The Pillars

the PILLARS

CONTENTS

ON THE COVER

“Through this self-portrait, I want to show the whirlwind of emotions and my journey of self-discovery during my teenage years. The bright, swirling colours on my face represent all my feelings, from happiness to confusion. The reds, yellows, and oranges make it look like my face is melting, showing how I’m always changing. Each matchstick represents little sparks of inspiration and moments of friction in my life. The matchsticks on my eyes symbolize the fire within me, showing my passion and inner strength. The dark, starry night sky with the full moon in the background contrasts with the bright colours on my face. This shows the calm and mysterious sides of my inner world and the possibilities ahead of me. The rough sea represents the challenges and uncertainties I face, but also the depth of my thoughts and dreams.”

Autumn by Danbi Joung, Grade 10 acrylic on canvas

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Inspired in Italy

Mrs. Modeste and Mrs. Birt learned from the experts about the Reggio Emilia approach to education, to further enhance our current Reggio-inspired approach to learning in our primary classrooms.

44

Avish Sood’07, Alumni Keystone Award Recipient Avish has raised more than $200,000 for charities including UNICEF and the Canadian Cancer Society.

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12

SPARC

The SPARC program will provide not just an inspiring learning environment but support the desire to give all students a sense of drive, coupled with compassion as they work to contribute to the community around them.

Golf Tournament

The 24th annual Charles F. Boyd Invitational Golf Tournament, presented by Maystar General Contractors, drew near-capacity participation and showcased the vibrant spirit of our community.

4 Headlines with Dr. Cinde Lock 6 Inspire. Innovate. Invest. Pickering College’s Strategic Plan 10 Inspire: Hatching A Plan 12 Innovate: SPARC–Innovation in Middle School 14 Student Life 24 Competitive Mock Trial Team Heads to Court 26 Kindergrads and Grade 8 Graduates 28 Congratulations Class of 2024 30 Teacher Profile: Ethan Bishop 32 Faculty and Staff News 34 Invest: Building The Future of Pickering College 36 Donor Profile: Penny Lawson-Cameron 38 Alumni Connections 44 Alumni Profile: Avish Sood ’07 46 Celebrating PC Changemakers: Agent of Change and Alumni Keystone Award Recipients 48 PCA Update 50 Three Cheers for our Volunteers! 56 Golf Tournament 58 Upcoming Events

September is one of the most exciting times of year for both teachers and students alike. A new academic year brims with possibilities and the joyful energy throughout our hallways and classrooms is palpable.

For us, the start of the 2024-2025 school year is especially exciting as it marks the release of something we have been working on throughout the spring. And just like an eager student in those first weeks of school, we are bursting with excitement to share our refreshed strategy with you.

Focusing on the priority areas of Inspire, Innovate, and Invest, our strategy is a living, breathing plan that demonstrates how we as a school are living our mission and vision each day. It showcases the remarkable work of our students and teachers and outlines our bold path forward.

You can read more about our strategy on page six of this edition of The Pillars magazine, and see it brought to life in the many pages that follow.

During the process of sharing the strategy with our community to gather feedback, I was struck by the words of one young man: “I used to think that school is the kind of place where you learn all the notes of the music, but you never get to play the song. I wish that I had found Pickering College sooner. I can’t believe what the students at this school get to do!”

At Pickering College, we ask our young learners to play the song every day—

• to engage in the world as change agents and trailblazers;

• to see and seek the good in others;

• to collaborate with community partners to make a difference;

• to explore their interests and find their passions;

• to speak up for others who might not have a strength of voice of their own;

• to be kind and caring; and

• to become citizens who create the kind of society in which everyone can thrive.

Thank you for believing in what we do at Pickering College and for partnering with us along the way. And, thank you for being an integral part of making our shared vision a reality.

Dr Cinde Lock Head of School

HEAD LINES

with Dr. Cinde Lock, Head of School

Inspire. Innovate. Invest.

Pickering College’s strategic refresh charts

a bold future. ➧➧➧

➧➧➧

We pride ourselves on being a vision-driven school where our values influence day-to-day decision making and shape the welcoming community that is Pickering College. This year, we analyzed our strategic priorities to ensure that the spirit of what we believe and do at Pickering College is embedded in the strategic priorities we have set to guide us into the future. The enduring values of our Quaker founders have provided a steady foundation for this work and our vision to shape the future of education has supplied the inspiration.

Inspire.

Guide students to lead a meaningful life and connect with the world around them

Engage students to learn with community partners to make a difference

➧ Share and celebrate initiatives that showcase Pickering College as a trailblazer in education

Innovate.

➧ Empower students as change agents through the transformative, experiential Global Leadership Program

➧ Leverage the use of technology to inspire students to take action

➧ Unleash every child’s limitless potential to pursue their passions

Invest.

➧ Develop and create inspiring learning spaces by executing the long-term facilities plan

➧ Design purposeful auxiliary programming to generate new income

➧ Engage with donors who share our vision and passion

Throughout the spring, Pickering College hosted several focus groups to garner feedback on this strategy and to gather input from members of the community including the Board of Directors, staff and faculty, alumni, parents, and student leaders.

Our goal was to embed the language and ethos of our mission and vision into the living and breathing priorities of the school, and thus to provide a roadmap for our collective vision.

Today, we are excited to share the refreshed strategy for Pickering College that is brought to life through the following three themes:

Inspire. Innovate. Invest.

“I am so appreciative of our faculty and staff who play a crucial role in bringing our mission and vision to life each day and who inspire our students to pursue their passions while instilling in them a sense of purpose and responsibility to make the world greater, better, and more beautiful than they discovered it,” says Dr. Cinde Lock, Head of School.

It is also because of the commitment of the broader Pickering College community and the generous support of our donors that we have been able to put our capital plans into progress. The development of West Lake House, the restoration of the farmhouse at Blue & Silver Farm, and the renovation of the Eric Veale Memorial Arena are testaments to the power of our community’s investment in shaping the school’s future.

In early 2025 we will share our strategy and how we live it every day through an exciting digital experience. Stay tuned!

OUR VISION

To develop innovative, courageous and compassionate global citizens who take action, true to Quaker values.

OUR MISSION

To instil in each individual the ability and responsibility to make the world greater, better and more beautiful than they discovered it.

Hatching a Plan

Raising chickens inspires egg-cellent learning opportunities from K-12

Our students have had a very exciting spring preparing for our new feathered residents at Blue & Silver Farm! From tending to egg incubators to building brooding boxes, nesting boxes, roosts, and a chicken run, from Kindergarten to Grade 12 it has been a team effort to get everything ready!

In April, students in Junior Kindergarten and Grade 2 hosted the two incubators, carefully monitoring each day for changes. After a few weeks, our students were thrilled to discover that the baby chicks had begun to hatch! All of our primary school students had the opportunity to learn about our chickens as they watched them grow under the heat lamps in their classrooms.

In the meantime, our Grade 8 students in the design & build class began working on plans with our Grade 9 & Grade 10 students in the ESL Boarding Academy to construct a chicken coop at Blue & Silver Farm. As a first step, they visited a local farm to observe the chicken farming setup. Students learned a lot about raising healthy and happy chickens and had the chance to ask questions that sparked ideas for their projects. Together they:

• Built and re-enforced the chicken run (prefabricated)

• Graded the run to allow for ease of installation and drainage

• Installed protective metal mesh barriers to keep out predators

• Completed coop features:

- installation of nesting boxes

- roosting bars (prefabricated/found objects)

- chicken swings

- mirror (re-claimed items)

- educational turtle carvings

The students also collaborated with the Grade 1 class to envision a fun, creative space for the chickens to spend their outdoor time including a ramp, castle bath, swings, artwork, and other repurposed design elements. Their coop has also been outfitted with the latest technology that allows us to control the door to the chicken run remotely, using an app.

These newest members of the PC community have been given names by our Junior School students, after they submitted their suggestions to a draw. Our first little chicks are named: Goldie, McPuffster the Great, Cherry, Dorothea, Chicky, Gem, Goldie Flocks, Pinky, Willow, Cheeky, and Mr. Banana.

In late May, the chicks moved to their new home at Blue & Silver Farm. They appear to be enjoying the space and the freedom they have to be inside or outside and all of the features of their new home.

Innovation in Middle School

S

tudent Projects Advancing Real Change (SPARC) gives students the opportunity to pursue their passions, learn new skills, and make a difference in our community.

Building on the strong foundation of our Middle School Pillar Years program, SPARC will provide students more time for experiential learning, fostering real-world connections and impactful experiences that enrich students’ understanding and growth. Students will tackle projects in small teams with an interdisciplinary mindset, developing skills while taking action that results in positive change in their community.

SPARC epitomizes cutting-edge experiential learning by immersing students in projects connected to the community around them, extending their practical knowledge far beyond the classroom. As Middle School Director Julie Clement explains, the learning opportunities through SPARC not only deliver the curriculum in a realworld context but also delve deeply into an area they care about and build a range of skills and knowledge.

“Students thrive in this environment, as hands-on activities and realworld problem-solving make education more relevant and meaningful, enhancing critical thinking, collaboration, and communication skills,” says Clement. “Experiential learning nurtures a sense of ownership and motivation, with students becoming deeply invested in projects that have tangible outcomes and personal significance.”

The Middle School years are a pivotal time for students to discover their passions and delve deep into learning on topics that excite them. “SPARC is an inspired program—it takes us away from the factory model of education where children move from room to room subject to subject — instead they are working on authentic real challenges making changes that will have an impact on our community.”

Dr. Cinde Lock, Head of School, is enthusiastic about the difference this program will have in how the students approach learning. “The work the students produce through these projects is authentic—they are working with faculty and community members to solve a real challenge, and through this, it reframes what school means and what success means. They will feel empowered and see the purpose in their learning—all at a key, impressionable age,” says Dr. Lock.

The SPARC program will provide not just an inspiring learning environment but support the desire to give all students a sense of drive, coupled with compassion as they work to contribute to the community around them.

“This is what schools should be and what all children should experience—this is learning that will support the society that we want and make a larger difference in the world,” says Dr. Lock. “Shouldn’t that be what school is all about?”

To get involved in SPARC as a community member or organization, please contact Julie Clement, Director of Middle School (jclement@pickeringcollege.on.ca), or Jennifer Brett Fraser, Manager of Community Relations & Advancement Communications (jbrettfraser@pickeringcollege.on.ca).

Throughout their time in Middle School, students will spend time in each theme area, working together with faculty and community members.

Technology: Robotics & Coding

Environmental Stewardship

Social Justice & Advocacy

Designing for Now and the Future

Identity & Community

Students will work in authentic partnerships with community organizations, creating solutions to make the world greater, better and more beautiful than they discovered it.

