Tiger Magazine - Fall 2018

FALL 2018

Introducing David K. Carter ’88

Archives Corner: Five Curious Facts

Alumni @Work: ENVIRO

Solely for valued members of the Ridley community.

The information contained herein may not be published without permission.

Andrea Carisse

CONTRIBUTORS

DIRECTOR, STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS & MARKETING

writing

Mackenzie Fowler ’11 DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR

Angela Osborne WRITER & MEDIA RELATIONS COORDINATOR

Michelle Scrivener GRAPHIC DESIGNER & PHOTOGRAPHER

Andrea Carisse Mackenzie Fowler ’11 Angela Osborne

editing Andrea Carisse Angela Osborne

printing Battlefield Press

design Michelle Scrivener

photography Kathy Anderson Andrea Carisse Rob Black ’99 Mackenzie Fowler ’11 Bryan Groff Susan Hazell Lachlan Macintosh Paul O’Rourke Michelle Scrivener

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ridleycollege.com

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OUR SCHOOL

LIFE ON CAMPUS

FEATURE STORIES

Headmaster’s Headlines

Academics.............21

Athletics................ 25

DECA Provincials

MPHL Championships

MYP Personal Projects Helping Hands Project

Narrow Loss at OSBA Championship

Rube Goldberg Machine

Swimming OFSAA

Civics Action Fair

U.K. Rugby Tour

Spring Fulford Cup

Rowers Shine on National Stage

Lower School Science Fair

Ridley Gymnastics

PYP Exhibition

Learning from the Pros

Introducing David K. Carter ’88 Portrait of a Ridley Grad

CSSRA Rowing Results Arts........................ 33 CIS Music Festival 10th Annual RIFF Big Bands Concert Rodman Hall Exhibit A Lighter Shade of Noir Arts Awards The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus Faculty Plays Entertain

CISAA Rugby Championships Representing Team Canada at FIBA Service...................37 Indigenous Week Action for Humboldt Earth Week Celebrations March Break Service-Learning • Malawi • Guatemala • China

Flourishing Lifer: Anthony Nguyen ’18 An Ambassador for Change: David MacNaughton ’67 Committed to Cadets

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ALUMNI STORIES

DONOR SPOTLIGHT

ALUMNI ANNOUNCEMENTS

ARCHIVES CORNER

Alumni @ Work: ENVIRO

Anne Mitchell ’85 and Noel Langhorne ’87

2018 Alumni Survey Summary

Five Curious Facts

Global Events Recaps Flourish: A Gala to Benefit Ridley College

Andrew Tymoszewicz ’76 Estate of Joan Larkin Hamilton ’76 Estate of Donald H. Lie ’52

Alumni Highlights Class Notes Marriages, Births, Obituaries Faculty and Staff Notes

in this issue

Michelle Scrivener

Michelle Scrivener

Michelle Scrivener

Andrea Carisse

Michelle Scrivener

Bryan Groff

Susan Hazell

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HEADMASTER’S HEADLINES

HONOURING GEORGINA H. BLACK ’85 After 15 years of volunteer leadership as a member of the Ridley College Board of Governors, Georgina H. Black has stepped down from her position as Chair of the Board as of September 2018. For those who might not be aware of the commitment of a Ridley College Governor, 15 years represents thousands of hours of decision making, strategic planning, fiduciary care, and generative discussion. Inevitably, governance leadership at a school like Ridley also involves “flying the Ridley flag”, meeting and greeting members of our community and attending hundreds of annual events from branch receptions to Homecoming to Prize Day ceremonies. Of course, as the leader of the Board, the Chair’s commitment seemingly doubles. More meetings, more travel, more school ceremonies and more phone calls with the Headmaster! In brief, such is the commitment, loyalty and care Georgina Black has displayed “to the place we love.” For these years of exceptional service and devotion, much gratitude is owed.

Joining the Board in December 2003, Georgina immediately represented the future for Ridley.

Professional, energetic, ambitious and armed with a fresh perspective, Georgina brought a governance and strategic planning expertise that would help to transform our College. She played an instrumental role in modernizing our governance structure, transforming the Board from nearly 50 members to 18 with a committee structure that reflected the fiduciary duty of care, succession planning and risk management required of a modern non-profit board.

Georgina played a vital role in facilitating and then designing two of Ridley’s long-term strategic plans, including our current “Inspiring Flourishing Lives” plan and vision. Guided by these strategic directions, she provided steady stewardship of our development as an IB World school and as a pioneer in the growing field of positive education. Her leadership also helped to translate our compelling vision into a Master Campus Plan, a sustainable financial plan and

a compelling educational programme that has manifested itself as exceptionally strong enrollment demand.

As if that were not enough, Georgina has also proven herself as our community’s inspirational leader—I know of few Board Chairs who have chaperoned service learning trips to India! By example, she has impact and for a learning community filled with emerging young leaders, this means everything.

Ridley students, of all genders, have been influenced by her exemplary leadership—a strong woman filled with wisdom, warmth and charisma. She knows and cares for our students and leaves each one she encounters feeling like they know her. Prize Giving ceremonies and diploma distribution were often delayed due to all of the hugs!

Personally, her unwavering support of my leadership is yet another aspect of her legacy and impact. As with many great leaders, Georgina has the ability to elevate others and to strengthen their leadership skills and confidence. Her mentorship, aspirational thought leadership and wise counsel have left me a better leader and a stronger Headmaster.

Much gratitude and respect should also be offered to Georgina’s family—her husband Bill Watson and their two sons, Andrew ’14 and Jack ’17. For 15 years, they shared her with Ridley College. Growing up with your mom as the leader of your school can be challenging to navigate, yet Jack and Andrew never faltered in this regard and handled the situation with ease. Equally, it is no easy feat to serve as the Chair at your sons’ school and yet, Georgina was able to serve this role with both objective detachment and grace.

Thank you, Georgina for your service to your alma mater, your generous and wise stewardship of our community and for your exemplary leadership, support and friendship.

Terar Dum Prosim, J. Edward Kidd

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INTRODUCING David

K. Carter ’88

20th Chair of the Ridley College Board of Governors The attributes of a great leader are often listed as integrity, influence, commitment, innovative thinking and clear communication. An effective leader inspires action, cultivates relationships and has a passion for a cause that is bigger than themselves. For Dave Carter ’88, that cause is Ridley College and for this loyal alumnus, all of these qualities (and more) ring true. Having contributed to several facets of Governance and proven his profound care for our school over several decades, Ridley College is honoured to welcome David Carter as the Chair of the Board of Governors, made official at the Annual General Meeting on September 21, 2018.

Dave’s relationship with our beloved school began in 1981 when he arrived to Lower School as a Grade 7 boarder from Oakville, Ontario. He admits that his first term at the school was challenging, but he overcame homesickness and made the most of his experience by forging friendships and becoming entrenched in a variety of activities. Over seven years, these included rowing, theatre, choir, harriers, working on Acta Ridleiana, Cadet Drill Team, and serving as a school Prefect in his senior year. “[My parents] wanted me to have more peers around me, and it really did turn out to be some blind wisdom,” Dave says, reflecting back on his lasting connections and his seven years as a domestic boarder. For him, Ridley was the beginning of great things to come.

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An accomplished business leader, Dave earned his Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Western University and later completed his CA and CPA designations. According to him, it was the work ethic and self-discipline he gained from rowing, Cadets and his Prefectship that have propelled him in his career. After university, he was hired by Deloitte Canada to do his articling and ended up as a forensic investigator, where he worked nearly 10 years in both Toronto and Grand Cayman helping to litigate asset recoveries inside one of the largest global cases of bank fraud in history.

Returning to Canada, Dave pivoted into Business Process Innovation in healthcare, before being bitten by the entrepreneurial bug. He has since exercised proficiency in finance, strategic communications, health care, and technology by partnering in and managing different ventures across multiple sectors.

Despite his varied interests, Dave has always made time to give back to Ridley. Terar Dum Prosim resonates for him and is what inspired him to get involved with Ridley’s Board committees in his early thirties. First joining in 2000, and eventually chairing the Finance Audit and HR Committee, Dave was formally elected a Governor in 2009. He proceeded to volunteer additional time to chair the Monarch Gala, and as part of the Headmaster search team in 2011. Having been nominated as Board Chair-elect, he became Vice Chair in 2017.

“I look forward to all that is ahead, but I will never not look back.”

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My work with the Board has been continually stimulating…but the fundamental reason is to serve. Our motto couldn’t really be more appropriate in my thinking. If you have that first, chances are that the other dividends you require in life will come.

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For the next four years, Dave will lead our school as the 20th Chair of the Board of Governors, the office held by Georgina Black ’85 since 2014. When approached to consider this significant position, Dave recalls, “I was humbled. I think Georgina struck a path and was transformational for many things at Ridley…and she has served honourably.” As he weighed the decision, Dave reflected on how he felt he could contribute to the school’s strategic vision, mission and succession planning. He turned to his wife Hilary, who he notes has always supported his commitment to the school— both she and Dave’s children Angus and Clare know the degree to which he values his relationship with Ridley. With their support, Dave could proudly accept this new role and responsibility.

“I think one of the strengths of Ridley’s recent past has been the supportive and trusting relationship between the Head and the Chair— there is a lot of literature suggesting that this partnership is a key indicator of school strength and stability. I have been blessed to work closely with two excellent past Chairs, and now look forward to sustaining this strength under Dave’s leadership. He has proven himself a devoted servant to Ridley and a wise counsellor to me and the management team.”

— DAVE CARTER ’88

prosperity, while maintaining the importance of positive education, flourishing, and student-centredness.

About Ed Kidd, Dave notes, “being part of the search for this dynamic Headmaster was a source of pride for me, and fulfilled the Board’s most important mandate —the securing and sustenance of a Headmaster to lead the school. I’ve been proud to watch his leadership evolve and the energy and commitment he brings. The Board and I have the utmost confidence in Headmaster Kidd to continue steering Ridley through the next era.”

As he takes his seat as the leader of our community, Dave states that what energizes him the most is making a contribution to solidifying Ridley’s strong position: “I want to make sure that the hard work of the Board is relevant in helping the school deliver against the solid path we are on.

It is a team effort, and there is no one individual who can accomplish this alone,” he says, “I’m most looking forward to seeing the school enter an exciting next chapter.”

— HEADMASTER, ED KIDD

In addition to bringing expertise and enthusiasm, Dave is focused on assisting school leadership to secure Ridley’s TIGER | FALL 2018

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Service-oriented, thoughtful citizens Ridley’s motto, May I be consumed in service, is engrained in the high code of conduct surrounding the actions of Ridley grads. This has translated to a highly developed ethical framework with a true caring for others.

Global-thinkers who celebrate diversity Because of our school’s thriving international population, Ridleians have a global mindedness and are inclusive of other cultures. They are forward-thinking, conscientious and encompass a greater world view.

Intrinsically motivated life-long learners Engaged in self-mastery, Ridley grads embody an innate curiosity, which fuels a passion for learning and academics. They are selfdisciplined, tenacious and regularly participate in personal development.

Well-rounded

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Alumni carry with them a holistic way of learning and living their lives.

