The Pillars (Spring 2022)

p i c k e r i n g co l l e g e

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s p r i n g 2022

PILLARS

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CONTENTS

Lovebirds, acrylic on canvas The story is about my parents. I used two birds to represent my parents because there is a bird called lovebirds; they always stay together in pairs. This shows that my parents have a long-term love, and they always protect each other from danger. I mainly used warm colours to paint mom and cool colours to paint dad to distinguish them more easily. The red outside the irregular circle represents danger from the world, and the green inside the circle represents safety. The two birds have two wings on the outside of their bodies because they are working hard to build their own safe homes and protect their families from danger. The message I want to convey through my painting is that love is not just one person’s responsibility, it takes both into account.

–Leena Li, Grade 9

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Friends For Life: Community members reflect on their friendships formed on the Hilltop

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Samantha Murphy ’17 kicks her way into the global sports world

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Farewell to Head of School Peter Sturrup, from your Pickering College family of friends

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Circle of Friends: The Farmer family’s leadership giving ensures a bright future for generations of Pickering College students

Friendship: It’s a connection to our past, our present, and our future. It’s a shared experience that binds us together and is at the heart of our beloved community. This edition of The Pillars magazine is dedicated to the generations of friendships that have been forged right here on the Hilltop and that will endure for generations to come.

4 Head Shots 6 Feature: Friends For Life 10 Student Life 22 Boarding Life 24 Teacher Feature: Lauren Hunt, Outdoor Education Specialist 26 Peter Sturrup: Honouring his many years of leadership and dedication 32 Reunion Weekend 39 Alumni Connections 40 Friendship and Sport at PC 41 In Memoriam: Charles Fenton Boyd 42 100 Years of Radio 44 Samantha Murphy ‘17: Strong 46 Annual General Meeting 47 Thank You to Donors: Report to the Pickering College Community 58 Making the World a Better Place Through Leadership Giving 62 Golf Tournament 2021 64 Holiday Home Tour 2021 67 Pickering College Association News 68 Welcome Dr. Cinde Lock 69 Staff News 70 Upcoming Events 3

Each year, on the final day of classes, following the Senior School Closing Meeting, I take the graduating students on a silent walk around campus. Variously known as the Head’s Walk, or the Garratt Cane Walk, it is a final time to collectively, but quietly, absorb the sights and sounds of the school in the midst of a beautiful spring day. We cover the grounds and pass all the buildings while listening to sounds of children playing, birds singing and voices calling. It is a time to quietly and deeply reflect on the place where we have spent some of the most important part of our lives. The walk comes to its conclusion as we round the west side of Firth House and approach Rogers House from the driveway. As the students ascend the stairs to re-enter the school, each graduate quietly pauses for a moment and rests their hand on the base of the Pillar to their right: Friendship. It is a poignant moment: to realize how much we are shaped by the people in our lives, our peers, our acquaintances, our teachers, our students, our colleagues . . . our friends. It is a reminder of how much we will miss all of those with whom we have shared a common purpose, each day, together, when we say goodbye.

It is a reminder that it is hard to say goodbye.

I tell anyone that I encounter that teaching is the greatest profession in the world.

It is a profession filled with a sense of challenge and wonder and fulfillment and happiness. Every day you arrive at work with the best of plans and every day you are greeted by the opportunity to touch young minds, to challenge perspectives, to soothe painful emotions and to plant a seed that will flourish and grow, long after the day passes away. It truly is, as Steven Covey has said, “to live, to laugh, to love and to leave a legacy.” But I would also tell people I encounter that teaching is also one of the saddest professions in the world. Because, in the words of the John Mayer song, “all we ever do is say goodbye.”

When we teachers have done our job, and when we have done it well, our students do not want us anymore. Imagine being an artist, spending years creating a masterpiece, and then having someone wheel it out the door, just as you finish it. Which is why the end of each year is such a bittersweet time, for I believe our students are our masterpieces.

At Pickering, we spend upwards of 14 years molding and sculpting and nourishing and caring to get our students to graduation. And then we have to say goodbye; it is uplifting and heartbreaking all at the same time, repeated year after year. What kind of a crazy profession is that? A profession that can be so uplifting and so heartbreaking all at the same time.

Yet goodbye does not have to be a sense of an ending; rather it can also be a new beginning. A goodbye fills you with hope: hope that we shall meet again, when we can proudly share some grander accomplishment; hope that one door closing truly is another, better door opening; hope that those with whom we have spent our best years are ready, and if it truly is goodbye, that each will travel with wisdom in their minds, skill in their hands, fondness in their hearts, and spirit in their soul. That makes goodbye so much easier. That makes friendships forged so much more important.

Still. It is hard to say goodbye.

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When I bring Commencement to a close each year, I share a final message to the graduates, inspired by the wonderful, philosophical novel, Life of Pi. It contains a beautiful, touching farewell that, to me, speaks to our students today. I can think of no better words to conclude here: My friends, when I look at you I see a series of opportunities that have been presented, that you have seized; I see countries that you have come from, and lands that you have explored, but places you have yet to see; I see words that you have spoken, or passages you have written, but messages you have left unsaid; I see pictures you have painted or images you have captured, but visions you have left unexpressed. For all that you have done, I see opportunities not yet fulfilled. And that gives me hope – hope that springs from seeing such talent and skill and desire and knowledge; hope from seeing so much done, hope from knowing that there are still so many stories left to tell.

Know that these words speak from my heart and the heart of each of the teachers who have led you on your journey and with whom you have survived. We have survived! Can you believe it? And while you may thank us, we too owe you more gratitude than we can express, we couldn’t have done it without you – as much as we may have taught you, you have taught us - about patience and innocence and courage and faith. . . and friendship.

And now, you go where you must – from the confinement of the school to the freedom of the world beyond. We hope you will remember us, as teachers and friends, and just know we will never forget you.

Farewell my friends, farewell.

HEAD SHOTS Reflecting friendship and farewell with Peter Sturrup, Head of School

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FRIENDS FOR LIFE

Friendship. It’s a connection to our past, our present, and our future. It’s a shared experience that binds us together and makes us feel valued, supported and as though we are coming home.

Generations of friendships have been forged on the Hilltop. At a Morning Meeting in the fall, Head of School Peter Sturrup spoke about the four pillars of Rogers House—Faith, Freedom, Friendship, and Fun—and what they signify.

Friendship, he said, is “at the heart of establishing our beloved community, a goal for which we must always work, never taking for granted that friends are earned, not given.”

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For generations of alumni, parents, staff, and students, Pickering College is where it all began. Many of the friendships formed here have stood the test of time and continue to thrive in the years that have followed. Here are a few of the experiences, memories and thoughts shared with us for this edition of The Pillars.

“My favourite thing about being a student at PC is probably all the friends I’ve met over the years. I’ve known some of my friends since I was eight, which has allowed me to create really close bonds with them and with the new friends that I continue to meet.”

Madie Yip, Grade 9 student Newmarket, ON “I still keep in touch with most of the friends I made in PC. I keep in contact with them mostly through social media such as Facebook, otherwise we sometimes call via FaceTime or WhatsApp. Those friends are the reason why I can speak English now.”

Keitaro Tatematsu (KT) ’09 Bangkok, Thailand

“The friendships that I made at PC have made such a positive impact on my life.

The close-knit community and unique experiences that you’re exposed to are so special and unique to Pickering College. Whether that’s daily life on campus or travelling to Kenya to help build a school, you’re surrounded by people who share similar values and an eagerness to make the world a better place. It’s that combination that allows for lifelong friendships to grow, and that feeling lives on whenever you’re with someone who attended PC. My best friend, Ashley Harrison ’11, and I were often confused for one another because you would never see one of us without the other close behind. Even though we moved on to attend different universities after graduation, we never lost touch or went more than a couple of months without seeing each other. Now, we’re closer than ever and I couldn’t be more thankful to PC for playing host to our introduction over 15 years ago.”

Sarah Gardiner ‘11 Toronto, ON

“I’ve been in love with PC ever since I arrived at the place.” Over the decades, Jack Houghton ‘47 stayed in touch with fellow classmates by phone and would plan get-togethers at offices or homes. He laughed as he recalled that Peter Widdrington ‘48 made it big with Labatt, and the group of alumni would gather in Toronto—rent out a space near the CNE and have truckloads of Labatt beer delivered to them.

In more recent years, they gathered for an annual luncheon at Pickering College—the first gathering had six boys from the ‘40s which grew as large as 39 participants. As one of the last remaining ‘40s boys (many have now passed away), Jack shared that he gets emotional when reflecting on their friendships.

Honesty glued the boys together, he says, and they were always there for him.

Jack Houghton ‘47 Cobourg, ON Shared with Laura Padula, Manager, Development

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“Almost 25 years ago, I met the most wonderful parents who were also dropping off their children to the Junior School at PC. We formed bonds and began attending the Hilltop Guild meetings (as the PCA was known then). It was a transition time for Pickering as they moved to more day students therefore more parents got involved in volunteering.

So many memorable events and committee involvement through the following years. Most of my closest friends are my PC friends. We now have married children and grandchildren. In December, I had lunch with Claudine Hubbard, Darlene Blenich and Susan Schneider. Susan turned to me and said, ‘Do you realize that I have known you for over 23 years?!’ I feel so fortunate to have these amazing ladies in my life. What makes PC special?

We know it is the people. From the friends that I have made, the daughter-in-law that I gained, the boarding students that I am now their second mom, and the staff and faculty that I feel are friends too. How special is that?!”

Beth Egan, past parent and former Board Chair Schomberg, ON

“The tight-knit PC community always felt like family, and it allowed me to meet so many wonderful people. I was lucky to have most of my close friends attend the same university and so continued to see them often after we graduated.

Today, we are closer than ever before, and I even had the pleasure of being the maid of honour for one of the girls this past summer! These friendships have impacted my life in so many positive ways and it’s so nice growing up with a group of people and seeing each other progress through different stages of life. The PC community is special in so many ways, but I love how everyone is always there to support one another. Being a small school, everyone knew each other, from the little kids in primary school to the students in high school. It truly felt like a family and walking through the front doors felt like walking into a second home.”

Lindsay Floyd ‘12 Toronto, ON

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“I think most of us became very good friends from being roommates. Jeff Graham ’86 (aka Bones) was my very first roommate. After the fire, when in New House, John Beer ‘85 (JB) was my roommate until we graduated. Back then, Adrian Betts ‘85, Bill Chin ‘85, Mark Davidson ‘85, Bones, Pete Maresch ‘85, JB and I called ourselves the PC group of seven. We did all kinds of good and bad together. There are too many stories to tell. After PC, we managed to stay in touch. The bunch of us from PC stayed very good friends ‘til now. And I think these kinds of lifelong friendships don’t come along too often. The kind of bond we have is very unique. I think it’s the people at PC, from staff to students. And to this date, the four years I spent at PC are still the best time of my life.”

Karo Dakchison Jr. Yiu ‘84 Hong Kong, SAR China

“What is the secret of making friends? There is no secret.

Friends are like all good things.

They can be had by anyone who wants them. There is only one simple rule to follow: to have a friend, be one yourself.”

Scott Esplen ‘86 The Voyageur 1981

Brian Purdy ‘56 had the good fortunate to run into Tom Copeland ’56 some 28 years after graduation, 3,000 miles from home. While on holidays, Purdy dropped into a bar near his hotel in Acapulco. When a customer across from him said hello, Purdy realized it was his school pal Tom Copeland ’56. Copeland did not recognize him, so Purdy decided to have a little fun. “I mentioned I had psychic powers and could tell him about himself. Well, after about 20 minutes of this act, kidding him about his hometown ‘sounds like a tree (Elmvale),’ ‘a market shopping area (Newmarket),’ ‘an icepick (Pickering College).’ There were many other ‘psychic’ clues that went on and several drinks to build on the drama.

The winner reveal was that he was ‘coping with something (Copeland).’ I finally confessed, and nearly got pushed off the stool!”

Purdy’s roommate Fred Little ’56 is the brother of famous comedian Rich Little and is a well-known impressionist in his own right. “We both joined CBC television in Toronto as stagehands in 1957 and took a threeweek vacation by car to Los Angeles via Las Vegas, the Grand Canyon, Vancouver and Lethbridge. While we were sitting in the lobby of the Sands Casino in Las Vegas, Jack Benny strolled through, and Fred almost jumped up to do a match imitation of him. Fred continued his career as an impressionist, and worked with kids at an Ottawa hospital, using his cartoon character voices to break through barriers and communicate with great success. He lives in L’Etete, New Brunswick, and we still keep in touch.”

Purdy lost touch with roommate (the late) Walter Plettner ’56 over the years but with the help of Charles Boyd, made contact again in 2012. “I was always hoping he would be able to attend one of Pickering’s annual events. Last year, Walter and I set up a Skype meeting, and it was a great to see him again, sharing memories face to face.”

Brian Purdy ‘56 Grimsby, ON

“True friendship can, and should, still give more meaningful benefits. It should give everyone help in achieving their ambitions. A close friend, exerting the influence we need, so as to become the person we want to be, can give us the extra push that is sometimes needed. We should always keep in mind the tremendous importance of our friends to us and of us to them, through our entire lives, for on it may hinge our success in life.”

Barry Gardner ‘62 The Voyageur 1961 “I think friendship is the best way of showing a sportsmanlike attitude. Your respect for others and an understanding of their ideas is an indication of how fair you are in the game of friendship.”

Jim Leslie ’69 The Voyageur 1967 “We are the Leaving Class with not only common experiences but with common values instilled by the school. Of these the greatest is friendship and that is truly all we need.”

Peter Maresch ‘85 Valedictorian speech, Class of 1985 “If each student made 10 new friends over the course of the year, that is almost 1275 new friendships created this year at Pickering College. These friendships are what you will carry with you when you leave Pickering; they are the things that you will remember long after all the things that you learned in classes.”

Peter Sturrup, Head of School The Voyageur 1998 “We were not just classmates. We were brothers. We talked about everything. Sequestered nine months of the year, we bonded and became a family. ‘Treat others as if they are members of your family’ became my guiding principle.

That’s still true today.”

Greg Dopulos ’68 The Pillars Spring 2011

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JUNIOR SCHOOL STUDENT LIFE

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After reading the book, The Wishing Tree by Kyo Maclear, Grade 1 students were inspired to reflect on their own wishes and then created their very own wishing branch as a class.

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Grade 5 students ventured off campus with our new outdoor education teacher Ms. Hunt, to explore the Tom Taylor Trail in Newmarket. 1,2 The Grade 1 class created a “Thankfulness Pumpkin” to share what they are grateful for in their lives. 3 While walking on campus, our Outdoor Education Specialist Ms. Hunt found some milkweed, a favourite food of the monarch butterfly. Since monarch butterfly numbers are low, she asked the Grade 2 class to help disperse the seeds

around campus to encourage more butterflies. The students learned about this important food source while making our campus more beautiful than they discovered it. 4 The Grade 4 class took advantage of the nice weather to explore plant and animal habitats at Blue & Silver Farm.

Students then explored and searched for examples of fungi and evidence of animal life. 5 Pickering College kicked off Take Me Outside Day with an outdoor education fashion show led by our

Kindergarten students.

Our youngest students demonstrated the proper attire that should be worn when participating in outdoor adventures. Junior School students got outside to watch construction projects, collect leaves and natural materials, and explored Blue & Silver Farm. They also participated in a live inspirational talk and Q&A with Dr. Jane Goodall, ethologist and environmentalist, founder of the Jane Goodall Institute and a United Nations Messenger of Peace. 6

SOFIA JAYANT-MADHVANI Forming new friendships

When you meet Grade 3 student Sofia Jayant-Madhvani, there is no denying her friendly and welcoming demeanor. Now in her third year at Pickering College, Sofia is a student who truly embodies the school’s value of community: Gathering interconnected individuals whose collective actions create a sense of belonging and encourage participation, who accept and take care of one another.

During her time at PC, Sofia has learned a lot about herself and her friendships. For her, to be a good friend, you need to “make sure everyone has a turn, be inclusive, and always make sure your friends are okay even if they say they are.”

Thankful for the many opportunities she has at school to make new friends, Sofia specifically enjoys recess and class activities.

“PC is a really good school for meeting new people, and I think recess is so fun because it lets us play together while taking turns to choose what we do,” she says.

“This year we have also already gone to the Blue & Silver Farm where we played lots of games together as a group.”

“Friendship means always being there when a friend is hurt, and never leaving a friend behind.”

Sofia appreciates spending her time with classmates and says her favourite thing about meeting new people is forming new friendships.

“You can really connect with the new people and you can become really good friends with them,” she says. “What I like most about my friends is that they are kind and are always looking out for each other.”

In addition to her favourite subjects—math and French—Sofia also loves animals. “I like to make a big leaf pile and jump in it with my dog. I also love playing with my friend’s sister’s bearded dragon,” says Sofia. “I like animals because I think they should be treated nicely too.”

Outside of school, Sofia uses her imagination to create storybooks. One of her recent projects is about a super villain and a hero who embark on adventures together.

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FRIENDSHIP U O STARTS WITH Y Navigating evolving social dynamics with empathy and confidence in Middle School

From Grades 6-8, social-emotional development takes centre stage and Pickering College’s Middle School programming is geared to help students navigate these evolving social dynamics with empathy and confidence.

“The first place students start to build friendships is through homeroom programming, particularly in the first week of school,” says Julie Clement, Director of Middle School. “That first week isn’t really focused on academics but instead focused on skill building, team building and getting to know each other through a series of different activities that focuses more on the group and the community of their classroom.”