JUNIOR SCHOOL STUDENT LIFE

The entire Junior School took turns visiting the new Sugar Shack at Blue & Silver Farm for Maple Day! Throughout the winter, we tapped our own trees and after collecting around 80 gallons of sap, students were able to witness the boiling process up close. Each student got to enjoy a sample of sweet syrup! 1

In early March, the Junior School Radio Elective students toured the broadcast facilities at Corus Quay, an eight-storey building located on the Toronto waterfront. They toured the production studios for various radio and television shows, as well as other high tech spaces in the facility. 2

Students from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 2 enjoyed swimming lessons at the Stronach Aurora Recreation Complex in the winter. They had a great time splashing, floating, and learning new skills! 3

As part of their gears unit in science, the Grade 4 students were involved in the repair of Pickering College’s grandfather clock. The clock, which is located in Dr. Lock’s outer office, is over 300 years old. After the repair, the clock chimed for the first time since 1971. The students learned all about the gears and inner workings of clocks and built their own clocks as a memory and learning tool. 4

Students enjoyed a number of powwow dance demonstrations from Tribal Vision Dance at a full school Morning Meeting. They explained the stories and history behind the dances, the significance of their regalia and the importance of powwow in Indigenous culture. Following Morning Meeting the Grade 3 and 4 students got to participate in a dance workshop where they learned how to do a hoop dance. 5

On Wednesday, June 5 the Kindergarten, Grade 1 and Grade 2 students presented this year’s Primary Musical, “The Greatest Pet Show Ever.” The cast practiced in their music classes and brought the story to life on stage in

front of an adoring audience of family and friends. From Grade 2 cats and Grade 1 dogs to Kindergarten sharks and frogs, the musical was a great success! 6

Our Grade 5 students enjoyed a wonderful overnight trip to Sudbury! They visited the 13,000 kg Big Nickel, explored the replica mine 70 feet underground, watched an awe-inspiring BBC Planet Earth cave documentary, participated in a mine structures building challenge and explored Science North, enjoying the many interactive activities the museum has to offer. 7

ELENA ZHOU

Play, Learn, and Grow

“It feels like this is my second family because so many people are caring for each other.”

It’s just Elena Zhou’s second year at Pickering College, but already the school has become like home to her.

“Basically, it feels like this is my second family because so many people are caring for each other. They’re also caring for me and I realized that this school is really fitting for me,” the Grade 5 student said.

One of her highlights is how learning and play are combined through hands-on and inquiry-based experiences. In Grade 4, that included excursions to the Ontario Science Centre to study gears and pulleys, a visit to Willowgrove Outdoor Education Centre where she got to find insects and small animals, and Sports Day and Fun Fair, right here on the Hilltop.

Elena has also participated in the board games co-curricular, led a school Morning Meeting for Lunar New Year, and competed with the U10 Track and Field team.

Not only has she had a lot of fun, but Elena has also learned a lot and grown as a person.

“Before I came here, I was really sensitive and kept to myself, but now I feel more confident and it makes me feel happy to be here,” she said.

Outside of school Elena is equally active, taking K-pop dance classes, piano lessons and participating in modelling competitions. Earlier this year, she was crowned the champion in her age group for the New Silk Road China International Children’s Model Competition in Toronto.

“It was my first trophy. I was really happy,” she said.

Elena’s family credits the support she receives at Pickering College for helping build her confidence and contribute to her success. Now, as a Grade 5 student Elena is looking forward to exploring new things and especially learning to play an instrument.

MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENT LIFE

PC parent and commercial pilot Mr. Shum visited the Grade 6 students. He shared his expertise on the four forces of flight, properties of air, training to be a pilot, and what instruments and controls they use. Mr. Shum then returned to help judge the Grade 6 students presentations on their remote control planes, a Pillar project and part of their flight unit. 1

The Grade 8 students enjoyed a trip to Ottawa. They cheered on the Ottawa Senators at an NHL game, took part in an immersive experience at Parliament Hill, enjoyed a winter hike and skating, visited some of our Capital’s museums, and got to explore caves and see bats up close, a highlight of the trip. 2

Congratulations to our Grade 8 Band who competed at the OBA Music Festival. Their performance was outstanding, and they received a Gold Award and an official invitation to compete at Nationals in May. 3

Middle School students took part in an inspiring public speaking tournament. Throughout the morning students presented their persuasive speeches on a topic of their choosing and their interpretive fiction readings to a small group of their peers and a panel of judges made up of volunteers from the PC community. 4

The Grade 7 students had a great trip to Quebec City.

They participated in interactive activities that engaged them in the history and culture of the city. Some highlights included a tour of the Old City, and a workshop at the Martello Towers; as well, visits to the Aquarium, Montmorency Falls and a traditional Wendat Village. 5

Middle School students took on the Tough Puma challenge at Blue & Silver Farm in May. Designed by Senior School leadership students, the Tough Puma course presented participants with various obstacles and challenges to overcome, all while having fun! Congratulations to Kayla Merrick, who was the “toughest puma” completing the course in the fastest time out of all

Middle School students. 6

The Grade 8 students presented their Expression of Self projects at a showcase event. The afternoon consisted of a presentation from five finalist speakers and a gallery walk where all of the Grade 8 students spoke about their personal passions that they chose for their Expression of Self. This event is the culminating project for the Pillars Years of the Global Leadership Program. The Grade 8 Expression of Self asks students to think about their personal development through the questions, “Who Am I?” and “What Can I Do?” so that they emerge from Grade 8 with a strong sense of self and an awareness of how they can help others. 7

“I like making stuff. I like being hands-on.”

ALEXANDER TURNER

Experiencing Middle School

Grade 8 student Alexander Turner appreciates hands-on learning and the opportunity to explore. Since starting at Pickering College in Grade 4, he has been able to do both those things.

Alexander has taken part in design and build challenges, tried fencing, learned to play trombone, played volleyball, and participated in golf and the robotics co-curricular.

“I like making stuff. I like being hands-on,” he said.

His interests extend into the classroom, where Alexander said his favourite subject is science. One project where they made ice cream especially stood out to him.

Alexander’s first few years at Pickering College were impacted by the pandemic and therefore excursions were limited but he made up for it last school year, enjoying a Middle School wide overnight trip to Camp Muskoka, a day at Canada’s Wonderland, and an overnight excursion to Quebec City.

“I really liked the Quebec City trip. It was really fun, we got to explore something different and outside the classroom,” he said. Closer to home, Alexander loves the local learning opportunities provided by the Blue & Silver Farm. He said it’s one of his favourite things about going to school here.

“It’s a different space to learn in,” Alexander said. “There’s a lot of experiences that you can do and learn new things that you wouldn’t learn at other places.”

SENIOR SCHOOL STUDENT LIFE

The Grade 12 Leadership class completed their Risk Assessment and Safety Management practical while on an overnight camping trip at Blue & Silver Farm. Students scouted locations for an upcoming Middle School event, contributed to the building and set up of a ‘tent city’ in the meadow and worked in teams to coordinate gear and cook meals. 1

The Grade 12 Chemistry class experimented with

different flame colours in a lab activity. Using Bunsen burners, students held different metals in the flame to see how the colour changed and check the emissions spectrum. 2

Four Senior School students—Maida Côté, Yasmin Hiranandani, Shrinidhi Seshadri, and Sheri Xie—attended the Quaker Youth Leadership Conference hosted by Germantown Friends School

and William Penn Charter School. They had a great time exploring Philadelphia and meeting students from Quaker schools across the United States! Pickering College is Canada’s only Quaker founded school. 3

Carole MacNeil, TV journalist with CBC, virtually visited the Grade 12 Writer’s Craft class. She spoke about what it’s like to be a journalist, gave tips about interviewing and telling stories, and answered

questions for the students. 4

After months of dedication and rehearsals, over 50 students from Grades 6 through 12 participated in the school production of High School Musical, presenting three shows from February 21 to 23 to enthusiastic audiences. 5

Students in the Drama and Comm Tech classes collaborated to film original pieces, written by the

Writer’s Craft students. Using state-of-the-art equipment, students were able to bring their assigned scripts to life and make their own short films. 6

Our Senior School math students celebrated Pi Day and International Day of Mathematics, recognized by UNESCO. They took on Pi themed puzzles and challenges and, of course, enjoyed some tasty pie. 7

Students, faculty and staff gathered in front of the school to raise the Pride flag, showing that we stand with all members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. Members of the Justice, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion club (JEDI) spoke about the adversity 2SLGBTQIA+ people have faced throughout history and why we need to celebrate Pride. It was also a Pride colours dress down day for our community to show off their style and

express who they are. 8

Forty-nine students and five faculty travelled to Halifax to participate in the Atlantic Festivals of Music! The Halifax Concert Band received a Silver Award for their outstanding performance. While in Nova Scotia, they explored Peggy’s Cove, Mahone Bay, Lunenburg and downtown Halifax. They enjoyed exploring, ate lots of seafood, and went to a

performance by the National Youth Band of Canada where two of our PC students, Bryan Wu and Ella Lu, were presented with Outstanding Soloist Awards. 9

It was an amazing cocurricular term for the seven students in our Equestrian Club! From learning the basics of horse care to mastering riding techniques, they embraced every moment with passion and determination. 10

SENIOR SCHOOL STUDENT LIFE

CAPSTONE FINALS

In May, the Grade 12 students presented their Capstone Pitches, the culmination of all their work in the Global Leadership Program. Panels of judges, composed of faculty, staff and volunteers from the PC community score the presentations and four finalists were chosen. The following week, Lolade Alawode, Emma Furlong, Phoebe Kuang, and Fiona Wang and Wyman Wang presented their projects, provided evidence of their solutions and spoke about how they could scale their ideas at the Capstone finals.

In the end, the panel of judges selected Lolade as the winner. She created a digital collection of reliable, concise and verified information to guide international students through the process of enrolling in international study in the US and Canada. In addition, the cohort of students from the Impact Incubator, a specialized stream for students whose projects had the potential for a productbased solution, also presented. Thomas Bianco was selected as the winner for the Impact Incubator.

Congratulations to Lolade, Thomas, the finalists, and all of the Grade 12 students who have demonstrated their dedication and hard work.

ATHLETICS

Congratulations to our Senior Hockey team and Senior Girls’ Volleyball team, who both won championship games at home. Thank you to the players and coaches for their dedication throughout the season and to all the fans who supported our athletes from near and far.

JASMINE KHETAMI

Making global connections, becoming a global leader

“I love the community. I love that it’s a boarding school. I get to meet people from countries all around the world.”

Jasmine Khetami has found success in Senior School at Pickering College. Despite starting Grade 9 here during the pandemic, the Grade 12 student has achieved a lot, from playing violin in the Conference of Independent Schools Music Festival to earning the highest academic average.

Jasmine is a day student, but loves that Pickering College is a boarding school, giving her a chance to make friends from around the world.

“I love the community. I love that it’s a boarding school. I get to meet people from countries all around the world, which is super cool,” she said.

Being here has also given her a chance to explore. Jasmine joined a March break excursion to Spain earlier this year and said it was one of the best experiences she has had at Pickering College.

“It was so fun since I hung out with my friends and got to know many other kids on the trip, building bonds and memories I know will last a lifetime,” Jasmine said. “It was also a particularly great experience for me since I’m learning Spanish and it allowed me a unique opportunity to immerse myself in the culture and practice using the language in a real world situation.”

Language classes are Jasmine’s favourite. She has already completed Grade 12 Spanish, is taking French at school, studies Mandarin outside of Pickering College, and speaks fluent English and Farsi at home.

Jasmine has also found success across various subjects academically. She credits asking questions and planning ahead in helping her achieve top grades. She said she avoids cramming, giving herself time to review content and identify areas where she needs to seek extra help, which she said her teachers have always been so great about providing.

Now, as a Grade 12 student, Jasmine is looking forward to the future and considering studying health sciences. Until then she is making the most of the time she has left at Pickering College.

BOARDING LIFE Learning for Life

Academic success is crucial for preparing young people for higher education, but the Pickering College Boarding Program understands that other skills need to be developed along the way.

“Being a boarding student certainly helps to prepare students socially and emotionally in a home-like, caring environment and better equips them to manage themselves when they continue their education journey beyond secondary school,” said Laura Mason, Executive Director, Boarding and Health Services.

“It is our goal to assist each boarding student to be an individual and to develop to their fullest potential.”

For more than 100 students, the boarding program is their home away from home. To support that, the students are divided into small family groups, led by staff members. Not only are the students nurtured by their family head, but they also develop strong bonds and a network of support among their peers.

Throughout the year, the families enjoy weekly dinners together and engage in friendly competitions for the Proctor Cup, earned through participation in various games and community events.