They tap into their creativity on a regular basis, explore new ideas and are problem-solvers. Cognizant of the importance of physical literacy, they engage in healthy competition and are committed to integrating health and wellness into their lives.

Leaders

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Ridley grads have a strength of character that forms into natural leadership. They embody qualities of perseverance, grit and confidence.

They are strong communicators, have integrity and have a strong sense of self.

Portrait of a

RIDLEY GRAD

LIFE ON

campus At any given moment, in any nook of campus, Ridleians can be found engaging, excelling, achieving and serving.

With daily student activity and accomplishment, it was challenging to curate only a selection of highlights.

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Michelle Scrivener

congratulations

CLASS OF 2018

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LEAD

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Michelle Scrivener

DERSHIP &pride

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love from

m LOWER SCHOOL TIGER | FALL 2018

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Michelle Scrivener

June 2018

photos: Michelle Scrivener

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Michelle Scrivener

camp KICK-OFF

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photos: Michelle Scrivener

2018–19

FACULTY & STAFF TIGER | FALL 2018

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academics Over the past six months, our students have been engaged in a number of unique endeavours that have evoked inspiration, growth and personal development.

Here are a few that have made a profound impact.

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DECA Provincials On February 10, a group of students participated in the second round of qualifiers for DECA, Ontario—a not-for-profit student organization that prepares youth for the business world through innovative conferences and competitions. With over 7,500 students competing, Faraday Kenny ’18 and Thomas Dunbar ’18, triumphantly finished in the top 10 after pitching their start-up business, a progressive clothing brand called “North Shore Nautical.”

MYP Personal Projects On February 27, students lined the Fieldhouse to exhibit their inquiry-based learning at the second annual MYP Personal Project Showcase. Throughout the course of the school year, Grade 10 students were dedicated in preparing these individualized projects, which entailed thoughtfully selecting topics, goalsetting, investigating, making global connections and proposing change. Projects spanned an impressive array of subject matter—from designing a wedding gown, to writing a tune for a 3-D printed music box, to developing a plan that will reduce Toronto Pearson International Airport’s eco footprint and more.

Helping Hands Project

Mackenzie Fowler

Grade 11 students merged science with servicelearning as they were taught the extraordinary skill of building prosthetic appendages. Students gathered in the Matthews Library last spring where they collaborated in groups to assemble 20 prosthetic hands and accompanying carrying cases. These completed prosthetics were donated to children in need from around the world—many who lost their hands in landmine explosions or had physical differences at birth.

Rube Goldberg Machine

Mackenzie Fowler

The Group 4 Project—a required course component for all students taking IB Physics, Biology, Chemistry, Design Technology, and/or Computer Science—took place on April 14. Our students were challenged to design and build a “Rube Goldberg” machine (to model a biological system) within a three-hour time limit. The final projects modelled a wide variety of systems, including cellular processes, pollination, digestion and even child birth.

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Civics Action Fair On May 15, our Grade 9 and 10 students gathered in the Great Hall for the annual Civics Action Fair, sharing information on topics such as poverty, refugee rights, local agriculture and mental health.

In addition to raising awareness, each group was tasked with taking action in our local community to help combat its chosen issue.

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Spring Fulford Cup

Paul O’Rourke

On April 21, students travelled to The York School in Toronto to participate in the Spring Fulford Cup Debate. The Fulford League features independent schools from across Ontario that compete in parliamentary and cross-examination debate. Ridley was represented by Tomiwa Femi-Johnson ’20 and Riley Stock ’22 in the junior division, and Jordan Mitchell ’19 and Jared Sloan ’19 in the senior division.

Each of our students performed well—Jordan placed in the top 15, and Riley rose to the occasion in her first formal debate. Tomiwa received a certificate for his fifth-place finish, while Jared earned sixth.

On Saturday, April 6, 2019, Ridley will be hosting the Spring Fulford Cup. Approximately 100 judges from the Ridley community will be needed.

Interested volunteers are encouraged to contact paul_orourke@ridleycollege.com

Lower School Science Fair Over the March break, a select group of Grade 7 students participated in the Niagara Regional Science and Engineering Fair.

Two students won awards for their projects: Areen Iqbal ’23 - The Hamilton Association of Electrical Engineers Award for his study of liquid magnets.

Michelle Scrivener

Eshan Islam ’23 - The Life Labs Biology Award and Honourable Mention for Outstanding Achievement for his study of blood clots.

PYP Exhibition

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Michelle Scrivener

On May 16, students lined the halls of Lower School to showcase their inquiry-based learning at the Primary Years Programme (PYP) exhibition.

Throughout the course of the school year, Grade 6 students have been dedicated in preparing these individualized projects, which entailed thoughtfully selecting topics, developing a centralized idea surrounding that topic, investigating, and proposing change. The final projects spanned an impressive array of subject matter—from women’s rights, to recycling and waste, and health advocacy. Following the exhibition, select students presented their projects to peers in the Mandeville Theatre.

athletics Athletics continue to be integral to life at Ridley. Our Tigers rigorously competed across the province (and beyond) with consistently strong showings.

Check out some of the exciting results.

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MPHL Championships The Prep Boys hockey team was relentless in its battle to the finals of the 2018 Midwest Prep Hockey League (MPHL) Championship, earning the winning title over the league’s front runner Stanstead College with a 1-0 victory. Andrew Burden ’18 scored the game-winning goal, with Matti Keeley ’19 showcasing an impressive 37 saves in his shutout performance. This is Ridley’s third MPHL Championship in four years!

Narrow Loss at OSBA Championship After an unbelievable run to the OSBA Men’s Championships, our Prep Boys basketball team fell just short against TRC Academy in a 74-72 nail-biting loss in the gold medal game. Jaden Bediako ’19 led the team with a remarkable 22-point game, which included nine boards and eight blocks. It was an incredible season for the Tigers, with OSBA announcer Ryan Greco commenting, “there were no losers in the OSBA championship game, only champions and players that ran out of time.”

Swimming OFSAA Eight Tigers blazed the waters at the OFSAA Swimming Championships in Windsor, Ontario where the Senior Boys team earned a second overall finish in the province. Horace Wong ’19 claimed two gold medal finishes in the 50-metre freestyle and the 100-metre freestyle. As a co-ed team, Ridley finished 31st out of the 307 schools.

U.K. Rugby Tour

Rob Black ’99

Led by Headmaster Kidd, boys rugby travelled to England during the March break to participate in the world’s largest rugby tournament, the Rosslyn Park National Schools Sevens. Leading up to the tournament, our athletes participated in training sessions, visited historical landmarks (such as Stonehenge) and connected with Old Ridleians. To conclude the trip, the boys were recognized for their sportsmanship at the tournament, winning the SKRUM Fair Play Award.

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Rowers Shine on National Stage Over the May long weekend, our rowers travelled to Philadelphia for the Stotesbury Regatta, the world’s oldest and largest high school regatta with more than 5,500 rowers from over 190 crew teams. Our Ridleians proved to be fierce competitors, with our Senior Girls Quad placing third overall and our Senior Boys Quad with an impressive second place finish overall. The following day, crews travelled back to Niagara for the South Niagara Invitational Regatta, which took place in Welland.

Lachlan Macintosh

Ridley Rowing also seized the moment the first weekend of June at the Canadian Secondary Schools Rowing Association (CSSRA) championships, the largest high school regatta in Canada. Our rowers took to the waters of Martindale Pond for the 73rd annual regatta, competing against students from across Canada. After racing in competitive heats during the semi-finals, nine of our crews made it through to Sunday’s championship races. (see results opposite page)

Ridley Gymnastics In March, our gymnasts dominated in every category during the CISAA finals. Sweeping the podium for overall standings in level one was Olivia Grubic ’21 in first place, Vanessa Ferrante ’21 in second and Mia Kidd ’21 rounding off the third-place finish.

Fifteen girls moved on to the OFSAA finals in Sudbury, Ontario where the team once again shone. The event began with level three, four and five gymnasts competing and bringing home podium finishes. The following day, athletes took to the floor, bars, vault and beam, with the level one team taking home gold.

Learning from the Pros On May 29, our First Boys soccer team travelled to the Toronto FC (TFC) BMO Field to take part in a training session and observe the reigning MLS Champions in action. Ridley coaches were met by TFC Academy staff who showed the Tigers around the first-rate facility.

Our players observed TFC stars Sebastian Giovinco, Michael Bradley and the rest of the squad in action.

An instructional session in the media room was held, followed by a comprehensive practice. The visit to TFC was an ideal way to underscore the building blocks of training and see a top performance centre in action.

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CSSRA ROWING RESULTS: Gold Senior Women’s Quad Junior Men’s 66kg Quad Silver Junior Men’s 72kg Eight Junior Men’s 72kg Coxed Four Senior Men’s Quad Bronze Senior Women’s 63kg Double

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CISAA Rugby Championships After an undefeated season, our First Girls’ rugby team hosted Trinity College School (TCS) in the CISAA Championship game. The day’s heat did not deter our athletes, as they rose to the occasion in a 41-22 victory, taking home the trophy.

Our First Boys rugby team was also in the spirit of celebration after winning the CISAA Rugby Championships. With an incredible 36-0 performance, our boys demonstrated grit and drive as they secured the top spot of the season.

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Michelle Scrivener

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Representing Team Canada at FIBA Jaden ’19 and Charles ’20 Bediako took their basketball skills to the next level, as the brothers were selected for coveted spots on Team Canada’s roster for the U18 FIBA Americas Championship.

Michelle Scrivener

Kicking off the event was the Powering Up Niagara 2021 street festival, which had downtown St. Catharines alive with hundreds of Ridleians and local patrons turning up for the TigerFest Carnival.

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Andrea Carisse

Andrea Carisse

Team Canada, who was seeded in the number two position, took on the third-ranked Argentina on June 10 for their first game of the tournament where they dominated the courts in a 92-75 victory. Team Canada won five of their six games, placing second overall after falling to the United States in the championship game.

Michelle Scrivener

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Michelle Scrivener

TIGER | FALL 2018

arts From captivating performances to field trips and competitions, the arts and individual creative pursuits are celebrated throughout the Ridley community.

Here is a glimpse at artistic excellence from this past term.

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CIS Music Festival Students kicked off the first of many Arts in April events over the April 7 weekend, as vocalists and musicians participated in the Conference of Independent Schools of Ontario Music Festival. Taking place at Toronto’s Roy Thomson Hall, students from 48 independent schools collaborated to perform on stage for the packed theatre. Ridley’s Junior Choir and Intermediate Band shone on stage, highlighted by a solo saxophone performance by Anthony Nguyen ’18.

10th Annual RIFF Lights, camera, action! On April 20, Ridley rolled out the orange carpet for the 2018 Ridley Independent Film Festival (RIFF). In its 10th year, the event showcases the creative and dynamic work of student filmmakers in Grade 11 and 12 IB Film Studies. This year, guests were also delighted to see the premiere of the Film Club’s piece, A Clash of Sparks & Thunder.

Ridleians hosted, prepared programme booklets and coordinated the event logistics, making it entirely student-led.