Middle School students participate in different activities allowing them to share who they are, what’s going on in their lives and what interests them. Earlier this year, they were led through a workshop by faculty member Danielle Moore where they were tasked with writing five things about themselves directly relating to their identity, their role in the community, and words that inspire them. The most challenging part proved to be including a word they thought their friends would use to describe them. Clement says this made her realize that perhaps a greater effort ought to be made to encourage students to share with classmates what they

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appreciate in them. This is now a goal she has set for herself and her students.

“I want to shift that into the Middle Schoolers themselves—how do we highlight what we appreciate in each other, so that they can feel a little bit more confident in who they are and can build those stronger connections and friendships,” says Clement.

Group work is one of the aspects of the Middle School program that helps to encourage students to manage changing interests and friendships. Many of the assignments related to the Global Leadership Program involve working with students outside of their close friend group, providing an opportunity to discover what they have in common with classmates as they collaborate and share ideas. In addition, all classes participated in an off-campus excursion in the fall, to further cement these bonds through challenge-based team-building activities.

“These experiences are important in developing friendships and students’ ability to connect with each other on different levels other than academics,” Clement explains. “I think from the perspective of the school, we’re always looking for those opportunities of ‘how do we connect one student with many students in the community?’ For Middle

Schoolers, there’s just so much changing and so being able to provide them with more people they can connect with helps to provide a sense that not everything is staying the same.”

Co-curricular activities offer the opportunity to diversify their friend groups outside of an academic setting.

Danielle Sugar, Child and Youth Specialist, says getting involved in co-curricular activities at school, and extracurricular activities outside of school, provides students with a good foundation to meet different people and to build quality friendships with those who share common interests but also who provide different perspectives.

“In some capacity, you have to learn life skills about ‘how do we get along with people?’ and ‘how do we work in groups with people we don’t like?’ That’s a good life skill that goes well beyond high school—it’s an adult life skill where sometimes we work with people we don’t necessarily get along with but we have to find ways of doing that,” says Sugar.

Right from the start of the school year within Middle School, Clement says they model and reinforce the Quaker value that there’s good in everyone. “It allows us to remember that we can still be friendly, respectful and kind to people, even if we don’t agree with them,” Clement says.

“And we also have good in us, so thinking about what we have to offer other people is part of building friendships.”

Grade 8 student Michaella Pantano joined Pickering College in September 2020 as a Grade 7 student. Her transition to the school went smoothly, as she made connections with students and faculty members who helped ensure she was comfortable and adjusting well.

“Everyone was open to answering questions I had about the school, everyone was also very kind and introduced themselves to me and I made some friends in the process,” says Pantano.

Now she’s paying it forward by ensuring new students and fellow classmates feel like they belong. “In order to make others

feel welcome, I try to include them in group conversations if they seem left out, I try to lend a helping hand when I can.”

In addition to the students themselves, the school’s promotion of physical, mental, and emotional wellness has been very strong, says Sugar, especially with the added challenges presented by the global pandemic.

“Students are provided with multiple opportunities throughout the day to practice skill sets such as self-awareness, building self-management skills, increasing social awareness and fostering really important relationships with one another,” she says.

In turn, students are not only learning to self-advocate but also noticing when friends may be struggling and are helping to connect them with the support they need within the school.

“What I think has been really great is the circle of care team that we have between Middle School, Senior School, Boarding, our Health Centre, Learning Strategies and Guidance,” says Sugar. “There’s a really nice cohesiveness with more frequent meetings to update each other on how we can best work together to support our students.”

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ju iddle nts to “ Many M eir pare dle School h t m o r id heard f spend opic M ys they .” It’s a t a lf s e t s r n u e yo lem e need r Julie C ut as th o o t b c a e ir g D at this lkin htened time ta f ig o e t h lo s a to try ome ressure t ng bec p lo lf e e b s r o t u er o em abo e to pe lk to th a at age du t h e t W d “ n orm. are a f y n e o c h t o t ho y else rue to w o be somebod being t dt n’t nee iated they do ected, apprec p nds. s e ie r r ave f to be h o t d an e who ed to b e n y e Th t lose and no e r a y e th ove they m ol.” that as le Scho d id M e h th throug

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MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENT LIFE

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The Grade 6 class learned how humans benefit from biodiversity during an outdoor education lesson with Ms. Hunt and explored the interdependence of relationships in natural habitats. Working with snowshoes, moccasins and an arrow, students discussed how antlers, deer hide, feathers and many other natural materials have been used traditionally to help humans thrive. 1 In Grade 8 science, students were able to meet two international scientists and ask them questions about their work. Both scientists gave a small lesson based on their research and challenged the students to expand upon their prior learning. Dr. Adelyne Chan from the University of Cambridge (UK) spoke to students about her research as a cell biologist and cancer researcher. Students asked questions about cell mutations, mitosis, and learned about

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how lifestyle choices can affect cell development. Mr. Alec Chiu from UCLA (USA) spoke to students about his work with bioinformatics and how he uses computers to analyze genetic differences and disease prevention. Students learned about how DNA is inherited and how certain traits are passed on from generation to generation. Being able to see the real-life applications of their classroom learning has inspired several students, who have decided that they might consider a career in science in the future. 2 In Grade 8 science, students learned about cells and how they function. Working with the largest single cell - an egg - students used their best chemistry, mathematics, and biology skills to learn more about a world that is typically microscopic. After dissolving the eggshells in vinegar, students then proved osmosis theory by growing and shrinking the eggs in different

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fluids before calculating the percentage of change that occurred. Finally, students worked in the laboratory to see if they could extract the DNA from the egg’s nucleus. 3

that zero-tolerance policies are often counterproductive and reactive. 5

Grade 8 students enjoyed aerial games and ziplining during their treetop trekking excursion to Horseshoe Valley. Many of our students advanced to the most difficult ropes course — the black level.

4 Pickering College’s Middle and Senior School debaters faced off against their Villanova College counterparts in a virtual debate competition in December. The debate was held on the resolution, “This House would support a zero-tolerance policy for cyberbullying in Ontario schools.” In an intense two rounds of debate, the government teams argued that zero-tolerance policies send a strong message, while the opposition sides contended

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In December, the Junior/ Middle School Student Committee organized the sale of candy grams, which students purchased to send to their classmates and friends.

More than $400 was raised which was put towards PC’s holiday gift card drive, in support of Rose of Sharon Services for Young Mothers and Sandgate Women’s Shelter of York Region Inc. 6 Director of Middle School Julie Clement hosted a panel discussion with Middle School faculty and students titled “Connecting to the Light in the Middle School Child.” The session was about this unique stage of early adolescence and how as educators they teach, inspire, and connect with these students.

TORRIN PRICE Creating connections through kindness, loyalty and empathy

Grade 7 student Torrin Price values the importance of friendship and regularly makes an effort to be the kindest person he can be, accepting everyone for who they are.

In Middle School, students spend a lot of time learning about themselves and how to become aware of the differences identified in one another while emphasizing what makes each person unique. “We talk a lot about how to be ourselves, and I’ve realized that your friends will always be nice to you for who you are as a person, you don’t have to be somebody you are not.”

With a strong academic interest in history and science, kindness, loyalty, and sharing similar interests are only some of the traits that Torrin is drawn to when it comes to the friends with whom he surrounds himself.

“When we are interested in the same things, we help each other, and when we have different interests, we are learning new things from each other,” he says. “We are making each other better people.”

“I always think about what this person is experiencing, what it’s like to be them, and what can I do to be nicer; I put myself in their shoes.”

With many opportunities to make connections at Pickering College, Torrin appreciates the classroom activities, group discussions, field trips, and even the simple pleasures of recess. “Pickering College is very inclusive. There’s a lot of group work which allows you to get to know everyone better, there’s recess which allows everyone to come together rather than being alone, and in classes like phys-ed, there is a lot of teamwork and collaboration.”

Outside of school, Torrin enjoys camping, kayaking, and fishing with his family. He also plays both rugby and hockey and enjoys running. “I also play the bagpipes at home, which is really fun!”

But among all his interests, his favourite thing is being surrounded by people he cares about and seeing them smile. “I love making people laugh, I love making them happy.”

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Student Committee Finds Creative Ways to Stay Social

With the ongoing global pandemic, the last two calendar years—or three academic years for students—have been challenging. Finding ways for teenagers to be able to safely gather and carve out a bit of normalcy in an otherwise abnormal time has been a priority for not only the school but for Student Committee.

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“I think ultimately we just said we need to start the year with a really creative mindset,” says Josh Armstrong, Senior School faculty member and Student Committee liaison. “Knowing that we’re not back to normal because of COVID—and we’re going to have to think about practical ways that we can maintain the cohorts to bring people together in a safe way—is what we have all been tasked to do.”

For students now in Grade 11/12, the last time they had a taste of the kind of fun community-building activities that take place in a typical school year was back when they were in Grade 9/10, which included school dances, spirit days, concerts, full-school Morning Meetings on Fridays, and house competitions and challenges.

At the outset of the school year, the Senior School Student Committee was faced with a unique challenge: how can students safely gather to socialize while maintaining cohorts and abiding by the school’s COVID-19 safety guidelines? The answer: reimagine the traditional school social events and move some of them outside.

“It has been a challenge for us as a committee to plan different events but also for the students to change their ideas of what is possible in this time and still enjoy the experience—the alternative is still going to be just as fun, but it may be a little different,” Cameron says. “It has been really important for students to feel a little bit more normal to try to get back to that spirited fun.”

“Sunrise socials are an event we put together that would be good with all of the COVID-19 regulations, and it was a way for all of the students to come together in the morning and be social with each other,” explains Student Committee Co-Chair Erica Cameron. “Students have been able to listen to some good music, enjoy some hot chocolate and cookies and it has been a really nice way to start the day.”

The opportunity to meet new friends and to gather socially within their cohorts has been welcomed by students.

Participation has been strong not only for the sunrise socials but for the outdoor Halloween costume parade and for a “decades week” event, a new event this year. Students voted on their choice of decades (1920s, 1970s, 1980s and 2000s were selected) and then dressed according to the featured decade

and participated in special lunchtime activities. On 1980s day, Morning Meeting welcomed Tom Everson ‘84, who spoke about life as a PC student at that time, bonding with his classmates and friends as they lived in “trailer city” following the fire of 1981.

“It’s hard to be a teenager right now during the pandemic and not getting the exact same version of some of that super social stuff that is just a normal part of being a developing teen,” says Armstrong. “We’re trying to bridge that the best we can but also recognize that it’s not perfect.”

As for what’s next, Student Committee is going full steam ahead, brainstorming new ideas that continue to provide meaningful opportunities for students to connect with one another outside of the classroom. “Honestly whatever the committee can do to make the lives of students better in terms of events and activities, I think we will do whatever it takes,” Cameron says.

“We’re really fortunate at PC to have students that are so dedicated to expanding their leadership horizons,” adds Armstrong. “They always seem to find a way of making something work, even when things are difficult and it’s a testament to the students that have made it through COVID; I appreciate how they persevere.”

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SENIOR SCHOOL STUDENT LIFE

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The Grade 9 students spent two days exploring Kettleby Valley Camp. Participants took part in a number of outdoor team-building activities including low and high ropes, wall climbing, and canoeing. 1

Students were then able to transfer those skills to draw ray diagrams of plane mirrors. 2

In-person music has returned to Pickering College!

Throughout the fall, the Grade 11/12 instrumental music class put on a number of mini The Grade 10 science class outdoor concerts, including investigated light. They used spectroscopes to view a variety one where they performed of light sources and discovered Sucker by the Jonas Brothers. 3 the difference between As part of their biology unit, continuous and line spectra. the Grade 9 science classes The class also used a ‘Mira’ to went to Blue & Silver Farm to introduce the phenomenon investigate local biodiversity of reflection in a plane mirror.

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and components of an ecosystem. The unit focused on sustainable ecosystems and students learned how humans impact ecosystems both locally and globally, and how they work to preserve and restore wildlife habitats through conservation. 4 Ava Gu, Behrad Sharghi, Caylie Powell, Evelyn Larice and Victoria Zalewski represented Pickering College at this year’s virtual Canadian Student Leadership Conference (CSLC). Keynote speakers

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included Harnarayan Singh (Punjabi host of Hockey Night in Canada), Kayla Grey (SportsCentre anchor on TSN), Carol Leaman (CEO of Axonify), and Drew Dudley (leadership development speaker) all who encouraged students to lead in their school communities through their incredible stories. Our students attended numerous workshops where they learned to tackle contemporary issues facing students today. 5

MICHAELA MORRA A true Pickering College citizen

Since her start at Pickering College in Junior Kindergarten, the school’s values are something that Michaela Morra has strived to embody in her everyday actions. “Having been here for so long, PC has become my second home,” says the Grade 12 “lifer” who currently serves as secretary on Student Committee.

With the school’s enduring focus on building community, Michaela believes that we are reminded of this each time we enter Rogers House as we pass the third pillar. “It represents Friendship, which is at the heart of establishing our community,” she says. She appreciates how people take care of one another, while further extending their support to those in the greater community. “As the saying goes, the people are Pickering,” she quotes.

Academically, Michaela has a strong interest in STEM (science, technology, engineering, math), and enjoys the opportunities she’s had to tap into her creativity and self-expression including in English class, drama, and music.

Outside of school, you can find her taking drum lessons, studying at a local performing arts studio, or volunteering for student and community events, including PC’s family mentor program. She also looks forward to volunteering at the local hospital in the coming months.

“I believe the people you are with help shape who you are and who you become.”

As an optimistic, outgoing, and academically-inclined student, Michaela does everything she can to make others feel welcomed and accepted.

She also firmly believes in the power of collaboration and positive thinking, and continuously spreads her positivity to those around her. “It creates hope knowing and believing in the goodness of others — and great things happen when we work together as a team.”

Whether it’s through PC’s excursion and leadership opportunities, course work, group projects, co-curricular activities, or the Global Leadership Program, Michaela takes advantage of every opportunity that comes her way to build solid and enduring friendships.

With graduation on the horizon in June, Michaela looks forward to continuing her involvement with Pickering College into the future as an active alumna.

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SENIOR SCHOOL STUDENT LIFE

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Grade 10 students visited the McMichael Canadian Art Collection to learn about Indigenous culture through the art. In small physicallydistanced groups, students were guided through a gallery tour called Stories from Canada. Using the McMichael’s rich and diverse art holdings, students explored art as an expression of personal experience and examined various cultural narratives of the past and present. 1 The advanced Spanish class explored Spanish culture and cuisine by learning how

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to make one of Spain’s most beloved dishes, “La Tortilla Española.” Although it may have appeared to be an ordinary lesson in following directions in Spanish, Mrs. Suters surprised her students with an authentic, fresh-fromhome Tortilla Española for everyone to try. 2 Ryan Francis, Charlotte Jez, Amanda Zeng, Krypton Ni, Shianne Liang, Sandra Rohani and Rebecca Liang attended the Women in Capital Markets (WCM) Virtual Conference, In2Fin (formerly known as SheBiz) where they gained insight into careers within the

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financial services industry.

Keynote speakers explored topics such as courses students can take to set them up for a career in business and STEM, as well as statistics on the percentage of women in business workplaces. 3

models were helpful to potential customers to give an idea of what kind of dishes were offered. Our students selected their favourite meal from their culture and created these beautiful, realistic clay sculptures. 4

Grade 9 art students were tasked with creating “Good enough to eat” clay sculptures.

The art of fake food in Japan goes as far back as the 1920s when the country experienced a food revolution and people from rural Japan flocked to cities to experience restaurant dining. Unfamiliar with written menus, wax

Congratulations to Javir Obhan, Shyam Subramanyam and Oscar Jiang for competing in the Ontario Qualifier for the National Senior Public Speaking Championships!

Oscar’s culminating score placed him as the first alternate for team Ontario while Shyam earned a spot to represent Ontario at Nationals! 5

RAUL MENA-PEREZ A friend to all

Raul Mena-Perez, a Grade 11 boarding student from Spain, says coming to PC was one of the most important decisions of his life. “I’m from a really small place and I wanted to be independent, be in a different country, learn a new language and a new culture,” he says. “The people of Pickering College are very welcoming, they were so nice from the beginning, it really impressed me and is something I really like about the PC community.”

He values all the relationships and friendships he has formed throughout his time at Pickering College, especially while living in boarding. As an avid sports fan, particularly of soccer and basketball, Raul is a team player who is a friend to all he meets.

“Beside me I have a friend, on the other side, I have my other friend. In the evenings, we can talk, we learn new things. It’s really fun, the mix of cultures, countries, and languages, it’s very diverse and I really like it.”

Raul says the boarding program at Pickering College is fantastic and inclusive. “They make you feel comfortable and that’s something PC is really good at, and at the beginning that helped me a lot.”

“The people of Pickering College are very welcoming, they were so nice from the beginning, it really impressed me and is something I really like about the PC community.”

Now as a Proctor, which is a leader in the boarding community, it is Raul’s job to help support the boarding program, curriculum, staff, and to enhance the experience for other students while encouraging positivity and kindness. Working directly with other members of the boarding community, including new students, Raul takes the time to show them around campus ensuring they feel welcomed and comfortable. He plays an important role and exemplifies the leadership traits of integrity, positivity, cooperation and respect, to name a few.

Academically speaking, Raul enjoys chemistry and participating in his radio class. “I like the way you can express yourself with radio—telling people the news, talking about it with your partner—it’s not a typical course, it’s really cool,” says Raul.

Raul appreciates the relationships he has made with his classmates, teachers, and fellow boarding students who make up his family away from home. “Those relationships are the things I will keep forever,” he explains.

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BOARDING LIFE The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged all of us in ways we never could have imagined.

