our community—the quality of relationships that exist between and among students and staff, parents, teachers, coaches, advisors and alumni, on campus and around the world.

In May, Lakefield College School was thrilled to announce that John ’68 and Jane Hepburn had made a $15 million commitment toward the school’s new dining hall and other strategic priorities that will stengthen our community—one of the most significant single donations ever to an independent school in Canada.

“We’re excited about the school’s vision and strategic direction and wanted to do our part to accelerate its realization.

I feel very fortunate to be in a position, thanks in large part to the education I received at Lakefield, to help make the school even stronger for its students.”

BC. The new dining hall has been identified as one of the major priorities in the school’s latest strategic plan and will be situated in the heart of our 155-acre main waterfront campus. A gathering place for the entire community, the dining hall will strengthen

Alumnus John ’68, a trustee of the school’s foundation, and Jane made this

and enhance the student experience and

extraordinary commitment at the LCS Foundation Trustees’ Meeting in Victoria,

will be named in honour of The John and Jane Hepburn Family.

28 | Grove News Vol.II 2019

Above: Spring 2019 LCS Foundation Trustees’ Meeting, Victoria BC. (L-R) LCS Board Chair Nicole Bendaly ’93, John Hepburn ’68, Head of School and Foundation Anne-Marie Kee, Jane Hepburn, LCS Foundation Board Chair Jock Fleming; John Hepburn with Anne-Marie Kee and Marc Parent; Marc Parent and Alexandre Parent ‘15

“Jane and I feel strongly that there is something very special at Lakefield,” John

learn from each other, as one community

said when making the announcement. “We’re excited about the school’s vision

in one inspirational space. Our school

and strategic direction and wanted to do our part to accelerate its realization. I

community is incredibly grateful for the

feel very fortunate to be in a position, thanks in large part to the education I

Hepburn Family’s leadership and

received at Lakefield, to help make the school even stronger for its students.”

support.”

John ’68 and Jane Hepburn are long-standing supporters of the school who have

In May, the Parent Family shared their

played a significant role in promoting a broad-based culture of philanthropy

intention to make a very generous gift to

within the LCS community. For decades, they have supported students through

the school of $3 million towards a new

tuition bursaries, and five years ago they launched a creative initiative designed to

student residence. Parent House will

ignite the support of the school’s alumni. The Hepburn Alumni Challenge offers

complete the proposed double residence,

gift incentives to the school (up to $3,000 per alumnus over five years) to

which includes Ross House (announced

encourage alumni donor participation. The initiative has been incredibly

last spring) and will be designed to

successful. In the five years since its launch, Lakefield College School’s alumni

strengthen our new Community First

donor participation rate has grown to become the highest among educational

house model. This gift is made by Marc

institutions in Canada. The Hepburn Alumni Challenge Bursary, which the

Parent in honour of his children

initiative funds, currently supports several students from alumni families. The

Alexandre ’15, Sabrina ’18 and Stephanie

Hepburns’ latest gift will help drive forward a number of the school’s top strategic

’20 in gratitude for the indelible mark the

priorities, which are guided by four key concepts: Outdoors Every Day, Authentic

school has left on their lives.

Learning, Community First and Strength and Permanence.

The school is incredibly grateful to the Hepburn Family and the Parent Family for

“The support we have received from John and Jane Hepburn over the years is truly

their leadership and support. Their gifts are

extraordinary, and this gift will make a transformational difference for our school

transformational and we look forward to

and our students,” said Anne-Marie Kee, Head of School and Foundation. “With

bringing these exciting projects to life for the

this new dining hall will come an array of opportunities for us to connect and

benefit of our students.

Grove News Vol.II 2019 | 29

LCS THRIVING THE SCHOOL YEAR IN REVIEW Lakefield College School’s THRIVE well-being initiative grew out of a mission intended “to help all members of our community—students and staff—develop the habits and practices needed for good mental health, and to develop the infrastructure needed to foster

SETTING OUR COURSE Guided by THRIVE principles the following 2018/19 goals were developed:

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To deepen staff learning in the principles of positive psychology, with a focus on character strengths education.

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To build THRIVE principles into chapel and residential programs.

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To train all faculty and residential staff in mental health first aid.

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To incorporate student voice in deepening mental health awareness education.

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To strengthen mindfulness and meditation practices for students and staff.

NN

To instill the values of ‘outdoors every day’ into the daily habits and practices of our students and staff through a variety of initiatives.

NN

To champion an increased number of staff as positive change agents for THRIVE, across all areas of school life.

NN

To actively engage and educate parents in the principles of positive psychology.

those habits and practices.” THRIVE’s proactive and dynamic approach to fostering mental health is based on three pillars: Physical Well-being, Positive Psychology and Lifelong Habits. Its goal is to teach the skills of well-being, helping students develop the competencies, self-confidence and resilience to face obstacles and challenges, and ultimately build a life in which they can thrive. The implementation of the THRIVE initiative has been informed by the belief that our staff needs to model and to teach these habits and practices in all that they do.

At its core, THRIVE is aligned with the school’s mission and values. Recognizing that education and the fields of mental health and well-being are continually changing, Lakefield’s three Positive Education Leaders work with a team of staff and students to develop goals for THRIVE that seek to incorporate the school’s strategic vision and best practices in research and education.

30 | Grove News Vol.II 2019

NN NN

To deepen connections and partnerships with external health and education communities.

To share and highlight our learnings and progress at the national and international levels.

and positive psychology interventions aimed at strengthening parent-child relationships.

March 2019 LCS begins collaboration with three other CIS schools to

TIMELINE OF ACHIEVEMENTS August 2018 Lea Waters, PhD (leawaters.com), visits campus and

begin the process of creating a Canadian Positive Education Association. The goal is to create a resource hub and network of positive psychology and well-being practices in education (positive education) for educators across Canada.

provides professional learning and development for all faculty and members of the Leadership Team on Character Strengths Education, in addition to a parent-community talk on strengths-based parenting.

April 2019 Launch of the “15x15 Outdoors Every Day Challenge,” where students participate in an inter-house competition to

September 2018

generate the most activity outdoors, each day over a fifteen

Launch of in-house Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training

bikes, helmets and locks, in addition to a collection of

beginning with residential staff, and continuing through to

outdoor activity equipment selected by each house, ranging

June 2019 with the training of all faculty in MHFA.

from spike ball and tether balls, to roller blades and cricket

Partnership with Jack.org to create a student-led club (THRIVE/Jack Chapter) to increase mental health awareness

day period. All boarding residences receive a set of two

gear.

education and incorporate principles of positive psychology

May 2019

into school life and programs by students, for students.