Big Bands Concert Michelle Scrivener

Musicians were in fine form during the Big Bands Concert in the Mandeville Theatre on April 24. Guest conductor Vince Gassi guided students in Grades 7 to 12 through a varied and challenging repertoire. The evening finished with a spectacular mass band of over 60 musicians on stage, creating a sound that will not soon be forgotten by those in attendance.

Rodman Hall Exhibit In April, we celebrated IB2 Visual Art students for their exhibition of work at Brock University’s Rodman Hall. The 18 pieces of work displayed represent just one of each artist’s collection of eight creations.

Once again, our school has made the community connection with a local institution that, like Ridley, has deep historical roots in the Niagara region.

Andrea Carisse

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A Lighter Shade of Noir Unravelling the mystery of the stolen artifacts, audience members were left guessing until the end of the Grade 7 and 8 production of A Lighter Shade of Noir.

This play, directed by Geoffrey Ernst and John Sweeney, had our students in the spotlight, as their characters sought to uncover who stole a collection of priceless artifacts and kidnapped a famous performer. Our thespians interacted with audience members, expertly pulled off their characters and had everyone laughing during each scene.

Michelle Scrivener

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Arts Awards The annual Arts Awards, which took place on April 27, featured a number of musical performances by student and staff musicians. Students in Grades 9 to 12 were recognized for their excellence in the arts. This year’s trophy winners included Macon Meng ’20, who received the S.O. Greening Memorial Prize for Proficiency in Music, Anastasia Guzenko ’18, who received the Mandeville Trophy for contributing the most to life in the theatre, Dimitri Nitsopoulos ’18, who won the Stephen L. Souter Memorial Award for Technical Theatre and Lily Zhong ’18, who received the J.Z. Given Prize for exemplary achievement in Visual Art.

The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus

Michelle Scrivener

Our community filled the Mandeville Theatre for three dramatic performances of The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus, by Elizabethan playwright Christopher Marlowe. In the reimagining of Marlowe’s text, we see the neverending struggle between the forces of good and evil in our world, set to a stunning new score by U.K.-based composer Richard Link (who was in attendance for the Saturday night performance).

Ridley’s extensive cast of over 40 students and dedicated crew members embraced the dark subject matter and dazzled the audience with a hauntingly beautiful performance, choreography, set design, and costumes.

Faculty Plays Entertain At the end of the school year, seven faculty and staff members took to the stage for the annual production. Students and colleagues were delighted by three short plays, all of which had the audience in stitches by curtain call.

The Queue, featuring Dr. Justin Baird and Kirk Mitchell.

La Mouche, featuring Geoffrey Ernst, Chris Gordon and Dr. Anjali Kundi ’97.

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Michelle Scrivener

Corybungus, featuring Wendy Darby ’99. and Ivan Nikolic.

service Ridley’s motto strongly echoes throughout life on campus, and we are proud to share our students’ continued commitment to service.

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Indigenous Week

Michelle Scrivener

Truth, Recognition, Understanding, Empathy. Ridley prides itself on celebrating diversity, and during the last week of February, our school’s T.R.U.E. Indigenous student group showcased Canada’s indigenous peoples and cultures, with an engaging collection of activities, guest speakers, music and storytelling.

Spearheaded by Anthony Nguyen ’18, the event included such initiatives as the Moccasin Project, unity bracelet making, musical performances and a screening of The Secret Path. “In unity, we were able to discover a range of Aboriginal knowledge and develop a mindset of acceptance,” said Anthony in reflection of the week. See page 39 to view Anthony’s profile.

Action for Humboldt Similar to the way our nation united in mourning, our Ridley community came together to honour the 16 lives lost in the Humboldt, Saskatchewan bus tragedy.

Upon hearing the devastating news, students and faculty rallied together with an Action for Humboldt initiative. From #jerseyday to #putyoursticksout to additional activities, we united and made donations to the Humboldt Broncos hockey team and Trillium Gift of Life Network.

Earth Week Celebrations In April, our Green Tigers led a full week of experiential initiatives to celebrate Earth Day. During Upper School assembly, the group gave a presentation to encourage their peers to take action, explaining how compounding small efforts can make a big difference in preserving our planet. Activities included: a paper cup-free evening café to remind students how easy it is to bring their own mug, a vegetarian lunch on Friday to educate students on the negative impacts of the meat production process, and writing an Earth Week pledge to hang on a tree outside of the Great Hall.

To mark the final day of activities, students participated in tree-planting, litter clean up, planting a pollinator garden and creating art from recycled materials.

Kathy Anderson

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March Break Service-Learning Over the March break, three groups of students travelled to different parts of the world—Malawi, Guatemala and China—to live out the Ridley motto.

These service-learning trips provided Ridleians with the opportunity to experience these countries and to actively contribute to their betterment.

We are grateful to George Butterfield ’57, generous benefactor of the Butterfield Global Service Fund.

MALAWI On March 15, over 20 students made the long trek to Malawi, visiting the Jacaranda School. This year, each student brought an additional suitcase (23 suitcases total) that was filled with medical supplies, toys, laptops, tablets, art supplies, clothing and games. It was an action-packed trip for our students, participating in initiatives such as helping to build a family home, assisting in the classroom and even collaborating with the Jacaranda children to build prosthetic hands, brought in from our “Helping Hands” Grade 11 class project. During their time abroad, our Tigers bonded with the children of Jacaranda, immersed themselves in African culture and shared in awe-inspiring moments with their peers.

GUATEMALA The annual service trip once again brought a group of students to volunteer with The Doppenbergs in Guatemala (D.I.G.); an organization that helps build local schools, provides water and nutrition solutions to families and has developed the Centre of Hope for special needs children. Ridleians spent the week painting the school to prepare for the upcoming rainy season and planting the nutrient-rich Moringa plants, all while making time to bond with the children at the centre. In an effort to better understand one of the challenges that local families endure, our students participated in a 1.5km “water walk”.

CHINA A group of students travelled to China from March 16 to April 1 to participate in a cultural exchange.

Participants of the trip had the opportunity to collaborate with several primary schools in Guiyang, interacting with the school community, learning about each other’s cultures and taking part in a variety of co-curricular activities.

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Michelle Scrivener

“Well-rounded” is a term synonymous with Ridleians, but few exemplify this attribute as overtly as recent graduate, Anthony Nguyen ’18: a true academic, passionate musician, social advocate, altruist and enthusiastic leader. Pursuing postsecondary studies in Bio-Medical Sciences at the University of Guelph in 2018 while continuing to be consumed in service, Anthony clearly embodies what it means to lead a flourishing life.

FLOURISHING LIFER: Anthony Nguyen ’18 Since arriving to Ridley in 2007 to begin Grade 2, Anthony took every opportunity to explore his passions with a tenacious sense of grit and dedication. Over his ten years on campus, music played an integral role in shaping his strong sense of self, and this experimentation first began with piano. Having established a solid foundation, Anthony began to explore various elements of sound and, by the age of 12, took up the saxophone, which is when his zest for jazz was born.

found his experiences in music metaphorical of his school life—he was able to learn from others’ unique perspectives and incorporated them into his own practices. According to him, the arts facilitated his understanding of who he is, as playing instruments provoked his personal prowess for creativity, exploration and innovation. “The part of music that got me going wasn’t in performing, but the creativity in finding my own musical identity,” remarked Anthony.

Music continued to play an influential role for Anthony as he progressed through Upper School; synergistically fueling his studiousness in the International Baccalaureate (IB) programme and acting as a platform for his community service activities, such as performing at retirement homes, community halls and hospitals. Anthony

Eventually, Ridley’s music programme is what brought Anthony to one of his favourite moments: performing at the Conference of Independent Schools (CIS) Music Festival. In Grade 11, Anthony auditioned for the CIS Jazz Band—a highly competitive ensemble comprised of students from across Ontario. ›

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With saxophone being the most competitive of all positions (and with only one spot available), Anthony was joyfully surprised to learn he had been selected. Building on this incredible experience from the previous year, he was honoured to be selected to perform a solo at Toronto’s Roy Thompson Hall in April 2018.

As the true embodiment of Creativity, Action and Service (CAS), the three essential elements in the IB Diploma Programme, Anthony also became enthralled with flourishing intellectually and within the local community. Since Grade 10, he has been volunteering with the Niagara Health System in the surgical, emergency and oncology wards. His tasks involved interacting with patients, assisting in their care, and shadowing doctors and nurses. It provided him with an early exposure to the medical field and ultimately influenced his post-secondary concentration.

“ When you lead a flourishing life, you are following your layers of passion—you are fueled by that passion and know yourself.”

— Anthony Nguyen ’18

On campus, Anthony’s volunteer experiences evolved into a leadership capacity. During his final year he undertook the role of Prefect and organized T.R.U.E. Indigenous Week—a five-day school celebration of Canada’s indigenous peoples and their cultures. Although Anthony himself has no indigenous ties, discovering what takes place in the indigenous community and how stereotyping has impacted these people motivated him to take action. He was determined to advocate for the cause and educate his peers about their unique traditions. With an engaging collection of activities, guest speakers, musicians and storytellers, Anthony’s mission was to make the event fun and interactive. He was adamant about focusing on the celebration of culture. “Celebrating unique traditions is what Ridley is about,” Anthony remarked.

With a calendar filled with co-curriculars, volunteerism commitments and a full IB course load, one may wonder how Anthony was able to balance it all. While he admits independent time management played a role, Anthony says that it was his peer support system that helped him cope. He feels that the tremendous support he has recieved from his teachers throughout his years at Ridley is what has catapulted him to even greater heights—especially Dr. Justin Baird, Anthony’s Grade 11 Psychology teacher, who he states made a profound influence. Outside of the faculty member’s course teachings were life lessons that transcended the curriculum, and for this mature Ridleian the one that resonated with him was the value of having integrity. Anthony recalls that Dr. Baird emphasized what it means to be reliable, what it means to be passionate and to commit yourself fully to what you are doing, while leaving a positive imprint on those around you.

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He noted that experiences with his music teacher, Mr. Clyde Dawson, were just as important. “Mr. Dawson is extremely passionate about what he does and puts a lot of love into the school band,” reflected Anthony, adding that “He instilled in the band members what it means to be part of a team, which inspired motivation and strong character traits.”

With his educational experience at Ridley concluding in May 2018 and starting his first year at the University of Guelph, Anthony reflected on his post-secondary decision-making process, equating it to testing out layers of a cake. He explains that he conducted a distinct trial period for schools, each representing a layer of the cake and only being able to form opinions after having fully sampled the flavours for himself.

Anthony explains that if a particular layer didn’t work for him, he was always free to choose another path, ingredient, baking method, or start the cake over from scratch. Ridley has laid the foundation of all these layers and he is invigorated to start university and apply all that he has learned.

Anthony accepting the Summa Cum Laude IB Diploma Award for the highest IB score in Grade 12.

“

In my year working closely with Anthony as a Prefect I was impressed by his leadership capacity, high standards and commitment to excellence. His preparation, dedication to learning and strong sense of community certainly earned him respect among members of our community.

”

— MR. LANCE POSTMA, DEAN OF STUDENT LIFE

Anthony accepting The Robert J. Malyk Scholarship Prize.