Our students and staff in boarding have adjusted their plans, their expectations and adapted at a moment’s notice. But one thing that has remained a constant during this time is the incredible bond that has been forged within our boarding community, as our students learn, laugh, live and spend time together like never before.

The boarding program has further enhanced its already robust activity offerings this year to keep our students socially engaged and active.

Whether it is constructing snow forts (a first for many!), participating in virtual watch parties, trivia and game nights, or unleashing their creativity during a painting party night, students have jumped onboard and embraced it.

As many of our alumni from the early 1980s can attest, persevering through adversity with your friends cements your relationships like nothing else. As Pickering College boarding students look back on these years, it won’t be the restrictions and health protocols they will remember, it will be the time they spent building friendships that will last throughout their lifetimes.

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In Convers Lauren Hunt Outdoor Education Specialist Q: What is your educational background?

I have a bachelor of physical and health education from Laurentian University’s outdoor adventure leadership program with a minor in First Nations, Métis and Inuit studies. I also have a bachelor of education from Trent University. In addition, I am a wilderness guide with certifications as a wilderness first responder, lifeguard, sea kayak instructor, Canadian Ski Instructors Alliance (CSIA) Level 1 ski instructor, and swift water rescue technician.

Q: What are four adjectives that best describe yourself?

Energetic. Inclusive. Passionate. Positive.

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

Being gifted knowledge from an Anishinaabe Elder and Knowledge Keepers that I can respectfully share with students.

Q: What is it that drew you to teaching?

I love being outdoors and helping people learn new things! It is extremely rewarding to support students as they step outside their comfort zones, gain valuable skills and become more confident leaders in diverse environments.

“ I love being

outdoors and helping people learn new things!

It is extremely rewarding to support students as they step outside their comfort zones, gain valuable skills and become more confident leaders in diverse environments.”

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Q. What is the best thing about your job?

Every day is different—I explore unique places and discover new things with my students.

ation with: Q. What is it about outdoor education that you love most? How do you see it benefiting students?

I love the fresh air, discovery, sense of adventure and opportunities to learn about ourselves and others.

Above all, learning to thrive outdoors teaches resiliency, a trait that benefits everyone in any path they choose to follow.

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

- hiking - canoe tripping - downhill skiing, snowshoeing, skating - sewing - crocheting - paddle carving - mountain biking - cooking and baking Q. What is something most people don’t know about you?

Our family has a competition for the earliest swim each year at the cottage. I have won for the last few years with polar bear swims in March!

Q. What are you currently reading for enjoyment?

Tree: A Life Story by David Suzuki and Wayne Grady Q. If you weren’t following this particular career path, what would you be doing?

I would split my time between outdoor gear product development and wilderness search and rescue.

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PETER C. STURRUP

A LEGACY OF LEADERSHIP, A LIFETIME OF FRIENDSHIP. After 36 years at Pickering College, Peter Sturrup will retire in June. Quiet, self-assured, and always humble, the following pages detail his many accomplishments as told by members of the PC community.

During his 27-year tenure as Head of School, Pickering College has thrived. The school has attracted and retained outstanding staff who live the mission, vision and values, and create a very special learning environment for our students. Pickering College has recommitted to its Quaker-founded beliefs, which come alive in day-to-day school life. Finally, the school has become a leader in education – within independent schools and the broader community – because of his vision and drive to achieve it.

You will also learn more about Peter as a person; highly respected among his peers and deeply valued by so many. Throughout his career, Peter has given a voice to the unique and inspiring Pickering College story, told to generations of Pickering College students through Morning Meeting.

His is truly a testament to a profound career in education.

Enjoy a well-deserved retirement.

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PETER C. STURRUP: A LEGACY OF LEADERSHIP, A LIFETIME OF FRIENDSHIP.

Sheldon H. Clark, D. Min. Teacher, 1972-1978, and Headmaster, 1978-1995, Past Corporation Member Peter’s initial interview (1987) was a study in confidence, competence, humility, and aspiration. The school was in recovery mode after the devastating fire of November 1981. Educational opportunities were explored by becoming co-educational, enrolling more local and international students, and continuing to find the joy of learning by inspiring colleagues and students to be optimistic about the future.

Peter’s years at PC included five distinct challenges: the post-fire period; economic uncertainty; renewal of the Board of Directors and Corporation; sustaining and advancing Pickering’s reputation among the Canadian Association of Independent Schools (CAIS); and, the recent disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. As Head of School, Peter’s servant-leadership approach helped him keep the vision of PC ever-striving toward the ideals of loyalty, magnanimity, and the pursuit of excellence.

Peter mastered threats and opportunities presented to him with sound judgement and grace. Improving and

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building new facilities, re-imagining employment descriptions, and expanding the curriculum by introducing the Global Leadership Program were significant undertakings. Peter felt the same pioneering spirit English Quaker and philanthropist Joseph John Gurney (17881847) initiated on his trip to Canada, when he donated funds for Canadian Friends to establish a Quaker school.

Peter, stirred by that original vision made it a personal calling. He took the necessary steps to revitalize the school in contemporary terms. No single Head of School in the history of PC has done more for the establishment of Pickering College’s strong foundations than Peter, “Bene provisa principia ponantur.”

Peter describs his stewardship as Pickering’s Head as a vocation, “a Leading,” as Quakers would say. He wanted to develop the school, “greater, better, and more beautiful,” than he found it, which he certainly has done! Peter mentioned occasionally about, “standing on the shoulders of giants.” Peter is the latest “giant” who has pointed the way to the next generation of Pickering College’s teams of servant-leaders.

Martha Perry, Principal St. Clement’s School The three years I spent at Pickering College took place at one of the most important stages of my career as it was a time of exponential growth and capacity building. I attribute much of this to Peter’s

mentorship and leadership.

Peter is a quiet, reflective leader who possesses a bold vision for Pickering and works tirelessly to enable it through the people with whom he works.

Peter always articulated that he wanted to ensure that Pickering was a leading learning institution and that it was known both in its local community and amongst colleague schools across Canada. He is appreciated as a wise, thoughtful leader by so many of his colleague Heads of Schools, and for his reflective and insightful perspective.

Derek Logan, Head of School Kingsway College School Peter helped me to grow immeasurably in understanding many of the different aspects of running a school. He took the time to understand me beyond my position at KCS and who I was as a person and my family. Reinforcing with me the importance of relationships in building a team. It is not all about school when you connect with him. In fact, in all the years since our first meeting in 2002, I think 90 per cent of our conversations are about anything but our jobs. I appreciate that. This job can be all-consuming at times but should comprise only a part of our lives. He also taught me more about the importance of listening and asking questions than anyone else in our profession. He exemplifies the saying, “we have two ears and one mouth; use them in accordingly.”

John Taylor, Mayor Town of Newmarket Peter Sturrup has transformed Pickering College ‘s relationship with the community of Newmarket, bringing it from a school on the edge of Town to an institution that is fully engaged with the community.

Peter was a model for the entire school community through the way he engaged. He reached out to the community, including myself, in relation to key projects and decisions and asked us for our input and participation. Peter became involved in the Town, as he did in a very active way, supporting and hosting Newmarket Celebrates the Arts for many years. As Peter embraced the community of Newmarket, so too did the school, teachers and students. Now, Pickering College is an integral part of the community with students and staff showing up at events as volunteers and participants; Peter Sturrup paved the way and led the charge.

Congratulations and thank you for your contributions to Pickering College and to the Town of Newmarket—your legacy is clear.

Jane Zavitz Past Pickering College faculty and Past Corporation Member Peter’s grandmother was a well-known Quaker photographer whose portrait

of George Bernard Shaw looked down at us when we visited in Peter’s office. He truly brought the testimonies and concerns for respect of all people building community while following the Light to active fruition for his whole career. My memorable moment is sitting in Morning Meeting when the Senior School students settled immediately upon entry into silent worship.

Each year Peter introduced meeting practice to the school body and that spirit was felt by many cultures represented by staff and students.

Peter designated individuals in key roles allowing them to share in the leadership of the school. His legacy is communicating with individuals through sharing and hearing thoughts. I always felt he was fully present in our encounters whether by phone, email or in person.

This response is essential for good communication and is an extrapolation of the Friends’ testimony of equality and respect for all. This enhanced the evolving of a creative learning community which we trust will continue.

I appreciate Peter’s overall leadership of the school which included responses to each individual. This going back and forth allowed us to be friends as we worked with one another. The energy shared and evolving over all these years allowed Pickering to become more of a true school community. The testimonies are not just Quaker, they are truths, which Quakers have

incorporated. The school under Peter’s leadership has represented this to the larger society. I am so grateful for this.

Peter’s gift of relationship and friendship is his gift to me and others.

Philip H. Allan ’71, Alumnus, Alumni Parent and Past Board & Corporation Member In our many Board Chair/ Head discussions, Peter always showed consistent, excellent growth. Peter has always been balanced, professional, reasonable and inclusive. He worked through many issues with me as his Chair, and not once did he want to bully, or cajole or disrespect a situation or a person. He treated all situations that we discussed as multifaceted and considered each point of view. He was, and is, an amazing teacher.

PC has evolved in a consistent and better way since the day Peter took on the role of Head of School. Pickering was pretty much a ‘boys school’ Grades 7-13, now it is a school for everyone K-12.

Pickering has a developed a very strong presence in the community and, just as importantly, is highly regarded amongst all independent schools in Canada and also internationally. This did not happen without much effort from Peter’s leadership and initiatives.

Peter is leaving a school that has strong foundations and a plan for the future. Three decades of 7/24 attention to making Pickering and the people that have been there, in any capacity, better, brighter and even more beautiful.

Kelly Mason Alumni Parent and Past Chair, Board of Directors The first time I met Peter was at “Tea with the Headmaster” when Daniel was in Junior Kindergarten. As I sat with the other mums, I realized we were all a little nervous about chatting with him.

As is Peter’s way, we were made to feel quite at ease and the conversations were animated and interesting. It was the start of a connection to Pickering College, an appreciation for Quaker values and traditions, and an understanding of the phrase “The People are Pickering.”

As the years passed and our family became more involved, I found myself serving as Chair of the Board of Directors.

Peter and I met once a week to discuss school and board matters. Early in my term he asked for my thoughts on the path forward on a matter of great concern. I was both taken aback and, once again, intimidated. We discussed the situation, considered

the possible scenarios, and agreed on a plan. Afterward, I revealed to Peter how my initial response was like our very first meeting … and now, here we were, working together to develop a strategy to best serve the community.

In his usual way, Peter laughed at the idea of being intimidating and immediately told some stories of Pickering’s history and events that had me laughing and at ease.

That is one of Peter’s many strengths. He carries himself with quiet authority and great compassion.

Having the opportunity to meet other Heads of School from across Canada at conferences, I learned that Peter is one of the most respected Heads - and people - in the independent school community. His unique style of leadership and his ability to make everyone he meets feel connected to the Pickering community has been a gift to everyone who has passed through the four Pillars. Go well Peter. You have left a mark that will remain in the hearts of all the People of Pickering.

Daniel Weinzweig Alumni Parent and founder of the Joshua Weinzweig Creative Writing Program “Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all” - Aristotle

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PETER C. STURRUP: A LEGACY OF LEADERSHIP, A LIFETIME OF FRIENDSHIP.

Building on Quaker values, Peter has handed down a compassionate, nurturing and progressive school that brings out the very best in both students and faculty. If indeed character is destiny, then graduates of PC leave with the ability to achieve their dreams.

Peter’s vision for PC and his achievements after 27 years as Head of School, would make Aristotle proud.

My own experience with Peter dates back to the establishment of the Joshua Weinzweig Creative Writing Program and Endowment Fund in honour of my son, a past PC student. The creation, development and growth of this nationally recognized program would not have happened without the support and enthusiasm of Peter.

Always keenly interested in how the program can inspire student creativity, Peter has been its biggest champion.

For me, the best gift of all has been our enduring friendship.

I always came away from our visits feeling that we were family and I am better for knowing Peter—a blessing that I am certain is shared with all those who pass through the gates of PC.

Tony Van Bynen, Member of Parliament for NewmarketAurora and Past Corporation Member

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Peter is genuine in his values and his belief in the Quaker principles. He is truly a great leader for the school and the many generations that passed through it during his tenure.

I recall an evening when I joined community members and stakeholders in a strategic planning session. To be honest, I have never experienced such an open and engaging strategic process that engaged so many stakeholders. The willingness to essentially entertain any and all ideas was quite remarkable, and I do believe that is a reflection on the leadership of the school. That process was for me an affirmation of Peter’s leadership skills and his commitment to growth and resilience in a time of remarkable change.

In my role as Mayor of Newmarket, I would identify the growth in the relationship between the school and the community is one of the most important outcomes of Peter’s leadership. The growth of the boarding program and the international representation provided our Town a muchappreciated youthful cultural diversity and an economic benefit particularly to our downtown.

Peter, you have made such a positive difference. From staff to students to our community, you created an environment of openness and trust where students could excel comfortable in the knowledge that risk came with reward; that caring came with growth and confidence came with the

ability to make a difference in the world. I look forward to growing our friendship in the years ahead.

Charles Beer ‘59 Alumnus, Past Faculty and Past Board & Corporation Member I have had the pleasure to serve with Peter on the Board of Pickering College on two occasions and subsequently through various school committees I have assisted.

He is a dedicated learner, a skilled listener, treats everyone with respect, and has a strong ethical sense. The Quaker values of Pickering are always clear in his mind and actions.

These qualities defined the nature of his leadership and how he approached his role as Head. Peter has made a tremendous contribution to the field of education generally and to Pickering College, its families, students, faculty and staff.

A few of his key accomplishments: • Enhancing the physical structure of the school including Egan House, the Harry M. Beer Dining Hall, the ‘40s Student Lounge, the renovated kitchen, and the development of the farm.

• Ensuring continued excellence in the College’s academic program leading the development of the

Global Leadership Program, the expansion of learning services and the creation of CHOP FM. • Recognizing the importance of expanding the role and reach of Advancement to ensure the College’s future.

We have been so fortunate to have Peter with us as teacher and Headmaster these past 36 years. His legacy is all around us.

Jonathan Knaul ‘87, Major (retired) Royal Canadian Air Force, Alumnus, Past Board & Corporation Member I came to know Peter during my final year at PC in 1986/87 (Grade 13), and I admired and looked up to him from the start. We kept in touch after I graduated and spent a memorable summer on campus in 1993 when I housesat for Jane Zavitz and Peter and Lisa lived in New House. I truly look back on this as family time despite our lack of a blood relation.

A decade later, I was invited to join the PC Corporation and in 2006 I joined the Board of Directors, serving until 2018. During those years, we saw the school face many challenges, upheavals, tremendous successes, and a transformation under Peter’s exemplary leadership to the modern, well respected and highly sought-after

independent school it is today.

And yet, it remained the same school on the Hilltop that followed former Headmaster Joe McCulley’s ideology that each student has within them a burning positive light and a deep potential that deserves to be recognized and cultivated.

No matter what was thrown his way, Peter remained calm, composed, kind and forgiving while standing his ground for what was right for Pickering College. Under his orchestration, PC continued to navigate a path of growth, determination and one of example to other schools.

Having served as a helicopter pilot during a very challenging 6-month peacekeeping deployment in Kosovo in 1999/2000, I subsequently arranged for two impoverished boys to attend Pickering College from 2004 to 2006.

This magnificent deed could not have been accomplished without the support of Peter Sturrup, Beth Egan and Mike Egan. The rest is history and documented in the 2012 film A Promise is a Promise, directed by the talented Jaime Leigh Gianopoulos ‘06.

Every time I think of Peter, I feel a combined sense of calm, confidence, honour, admiration, and sheer pride.

I guess I feel at home when I think of Peter, just as I do every time I think of Pickering College … home.

Cindy and Stacy Widdrington Peter, you have been a champion of the school, a steadfast friend to

the community and an inspirational leader to those who were fortunate enough to fall within your orbit.

So much success has been achieved under your thoughtful stewardship. You are continually planning for the future while celebrating and building on the past.

We have witnessed your tremendous ability to connect with students and to bring out their best.

We fondly remember our summer lunches when you would update us on all the happenings at Pickering and the recipients of the Widdrington Award. You made us so proud to support the school because we could feel your commitment and passion. We hope it gives you great satisfaction to know that you have truly made a difference in the world.

Adam, Debbie, Lindsay, Alex and Hannah Floyd Alumni family and Past Board & Corporation Member Peter embodies the Quaker values of the school. He exemplifies what it means to lead by example. From the time we started in 2004, we knew this was the right fit for our kids.

The values and lessons being taught at the school were

in sync with what we were trying to instil in our kids at home. Peter’s sincerity and genuineness along with his forward-thinking vision for the school has won over the hearts of students, parents and many fellow CAIS members who highly respect the man that he is.

known him. Peter, you should be very proud of the legacy you are leaving behind.

His commitment to empowering each student to be the best they can be by educating them with the best staff is a testament to his character. The innovative Global Leadership Program was a pivotal turning point for the school, in addition to the many educational partnerships. This has allowed PC’s students to become responsible global citizens who embody the values the school as well as informed citizens who will go on to do great things. Peter’s leadership within the school, as well as his role in CAIS [Canadian Accredited Independent Schools], continues to be well respected by all.

Beth Egan Alumni Parent, Corporation Member and Past Chair, Board of Directors My most memorable moments with Peter were during my time as Chair of the Board.

We used to meet weekly and talk about “Big rocks and little rocks.” He will know what that means.

We were always so impressed that Peter was often the one greeting each student on the front steps by name as they entered the school. He made it his mission to get to know each student on a personal level and genuinely cares about their success. His words of wisdom shared during Morning Meeting are fondly remembered by our kids and will stay with them always.