Mindfulness and Meditation at LCS: Dave Mochel (who specializes in Applied Attention) visits LCS and gives a

October 2018

series of workshops and presentations for students, staff and

Partnership with Trent University to develop the Outdoors

parents. This is a culmination of the work already

Every Day at LCS: Student Connectedness & Well-being survey

transpiring in this area this year, including a weekly

for students and parents (longitudinal research). The goal is

meditation group, the launch of the Health Centre’s ‘Rest &

to understand how differences in students’ outdoor and

Restore’ program, in addition to Lakefield becoming a

school experiences, as well as feelings of connectedness to

Headspace (guided meditation and mindfulness) school,

nature and others, impact their well-being.

making this app available for all staff.

December 2018

June and July 2019

Wellness initiatives for students including: “Creating

The professional learning and sharing of expertise

Positive Upward Spirals and Courage” for Grade 12s to help

continued through the end of June and into July 2019. A

manage stress; “Character Strengths Building” with Grade

group of 19 faculty attended the Flourish positive education

9s to create greater self-awareness; personal fitness group

conference at Ridley College where they learned many ways

training sessions for staff and students; C.A.M.P

to apply positive psychology in education. In July, our three

(Community and Meaningful Play) activities; and the Whole

Positive education team leaders attended and presented at

Life Challenge for staff.

the International Positive Psychology Association’s 6th World Congress in Australia, connecting with and learning from

January 2019 Living Learning Parent Book Club launched for parents, an interactive look at Lea Waters’ book, The Strengths Switch: How the New Science of Strengths-based Parenting Can Help Your Child and Teen Flourish. Fifteen parents work with LCS Parent and LCS Positive Education Leader to learn coaching

leaders in the field of positive education.

A very special thank you for the generosity and leadership of the Bouchard Family, who have graciously funded the THRIVE well-being initiative at LCS. Grove News Vol.II 2019 | 31

RE-ENVISIONING Our Common Spaces The Anstoetz Family and Grad Class Bring an Idea to Life In their final year at The Grove, many of our graduating

imagined repurposing the common space in Upper Hadden

classes honour their time at the school by generously giving

Hall to create a welcoming study environment for students.

back with a class gift. Over the past number of years, LCS grads have donated the cash equivalent of their grad year (e.g., $20.19 in 2019) in support of student financial assistance. We even have alumni from 30+ years ago who continue to support their graduating class bursary!

Inspired by the Class of 2019, the Anstoetz Family offerred to help bring this idea to life with a generous gift of furniture and design. Melanie Anstoetz, mother of Robin Anstoetz ’19 and Nick Anstoetz ’21, artfully designed a space that includes a variety of tables, desks and seating

Additionally, many graduating classes elect to support a

areas. Melanie was able to capture the vision of the Class of

material gift for students to enjoy and that they can visit on

2019 and create a functional and beautiful communal

campus at future alumni reunions. Recent examples

gathering place for students which they have been enjoying

include the ‘Mind, Body, Spirit’ painting that hangs just

to the fullest!

inside the red door near reception (Class of 2016) and our terrapin mascot ‘Grover’ (Class of 2014). Early this year, the Class of 2019 began brainstorming ways they could positively impact their fellow students with their grad class gift. After consulting the student body, they determined that there was a need for more gathering spaces outside the library where day and boarding students could have a comfortable place to study and learn together. They

32 | Grove News Vol.II 2019

In response to such a generous offer, members of the Class of 2019 contributed funds to complete the redesign of the space as part of their class gift. With the support of the Anstoetz Family, this year’s graduating class was able to bring the vision to life. We are so grateful for the generosity of the Anstoetz Family and the Class of 2019 for their support of The Grove.

Alumni Reach Record at 40% Donor Participation

We are so proud of our community of alumni who, this

alumni children in perpetuity. In September, we will

past school year, rose to the challenge—for the fifth year

welcome 19 children from alumni families to The

in a row—achieving record levels of donor participation

Grove—a new record! Remarkably, the Hepburn Alumni

among CAIS schools

Challenge Bursary has grown to be able to support eight

In 2014, John ‘68 and Jane Hepburn challenged our

deserving students next year.

alumni community to come together in support of

From the outset, this program was created for alumni, by

Lakefield College School by giving back. The Hepburns

alumni. None of this would be possible without the

generously pledged up to $3 million as an incentive to

support of over 75 volunteer Class and Decade Captains

motivate others, with the funds dedicated to establishing

who tirelessly engaged their classmates and guided us

a bursary for children and grandchildren of LCS alumni.

through the implementation of this program.

In addition to making the school more affordable for

Furthermore, we are grateful for the support our

alumni families, John and Jane wanted to increase the

community has demonstrated. Their collective

number of alumni supporting LCS on a yearly basis. As a

generosity has and will continue to provide students with

result, the Hepburn Alumni Challenge was born.

life-changing opportunities at LCS. Thank you for seizing

For the past five years, every annual gift of $20 or more made by alumni has been matched by a $400 gift from

upon this opportunity to invest in the future of our community.

the Hepburns and those who gave for five years

Finally, the transformative leadership of John ’68 and

consecutively unlocked an additional $1,000 towards the

Jane Hepburn has made this all possible. Their vision,

designated bursary. This powerful incentive structure

passion, and incredible generosity have enhanced our

ensured that participation was the priority and that

school and alumni community immeasurably.

every alum had the opportunity to make a meaningful

Hepburn Alumni Challenge Bursary currently sits at over

“To me, LCS is more than just a school, it is the place where I have learned who I am, stepped out of my comfort zone and met so many amazing people.

There is a sense of community here unlike anywhere else and you can feel it from the second you walk through the red doors. I cannot express my gratitude to you, and all of the other donors, because without you I would not be able to attend Lakefield.” HEPBURN

$3.2 million and will continue to support deserving

ALUMNI CHALLENGE BURSARY RECIPIENT

difference.

At the outset of the program, the goal was to triple alumni participation from an average of 10% to 30%. An ambitious goal—and one that was met with immense support! Over the past five years, we have averaged 38% alumni donor participation, capping it off with a recordhigh 40% in Year Five. LCS continues to lead all independent schools in Canada in alumni donor participation, an incredible sign of the strength of our community.

It has been a quick five years and we are incredibly proud of what our alumni community has accomplished. The

Grove News Vol.II 2019 | 33

1879 SOCIETY

Impact & Appreciation Event “Today, we thank you on behalf of every student who has or will benefit from the generosity of a legacy gift. Thank you for being proactive in your philanthropy, for being thoughtful and deliberate when including The Grove in your estate plans. Most important, to each and every one of you, thank you for believing in our little school on the shores of Lake Katchewanooka and for making the future, one we can’t even yet imagine, possible. THERESA BUTLER-PORTER, 1879 Society Impact and Appreciation Event, Spring 2019 An energized and spirited cross section of the Lakefield

It was the students present that day that best demonstrated

College School community came together last April for the

the impact the generosity of The Grove community has had

biennial 1879 Society Impact and Appreciation Luncheon.

on the student experience. They shared their optimism and

A mix of students, alumni, friends and family assembled in

maturity, their wisdom and openheartedness, and

Toronto to acknowledge the generosity and visionary

acknowledged—whether at the podium, performing, or at

commitment of many to the future of The Grove and its

their tables—that they were able to become their best

students—and to learn more about the difference these

selves because of LCS.

gifts are making on the student experience.