Anthony’s hard work did not go unnoticed and by the time he crossed the stage to receive his diploma at the 2018 Graduate Prize Day ceremony, he was repeatedly recognized for his multifaceted high school career, receiving honourable mentions in seven different categories and impressively winning a number of major awards, including: The Simon J. Hall Trophy - MVP, First Team Squash, Cadet Long Service Certificate & Medal of Accomplishment, The Herald Benjamin Greening ’51 Memorial Award: Woodwind, Bruce M. Hicks Public Service Award, The Robert J. Malyk Scholarship Prize, The Governor General’s Medal, The Terence Cronyn ’20 Prize and The David A. Dodge ’61 Summa Cum Laude IB Diploma Award for the highest IB score in Grade 12.

We look forward to hearing all the many ways Anthony goes on to transform our globe, and one thing is for sure, he will be setting his own tempo.

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Ambassador David MacNaughton ’67 with daughter, Erin Sumner ’98 and Brian Iggulden ’67.

FEATURE STORY

An Ambassador for Change “It’s so important that people get involved.

You can’t leave it to someone else and it’s never been more important than it is now… when bad things happen, it’s because good people don’t get involved.”

Despite holding one of the most critical appointments in Canadian public affairs at the moment, Mr. David MacNaughton ’67, Canada’s Ambassador to the United States of America, returned to campus on May 26 to inspire the newest cohort of Ridley graduates to be determined, committed and fearless in their quests to transform our globe. ›

“David was a popular guy with an easy smile, a quiet way and a good sense of humour. He played Second hockey, First football as a lineman, was appointed a Prefect at Christmas in his final year, deservedly so. He won the Zealous Achievement Award for Merritt House, served as the Sacristan in the Chapel, and was a respected leader.” — classmate Brian Iggulden ’67

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“ I always found that if you try to surround yourself with really smart people who try hard, you can do really great things…And that really came from [Ridley],” reflected Ambassador MacNaughton when asked how his three years as a boarder in Merritt House helped to prepare him for his distinguished career in business, public office and as a diplomat.

According to his classmates, MacNaughton was known for being a personable student, a quiet leader, devoted Sacristan in the Chapel, and skillful athlete in both hockey and football. He came to the school in his Grade 11 year seeking the opportunity to excel academically, while competing athletically—a balance he hadn’t found elsewhere. He explained that beyond thriving in these two areas, he was glad to have found more: a community, camaraderie, focus and drive. This ambition became obvious during his post-secondary studies and early introduction to government.

Michelle Scrivener

After exploring his passions abroad by teaching at a seminary school in France for a year, MacNaughton returned to Canada and was swiftly recruited to the University of New Brunswick to play football.

There, he completed his Honours Arts Degree and took advantage of a life-shaping opportunity.

MacNaughton had attended a Student-Liberal convention one afternoon in Halifax to observe the candidacy for StudentPresident of the Atlantic Province.

He remembers that the crowd was seemingly unenthusiastic about both nominees and he subsequently decided to throw his hat in the ring. ›

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David MacNaughton ’67 returns to Ridley for Graduate Prize Day Address “So I won and became President of the Atlantic Province Student-Liberal…a kid from Ontario!” he says, still amazed at this chanceopportunity more than three decades later. One might argue it wasn’t by chance at all.

The following summer, as a result of this victory, he and the other six regional presidents went to Ottawa to gain public sector experience.

MacNaughton worked with Don Jamieson, then Cabinet Minister from Newfoundland, for the next six years and eventually with Industry Canada and Foreign Affairs.

By the time he was 26-yearsold, the Old Ridleian had travelled to some 55 countries and collected a wealth of invaluable knowledge. With this expertise in tow and about to be a first-time father, he deliberately “shifted gears” in the 1980s to business and transformed the public affairs industry through public relations and consulting.

“The thing I learned more than anything else [at Ridley] was how to be a member of a team,” explained MacNaughton when pinpointing what skills have helped him the most throughout his career and life. “There is no “I” in “team” and that’s one of the foundations that I got here,” he continued. It would ultimately be his resilience, intellect and teamwork that led to his current appointment as Ambassador. Having worked on Prime Minster Justin Trudeau’s Liberal Party

campaign leading up to the 2015 Federal Election, MacNaughton was a strong choice for this principal role in Washington, D.C. Given his true embodiment of what it means to be a Ridleian—both flourishing and actively making the world a better place—the school was elated to welcome Ambassador MacNaughton back to campus as the 2018 Alumni Distinguished Speaker for Graduate Prize Day. It was an honour he shared with one of his four daughters, Erin (MacNaughton) Sumner ’98, whom he proudly witnessed crossing that very stage to receive her diploma twenty years prior.

Celebrating his 50th class reunion in 2017 and becoming a ‘Golden Tiger’, MacNaughton remarks that the school has positively evolved in many ways since he graduated— having embraced coeducation, becoming globally diverse, even more athletically competitive, and introducing the IB Programme. To our internationally diverse student population, comprised of 60 nationalities, the Ambassador expressed that, “I think having that [internationally diverse] approach is really important for the school because there are other forces at work. We see it elsewhere, the kind of nativism, nationalism, isolationism, and I think Canada can set an important example.”

While taking to the lectern in front of the Class of 2018,

Ambassador MacNaughton imparted that when he first graduated from Ridley, he had little understanding of, or application for, the school’s motto Terar Dum Prosim, but has grown to have a deep appreciation for it today.

He urged the graduates to recognize that we are in an era of rapid progress and that they can truly have an impact.

He poignantly illustrated this with personal examples, such as the near-eradication of Polio worldwide after he, like many, suffered from the disease as a child, and first meeting President Obama in the Oval Office less than half a century after the abolishment of discriminatory laws against African Americans.

Off stage, the Ambassador reinforced this powerful message by stating, “In my lifetime we have seen phenomenal changes, but these don’t just happen because they’re the natural course of history; they happen because people actually make a difference… you have to work hard at it and sometimes you might have set backs, but you have to be persistent, you have to be determined and you have to build teamwork to get it done, but you can do it.”

Ambassador MacNaughton’s inspiring words won’t soon be forgotten, instead they are instilled in the cohort of brilliant, globally-minded young adults who left the Marriott Gates on Saturday destined for both greatness and goodness.

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COMMITTED TO CADETS THE HONOURED PAST AND PROMISING FUTURE OF THE RIDLEY COLLEGE CADET CORPS NO. 162 RC(A)CC.

There are few school traditions as ceremonious, storied and colourful as Ridley’s Cadet Programme. In fact, many generations of alumni would claim that the annual Cadet Parade and Inspection ‘drum up’ the most nostalgia of all events on campus. For nearly a century, students have benefitted from the leadership and discipline gained from being a part of the Corps, which is why the Cadet Programme is evolving to remain relevant and prosperous for many years to come.

April 2018 marked the 111th time that the Corps offered itself up for an annual inspection and the 98th time Ridleians paraded through the downtown core past Springbank House. In last year’s combined event, we honoured Staff Commanding Officer, Major Paul Filion ’86 and his wife Bobbie for more than ten years of service to rearing our Cadets.

Paul’s passion for Cadets was fostered when he attended Ridley in the early 1980s. As a Grade 10 student, he was recruited to be part of the Honour Guard and Drill Team, and was promoted to ‘A’ Company Sergeant Major in Grade 12. By his Grade 13 year, Paul went on to hold the rank of Cadet Major and Second in Command (2IC). During this time, he was instrumental in bringing back the Cadet Ball that had been absent since the 1960s and was awarded The Lt. Col. Iggulden Rosebowl for Best Officer. Paul credits Major Paul Lewis for being one of the best leaders and mentors he has had the fortune of knowing.

Following graduation from Ridley, Paul attended Carleton University where he became passionate about

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coaching and teaching. Several years later, he made his way back to his beloved school and accepted a teaching position, while Bobbie became a Head of House. In 2004, Paul decided to enlist in the Canadian Military and began training with a goal of becoming the school’s Commanding Officer. He was committed and steadily achieved his qualifications for Basic Officer, Second Lieutenant, Lieutenant, Captain, Commanding Officer and Major Commanding Officer from the Canadian Military. One year following the centennial of Ridley Cadets (2008), Major Filion was appointed leader of the No. 162 RC(A)CC.

Staff Commanding Officers since the programme’s inception in 1907.

In September, Ridley welcomed Major (retd) Barbara Maisonneuve as our interim Director of Cadets. A native of Hamilton, she joined the Canadian Forces in 1981 as a Private in the Military Police trade. After five exciting years at CFB Edmonton, she was accepted into the University Training Plan as a Corporal. Major (retd) Maisonneuve went on to study at Royal Roads Military College in Victoria, B.C. and graduated from the Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston as a Logistics Officer in the Royal Canadian Air Force.

During his tenure as Staff Commanding Officer, Major Filion raised the integrity of the Cadet Programme and introduced the Canadian Cadet Corps Star Programme for younger students .

It was this effort that helped maintain our national distinction as the Ridley College Cadet Corps No. 162. Paul’s passion was demonstrable and his personal duty to carry on the tradition was unmistakable. In front of hundreds of attendees on April 29, Major Filion was rightly presented with a handcrafted, engraved sword and family plaque to mark his decade of devotion in this role.

We are grateful to Major Filion and his family (Bobbie, Carter ’15 and Cassidy ’18) for their commitment to the ‘162’ and service to our community.

As a part of his legacy, Major Filion helped to fortify our ties with Cadets Canada, while growing the programme to our largest ever, with 550 Cadets participating in 2018. Paul now joins the ranks of just eight other distinguished

She retired from military service after 21 years and became a Procurement Engineering Officer (PG5) for the Light Armoured Vehicle Project in Quebec. In 2003, she accompanied her husband, Lieutenant-General Michel Maisonneuve to Norfolk, VA., where he served as Chief of Staff of the NATO Supreme Headquarters.

CADET DAY AT RIDLEY: Parade and Annual Inspection, April 28, 2019.

photos: Michelle Scrivener

“

My endeavours as Commanding Officer of the No. 162 RC(A)CC have allowed me to teach the importance of respect, responsibility, and caring as well as collaboration to help maintain a positive and cohesive environment.

”

— PAUL FILION ’86

On her return to Canada, she held board positions with several non-profit organizations such as the Development and Acquisition Board of Directors for the Good Shepherd Centres. She was also asked to join the Board of Directors of the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum. Barbara has held multiple roles on the Board of Directors of the Royal Military Colleges Foundation over the past ten years. She is presently a member of the Senate of the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry (Wentworth Regiment), the Editorial Board of Veritas, the alumni magazine of the Royal Military Colleges, and the “Bureau des relations externes” (BRE) of RMC Saint-Jean. Since moving to the Niagara area, she has re-joined the Board of Directors of the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum and is also Chair of the “Building Magic Gala”, raising funds to revitalize the historic Westdale Theatre in Hamilton for community use.

We welcome Major (retd) Maisonneuve as she assumed her new role as Director of Cadets at Ridley in September. We are confident that she will maintain the momentum set in motion by those who came before her and apply her abundant knowledge to ensuring a student-centred experience now and into the future.