We want to thank him for his friendship and for making us better people for having

Pickering College has become an internationally recognized and well-respected school under Peter’s leadership. PC has grown from 150 students to where it is today. You have left Pickering greater, better and more beautiful than you found it!

Thank you for your endless dedication to Pickering College. The lessons that you brought to Morning Meeting every day – integrity, respect and caring – are only a few words to describe Peter. I remember some very memorable moments during Morning Meetings, especially when he asked the students to stand if they were so moved to so to say “I stand for…” – just an example of the meaningful moments that students experienced every day.

The Pickering community will

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PETER C. STURRUP: A LEGACY OF LEADERSHIP, A LIFETIME OF FRIENDSHIP.

miss you! All the best in your retirement.

Mirella and John Morra Current Parents and Chair, Board of Directors Peter welcomed us into the school community 14 years ago and he continues to nurture a meaningful relationship unique to PC. Under his remarkable leadership, the PC community has thrived, becoming an integral part of our lives through new lifelong friendships and participation in school and social events. True to any great captain of a ship, he did not leave when storms approached. He generously offered to stay, postponing his retirement, as the school navigated the tumultuous challenges of the pandemic.

It is only now, having seen so many reevaluate their life priorities, does the magnitude of Peter’s selfless gift resonate.

Peter, your dedication and commitment to our community is greatly valued.

Peter epitomizes our school’s core values of community, respect, and responsibility.

Yet, when his efforts are acknowledged, he always remains humble. It is during these moments that Peter symbolizes what is unique to PC, the people and our sense of community and responsibility to each other.

He has been the guiding light for thousands of students, staff and faculty for 27 years. He is also one of the most respected Heads of School in the CAIS community.

Peter’s immeasurable impact on Pickering College will be the Campus Master Plan and revitalization of the School’s facilities. Through constant reflection, analysis of risk and vigilant assessment of all the factors necessary for success, we are moving forward responsibly. The fruition of our new campus will certainly be one of Peter’s preeminent legacies.

It continues to be an honour and privilege to know Peter, and to benefit from the excellence in education provided to our daughter, under his leadership. We wish Peter and Lisa all they hope for as they embark on their next journey with the comforting knowledge they will always remain active members of our beloved school community.

STURRUP FAMILY ENDOWMENT FUND Over the course of nearly three decades, Peter Sturrup has guided the school with a steady hand and quiet confidence through times of triumph and turmoil, leaving a lasting impact on generations of students. In his honour, the Sturrup Family Endowment Fund will continue to support future investments in our students’ education.

At Pickering College, education has a critical role in bringing out the best in the students who have the privilege of attending here. As Peter says, “The gift we give ourselves as a society is the quality of education we give our children. It is our responsibility to invest in this gift to the best of our ability, so that the future that awaits, a future filled with unpredictability and uncertainty, is met by courageous and creative young minds ready to make a difference.”

Thank you for considering a tax-deductible donation that will honour Peter’s lasting impact on our school while benefiting our students in their pursuit to make the world greater, better and more beautiful than they discovered it.

Give online: https://www.pickeringcollege.on.ca/donate/ sturrup-family-endowment-fund

“It has been the most meaningful vocation in which anyone could ever have the privilege to serve. I have loved this job every day that I have had the honour of fulfilling it. I have been embraced by the Pickering ethos completely and it has changed me and changed my life. One could not ask for anything more.”

– Peter Sturrup, Head of School

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2022 reconnect and reminisce September 16, 17, 18

Connect with your classmates, former teachers and the PC community online or in person.

Friday, September 16 Morning Meeting 9:00 a.m. Join us virtually to hear a welcome from new Head of School Dr. Cinde Lock.

Alumni BBQ at the Blue & Silver Farm 6:00 p.m. Visit with former classmates, current and former teachers, and students at our beloved Blue & Silver Farm.

Saturday, September 17 Breakfast on the Hilltop 9:00 a.m. Enjoy light refreshments as we kickoff the weekend and cheer on Road Rally participants.

Hilltop Celebration 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Join us on campus for school tours, activities for children, and friendly athletic competitions with the opportunity to earn House points. Or, venture off campus to tour the local Sharon Temple with an on-site picnic.

Legacy Challenge Road Rally & BBQ Street Party Join us to celebrate the spirit of community and recognize the legacy of our Head of School, Peter Sturrup. Starting at 9:00 a.m., rally your team for a picturesque tour to the welcoming village of Creemore nestled into the beautiful Niagara Escarpment. Test your knowledge and skill with simple, fun-filled challenges led by PC volunteers in the PUMA pit stops located along the route. At 6:00 p.m. reconnect with friends on campus in a vibrant atmosphere accentuated by entertainment, a bandstand, international food market, beer garden, signature drinks and refreshments, rally bar, a sizzling upscale buffet dinner, late night tasters, prizes and rally awards.

Classes celebrating milestone anniversaries since their graduation from PC are especially encouraged to come back to campus and reconnect with your fellow alumni.

We are also inviting those who would have celebrated a milestone last year but were unable to visit campus due to COVID-19 restrictions. We are looking for class champions for each class to help us rally your classmates and plan activities. Please contact alumni@pickeringcollege.on.ca to get involved.

Classes celebrating a milestone anniversary are: 2017, 2016, 2012, 2011, 2007, 2006, 1997, 1996, 1972 and 1971.

Sunday, September 18 Lunch with Peter Sturrup 10:00 a.m. Join us for a final opportunity to toast Head of School Peter Sturrup as he talks about his years at PC and hopes for the future as he begins retirement.

Visit www.pickeringcollege.on.ca/our-alumni/reunion-weekend for more information and be sure to share with fellow grads who we may not have a mailing address for. Inquiries about registration or event details may also be directed to: email: alumni@pickeringcollege.on.ca telephone: 905-895-1700 ext. 257

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ALUMNI CONNECTIONS

Back on the Hilltop PC alumnus Adam Darvay-Canavor ’13 returns to PC as the school’s new Alumni Engagement Coordinator Q. What can you tell us about your time at PC as a student?

Three things stand out for me: compassion, teamwork, and fun. For instance, I remember Carnaval, where we made maple toffee in the snow. I remember the incredible school excursions too, like travelling to Saint-Donat where I learned to ski. These trips gave me a broader sense of our geography, history, and cherished memories.

Most of all, I remember Morning Meeting—an important thread in the quilt of student life at Pickering College. Thanks to the lessons and opportunities offered by life at PC, students flourish in an atmosphere where they are able to become the very best version of themselves. I am eternally grateful for being able to grow in such an environment.

Q. What made you decide to come back to PC as an employee?

Like many, I spent considerable time soul-searching throughout 2020. I left a career in construction management and discovered a passion in videography and photography, and I developed these skills while road-tripping across Western Canada. When I heard that the Pickering College Holiday Home Tour would be going virtual this year, I jumped at the opportunity to get involved with shooting and editing the event. In doing so, I got a chance to reconnect with PC. As they say, the rest was history.

Q. How can alumni stay connected to the school after they graduate?

After graduating, there are three ways alumni can stay connected: volunteering, alumni events and social media. Volunteering your professional skills means giving back to the PC community in a meaningful way and can also help re-energize your own career outlook and aspirations. Some great opportunities include becoming a mentor for new graduates as well as becoming involved with the Global Leadership Program.

JOIN IN THE CONVERSATION! Connect with fellow alumni through our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/ groups/PickeringCollegeAlumni or through the Pickering College page on LinkedIn.

I encourage alumni to get involved with our events and reconnect with classmates. Of course, if alumni have ideas for new events that they would like to see and/or organize, I’m here to help. Social media is also an easy way to stay connected. Simply follow Pickering College on LinkedIn or join the Alumni Facebook Group.

Q. Did anything surprise you when you returned to campus or does it look and feel the same?

Many of the staff from my days are still here, which is incredible. They still ask about my classmates and remember most by name. That alone is quite special. Despite how familiar a lot of it is, PC continues to progress and make important changes, such as recognizing Indigenous lands at school meetings and modelling inclusive language.

Q. Is there anything I haven’t asked you that you would like to share?

It’s easy to see that Pickering College fosters mutual respect among students. This means that students experience freedom of expression and are motivated to explore their unique potential, and I value this quality immensely. Now that I have the chance to rediscover life at Pickering College as an adult, I can appreciate how traditions like Morning Meeting keep the students inspired and hopeful.

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1

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4

1940s

In memoriam, Hugh Grant ’47 passed away on May 9, 2021, at the age of 93.

Hugh often spoke about his two favourite classes—physics and woodworking—and used the skills learned in those classes throughout his life. He loved playing the sports offered by Pickering College, and credited the school for teaching him etiquette, which he passed on to his children and grandchildren later in life. 1

1950s

In memoriam, Bill Bryant ’58 passed away peacefully on December 5, 2021, in Waterloo, Ontario, at the age of 82. Bill lived life to the fullest. He had a fulfilling career practicing family medicine. After retirement, Bill and wife, Trudy, travelled the world and in their later years they spent winters in Florida. He was a proud member of the adult racing team at Devil’s

3

5

Glen Country Club. His many passions included squash, hiking, biking around Kitchener-Waterloo and Florida, annual canoe trips and sailing his Hobie Cat on the waters of Lake Erie. Bill was passionate about writing and scrapbooking. In the spring of 2021, he finished his memoir entitled It is as it is. Bill accepted his sudden and unexpected brain tumour diagnosis and wanted to assure his family and friends that he felt so fortunate to have had such a beautiful, full life. He spent his last few weeks in the comfort of his home, surrounded by family and friends. 2,3 Doug Reed ’58 continues his passion for radio as a volunteer at CFRU 93.3FM at the University of Guelph, and hosts Music and Musings every morning from 12:00 a.m. until 6:00 a.m. on ParrySoundRadio.com, which can be heard around the world. 4

6

1960s

In memoriam, John S. Hutchins ’67 passed away peacefully on March 26, 2021, at Georgian Bay General Hospital in Midland, Ontario, at the age of 73.

John will be remembered as an athlete, hospitality entrepreneur, horseman, reader, and a loyal and loving family member and friend. He had a larger-thanlife personality and always gave selflessly to others. He will be greatly missed by his classmates. 5

1950s

Derek Fung ’71 fondly remembers his formative years at Pickering College. He has many unforgettable memories of the Hilltop, including this photo in front of the pillars taken 51 years ago. He hopes to one day return to campus for a visit. Derek is currently living in Hong Kong. 6

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ALUMNI CONNECTIONS

1

3

In memoriam, Brian Meharg ’78, affectionately known as Red, passed away suddenly on July 12, 2021, at the age of 62. While Brian faced many health challenges over the last 13 years, he did so without complaint. He was truly unflappable. Brian was a lifelong learner, who had a passion for expanding his knowledge and understanding of the world around him. He was the person family and friends turned to for sage advice. His love of learning carried him many places throughout his career—from teacher to real estate broker, building and land development, and finally the storage industry. Brian’s first love was Jack Lake, where he cottaged his entire life. There was nowhere else on earth he would rather be.

Brian was a warm, caring and humble

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2

4

5

man. He had a knack for engaging with everyone in his presence. He found pleasure in bringing people together.

He was an enthusiastic and generous supporter of the PC annual golf tournament for over a decade, always bringing his classmates together for a day on the course. His love for his family and friends was immense, but his children were at the heart of everything he did.

Brian faced all of his challenges with grace, and he would expect the same from us. 1

1980s

Dave Barons ’81 is in his 15th year of living on Roatán, an island in the Caribbean. He is keeping very busy running a rum and rum-cake company while managing a few rental properties.

He also enjoys playing in a band a few times every week. 2

Howard Murray ’86 recently moved to Langford, British Columbia. He is currently the vice-president and chief technology officer for Union Aerospace Corporation and is involved in unmanned aerial vehicles as well as a variety of other aerospace grade projects. 3 Massimo Lizzola ’87 has had an eventful journey after attending Pickering College.

For a time, Massimo worked in human resources for the deputy commander of a military base. The best thing to come from his time at the military base are the two books he created and published. His second book, called A Journey... focused on his photographic abilities with flowers, horses, and architecture in his area.

Massimo continues to stay in touch with many former classmates. 4,5

6

8

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9

1990s

Francis Fung ’97 lives in Milton, Ontario, with his family and 13.5-year-old dog.

He has been happily married to Amy for nearly 15 years and they will soon celebrate their twin daughters’ seventh birthday. In 2001, Francis completed a bachelor of science in psychology and community development, and later returned to school part-time to complete a master of education in community rehabilitation and disability studies.

Francis worked for several years in the private sector before shifting to nonprofit—and has not looked back. He recently celebrated 10 years of service with March of Dimes Canada. 6 Nicholas (Nick) Dargus ’99 participated in the 2021 Ride to Conquer Cancer (RTCC) in August, raising $3,000 for the cause.

10

Nick cycled an incredible 242.3 kilometres in a single ride over eight hours, with an elevation gain of 1,988 metres. This year, Nick is preparing to participate in the RTCC a fifth time. 7

2000s

Jonathan Stea ’03 is a registered and practicing clinical psychologist and adjunct assistant professor at the University of Calgary. He is interested in topics related to science communication and health misinformation in popular media, especially with respect to addiction and mental health. He is a coalition member of #ScienceUpFirst (www.ScienceUpFirst. com), which is a Canada-wide awareness and engagement initiative that creates, distributes and amplifies best-in-class, science-informed content about COVID-19 and COVID-19 vaccines. 8

Congratulations to David Foot ’05 on his marriage to Jenna on July 3, 2021. David and Jenna live in Belleville, Ontario, where David works for the Belleville Senators. 9 Congratulations to Lindsay Kellock ’08 who competed in the Tokyo Olympic Games for the Canadian Olympic Dressage team. Lindsay and horse Sebastien—who is owned by Melissa Schiff—spent the past two years qualifying at competitions in Florida, and they were selected for the team in June 2021. This was a dream come true for Lindsay, who has imagined going to the Olympics since she began riding at the age of six. Their family moved from Toronto to Newmarket so that she and her sister Jamie Kellock ’13 would be closer to horses, which is also how they found themselves attending Pickering College. 10

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ALUMNI CONNECTIONS

2

1

Trisha Salisbury ’08 is an Ontario certified teacher and education specialist. She holds a master of arts in child study and education from the University of Toronto and is pursuing a master of education in educational psychology from the University of Alberta and a master of arts in counselling psychology from Yorkville University. Trisha recently married Peter Dash, her best friend of eight years whom she met during her studies. Their dog, Bear, was able to work with Trisha in the United Kingdom, supporting vulnerable children and youth. Bear was deeply adored by the students! 1 Congratulations to Peter-John (PJ) Staudinger ’08 on his marriage to Alysha

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3

on May 30, 2020. PJ and Alysha celebrated with a small, backyard wedding of just their parents during the COVID-19 pandemic. While it was not what the couple initially envisioned, they are extremely happy with their decision to have such a special, intimate day. PJ and Alysha have known one another since elementary school and were standing side-by-side in their Grade 5 class photo—a couple years before PJ came to Pickering College. 2 It was a busy summer for Emily Nesovic ’09 and her now husband, Ryan, who tied the knot in an intimate ceremony at Sir Sam’s Inn in Haliburton, Ontario, on August 14, 2021. It was a beautiful day

4

shared with close family and friends.

They also embarked on the adventure of purchasing a new home and selling their existing home, all within a couple of months. Emily and Ryan now live happily in Seagrave, Ontario, with their cat, Miss Willis, where Emily works remotely as a document and learning specialist at a Toronto law firm. Ryan owns his own local heating, cooling and plumbing company alongside his twin brother. 3 Congratulations to Zachary Oushalkas ’09 for receiving his juris doctor from the University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Law and being called to the bar in January 2019. Zachary is currently overseeing the operations at USC Inc. 4

5

6

2010s

Congratulations to Sophie Armstrong ’12 who recently participated in an equestrian competition at Angelstone Tournaments. It was a challenging course designed by the 2016 Rio Olympic course designer, and Sophie finished in fourth place in a 1.20m class. 5 Congratulations to Julie Pedersen ’17 on her acceptance into the Ontario Veterinary College and for beginning her doctor of veterinary studies at the University of Guelph. Julie has also started the four-year doctor of veterinary medicine program at the Ontario Veterinary College. 6

REMEMBERING WILSON LEUNG ‘79 Wilson Leung ‘79 was a dedicated student and, as an alumnus, he was devoted to the continued success of Pickering College. Wilson, beloved husband of Betsy and devoted father of Karen, passed away at the age of 61 on December 28, 2021, in Hong Kong.

During his time at PC, Wilson was a member of the first soccer team for two years and his friendliness and modesty earned him the Widdrington Award.

After completing a degree in electrical engineering at Queen’s University, Wilson returned to Hong Kong where he eventually became Chairman, CEO, and Executive Director of Alco, a world-leading manufacturer of electronic products specializing in audiovisual and IT equipment.

As an alumnus, Wilson was a generous contributor to school initiatives and was creating change as a generous philanthropist. We thank Wilson, and his brothers David and Jimmy, for their part in building the tremendous sense of community we all enjoy.

Our deepest condolences to the Leung family and Wilson’s many friends.

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ALUMNI CONNECTIONS

Friendships and sport at PC

by Graham Birt, Coach and Senior School Faculty

For me personally, the friendships I forged while competing on school teams were far more meaningful and longer lasting than on teams outside of school.

Shared experiences bring people closer together, and while school teammates may not share all the same classes or exact day-to-day experiences, they live life each day under the same roof. When arriving at practice, there are inevitably conversations about how everyone’s day has gone, and often that includes a special event or Morning Meeting, or an activity in a class with a teacher that everyone knows. Everyone on a school team has many things in common, and there is a distinct comfort in that.