Beyond emotional support, boarding at Pickering College instills essential life skills to help students in their futures. Students are responsible for managing their own schedules, doing laundry and keeping their spaces clean, developing interpersonal relationships and living with others, as well as keeping up with their schoolwork and balancing co-curriculars. This approach encourages independence, effective communication, and the ability to collaborate and compromise—skills that prove invaluable throughout their lives.

The various evening activities offered each night and weekend excursions further prepare students for post-secondary school and beyond. Many of the activities involve basic skills, such as cooking and baking or daily physical activity.

Students also have an opportunity to push themselves further and apply for leadership positions as Proctors within the boarding community. They plan and lead events, contributing to their development as confident leaders.

“Our boarding students often return for visits and talk about how well prepared they were for their post-secondary education because they could already manage themselves and their time,” said Mason. “It is our goal to assist each boarding student to be an individual and to develop to their fullest potential so that when they leave through the pillars for the last time as a student, they are prepared for the future.”

Mock Trials: A Deeper Understanding

In the Spring, a group of eight Pickering College students put their legal knowledge to the test, participating in a competitive mock trial.

The OBA/OJEN Competitive Mock Trials (OOCMT) is a partnership between the Ontario Bar Association (OBA) and the Ontario Justice Education Network (OJEN), and the OBA Foundation. Most competitive mock trial tournaments in the province are part of OOCMT, which means they use the official OOCMT case and rules, and their winners may participate in upper-level competitions organized by the OBA and OJEN.

Nora Gonzalez, Yasmine Hiranandani, Rollex Austin, Sonya Kovtun, Amanda Zeng, Morgan Podd, Daria Krymchuk, and Suhana Gupta made up the PC team. This wasn’t part of the law class or the regular co-curricular program, so students went above and beyond with their commitment to the mock trial.

“I was interested in joining mock trial to further develop critical thinking and public speaking skills. As a former debater, I am always looking for new opportunities to exercise my public speaking and communication skills. It also just so happened that this opportunity also aligned with the career I wish to pursue in post-secondary, that being corporate law,” said Amanda Zeng, now in Grade 12.

PREPARATION

To prepare, the team worked closely with criminal lawyer Margaux Peck, who supported the students in developing their witness statements and legal scripts.

After months of preparation with the assigned case scenario, on May 7, the students ran the trial from the Crown and Defense’s perspective in front of real judges. They represented themselves with strong arguments by the legal counsel and animated and thoughtful statements by the witnesses.

Throughout this rich learning experience, students continually reiterated their scripts and responded to feedback by the judge. The judge complimented the

of our Legal System

students and said she looked forward to hearing them argue real cases in her courtroom in the future.

COLLABORATION

“Collaborating with teammates to strategize, prepare arguments, and present our case was both challenging and rewarding,” Amanda said. “I learned valuable skills such as effective communication, analytical thinking, and the importance of thorough preparation. Additionally, I gained a deeper understanding of the legal system and courtroom procedures which will be helpful in the future.”

Joshua Armstrong, Director of Teaching and Learning, oversaw the mock trial team and congratulates the students on their dedication and success.

REAL-WORLD EXPERIENCE

“This real-world experiential education mock trial has helped our students to understand how they can advocate for others to make our world greater, better, and more beautiful than they discovered it,” Armstrong said.

Congratulations Kindergrads

Congratulations Kindergrads!

On Tuesday, June 11, we celebrated our Kindergarten graduates! While this special day marked the end of their time in Kindergarten, it is just the beginning of the rest of their journey at Pickering College. Congratulations Kindergrads, we can’t wait to see what you accomplish next!

KCongratulations Grade 8 Graduates!

Our Grade 8 students marked the conclusion of their Middle School years with a special dinner and dance on June 7. On June 12 we celebrated their academic achievements as they graduated from the Middle School to the Senior School. The students received their diplomas, and a number of awards were presented. Congratulations!

and Grade 8 Graduates!

Pierce Morton: Valedictorian, GLP Distinction, Student Committee Chair Recognition

Aevah Aadya Arun: GLP Distinction, Student Committee Chair Recognition

Madeleine Houle: Science Subject Award, GLP Distinction

Johnson Lin: Public Speaking & Debate Award

Ray Liu: Grade 9 Math Subject Award, Good Friend Award

Kat Louli: Instrumental Music Subject Award, Public Speaking & Debate Award

Aria Madha: Good Friend Award

Mana Matsumoto: Middle School Scholar, GLP Distinction, Instrumental Music Subject Award, Language Arts

Subject Award, AREA Excellence in the Art, Steward Award

Bianca Neagoe: Grade 8 Math Subject Award, French Subject Award, Design & Innovation Subject Award

Alexis Youell: Drama Subject Award, Steward Award

Isabella Yu: Visual Arts Subject Award

Claire Zeng: Social Studies Subject Award, Phys. Ed Subject Award, Drama Subject Award, GLP Distinction, Rourke Drama, Rogers Cane

Sabrina Zhang: Community Service, Steward Award

12Congratulations Class of 2024!

Congratulations to the Class of 2024, as they make their way into the world as creative, innovative, and courageous agents of ethical and positive change, true to Quaker values. This year’s graduates hail from Canada, China, the Dominican Republic, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Nigeria, St. Kitts and Nevis, South Korea, Thailand, Ukraine, and Vietnam. Our graduates exemplify and live the Quaker values of social responsibility and service leadership, and Pickering College is proud of their accomplishments.

About the Class of 2024

• 99 per cent achieved the Global Leadership Diploma

• 94 per cent are graduating as Ontario Scholars, earning an average of 80 per cent or greater in their six best Grade 12 courses

• 100 per cent postsecondary acceptance

• Graduates will be attending universities in Canada (Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia), the United States (California, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York) and France.

Grade 12 Commencement Awards

Sarah Golding: Valedictorian, Widdrington Award, Stewards Award, Student Committee Co-Chairs Award

Thomas Bianco: K-12 “Lifer” Graduate, Computer Science Subject Award, Stewards Award, Modern Languages Spanish Certificate

Moira Boland: Widdrington Award, Farmer Environmental Stewardship Award, English Subject Award, Newmarket Historical Society’s Award, University of Toronto National Book Award, Weinzweig Contest Winner

Vivienne Brown: Modern Languages Subject Award, Modern Languages French Certificate

Yuanzhi (Coco) Cao: The Zetzl Family Science Award, Lieutenant Governor’s Community Volunteer Award

Tianyuguang (Kevin) Chen: Modern Languages French Certificate

Oghenebrume (Brume) Erivwo: The Four Pillars Award, Modern Languages French Certificate

Harrison Frank: The Garratt Cane, K-12 “Lifer” Graduate, Vocal Music Award

Graeme Fraser: Modern Languages French Certificate

Suhana Gupta: Business Subject Award

Graydon Houle: Broadcaster of the Year

Sophia Jeffrey: The Howarth Fine Arts Award, French Book Award, Modern Languages French Certificate

Heesung (Chris) Jeon: Canadian & World Studies Subject Award

Sonya Kovtun: Broadcaster of the Year, Modern Languages Spanish Certificate

Yuhan (Phoebe) Kuang: Computer Science Subject Award, Math Subject Award

Yusong (Alex) Li: Science Subject Award

Zhixuan (Amelie) Li: The Harry M. Beer Award, The Joshua Weinzweig Memorial Literary Award, Weinzweig Contest Winner

Helen Manke: The Widdrington Award, Athlete of the Year, Modern Languages Spanish Certificate

Yara Marouf: Modern Languages Spanish Certificate

Cora Pataran: Farmer Environmental Stewardship Award

Isabel Shao: Vocal Music Award

Qianxun (Chihiro) Sun: Math Subject Award

Zirui (Felix) Teng: The Widdrington Award, Instrumental Music Award

Sophie Trussell: K-12 “Lifer” Graduate

Melody Tsui: The Good Friend Award, Weinzweig Contest Winner

Fanyue (Fiona) Wang: Instrumental Music Award, Stewards Award

Shengxi (Alisa) Wang: Visual Arts Subject Award

Yiming (Wyman) Wang: Stewards Award

Chupeng (Daniel) Yan: Boarder Cup, The Widdrington Award, The Blackstock Award, Stewards Award, Instrumental Music Award

In Conver

“I see interdisciplinary learning as validating the principle that everything is interconnected.”

Ethan Bishop Middle School Faculty

Q. What is your educational background?  I studied at the University of Toronto for both my undergraduate and teaching degree. Before entering teacher’s college, I commuted to McMaster where I studied history and received my master’s degree.

Q. What are four adjectives that best describe yourself? Curious, dedicated, humourous, and encouraging.

Q. What is something you are proud of when it comes to teaching?

Trying to create an encouraging environment. I know not everyone is going to have the same level of interest in what I teach, but I hope that they enjoy being in my classroom. I have spent almost my entire life at school and I want my students to feel the same enjoyment for school, however long they spend in one.

Q. What is it that drew you to teaching?

When I applied to teacher’s college I was working part time as a goalie coach, training aspiring hockey players. I enjoyed coaching and the opportunity to make practice fun. Ultimately, I was drawn to teaching because I knew there was the same opportunity for fun working with students, and that I could also have a good excuse to learn and read along the way.

Q. What does inter-disciplinary learning mean to you and how do you incorporate this into your teaching?

I see interdisciplinary learning as validating the principle that everything is interconnected. In history, we talk a lot about causation and deducing how a range of factors lead to a historical event. In much the same way, interdisciplinary learning recognizes that learning isn’t siloed into neat categories, and that projects that incorporate a range of subjects are the most authentic.

Q. What was one highlight from the past year (something academic, a trip, project or experience)?

From the standpoint of being impressed by the analysis and imagination of the Grade 8 class, reading their comparative essays about visual storytelling was a highlight. In terms of seeing students take initiative and take pride in their work, the Change the Bill project where students showcased $20 bill designs produced by the Native Women’s Association honouring Indigenous Women was meaningful.

sation with:

Q. What interests do you pursue outside of the classroom?

I’m interested in cooking and baking so I spend a lot of my spare time reading recipes and making things with my daughter. I’m also fascinated by exercise and nutrition and enjoy listening to podcasts about exercise and nutrition research. The second interest helps balance the first.

Q. What is something most people don’t know about you?

I enthusiastically participated in science fairs in Middle School. Only a few past students have managed to uncover a couple of cringey pics from this era.

Q. What is the best thing about your job?

The people. The staff and students at Pickering College are the main reason I love what I do.

Q. If you weren’t following this particular career path, what would you be doing?

Learning about urban design with an aim to make more inviting and walkable communities. I grew up reading Consumer Reports so I would also pursue writing reviews to help people make informed decisions and encourage companies to develop better products.

Faculty and Staff News

RETIREMENTS

June 2024 saw the retirement of three long-serving and much-loved Faculty and Staff from Pickering College. We wish them all the best!

Marc de la Bastide retired from his role as Co-Curricular Director and Social Science Teacher after a remarkable 29 years at Pickering College. Joining our faculty in 1996, Marc specialized in economics, business, and history in our Senior School. Marc’s dedication to our athletics programming has been outstanding, and in 2019, he transitioned into the role of Co-Curricular Director, through which he has successfully organized numerous athletic competitions, games, and our annual Sports Day. He was instrumental in keeping the rugby program afloat for many years and initiated the staff pick-up hockey league. Beyond his teaching and athletics roles, Marc has been actively involved in the community, serving as a CHOP FM board member, and hosting the Blues Talkin’ radio show. Marc has also been our resident musician, often showcasing his talents by singing and playing harmonica in staff acts and coffee house performances.