It is the kind of impact that moved alumni parent Janet

Guests of honour were members of The 1879 Society—those

Watson to leave a gift in her will to LCS. A lifelong member

who have advised the school of a future gift to LCS in their

of The Grove community, Janet’s grandfather, Dr.

wills. Other attendees included special friends of The

Alexander Mackenzie (Headmaster from 1894 to 1938), her

Grove, and friends or family of individuals whose gifts have

brothers, sons and other family members all attended the

been realized and are impacting our students today.

school.

34 | Grove News Vol.II 2019

When Janet passed away in 2016, LCS was advised of the

circumstances. Because of Darren’s thoughtful gift in his

gift in her estate, and it was a priority to her family that

will, his bequest will provide a bursary to a deserving

this gift be reflective of her values and the issues that

Peterborough student.

mattered to her most: social justice/community service, indigenous issues, and empowering and supporting women.

When Head of School Anne-Marie Kee described the exciting new initiatives already taking place on campus, she graciously acknowledged how the strength of

Janet’s first gift made possible the first-ever Women of

Lakefield’s past, combined with the generosity and

Lakefield: Empowering Possibilities event with more than

passion of people like Janet and Darren and so many

100 ‘Women of LCS’ in attendance.

others in our community, have formed the foundation for

In the coming school year, an indigenous spoken word

the school’s vision and aspirations for its future.

poet from Halifax will spend a day with our students and,

“There is nothing more noble than to plant a seed for a

with the input and collaboration of staff and students,

tree under which you will never sit. We have many

more unique experiences reflecting Janet’s values will

remarkable trees at The Grove and they are a constant

continue for years to come.

reminder of our people, and our 140-year history. I love it,

Like Janet, Lakefield College School had an undeniable impact on the life of alumnus Darren Bishop ’03 who joined the school in 1998.

Darren’s good friend and classmate Graham Bocking ’03 shared why Darren was inspired to make a gift to LCS in his will prior to passing away from cancer in 2014.

“Darren was a regular Peterborough kid, like me. When he made his will, he wanted to do whatever he could to help another regular kid from Peterborough, like him, to experience the difference LCS could make in their life.”

Darren wanted others to have the opportunity to achieve their dreams and that meant having access to an LCS education regardless of their family’s financial

and I know you do too. Thank you for your generous support of our school.”

Whether through bursaries that enable deserving teenagers to attend LCS; the strengthening of key programs; or the enhancement of current or new facilities, every day our students are impacted by the kindness of our Grove family and friends. As a school community we are forever humbled and inspired by the growing number of legacy gifts to The Grove—gifts of all sizes that have been realized or pledged to the school through the wills and estates of members of the LCS community.

THERESA BUTLER-PORTER Grove News Vol.II 2019 | 35

Sep te

r 27 - 29, 201 e b 9 m

e v o r G e h T o end t e m Ho week o

n

A lu

m ni R

i n u e

NEW—Alumni Reunion Class Dinners (Friday) and Brunch (Sunday) FRIDAY—Alumni Reunion Class Dinners September 27 (6:30 p.m.)

Celebrate and reflect on your days at LCS with your reunion class over delicious food and drink in the heart of downtown Peterborough at select restaurants.

SUNDAY—Alumni Reunion Brunch September 29 (11:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.)

Fall Fair—An Annual LCS Community Event Saturday—beginning at 12:00 noon Bring your friends and family and join us on the beautiful LCS campus for a day of fun and friendship.

Enjoy an all-community BBQ lunch (after classes, beginning at noon) while you mingle with friends, students and staff on the lawn outside the Head’s residence, cheer on our teams, experience interactive activities during the co-curricular showcase, and more!

See you soon!

After a weekend of fun it’s time to wind down! Return to campus to share a few laughs and final goodbyes with classmates and friends during the Alumni Reunion Brunch in the Winder Smith Dining Hall.

More details and register online at: lcs.on.ca/HTTG

Alumni Reunion—Celebrating Years Ending in ’4 and ’9!

Andy Harris Cup: LCS Golf Tournament

Saturday—beginning at noon

Sunday—beginning at 10:30 a.m.

Gather your classmates and join us for your reunion.

Grab your clubs and join us for a day of golf.

We look forward to welcoming our alumni celebrating their 5, 10, 15, 20, etc. reunions (with graduating years ending in ’4 and ’9—beginning with 2014) back to the campus!

The Andy Harris Cup: LCS Golf Tournament at Wildfire Golf Club is open to all LCS community members and friends, but this year’s alumni reunion attendees should take special note, and pack their golf clubs to join friends and classmates for a day of friendly competition!

Enjoy all the Fall Fair activities and our alumni reunion reception and dinner in The Grove.

This is an event for the whole family, a wonderful way to share your memories with your loved ones.

The Wildfire Golf Club is an award-winning private course located on the shores of Stoney Lake (a short drive from The Grove). Enjoy a day of great golf and new friendships while supporting the financial assistance program at Lakefield College School and honouring the legacy of Andy Harris ’44 (LCS teacher, 1950s-1980s).

Open to all LCS community members!

#lcsHTTG

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ALUMNI Tech & Innovation

GOOD PEOPLE BUILD

BETTER WORLDS

Nick Desmarais ’03, Co-Ceo of AppDirect

Critical Thinking Makes Careers Not surprisingly, grads who excel in technology careers praise their math, science and programming courses and talk about academic excellence in their alma mater. But that’s not all.

Lakefield College School prides itself on education of the whole person.

Learning is based in a variety of authentic and experiential actvities, certainly, and our graduates confirm it. You will also hear a lot about the essential value in technology fields of the wider intellectual skills of problem-solving, lifelong learning and, as you’ll soon hear from one of our tech alumni, “learning how to learn.” These are all skills that we actively promote.

But an LCS education also hones the social, emotional, spiritual and physical sides of a multifaceted, fulfilled person. You will hear highly accomplished people in technology fields speak of the need to collaborate, locally, around the world and in online forums. They mention the leadership skills of listening and evaluating. Many speak about how LCS taught the importance of sports and physical activity, friendships that extend around the globe and through many years, and the value of a balanced workplace where relationships with those around you contribute to high performance as well as health and happiness.

You will even notice that some of our high-flying technology graduates draw attention to how they enjoyed the study of the arts as well—and used their artistic skills in their chosen fields.

We are proud to introduce you to these distinguished and wellrounded alumni who have built their lives in technology. Enjoy their stories.