In many ways, the emotional rollercoaster provided by the unpredictability of sports is the perfect opportunity for teammates to collectively experience both disappointment and elation. Although it is often frustrating that an athlete can’t adequately explain the emotion experienced during a specific competition to someone who was not directly involved, the fact that teammates simply “get it” means that there is another connection that is impossible to replicate elsewhere. Some athletes will be able to recollect the most miniscule details about a competition even years later, which provide for amazing “remember when?” conversations. The pressure that athletes feel during competition is shared by their teammates, and one’s success is everyone else’s too.

Alumni—share your team memories with us by emailing communications@ pickeringcollege.on.ca for inclusion in the next issue of The Pillars.

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At Pickering College, our student athletes know that they are connected with generations of others who have also competed for our incredible school.

Looking at the Egan House banners, seeing photos and hearing stories of teams from years past help to connect all of us, and the pride in our school for athletes and coaches is tangible—especially when competing against another. The nature of our CISAA league means that teams often spend long bus rides with each other. Trivial as it may seem, some alumni specifically mention missing those bus rides!

In Memoriam Charles Fenton Boyd (1936-2021)

In September 2021, the Pickering College community lost a giant. Mr. Charles Boyd passed away peacefully in his sleep after a short but courageous battle with metastatic melanoma. He spent his final afternoon visiting his beloved Blue & Silver Farm and came by Pickering College one last time where he was met with a touching send off by staff, faculty and students.

After 53 years as a teacher, coach, mentor, advisor and alumni ambassador, Mr. Boyd leaves an indelible mark on the lives of nearly 5000 students, alumni and staff. In recent years, he could be found sharing meals in the Dining Hall, enthusiastically responding to talks in Morning Meeting, graciously greeting students as they arrived at Blue & Silver Farm, welcoming new families at the door throughout the year, and reading a Message to the Graduating Class at Closing Meeting for Worship in June each year.

In 2017, Charles Boyd was recognized with the Class of 1842 Award for his years of selfless and tireless work at Pickering College. Outside of PC, for over 50 years, he served as a minister at a variety of parishes throughout Ontario and officiated hundreds of weddings and funerals for people who valued his kind, compassionate and thoughtful approach. As a horse breeder and thoroughbred enthusiast, he saw the unique role horses and riding could play in benefiting people with disabilities and was chair of the board at CARD—Canadian Association of Riders with Disabilities—for many years. He also helped establish New Leaf Living and Learning—an organization that provides services and community supports to persons with disabilities.

He was one of the kindest, most compassionate, caring and inspiring people any one of us will ever meet. Every year, he reminded us that The People are Pickering. In reality, Charles Boyd was the personification of that belief. He had a unique and enviable way of making you feel better about yourself, just by having spent a few minutes with him.

BLUE & SILVER FARM LEGACY If you wish to make a donation in memory of Mr. Charles Boyd, it can be directed to sustaining the school’s outdoor education program at his beloved Blue & Silver Farm, which he bequeathed to Pickering College in 2013. Please visit https://www.pickeringcollege.on.ca/donate/annual-giving/in-memory-of-charles-boyd

Mr. Boyd has been the heart, soul and light of Pickering College for over half a century. He upheld the mission and values of Pickering College with his strength and commitment to making our community greater, better and more beautiful than he discovered it.

We will never forget him.

41

100 YEARS OF RADIO On December 9, 2021, Pickering College marked the 100th anniversary of the first trans-Atlantic radio signal. This anniversary is of particular importance to the school as this milestone was achieved on the school’s campus in Newmarket.

Ted Rogers Sr., a radio aficionado and Pickering College alumnus, is said to have sat at his telegraph key in what is known on the school campus as Rogers House, taken a deep breath and tapped out a message in Morse code. With that, he made history as the only Canadian to successfully compete in the first amateur trans-Atlantic radio competition, transmitting a signal across the Atlantic to Ardrossan, Scotland. Ted was the son of Pickering College Chairman of the Board Albert Rogers, and would become the father of Ted Rogers of Rogers Communications Inc.

1921

More recently, radio has played a key role at Pickering College since 2007 with the launch of campus radio station 102.7 CHOP FM, thanks to a generous donation from the Waters, an alumni family who owned and operated CHUM Limited. “CHUM Limited always believed that giving back to the communities in which it operated radio and television stations was most important,” says Jim Waters. “Pickering College played a significant role in our daughters’ lives. Our family’s donation towards the building of CHOP FM is our way of ‘giving back.’”

2007 42

TODAY Since then, the radio station has been one of the school’s unique features, giving students JK to Grade 12 the opportunity to become on-air hosts, producers, editors, and interviewers as they help to manage the station’s day-to-day operations.

Additionally, Pickering College offers a course on Radio and Audio Production and recently developed a new online OSSD credit in Communications Technology—Radio, Grade 11 (TGR3M) that is available to students across the province.

“Being able to offer our students this kind of hands-on experience is an invaluable way to solidify what they’re learning across the curriculum,” says Peter Sturrup, Head of School.

“Having the ability to write and speak effectively, along with the technical competencies of delivering radio programming, truly sets up our students to become inspiring leaders in the future.”

The school marked the 100th anniversary with a virtual presentation at Morning Meeting that included students and faculty from Senior School, followed by an evening Zoom chat with PC alumni, some of whom were involved as contributors to CHOP FM during their time at PC.

“Many of our alumni have found a love for radio and have gone on to pursue post-secondary studies in the field,” says Ian Johnston, Senior School faculty. “You spend a lot of time with individuals and get to know each other well. It is not unlike a competitive sports team where you spend hours after school and before school together. We see the best and the worst of each other and it brings us together.”

Pickering College is the only JK-Grade 12 school in Canada with a CRTC-licensed radio station. Broadcasting from New House, this fully functioning station serves the wider Newmarket community and provides a range of community-based programming including a live morning show, sports updates, music and feature programs.

With an active board and advisory council, 102.7 CHOP FM benefits from the energy and insights of many community members, including award-winning filmmaker and Pickering College alumnus Brian Purdy ‘56 who created an informative video that outlines the past, present and future of CHOP FM, entitled On Air. You can see the video on Pickering College’s YouTube channel or by visiting www.pickeringcollege.on.ca/chopfm

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ALUMNI CONNECTIONS

SAMANTHA

MURPHY Strong “Trust the process.

Being in your final years of high school can be very overwhelming with the workload and the stress that can come with choosing what your next step may be. But the life skills and everything you learn at PC will have you ready for whatever you choose to do after graduation.”

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Samantha Murphy ’17 began her soccer journey while growing up in Aurora. Since then, the beautiful game has led her to compete at the NCAA Division I level at the University of Memphis and in August 2021, she realized her dream of playing professionally as the newest member of a team in Sweden.

“I started playing when I was really young, just like a lot of kids do, but I think what made me keep with it was that I loved the competitiveness of it and just how happy I was when on the field!

Both my brothers played as well so it was something we could all do together,” Murphy says.

Reminiscing about her time as a Pickering College student, Murphy says there are two stand-out moments while on the field.

“I will never forget when I played — and was captain! — of the U12 Co-Ed Pickering College team against St. Andrew’s College, an all-boys school. Just the look of shock on their faces when they saw me walk up thinking the game was in the bag for them will stick with me forever and still makes me smile. I tore it up in that game,” she says.

Though one of her fondest memories while playing at PC was with her Senior Girls’ soccer team in fall 2014, during a national championships game at Bishop’s College School. “It was an awesome environment to play in because we were the underdogs and beat them on their home field. I’m pretty sure it was also my first championship.”

The team took home the Division II title that day.

LEAVING HER PICKERING COLLEGE ROOTS Murphy knew that one of her goals was to play NCAA Division I soccer, so when it came time to apply for post-secondary studies she had a plan.

team took on Sweden in the gold medal match at the 2021 summer Olympics in Tokyo. “I didn’t know if I should cheer throughout the game or not, but I still ended up cheering maybe a little too loudly when Canada won the gold!”

“I first looked at the schools that were interested in me from seeing me play at showcase tournaments. From those schools I looked at a couple of things — which ones had the best program for my major [health studies major with a concentration in exercise, sport and movement science] and which were the top soccer schools. What drew me to choosing Memphis was the environment of the team and coaches and (fun fact!) the team also had a lot of Canadians so that was the icing on the cake for me,” she explains.

STAYING CONNECTED WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY Despite having been in a different country for post-secondary and currently being abroad, Murphy continues to keep in touch with close friends she has made throughout her time at Pickering College whether it’s through video chats, text messages, social media, or over the phone. “When I am home, I always try to meet up with them and before COVID-19, I would visit PC as well to see some of my past teachers - I definitely want to visit again once this whole thing clears up.”

While attending University of Memphis on a “full-ride” combined athletic and academic scholarship, her passion for the sport carried through. Not only did she actively play as a forward on the school’s team, she also took on a coaching role during her off-season.

“Coaching little kids in soccer is something I love to do because it always reminds me about where I fell in love with the game,” says Murphy.

While at Memphis, Murphy was chosen by her teammates to receive a leadership award — recognizing a woman who inspires them — during Women’s History Month. “The feeling of knowing that the girls thought of me in that way was something I’ll always keep with me.”

KICKING HER WAY TO SWEDEN In August 2021, Murphy turned professional and moved to Sweden where she now plays for Lidkopings FK. “When I graduated from Memphis, I wasn’t ready to give up soccer yet, so my coach set me up with an agent who then started looking for professional opportunities for me. I hope to keep playing soccer for a couple more years and play at the highest level I can.”

Samantha had not been in Sweden very long when the Canadian women’s soccer

When talking about how PC has influenced her life, Murphy expresses how the diversity at PC and learning about the multitude of cultures that exists within our halls is something that will always stand out to her. “It currently helps me now as I am surrounded by so many teammates from all over the world and am living in different countries.

Maybe I will even be able to see some international friends I made at PC as I travel,” she says.

A FINAL LOVE LETTER TO THE SPORT “Soccer has taught me so many life lessons and life skills that I will use even after I’m done playing. Winning is fun, but most of the lessons I have learned were through heartbreak and losing. Learning how to shake things off when you fail and how to come back stronger is a mental skill soccer taught me, which I continue to bring into every aspect of my life. Soccer has also given me a family away from home - friendships and bonds that will last a lifetime. It has given me the opportunity to travel and see the world while still playing the sport I love; I couldn’t have asked for anything better.”

Eventually, Murphy hopes to attend a physical therapy school to pursue a career in that field, working with athletes.

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AGM

2021

On Tuesday, November 9, Pickering College hosted its annual general meeting (AGM) and volunteer recognition event. The virtual format enabled members of the PC community to join us from around the globe including Canada, Germany, Japan and the United States.

The event began with the school thanking the many volunteers who give their time serving on the various board, event and PCA committees, lending their expertise in the classroom (in a virtual capacity at this time), and mentoring new families as they are welcomed to the PC community. Our volunteers’ invaluable support and unwavering dedication to our school enriches Pickering College in so many ways and for that we are so thankful.

At the AGM, the Nominating Committee recommended to the Corporation that the following members be appointed to the Board of Directors of Pickering College, effective November 9, 2021, for the ensuing three-year term: Susan Cooper (current grandparent), Thomas Kim (current parent) and Jason Yip (current parent). The Nominating Committee thanked the following Corporation Members for their service on the Board: Ajit Khanna, Chris Lane and Ron Veitch ‘69.

In addition, the Nominating Committee recommended the following candidates be nominated to the Corporation of Pickering College, effective November 9, 2021, for the ensuing three-year term: Sherry Barclay (past parent), Reuben Bonerath (current parent), Mike Da Ponte (current parent), Barbara Horvath (Quaker), Eva Huang (current parent), Olga Morawczynski (current parent) and Ivan Mauricio Pooran Pabon ’82 (alumnus). The Nominating Committee thanked the following Corporation members for their service: Christina Bianco, Beth Egan, Ajit Khanna, Helen Pei, Ian Proudfoot, Debra Scott, Karen Whetstone and Stephen Widdrington ’83.

The meeting also provided an opportunity to share the school’s achievements and overall statement of operations for the 2020-2021 fiscal year, amid the continuing global pandemic.

It was a financially challenging year for Pickering College—the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic will continue to be felt moving forward and safety will continue to be at the forefront of Pickering College’s operations. Financial planning and modelling will be core to the school’s business operations over the next few years with a focus on recovery. For full details about the fiscal year, please visit PC’s website or scan the QR code below to view a copy of the 2020-2021 Report Card.

Despite the adversity the school has faced as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, enrolment continues to be strong and the school was excited to unveil an early look at the architectural rendering of the new building slated for north field, as a part of the Campus Master Plan.

The meeting concluded with a heartfelt tribute to Peter Sturrup, thanking him for his tenure as Head of School over the last 27 years and wishing him all the best for his retirement.

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PICKERING COLLEGE BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2021-2022 Mirella Morra, Chair Patrick Turner ’97, Vice-Chair Steve Barratt ’86 Sal Bianco Susan Cooper Beric Farmer Thomas Kim, Secretary and Treasurer Ailene MacDougall Kelly Mason, Past Chair Riane Tse ’07 Jason Yip PICKERING COLLEGE CORPORATION 2021-2022 Sherry Barclay Reuben Bonerath Vanessa Carson Michael Da Ponte Peter Dobbs ‘87 Jason Foulds Jason Herod Barbara Horvath Eva Huang Trevor Hunt Christopher Lane Heward Lee ‘78 Vivian Lee Olga Morawczynski Daniel Nelson Isabelle Payne ‘98 Ivan Pooran ‘82 Kurt Richardson ‘02 Krystie Robinson-Vincent Tara Roy-DiClemente Colleen Sexsmith Adam Shully ‘78 Ronald Veitch ‘69 Duncan Walker ‘69 Mareena Wallace ‘13 Roger Warren ‘51 Lee Webb Kevin Wietzes

THANK YOU TO DONORS REPORT TO THE PICKERING COLLEGE COMMUNITY 2020-2021

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THIS YEAR, MORE THAN EVER, THANK YOU.

There is an expression that those who work with donors share. It says something to the effect of, “don’t give to the institution as it was yesterday or is today, give to the institution you believe it can or will become.”

This issue of Thank you to Donors is dedicated to those of you who have consistently shared our vision for what Pickering College can become. It is dedicated to those of you who have shared our hopes and persevered through our difficulties. It is dedicated to those of you who have kept the faith and who have always believed in the very best that Pickering College will be for the students in our care and therefore to the world beyond our four pillars.

This issue of Thank you to Donors is our opportunity to express our profound gratitude to those who have done this through the financial support you have given to Pickering College.

Our PC community is full of people who give their time, treasure, and talent to the school. Your financial gifts reflect a deep commitment to Pickering College that not only supports the work we do but inspires others within our community to care more, do more and give more to fulfill our mission.

Your gifts are a direct support to the students, staff and faculty working together to develop courageous and compassionate global citizens who take action, true to Quaker values.

By giving something of ourselves we also develop personal friendships that can extend connections to everyone in the community. This feeling of connection is eloquently expressed by Diane and Beric Farmer in their profile on page 58. It is a relationship that started the day they dropped off their son in Grade 1 and that has developed into a deep and meaningful involvement with the broader school community. We are so grateful for the relationship that Diane and Beric, and each of you, have with PC and the impact you have when giving your financial support.

At the heart of it all, our job as a school is to give our students a sense of hope; that no matter what happens, there will always be hope. As a result of your generosity and faith in the work we do, we can continue to provide our students with that hope for the future. Thank you for believing in what our school can become and for believing in what our students can become. Because of you, we can be profoundly hopefully about our future.

With sincere thanks,

Peter Sturrup Head of School

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Mirella Morra Chair, Board of Directors

3,170,589

$

WAS DONATED IN 2020-2021 BY OUR GENEROUS PC COMMUNITY.

236,528

$

WAS RAISED THROUGH THE ANNUAL GIVING, WITH $200,804 BEING UNRESTRICTED; SPECIAL EVENTS WERE NOT ALLOWED TO TAKE PLACE AND WERE POST-PONED, THIS INCLUDES $26,274 FOR POWER OF COMMUNITY. THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN TO ALL OF OUR PARENTS, STUDENTS, ALUMNI, STAFF, BOARD AND CORPORATION, FAMILY, FRIENDS AND SPONSORS. YOUR PHILANTHROPIC SUPPORT FOR PICKERING COLLEGE THROUGH OUR ANNUAL GIVING CAMPAIGN DEMONSTRATES TO ALL YOUR COMMITMENT TO THE SCHOOL AND THIS COMMUNITY.

262,284

$

WAS DONATED TO SUPPORT

ENDOWMENTS INCLUDING GENEROUS GIFTS TO INCREASE FINANCIAL AID FOR DESERVING STUDENTS.

ANNUAL GIVING

2,671,777

$

WAS RECEIVED IN SUPPORT OF THE NEW CAMPUS MASTER PLAN.

