Rosseau Review 2024

2024 Rosseau Review

Mission

We create extraordinary learning opportunities rooted in meaningful experiences in our unique natural environment. RLC is a family with global citizenship who support one another to be the best of ourselves, throughout our lives.

Vision

We will be the school of choice for students looking to be conscientious stewards of our everchanging world. The RLC family will reflect the global nature of learning; our campus will be a home that inspires deep connections to the environment; and our values will reflect our roots and guide us into the future.

MESSAGE FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL

What students need

Closing Day is just the beginning

Jean Piaget, one of the greatest minds in developmental psychology and cognitive development, claimed over 50 years ago that “the goal of education is not to increase the amount of knowledge but to create the possibilities for a child to invent and discover.” He also stated that “the current state of knowledge is a moment in history, changing just as rapidly as the state of knowledge in the past has ever changed and, in many instances, more rapidly.”

It follows that the rate of change with new information and technology has been identified as a challenge. This is nothing new. We know this, and as a school, have a proven track record of thinking differently about the role of a school in a student’s life.

R.H. Perry, our founding head of school, stated that we need to equip students “socially, morally, and intellectually so that they may meet the challenges of ensuing decades with courage, intelligence, and understanding.” The point being that we need to educate young people, but to think about more than just the workplace. Yes, students need skills—they need to do math and to be able to write an elegant sentence—and we give them those things exceptionally well. They need accreditation and external measures of achievement. When we hand them a diploma or a bronze cross or an award on Closing Day, those indicators of excellence demonstrate their accomplishments to others, and, more importantly, to themselves.

But we know—as did Piaget and Perry—that students need more. They need an opportunity to become courageous and understanding. They need to become fantastic people: empathetic, generous, and considerate; able to

have fun and able to meet adversity. Students need a sense of rootedness, to feel that they are part of something larger than themselves, to have a true sense of belonging and to know that they always have a place to come back to. Rosseau Lake College is a physical space, but it’s also a conceptual space. It’s a community that has the students’ best interest at heart, just as they have the interest of others in their hearts. All of that is our job, too.

Every year, on Closing Day, these things become very top of mind in ways that they aren’t during the rest of the school year, which is a reminder of why Closing Day is so important. It’s not just handing out diplomas and wishes for success in all future endeavours. Rather, it’s an opportunity to stop and reflect on what it is that the school truly does. It reminds us of our greater purpose, privilege, and opportunity to guide young people in their exciting journey. Through the names on the awards—Cole, Hodgetts, Perry, Cardwell, Devenish—Closing Day is a reminder of the community that Rosseau has gathered over the past half century, and a chance to reconnect with our traditions and our history. It’s a necessary reflection on who we are and what we strive to achieve in the years to come.

Perhaps the rate of change due to increasingly sophisticated technology and the flood of artificial intelligence sheds a new light on what RLC needs to focus on. However, as it was in our beginning, it still stands true today: Students need to feel the rush of risk and of success; to be cared for and to be given opportunities to care; to feel part of a community with a strong sense of purpose. When they finish their time here, they need to go out into the world with a sense of vast possibility but also a sense of home. This is RLC’s gift to them.

Dave Krocker Head of School

A landmark moment

MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR OF THE BOARD Board of Directors

Our journey together continues to exceed our expectations.

On behalf of the Board of Directors, welcome to this edition of the Rosseau Review.

As we enter 2024 our journey together continues to exceed our expectations.

The dedicated volunteers of the Board provide strategic oversight and governance as they advise and support Head of School Dave Krocker.

I am always inspired by the students, faculty, and staff when I have the opportunity to participate in activities on and off the campus. It’s easy to understand why parents and alumni want to be a part of this wonderful community. The culture remains rooted in a sense of belonging, a caring environment, a love for the outdoors, and authentic learning experiences. Our parents, faculty, and staff see and know first-hand how our students go out into the world with lessons and understanding cultivated by an engaging experience.

This past year, we have witnessed the impressive revitalization of our campus waterfront with sails on the water again. Infrastructure is being updated and rebuilt, allowing more and new programs to be developed.

Our Elevate campaign will take us to the next level as we witness a landmark in the school’s history—the construction of a new Recreation Centre. The excitement will continue as we secure the support required to build a new teaching and learning complex. Tuition runs the school. Philanthropic giving grows it. This momentum will drive the development of a new strategic plan. Elevating the student experience will be our priority.