Grove News Vol.II 2019 | 39

Jason Tsao ’96: ON AN INTERNATIONAL ODYSSEY Born in Taiwan, Jason Tsao ’96 came to LCS—and Canada

That means working closely with customers to understand

—in Grade 10 at the age of 15. “It was perfect timing,” he

what they need and showing them how to use the software

says. “I was young enough to pick up English fairly quickly

for full value. “It’s a cultural transformation,” says Jason,

but I already knew how to read and write Mandarin, which

both for the sales and marketing team and for the

is essential for what I do now.”

company. “Instead of a new version coming out every

But that first night was daunting. After landing in Toronto, his mom, aunt and uncle drove him to Lakefield, a somewhat more bucolic setting than Taipei. After lunch, they arrived at the school and soon they were waving

three years with a major launch, new features are added in the cloud every week. So old processes won’t work anymore. We have to stay close to our customers so they’re always aware of what our products can do.”

goodbye. “Everyone was so welcoming. I was invited to

Jason’s other responsibility is for AI, turning the most

meet people, and they all talked to me—but I really didn’t

leading-edge innovations in the way humans interact with

understand a word they said.”

computers—hearing, speaking, reading—into Microsoft

Jason had actually studied English in school; he just wasn’t used to the speed and vocabulary of speech he was hearing. He was not at a total disadvantage, however. His Taiwan schooling had prepared him very well for Canada’s curriculum in math, and he gained confidence. He also came equipped with a digital translator, and he studiously

product features. “Greater China has had a very large research organization for the last 20 years,” Jason says.

“They’re in the thousands, doing fundamental AI research.

If we can bring some of these technologies into the marketplace from the lab, we can transform and refine our products.”

made notes of every word in courses with confusing

The journey from Lakefield to Beijing was an interesting

language—for example, environmental studies—and ran

one. Along the way, he studied engineering and computer

them through the machine. Still, it took until Grade 11 for

science at Duke University in Durham, NC, worked as an

him to get around without a dictionary.

engineer and operating systems developer for Cisco

So began an international odyssey that has led Jason to his current role in Beijing, China, leading two key areas in the region for Microsoft Corp.—area transformation and AI (or artificial intelligence).

Area transformation is helping customers make full use of Microsoft products in the cloud. Where companies once bought products like the latest Office productivity suite in a box and simply installed them, this software now exists in the cloud and Microsoft gets paid according to how much use they get.

Systems in Ottawa, learned how international businesses are run as a travelling executive assistant to the CEO of a fashion brand in Hong Kong, and performed a managerial role covering China and Southeast Asia from Singapore for California-based software giant Oracle Corp.

It was Microsoft that recruited him and moved him to Beijing, where he worked for two years as chief of staff for the CEO of Microsoft’s Greater Beijing region, which includes Hong Kong and Taiwan, before assuming his current roles. With his young children in school, he’s now content to stay put. “We actually enjoy Beijing even more

Why is technology a rewarding career?

“The importance of learning a programming language is like learning a foreign language 20 years ago. Every company today is a software company because everything we do is all part of digital technology. Having the ability to understand the basic structure and principles is as critical as learning a second language. It is not about what programming language to learn; it is about the logic and ability to compose code to solve problems.”

in

ALUMNI Tech & Innovation

than Singapore,” despite the traffic and high taxes, he

With all the travel and technology, Jason is quick to say

says. “It’s a very energetic and ‘alive’ city with wide

how much LCS helped set him on his way, and not just

availability of advanced technology.” If you order

with math and the programming course that started it

groceries online before midnight, he says, they’re at your

all. Boarding helped him make friends, pick up English

door by morning. “Everything is super-convenient.”

and absorb Canadian culture quickly. Getting involved

Living with advanced technologies is underlined in his work environment. “At Microsoft, everything we use is developed by Microsoft so it’s very integrated,” Jason

in tennis, intramural hockey and softball, where he eventually became team captain and MVP, built a leadership mentality.

explains. “There’s no set working hours and everything

And there’s no doubt that LCS also implanted a lot of

here is very mobile. We also have the technology to

“Canadian” in this international executive on the other

understand where you spend your time—and,

side of the world. “I remember the expedition to

interestingly, that’s all part of the AI side that I work

Algonquin Park in the first weeks of each year. I didn’t

with.”

like it at all the first couple of years—I was a skinny

While his grounding in math and engineering were critical foundations, he says success in high-tech has never been about math or programming skills. “It’s about the approach you take to solving problems,” he

Asian guy portaging a couple of kilometres and paddling all day. But by senior years, it was my favourite time of year. If they ever organize an alumni expedition into the park, I would fly around the world to be there.”

says. “It’s the underlying soft skills, the ability to quickly

And so he has planted a seed, just as LCS planted a seed

understand new technologies—because it basically

with him.

comes up every day.”

JOHN SOUTHERST Grove News Vol.II 2019 | 41

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ALUMNI Tech & Innovation

Kelly Bignell-Asedo ’04:

DESIGN FOR PEOPLE Kelly Bignell-Asedo ’04 is evidence that there’s plenty of

art teacher, Kate Carder, drew her attention to the

room for the arts in a technology career. “But I always

Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) in Savannah,

thought I’d be an engineer,” she says. At LCS, her

GA.

schedule was full of physics, chemistry and two math courses. Plus art. An important digression, as it happens.

Kelly duly travelled to Savannah with her mom to tour the place. Her eyes lit up. “The facilities and partnerships

She eventually realized she wanted something more

were just superior,” she says today. “After that, I knew

multifaceted than engineering, and started looking at

that if I got in, I’d go there.”

architecture and product design. Then two teachers took her aside. Dr. Janet Markus, a former art teacher who became assistant head of school life at LCS, and Kelly’s

42 | Grove News Vol.II 2019

Indeed, she was accepted at SCAD and graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Industrial Design. Recently, with

her unique combination of creative and technical skills,

But after 10 years in the agency world, she says Audible

she took up her latest post as senior user experience

opens up a new opportunity. “I wanted to work for a

(UX) designer on the international team for Audible Inc.,

product company so I can design something, see how

Amazon’s audio book company in Newark, NJ. She

the world reacts and make it better and better.” As is the

creates what readers outside the US actually see and

norm in many advanced tech companies, the work

how they use the different apps.

environment is good, she adds. Substantial subsidies are

“I work with the business teams and the tech team,” she explains. “Different markets have different business models and I represent the user. My job is to be an advocate for what the user wants. Sometimes it doesn’t align with the business goals but my job is to deliver the best possible user experience.”

Practically, that means creating “wire frames” or blueprints of what the user should see on the screen.

The idea is to make the app as easy to use as possible.

“We research, either ourselves or through partners, how users respond to different scenarios,” Kelly says. “Some research is qualitative [interviews], some is through usability studies.”

available for college and university studies, and the company dining room is designed by Eataly, a destination food emporium in New York. Every Wednesday all employees get a $15 lunch card to spend at any participating restaurant in the area. They generally go as a group.