TOTAL GROSS $15,462,332

CAPITAL DONATIONS

GENEROUS PC VOLUNTEERS DONATED COUNTLESS HOURS TO ACHIEVING THE SCHOOL’S GOALS. 49

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LEADERSHIP GIVING: CIRCLE OF FRIENDS FOUNDATIONS CIRCLE ($100,000 +)

CIRCLE MEMBERS ($1,000 - $ 2,499)

Diane and Beric Farmer The Farmer Family Foundation The Rathlyn Foundation Anonymous (1)

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HILLTOP CIRCLE ($25,000 - $99,999)

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Karl Hagan L Mirella and John Morra

PILLARS CIRCLE ($10,000 - $24,999) L Beth Egan L The Egan Family Foundation Debbie and Adam Floyd L Ronald Veale ‘63 Samuel Yen ‘89 Yen Family Fund Lisa and Jason Yip

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SILVER CIRCLE ($5,000 - $9,999)

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Barclay Herod Family Foundation L Christina and Sal Bianco James Brown ‘69 Xiaoli Yu and Zhenfu Chen Angelina De Zen and Family Peter Dobbs ‘87 Enginess Laura Barclay and Jason Herod Kelly Yu and Tom Li L Jefferson Mooney Mary Sinclair Sylvester Legacy Inc. L Daniel Weinzweig

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BLUE CIRCLE ($2,500 - $4,999) L Julia and Trevor Hunt L Rekha and Ajit Khanna Jing Hu and Hong Liu L Kelly and Malcolm Mason Huiping Xu and Zeming Wu Lu Lin and Zhen Yu Yunfei He and Yong Zhang Xiaohui Gong and Zhong Zheng Jing Guo and Shengqun Zhou Ling Yang and Wei Zhou

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Parveen Khan and Akber Abbas Rizalyn and Masoud Abedi Margalit Gavrilov and Kourosh Asgari John Paul Bailey Charles Beer ‘59 Talia Black ‘07 and Ethan Bishop Kirsten Nicolson and Brad Boland Jiangliu Feng and Yuzhen Cao Louis Cardinal ‘74 Baiquan Chai Huilin Yang and Jia Pu Chen Licong Pan and Lixun Chen Michelle Wang and Weiran Cheng Chinese Family Group Donation in celebration of Lunar New Year Susan and David Cooper Miren Edurne Aguayo and Santiago Cortina Jin Li and Xiang Cui Mirela Cusiac Joan Davis and Rolph Davis ‘60 Mingjuan Wang and Mingjian Ding Greg Dopulos ‘68 Lina Lu and Jinji Du Kaia and Patrick Farmer Lisa and Wayne Furlong Dejuan Kong and Benqiang Gao Gavin Gao Dan Yu and Sheng Ning Gao Haiyan Zhang and Xuming Gu Yifan Gu Ling Zhou and Gangfeng He Krista Robinson-Holt and Derek Holt Lanjun Li and Tao Hu Lili Wang and Xiaotao Hu Xiaoqing Li and Bo Huang Xiaozhen Ruan and Haofu Huang Weija Sun and Ming Huo Sabrine Hamia and Wasim Jarrah Tian Li and Weizhong Ji Ye Zhang and Zi Xuan Jia Jing Wu and Yi Jiang Ju Jin Elaine Kliem Qiang Kuang Linglan Shen and Shen Wei Lao Elena Latypova and Albert Latypov Lili Chen and Jiannan Li Tieny Ho and Ming Li Cui Lan Deng and Tian Cong Liang Steven Liao ‘01 Ning Ding and Lin Lin Chaoyue Qi and Hang Liu Mary Lee and Huajian Liu Qiqi Deng and Victor Liu ‘95 Lu Zhang and XiaoYun Liu Xinxin Li and Zheng Liu Venus Iu and Howard Lu Hui Li and Lei Luo Ailene and Dan MacDougall Reika and Mitsuhiro Maeda

L Arnold Massey Veronica and Paul Mason L Renee and Rob Merrick L Heather Smith-Morton and Barclay Morton Newmarket Huskies Track Club Diem Thi Luu and Viet Huy Nguyen Orthotic Concept Inc. My Hanh Pham Ellie Chai and Lei Ping Wendy and Dwight Powell Jin Ying Wang and Ke Hoa Quach Daniela and Gaetano Rabito David Rogers ‘76 L H and E Romkema Donald Ross L Jessie-May Rowntree Miho and Takasuke Sekine Diane and Sean Sexsmith-Brosseau Xin Liu and Feng Shao Corianne and Anthony Simpson L Gail and Colin Simpson T. Ann Smiley L Gerry and Anita Smith Family Foundation at Toronto Foundation Yunzhuo Zhou and Xiaojie Song Minna Sturrup L Lisa and Peter Sturrup Xiaozhou Sun Lingling Song and Yun Teng Wendy Jin and Minh Tran Jianmei Gao and Chi Kin Tsui Karen Benson and Ron Veitch ‘69 Jingyu Yang and Di Wang Hong Cai and Jinping Wang Ruonan Zhang and Lei Wang Wasim Jarrah Personal Real Estate Corporation L David White ‘88 L Stephen Widdrington ‘83 Bert Wietzes L Patti and Kevin Wietzes Fangyu Wang and Hua Yang Linna Zhang and Weitao Yao Hong Mei Zheng and Ying Wen Ye Man Ha Cheung and Hau Ming Yiu Hao Chen and Rudy You Lingli Wu and Lei Yu L Duanyu Yan and Zhong Yu Guofang Mai and Hui Yuan Nicole Cortese and Paul Yue Anna and Pawel Zalewski Lin Lin and Tao Zeng L Alexander Zetzl ‘05 L Joan and Bert Zetzl Jiezhi Wu and Lei Zhang Cui Yi Liang and Shu Tao Zhang L Kai Wang and Wei Zhang Dan Wei and Yanpan Zhao Yan Sun and Mengli Zhou Fan Yang and Pengkun Zhou Zoe Yang and Yan Zou Anonymous (2)

THE LAMP OF LEARNING, as found in the Pickering College crest, recognizes those who have given for the past five or more consecutive years.

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PARENT SUPPORT Parveen Khan and Akber Abbas L Margalit Gavrilov and Kourosh Asgari Su-Ping Yuan and Alex Au Yong John Paul Bailey Baljit and Salim Bardai L Christina and Sal Bianco L Kirsten Nicolson and Brad Boland Josie Zhao and Bob Cai L Penny Lawson-Cameron and Scott Cameron Jiangliu Feng and Yuzhen Cao Huilin Yang and Jia Pu Chen Licong Pan and Lixun Chen Min Zhao and Hao Cheng Michelle Wang and Weiran Cheng Andrea and Ryan Cleland L Susan and David Cooper L Naomi and Jamie Côté Jin Li and Xiang Cui Mirela Cusiac Michelle and Richard De Ridder L Laurie and Corey DiCarlo Andreas Dietl Mingjuan Wang and Mingjian Ding Lina Lu and Jinji Du Sophia Egbuniwe Jessica and Jeff Ellis L Zoe Roberts and David Fiscaletti L Shelley and Jamie Frank Jennifer Brett Fraser and Jason Fraser Lingling Li and Jianning Fu L Alexis and Roland Furlan Lisa and Wayne Furlong Dejuan Kong and Benqiang Gao Gavin Gao Dan Yu and Sheng Ning Gao L Joanne and Christopher Golding Jiayue Gu and JiaBin Gu Haiyan Zhang and Xuming Gu Jing Zhang and Zhanguo Guo Carrie Habijanac Tanya Hammell Ling Zhou and Gangfeng He Laura Barclay and Jason Herod Thi Viet Ha Nguyen and Anh Hoang L Krista Robinson-Holt and Derek Holt Lanjun Li and Tao Hu Lili Wang and Xiaotao Hu Xiaoqing Li and Bo Huang Eva Huang Xiaozhen Ruan and Haofu Huang L Julia and Trevor Hunt Weijia Sun and Ming Huo Sabrine Hamia and Wasim Jarrah Tian Li and Weizhong Ji Ye Zhang and Zi Xuan Jia Jing Wu and Yi Jiang L Yue Wang and Zhongjie Jiang Ju Jin Michelle and David Johnson L Ian Johnston Qiang Kuang L Keith Kupsch Linglan Shen and Shen Wei Lao Elena Latypova and Albert Latypov Yanmei Guo and Duan Li

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Lili Chen and Jiannan Li Wenwen Yu and Jinrong Li Michelle Jiang and Leon Li Tieny Ho and Ming Li Kelly Yu and Tom Li Bobo Li and Xi Li Dongfeng Xu and Zhifeng Li Cui Lan Deng and Tian Cong Liang Ann Xu and Yanbin Liang Yu Hsuan Lu and Chi Iuan Lin Ning Ding and Lin Lin Chaoyue Qi and Hang Liu Jing Hu and Hong Liu Mary Lee and Huajian Liu Qin Chen and Nian Liu Qiqi Deng and Victor Liu ‘95 Lu Zhang and XiaoYun Liu Xinxin Li and Zheng Liu Venus Iu and Howard Lu Hui Li and Lei Luo Xinxin Zhai and Xin Lyu Amy and Robert MacAlpine Reika and Mitsuhiro Maeda Erin and Blair Matthews Renee and Rob Merrick Mirella and John Morra Heather Smith-Morton and Barclay Morton Thi Phuong Diep Nguyen and Tien Dung Ngo Diem Thi Luu and Viet Huy Nguyen Philomena and Felix Nomuoja Eugenia Molina and Alfredo Pantano Noeline Burk and James Pataran Amber and Paul Perry My Hanh Pham Ellie Chai and Lei Ping Jennifer and Robert Porter Jin Ying Wang and Ke Hoa Quach Daniela and Gaetano Rabito H and E Romkema Miho and Takasuke Sekine Diane and Sean Sexsmith-Brosseau Xin Liu and Feng Shao Juan Du and Mingfeng Shen Corianne and Anthony Simpson Gail and Colin Simpson Karen Burrows-Smith and Jason Smith Yunzhuo Zhou and Xiaojie Song Deneine Drover-Stubbs and Stephen Stubbs April Sun Xiaozhou Sun Nali Ren and Hao Tang Hong Yen Nguyen and Van Chi Tang Lingling Song and Yun Teng Na Zhang and Qiu Ming Tong Wendy Jin and Minh Tran Jianmei Gao and Chi Kin Tsui Rimma Barinshteyn and Sivan Tumarkin Susanna Turner and Patrick Turner ‘97 Danielle and Gerry Visco Jingyu Yang and Di Wang Helen Pei and Harry Wang Hong Cai and Jinping Wang Ruonan Zhang and Lei Wang Patti and Kevin Wietzes Fei Xie and Shengyuan Wu

Huiping Xu and Zeming Wu Shaozi Zhang and Xiaoqian Xie Caihong Hu and Dun Hai Xu Lina Liu and Honglou Xu L Vivian Lee and Lei Yan Fangyu Wang and Hua Yang Lei Li and Yong Yang Linna Zhang and Weitao Yao Hong Mei Zheng and Ying Wen Ye Lisa and Jason Yip Man Ha Cheung and Hau Ming Yiu Hao Chen and Rudy You Connie and Ryan Youell Lingli Wu and Lei Yu Lu Lin and Zhen Yu L Duanyu Yan and Zhong Yu Guofang Mai and Hui Yuan Nicole Cortese and Paul Yue Anna and Pawel Zalewski Lin Lin and Tao Zeng Crystal Li and Jason Zhang Jiezhi Wu and Lei Zhang Yan Jiang and Meng Zhang Cui Yi Liang and Shu Tao Zhang L Kai Wang and Wei Zhang Kaiyu Zhang and Xiaoming Zhang Yunfei He and Yong Zhang Chunmei Ruan and Junlai Zhao Dan Wei and Yanpan Zhao Xiaohui Gong and Zhong Zheng Yan Sun and Mengli Zhou Fan Yang and Pengkun Zhou Jing Guo and Shengqun Zhou Ling Yang and Wei Zhou Zoe Yang and Yan Zou Anonymous (4)

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ALUMNI SUPPORT 1940s Currie Gardner ’40 Richard Lee ’49 Wilfrid Robinson ‘47

1950s Charles Beer ’59 The late Bill Bryant ’58 Kenneth Hills ’59 Stefan Israeler ’52 Edward Lowry ’51 L James Murray ’57 Brian Purdy ’56 Peter Smith ‘58 Roger Warren ’51 L L L L

1960s James Brown ‘69 L Robert Bryant ‘60 L Thomas Bryant ‘66

L Rolph Davis ‘60 Greg Dopulos ‘68 L David Douglas ‘60 Andew Newbery ‘63 Robert Rayner ‘62 L Robert Russel ‘67 L Herschell Sax ‘64 L Ronald Veale ‘63 Ron Veitch ‘69 Duncan Walker ‘69

1980s L

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2000s

Jose Aguayo ‘86 Stephen Barratt ‘86 Peter Dobbs ‘87 Jeffrey Forde ‘82 Jonathan Knaul ‘87 Stephen Rudberg ‘82 Dag Spicer ‘80 David White ‘88 Stephen Widdington ‘83 Samuel Yen ‘89

Talia Black ‘07 Amanda Hamm ‘05 Steven Liao ‘01 Amy MacKenzie ‘05 Kristin Marshall ‘05 Caleb Sturrup ‘04 L Gareth Sturrup ‘09 Riane Tse ‘07 L Alexander Zetzl ‘05

2010s 1970s Louis Cardinal ‘74 Terence Fish ‘74 Robert Gardner ‘72 Christopher Rogers ‘70 David Rogers ‘76 Adam Wetstein ‘73

Michael Gautier ‘14 James Quinn-Rabot ‘14

1990s Francis Fung ‘97 Soon Won Kang ‘97 Victor Liu ‘95 L Raymond Ng ‘99 Patrick Turner ‘97 L Ryan Turner ‘99

PAST PARENTS, FORMER STAFF AND FACULTY, GRANDPARENTS AND FRIENDS SUPPORT

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Rizalyn and Masoud Abedi Diane Adamson-Brdar Linda Alcock Barbara Allan Ann and Simon Armstrong Barclay Herod Family Foundation J.E. (Tim) Benson Darlene and Peter Blenich Joel Britz Margaret and John Casey Baiquan Chai Xiaoli Yu and Zhenfu Chen Melissa Fernandez Marcos and Emilio Tommaso Ciuffardi Lopez Miren Edurne Aguayo and Santiago Cortina Joan Davis and Rolph Davis ‘60 Angelina De Zen and Family Beth Egan The Egan Family Foundation Enginess Janet Evans Diane and Beric Farmer The Farmer Family Foundation Kaia and Patrick Farmer Diane Findlay Debbie and Adam Floyd Joyce and Robert Fraser Mason Giddings Carol and Peter Grys Yifan Gu Julianne Guselle Marit and Ian Hanna Elizabeth Hempen

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Peggy Hornell Ian Hull Beverly Jackson Francine and Robert Johnson Ellie Karkouti Rekha and Ajit Khanna Catherine and Christopher Lane Minqiang Lao Judith Lawrence Evan Lynch Jane Lynes Ailene and Dan MacDougall Kelly and Malcolm Mason Veronica and Paul Mason Cathy and John McGill Carol Moffat Jefferson Mooney Newmarket Huskies Track Club Thi Minh Khue Nguyen and Minh Hong Nguyen Mary Jane and John Omand Orthotic Concept Inc. Martha Ann and William Oughtred Aliye and Aydin Ozturk Galina Platanova and Dmitry Platanov Wendy and Dwight Powell John and Kellie Prittie and Family Till Quinn-Rabot and Joseph Rabot The Rathlyn Foundation Brenda and Randy Rideout Donald Ross Sandra and Dunbar Russel Norma and William Russell Madeleine Sands

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Ute Maria Woelwer-Schwarz and Martin Philipp Schwarz Jeanne and Allan Scott Judith Searle Colleen Sexsmith Audrey and Dan Shilt Mary Sinclair Kim Bilous and Darren Slind Gerry and Anita Smith Family Foundation at Toronto Foundation Mary and Gary Soberg Janice and Nelson Squires Tracy and Daniel Steinitz Jinty Stewart Minna Sturrup Jackie and Geoff Styles Sylvester Legacy Inc. Anita Tyler Carol Verity Xia Zhang and Rui Wang Wasim Jarrah Personal Real Estate Corporation Daniel Weinzweig Cindy Widdrington Stacy Widdrington Bert Wietzes Yen Family Fund Jane Zavitz Joan and Bert Zetzl Anonymous (3)

STAFF AND FACULTY SUPPORT L Joshua Armstrong Alex Au Yong Lotem Baram L Patrice Barbanchon L Elaine Barratt L Kimberly Bartlett Graham Birt L Ethan Bishop L The late Charles Boyd Jennifer Brett Fraser L Kim Browner Carrington Bull L Noeline Burk L Susan Cartwright Gordon Chiu Andrea Cleland Julie Clement L Chris Collingham L Steve Cope L Naomi Côté L Chris Coyne L Michael Daleman Paige Daoust L Michael Davis L Marc de la Bastide L Sarah Demarco John Dew Daniele Di Nardo L Janet Downer

L Donna Doyle Leah Duncan Jessica Ellis L David Fiscaletti L Jay Fletcher Stephanie Forgie L Shelley Frank L Alexis Furlan L Joanne Golding L Jillian Goodall L Alexis Hamilton Amanda Hamm ‘05 L Wilfred Hickey Ethan Hodges L Julia Hunt Taylor Jennings L Sheila Johnson L Ian Johnston L Shannon Kelly L Nancy Kerswill L Elaine Kliem Karen Krawec L Keith Kupsch L Penny Lawson-Cameron Melinda MacDonald L Rebecca MacDonald L Jeff Mason L Laura Mason L Arnold Massey

Erin Matthews L Lisa Maunder L Carol McKnight Kumail Meghani L Karen Meisel L Renee Merrick L Shirley Moffett L Nicole Murphy L Rosanna Naccarata Laura Padula Varathan Pathmanathan L Laurie Philp L Leila Picazo L Stephanie Pickering Errol Platt L Helena Pollakova L John Robertson L H Romkema L Jessie-May Rowntree Jamie Savage Chris Schneider Lian Senior L Jason Simm L Sheri Simon T. Ann Smiley L Jason Smith L Kim Smith L Heather Smith-Morton Alice Souvannakhily