Scott Hayter RLC Board Chair

Scott Hayter, Chair, is a graduate of the Royal Military College and has held advancement roles at independent schools in Canada and the UK. He has also served as Vice President at Wilfrid Laurier University.

Danielle Holmes ’89 graduated from RLC as Class Valedictorian in ‘89. She is a graduate of the Ryerson School of Business. Danielle is CEO of Micom Network Services and has served as Councillor for Ward 1 in Ajax, Ontario.

Christina Khoury presents a wide range of personal and professional experience, from governance and policy to aviation and sports law.

Blair Sharpe is a former RLC teacher, Athletic Director, and Dean of Residences. He brings 29 years of experience as an instructor in independent schooling.

Dan Snider brings extensive experience in operations, supply chain, and finance, as well as a passion for leading strategic initiatives.

Tim Withey offers insight from a long-standing participation in municipal politics and extensive business experience. Tim is founder and president of Withey Insurance Brokers Ltd. in Huntsville.

Olivia Franks ‘15, a graduate of RLC and Queen’s University, is a researcher at Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres (OFIFC).

Lawrence Lam brings 20 years of team leadership and management experience in multiple IT areas including project management and security within the financial sector.

Saskia Schenck is a past RLC parent and provides extensive experience in management and strategic brand positioning within the automotive industry.

THE YEAR IN REVIEW

In 2023 we graduated 34 students, and in 2024 we’re poised to exceed that number. That’s an important metric of our success. To graduate students with the tools they need to thrive in post-secondary life is why we’re here.

The perspective that we grant our students is important, too. We spoke with Caroline Bissonette ‘22, who this fall started her second year at Rotman Commerce at the University of Toronto. She’s majoring in business and has decided to complete a minor in geoscience, bringing knowledge of ecology and Indigenous rights and perspectives. “I don’t think I would have done that without going to RLC,” she says. “I really wanted to incorporate [those things]—and this is probably pretty niche—with investing strategies. … a lot of the companies I look at, especially with lithium, nothing

can really happen to these mines, because a lot of them are located on Indigenous territory.”

Canada will become a leader in lithium production. Handled correctly, Caroline sees this as an opportunity—financially, socially, and culturally. “It’s really about understanding where [we all] come from, and implementing so that everyone is happy in the end.”

Along with Caroline, we‘re graduating students with the courage and the tools to innovate in their academic lives and to be thoughtful about what their work can mean. They are also disposed to bring the values—the Rosseau Roots—to bear in everything that they do.

THE YEAR IN REVIEW

Thanks to donor interest, we reinstated the RLC sailing program. A legacy program of the school, the restart was supported by a committee made up parents and alumni. There was an informal launch in June. Our regatta with Lakefield, held in the fall, was the first time the two schools have met for competition on this lake since 1973.

The year saw the development of RLC’s largest capital campaign to date: Elevate. We received a $2M donation from Dan Campagna ‘07, the largest single pledge ever given to RLC. We are proud and honoured by this level of support and by the vote of confidence it signals to our capital development plans. There are some obvious, and very literal, signs on campus marking the sites of two principal builds, the Recreation Centre and the STEAM complex. The facilities—through the input of donors and thought leaders—are an expression of our community with an eye to the future of the school. This campaign has the capacity to take RLC into the next phase of its life and to inaugurate a period of significant cultural and academic growth.

We were delighted to welcome Kate Knight to Rosseau Lake College in the role of Assistant Head of School, Student Services. Kate brings more than 20 years in education to her role. She has worked as a teacher, administrator, and consultant in both independent and public school contexts. She holds a Bachelor of Arts (English/History) from Trent University, a Bachelor of Education from Queen’s University, a Master of Education (Leadership) from the University of Calgary, as well as specialist designations in Guidance & Career Education, Special Education, and First Nations, Metis, and Inuit Studies.

We’re delighted to have Matt Jonah join us as part of the Rosseau Lake College admissions team. His experience in admissions and enrollment management spans more than two decades. On graduating from university, he joined the admissions office at Mount Allison University, ultimately serving as the associate registrar for recruitment and admissions. From there he took similar roles across the country (NB, ON, BC) in independent AP and IB schools. Inviting Matt to come on board at RLC is a reflection of the direction of the school as we look to the next strategic plan. Per the leadership of Dave Krocker, Head of School, this is a defining period in the life of RLC, one that presents a unique opportunity to elevate facilities while strengthening enrollment and advancement efforts. “We’ve done well to date,” he says, “though we know it’s important to further establish some practices with an eye to the longer term.”