The challenge of working in technology is always keeping up with the pace of change. New phones, new versions of browser software and voice-activated virtual assistants like Alexa come out regularly, for example, and apps such as Audible’s must be able to work with them all. “That’s one of the hardest things to do,” Kelly says. “You’ve just got to read a lot.” But the camaraderie that develops in a collegial workplace helps, too. “One

At SCAD, she got an introduction to how people connect

member of the team may research and summarize a

with and use different product designs. Interestingly,

topic and circulate it for everyone.”

through the college’s partnerships, her first practical experiences came designing features on Gulfstream executive jets—such commonplace amenities as faucets, cupholders, lighting and display screens. Courses called “interaction design” taught the digital side of these concepts, keeping in mind the revolution in touch screens and internet connectivity was just beginning.

It reminds her of her start at LCS. “We collaborated every day—on everything from school projects to teams, to activities around campus, and with different people all the time,” she says. “LCS gives you so many situations and opportunities and I use all those skills on a daily basis. I’m very comfortable with it.”

“While I was in school, the iPhone was just being

But she especially holds dear the guidance she received.

introduced,” Kelly recalls.

“I wouldn’t be where I am today without the advice I got

At the time, SCAD was also the only arts school to have a varsity athletic program, which was another reason she chose to go there. Kelly took up lacrosse. “At LCS, sports

from my teachers.”

JOHN SOUTHERST

play such a large role and being able to continue to do that was very attractive.”

After graduation, she soon landed at an ad agency in Brooklyn, later moving to another in Manhattan. Again, seeing technical products from the viewpoints of vastly different users offered fascinating challenges. “I worked with clients such as PlayStation, trying to see it from the perspective of a 16-year-old, and I worked with a financial client where we needed to explain to a senior

Why is technology a rewarding career?

“I work to understand people’s behaviour and motivations, and use that information to craft delightful experiences.”

citizen what an annuity is.”

Grove News Vol.II 2019 | 43

Nick Desmarais ’03: ACHIEVING PEAK PERFORMANCE The business bug bit Nick Desmarais ’03 early, very early.

banking. But he and Dan were cooking up some strong

He had a lemonade stand, sure, but by the age of 12 he

ideas.

had also sold his home-made rhubarb jam on the streets of his hometown Sherbrooke, Que., and even ran a small rabbit farm. “Demand for rabbits in Sherbrooke was less than I hoped,” he says.

“When Dan and I got together, we used to spend a lot of time brainstorming about what sort of businesses we would start together,” Nick recalls. Nick had already recognized that it was hard to find businesses with not-so-

But by 17, while he was still at LCS, Nick was turning a

high capital needs but potentially good returns and low

profit—with an asphalt sealing and repair business. He

financial risk. Web-based software fit that bill. “People

gathered broken pieces of asphalt from roadways, melted

aren’t willing to invest large sums of money into

them in drums, bought sealing tar and went door-to-door

inexperienced entrepreneurs out of school, which I was,

offering to patch driveway holes at 25 cents a square foot.

so leveraging web-based software or cloud services felt like

“The business did well,” he says, and in his first year of

the most viable approach.”

university his little company was patching and sealing the tarmac at a small airport.

There was no single “eureka moment” when they settled on AppDirect, but Nick says they both felt that “cloud was

He collected annual Inc. 500 issues ranking growing

the fastest-rising tide and that, as entrepreneurs, if we

businesses and scanned their stories and statistics “the

jumped into that tide we would ride up with it.” In the

way most kids looked at sports collectible cards,” he says.

end, he put aside his MBA and investment banking plan

“I was determined early on in my teens to create a

and plunged into entrepreneurship and AppDirect.

company someday that would make the list.” Sure enough, he wasn’t out of his twenties when his AppDirect cloud services company made the Inc. 500.

Today, Nick is chairman and co-CEO, with Dan, of a major player in software-as-a-service, or SaaS, responsible for product evolution and investor relations. He has raised

Based in San Francisco, AppDirect is a kind of online

hundreds of millions of dollars in venture capital funding

shopping mall and management platform for cloud

for AppDirect, and overseen growth into millions of cloud

services for small and medium-sized businesses. In

subscriptions worldwide and expansion into offices in

addition to the marketplace with interactive cloud listings,

Montreal, Munich and Pune, India. He has been

there’s a variety of services to manage payment, drive

recognized by US-based Forbes magazine as one of the

sales and attract new vendors.

country’s Top 30 Under 30 executives in enterprise

Nick started AppDirect in 2009 with his friend Daniel Saks, a classmate of his brother Alexandre Desmarais ’03 at

technology and, inarguably, he is a major US business leader, now and for the future.

McGill University. Nick had taken a double major in

Has this giant-sized success distanced him from his years

political science and economics at Amherst College in

at LCS? Not in the least. In fact, he says, his LCS

Massachusetts, then worked several years as a

experience plays a major role in how he governs his

management consultant in media and business services,

personal development and his management style in

intending to study for an MBA and go into investment

growing AppDirect.

Why is technology a rewarding career? ““Technology is the most important factor, and perhaps the only factor, that can create massive step-function improvements in the standard of living for humanity. Technology improves productivity per capita, which creates economic surplus, thereby shifting the standard of living.

So my mission is to make tech universally accessible.”

in

ALUMNI Tech & Innovation

(L-R) Co-Ceos of AppDirect, Dan Saks, and Nick Desmarais ’03

“Healthy mind, body, spirit, which is a cornerstone of

Even his personal time management sounds a lot like LCS

Lakefield, is also the cornerstone of my personal

positive philosophy and “choosing the way you think,” even

development methodology,” Nick says. “I realized that the

though Nick’s time at LCS predates some of these initiatives.

fundamental mechanics I learned at Lakefield are critical to

He builds each day around “themes”—Monday for

underpinning performance. Before the what, the how and

engineering, Tuesday for customers and internal operations,

the why of achievement, you need to optimize your mental,

Wednesday for product and design, Thursday for mergers,

emotional and physical health to achieve states of peak

acquisitions and integrations, and Fridays for marketing.

performance. This makes the professional journey a lot

“By focusing each day on a specific theme, I make sure that

easier and more enjoyable.”

I’m not context switching too much,” he says. “It greatly

Those same principles are behind the culture of peak

helps focus.”

performance that he’s trying to instill in AppDirect, he says.

Expect to hear a lot from Nick as the technology world

“Attracting, cultivating and retaining the top talent in our

evolves and as increasingly advanced technologies become

field is key to AppDirect’s sustainable success. We also want

more and more accessible to everyone. He’s already

to help our people achieve a state of peak performance

experimenting. “I love playing with technologies in a

professionally.” That means giving employees performance

hands-on way,” he says. “I actually set up 3D printers in my

measurement tools and personal and professional

garage to build a human-sized robot. In addition to

development—health and wellness coaching, nutritionists

AppDirect, I’m also now an active technology investor in a

and trainers.

variety of exciting projects from robotics to blockchain.”