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The Rathlyn Foundation Donald Ross Sandra and Dunbar Russel Norma and William Russell Madeleine Sands Jeanne and Allan Scott Judith Searle Audrey and Dan Shilt Mary Sinclair Kim Bilous and Darren Slind Mary and Gary Soberg L Dag Spicer ‘80 Jinty Stewart L Lisa and Peter Sturrup Jackie and Geoff Styles Anita Tyler Ronald Veale ‘63 Roger Warren ‘51 L Daniel Weinzweig Cindy Widdrington Stacy Widdrington Samuel Yen ‘89 Yen Family Fund

GIFTS-IN-KIND

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Lindsey Stefanovich Gareth Sturrup ‘09 Lisa Sturrup Peter Sturrup Danielle Sugar Heather Suters Ricky Tam Dan Thompson Emily van Nostrand Justine Verkuyl Ellen Wells Steve Wood

OTHER SUPPORT PC POWER OF COMMUNITY

ENDOWMENT GIFTS

L Margalit Gavrilov and Kourosh Asgari Talia Black ‘07 and Ethan Bishop Peter Dobbs ‘87 L Beth Egan L The Egan Family Foundation Enginess Carol and Peter Grys L Rebecca MacDonald Kristin Marshall ‘05 L Arnold Massey Andew Newbery ‘63 Thi Minh Khue Nguyen and Minh Hong Nguyen Laura Padula My Hanh Pham Wendy and Dwight Powell L Patti and Kevin Wietzes Lu Lin and Zhen Yu Anonymous (1)

Jose Aguayo ‘86 Linda Alcock Barbara Allan L Charles Beer ‘59 Joel Britz Margaret and John Casey Greg Dopulos ‘68 Janet Evans L Diane and Beric Farmer The Farmer Family Foundation Diane Findlay Debbie and Adam Floyd Julianne Guselle Marit and Ian Hanna Peggy Hornell Ian Hull L Stefan Israeler ‘52 Judith Lawrence Richard Lee ‘49 Carol Moffat Martha Ann and William Oughtred John and Kellie Prittie and Family Brian Purdy ‘56

Karl Hagan John Lockyer

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CAPITAL CAMPAIGN GIFTS Thanks to our generous donors, we have now raised $15,462,332 for the Light The Way campaign, exceeding our $10-million goal. We continue to work diligently to move forward with our plans for our Campus Master Plan, and a new building on campus. Our sincere appreciation to everyone who has demonstrated the vision and commitment to support this campaign. We are delighted that you have chosen to join us in moving this exciting project forward. For more information on how you can support Pickering College fundraising initiatives, contact Laura Padula, Manager, Development, at lpadula@pickeringcollege.on.ca or 1-877-895-1700 ext. 254.

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Masayo and Norimichi Adachi Aecon The late Henry Aguayo ‘48 David Allan ‘02 Philip Allan ‘71 Debbie Khan and Ali Alshubil Katie Armitage ‘04 Ann and Simon Armstrong Margalit Gavrilov and Kourosh Asgari Baljit and Salim Bardai Kim and Alan Barlow Elaine Barratt and Stephen Barratt ‘86 Jock Bates ‘61 Charles Beer ‘59 Jim Beer ‘63 Roxana and Jean-Pierre Berlan Dawn and David Beswick Christina and Sal Bianco Diane Li and James Bihari Talia Black ‘07 Kirsten Nicolson and Brad Boland James Brown ‘69 The late Bill Bryant ‘58 Robert Bryant ‘60 Patricia and Donald Cameron Susan Cameron Susann Cannon The Cannon and Trussell Families Vanessa and Donald Carson CAS Accounting for Insurance Inc. Susan and Edward Chant James Christakis Eunyoung Lee and Chansoo Chung Susan and David Cooper Miren Edurne Aguayo and Santiago Cortina George Cox ‘57 YanLin Liu and Dongtai Cui Eleanor and Troy Cumiskey Andie and Kevin Desforges Angelina De Zen and Family Direct IT Recruiting Inc. Greg Dopulos ‘68 Arthur Dorland David Douglas ‘60 Robyn and Tony Eames The late Hugh Edighoffer ‘47 Beth Egan The Egan Family Foundation Richard Elston ‘56 Tom Everson ‘84 Diane and Beric Farmer The Farmer Family Foundation Mitchell Fasken ‘74 Diane and Brian FitzGerald Debbie and Adam Floyd Sharon and Wayne Ford Jeffrey Forde ‘82

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Donna and Allan Fordyce Man Lu Wang and Qiang Fu Alexis and Roland Furlan Karen Whetstone and Richard Geurts Joanne and Christopher Golding Janice Fleming-Gole and Robert Gole Michelle Zhang and Bin Gong Lisa and David Graham Carol and Peter Grys James Harrison ‘47 The late Nicolee Hathaway Kenneth Hills ‘59 Anthony Jackson ‘79 Beverly Jackson Natalie Owen-James and Michael James Taylor Jennings Maria Jordan Zahra Kara Kelly Gallacher and Perry Kereakou Rekha and Ajit Khanna Elham Ardestani-Zadeh and Vahid Khansari Yoko and Sadahito Kimata Donald King ‘46 Heather King Cathy Christakis-Kiriakou and Nick Kiriakou Mukta and Murali Krishnan Krishnan Medicine Professional Corporation Catherine and Christopher Lane Peter Lau ‘82 Yim Yin Yung and Terrence Lau In Memory of James A. Lawson by Patricia Lawson, Penny LawsonCameron and Pamela Lawson Mary Madigan-Lee and Heward Lee ‘78 May Ling Ng and Wai Leung The late Wilson Leung ‘79 Zhao Hui Li Wang Chiung-Liao and Long-Shing Liao Victor Liu ‘95 Lone Star Group of Companies Limited Weiping Lu Jane Lynes Vida Sernas and Alan MacDonald Ailene and Dan MacDougall The late Michael Mackenzie ‘45 Janice Wang and Chi Hsiung Mao Kelly and Malcolm Mason Veronica and Paul Mason Mason’s Masonry Supply Ltd. Cathy and John McGill Victoria and Michael McGinn Kellie and Sean McKay Donald McLaren ‘76 The late Brian Meharg ‘78 John Meisel ‘43

L Renee and Rob Merrick Pierre Mevissen Lisa Campeis and Eric Milligan Rocklyn Mohammed ‘93 Gillian and Graeme Montgomery L Mirella and John Morra L James Murray ‘57 Daniel Nelson Clara and Johnny Ng The late Doris Nicolson Mary Jane and John Omand Laura Padula Cora Pataran ‘24 Lori and Jim Pedersen Patrick Peotto Wei and Brian Porter Jill Powell Ashley and Matt Powell William Powell Juli and Paul Prochazka Kathy and Ian Proudfoot Brian Purdy ‘56 The Rathlyn Foundation Xiaojun Wu and Guorong Ren Brian Reynolds ‘70 Lorena Rodriguez Christopher Rogers ‘70 David Rogers ‘76 L Jessie-May Rowntree Stephen Rudberg ‘82 L Robert Russel ‘67 Tanja and Dirk Schaefer Magdalena (Meg) Searles Jocelyn Yee and Simon Seow Colleen Sexsmith Diane and Sean Sexsmith-Brosseau Karen and Ron Sharpe The late Martin Shubik ‘43 Corianne and Anthony Simpson Kim Bilous and Darren Slind T. Ann Smiley L Gerry and Anita Smith Family Foundation at Toronto Foundation Bo and Orest Sochaniwskyj Darla and Peter Somerville L Dag Spicer ‘80 The late Jim Spring ‘47 L Janice and Nelson Squires Linda and Mitchell Stevenson Mary and Robert Stevenson Sherry Barclay and Kevin Still Minna Sturrup L Lisa and Peter Sturrup Jiage Guo and Chenggang Sun Sylvester Legacy Inc. Grace Lin and Chih-Lang Tai Tim Hortons – The Floyd Family Townline Self-Storage

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Belinda and Mark Trussell Susanna Turner and Patrick Turner ‘97 Ryan Turner ‘99 Tony Van Bynen Roger Veale ‘61 Karen Benson and Ron Veitch ‘69 Carol and Richard Verity Duncan Walker ‘69 Anna Hu and Dali Wang Helen Pei and Harry Wang Sheila and James Waters Wayne Ford Sales Limited David White ‘88 Patti and Kevin Wietzes Yun Mi Lee and Bong Cheol Woo Mary Zhou and Jack Xuan Vivian Lee and Lei Yan Samuel Yen ‘89 Lisa and Jason Yip Nicole Cortese and Paul Yue Anna and Pawel Zalewski Jane Zavitz Li Liu and Fanyi Zeng Alex Zetzl ‘05 Lu Chen and Jigui Zhang Karen Lin and Jim Zhang Hongxia Chen and Shouping Zhang Ivy Tan and Xi Zhang Wanping Zhang and Zhenchen Zhang Yuji Xing and Biwu Zhao Anonymous (6)

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BERIC AND DIANE FARMER Making the world a better place

PC. It was many years where we supported where we could, attending events like the Holiday Home Tour. I did struggle with donating to PC when there are so many important causes. My thinking tied into the philosophy of PC—the sense that Pickering College is sending out a lot of graduates into the world with the mindset of trying to make the world a better place. It is possible that the benefits that the world sees from the donation that you give to Pickering College may be delayed by a few years, but it Beric credits Diane with first becoming immersed in school life is also possible that your giving is multiplied by the fact that all at PC when Chris began Junior School. The positive experience these students are going out into the world with those values and that mindset. One of those students Chris had his first few years at PC meant could go on to help thousands of people Jenna soon followed “without a backward or hundreds of thousands of people. It glance the first day I dropped her off,” “We are collectively seems like a very worthy cause.” chuckles Beric. Diane quickly became drawn to give because involved in the Pickering College Association Beric and Diane have recently made a (PCA) including school activities such as we fundamentally substantial gift that will help initiate the Carnaval, and fundraising events like the Green Fund to support environmental Holiday Home Tour. She points to her time as believe in the mission projects at the school, a Parent Rep, reaching out to other parents and values of the school, sustainability starting with elements of the new and chatting with families during drop-off academic building. Such elements in and pick-up when their kids were young, as are inspired by the the building’s early designs caught the key to building friendships. talented and dedicated attention of both Beric and Diane. As the project progressed, Beric, as a member “The highlight of my time as a volunteer staff, and believe in the of the board, learned how sustainable was really getting to know other parents incredible potential of the elements are often eliminated from and getting to know the staff really well. building projects as costs inevitably need It was so clear how much the teachers students. We do this for to be trimmed. “I was inspired by (fellow really get to know the individual students, understand them, and care about every them, and for the better board member) Patrick Turner and his passion for sustainability. He made the child.” Both Diane and Beric have been world they will build.” point that sustainability should not be involved as volunteers over the years. Beric optional. That truly resonated with me. currently sits on the Board of Directors –Beric Farmer Our children need to see that we live and has been a member of various board according to the values we teach them.” committees. His background in business and technology as the co-founder of XE.com has made him an invaluable resource to the school, including on the Digital The Farmers believe the PC commitment to global citizenship is urgently needed in the world and feel fortunate to be able Transformation Committee and Strategy Committee. to contribute as donors. In coming full circle, Diane points out “The biggest factor in improving educational outcomes is the that contributions to Pickering College come in all forms—and engagement of parents. Perhaps the philosophy of Pickering those who contribute their time and money are all helping to College attracts people who want to be highly engaged. support the school and students.

Certainly, everyone we have met has been really easy to like!

Beric regards their family’s giving to Pickering College as being There is a strong sense of community that we appreciate.” in support of what they believe is a very good cause. “There are The Farmer family have also become generous donors, so many who give generously and each and every contribution supporting the school increasingly over the years. Beric lifts the school up and sustains and enriches the wonderful PC shares how they gradually made PC an important part of their community. I believe we are collectively drawn to give because we fundamentally believe in the mission and values of the philanthropy. school, are inspired by the talented and dedicated staff, and “I remember getting the welcome letter and finding out that believe in the incredible potential of the students. We do this tuition does not cover the complete cost of students attending for them, and for the better world they will build.”

For many Pickering College families, enrolling their children can be the beginning of lifelong friendships, not just for their children, but for the entire family. Such was the case for the Farmer family, who like many, felt a strong sense of community from when their children first started at PC. Now graduates, Chris Farmer ‘17, and Jenna Farmer ‘20 benefited from an excellent education and built lifelong friendships for themselves at PC.

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GREEN FUND

GREEN DESIGN FOR A GREEN FUTURE Establishing a Green Fund at Pickering College coincides with a time of transformational change. The school’s Campus Master Plan is ripe with opportunity to enhance campus spaces and provide classrooms and buildings equipped for modern learning needs. We are compelled to ensure these projects incorporate green practices. This is an opportunity that will impact future generations of Pickering College students.

The Green Fund will be a means to limit our environmental footprint and model the stewardship values we instil in our students. Sustainability is not just part of science classes or outdoor education, but an important part of 21st century learning as we recognize that caring for the earth and the environment is key to being active global citizens.

One potential addition to our green infrastructure could be a green roof atop the New Academic Building. If built, this roof would be visible from adjoining buildings and serve not only as a beautiful addition but as a constant reminder of the importance of action in support of the environment.

To donate to the Green Fund at PC or find out more about green initiatives on campus, please contact Jessie-May Rowntree jrowntree@pickeringcollege.on.ca or call (905) 895-1700 ext. 234.

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LAMPLIGHTERS Giving for tomorrow, today.

The school’s symbol is a lamp, the lamp of learning that our caring community of Lamplighters keep well lit by gifting Pickering College through their wills, estates, and life insurance.

Committing to a planned gift ensures that your legacy lives on at Pickering College for generations to come.

PC LAMPLIGHTERS Ralph Barnes ’67 L Charles Beer ’59 Kim Bilous L The late Charles Boyd Jeffrey Forde ’82 Jack Houghton ’47 John Lockyer L Robert Russel ’67 Adam Shully ’78 Wolf Smith-Butz ’73 Ron Veitch ’69 L Daniel Weinzweig Anonymous (1)

Interested in learning more or joining the Lamplighters? Or have you already included Pickering College in your estate planning?

Please contact Laura Padula, Manager, Development, at lpadula@pickeringcollege.on.ca or 1-877-895-1700 ext. 254.

BOARD MEMBERS 2020-2021 Mirella Morra, Chair Patrick Turner ‘97, Vice-Chair Stephen Barratt ‘86 Sal Bianco Beric Farmer Ajit Khanna Christopher Lane Ailene MacDougall Kelly Mason, Past Chair Riane Tse ‘07 Ronald Veitch ‘69

CORPORATION MEMBERS 2020-2021 Christopher Lane Stephen Barratt ‘86 Vivian Lee Christina Bianco Heward Lee ‘78 Sal Bianco Ailene MacDougall Vanessa Carson Kelly Mason Susan Cooper Mirella Morra Peter Dobbs ‘87 Daniel Nelson Beth Egan Isabelle Payne ‘98 Beric Farmer Helen Pei Jason Foulds Ian Proudfoot Jason Herod Kurt Richardson ‘02 Trevor Hunt Krystie Robinson-Vincent Ajit Khanna Tara Roy-DiClemente Thomas Kim

Debra Scott Colleen Sexsmith Adam Shully ‘78 Riane Tse ‘07 Patrick Turner ‘97 Ronald Veitch ‘69 Duncan Walker ‘69 Mareena Wallace ‘13 Roger Warren ‘51 Lee Webb Karen Whetstone Stephen Widdrington ‘83 Kevin Wietzes Jason Yip

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WAYS TO GIVE At Pickering College, we are inspired that our community—parents, alumni, Board and Corporation, staff, family and friends alike— demonstrate their commitment to the tradition of philanthropic support by donating so generously to ensure a bright future.

There are many ways to make a gift to Pickering College: Gifts by credit card, cheque or cash You can choose to make a one-time or a monthly donation. One-time gifts are payable by cheque, credit card, or wire transfer. Monthly donations make giving easy—they are automated and payable by direct debit or credit card.

Gifts of securities and mutual fund shares A gift of securities can include stocks, mutual funds and segregated funds. It is the most efficient way to donate. Since capital gains tax does not apply, it is a wonderful way to benefit both you and the school. Gifts of publicly-traded securities are simple to make; consult your financial advisor to decide which investments make the most financial and philanthropic impact. Then, ask your broker to transfer your securities to Pickering College by completing the appropriate Transfer of Securities Form.

Planned giving A gift in your will may be the biggest gift of your life. By joining Pickering College’s community of lamplighters, you will have the comfort of knowing that the legacy of your generosity will live on for future generations. The biggest advantage of giving through your estate is that it does not cost you anything during your lifetime.

Matching gifts Matching gifts are a type of philanthropy in which companies financially match donations their employees make to charities. Please contact your Human Resources department to inquire about whether a matching gift is possible.

Commemorative/tribute gifts Your donation can be made in honour of a teacher, advisor, coach or friend who has had a positive influence and made adifference in your Pickering College experience. Tribute Gifts can include: Dining Hall chairs and table dedications, and library resources through the Learning Commons Tribute Program.

For more information about PC’s Lamplighters, or any other method of making a gift, please contact Jessie-May Rowntree, Assistant Head of School, Advancement at jrowntree@pickeringcollege.on.ca or 905-895-1700 ext. 234.

Assistant Head of School, Advancement Jessie-May Rowntree Manager, Parent Engagement & Strategic Events Shelley Frank Manager, Annual Giving & Constituent Engagement Taylor Jennings Manager, Development Laura Padula Alumni Engagement Coordinator Adam Darvay-Canavor ’13 Development Administrator Karen Meisel Charitable Registration Number: 11909 2815 RR0001

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PRIVACY OF INFORMATION: Pickering College is committed to protecting the privacy of your personal information.