The past year saw RLC return to the Canadian Ski Marathon after a long hiatus. Calum ‘25, a Grade 10 student, completed the entire 180 km over the two days of the event. That’s the equivalent of skiing from Rosseau to Toronto. Our delegation included former faculty member Peter Ostrom as well as alumni Cullen Perry ‘84 and Jeffrey Dods ‘85, both of whom skied for RLC at the CSM when they were students.

Through partnership with Indigenous organizations we elevated the lacrosse program. Strong Roots and the Haudenosaunee Sports Development Group pledged a donation of lacrosse equipment, which was presented during a formal ceremony as part of the RLC Pow Wow. With leadership on campus, as well as the development of the RLC Lake League, we intend to become a focal point for the sport locally and regionally.

The 3rd Annual RLC Seven Generations Pow Wow was held in June. First begun as a Discovery Week project by Courtney Tabobondung ‘20, the event grows each year.

With the leadership of Dawn Tabobondung, Indigenous Seven Generations Program Coordinator, an RLC student was a delegate to the Indigenous Innovation Initiative, a full-day workshop in Ottawa to synthesize and evolve a policy discussion paper on Indigenous innovation. The purpose of the day was to answer the question “How can we build a stronger community supporting indigenous innovation?” The focus was on creating spaces, dialogues, and relational activities for participants to connect as a network.

The RLC Alumni Association nominated Martin Birthelmer ’87 as president of the association. Martin brings to this leadership position a lifelong affection for RLC, which he entered as a student in Grade 9. Martin was a key athlete on many RLC varsity sports teams including ice hockey, rugby, and soccer. He was a House Captain of West Bricks and the recipient of a number of academic and leadership awards. His enthusiastic and animated character brought energy to the community. His team spirit and leadership were reflected in his nomination as Graduation Class Valedictorian. Martin went on to complete a degree in education and a successful career as VP of Middle School at Hillfield Strathallan College.

We’re delighted to formally welcome Iain McMullan to the RLC advancement team. Brought on board to lead the Elevate capital campaign, Iain is a fundraising professional with over 30 years’ experience crafting and implementing fundraising strategy. He has extensive experience in providing both strategic and operational counsel on fundraising to a wide range of not for profits across North America, Europe, the Middle East & Gulf, Asia-Pacific, and PR China. Iain is an important addition to the RLC team, and he will be instrumental in helping us take the school into the next phase of its life.

A life in the arts

If you’ve played a game on Xbox recently, or traded Magic: The Gathering Cards, you’ve very likely seen the work of Brock Grossman ‘12.

By Glen Herbert

Brock Grossman ‘12 is a concept artist and designer. If you don’t know quite what that is, you’re not alone. It’s not a role that we think of much or that gets a lot of press. He works with producers of video games. “Let’s say they’re including a city in the game,” he says, “and they need to know what the buildings look like. I’m the one who would do the sketches and designs and drawings and 3-D models. And then they build it into the game.”

The game controller directs the players’ movements through the world of the game, while Brock is one of the people who creates that world: the backgrounds and the buildings; the things the characters hold or drive or fly; what they look like and how they move; who they are, and who they might meet.

If you haven’t seen a video game in a while, it’s fair to say that you’d be impressed with the kind of work being done. While games have their antecedents in Pong and Asteroids, the creators of today’s games, more often than not, look to other sources for artistic inspiration. People like Frank Frazetta and Mœbius, and the fantasy artists of the ‘60s and ‘70s. “I draw from a lot of that earlier stuff because I like fantasy art and science fiction,” says Brock. Rather than pixelated blips jumping on things, those artists created complex scenes and narratives. They were storytellers.

“There are some artists that everyone draws inspiration from, and I think that’s interesting, because each artist has different preferences and styles that they work in.”

And that’s what Brock does: he tells stories. If you google him (or click here) you’ll see lots of pieces, almost all of

which he’s done as practice or simply for himself. “A lot of the stuff that I post online is my personal artwork. I don’t post stuff from my job because it’s under contract. But my personal stuff, in my portfolio—and what I do in my spare time—is what I’m proud of, I guess. The personal expression side of art.”