Shirley Moffett retired from her role as IT Database Administrator, after an incredible 26-year career at Pickering College. Shirley joined us in 1998 starting parttime as Classroom Technical Support, integrating new computer technology into the curriculum. She became full-time in 2005 and started a laptop program for the Senior School to spearhead student-led technology programs. Since 2011, Shirley supported data reporting and decision-making in the classroom across the school. Shirley has played a key role in implementing the recent Student Information System and is proud to be part of this initiative before the end of her career. Shirley was a lovely presence at our Kindergarten lunch table and she built many strong bonds with students, faculty, and staff over the years.

Steve Wood, IT Network Manager, retired after a remarkable 25-year career in our IT department. He has provided technological support to our faculty, staff and students. He helped develop our IT strategy over the years by deploying, managing, and maintaining the IT infrastructure, network and security equipment, software, and hardware. Steve built many meaningful bonds at Pickering College and contributed his musical talents in our staff band.

THANK YOU

Since 1998, Hessel H. Pape has created unique watercolour hand-painted prints from an original pen drawing of the front of Rogers House. These treasured works of art have been given to long-service employees when they move on or retire from Pickering College and to Grade 12 students who earn a subject award at Commencement.

Each painting includes the name of the recipient on the back and the familiar phrase from the Oath of Athenian Youth “Thus, in all these ways, we will transmit this City not only not less, but greater, better and more beautiful than it was transmitted to us.”

We are deeply grateful to Hessel for his work over the last 26 years and wish him all the best in his retirement.

INSPIRED IN ITALY

In May, Mrs. Modeste and Mrs. Birt had the opportunity to spend a week in the beautiful city of Reggio Emilia, Italy. While they were there, they engaged in dialogue with educators from the local school to better understand the Reggio Emilia approach to education. Their goal was to enhance our current Reggio-inspired approach to learning in our primary classrooms based on their experiences while in Reggio.

They participated in daily workshops and sessions to learn from local pedigogistas and atilieristas, as well as educators, who shared their knowledge and learning experiences in the Reggio classrooms using this approach to education. They visited a number of schools as well as the Loris Malaguzzi International Centre to see student’s work, inquiries, and documentation. It was emphasized by the Reggio educators that during the first six years of life, children need to take many different pathways to learning and have the opportunities to make many different mistakes along the way. Teachers are there to listen and understand what children are doing and learning during inquiries to inform further educational experiences and opportunities.

“We were touched by the incredible work of the children and feel we will be forever changed by our experience in Reggio. Our goal is to continue to enhance our Reggio approach at Pickering College that will allow the children to continue to develop a love of learning and school, a deepened sense of self and community and will be provided with rich learning experiences inside and outside the classroom,” Mrs. Birt and Mrs. Modeste said.

Building the Future of

West Lake House

West Lake House is on schedule for the 2025-2026 school year. We are pleased that the building structure is now 98 per cent complete and we are on budget and on target for a Spring 2025 occupancy.

The focus now is on constructing the building envelope in anticipation of the winter season so interior work can be done. The building envelope is everything that separates the internal building from the external environment, including the roof, doors, windows, floors, and walls.

This summer saw continuous concrete pours that required work outside of regular construction hours—until 2:00 in the morning! The long hours were necessary as it took a few hours for the concrete to set, followed by the finishers and saw cuts.

We are excited about what this visionary build will mean for our students, our programs and for the entire Pickering College community. We look forward to hosting events for our parents and the broader community in West Lake House.

We are grateful for the support of this important, and much needed, addition to Pickering College. It is thanks to our generous donors that our shared vision for West Lake House is turning into a reality. Their support serves as an inspiration for others to join us in the creation of a space that will empower this and future generations of students.

Keep up with the progress of West Lake House!

Pickering College

Eric Veale Memorial Arena Renovations

Work is well underway on the Eric Veale Memorial Arena renovations. Selective demolition, which included the removal of the existing dasher, board system, rink slab and refrigeration equipment began in May. The existing sand was tested upon completion of the rink slab demolition and was confirmed to be fit for reuse on-site.

On May 1, parents, students and staff participated in the Dress Down Day and Toonie Toss fundraiser in support of the Eric Veale Memorial Arena. The fundraiser was a remarkable success, with participation across the entire school, raising $7,660 towards the arena renovation! For every donation made, students and staff added to their own Puck & Blade Wall in the Dining Hall, signing their names on paper figure skates and hockey pucks. Every dollar raised was matched by a generous donor, bringing the total to more than $15,000.

This school year our recreational and competitive hockey program and Junior School skating will take place off campus. We are on track for a March 2025 occupancy of the renovated arena.

It’s not too late to help fund this important project and show your support through a permanent Puck & Blade Wall in the revitalized arena! For donations of $500 or more, you can have a name (of your child, grandchild, family or business) proudly displayed on a hockey puck or figure skate blade. There are also naming opportunities still available.

Make your gift online at www.pickeringcollege.on.ca/giving/arena or connect with Jessie-May Rowntree, Assistant Head of School, Advancement at jrowntree@pickeringcollege.on.ca

“For our family, it’s about ‘how can you make things better for other people.’ ”

–Penny Lawson-Cameron

DONOR PROFILE: PENNY LAWSON-CAMERON

Family Ties

For faculty member and donor Penny Lawson-Cameron, her family’s ties to Pickering College are not only intertwined, but they also run deep.

Give to West Lake House

Penny began at Pickering College 28 years ago when she was hired to teach Grade 6 for what she thought would be one year to gain experience as a newly minted teacher. “That year has turned into many years since—I have really grown up here,” she says. Living on campus for her first 12 years allowed Penny to forge strong bonds with all members of the PC community. “They became like family,” she shares. Pickering quickly felt more like home than Ottawa, Ontario, where she was born and raised. When she and her partner, Scott, were deciding on a venue to be married, it was an easy decision to choose to be married on campus, with Charles Boyd graciously agreeing to officiate the ceremony. Following the birth of her two children, Penny transitioned into the role of learning strategist, a role she says is incredibly rewarding.

From living on campus to teaching to giving back to the school through consistently volunteering at the annual golf tournament and Holiday Home Tour since they began, Penny’s commitment to Pickering College has included time, talent, and treasure. As a longtime donor to the school’s annual fund, Penny says she has always been inspired to give.

Penny’s two children, Erica ’22 and Owen ’24, grew up on campus and attended Pickering College for Senior School. “Both children understood that it was a privilege to attend Pickering. To demonstrate their gratitude for the opportunities for which they were being provided, it was up to them to find ways to positively contribute to the school community.

Erica became actively involved in the athletic program and student committee, taking on numerous leadership roles including Student Committee Day Chair in her Grade 12 year. Erica continues to be involved with the school by serving as Director of Pickering’s Hilltop Discovery Summer Discovery Camp for the last two summers.

Owen was actively involved with the music program and was a proud member of the Senior Jazz Ensemble. Owen’s passion for earth and space science led to the design and building of a space shed for the Blue & Silver Farm. He actively sought out donations from family and friends to gather telescopes, binoculars, and other educational resources that will be used between Junior Kindergarten and Grade 12. For his effort, Owen graduated with Distinction from the Global Leadership Program.

To mark their special connection and graduation, the Lawson-Cameron family recently dedicated two Dining Hall chairs which now feature plaques with Erica and Owen’s names and class years. “I smile every time I see the name of a former student that I’ve taught, a family that I know or somebody who has contributed to the school through a Dining Hall chair dedication,” she says. “It’s nice to be able to continue to give back in various ways.”

That commitment to giving back extends beyond Penny’s immediate family to include her parents and sister. Her father James, himself a graduate of Trinity College School, left a significant contribution to Pickering College in his will when he passed away in 2016. “He felt very connected to Pickering College through watching me in my career,” she says.

As a family, they decided her father’s donation would fund the elevator in West Lake House. “We could not help but think about all of the grandparents who come for Grandparent and Special Friends Day and other school events, and the students who have had broken limbs and been on crutches—we thought it would be a meaningful contribution,” Penny explains.

In addition, Penny’s mother Patricia chose to make a gift of securities because she felt such a powerful connection to the school, particularly watching her two grandchildren thrive in the Senior School. When Patricia passed away in 2022, Penny and her sister Pamela decided to do something special to honour her by contributing to the Puck and Blade Wall in the Eric Veale Memorial Arena. “My mother would travel from Ottawa to see the children at their skating lessons in the arena, and at the family skates on Sunday. My mother was also a big figure skating fan.”

Penny feels tremendous gratitude for the years she and her family have been a part of the Pickering College community. For Penny and her family, leaving the school “greater, better, and more beautiful” is especially important.

ALUMNI CONNECTIONS

1940s

In memoriam, Donald King ’46 passed away on April 25, 2024. Don grew up in Newmarket, Ontario, often playing and working on the farm of Pickering College. He earned a bachelor of science in Chemical Engineering from the University of Toronto in 1950 and a Master’s of Business Administration from Syracuse University in 1953. In his spare time, he volunteered for numerous not-for-profit organizations including the YMCA, University of Toronto, Pickering College, and the Anglican Church of Canada. He donated blood more than 150 times and was a loyal donor to multiple charities. Fond of travel and adventure, Don was known to choose a dirt road over a paved one, and rarely became caught up in needing to know his exact destination or his precise location. He quipped that he considered a “no trespassing” sign more of an invitation than a deterrent. After retiring in 1993, Don made a point of travelling to share in both the mundane and exciting moments of his children’s and grandchildren’s lives. 1

In memoriam, on May 12, 2024, Jack Houghton ‘47 passed peacefully in palliative care in Powell River, British Columbia at the age of 95. Jack grew up in the High Park Area of Toronto and attended Ontario College of Arts,

where he graduated with Honours in Interior Architecture. For many years, Jack was a Vice President and Manager of Sales at Midland Doherty on Bloor Street. He later took on a fun position with Care Canada as a photographer in Africa, recording work building freshwater wells for the local inhabitants. Photography was always Jack’s number one passion and consumed much of his spare time throughout his retirement. 2

1950s

In memoriam, Richard Elston ‘56 passed away peacefully on June 9, 2024, in his 90th year. During his time at Pickering, Richard developed his love of music, which he maintained throughout his life. In his youth, Richard was a fighter pilot with the RCAF. He never lost the thrill of flying, even a two-seater Cessna. Richard retired in 1995 as President and CEO of Memorial Hospital, Bowmanville after spending his entire career in hospital administration. After retirement, he joined the Board of the Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan. He enjoyed painting with oils and acrylics and was an amazing woodcarver. Richard was an active alumnus, participating in many reunion events, enjoying reconnecting with old friends, and meeting new members of the

Pickering College alumni community. In lieu of flowers, Richard’s family asked for donations to be made to the Pickering College Music Department in his memory. 3

In memoriam, William Gairdner ‘59 passed away on January 12, 2024. William accomplished a multitude of impressive feats throughout his well-lived life. William was a Canadian track and field athlete, competing in the men’s 400 metre hurdles and the men’s decathlon at the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan. He was awarded a silver medal in decathlon event at the 1963 Pan American Games in Brazil. Following his hurdling career, William gained his first M.A. in 1967 studying Structural Linguistics at Stanford University and then earned his second at the institution in 1969 in English Literature and Creative Writing. A year later he graduated with a Ph.D. in English Literature from Stanford. William was a published author with works published by BPS Books, including The Trouble with Canada, The Trouble with Democracy and Oh, Oh, Canada!. 4

1960s

In memoriam, Hugh Ferguson ‘66 passed on January 24, 2024, at the Ruddy Shenkman Hospice in Kanata,

Ontario. Born in Ottawa, Hugh’s journey took him to Arnprior, where he grew up and attended school, finishing his education at Pickering College before starting his career with Scotiabank. In 1991, Hugh embarked on a remarkable adventure in Barbados as the Senior Vice President of Jolly Roger Cruises Inc. Hugh was deeply involved in philanthropy and community service and was a proud member of the Shriners with the Tunis Temple, serving as Potentate in 1987 in the Ottawa and Hamilton Consistory. Hugh’s commitment to community and brotherhood extended beyond borders, leaving a lasting impression on those who had the privilege of knowing him. 5

1980s

Howard Murray ‘86 is always on the move! In 2021, Howie wrapped up a significant chapter of his career as a production manager at Air Canada Maintenance in Toronto and

earned his certification in Systems Engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). With experience in rotary wing aerospace systems, Howie began a new business that focuses on product design and development across multiple sectors including aerospace, off-road vehicles, and the Department of Defense. Despite his busy schedule, Howie splits his time between groundbreaking developments in his business and the world of helicopter maintenance and operations.