“With so many offices now around the world, we’re also

It will be fascinating to see where that leads this healthy—

actively encouraging engagement between teams and

and active—mind, body and spirit.

finding opportunities to bring people together, both formally and informally,” he says. “We’re actually looking at rolling out themed houses like LCS has to encourage crosscollaboration.”

JOHN SOUTHERST Grove News Vol.II 2019 | 45

in

ALUMNI Tech & Innovation

Christina Chan ’12:

LEARNING TO LEARN There’s something you need to know about Christina

Her employer, Wealthsimple, makes investing easy and

Chan ’12. It’s what makes her successful as a software

economical by offering straightforward financial

engineer at a fast-growing financial technology company

products online. All the account rebalancing, dividend

in Toronto. “Keeping pace with change is a challenge,

reinvestment and tax management is handled

but it’s what excites me,” she says. “Learning and doing

automatically, so it’s low maintenance for clients. The

new things is what I enjoy. If it wasn’t there, I’d get

concept is getting a lot of traction. In the two-and-a-half

bored pretty quickly.”

years Christina has been there, Wealthsimple has grown

That thirst to learn stands behind pretty much every move Christina has made. She’s now a full stack software developer, which means she works on both the front (customer side) and back end (the server side that works with the database and drives the front end) of websites and applications.

from 60 to 240 employees in Toronto, New York and London. “In this growth phase,” Christina says, “we need more resilient systems that can handle the increased volumes and we’re always adding new features and new products, like self-directed trading and now savings products.”

Her quest for challenges began with a passion for

“That’s what I like about it,” she says. “A lot of the time

science and math, a passion she says originated with her

you’re trying to do something that hasn’t been done

father, a doctor, and her mother, a civil engineer, in

before or adapt an existing solution to do something it

Peterborough, ON. At LCS, she loaded up her schedule

can’t readily do. The ability to learn is essential, but it’s a

with science and math, but took a computer science

community and you get really good at searching the

course in Grade 10. “I learned the basics of

Internet or working with colleagues around you or

programming and really liked it. It made sense to me. In

online. Everyone’s always pushing the frontier.”

math, we were learning functions and I saw the applicability to programming. But at that point, I didn’t even know it was a career option.”

If this sounds hectic, there’s relief. It all happens in a work environment designed to ease tension and find a healthy work-life balance, Christina says. “We’ve all

As a self-described compulsive learner, however,

benefited from Google and other Bay-area companies

Christina also has a creative flair, and she always kept

that set a high standard for their workplace

visual arts as her “one artsy course.” She even won the

environments. Here, we have some pretty nice perqs: it’s

arts award in Grade 11. Upon graduation, with several

open concept in a beautiful building, there’s a catered

acceptances in front of her, she chose computer science

lunch every day and we all take a break and eat

at Queen’s University. “I liked creating visual things, and

together.” After work, co-workers gather for friendly—or

I felt I had more of a chance to do that in comp sci than

competitive—games of ping pong or Smash Brothers,

in engineering.”

and cold drinks are on the house.

She knew quickly she was on the right path. “At the

“It takes away a lot of the little distractions,” says

time, it was a tiny, tiny faculty—maybe 60 people in my

Christina, “and that allows you to focus on the job you

year,” she recalls. “I knew everyone, liked the profs and

have to do.”

loved every course.” She even held faculty student government positions. Instead of co-op placements, Christina chose a 12-month internship after third year, which landed her with a smart-bike startup called Vanhawks. With several web-based products for the cyclists who bought the bike, they needed a web designer to create the user experience.

Which brings her back to the most important part of her job, learning, and how it all started. “I think because teachers at Lakefield were so passionate about learning that I became good at learning, and now I have those skills to rely on.”

JOHN SOUTHERST

Again, it was an opportunity to learn. Front-end web development wasn’t something she learned at school, but she worked for a year creating the public and logged-in web pages until the company ran out of cash and was sold. With a summer left before her final semester, she joined another company running digital skills “bootcamps” for new programmers.

This time, she learned more about herself. “It was a lot of fun,” she recalls. “I like teaching people but I really like learning and I wasn’t learning myself. I need that to keep me interested.”

Recruited by Wealthsimple after graduation, Christina finds herself in her element: a challenging field with plenty to learn in a rewarding work environment. In her field, she says, software development is less about math

Why is technology a rewarding career?

“For me, it’s about reach—I think there are very few industries where you can build something quickly that can have a huge impact. It also helps that I work somewhere where I align closely with the company’s mission: making financial freedom accessible through simple and affordable financial products. The things I build actually have an impact on people’s lives.”

and more about problem-solving.

Grove News Vol.II 2019 | 47

LCS ALUMNI–Class News!

1970s Murray Sinclair ’79 completed the Steelhead Half Ironman (his first) in Benton Harbor, Michigan on June 30, 2019 in 6 hours 31 minutes. Murray shared his thanks, “to Terry Guest (former headmaster) for motivating me on the “spring trots” approximately 40 years ago.” In October, Murray will be stepping off of the school’s board after nine years.

He will remain a trustee.

1990s Shelley Simmons ’96, husband Paul

Celebrating Bill Morris ’70

Haley, and big sister Inès, welcomed a baby boy, Finn Simmons Haley, on January 30, 2019 in Toronto, ON.

Congratulations to Bill Morris ’70 who received the City of Peterborough Lifetime Achievement Award. “Morris was recognized for more than 30 years of community involvement with the Canadian Canoe Museum as part of its first board of directors in 2010, where he contributed ‘6,000 hours of his talent and time,’” according to a city press release. He also served as a Peterborough Regional Health Centre Foundation volunteer from 2006 to 2015, spent 50 years in various volunteer roles at Lakefield College School and is a director of both the Innovation Cluster and the

Austin Sinclair ’11 and Murray Sinclair ’79 completed the Steelhead Half Ironman in Benton Harbor, Michigan

Regional Angel Investor Network.

Bill was joined by many LCS friends at the award ceremony including (pictured above, L-R): Theresa Butler-Porter, David Hadden, Sue Fleming, Jock Fleming ’74, Rose Stewart, Kate Currier, Susan Stevenson, Bill Stewart ’70, Val McRae, Betty Morris, Bill Morris ’70, Tom Stevenson ’78, Heather MacLeod, John Ryder ’77, Shane Smyth ’96, Anne-Marie Kee, and John McRae ’70.

48 | Grove News Vol.II 2019

Shelley Simmons ’96 with husband Paul and children Inès and Finn

2000s Jeff Bos ’96, Jon Holmes ’97, Amanda

Townsend ’02, Melanie Wright ’02, and

Kyle Kralik ’08 and wife Laura

(Soder) Ethier ’98, Jen Moores ’98 and

Daria McWilliams ’04.

welcomed a son, Thorfinn Orion, on

Megan Walsh ’00 recently met up at a friend’s wedding in Fernie, BC Laura Lawson ’00 and husband Mark

March 1, 2019.