It’s easy to get a bit lost in all of it. These are truly fantastic images in every sense of the word: a ship, a robot, a raptor perched overlooking a burning city that is both futuristic and historical at the same time. In contrast, there’s also a view from the window of his apartment in Vancouver, one he says that he made soon after arriving there. It’s utterly realistic, and you’d be forgiven for thinking it’s a photograph, though set in sepia tones with a beautiful use of light that characterizes his work. His creations are complex, skilled, and frankly beautiful. (Though he admits “a lot of the art that I do is a bit darker.”)

You can see his professional work in the game Borderlands 3, for one. He has also illustrated Magic: The Gathering cards. And as with any field of art, what he creates is part of a much larger artistic conversation. For those coming at it cold, it can be unclear where to look. I ask him what the work represents, and within it that makes both his work distinctive. “I think the design sensibility,” he says. “Taste is really important. There are some artists that everyone draws inspiration from, and I think that’s interesting, because each artist has different preferences and styles that they work in.”

“You end up getting really close to people, because you’re living together.”

His entry point for what he’s doing professionally was the art he encountered growing up in Toronto. “Art was always a constant for me,” he says. “I was inspired by street art, artists that were doing murals and those kinds of things.” His work—these feel like very urban forms—can seem at odds with the fact that he attended RLC. But he did. Brock arrived in Grade 7, first enrolling that year as a day student. His father, Chris, ran Moose FM, the radio station in Muskoka. “I was going back and forth to Muskoka quite a bit because he had to work up here, and we had a house in Toronto. And because my parents were both really busy

with work it sort of came about that RLC would be a good place for me to go to school.” The decision to board came later, but it worked. “A lot of my friends were boarders, and I think my parents wanted me to have that experience of growing up in Muskoka rather than in the city.”

Brock stayed through graduation, becoming the definition of an RLC lifer. “It was a really good place to go to high school,” he says, “because you’re sort of sheltered from a lot of potentially bad situations you could get yourself into in, say, Toronto. I think it was a really good place—it was quiet and nurturing. I liked being a boarder because you end up getting really close to people, because you’re living together.”

His interest in art was encouraged by Janet Copeland, the art teacher at the time. “I think she recognized that I was passionate about it right from the get-go. She was very encouraging and gave me a lot of opportunities to do art, and she was really supportive.”

When I ask him what he felt RLC gave him, he answers “patience.”

“One of my regrets is I wish I pulled more from the nature,” he says, “thinking of artists like the Group of Seven … there’s lots of great landscape. … I think I took that for granted.” As a teenager there were other concerns, and anyway a lot going on. But the aesthetic of the landscape resonates, and you can see hints of it in the backgrounds of some of the images he creates.

“I’d say just take advantage of the environment that you’re in. The outtrips, the scenery … RLC is a really unique place to go to high school. Just appreciate it for what it is.”

After RLC Brock enrolled at SCAD, the Savannah College of Art and Design in Savannah, Georgia.

“When I went to college,” he says, “I didn’t have a super clear idea of what I wanted to do at the time. But

ALUMNI VOICES

then I met some friends, and meeting people, I sort of discovered the video game design career path.”

Grossman’s work is a reminder that everything we see in stores, on television, in video games, is designed. Which means people sit down in front of a blank screen and create something that wasn’t there before. Brock is one of those people. It’s a career path that is growing and considerably bigger than some might think. Per a recent industry report, gaming revenues have exceeded those of movies and sports combined, netting $184 billion in 2022. The audience, too, is larger and growing. The number of gamers is expected to grow to 3.6 billion by 2025. … 38% of gamers are between the ages of 18 and 34 years, and 16% are older than 55.

I spoke with him while we were in the midst of Closing Day prep, and I asked if he’d have any advice for the students who are at RLC today. “I guess I’d say just take advantage of the environment that you’re in. The outtrips, the scenery … RLC is a really unique place to go to high school. Just appreciate it for what it is.”

Brock Grossman ‘12 is currently on staff at Microsoft’s Coalition Studio, a flagship Xbox Game Studio. He lives in Vancouver.

Thinking beyond

For Ouelhore Diallo ‘22 RLC brought a sense of place, community, and perspective.

By Glen Herbert

“It’s very different from Rosseau,” she says. “No one really knows what’s going on, so we’re figuring it out together as we go.”