When you as a parent, student, alumnus or other individual provide personal information to the school, such as your name, address and telephone number, it is shared with the Development Office so that we may communicate with you through various publications and so that we may solicit your financial and volunteer support. Under no circumstances is the information rented, sold or given to any organization outside Pickering College. Access to the information is restricted to authorized staff members. For further information on our commitment to protecting your privacy, please contact PC Privacy Officer at privacyofficer@ pickeringcollege.on.ca or 905-895-1700. Thank you.

DISCLAIMER: Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the listings in this report.

Please note that your support may be indicated as Anonymous should you so chose. We regret and apologize for any inadvertent errors or omissions and ask that corrected information be provided to the Assistant Head of School, Advancement, Pickering College, 16945 Bayview Avenue, Newmarket, Ontario, L3Y 4X2 advancement@ pickeringcollege.on.ca

*pre-pandemic photos

An update from the Pickering College Association PCA events enhance the student experience by raising funds, which support capital projects, academic programs and innovative technology.

Over the years, signature events have funded initiatives such as replacement of the arena Zamboni, extension of the Harry M. Beer Dining Hall, replacement of servery equipment, the rejuvenation of Memorial Field and track, and installation of the Harry M. Beer Dining Hall courtyard gardens. Signature events have also supported the Light The Way building campaign, annual giving, the Global Leadership Program, and have provided technology upgrades such as classroom Chromebooks, the 3D printer and sound equipment.

While COVID-19 presents unique challenges to the delivery of signature events, committee volunteers have found new and creative ways to deliver these events with the 21st annual Pickering College Golf Tournament and the 16th annual Holiday Home Tour virtual event being the most recent examples.

We are grateful to our volunteers for maintaining their enthusiasm and commitment to provide engaging opportunities for our community to come together in support of our great school. We look forward to meeting you at one of the many PCA social events and fundraising events planned for 2022. Volunteering on committees not only supports school life for our students but truly makes a difference!

For more information visit www.pickeringcollege.on.ca, follow us on Facebook and Instagram PCAparents or contact PCA Chair Krystie Robinson-Vincent at pcachair@ pickeringcollege.on.ca.

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GOLF TOURNAMENT 21st Annual Pickering College Golf Tournament Lebovic Golf Club, Saturday, September 18, 2021 LEAD SPONSORS Presenting Sponsor Lebovic Golf Club Golf Cart Sponsor The Roman Group Banner Sponsor The LOOK Company 11th Hole Sponsor Diane and Beric Farmer Trophy Sponsor Enginess Lunch Sponsor Brokerlink Course Pack Sponsor Terra Brook Homes Tribute Hole Sponsor Rogol Electric Company Ltd. HOLE SPONSORS Advertek Apple Suites Canada Doors & Frame Crate Designs Diamond Landscaping Services Ltd. Diamond Perfected Stone Countertops Dol Turf Restoration Graydor Flooring Melcour Security Solutions Miller Waste Systems Mr. Janitorial Supplies Inc. Newmarket Office Equipment Northstar Pharmaceutical Inc. Robins IDA Pharmacy Ltd. Roadside Paving DONORS Ailene and Dan MacDougall Jeff and Heather Baker Shirley Filiatrault Peter Dobbs ‘87 The Roman Group BrokerLink Mitchell Stevenson

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This year’s tournament welcomed golfers to the exclusive members only Lebovic Golf Club. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, golfers were invited to register for a tee-off time and enjoyed a leisurely round of golf with family and friends. Golfers were happy to get back on the course and appreciated the safety measures in place that supported a safe and relaxing day. Thank you to Wolf Lebovic and his team for an exceptional day on the beautifully maintained Lebovic Golf course.

Congratulations to the 21st Annual Pickering College Golf Tournament winning foursome; Mason Giddings, Michael Gautier ‘14, Simon Lycklama and James QuinnRabot ‘14! Three cheers for Silver House tournament participants, donors and sponsors who won a dress down day and treat for the current students in their House. A big thank you and congratulations to past parent Mitchell Stevenson, winner of the Foster ‘46 for his many contributions to the success of the tournament over the years.

Proceeds from the 2021 event were directed toward critical equipment upgrades in the Joseph McCulley Meeting Room, a prominent space in Rogers House, and to classroom upgrades supporting a safe learning environment during the COVID-19 pandemic. We are grateful to our presenting sponsor, Lebovic Golf Club and to all our sponsors for their generosity—thank you!

It is with great sorrow that we recognize the loss of Brian Meharg ‘78 and Jason Rose ‘84. Both Brian and Jason showed unwavering support for the tournament, each year returning with friends and family, always sharing their enthusiastic support for the event and for PC. Their laughter, good cheer and generous spirit will be missed.

Brian and Jason will be recognized at the tournament Tribute Hole each year in remembrance. Thank you to the Rose family for sponsoring the Tribute Hole that enabled four young alumni to attend the event with classmates.

Sadly, we also lost our tournament ambassador Charles F. Boyd. Charles worked with committees to plan the annual event from its inception and could be seen walking the course, chatting in the clubhouse, or cruising in a golf cart bringing good cheer to all he encountered. Charles always had a good word, a story to share and was first up to welcome guests to the event. He spent many hours on the phone encouraging alumni to round up their friends for a day of golf and was so pleased to welcome golfers back each year.

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HOLIDAY HOME TOUR 16th Annual Pickering College Holiday Home Tour Presented by Upper Canada Mall LEAD SPONSORS Presenting Sponsor Upper Canada Mall Holiday Cheer Sponsor Aramark Canada Media Sponsor Adam DC Media Graphic Design Sponsor Right Side Graphics Tour Sparkle Sponsor Select Art Galleries School Sponsor The Royal Wood Shop Ltd. Sugar Plum Sponsor CDA Dance Academy HOME SPONSORS Prep Academy Tutors Handle This Ltd. Mercedes Benz, Barrie Pizza Nova, Aurora Di Matteo Construction REALTOR SPONSORS Chris Cartwright Margaret Mead, Main St. Realty Ltd. Anita Kotsovos Daniel Foch ‘09 Robert DiMatteo DESIGNERS ADM Design Inc. Alexandra Di Matteo Designs Michelle Berwick Design HS Decor Services FLORISTS Brooke’s Flower Shop Room to Bloom Kith Flower and Gift Shop HOLIDAY HOME TOUR COMMITTEE Susan Cooper, Chair Sophie Armstrong ’12 Sonya Bonerath Adam Darvay-Canavor ’13 Daniel Foch ’09 Krystal Hopper Andrea McMullen Karen Meisel Krystie Robinson-Vincent Patti Wietzes

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Over the course of 16 years, the Holiday Home Tour has featured nine communities throughout York Region, with decorators and florists adding their creative magic to 88 homes, sponsored by over 255 businesses, ably facilitated by 700 volunteers, welcoming 16,000 guests, and providing financial support to 15 charitable organizations. What an incredible testament to the dedication of Holiday Home Tour committee volunteers that have worked tirelessly to deliver a one of-a-kind event year after year. “Thank you” hardly conveys the gratitude of the PC community and those that tour proceeds have impacted. Through the efforts of alumni, parents, past parents and friends of the community, the Pickering College Holiday Home Tour now marks the start of holiday festivities for so many, while raising funds for Pickering College and a York Region charity.

Recognizing the challenges related to COVID-19 limitations, the Holiday Home Tour volunteers shifted from planning the traditional tour to looking for new and creative ways to keep the excitement of the tour alive. With an elegant Holiday Boutique Soirée and our trademark Saturday Seasonal Boutique ready to welcome guests, COVID-19 once again limited the committee’s ability to deliver these thoughtfully-reimagined events.

Undeterred, the Holiday Home Tour committee brought the tour home! Months of research and preparation led to an exceptional virtual event. Thank you to our gracious homeowners who opened their homes for décor installation as early as October with the first home shoot at Halloween and the last only one week prior to the event premiere. Once again, floral designers added spectacular finishing touches and our designers shone brightly from sumptuous décor to engaging tours through their featured home.

Our deepest gratitude to donors, guests, homeowners, sponsors and volunteers who stepped up to show their support. A special thank you to Andrea McMullen, ADM Design; Anita Kotsovos, Re/Max Realtron Realty; Brad Gerrits, The Royal Wood Shop; Georgia & Vassili Pantelidis, Select Art Galleries; and Vicki Crocker, Prep Academy Tutors, for believing in the virtual event and for supporting the Holiday Home Tour for a decade plus. Our sincere thanks to Upper Canada Mall, this year’s presenting sponsor, for their support of Pickering College and The Food Bank of York Region.

While some guests missed a live tour experience, most commented that they enjoyed the opportunity to view the event from the comfort of home, without the bother of maps, coats and boots. Guests Zoomed in for the premiere from around the world and continue to access the event through their unique link to the YouTube event. Many guests hosted viewing parties to kick off the holidays with friends and all appreciated being toured through the homes by the designers which provided the opportunity to see the décor and designs “up close.” We were proud to showcase the talents of CDA Dance Academy, The Creative Atelier Cakery, Donais Studios, The Rustic Table and Aramark, Pickering College and thank them for their contributions to the success of this year’s event. Thank you to Grade 6 student Noelle Simpson for setting a beautiful holiday tone with her harp performance of The First Noel. We would be remiss if we did not thank the tour narrator, Stephen Widdrington ’83 who guided guests from home to home with poetic narration.

Thank you to this year’s committee for their perseverance and determination to bring an exceptional holiday experience to our guests. Thank you to committee chair Susan Cooper for her leadership, our talented designer liaison Patti Wietzes, our event communications team of Sophie Armstrong ’12, Sonya Bonerath and Daniel Foch ’09, our design directors Andrea McMullen and Krystal Hopper, our catering and entertainment coordinator Krystie RobinsonVincent, our event coordinator Karen Meisel and our videography production lead Adam Darvay-Canavor ’13. Thank you to The Food Bank of York Region for the important work they do to improve the lives of those living with food insecurity.

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Welcome Dr. Cinde Lock, Head of School With the announced retirement of Head of School Peter Sturrup scheduled for the end of this academic year, the Board of Directors established a search committee to conduct a comprehensive and collaborative national and international search for his successor. Led by past Chair Kelly Mason and supported by Colleen Keenan, an executive search consultant with Odgers Berndtson, the committee received thoughtful feedback from a broad representation of our community—alumni, staff, parents and students—to identify the community’s aspirations for the future of our school.

On October 21, it was announced that the Pickering College Board of Directors had selected Dr. Cinde Lock to be the 14th Head of School at Pickering College.

Cinde comes to us from Branksome Hall Asia with a wealth of teaching experience, pedagogical expertise and leadership skills. An authentic leader, fully aligned with Pickering College’s mission and values, Cinde will help us to uphold our Quaker traditions and lead our growth in a transformative way. She will officially begin her time here at Pickering on August 8, 2022, but visited Pickering College in November to begin her meetings with members of the PC community.

This is an incredibly exciting moment for Pickering College. We are so very grateful to our retiring Head of School, Peter Sturrup, for his visionary leadership throughout the last 27 years and we will be honouring him in the spring.

And now we are looking forward to having Cinde lead us into the future.

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STAFF NEWS many students. I’m grateful that Pickering College shared that passion and allowed me to play a part in the development of a tremendous outdoor education program that I know will continue to grow to the benefit of our students.”

TOM LEWIS RECOGNIZED WITH HEALTHY COMMUNITY AWARD Tom Lewis, recently retired outdoor education specialist at Pickering College, was recognized on November 26 as a recipient of a Healthy Community Award by the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority (LSRCA). Pickering College’s retired Head of Arts Noeline Burk nominated Lewis for the award in recognition of his tireless work in sharing his passion for the outdoors and leading many outdoor adventures for students.

The Healthy Community Award celebrates individuals or groups who have completed a project that increases community connections and engagement through events, fairs and festivals; tree plantings; clean-ups and community programs.

“Our Outdoor Education Program at Pickering College flourished under Tom’s guidance and expertise,” says Janet Downer, Assistant Head of School, Academics and Student Programs. “He has a gift for connecting students to the natural environment. Tom is certainly deserving of this award.”

Tom Lewis says the award means a great deal to him and because it was totally unexpected it makes it all the more special.

“I’d like to thank my good friend Noeline Burk for nominating me. We have shared some wonderful outdoor adventures with students over the years,” says Lewis. “I have always loved being outdoors. I’m so very thankful that during my teaching journey I was able to share my passion with so

DEAN GESSIE EARNS INTERNATIONAL ACCOLADES FOR POETRY AND FICTION Since retiring from Pickering College after 25 years of teaching, former Head of English Dean Gessie has gained quite an international reputation for his fiction and poetry.

Most recently, he won the Creators of Justice Literary Award, a competition sponsored by the International Human Rights Art Festival in New York. The festival’s honourary committee included Bernie Sanders, Barbara Streisand, Norman Lear and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, among many other luminaries. There were submissions from more than 55 countries.

He has also won a number of poetry awards including the UN-aligned International Poetry Award in Helsinki, Finland, the Allingham International Poetry Festival in Ireland, the Editors’ Poetry Prize from the Spoon River Poetry Review in Illinois and the Frank O’Hara Poetry Prize in Massachusetts. In December 2021, he learned he won the Aesthetica Creative Writing Award, one of England’s most prestigious awards for poetry and fiction. Aesthetic Magazine has a readership of over 400,000 and there were more than 3,000 submissions to the contest. His prize includes a public reading in England, publication of his poem and a cash award.

FAREWELL Jill Abramowitz Nurse Jill started at PC in her role in November of 2011 and has been a warm and welcoming presence in the Health Centre ever since. She will be missed by students and staff, and we wish her all the best.

Jillian Goodall Nurse Jillian worked at PC for nearly five years as a valued member of the Health Centre Team in her role of Nurse. She will be missed by students and staff alike – we wish her all the best for the future.

Alexis Hamilton Guidance Assistant For 16 years, Alexis has been the behindthe-scenes master of organization for commencement, photo days and postsecondary fairs. She has also played a critical role in record keeping and ministry reporting. We will miss her sense of humour and ability to keep everyone in line, and hope she enjoys her retirement.

Nancy Kerswill Admission Assistant Nancy has been a welcoming point of contact for hundreds of prospective families since 2015. She has done so while keeping the Admission team organized and ably coordinating ESL Summer Camp registration. We will miss Nancy, and her dedication as a parent and staff member, and wish her a happy retirement.

Jennifer Middleton Kindergarten Assistant Jennifer has been a mainstay in our kindergarten classroom for more that 19 years. She has touched the lives of many of our students, staff and parents and cared deeply about our students. We are grateful to Jennifer and wish her all the best for the future.

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SAVE THE DATE CHARLES F. BOYD INVITATIONAL PICKERING COLLEGE GOLF TOURNAMENT Thursday, June 23, 2022 With the uncertainly of being able to gather in person, we encourage you to update your email address on our website (under the Alumni tab) to receive emailed invitations and updates.

UPCOMING EVENTS MAY 2022 – JUNE 2022

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Wednesday, May 18

Springfest concerts

Thursday, May 19

My Key Idea (Junior School)

Friday, May 20

PD Day – no classes Boarding remains open

Monday, May 23 (Victoria Day)

No classes and offices closed Boarding remains open

Tuesday, May 24

Classes resume

Monday, May 30

Sports Day

Tuesday, June 7

Expression of Self (Middle School)

Thursday, June 9

Full School Closing Morning Meeting

Friday, June 10 & Monday, June 13

Senior School Semester Two Finals

Tuesday, June 14

Kindergrad

Wednesday, June 15

Grade 8 Closing Ceremony

Friday, June 17

Grade 12 Commencement

Thursday, June 23

Annual PC Golf Tournament

VOLUME 43

ISSUE TWO

MANAGING EDITOR JESSIE-MAY ROWNTREE Assistant Head of School, Advancement EDITOR NAOMI CÔTÉ Communications Manager CONTRIBUTORS DINA BAIRD JENNIFER BRETT FRASER ADAM DARVAY-CANAVOR SHELLEY FRANK TAYLOR JENNINGS KAREN MEISEL LAURA PADULA PETER STURRUP SAVANNAH TRAN 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.

Legacy Challenge! at Reunion Weekend Saturday, September 17, 2022

Be part of the legacy—join us for the Pickering College Legacy Challenge Road Rally & BBQ Street Party celebrating Peter Sturrup’s 27-year tenure as Head of School. Enjoy time with friends on the Hilltop over a continental breakfast, then rally on to the picturesque village of Creemore. Prepare to be challenged along the route at a series of family friendly pit stop games and activities led by our PUMA pit crews. Enjoy a seasonal picnic and visit the shop stops at the Creemore turnaround, then return to the Hilltop amidst fanfare for refreshments.

To learn more, please visit www.pickeringcollege.on.ca/events/pc-road-rally-legacy-challenge

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1842

18 :1

1842

Find your place at PC 18 :1

Average Class Size

Average Class Size

Students from

Students from

25+ Countries

25+ Countries

100% University Acceptance

100%

Post-Secondary Acceptance

65+

Co-curriculars and Clubs

100%

Post-Secondary Acceptance

65+

Co-curriculars and Clubs

What sets a Pickering College educationScholarships apart?are Available Scholarships are Available 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 values-based decision makers. It’s developing students into innovative, courageous, and compassionate global citizens who go beyond theory and Boarding for Grades

7-12

Boarding for Grades

7-12

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 2023, JK to Grade 12. Inquire: www.pickeringcollege.on.ca/more

Visit us at www.pickeringcollege.on.ca