In October 2023, Howie and his wife, Robyn, loaded their Jeep and set out on an adventurous road trip to the Arctic Ocean. They navigated through some of the most remote and beautiful terrains in North America, camping under the stars and reconnecting with nature at every stop. Their journey reached its peak when they finally arrived at the Arctic Ocean, a moment marked

by the symbolic act of dipping the front wheels of their Jeep, as well as their own feet, into the icy waters. For Howie, it was a refreshing break from the relentless pace of work, a chance to breathe, reflect, and recharge. Howie and Robyn now live in Langford, British Columbia. 6

Feda Karkour ‘88 has been living in Alberta for over 15 years and loving every moment he has been there. Feda has been with The Home Depot for 10 years during which he has managed three stores. Feda is an avid woodworker in his spare time. When he retires, he plans to grow this passion as he embarks on starting a full-time woodworking business. Feda is a cancer survivor and appreciates every day. His daughter recently got married, and his son is continuing his journey developing his skills as a chef. Feda says that life is good, there are no complaints, and sincerest regards to the PC community.  7

ALUMNI CONNECTIONS

1990s

Nickolas Harper ‘99 has represented constituents and residents of Bradford West Gwillimbury as the Ward 6 City Councillor since being elected in 2022. To date, Nickolas has managed to help bring in much needed safety precautions to the streets of BWG. Nickolas does not think of himself as a politician, but more as somebody who wants to show that individuals can aid in times of need, to people in need, by way of service. Nickolas is honoured to serve and represent the residents of Ward 6 and Bradford West Gwillimbury.  1

2000s

Dr. Jonathan Stea ’03 has been a fulltime practicing clinical psychologist for over a decade and is an adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Calgary. He’s a two-time winner of the University of Calgary’s Award for Excellence in Clinical Supervision. Jonathan was the 2022 recipient of the John G. Paterson Award from the Psychologists’ Association of Alberta, an annual award presented for the

exceptional contribution to portraying psychological knowledge to the public. Jonathan just released his newest book, Mind the Science: Saving Your Mental Health from the Wellness Industry, which aims to educate individuals about making decisions for their mental health, to improve science and mental health literacy, and to pull back the curtain on pseudoscience. His book highlights what mental health really means and exposes the mental health misinformation on social media and within the wellness industry.  2

Congratulations to Victoria Shouldice ‘09 for being chosen as the 2024 recipient of the CVMA International Student Leadership Award! Tori is embarking on her final year in the Veterinary Accelerated Graduate Entry Program at the University of Bristol in the United Kingdom. Her academic journey started at the University of Guelph where she earned her degree in Animal Science. Furthering her education, Tori completed a master’s degree in the Animal Bioscience Department at Guelph. Tori has been a student representative for the National

Veterinary Association (NVA) and established a student chapter of the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) at Bristol. Tori aims to create resources for students to build connections in the Canadian veterinary community, help them discover differences in Canadian veterinary medicine, and facilitate the transition to practice for students studying abroad. Post-graduation, Tori intends to return to her roots in Ontario to practice Small Animal Medicine in rural communities.   3

2010s

Congratulations to Belindalucy Nyamrunda ‘14 on becoming a licensed Professional Engineer in British Columbia. Belindalucy began her engineering journey with a rough and unorthodox start as the world was hit by the pandemic shortly after she began the process in 2019. Through perseverance and determination, she was able to complete her goal and achieve this milestone. Belindalucy is a second-generation university graduate in her family and is honoured to be a female engineer; helping pave the way for others.  4

Nicole Arruda ‘18 graduated from the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto in 2022. She is now a contractor at the United Nations’ Environment Programme (UNEP), working in social media communications. Nicole’s parents, Adriana and Francisco, are very proud of her accomplishments and are certain that Pickering College has greatly contributed to where she is today.  5

Samuel Correa ‘19 recently completed his last term of a five-year Bachelor of Architectural Studies Co-op degree at the University of Waterloo, where he has cemented an interest in housing and residential typologies. During his work terms, Samuel had the opportunity to coordinate several urban infill projects which have been successfully constructed. Samuel’s studies have recently taken him to Europe where he completed an academic term in Rome and was able to travel throughout Italy for three months. Samuel has since traveled to the UK where he was able to watch his beloved Chelsea FC live in their home stadium in London. This fall, Samuel is beginning his

master of Architecture degree at the University of Waterloo.  6

2020s

Since graduating from Pickering College, Ava Khansari ‘20 has spent the past four years in the Kinesiology program at Queen’s University. After completing her degree this past spring, Ava spent the summer enjoying a break from school and spending lots of time with family and friends. She has also been fortunate to travel to Europe and experience the amazing culture in Spain and Greece. Ava is looking forward to starting at the Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry at Western University this fall, working toward completing a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree and fulfilling her goal of becoming a dentist.  7

In the summer of 2023, Katherine Starr ‘20 had the privilege of working for the Honourable Caroline Mulroney in the Minister’s Office at the Ministry of Transportation where she learned the ins and outs of public policy and governance in practice. As an intern, Katherine was involved in several different transportation policy

files including traffic congestion, road safety, transit expansion, and transportation planning. Since September 2023, Katherine has been busy finishing her fourth and final year at St. FX. Some notable highlights include receiving her X-Ring in December and completing her Honours thesis project on federal gender-based violence policy.  8

Daniel Jiang ‘20 graduated in May 2024 with a bachelor’s degree in engineering from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. This summer, he completed a fulfilling and challenging internship at NVIDIA in California and will be pursuing his graduate studies in Engineering and Robotics at Stanford University starting in September 2024. Daniel is deeply grateful to Pickering College for laying a solid academic foundation during his high school years. The GLP program, in particular, taught him how to conduct in-depth research and communicate effectively. Daniel hopes to return to campus in the future to reunite with his teachers and friends, and to reminisce about the wonderful times of his school days.  9

ALUMNI CONNECTIONS

ANNUAL VOLLEYBALL REUNION

Former volleyball team members got together for a day on the court! Led by Coach Graham Birt, alumni players got into the competitive spirit and took part in a round-robin style tournament with their teammates of the past. The event was followed by a wonderful brunch reception which provided time to discuss the highlights of the day while also reminiscing about memories on the court. We hope to see you all back next year!

ALUMNI POST-SECONDARY TRANSITION EVENT

The Guidance Department, in collaboration with our Alumni Engagement Coordinator, Emma Kerswill ‘19, hosted our annual Alumni Post-Secondary Transition Event in May. This year, the experience was taken to new heights for our graduates as the event was extended to include a full day of workshops and guest speakers. The traditional Q&A session featured 12 young alumni, discussing time management techniques, balancing academic and social life, institution and program-specific expectations, and how to stay healthy and happy. It was a great opportunity for our alumni to help our 2024 graduates prepare for their future!

WELCOMING THE CLASS OF 2024!

Our alumni community is expanding! On June 13, the eve before commencement, the Alumni Office hosted our annual Grad Celebration event to celebrate the graduating class of 2024 and welcoming them into the alumni community. All guests enjoyed delicious hors d’oeuvres, drinks and desserts before our awards ceremony. Congratulations to all of our Student Steward Award recipients, Parent Student Award recipients, and Class Champions. The night concluded with a presentation of a final grad video created by members of the Class of 2024. Thank you to all those who attended and congratulations to the Class of 2024!

SEND US AN UPDATE

Just married? Moving to a new city? Having a baby? Going on an amazing trip? Recently retired? Let us know!

If you have had any recent milestones or life events or would simply like to update the alumni community about what you are up to, we welcome you to let the Pickering College community know! Email a short update and photo of yourself to alumni@pickeringcollege.on.ca to be featured in our monthly newsletter, Alumni Connects, or the upcoming spring issue of the Pillars magazine! We can’t wait to hear from you!

Avish Sood ’07

Recipient of the Alumni Keystone Award

The Alumni Keystone Award recognizes the outstanding contributions Pickering College young alumni make in their fields to leave our world greater, better, and more beautiful than they discovered it. A keystone is the wedge-shaped piece at the crown of the arch, something which associated pieces depend on for support. Similarly, our young alumni are emerging community leaders who others depend on for inspiration, guidance, and action.

For Avish, that means making a big splash in marketing and sponsorships. Avish currently serves as Manager of Corporate Partnerships for the National Football League, overseeing branded digital integrations and managing client partners like PepsiCo, P&G, Visa, and more.

Some highlights from his work include creating campaigns with some of the NFL’s most popular athletes, such as Jason Kelce, Brandon Marshall and Troy Polamalu.

“Pickering College was the concrete foundation of my life. I wouldn’t be who I am, or who I’m hoping to become, without the values and experiences I’ve gained while attending high school here.”

Beyond his career, Avish co-founded TSwift Dance Party Canada, themed dance nights celebrating the iconic pop music superstar. With his marketing expertise, he was able to build this brand organically, develop strong partnerships with various companies, host the world’s largest Taylor Swift album launch party with over 5,000 fans, and even draw attention from Taylor Swift herself, who commented on not one but two of their social media posts. In November, the two charities that will benefit from Toronto’s Version: Taylgate ‘24 preconcert all-ages event include the Daily Bread Food Bank and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada.

Avish is also the founder of Sponsorship Space, a leading social community for sponsorship marketers to help uplift and support upcoming marketers interested in the field, and co-founder of the University of Toronto Sports Industry Conference.

Through these initiatives, Avish has raised more than $200,000 for charities including UNICEF and the Canadian Cancer Society.

Along with the Alumni Keystone Award, Avish has also been recognized as the 2015 IndoCanadian Chamber of Commerce Young Achiever of the Year, named a top rising marketer in Strategy Magazine - 30 Under 30 in 2016, was chosen as a high potential marketer by Adweek in 2020, and was selected as a ‘future CMO candidate’ by Gary Vaynerchuk’s Marketing for the Now, a YouTube series by one of the leading global minds on what’s next in culture, relevance, and the internet.

Avish is a proud graduate of Pickering College and the University of Toronto with a postgraduate certificate in sports marketing from George Brown College. He said his time at Pickering College gave him some of his favourite childhood memories and lifelong friends.

Pickering College honours Agent of Change Award and Alumni Keystone Award recipients

This past spring, Pickering College celebrated the achievements of the recipients of the Agent of Change Award and Alumni Keystone Award. These individuals and organizations epitomize the values of Pickering College and are phenomenal examples of making a difference—all in unique ways that reflect their talents and passions.