I reached Ouelhore Diallo ’22 at Western University where she’s enrolled in the first semester of the Health Sciences program. She’s being honest, though given her disposition, as far as figuring it out goes, it’s easy to imagine that her peers are looking to her more than she’s looking to them. At RLC she was a prefect, a house leader, and simply a remarkable presence. She arrived at Western as recipient of a President’s International Admissions Scholarship, one of only five of its kind given each year. The citation notes that it is given to those who hold “an exceptional academic record [and] who have the potential to make outstanding contributions both in the classroom and beyond.”

“You felt heard and cared for”

Ouelhore first came to Rosseau Lake College in Grade 10, already worldly in all the best ways. She had lived in a list of countries, having moved every three or four years for her mother’s work. So she’d seen a lot. (When I ask her about her experience with outdoor education, she says “we had done outtrips to Mauritius. We did skiing and hiking. I remember the year before I came, we went on a trip to Mount Kilimanjaro where we hiked up.”) But being worldly isn’t just about the destinations, it’s also about the perspective that thinking globally can offer. And Ouelhore has that, too: a calm confidence, a sense of being comfortable in the world, aware of the opportunities it can present.

Ouelhore’s last school prior to RLC was an international British school in Tanzania. “My mom thought it might be a good idea for me to go abroad,” perhaps specifically to North America. “When we came across Rosseau, I just really liked the idea of the community and the outdoors.” She visited during that summer and enrolled the following year.

Unlike some of the other places that she had lived, this was different. “I really felt that I was close to everyone. It’s crazy because I felt connected to everyone.” Despite the cultural, linguistic, and personal differences represented within the student body—or perhaps because of them—they all felt like kindred spirits. “It just felt like we all were in the same boat,” she says. “Everyone could just relate and talk to each other. … and you could have conversations. You felt heard, and cared for, and I really appreciated that.” Academically “everyone would just seek different ways of learning, or different ways to bring your ideas forward. It was that creative aspect of learning, of not just being black and white. And I think that really helps when you come to university. It helps you to find your way, to study, to prepare for things. That idea of looking beyond the assignment, or the project, or the equation, or whatever you’re doing, and finding other ways, connecting things.”

She mentions the Discovery Day projects as an example of learning about how different things are connected, bringing together seemingly disparate aspects of the curriculum. “That really helps me here when you’re doing a major in something, and you have all these classes,” she says. “I’m

able to anticipate exam questions, because I’m able to come up with, like, Discovery Day questions, connecting all the different classes together, and just thinking beyond.”

“I don’t know what I want to be ... I just know where I want to be”

“I just feel like RLC just opens up your perspectives on life,” she says. “Ever since I went to RLC I’ve been very focused on perspective, and just open-mindedness. I feel that has sort of become my motto, and I think that’s what’s going to push me forward in this field.”

The program she’s in at Western is interdisciplinary and, as she says, is both deep and broad; it’s as much about well-being and resilience as it is about biology and chemistry. “The program just brings it all together. And, actually, at Rosseau I think it was in Grade 11, I took this humanities course, and you did anthropology, psychology, and sociology. And I felt like that really made me understand what field I wanted to enter.” She adds that, “I don’t like doing the sciences and just leaving it at that. I like thinking about other things, like the social aspects of life.”

For her, it’s all about focus. “There is this new idea of global health. It’s a more holistic view,” one that considers how we practice medicine, including how we measure health, and working away from just the physical aspects of the discipline. “It just makes more sense.”

It really does. I ask her what she wants to do with the degree, and her answer says more than perhaps she is aware. Some might say something like, I want to open a practice, or I want to go into research and teaching. Instead, she says, “I want to do something that helps people. I don’t know what I want to be, to be honest, I just know where I want to be. I want to be using my knowledge to help people. Honestly, that’s all. I want to talk to people and be more connected to people. To really understand them.”

Clearly, she’s well on her way.

Ouelhore Diallo ‘22 is in her second year in the Health Sciences program at Western University.

Why we do what we do

We asked current parent, Moira McSween, what RLC had done for her family. This is part of what she said:

RLC has absolutely transformed my son. In every way. He is becoming the person he was meant to be. It is without a doubt a transformative experience.