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Cultivating Community 2018–19 ANNUAL FUND

Your gift to this year’s Annual Fund will strengthen our sense of community by creating environments where our students can flourish:

ATHLETIC WEATHER SHELTERS A roof over our athletes’ and coaches’ heads.

HOUSE COMMON ROOM REFURBISHMENT Spaces for meaningful interaction.

THE RIDLEY GREENHOUSE Hands-on horticultural learning.

SCHOLARSHIPS & BURSARIES Provide tomorrow’s leaders with opportunities to flourish.

DONATE NOW:

ridleycollege.com/give TIGER | FALL 2018

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alumni work @ For any student who has walked the halls of Ridley College, the school’s motto, May I be consumed in service, is one that remains steadfast and extends well into adulthood. Giving back teaches Ridleians compassion and to stay true to values that are linked to the common good.

One of the most significant current issues that impacts the common good is the conservation of our planet. Climate change and its impact is an everprominent topic on leaders’ agendas around the world, however, only in our recent past has the imperiled state of our environment caught the attention of mass media. Fortunately, it is this dissemination of information that has alerted the public to the realities facing our globe. Through documentaries, news, books and social media, we are gaining a true understanding that change is essential—both individually and as a collective. We are in an era where the health of our planet and its future are dependent on the actions we take today.

In our second edition of Alumni at Work, we take a look at four alumni, Keddy Chandran ’03, Jean-Marc Champagne ’92, Gillian Burt ’08, and Sarah McCusker ’08, who have taken their shared passion for helping the environment and deliberately made this into their careers. Their application of Terar Dum Prosum has taken on a global ethos.

As the challenges and consequences of climate change grow, the need for a society of environmentally-conscious citizens is essential. All four Ridleians have been moved by what they have seen, either through firsthand experience or through popular culture. At the core of each of their stories is the underlying message that we all possess a significant power to change the world. Read about these alumni who are, quite literally, transforming our globe.

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ENVIRO FEATURE

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alumni work @

“We don’t inherit the planet from our ancestors, we’re borrowing it from our children.”

This wise proverb is one to which Keddy Chandran ’03 regularly refers when stressing the importance of taking care of our fragile planet.

As Director of Project Development at Nextera Energy Solutions, Keddy has made a career of actively transforming our globe in order to protect the planet for future generations.

“When I’m older, I really hope I don’t pick up the paper and read: World Ending and it’s our Parents’ Fault,” he remarks. As a key player in the environmental and solar energy sector, Keddy’s role involves finding opportunities to help our planet. He understands that it’s our responsibility to make a difference, and in order to preserve the Earth, we must think about the environment before thinking about ourselves—a very Ridleian thing to do.

Keddy’s connection with our school’s motto was ignited during his five years attending Ridley.

This environmental visionary, who now sits as a member on Ridley’s

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Board of Governors Advancement Committee, enjoyed a multifaceted experience during his time living on campus as a domestic boarder in Leonard House. From Jazz and Cadet Band to rowing, rugby and swimming, Keddy thrived in his co-curriculars, with notable highlights including winning gold in the 4x50 freestyle relay for swimming and winning bronze at the Canadian Secondary Schools Rowing Association (CSSRA) championships. Throughout all of his academic and athletic endeavours, the camaraderie among his classmates stands out to him as being the most positive part of his boarding experience. Keddy asserts that his time at Ridley helped set him up for success, as he gained independence, persistence and learned what he was made of.

“ Once you see yourself through five years of boarding school, it’s hard to be intimidated by any other new environment or experience.”

KEDDY CHANDRAN ’03 Following Ridley, Keddy went on to graduate from renowned Duke University with a degree in Biomedical Engineering. He was ready to launch onto a path working for a pacemaker company, “until fate stepped in,” says Keddy.

Keddy was gifted a set of tickets to see New York Times columnist and three-time Pulitzer Prize winner, Thomas Friedman, speak about his new book, Hot, Flat and Crowded: Why We Need a Green Revolution. It was during this pivotal talk that Keddy discovered the magnitude of the energy crisis. This shook his belief system to its core and shifted the trajectory of his career, leading him to the decision to make waves in the energy sector.

Keddy put his plan into action by first working for the United States Government in the Department of Energy in Washington, D.C. In the wake of the 2008 recession, and right at the beginning of the Recovery Act (the economic stimulus that brought the U.S. economy back from the brink), Keddy’s opportunity was optimized, as billions of dollars were being put to work in energy. Working for the Under Secretary, he got a first-hand look at how great leadership can make things happen, and after nearly three years in Washington, Keddy moved on to take a two-year programme at the Wharton Business School in Pennsylvania. The transformative experience there was reminiscent of his time at Ridley, as he was able to sharpen his sense of self, learn from people from different backgrounds and further develop his leadership style.

Keddy adds, “it’s nice to know that at least some of the electrons that are powering these devices were created without pollution.”

Keddy recognizes the importance of giving back and does this on a regular basis for Ridley. In addition to being a member of the Advancement Committee, Keddy returned to campus in February 2018 as the honoured guest speaker at the Cadet Mess Dinner. He took the stage to inspire the current cohort to become the leaders of tomorrow, and share how Ridley helped shape him personally and professionally.

“Leadership starts with a personal journey,” Keddy explains. “Being comfortable in your own skin, knowing yourself and trying your very best to understand others and have others understand you.”

When you borrow something, it means you use it with the intention of returning it back to its owner. We are all stewards of our planet, merely borrowing it during our time here. Keddy’s exemplary career in the environmental sector continues to be fueled by his desire to be the best keeper of our planet as he can.

Following Wharton and after gaining experience in several green energy companies, Keddy took on a unique opportunity at Nextera—one of North America’s leading providers of wholesale power generation and energy-related products. The cutting-edge work of Nextera is akin to the actions that Thomas Friedman speaks about in his book as to how we can help our ailing planet. Nextera harvests the sun and makes energy with no impact on air or water quality. Keddy plays an integral role in this company by developing and building energy projects. The energy needs of the planet are increasing as we continue to get that better, faster iPhone, laptop, gaming console or electric car.

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alumni @work The 2006 documentary, An Inconvenient Truth, starring former United States Vice President, Al Gore, has undoubtedly made its mark on the world. The film, aimed at alerting the public to an increasing planetary ‘emergency’ due to global warming, won two Academy Awards, earned Gore a Nobel Peace Prize, and inspired millions to take action. For many, viewing the film was a wakeup call where people first understood the reality of the climate crisis devastating our Earth.

For Jean-Marc Champagne ’92, it was the catalyst to do something about it.

Jean-Marc, who currently works at the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) as Climate Finance Advisor, credits the film for profoundly reshaping his understanding of the consequences of global warming and provoking personal action; yet, Jean-Marc’s career did not begin in the environmental sector.

In fact, prior to seeing the film and reaching a turning point in his career, Jean-Marc worked in finance on Wall Street.

Jean-Marc’s journey into the environmental sector was a long and winding one, which was ignited during his time at Ridley. It was here where he gained confidence in his writing abilities—a skill that he would later use in producing articles on environmental subject matter.

He credits one of his favourite teachers, the late Mr. Paul Lewis, on helping him cultivate this skill. “[Mr. Lewis] saw my potential and brought that out in me,” remembers

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Jean-Marc. Even to this day, he says that every time he writes an article, op-ed or research piece, he thinks of his favourite educator and his teachings.

Following Ridley, Jean-Marc attended Clarkson University in Potsdam, New York and soon after pursued a career in finance in New York City. There, he worked for six years at Merrill Lynch in private wealth management, equity capital markets and syndication. In the midst of contemplating a return to business school, Jean-Marc instead decided to move to Taipei, Taiwan, as he perceived Asia as the budding mecca of finance. After working for several well-known investment banks, Jean-Marc and a business partner started their own equity derivatives business, which they relocated to the American investment bank, Jeffries, located in Hong Kong.

It was at the same time that JeanMarc first viewed An Inconvenient Truth and decided to make a change. From the moment he learned of the devastating effects of climate change and its impact on humanity, he made it his mission to do more. At first, his contributions were small, making donations to meaningful green organizations. It wasn’t until mid2015 that his biggest contribution to our planet would present itself.

While working as Senior Vice President on the equity derivatives desk at Jeffries, Jean-Marc merged his expertise in finance with his altruistic ambitions and decided to take a leap into the environmental sector by accepting a position with the WWF. Today, Jean-Marc is WWFHong Kong’s Climate Finance Advisor, counselling institutional investors on climate changerelated financial risks and

opportunities. Since working at the organization, Jean-Marc has realized just how massive and complex environmental issues are and how the majority of the public does not comprehend the challenges humanity and all life on our planet faces.

Without a rosy picture being painted for the future, JeanMarc encourages individuals to take action—no matter how big or small—in order to make a difference. To start, people can demand more efforts from their leaders or representatives to put regulations in place when it comes to the production of material goods. “The products we are consuming need to be made with the planet in mind,” urges Jean-Marc. He says that the biggest barrier in preventing this is the government, where the heavy lifting must be done, especially when it comes to production.

One of the pillars of the WWF lies in stopping the degradation of the planet’s natural habitats, and having government support is integral to this success.

“ We only have one home and right now our trajectory is not looking too good for our place in it. We need to change fast.”

JEAN-MARC CHAMPAGNE ’92 Ridley alumni tend to be serviceoriented, conscientious and encompass a greater worldview.

Jean-Marc is a prime example of an Old Ridleian who is dedicated to a cause and uses his skills in both finance and writing to contribute to the greater good.

Jean-Marc is doing his part by actively transforming our globe.

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alumni @work

Inspiration stirs the heart to take action. When the pursuit to take action is motivated by bringing about change, the inspiration builds momentum and enthusiasm to undertake the quest.

This is exactly what is sustaining alumnae Gillian Burt ’08 and Sarah McCusker ’08 in their philanthropic pursuits for their film, Tied to the Sea.

The documentary began as a drop of curiosity that evolved into a passion project, spanning across nine countries and four continents. Tied to the Sea is a short, call-to-action documentary film that explores our human impact on marine ecosystems and the steps we can take, both individually and collectively, to bring about positive change.

Fueled by a desire to leave this planet in better condition than when they arrived, these Old Ridleians remain connected to the school’s motto by giving back to our planet.

The idea behind the documentary began to take shape when Gillian was in South Korea in 2015.

Unexpectedly, she found herself spending the majority of her spare time on the water, and was taken aback by the pollution that existed around her. A life-long learner and eternal academic, Gillian became entrenched in research about the human effect on our environment and, more specifically, our oceans. The

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findings caused her great alarm, which, in turn, prompted action.

Gillian’s environmentallyconscious mindset was instilled at an early age, as her parents were always cognizant of nurturing our planet. She immediately found value in Ridley’s motto upon arriving in her Grade 12 year, and graduated with over 300 community service hours. Her volunteerism only grew stronger upon graduation, as she simultaneously obtained her degree from the University of British Columbia in Sociology and Anthropology while volunteering abroad in Haiti and Uganda. Her global-mindedness eventually brought her to Korea, where the inspiration for the film came to light.