Agent of Change Award

Agent of Change Award recipients have made significant global or local impact in their communities in the following areas:

• Community Engagement

• Environmental Stewardship

• Social Justice

• Truth and Reconciliation

• Advocacy

• Other meaningful contributions to the community

Dr. Felicia Marie Knaul

Agent of Change (Individual)

Health economist, Director of the University of Miami Institute for Advanced Study of the Americas, and professor at the Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine

Ian Proudfoot

Agent of Change (Individual)

President -Board of Directors, Sharon Temple National Historic Site and Museum

Pauline Muthoni

Agent of Change (Individual)

The Small Project, Kenya

Newmarket Lions Club

Agent of Change (Community Organization) Community Service Club

Robotics Rock

Agent of Change (Community Organization) STEM Youth Association

ALUMNI AWARD KEYS T ONE

The Alumni Keystone Award recognizes the outstanding contributions Pickering College young alumni make in their fields to leave our world greater, better, and more beautiful than they discovered it. A keystone is the wedge-shaped piece at the crown of the arch, something on which associated pieces depend on for support. Similarly, our young alumni are emerging community leaders who others depend on for inspiration, guidance, and action. Award recipients are individuals who strive to go above and beyond in the following areas:

• Demonstrate excellence in their field of endeavour, either in their career or in a volunteer service, exemplifying: “Learning for Life. Creating the Future.”

• Demonstrate Quaker values, supporting the vision and mission of the Global Leadership Program, to be: “creative, innovative and courageous agents of ethical and positive change, true to Quaker values.”

Avish Sood ‘07

Alumni Keystone Award Winner Manager of Corporate Partnerships for the National Football League

Dr. Charlotte (Charly) Coleman ‘13

Alumni Keystone Award Finalist Obstetrical and Gynecology Resident Physician, The Ottawa Hospital

Adam Starr ‘16

Alumni Keystone Award Finalist Chief Executive Officer, Recircle Waste Management Solutions

To read the biographies of this year’s Agent of Change Award and Alumni Keystone Award recipients and finalists, please visit our website: https://www.pickeringcollege.on.ca/ changemakers

PC A

The Pickering College Association (PCA) is made up of parents, past parents, alumni, and staff volunteers who work together to plan engaging, diverse, and inclusive community events and activities that support school programs.

Fundraising initiatives undertaken by the PCA enhance school life for students by raising funds, which support capital projects, curriculum development, innovative technology, as well as program enhancements. “Friendraising” events encourage the PC community to come together to develop new relationships and get to know one another as well as maintain the strong bonds within our PC community.

It was a busy spring, starting in February with a special art exhibition that explored Pickering College’s historical ties with renowned artists such as Group of Seven, Frederick Hagan, Leonard Brooks, Mary Schneider, Harold Haydon, and many more. We were also pleased to host a Senior Art Specialist from

Cowley Abbott, who provided insights and answered questions about the collection.

Marking its 20th year, the Spring Luncheon is an annual tradition that brings the PC community together to celebrate friendship and the spirit of our community. We were so excited to celebrate Spring in New York at this year’s luncheon and welcome new and returning parents to this wonderful event.

The Charles F. Boyd Invitational Golf Tournament was a resounding success! Welcoming over 100 golfers to Emerald Hills, we spent a delightful day in May on the course and are thrilled to have celebrated our 24th annual tournament.

In May, the Fun Fair made its return! Once held in the fall, this event was moved to the spring to celebrate the end of a wonderful school year, complete with inflatables, food, entertainment, and carnival games. We were happy to see

students from Kindergarten to Grade 12 joining together in the spirit of fun and community at this event.

Weekly PCA Walks continued every Friday morning in addition to monthly PCA Coffee Socials. The Staff Appreciation Committee continued to demonstrate the PCA’s gratitude for faculty and staff at Pickering College through special events carried out for various members of the school community.

We were also delighted to introduce new events for our parents including Moms & Margaritas and Sip n’ Sizzle geared to dads. These were fantastic opportunities to meet parents within your child’s grade and the larger parent community.

Finally, at a reception in May we celebrated our wonderful volunteers whose efforts can be seen in the success of every one of these communitybuilding events. As we know, school is more than just about learning, it is also about fostering a community.

For opportunities to make a difference in your child’s school life — and to meet fellow members of the community, please visit www.pickeringcollege.on.ca/community/parents follow us on Instagram @PCAparents or contact PCA Chair, Krystie Robinson-Vincent, at pcachair@pickeringcollege.on.ca

Volunteer Profile: Marnee Da Ponte

Marnee Da Ponte has been getting more and more involved with Pickering College every year since her sons started at the school.

Tyler, who is attending Laurier University now, started at PC when he was in Grade 7 and Zack, who is a current Grade 12 student, started at the school in Grade 6. Da Ponte said they chose Pickering College for its high educational standards, engaging teachers, and the fact that it is a co-ed school. One of her first involvements as a parent was joining the weekly PCA Walks, where she was able to connect with other parents. Shortly after that, Da Ponte joined the Spring Luncheon Committee.

Spring Luncheon is annual event that brings the PC community together over delicious food, live entertainment featuring the school’s musical ensembles, and comradery with other parents and staff. Da Ponte has served on the Spring Luncheon Committee for three years, and her contributions extend well beyond that.

“Each year I have become more involved with school events, especially with a focus on fundraising,” she said. “I’ve been a core member of the art event last February, the Staff Appreciation Committee, the Polo event in September and the 2025 Gala, which is going to be amazing. I’m also a Grade Rep/New Family Mentor and I help coach the Junior School’s Track and Field team.”

What stands out in all of those experiences is the chance to meet other families and give back to the school. Da Ponte’s own history in education motivates her even more.

“I was a teacher for 23 years and I recognize the amount of work that PC teachers put into their classes every day. I love helping out so teachers can focus on their classes and still benefit from the resources,” she said. “PC has prepared my kids well and they have become amazing men partly due to the support and role models of the PC staff.”

For any parents who are eager to get involved, Da Ponte’s advice is simple: come on out!

“Come out to a PCA walk or join a coffee social. Parents are very friendly and we are always looking for new people to help out. I’ve met some awesome people that I wouldn’t have met if I didn’t join,” she said.

THREE CHEERS FOR OUR PC VOLUNTEERS

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Mirella Morra, Chair

Patrick Turner ‘97, Vice-Chair

Sherry Barclay

Sal Bianco

Susan Cooper

Beric Farmer

David Hwang ‘89

Thomas Kim

Olga Morawczynski

Shamus Rask

Jason Yip

CORPORATION MEMBERS

Eric Akbar

Sherry Barclay

Sal Bianco

Reuben Bonerath

Vanessa Carson

Susan Cooper

Michael Da Ponte

Peter Dobbs ‘87

Beric Farmer

Jason Foulds

Barbara Horvath

Eva Huang

Trevor Hunt

David Hwang ‘89

Thomas Kim

Vivian Lee

Isaias Medina III ‘85

Olga Morawczynski

Mirella Morra

Daniel Nelson

Ivan Pooran ‘82

Shamus Rask

Krystie Robinson-Vincent

Claudia Schauer

Adam Shully ‘78

Riane Tse ‘07

Patrick Turner ‘97

Duncan Walker ‘69

Mareena Wallace ‘13

Bo Wang

Roger Warren ‘51

Lee Webb

Kevin Wietzes

Jason Yip

BOARD COMMITTEES

Development

Jason Yip, Chair

Olga Morawczynski, Vice-Chair

Vanessa Carson

Beth Egan

Trevor Hunt

Cinde Lock

Isaias Medina III ‘85

Mirella Morra

Jessie-May Rowntree

Bo Wang

Facilities

Patrick Turner ‘97, Chair

Sal Bianco, Vice-Chair

Eric Akbar

Stephen Barratt ‘86

Kevin Desforges

Kyle Foch ‘13

Cinde Lock

Howard Lu

Mirella Morra

Nicole Murphy

Shamus Rask

Finance

Thomas Kim, Chair

Sal Bianco, Vice-Chair

Jason Foulds

Eva Huang

Cinde Lock

Mirella Morra

Nicole Murphy

Ivan Pooran ‘82

Roger Warren ‘51

Governance

Beric Farmer, Chair

Sherry Barclay, Vice-Chair

Susan Cooper

David Hwang ‘89

Cinde Lock

Mirella Morra

Claudia Schauer

Riane Tse ‘07

Lee Webb

Karen Whetstone

Nominations

Susan Cooper, Chair

Cinde Lock

Mirella Morra

Claudia Schauer

Adam Shully ‘78

CHOP FM BOARD OF DIRECTORS

James Waters, Chair

Matthew Barbuto ‘02

Briana Carnegie ‘11

Marc de la Bastide

Sarah Gardiner ‘11

Ian Johnston

Nicole Murphy

Brian Purdy ‘56

Peter Sturrup

CHOP FM ADVISORY COUNCIL

Alex Au Yong

John Bordignon

Jennifer Brett Fraser

Marc de la Bastide

Janet Downer

David Haydu

Keli Jay

Ian Johnston

Elizabeth Keith

Cinde Lock

Heather McDonald

Laura Murgatroyd

Brian Purdy ‘56

Suman Seth

Louis Vassos

William Waugh

Ellen Wells

CHOP FM VOLUNTEERS

Tom Gordon

David Haydu

Gary Johnson

Jaide Johnston ‘19

Richard MacLeod

Laura Murgatroyd

Glenn Prinns

Brad Snel

Tyler Somerville ‘18

Louis Vassos

TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMITTEE

Joshua Armstrong, Chair

Ethan Bishop

Donna Doyle

Julia Hunt

Sheila Johnson

Elaine Kliem

Vanessa Poehlmann

Dan Thompson

Ellen Wells

____________________

PC AMBASSADORS –ADMISSION EVENTS

Terrence Dong ‘30

MayMay Fan ‘28

Angelina Gu ‘29

Charlize Ho ‘28

Harrison Houle ‘30

Alexandra Iftimiu ‘30

Elena Izadi ‘30

Angela Jia ‘29

Skylar Jin ‘25

Shriena Kaur ‘25

Jasmine Khatami ‘25

Just Lee ‘30

Chantel Li ‘25

Hayley Liang ‘29

Rebecca Liang ‘25

Shianne Liang ‘25

Nafas Massir ‘30

Mana Matsumoto ‘28

John Perry ‘27

Maya Prasad ‘30

Christine Russell

Shrinidhi Seshadri ‘27

Cathy Song ‘28

Samuel Sui ‘27

Vaughn Thomas ‘27

Melody Tsui ‘24

Wong Xu ‘25

Agnes Yang ‘27

Avril Yang ‘27

Alexis Youell ‘28

Ethan Youell ‘26

Claire Zeng ‘28

Marvin Zhang ‘30

Sabrina Zhang ‘28

Volunteering is the essence of Pickering College’s community spirit. Thanks to all those who give their time and talent in support of the school’s many events and initiatives.