Sarah (Chung) Lee ’03 and husband James Lee welcomed a baby girl, Avery,

Paty Gabilondo ’08 and husband Julian

on May 10, 2019.

welcomed a baby girl, Olivia Gabilondo

welcomed a baby girl, Ayla Isabella

Wagner, on June 2, 2019 in Germany.

Lawson Szilard, on May 3, 2019 in

Adam Bishop ’04, wife Michelle and big

Peterborough, ON.

brother Ben welcomed a baby girl,

Lauren Schumacher ’08 and Chris

Emma Mary Dawn, on April 25, 2019.

Horton ’08 were married on May 19,

Jenna Shelley ’02 married Thomas

2019 in Field, BC. They were celebrated

Crerar in May 2019 at Casa Loma in

Sarah (McCain) Coulson ’05 and

by LCS friends including Andrew

Toronto, ON. They were celebrated by

husband Mike welcomed a baby girl,

Parke ’03, Jessie (Vouk) Parke ’05,

LCS friends including Leslie Najgebauer

Callia Maria McCain Coulson, on

Lianne Schumacher ’05, Leslie

’01, Laura Sunderland ’01, Kathryn

February 28, 2019.

Schumacher ’06, Greg Douglas ’08,

Ast ’02, Hilary Bauer ’02, Laura

Colin Greenwood ’08, Nicole Pinto ’08,

(McIntyre) Elliott ’02, Carly Erickson

Lauren (Snider) Rowland ’05, husband

’02, Kelly (McCauley) Fleming ’02,

Chad and big sister Isla welcomed a

Jenna Grossman ’02, Liza McWilliams

baby boy, Nash, on May 15, 2019 in

Victoria Tenthorey ’09, husband Rob

’02, Gandhi Pinder ’02, Andrew

Calgary, AB.

and big sister Madisyn welcomed a baby

and Matt Ryder ’08.

Sainsbury ’02, Brianna (Lyttle)

boy, Colton Edward, on July 11, 2019 in

Schumacher ’02, Liza Shelley ’02, Kate

Calgary, AB.

Megan (Walsh) Lohman ’00, Jon Holmes ’97, Jeff Bos ’96, Jenn (Moores) Whitaker ’99 and Amanda (Soder) Ethier ’98 in Fernie, BC

Laura Lawson ’00 with husband Mark and daughter Ayla

Liza Shelley ’06 with husband Thomas Crerar

Sarah (Chung) Lee ’03 with Avery

Adam ‘04 Bishop with wife Michelle and children Ben and Emma

Sarah (McCain) Coulson ’05, husband Mike and daughter Callia

Grove News VII 2019 | 49

OUR PEOPLE LCS Staff Snapshot

2010s Bea Chan ’10 has started

Benton Harbor, Michigan on

Summer Roads Flower

June 30, 2019 with a personal

Company—seasonal, locally

best of 5 hours 50 minutes

grown flowers, inspired

(photo p. 48). After four years

by the natural world—in

working in Toronto in the

Lakefield, ON. Learn more at

investment industry, Austin will

summerroadsflowerco.com

be attending The Wharton Business School at the

Austin Sinclair ’11 completed

University of Pennsylvania for

the Steelhead Half Ironman in

the next two years.

Sarah Thompson ’06 English, Modern Languages Life Before Lcs

Assistante de Langue, Toulouse, France French and English Teacher, Santiago, Chile Bachelor of Education, University of Ottawa BPHE and BA in French, Queen’s University

Unique Achievements

Isla, Chad, Lauren (Snider) Rowland ’05 and baby Nash

Thorfinn, son of Kyle Kralik ’08

Paty Gabilondo ’08, husband Julian and daughter Olivia

Rob, Madisyn, Victoria Tenthorey ’09 and baby Colton

“Moving to Chile on my own to work and improve my Spanish is something I am really proud of myself for doing. I had just gone through one of the hardest years of my life and I needed to do something bold to push myself outside of my comfort zone. During my time there, I hiked the W Trek in Patagonia, mountain biked in the Atacama desert, explored neighbouring countries Argentina and Uruguay, and fell in love with the Spanish language.

My time in South America helped shape me as a person and as an educator.”

My LCS Difference “Having been a student at LCS, then a Teaching Fellow and now a full-time teacher, I am still trying to articulate what makes this place so special; whatever it is, it’s kept me coming back.

As a student it was always the relationships I had with the people at school. Today, that still holds true. Everyone here is incredibly supportive.

As a teacher, I feel empowered to take risks, be creative and be vulnerable both in and outside of the classroom. I think this is why we have such a strong sense of community here.”

Schumacher/Horton Wedding: Greg Douglas ’08, Nicole Pinto ’08, Leslie Schumacher ’06, Matt Ryder ’08, Lauren Schumacher ’08, Chris Horton ’08, Lianne Schumacher ’05, Colin Greenwood ’08, Jessara (Vouk) Parke ’05 and Andrew Parke ’03

LCS ALUMNI–Class News!

Sarah Douglas ’12 recently won Gold đ&#x;Ľ‡ in Laser Sailing at the Pan American Games 2019. Sarah’s goal is to be the first Canadian woman to win an Olympic Gold medal in her discipline.

Jacob Kee ’17 spent the summer working in China and, in July, had the opportunity to have dinner with LCS Sarah Douglas ’12 won the Gold Medal in Laser Sailing at the Pan American Games 2019.

Jacob Kee ’17 having dinner with LCS families in Shanghai

students and families in Shanghai.

First Ever Head Students’ Summit This past spring, on the morning of Regatta Day, we were joined by over 33 former LCS Head students spanning graduating classes from the 1950s to 2019 for our first ever Head Students’ Summit. The morning meeting provided us with a special opportunity to connect with this group of former LCS leaders. Together, we reviewed the school’s latest initiatives and strategic priorities; we heard from our current student leaders and some of the initiatives they are pursuing; we presented and celebrated the foundation’s tremendous achievements in fundraising; reflected on the aspects of a Lakefield College School education that we most value, and shared suggestions on those aspects that we feel we must strengthen.

Grove News Vol.II 2019 | 51

OUR PEOPLE LCS Staff Snapshot

Erica Chellew ’95

Grade 9 Program Coordinator, English Life Before Lcs “Lots of teaching, learning, working and parenting.

I spent time teaching at Greenwood and Bayview Glen in Toronto and a year in South Korea. I also ran an ELL camp in Huntsville on the gorgeous Fairy Lake. When we first moved to Lakefield, my son was really young and I wanted days with him so I worked at LCS in the evenings tutoring. I learned so much doing this; I loved seeing how each individual student processed expectations and instructions.”

B.Ed, York University BA (Psychology), Bishop’s University

unique achievements “I am proud of my recent Reading Specialist through York University. The instructor, Lesley Davidson (TDSB and York), has become someone I really look up to. She has taught me about how reading is changing and how vital it is in our current society.