Every year, when he was in public school, I went in saying “I think there’s a problem.” And I was told every year, “He’s fine, he has a December birthday, he’ll catch up.” And then during COVID I took him out and I home schooled him. And I was right. There was a problem. So I went and had educational testing done. He doesn’t have a learning disorder. He was grade levels behind academically. He was completely missed in a very badly behaved class. He was a quiet kid. He was just really missed in his class. He was overweight, and if you see him now, he’s obviously not [anymore]. He was being bullied. He told me that he was dumb, that he would never learn math, and that school was boring. And I thought, well, you’re in the wrong school and I’m going to prove to you that you’re wrong. So, we went up to RLC.

It had always been a dream of mine to send him to RLC. Our first school tour was when he was in Grade 4. And then when I got the academic testing done, I knew he needed a huge change. He wasn’t living—you know I hate this phrase but it’s true—he wasn’t living his best life. I just needed to make a huge change for him.

So when I got the academic assessment results, I ran up there and had a meeting with Jaclyn and the student support teacher, Pam Lent. And they just looked at the assessment and said, “Yes, this is what we do at RLC. We can help you with this.”

It’s the best gift I could have given him. To turn him around this much. When I took him out of public school, he couldn’t write a sentence, a well-formed sentence. I just let the teachers teach him the first year, you know, let go and let RLC, you know, take over … and when I read an

essay he wrote in January, I thought he had plagiarized it. But he actually wrote it himself. The amount of time that was spent in teaching him how to write and catching him up was phenomenal. I’m so grateful to the teachers there for what they’ve done. And he’s a smart kid, right? He’s gone from a kid who’s told me he’s dumb to a kid who is excelling at school and is actually enjoying it. He comes home on weekends and tells me what he’s done, the projects he’s involved with. It’s incredible.

So, it was completely transformational. He’s doing his work. He’s excelling. Really, it’s the best thing I could have done for him. Sending him away to school. Which is hard, right? I hear parents saying, “I could never do that.” But I didn’t do it for me. I did it for him. He needed a change. And he feels like he belongs there. It’s a small school, there are small class sizes. The kids can get that sense of belonging which I think is very important.

Calum ‘25 is the kind of student that RLC has been created to serve. In addition to academic success, he epitomizes Hahn’s concept of there being “more within us than we know.”

CLASS OF ‘23

The 2023 graduates celebrated their successes with a cruise on the Wenonah II, a classic Muskoka steamship, and a dinner at the Muskoka Lakes Golf and Country Club. They were all at RLC during the epidemic, so being together in this way was particularly touching.

ADVANCEMENT Planning ahead

Martin Birthelmer ‘87 on the future of RLC and the role he chooses to take within it.

By Glen Herbert

“I still feel like a kid sometimes around those guys,” says Martin Birthelmer ‘ 87, “because I hold them in such high regard.” He was speaking of his teachers from RLC and thinking specifically of Blair Sharpe. Martin and Blair see each other socially from time to time, including at alumni events. Both coached in the same intramural league, so saw each other at games. “I have trouble not calling him sir.”

“I love this place,” he says, and it’s clear that he does. “I say to parents all the time, every school is bricks and mortar. That’s all it is. It’s the people who are inside it that make it a really good school. The buildings don’t shape who you become, it’s the people in the buildings who shape who you become. So, for me, it’s been a lifelong love for Rosseau.”

Martin’s involvement has been lifelong as well, first as a student, then as a thought leader, then as a benefactor. “I didn’t donate for a long time. I had young kids and, you know, money was tight.” He started giving in the way that many alumni do. He attended work weekends, giving his time, then sponsoring the socials on the Saturday nights. When the swim dock was damaged by ice, he contributed to its restoration.

He’s motivated to give in part by the unique challenges that RLC faces. He notes that the school is young, for one, and doesn’t have the kind of donor populations that schools like, say, UCC and St. Andrews have. RLC also has a unique set of needs, some of which other schools don’t have, like a lake-fed water system.

“I think it’s obvious to all of us,” he says. “We need to build new buildings; we need new infrastructure. It is just bricks and mortar, as he says, but without it, the relationships don’t happen. As he looks ahead, he looks forward to playing a larger role. “Because of my situation in life—because of my dad who was excellent with finances—I’ll be in a position later in my life where I’ll be able to make a bigger donation to the school. We can’t be shy. We have to be able to say, ‘This is what we’re dreaming’ and ‘we want to do this.’” I ask what he’s dreaming, what he wants to do, which elicits a sigh. “Well, if I had a nickel for every time someone told me that Rosseau Lake was closing I probably wouldn’t have to work. So, I think the first thing is just to get the message out that we’re in good financial standing. And that all independent schools, no matter how big they are, depend on giving.”