GLOBAL LEADERSHIP

PROGRAM VOLUNTEERS

Christopher Aide

Natalie Akbar

Barb Amadori

Moira Boland ‘24

Ethan Bonerath ‘23

Reuben Bonerath

Sonya Bonerath

Jennifer Brett Fraser

James Brown ‘69

Gordon Chiu

Julie Clement

Naomi Côté

Evin Demirli ‘09

Carrie Dente

Michelle De Ridder

David Drain ‘89

Drew Eichler ‘29

Zoe Fard

Beric Farmer

Brooke Fifield

Kyle Foch ‘13

Nicole Foch ‘13

Asha Frost

Marlin Gold

Zinaida Good ‘03

Bradley Graves

Michelle Graves

Magued Hanna

Connor Huggett

Moira Iljzerman

Kristen Jackson-Dockeray

Lauren Jenkins ‘16

Frank Ji

Erica Kelly

Jeff Kirke

Yaryna Kudla

Joan Lee

Nicholas Letwin

Jeffrey Leung ‘17

Erin Levesque

Rob Linden

Cinde Lock

Garrett Mac Sweeney

Jeff Mason

Karen McCallum-Ryan

Gaynor McCredie

Alexandra McCutcheonDawson ‘20

Isaias Medina III ‘85

Niki Mehta

Yolanda Mol Amelink

Lucy Montgomery

Miles Montgomery

Wallace Montgomery

Olga Morawczynski

Samantha Murphy ‘17

Jenna Nagapen

Joshua Nasielski

Isabelle Payne ‘98

Erin Peterson

Ryan Prosser

Brian Puppa

Sunny Qiu ‘19

Amanda Reside

Tina Robert

Krystie Robinson-Vincent

Emily Rowe

Lian Senior

Colin Service

Ali Shourideh-Ziabari ‘15

Susan Strong

John Taylor

Bruce Tong

Justin Turpin ‘87

Rene Van Acker

Mareena Wallace ‘13

Dan Whitton

Julia Zeng

Riona Zhang

LAFONTAINE-BALDWIN YOUTH CONFERENCESEPTEMBER 29, 2023

Charles Beer ‘59

Harrison Frank ‘24

Jamie Frank

Kyle Herbert

Steve Paikin

John Ralston Saul

Alicia Trivit

THREE CHEERS FOR OUR PC VOLUNTEERS

BLUE & SILVER FARM FOCUS GROUPS - APRIL 17 & 18, 2024

Iman Abdi

Eric Akbar

Natalie Akbar

Ethan Bonerath ‘23

Reuben Bonerath

Marnee Da Ponte

Michelle De Ridder

Beric Farmer

Frank Ji

Shaqil Kassam

Olga Morawczynski

Jenna Nagapen

Kirsten Nicolson

Wendy O’Leary

ACADEMIC AND STUDENT COMMITTEE EVENTS, CLASSROOM, PROGRAM, COCURRICULAR SPEAKERS AND VOLUNTEERS

Natalie Akbar

Sophia Aggarwal

Lucy Bao

Natasha Bascevan

Charles Beer ‘59

Lisa Bentley

Andrew Boyes

Michael Brett

Lily Cericola

Kevin Chen

Lawrence Crump

Marnee Da Ponte

Amita Dayal

Beric Farmer

Christopher Farmer ‘17

Harrison Frank ‘24

Jamie Frank

Shelley Frank

Jason Fraser

Lorrie Gallant

Dean Gessie

Navraj Grewal ‘98

Lawrence Han

Julie-Ann Hearty

Boom Hemmondharop ‘24

Jennifer Houle

Jennifer Hunter

Bryan Jiang ‘23

Oscar Jiang ‘23

Wendy Jin

Evan Johnston ‘22

Hillary Krofchak ‘20

Richard Kwon

Anneke Lee

Caitlin Li

Zhengjun Li

Tracy Liang

Shudan Liao

Ellen Liu

Jennifer Liu

Xin Liu

Yang Liu

Anna Luo

Carole MacNeil

Raman Madha

Sterling Mancuso ‘17

Takae Matsumoto

Donald McLaren ‘76

Kumail Meghani

Matt Mellary

Tom Mellary

Margaux Peck

Glen Pollock

Neiva Prasad

John Prickaerts

Ian Proudfoot

Chaoyue Qi

Kim Quigley

Lara Raee

Sarvie Riahi

Tina Robert

Ryan Roberts

Colin Robertson

Sandra Rohani ‘25

Elvis Shen

Sunny Shum

Shuang Sun

Rex Taylor

Erin Thomas

David Thurton

Minh Tran

Tony Van Bynen

Ronald Veale ‘63

Lily Wang

Daniel Weinzweig

Connie Youell

Victoria Zalewski ‘23

Lia Zhuang

MIDDLE SCHOOL PUBLIC SPEAKING TOURNAMENTAPRIL 19, 2024

Natalie Akbar

Nicole Bernadowitsch

Talia Black ‘07

Susan Cooper

Jay Fletcher

Shelley Frank

Frank Ji

Elizabeth Keith

Vienna Li

Olga Morawczynski

Jenna Nagapen

Tina Robert

Krystie Robinson-Vincent

Michelle Tolley

PCA EXECUTIVE

Krystie Robinson-Vincent, Chair

Natalie Akbar

Sonya Bonerath

Susan Cooper

Marnee Da Ponte

Carla Liberta

Robin Macmillan

Jenna Nagapen

Kirsten Nicolson

Colleen Sexsmith

Diane Sexsmith-Brosseau

Melissa Tavares

PCA GRADE REPS

Carla Liberta, Coordinator

Natalie Akbar

Feria Bacchus

Susan Cooper

Marnee Da Ponte

Frank Ji

Claire Jones

Jenny Li

Takae Matsumoto

Lisa Podd

Chaoyue Qi

Tina Robert

Krystie Robinson-Vincent

Melissa Tavares

PCA EVENT VOLUNTEERS

Richard Cazeau

Emily Lin

Carl Nagapen

Jenna Nagapen

Meghann Proulx

NISPA (NETWORK OF INDEPENDENT SCHOOL PARENTS’ ASSOCIATIONS) REPRESENTATIVE

Krystie Robinson-Vincent

LIBRARY TRIBUTE PROGRAM

Kirsten Nicolson, Chair

Sheila Johnson

____________________

STAFF APPRECIATION COMMITTEE

Diane Sexsmith-Brosseau, Chair

Natalie Akbar

Marnee Da Ponte

Takae Matsumoto

Krystie Robinson-Vincent

Lucy Yang

Tiffany Yang

STAFF APPRECIATION VOLUNTEERS

Natalie Akbar

Danielle Brown

Carol Chen

Kevin Chen

Maya Chen

Nina Chen

Caroline Chua

Rachel Cui

Grant Custard

Marnee Da Ponte

Michelle De Ridder

Shaochen Du

Tieny Ho

Bo Huang

Venus Iu

Frank Ji

Felicia Jia

Katherine Koo

Jenny Li

Tanya Li

Vienna Li

Anna Luo

Robin Macmillan

Eva Mao

Takae Matsumoto

Carlie Merkley

Janet McGhee

Carl Nagapen

Jenna Nagapen

Kris Philpott

Neiva Prasad

Chaoyue Qi

Lara Raee

Milicia Reid

Tina Robert

Krystie Robinson-Vincent

Diane Sexsmith-Brosseau

Megan Shi

Melissa Tavares

Susanna Turner

Lily Wang

Lucy Yang

Tiffany Yang

Jennifer Zhang

Maggie Zhang

Naixin Zhang

Yao Zhang

Elva Zhao

Jessie Zhao

Josie Zhao

Stella Zhao

Lia Zhuang

ALUMNI CLASS CHAMPIONS

Charles Beer ‘59

Erica Cameron ‘22

Tom Chen ‘23

Robert Doyle ‘96

Stephanie Fillman ‘09

June Gleed ‘15

Krish Gupta ‘22

Monika Jazyk ‘95

Oscar Jiang ‘23

Danica Khanna ‘23

Smetine Kurath ‘23

Jessie Li ‘23

Louis Li ‘21

Gloria Liu ‘22

Deanna MacAlpine ‘21

Raul Mena Perez ‘23

Michaela Morra ‘22

Neil Proudfoot ‘08

Brian Purdy ‘56

Edmund Rynard ‘70

Georgia Saarimaki ‘22

Dag Spicer ‘80

Adam Starr ‘16

Grace Still ‘21

Shyam Subramanyam ‘23

Thera Sze ‘21

Chengru Wen ‘22

Jake Wu ‘22

Rosie Xuan ‘22

Stella Yuan ‘23

HILLTOP SHOP VOLUNTEERS

Jasmine Khatami ‘25

Shianne Liang ‘25

Gloria Liu ‘26

Fiona Wang ‘24

Emily Zalewski ‘25

Natalie Zalewski ‘27

ALUMNI AND DEVELOPMENT OFFICE VOLUNTEERS

Mimi Abdzhi ‘26

Lolade Alawode ‘24

Maria Aritomo ‘25

Bella Fang ‘26

Sovia Fang ‘25

Mar Garcia Jimenez ‘24

Sarah Golding ‘24

Allison Guan ‘26

Yasmin Hiranandani ‘25

Takumi Ishikawa ‘27

Meghan Kim ‘21

Skylar Jin ‘25

Danbi Joung ‘27

Vera Lee ‘27

Chantel Li ‘25

Catherine Lin ‘26

Morgan Podd ‘24

Rebekah Stevens ‘26

Grace Zhao ‘25

ALUMNI PIN & TIE CEREMONY VOLUNTEERS –OCTOBER 12, 2023

Shyam Subramanyam ‘23

Brooklyn Tobias ‘23

ALUMNI REUNION WEEKEND VOLUNTEERS – OCTOBER 14 & 15, 2023

Charles Beer ‘59

Beatrice Bougourd ‘25

Heather Golding ‘24

Sarah Golding ‘24

Takumi Ishikawa ‘27

Rida Jindani ‘26

Savannah McGowan ‘26

Megan Mok ‘25

Krystie Robinson-Vincent

Alexis Youell ‘28

Norman Yu ‘25

Jason Zhao ‘25

JUNIOR SCHOOL

HALLOWEEN FAIR –OCTOBER 31, 2023

Natalie Akbar, Chair

Feria Bacchus

Danielle Brown

Shuyi Chen

Caroline Chua

Ivy Huang

Janet Jin

Jenny Li

Yang Liu

Anna Luo

Jenna Nagapen

Meghann Proulx

Chaoyue Qi

Sarvie Riahi

Tina Robert

Selina Shen

Joanna Sinclair

Joe Tam

Lucy Yang

Yan Zhang

CIRCLE OF FRIENDS

RECEPTION VOLUNTEERS –NOVEMBER 8, 2023

Jason Houle

Madeleine Houle ‘28

Sonya Kovtun ‘24

Rebecca MacDonald

Niki Mehta

Mirella Morra

Senior Jazz Band

CHRISTMAS TREE

DECORATING VOLUNTEERS

Mimi Abdzhi ‘26

Dias Gineyat ‘26

Marlin Gold

Rebekah Stevens ‘26

Avril Yang ‘27

Claire Yao ‘27

Ellen Yu ‘25

THREE CHEERS FOR OUR PC VOLUNTEERS

HOLIDAY HOME TOUR AND SEASONAL BOUTIQUE COMMITTEE –NOVEMBER 17 & 18, 2023

Susan Cooper, Chair

Sonya Bonerath, Co-Chair

Naomi Côté

Marlin Gold

Andrea McMullen

Karen Meisel

Jenna Nagapen

Krystie Robinson-Vincent

Jeanette Tomlinson

HOLIDAY HOME TOUR AND SEASONAL BOUTIQUE VOLUNTEERS – NOVEMBER 17 & 18, 2023

Mimi Abdzhi ‘26

Maryam Atri

Sherry Barclay

Stephanie Barich

Kim Bilous

Ethan Bonerath ‘23

Reuben Bonerath

Siobhan Bonerath ‘25

Sonya Bonerath

Emily Borowski ‘25

Owen Cameron ‘24

Lisa Campeis

Flora Chan ‘26

Bella Chen ‘25

Tanya Chen ‘25

David Cooper

Susan Cooper

Bennett Côté ‘27

Maida Côté ‘25

Naomi Côté

Marnee Da Ponte

Zack Da Ponte ‘25

Andie Desforges

Amy Ding

Beth Egan

Pam Fabian

Shelley Frank

Kimmy Gao

Heather Golding ‘24

Sarah Golding ‘24

Lisa Graham

Megan Hsueh ‘25

Eva Huang

Taylor Jennings

Chris Jeon ‘24

Haneul Joung ‘26

Penny Lawson-Cameron

Heward Lee ‘78

Vivian Lee

Amanda Lu ‘26

Lucas Lucchese ‘25

Melinda Mantel

Kelly Mason

Nafas Massir ‘30

Tristan McGregor ‘25

Karen Meisel

Wako Mizuno ‘25

Megan Mok ‘25

Jenna Nagapen

Peggy Pan

Matteo Papajorgji ‘27

Brooke Podd ‘26

Lisa Podd

Carys Porter ‘26

Haley Robinson ‘24

Jessie-May Rowntree

Stuart Sage ‘24

Marcy Sanderson

Claudia Schauer

Vida Sernas

Elsa Shao ‘27

Lisa Simmonds-Kim

Nicole Stella

Veronica Stella ‘19

Chihiro Sun ‘24

Melissa Tavares

Sienna Tavares ‘27

Jeanette Tomlinson

Sophie Trussell ‘24

Melody Tsui ‘24

Gabriella Volpe

Saveria Volpe

Eric Wang ‘25

Lili Wang

Max Wang ‘27

Karen Whetstone

Diana Wu ‘27

Wong Xu ‘25

Leo Yeung ‘27

Lisa Yip

Ellen Yu ‘25

Jeffrey Yu ‘26

Norman Yu ‘25