While devising her plan to execute the documentary, Gillian reconnected with fellow Ridleian, Sarah McCusker ’08, who joined the Tied to the Sea team as Visual Designer. Joining the project was a “no-brainer” for Sarah, as she’s always had the

health of the planet in her focus.

During her time at Ridley, which spanned from 2004 until 2008, Sarah was an active member of Ridley’s environmental club, the Green Tigers. Following graduation, Sarah also continued her studies at the University of British Columbia in Art History, before completing a programme in Communications Design offered by Emily Carr University of Art and Design and the British Columbia Institute of Technology.

During their time in university, Sarah and Gillian remained good friends, but lost touch when Gillian left the West Coast. It was not until 2016 that the women reconnected on social media, where Gillian shared her vision for a short documentary she was eager to create. Without hesitation, Sarah committed to the project and fueled by inspired action, they were soon aboard a flight to Thailand beginning their Tied to the Sea journey.

Over the course of two years, Gillian, Sarah and members of

the Tied to the Sea team travelled around the world, visiting South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, Indonesia, Australia, Guatemala, Honduras, and home in Canada.

The team recognized that what is happening to our oceans is a global problem, so they wanted to showcase global perspectives with the end goal of motivating viewers to take action.

“The ocean is our source of life—we literally cannot survive as a species without it, and it’s in very bad shape right now. It’s up to us to protect it for our future and the futures of generations to come,” says Gillian.

Throughout the research and development of the film, Gillian recalls many poignant moments.

One of those was meeting and interviewing her long-time hero, Wade Davis, an author and Explorer in Residence for the National Geographic Society.

She was invited to his home on Bowen Island, British Columbia, where he shared insights about the sociocultural conditions

of environmental degradation, which elevated the content in the documentary to a new level.

“ This is not just a film, but a call to action, a social initiative that brings together all who feel connected to share, encourage, create and intervene. Because this is our generation’s story, all of us, and we’re the only ones who are going to determine how it is written.”

GILLIAN BURT ’08 The film is now complete and has been submitted to a number of film festivals. Regardless of the results of these submissions, the team has deemed it of the utmost importance to have the film available online by the end of the year, in hopes of spreading their messages to a broader audience.

Their wish for this film is to act as

a catalyst for change and for it to be shown in schools.

Their biggest message is one of encouragement, inspiring others to get involved by making small changes that, collectively, are significant in reducing the human impact on Earth. Gillian also emphasizes the importance to go further and that real change needs to happen on a systemic level, urging people to “get involved with local politics and advocacy groups, donate to environmental causes that you believe in, and play an active role in creating a sustainable future.”

Gillian and Sarah both agree that we’re living in scary yet exciting times, and the only way we’re going to make real change is through fighting for it together.

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m m o

ende

d

Hot, Flat, and Crowded

by Thomas L. Friedman Why? It showcases the magnitude of the climate challenge.

Give and Take

by Adam Grant Why? It highlights what effective collaboration, influence and leadership skills have in common.

Thinking, fast and slow

by Daniel Kahneman Why? It highlights natural biases to be aware of.

Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed

by Jared Diamond Why? It explores how climate change, the population explosion and political discord create the conditions for the collapse of civilization.

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ommen c e

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A Plastic Ocean www.netflix.com/hk-en/title/80164032

Chasing Coral www.chasingcoral.com/

Plastic China www.plasticchina.org/

BBC Planet Earth II www.bbcearth.com/planetearth2/

Plastic Pollution in Our Oceans (Sky News) news.sky.com/video/special-report-plastic-pollution-in-our-oceans-10742377

Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power

m m o

ende

d

r ec

www.imdb.com/title/tt6322922/

NASA Climate Change www.climate.nasa.gov/

Skeptical Science www.skepticalscience.com/

Union of Concerned Scientists www.ucsusa.org/

Tied to the Sea www.tiedtothesea.com

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GLOBAL EVENTS RECAPS With more than 8,000 alumni, and even more extended members of our school community scattered around the world, Ridley is honoured to host receptions and events—both at home and abroad—which serve to strengthen the Ridley bond.

Headmaster Kidd and members of the Development Office have enjoyed connecting with many of you in the following locations.

WINTER HOMECOMING 2018: February 10 marked the return of many alumni back to campus for some friendly competition at Winter Homecoming. Despite the snowy conditions, teams filled the Fieldhouse for exciting hockey and volleyball tournaments. The day’s festivities concluded with inductions to the Richard A. Coy ’60 Wall of Distinction and a dinner.

RIDLEY IN ASIA: At the end of March, Headmaster Kidd and Director of Development, Susan Hazell met with members of the Ridley community in Hong Kong. It was great to see alumni spanning from the 1960s to the 2000s, including father and daughter, Doug Betts ’69 and Caitlin Betts ’04. Special thanks to Evelyn Chung ’98, Kai Wong ’88, Derek Szeto ’92 and Michael Ho ’91 for their help and support in making this another successful annual event.

Ridley receptions were also held in both Beijing and Shanghai. Radley Mackenzie ’03 assisted with introductions to Huijia School, an IB Grade 1 to 12 school in Beijing, and to the Consulate General of Canada in Shanghai. It was also wonderful to connect with Brent Ferguson ’86 who is living and working there.

WINTER HOCO

SHANGHAI

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HONG KONG

NIAGARA AREA LUNCHEONS: Thanks to the volunteer efforts of John Sandham ’66, we’ve had several successful luncheons for members of the Ridley community at the St. Catharines Club. The purpose of these monthly luncheons, organized by Mr. Sandham, is to provide opportunities for Ridleians to network, share stories and hear about Ridley.

RCA GOLF TOURNAMENT: On June 25, the 29th annual RCA Golf Tournament was held at the St. Catharines Golf & Country Club. At this year’s tournament, we welcomed 124 golfers and raised $20,000 for Ridley’s scholarships and bursaries.

parent James Bennett), Molson (past parent Frank Girhiny), and the Lochead Family. Special thanks to Steve Cook, Joe Ferrante, and Peter Lochead for their efforts in securing multiple sponsors in addition to their own generosity.

MUSKOKA RECEPTION: On August 19, Headmaster, Ed Kidd and Board Chair, Georgina Black ’85 joined 100 members of our community for a wonderful reception at the cottage of Don ’76 and Marie McFarlane. The event was catered by The Moveable Feast from Toronto and enhanced by the beautiful setting. Special thanks to Don and Marie for hosting us at their stunning cottage and for arranging the water taxi and valet service.

BIRDIES AND PUCKS GOLF: Past, present and future hockey players came together on August 10 for the annual Birdies and Pucks Golf Tournament at Thundering Waters in Niagara Falls. With over 20 sponsors and 80 golfers participating, we raised a record number of donations in support of Ridley hockey.

We would like to thank our major sponsors including Franklin Templeton, RPIA, Royal LePage (current parent Joe Ferrante), Maserati and Alfa Romeo London (incoming

BIRDIES & PUCKS

RCA GOLF

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A GALA TO BENEFIT RIDLEY COLLEGE

COMMUNITY COMES TOGETHER TO RAISE FUNDS FOR RIDLEY Photos by Andrea Carisse

Members of the Ridley community filled the iconic Arcadian Court ballroom in Toronto on May 5 for Flourish: A Gala to Benefit Ridley College. Celebrity emcees, Bruce Croxon ’79 and Amber Kanwar ’04 kicked off the evening and our auctioneer led guests through an exciting live auction. Music by Parkside Drive kept guests dancing through to the early hours of the morning.

Flourish was a wonderful display of Ridley pride, unity and support, and thanks to the generosity of attendees and auction participants, the gala raised $275,000!

We’d like to express thanks to all who sponsored, donated to and attended this event. Proceeds raised will go towards scholarships and bursaries. We are grateful to our Gala Co-Chairs, Maria Menechella (Governor and alumni parent), Jim Greenshields ’76 and Bill Hutton ’76 and the dedicated volunteer gala committee members: Mike Allen ’03, Heidi Burgess, Honor McLachlin ’87, Laura Menechella, Margy Nitsopoulos-Massis, Matt Picken ’93 and Scott Snowden ’97, as well as our staff volunteers.

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DONOR SPOTLIGHT As a non-profit, Ridley depends on donations from our loyal community. Each gift, no matter the size, is deeply appreciated for its ability to unlock the potential of current and future generations of students.

This section is dedicated to profiling notable donors from the past six months, as well as those who have faithfully supported Ridley over the years.

We are grateful to all of our donors for helping to “inspire flourishing lives to transform our globe�. By giving to Ridley you help to guarantee the prosperity of generations of students to come. To discover how you can make a difference, visit ridleycollege.com/give

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Anne Mitchell ’85 and Noel Langhorne ’87 Since receiving her Ridley diploma in 1985, Anne Mitchell has been steadfast in her commitment in giving back to the school that laid the groundwork for a flourishing life. Anne and her husband, Noel Langhorne ’87, have generously supported the Class of ’85 Bursary for decades to help provide a means for future Ridleians to access the opportunities and experiences they so enjoyed themselves. Both Anne and Noel reflect fondly on the friendships made during their time at Ridley, and by donating to the bursary programme, Anne hopes “to continue to enrich the Ridley experience by supporting a strong and vibrant student body.”

Andrew Tymoszewicz ’76 Andrew’s life was transformed by the financial assistance he received as a student, so has been compelled to pay it forward and give back to deserving students. A loyal donor for the past 42 years, Andrew supports his class bursary as well as other important projects such as the Nat Caters Bursary to support the rugby programme, the Fieldhouse Bleachers Project and the skate sharpening machine for Tiger Arena.

Ridley’s commitment to prepare meaningful and flourishing lives is made possible through the philanthropic support of countless members of the Ridley family. This year, in addition to the many gifts we received in support of our Annual Fund Campaign, several planned gifts to the school were realized. We gratefully acknowledge these planned gifts from individuals who had the foresight to include Ridley in their wills. These special gifts allow us to continue to improve our campus and grow the school’s endowment.

“

The true meaning of life is to plant trees under whose shade you do not expect to sit.

— GREEK PROVERB

”

Estate of Joan Larkin Hamilton ’76 Joan Larkin Hamilton ’76, known for her quiet strength of character and great sense of humour, was born and raised in Windsor and attended Ridley in 1975-76 for her final year of high school. Following graduation, Joan attended Ontario Police College in Aylmer and the University of Windsor, where she then served with the Canada Border Security Agency until her retirement. A sports enthusiast her entire life, “Joanie Javelin” (as she was fondly nicknamed), had a passion for baseball and was a member of the track and field team. Sadly, Joan passed away on March 13, 2017 from respiratory complications at the age of 60. Unbeknownst to Ridley, Joan had made arrangements for a planned gift to the school in her will. We are incredibly grateful to be a beneficiary of her estate, allowing us to continue to improve our campus and programmes for future students.

Estate of Donald H. Lie ’52 Originally from Holland, Don came to Ridley as a Lower School student in 1945 until his graduation in 1952. After graduating from the University of Western Ontario, he settled in Owen Sound with his wife, Winona, where he managed a restaurant business for many years followed by acquiring a mobile home park. Don passed away on March 12, 2017 at the age of 85. Don was a loyal supporter of Ridley’s Annual Fund Campaign, and in 2011 he established the Donald H. Lie ’52 Bursary to help deserving students who, due to financial restraints, could not otherwise attend the school.