I’m also proud that I continue to play Ultimate Frisbee, even though I’m fairly certain my expiry date in competitive sports was years back!”

current passion project “I am passionate about empowering students to engage with and understand the wave of information that gets thrown at them every day.

They are growing up in such a different world than I did; they have to constantly sift through text, visual and oral bits of media and they need different mental tools to manage it all.”

See more at: Facebook.com/LakefieldCollege

ABOVE: Top to bottom (L-R): Kingston Alumni Reception; Munich Community Reception; Toronto Alumni Reception; Cayman Islands Community Reception; Alumni, alumni parents and current parents at the Montreal Alumni Reception—Sophie Laframboise ’11, Charlie Laframboise ’14, Anne-Marie Kee P’17, Vanessa Laframboise P ’11 ’14 ’15, Justin Cunningham ’99 and Ben Gledhow ’19; Nassau, Bahamas Community Reception—Brendan Dunn ’98, Jim Bernard ’01, Barbara Anne Bernard ’97, Justin Cunningham ’99, Jessica Fitchette Hart ’97

In Our Memories Renwick Craig ’59 passed away in Thunder Bay, ON on

Hugh MacNicol ’75 passed away on May 12, 2019 in

June 2, 2018.

Toronto, ON. Brother of Scott MacNicol ’82, Dave

Anthony Austin ’86 passed away on February 21, 2019 in Toronto, ON. Deborah Jarvis passed away on February 24, 2019. Wife of John Corbett ’72, sister-in-law of Hal Corbett ’71.

K. Jane (Currier) Hull passed away on March 31, 2019 in

MacNicol ’81 and Bob MacNicol ’78.

John Kincaid ’56 passed away on May 28, 2019 in Peterborough, ON. Peter Ridout passed away on June 10, 2019 at his farm in Collingwood, ON. Father of James Ridout ’90.

Belleville, ON in her hundredth year. Mother of Brian

Charles Wilson passed away on June 13, 2019 in Fergus,

Hull ’60.

ON. Father of Steve Wilson ’76. Grandfather of Sandy

Rosemary Telles-Langdon passed away on April 9, 2019 in

Wilson ’12.

London, ON at the age of 101. Mother of David Telles-

Sheila Florence Lee (from Sudbury) passed away on June

Langdon ’75 and Peter Telles-Langdon ’79.

13, 2019 in Markham, ON. Mother of Geoffrey Lee ’74

Ian Watson ’77 passed away on April 16, 2019 in

and John Lee ’72.

Stratford, ON. Brother of Alick Watson ’81. Nephew of

Sebastian Jones ’13 passed away on June 25, 2019 in

Alick Ryder ’55 and Tom Ryder ’53. Cousin of John

Georgian Bay Islands, ON.

Ryder ’77. Great grandson of Dr. Alexander Mackenzie (LCS Headmaster 1894-1938).

The Reverand Canon A. Gerald Fairhead ’42 passed

Ashley (Hennig) Belding ’04 passed away on April 23,

Fairhead ’78.

away on July 5, 2019 in Kitchener, ON. Father of Peter

2019 in British Columbia.

Craig Harris ’78 passed away on July 16, 2019 in Mary Lorriman passed away in Barrie, ON on May 5,

Peterborough, ON. Son of Andy Harris ’44, and brother

2019. Mother of Jim Lorriman ’66, Scott Lorriman ’71,

to Tony Harris ‘82 and Kelly Harris ’80.

Bob Lorriman ’72, Ted Lorriman ’76 and Peter Lorriman ’79. Grandmother of Kitty Lorriman ’00 and

Judy Perry wife of Peter Perry (deceased) ’42 on August

Tess Lorriman ’03.

16, 2019 in Collingwood, ON.

54 | Grove News VII 2019

Q&A with LCS ALUMNA Joanna Dafoe ’04 Q: House Affiliation?

A: Lower Colebrook

A:

Q: Passions while at LCS?

Lakefield Environmental Action Force, drama, and outdoor education

Q: Years at LCS? A: Grade 11 and 12 Q: Who had a profound impact on you at LCS? A: So many LCS teachers have left an inspired impact. John Boyko identified

Q: Hometown?

A: Ottawa, ON. Q: Most important thing you learned at LCS? A: I discovered I loved to write, and Lakefield encouraged that selfexpression.

Q: Favourite spot on campus at LCS? A: A spot by the river in the forest.

Q: Post LCS pursuits?

A: My life’s work is dedicated to finding solutions to our environmental crisis through law and policy. I’ve followed this interest through various roles ranging from work with the International Institute for Sustainable Development, Environmental Defense Fund, and most recently the Canadian government.

uncover the significance of the human

Q: Achievement you are most proud of?

A: In 2017, I joined the first cohort of

story, and how its lessons can bring

the Rule of Law Clinic at Yale Law

my knack for history and civics well before I did. He worked with me to

insights to bear for the present moment.

School. In the Clinic I worked on the

He brought whimsy, curiosity, and

“green team” with four other classmates

discipline to the study of history. Tom

and dear friends, as well as two inspired

Milburn inspired my study of English

professors on the faculty. Together we

and was a mentor outside the

explored creative ways to defend the

classroom. Paul Mason encouraged my

rollback of climate regulations and

love of drama through various LCS

policies in the United States. The shared

productions, and Vera Wilcox in Lower

values of my teammates and the

Colebrook was a constant support and

motivated work ethic brought me a

unwavering cheerleader.

sense of pride.

the Senior Policy Advisor to Canada’s

Q: Words of advice for the Class of 2019?

A: I would share two. The first message

ambassador responsible for climate

is that our planet needs your unique skills

Q: Current projects?

A: For the past two years I worked as change. In this capacity, we worked on

and passion. Pursue the skills or

climate diplomacy initiatives such as

knowledge you need to make your

encouraging countries to phase out

contribution and over time become a

coal-fired power generation.

master of those skills. The second

Q: What is the most important thing you learned at LCS? A: With all the time we spent outdoors, I couldn’t help but build a strong appreciation for the natural world. This appreciation continues to inform my work and learning in policy and law.

message is to take risks. The easy path is to follow someone else’s standard of success, the harder path is to follow your own – it is on the latter path where bold and creative contributions are left for our community and earth.

Grove News Vol.II 2019 | 55

SHARE the MAGIC of THE GROVE • Every year, almost 80% of the students who are accepted to Lakefield, are referred to us through members of our community. Each year, our families and friends connect us with great students considering an independent school experience.

• We welcome you to share the magic of LCS (and the many good news stories in this issue of the Grove News) among your networks of friends who may have children that are interested.

• If you do, please let the Admissions Team (admissions@lcs.on.ca) know about your efforts, including if you would like to host a small gathering in your area.

• Admissions is now recruiting for the Class of 2024. Have your friends inquire today.

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The Grove News is published twice a year by the Communications Office.

Lakefield College School, 4391 County Road 29, Lakefield, Ontario, Canada K0L 2H0