Yumi Yu ‘27

Emily Zalewski ‘25

Julia Zeng

Maggie Zhang

Shirley Zhang

Yvonne Zhang ‘26

Asheley Zheng ‘27

May Zhong

LUNAR NEW YEAR DUMPLINGS –JANUARY 30, 2024

Joyce Bai

Jenny Fan

Xiaoye Fan

Kimmy Gao

Vivian Lee

Peggy Pan

Wendy Yin

Julia Zeng

Linna Zhang

Maggie Zhang

Shirley Zhang

JUNIOR SCHOOL LUNAR NEW YEAR ACTIVITIES –FEBRUARY 8, 2024

Carol Chen

Shuyi Chen

Rachel Cui

Jenny Fan

Snow Gao

Vivian Hao

Chloe He

Tieny Ho

Ivy Huang

Celine Huang

Venus Iu

Frank Ji

Janet Jin

Caitlin Li

Jenny Li

Jin Li

Vienna Li

Jennifer Liu

Yang Liu

Yiwen Liu

Amanda Lu

Chaoyue Qi

Selina Shen

Shasha Sun

Lily Wang

Lulu Wang

Cissy Wu

Lynn Yang

Tiffany Yang

Janice Zhang

Yao Zhang

Lia Zhuang

WINTER CARNAVAL VOLUNTEERS –FEBRUARY 9, 2024

Natalie Akbar

Lily Cericola

Carol Chen

Caroline Chua

Jenny Hui

Janet Jin

Katherine Koo

Vienna Li

Carla Liberta

Blair Matthews

Jenna Nagapen

Chaoyue Qi

Milicia Reid

Sarvie Riahi

Tina Robert

Krystie Robinson-Vincent

Amy Shuk

Joanna Sinclair

Melissa Tavares

Susanna Turner

Julia Zeng

Janice Zhang

PC ART EXHIBIT AND WINE TASTING COMMITTEE –

FEBRUARY 29, 2024

Robin Macmillan, Chair

Marnee Da Ponte

Susan Lahey

Kirsten Nicolson

Krystie Robinson-Vincent

Jeanette Tomlinson

PC ART EXHIBIT EVENT VOLUNTEERS –

FEBRUARY 29, 2024

Flora Chan ‘26

Tanya Chen ‘25

Bonny Feng ‘27

Danesh Hakimi ‘27

Zainab Hussain ‘26

Rowan Keffer ‘26

Stuart Sage ‘24

Rebekah Stevens ‘26

Rex Tong ‘24

Melody Tsui ‘24

Norman Yu ‘25

Yumi Yu ‘27

Yvonne Zhang ‘26

SPRING LUNCHEON COMMITTEE –APRIL 24, 2024

Robin Macmillan, Chair

Natalie Akbar

Marnee Da Ponte

Marlin Gold

Lisa Podd

Krystie Robinson-Vincent

Béatrice Séguin

SPRING LUNCHEON

VOLUNTEERS – APRIL 24, 2024

Zack Da Ponte ‘25

Heather Suters

PC Senior Choir

ALUMNI POST SECONDARY TRANSITION EVENT

VOLUNTEERS – MAY 8, 2024

Sarah Asgari ‘21

Ethan Bonerath ‘23

Erica Cameron ‘22

Allyson Cannon ‘20

Dr. Gordon Cho

Tyler Da Ponte ‘23

Ryan Francis ‘23

PC Richard Guimond

Jocelyn Hadden ‘20

George Holden

Justin Jeong ‘21

Bryan Jiang ‘23

Jaide Johnston ‘19

Danica Khanna ‘23

Garrett Mac Sweeney

Alexandra McCutcheonDawson ‘20

Brooklyn Tobias ‘23

Sara Wietzes ‘23

GRANDPARENT AND SPECIAL FRIEND EVENT COMMITTEE –

MAY 9, 2024

Colleen Sexsmith, Chair

Jessica Ellis

Marlin Gold

Taylor Jennings

Karen McCallum-Ryan

Krystie Robinson-Vincent

CHARLES F. BOYD INVITATIONAL GOLF

TOURNAMENT COMMITTEE –

MAY 13, 2024

Eric Akbar

Richard De Ridder

Marlin Gold

Howard Lu

CHARLES F. BOYD INVITATIONAL GOLF TOURNAMENT

VOLUNTEERS – MAY 13, 2024

Heather Amadori

Nora Gonzalez Villalobos ‘25

Julia Hunt

Aiden Lam ‘24

Helen Manke ‘24

SPORTS DAY VOLUNTEERS –

MAY 29, 2024

Joshua Armstrong

Graham Birt

Alice Chia

Marnee Da Ponte

Shaochen Du

Lawrence Han

Christopher Howie

Bo Huang

Kyle Krause

Vivian Lee

Vienna Li

Carla Liberta

Yang Liu

Takae Matsumoto

Carl Nagapen

Jenna Nagapen

Krystie Robinson-Vincent

FUN FAIR COMMITTEE –

MAY 31, 2024

Jenna Nagapen, Chair

Natalie Akbar

Marlin Gold

Jenny Li

Lisa Podd

Sarvie Riahi

Tina Robert

Krystie Robinson-Vincent

FUN FAIR VOLUNTEERS –MAY 31, 2024

Feria Bacchus

Sonya Bonerath

Carol Chen

Alice Chia

Marnee Da Ponte

Michelle De Ridder

Jenny Fan

Wayne Hinrichs

Vivian Lee

Jenny Li

Jennifer Liu

Takae Matsumoto

Jenna Nagapen

Lisa Podd

Tina Robert

Krystie Robinson-Vincent

Mina Rohani-Tabatabai

Melissa Tavares

Kevin Tomlinson

Carol Wagner

Julia Zeng

NEW FAMILY MENTORS FOR 2024/2025

Natalie Akbar, Junior School Chair

Melissa Tavares, Middle School

Chair

Marnee Da Ponte, Senior School

Chair

Frank Ji

Jenny Li

Chaoyue Qi

Lara Raee

Tina Robert

Krystie Robinson-Vincent

Joanna Sinclair

Lucy Yang

The 24th annual Charles F. Boyd Invitational Golf Tournament, presented by Maystar General Contractors, was held on May 13, 2024, at the exclusive Emerald Hills Golf Club. It was a phenomenal success, drawing near-capacity participation and showcasing the vibrant spirit of our community. This year’s tournament was particularly special, not only for its nearly sold-out status but also for the introduction of a new venue that provided a stunning backdrop for a day of friendly competition and camaraderie.

A heartfelt thank you goes out to everyone who joined us for this memorable event. From current and past parents to alumni and community members, your presence and enthusiasm were instrumental in making the tournament a day to remember. Despite the heavy rain in the morning, your patience and positive attitude with Mother Nature truly exemplified the resilient spirit of our community. Your support continues to be the cornerstone of our success, helping to foster the strong, connected community that Pickering College is known for.

We also extend our deepest gratitude to our generous sponsors including our title sponsor, Maystar General Contractors. Without your sponsorship, the tournament would not have been possible. We are incredibly thankful for our sponsors’ unwavering support, continued partnership and commitment to our school.

A highlight of this year’s tournament was the outstanding support from the Grade 12 Leadership Class, led by their teacher, Heather Amadori. These students embraced the opportunity to learn about event planning, applying their newfound skills to volunteer throughout the day. The move to Emerald Hills Golf Club added a fresh dimension to the tournament, with participants praising the course’s challenging layout and beautiful scenery. The positive feedback we received affirms our decision to select this exclusive members-only club as our new venue.

We look forward to building on this momentum and making next year’s tournament even more exceptional. Your support and participation are deeply appreciated, and we look forward to seeing you all on the course next year.

UPCOMING EVENTS

OCTOBER 2024 – MARCH 2025

Friday, October 11

Monday, October 14

P.D. Day (No classes). Boarding remains open.

Thanksgiving (No classes and offices closed). Boarding remains open.

Thursday, November 7 Full School Remembrance Day Morning Meeting

Friday, November 8

Monday, November 11

P.D. Day (No classes). Boarding remains open.

Midterm Break (No classes and offices closed). Boarding remains open.

Friday, November 22 & Saturday, November 23 Holiday Home Tour

Saturday, November 30

Seasonal Boutique at Pickering College

Thursday, December 19 Full School Holiday Morning Meeting

Friday, December 20

Monday, December 23 –Friday, January 3

Monday, January 6

Friday, February 14

Monday, February 17

Friday, March 7

Monday, March 10 –Friday, March 21

Monday, March 24

Last day of classes. Boarding closes at 5:00 p.m.

Winter Break (No classes and offices closed).

Classes resume

P.D. Day (No classes). Boarding remains open.

Family Day

(No classes and offices closed). Boarding remains open.

Last Day of classes before March Break. Boarding closes at 5:00 p.m.

March Break - No classes. Boarding is closed.

Classes resume

VOLUME 45 ISSUE ONE

MANAGING EDITOR

JESSIE-MAY ROWNTREE

Assistant Head of School, Advancement

EDITOR

NAOMI CÔTÉ

Communications Manager

CONTRIBUTORS

JENNIFER BRETT FRASER

MARLIN GOLD

TAYLOR JENNINGS

ELIZABETH KEITH

EMMA KERSWILL

CINDE LOCK

KAREN MEISEL

JENNA NAGAPEN

JULIE SYM-WILSON

GRAPHIC DESIGN

VANI ROUSE

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

JESSIE-MAY ROWNTREE (905) 895-1700 EXT. 234 jrowntree@pickeringcollege.on.ca

PICKERING COLLEGE 16945 BAYVIEW AVENUE NEWMARKET, ONTARIO CANADA L3Y 4X2

TEL: (905) 895-1700 FAX: (905) 895-8916 www.pickeringcollege.on.ca

THE PILLARS

IS PUBLISHED BY THE ADVANCEMENT OFFICE FOR ALUMNI, PARENTS, STUDENTS, STAFF AND FRIENDS OF PICKERING COLLEGE.

Friday, November 22 & Saturday, November 23

Anticipation

Special promotion for readers of The Pillars: Waived application fee until February 1. Use promo code: FRIEND

What sets a Pickering College education apart?

It’s belonging to a warm and welcoming school community that supports your child every step of the way through their academic journey. It’s a place where students are encouraged to discover who they are as individuals and are guided to identify what they are passionate about so that they can thrive as valuesbased decision-makers. It’s developing students into innovative, courageous, and compassionate global citizens who go beyond theory and take action to make change. It’s instilling in our students an ability and a responsibility to make a difference in the world and leave the community better than they found it. It’s more than a school—it’s a community. Find your place at PC. Now accepting applications for September 2025, JK to Grade 12. Inquire: www.pickeringcollege.on.ca/more