Clearly Ridley had a significant impact on Don during his years as a young boy and teenager, as Don left a generous bequest in his will. This philanthropic gift will appreciably increase his bursary fund, and help to grow the Ridley College Foundation’s overall endowment.

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2018 ALUMNI SURVEY SUMMARY Thank you to those who participated—your feedback and insight are important to us as we strive to improve our school and strengthen ties.

SURVEY HIGHLIGHTS

19 70

2000

0 1 94

19

50

2010

41

19

199

60

1980

1930s 1940s 1930 1950s 1940 1960s 1950 1960 1970s 1970 1980s 1980 1990 1990s 2000 2010 2000s 2010s

0

Participation by Decade

Countries Represented

85%

82%

89%

RATED VALUE OF EDUCATION AS EXCELLENT OR GOOD

WOULD BE EXTREMELY LIKELY OR LIKELY TO RECOMMEND

WERE EXTREMELY PROUD OR PROUD TO BE AFFILIATED

Gender of Respondents

Day or Boarding

4 - not identified

256 - Day

354 - Female

810 - Male

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913 - Boarders

TOTAL # SURVEYED: 4,120 (1936–2017) | # RESPONDED: 1,169 | RESPONSE RATE: 28.4%

From the data collected, there were a number of comments—positive, negative and inquisitive— and we wanted to respond to some of the RECURRING THEMES. As such, we wanted to provide you with an update as to how we have addressed or plan to tackle specific topics.

THEME ONE: GUIDANCE COUNSELLORS AND UNIVERSITY PREP Ridley’s Guidance Department has grown to a team of four dedicated counsellors, each with national and international experience. With a focus on university preparation, starting in Grade 9, our young alumni have matriculated to top postsecondary institutions around the world. Our Guidance Counsellors employ a sophisticated software system, called Naviance, to facilitate the university exploration process.

THEME TWO: DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION With 54 countries represented in the 2017–2018 school year, our global network is one that celebrates diversity. Inclusion plays an important role in the culture of our school, having student-driven groups such as Jack.org (mental health awareness) and our Positive Spaces Group (LGBTQ+) provide support and combat bullying. Today, our female student population sits at 48%, and our School Leadership Team has an even 50/50 representation.

Alumni Comments

“ LE

WELL

Engagement

BE

Meaning

Ridley College is regarded as one of the finest university-preparatory boarding schools in the world—by people around the world—because it is.

”

Vitality

I

B

I was very lucky to have the opportunity to attend Ridley. The experiences I had helped launch me into a life which has been both fulfilling and rewarding.

P E R M A V

FE

OR

R

S

PH

D

TM

G

VI

S

IN

PRO

F O U N D AT I O N A L SCHOOL

SS

TE L E A WA

Positive Emotions

Relationships

Achievement

THEME THREE: PSYCHOLOGICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT As a positive education school, Ridley is leading the way. We are the first Visible Wellbeing™ school in North America, focusing on positive psychology and the improvement of students’ social-emotional well-being in order to help them flourish. Both Lower School and Upper School have dedicated social-emotional counsellors who specialize in positive psychology. Ridley also has an evolved Health Centre with on-staff doctors and nurses.

THEME FOUR: ACADEMICS Ridley is Canada’s only co-educational International Baccalaureate (IB) Continuum boarding school with a student-centred approach to learning. With three levels of study: Primary Years (JK–6), Middle Years (7–10), and Diploma (11 & 12), IB Programmes encourage students to think critically, challenge assumptions and consider both local and global contexts based on the principles of reaction and action. It is the gold standard of curriculum that is recognized globally.

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THEME FIVE: ALUMNI RELATIONS With alumni spanning the globe, our Ridley College Association (RCA) aims to create ways our alumni can connect with the school and with one another. Whether online (RCA newsletter, TransfORming our Globe blog series, on The Ridley College Network) or in-person (Branch Receptions, Homecoming, Cadet Inspection and Parade), we are dedicated to celebrating and uniting Old Ridleians.

THE RIDLEY COLLEGE NETWORK – OUR VERY OWN SOCIAL MEDIA SITE!

Ridley just launched a new social media platform, called The Ridley College Network. By joining, you’ll be able to reconnect, collaborate and engage with Old Ridleians around the globe. Maybe you’ve lost touch with a former classmate, are looking for professional advice, or are planning your return to campus: in any case, The Ridley College Network is the place to be. Register today: https://ridleycollegenetwork.com/

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ALUMNI HIGHLIGHTS With more than 8,000 Old Ridleians dispersed around the world, there is no shortage of ongoing accomplishment.

Here are some notable alumni milestones. Please see Class Notes for additional news.

ORs Receive Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award In early 2018, graduates Campbell Shaw ’17, Carter Filion ’15 and Alexander Fazzari ’13 completed the requirements to achieve a gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. Participants must complete at least 156 hours of work in the areas of service, skills and physical recreation in order to reach this level of the programme. Congratulations to these three alumni who join the ranks of a select group of Ridleians who have achieved the same.

MGI Gordon Speaker Series On April 30, the MGI Gordon Speaker Series welcomed Georgina Black ’85 who shared her perspectives on grit, the importance of mentorship and strategies for diminishing the corporate gender-equality gap. When asked about her leadership style, Georgina told the audience, “It’s not leadership without heart.” Most inspiring of all was Georgina’s expressed gratitude for the Ridley bursary that allowed her to realize her full potential.

New Prize for History On May 24, the Kenneth Albert Nordheimer ’42 Prize for History was awarded to its inaugural winner, Charlotte Westcott ’18, for earning the highest percentage in Grade 12 History. Endowed by John C. Cairns ’42, this prize was named in honour of his classmate, who attended Ridley from 1933 until 1942. He was known for his kindness, cheerfulness and fellowship among peers.

Upon graduating, Kenneth enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force and fought in the Second World War. By age 20, he had flown in roughly 48 missions and earned the coveted honour of wearing the Pathfinder’s Golden Eagle insignia. On August 17, 1944, Kenneth lost his life during battle.

Six Grads Row for Team Canada Congratulations are in order for six Ridley graduates who made Canada’s National Rowing team over the summer. Mackenzie Copp ’12 rowed at the World Cup event in Lucerne, Switzerland while four former Tigers—Laura Court ’14, Mathew Szymanowski ’14, Lucien Brodeur ’14 and Clark Schultz ’17— travelled to Poznan, Poland to row in the 2018 World U23 Championships where Laura brought home gold. Nolan Biscaro ’14 led the next wave of Tigers into the National programme as he and his teammates finished second in overall points at the CanAmMex regatta in Mexico City.

OR Elected as Bishop The Very Reverend Andrew Asbil ’80, rector of St. James Cathedral and Dean of Toronto, has been elected coadjutor Bishop of the Diocese of Toronto. He will become the 12th Bishop of Toronto and will take on this role at the end of 2018.

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CLASS NOTES WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! Share a few short words with your fellow Old Ridleians about important milestones, career moves, or philanthropic endeavours. Please include your full name and the year you graduated from Ridley.

High resolution images (300dpi, 2MB minimum) are welcome to accompany your Class Note.

SEND TO: development@ridleycollege.com

1950s

1980s

W. Darcy McKeough ’51 was honoured by The Toronto Club on October 24, 2018 at their annual members’ dinner.

Emily Bright Barkas ’88 was awarded a grant as an Artist-in-Residence at Chateau d’Orquevaux in France with nine other artists from around the world (April 1–16, 2018).

George Calder ’57 recently released his third book, Saugeen: The Valley of the Railways, which traces the railway that went through the Saugeen Shores area.

1960s

’68 1990s

Tim Griffin ’68 won the Canadian senior championship in tennis singles.

1970s

’73

John Frederick ’71 completed his 33rd Boston Marathon on April 16. Noted as some of the worst conditions of the last 30 years, John displayed the grit of a Tiger and pushed through!

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Donors, Chris Allan ’86 and David Himebaugh ’86 attended Prize Day in May to present their endowed prize—the ABE House Zealous Achievement Award— to graduate, Marcus Lam ’18.

’98

Steve Laine ’94 signed an agreement with the United States-based firm, Turner Publishing, to publish his third full-length fiction novel, Root Cause. The suspense-thriller is set in the global wine industry and will be released on February 19, 2019. Copies of the novel can be pre-ordered at Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, and Indie Bound Books. Steve is currently based in Singapore where he is Resident Manager of the Pan Pacific Singapore Hotel.

Jon Watson ’95 was recently featured on the cover of Grow Opportunity magazine for his Canadian venture GQA (Grower’s Quality Assurance). What VQA is to wine in Canada, GQA is to Cannabis.

The long-term goal is to create an internationally recognized gold standard for the highest quality cannabis in the world.

2000s After three and a half years of research, tests and designs through their startup company, Advanced Exoskeletal Systems (AEXOS), Rob Corrigan ’08 and his brother, Charles, have launched Halo—a sports compression shirt that helps reduce whiplash and concussion-related injuries.

2010s Adam (Proctor) McLeod ’02 proposed to Stella Tari under the northern lights in Iceland. The couple was wed on October 5 in Toronto.

Amber Samee ’11 has taken over running the Hamilton Harbour Queen following her father’s passing.

Jordan Brock Fowler ’05 and his wife, Whitney Peterson ’05 opened a farm-to-table establishment, The Carolinian Café, in Cayuga, Ontario.

Mackenzie Fowler ’11 became engaged to Thomas Schroeter on June 1, 2018. The couple will wed on August 29, 2020.

Caroline Sherk ’12, was presented a Top 40 Under 40 Niagara Business Achievement award on May 16, for her work with Verge Insurance Group in St. Catharines.

This past June, Elana Nicholls ’06 was awarded the Brampton Board of Trade Top 40 Under 40 for her collaborative work with BMP Metals Inc. Britt Franklin Call ’08 has accepted a new position as ‘Donor and Corporate Relations Manager’ at the Buffalo History Museum. Britt is also a Director on the Ridley College Fund U.S.A., Inc.

Michael Stevens ’12 was featured on Sportsnet, sharing the inspiring story of his return to hockey as a Ridley Tiger after suffering a broken neck.

Congratulations to Carter Filion ’15 on winning Bishop’s University’s Male Athlete of the Year. He was recognized on April 4 for his outstanding contributions to the Gaiters’ rugby team.

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MARRIAGES

OBITUARIES Chris Sharpe ’86 on June 16, 2018 at the age of 50.

John Marshall Lind ’54 on June 17, 2018 at the age of 82.

Peter Beamish ’58 on July 9, 2018 at the age of 78.

John Kirwin (Past Faculty from 1976–2000) on July 11, 2018 at the age of 76.

Joe Pires ’82, alumni and former member of Ridley’s Board of Governors, was married to Catalina “Kata” Pelaez on April 24, 2018 in Trinidad.

BIRTHS Lindsay Corolis ’03 and husband Eduardo welcomed their daughter, Ana Carolina, on August 21, 2017.

Bill Gittings ’03 and faculty member Carrie Underwood welcomed their second daughter, Riley Alexandra on February 21, 2018. Addison Claire is a very proud big sister!

Faculty members Erin and Andrew McNiven welcomed a baby girl, Lillian Lee, on March 11, 2018.

OBITUARIES Tom Payne ’68 on October 1, 2017 at the age of 68.

Lawrence (Larry) Berkhout ’78 on March 8, 2018 at the age of 59.

Graham Taylor ’71 on March 23, 2018 at the age of 64.

Murray Peglar ’58 on April 3, 2018 at the age of 76.

Ross Beamish ’50 on April 8, 2018 at the age of 88.

David Cosgrove (Teacher, Housemaster, Assistant Headmaster, Coach and Headmaster of Lower School) on April 17, 2018 at the age of 79.

Bruce Savage ’58 on April 25, 2018 at the age of 79.

Dr. Steve Coppinger ’72 on April 29, 2018 at the age of 65.

Peter Robinson ’71 on May 22, 2018 at the age of 65.

Dr. Patrick Lett ’67 on May 25, 2018 at the age of 70.

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Joe and Anita Robertson on July 30, 2018. Known for their kindness, generosity and community support, Joe and Anita were loyal supporters of Ridley—Joe was a long-standing member of the Ridley College Board of Governors, serving on the Finance, Audit and Human Resources Committee, the Facilities Management Committee, and the Ridley College Foundation’s Audit Committee. As President of the Ridley College Family Guild, Anita caringly served the Ridley parent community during the years that her children attended the school.

Laura Robertson ’11 on July 30, 2018. Laura will be remembered as a warm-hearted young woman who inherited her parents’ sense of altruism. She was passionate about physical fitness and attended the University of British Columbia where she studied Kinesiology.

Dedicated to bettering herself and the world around her, Laura volunteered at Red Roof Retreat and recently became a Volunteer Firefighter in Niagaraon-the-Lake.

Dirk Gidney ’72 in August, 2018 at the age of 66.

William Bartlett ’47 on August 22, 2018 at the age of 90.

Geoffrey Seymour ’69 on August 26, 2018 at the age of 68.

Gregory S. Alexanian ’84 on August 29, 2018 at the age of 53.

Reverend Canon Dr. Gerald S. Shantz on October 3, 2018.

Gerry was a beloved friend, Chaplain and faculty member, who served our school between 1981 to 1991 and again from 1992 to 2005. Rev. Shantz, who obtained his doctorate from Princeton University, extended his moral lessons into the classroom, where he taught History, English, World Religions, Law and Latin to several cohorts of Ridleians.

Peter Muir Partridge on October 4, 2018 at the age of 76. Mr. Partridge came to Ridley in 1964 after studying music in Kingston, Ontario and London, England, where he was the assistant to the Organist at Westminster Abbey. He was the perfect addition to our faculty as Director of Music, as well as Choir Master and Chapel organist.

Reverend Donald P. Hunt on October 25, 2018 at the age of 90. After stepping into the role of Chaplain in 1961, he quickly launched into a multi-faceted career at the school spanning 27 years. In 1976, Don took on the much-deserved position of Headmaster of the Lower School—a post he held with distinction until his retirement in 1988.

FACULTY & STAFF NOTES

Former Headmaster Rupert Lane celebrated a hole-in-one this past July at Henbury Golf Club near Bristol, U.K. on the signature hole at a seniors’ championship.

Spencer Martin celebrated a hole-in-one over the summer at Lookout Point Country Club in Fonthill on the fifth hole.

Beloved music teacher Clyde Dawson has retired after 25 years. To pay tribute to him, students and alumni came together for a Jazz Band performance.

Students from Grades 9 to 11 were joined by recent graduates from the Class of 2018, as well as Old Ridleians and past parents, Jacob Toms-Boudreau ’13, Fearghas Gundy ’12, Bob Lytle and Peter Kellett.

Former faculty member Shelley Thomas married Tony Ortolani on July 25, 2018 on Santa Catalina Island, Little Harbor, California.

Over the summer, longtime faculty member Giles Campbell completed his first Ironman competition.

He used grit and perseverance to finish a 3.8 km swim, 180 km bike ride, and a full 42 km marathon in a day.

From June 25 to 28, Ed and Hanna Kidd travelled to Fort Worth, Texas to represent Ridley at the second Festival of Positive Education hosted by the International Positive Education Network (IPEN). Professor Lea Waters (PhD), President of the International Positive Psychology Association and Ridley Visiting Scholar, and Mrs. Kidd, Ridley’s Lower School Counsellor, co-presented on the topic of Visible Wellbeing™. Their workshop outlined Ridley’s journey as a pioneer in positive education and our work as North America’s first Visible Wellbeing™ Foundational school.

Faculty members Jessica Van Der Kley and Pete Doyle got engaged on August 9, 2018. The couple plan to wed next summer.

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ARCHIVES CORNER

Springbank House.

Nicholls’ Hall.

Five Curious Facts Since 1889, there have been

THE ORANGE RIBBON

FIRES AND NATURAL DISASTERS

numerous legends that have

Perhaps one of the greatest stories

While the series of campus disasters

permeated the halls of Ridley College

intertwined in the tradition of our

occurring in the early years after

and still linger in the memories of

school lies within the origin of Ridley’s

establishment are well known, the

many alumni.

colours: orange and black. Many

stories surrounding these occurrences

Throughout the decades, the line

assume the iconic colours were simply

contribute to the mystique of Ridley’s

between fact and fiction has often

derived from the brindle of our mascot

historical resilience. A notable tale is of

blurred, adding to mystique woven

the tiger but they were, in fact, inspired

a blaze that tore through the original

into the fabric of our school’s 129-

from a romantic sentiment. According

Springbank House location one

year history. But, which stories are

to Ridley: A Canadian School, by

October morning in 1903. The original

actually true?

Richard Bradley and Paul Lewis, the

building was reduced to embers as

first Headmaster J.O. Miller, first laid

the fire destroyed the majority of the

eyes on his future wife Katherine

converted 19th century sanatorium.

Alexander, while she and her partner

The campus was rebuilt in its current

were winning the Toronto tennis

location across 12-Mile Creek, a field

doubles championships in the late

students had previously used for sport.

1800s. Headmaster Miller formally

Despite establishing new roots on

met her the following evening at her

the current site with new gumption,

tennis gala, where she wore an orange

fierce winds tore the roof off Nicholls’

gown covered in a black overlay. Their

Hall, the school’s hockey rink, in 1909.

relationship ignited and Miller selected

This did not dissuade the players

orange and black as the school’s

from training and competing, as they

colours shortly thereafter.

made use of the “open-air” rink until

The Ridley Archives, nestled in the basement of School House, holds many of the answers to help determine which legends are rooted in fact. This is exactly where we investigated the validity of five popular stories prevailing in Ridley folklore and located evidence to back them up.

the roof was repaired. In May 1918, however, another fire destroyed the rink completely. Given the emphasis on hockey even 100 years ago, the rink was rebuilt within a few months.

A strand of orange ribbon from Katherine’s gown.

Friends of Ridley Archives Ridley has always placed emphasis on its traditions and we’ve made it a priority to collect and preserve artifacts that commemorate our rich history. Please consider joining this important effort by becoming a member of the Friends of Ridley Archives. By donating meaningful items to the school, you will become a member of this essential guild.

Please contact the Development Office at 905-684-1889 x2244 or development@ridleycollege.com.

ridleycollege.com/give

The Royal Tour of 1939.

The (1913) dance, where the sunken space was decorated in British paraphernalia.

FLAG BLESSED BY KING GEORGE

ORIGINAL SPORTS

SWIMMING POOL EMPTIED

While many Ridleians believe it to be

You might be surprised to learn that

FOR CADET BALL

the school’s original British flag, the

a sport synonymous with North

One of the greatest curiosities about

truth behind the vintage Union Jack

American culture was once referred

previous Cadet Balls of the early

holds deeper significance. During the

to as the “forbidden sport” at Ridley.

1900s, was the decision to drain the

1939 Royal Tour, King George VI made

Dr. H.C Griffith, who led the school

swimming pool to create a sunken

his way to St. Catharines—one of the

from 1921 to 1949 as Headmaster,

venue for the annual dance. To

first times a reigning Monarch had

held a personal disdain for the

students, the effort was worth the

ever visited Canada on a grand scale.

sport of baseball. This did not deter

reward. In the early years of Ridley,

The Ridley Cadet Corps befittingly

athletes from subsequently forming

one of the logistical facets of social

greeted the royal couple at the train

an underground “UnRidley” baseball

events was having a “sitting out” place

station, with the Union Jack in tow.

team, complete with false names and

to mingle. The pool seemed to be

King George blessed the flag and

identities. Games were played under a

an ideal location, and for many years

returned it to the elated students.

veil of secrecy, though 19 players (two

it was made a regular practice to

Preserved and mounted on the

teams and an umpire) were eventually

accommodate.

original wooden pole, it is handsomely

caught, and reprimanded. Since then,

propped up in the Archives.

tales of the infamous baseball bust became legendary.

History isn’t an exact science, but techniques and technological improvements over the years have

Conversely, did you know that Ridley

enabled us to make stronger cases

has a nebulous history in boxing? In

for the veracity of accounts of the

the early 1900s, boxing was in fact a

past. With the Ridley Archives being

mandatory practice in Lower School.

digitized, we are paving an easier path

The sport saw a spike in interest

for future generations to understand

during the era of the Second World

our rich and colourful past.

War, with just under 100 boxers in the ‘Ridley ring’ by 1944. The late actor Hume Cronyn ’42, famous for movies The preserved Union Jack.

such as Cocoon, was one of the early champions of the sport.

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P.O. Box 3013 - St. Catharines Ontario, Canada L2R 7C3

ridleycollege ridleycollege Ridley_College

community events DECEMBER 15–16 Nine Lessons and Carols JANUARY 15 Buffalo Branch Reception 22 Vancouver Branch Reception 23 Victoria Branch Reception FEBRUARY 09 Winter Homecoming 20 Mexico City Branch Reception 23 RCFG Trivia Night MARCH 02 Ridley Rowing Legacy Evening 76

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ridleycollege.com

Our 2018–19 School Prefects After an online community selection process, 13 students have been named as our 2018–19 school Prefects. This diverse and talented cohort of seniors has been tasked with upholding Ridley’s ideals and traditions while elevating the spirit of the school. We are pleased to introduce these Prefects to you here and welcome you to read more on each of these students on our blog.

Asmat Azizi Arab (Dean’s House)

Ben Mandigo (Arthur Bishop East)

Nicole Cappellazzo (Mandeville House)

Jordan Mitchell (Dean’s House)

Christian Ferrante (Merritt South)

Isabella Nitsopoulos (Leonard House)

Vida Han (Mandeville House)

Jared Sloan (Arthur Bishop West)

Tomi Johnson (Dean’s House)

Kyoko Telfer (Leonard House)

Vincent Kenn de Balinthazy (Dean’s House)

Marlize Van Sittert (Gooderham East)

Jaden Kidd (Dean’s House)

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SATURDAY FEBRUARY 9, 2019