“But I think that the school, for 50-odd years, has been just surviving. We’ve now gone past that stage. This is where we begin to thrive. I’d like to see new science buildings over by the pond. I’d like to see a new Perry Building. And I’d like to call it the Perry Building. We should never lose that name. As much as schools transform and move with the times, there’s an importance to tradition. I think that’s extremely important at our school.” He’d also like to see a new residence and more faculty housing. Those things aren’t as exciting in some ways, but he sees them as essential, given the

people they would help bring to the school and the relationships that they would help foster.

Martin has spent the bulk of his career as faculty and vice-principal of middle school at Hillfield Strathallan College in Hamilton, Ontario. But RLC is home, and he’s happy to have lived a life there first as a young person (he’s got lots of great stories, to be sure) and then, later, in other roles.

At every point along the way, he’s left a mark, first as a peer, then as a mentor, and now as a donor. When

journalist Mark Shields looked back on his career at the time of his retirement he commented, “every one of us has been warmed by fires we did not build, and every one of us has drunk from wells we did not dig. We can’t do less for those who come after us. … It’s as straightforward as that.”

Martin doesn’t say it in exactly that way, though it’s clear that’s how he thinks about the school. He’s been warmed by fires he didn’t build; he can’t do less for those yet to come. For him, the motivation to play a role is as straightforward as that.

Tradition

Regatta Day

On October 11 we revived the challenge trophy competition—a sailing race between RLC and Lakefield College School— that was last held exactly 50 years ago in 1973. The day marked a renewed commitment to sailing. It also reflected the RLC alumni and parent community’s support, enthusiasm, and ongoing participation in the life of the school.

ADVANCEMENT

Donor impact

Our waterfront revitalization initiative began with $90K raised from alumni, parents, and friends at the Turn Back Time Party in 2022. We combined it with the proceeds from the 2022-23 RLC Annual Fund to continue to elevate the project. We have four brand new Zests, four refurbished Lasers, a CL16, a Patrol 420 safety boat, a vibrant sailing program, and two of the nicest docks on the Muskoka lakes.

The Pow Wow continues to flourish along with our Seven Generation Initiative under the guidance of Dawn Tabobondung, Indigenous Seven Generations Initiative Coordinator. Our RLC community, principally Sarah & Kelly Carrick ‘86 and former faculty member Elinor Cole, provide ongoing support.

Proceeds from the annual Hekkla and Hekklette continue to support the maintenance of the Robert Carreau Memorial Trail system. The RCMT is a four-season, multiuse trail system created in honour of the school’s former head of school, Robert Carreau. The trail was built in 2021 with over $100K in donations and volunteerism from our close-knit community. The Hekkla and Hekklettes raise around $10K a year to maintain the trail.

Rosseau Lake College was honoured this spring by the Strong Roots Charitable Foundation and the Haudenosaunee Sports and Development Group with a large donation of lacrosse equipment to help grow the “original game” while enhancing the student experience.

Over 60 volunteers honoured us with the gift of time at Work Weekend, an RLC tradition that takes place on the last weekend in August. Parents and alumni come together to tackle various projects to prepare our campus for the students’ arrival in September.

Jim Wallace ‘69 generously donated his time and expertise as a blacksmith to revamp the front entrance to Rosseau Lake College. Still utilizing the original stone base, Jim replaced the wood fence with elegant wrought iron fencing accompanied by RLC branded shields with the different symbols in our crest.

We are incredibly fortunate to have the RLC Parent Guild who tirelessly offer their time and resources to elevate the student experience. In addition to volunteering on committees, the Parent Guild also raises approximately $10K a year through used uniform sales, Give the Gift Campaign, and the Thank a Teacher appeal. Monies raised in 2022–23 bought a new indoor/outdoor stage

We were honoured to receive a legacy gift of $200K from the Alice Booth Foundation, followed by a $50K gift in honour of her late son Kevin Booth ‘77. Alice was a board member in the mid 70’s, and a lasting presence in the decades that followed. Kevin, too, kept close ties to the school, and organized the annual Christmas at the Miller alumni events in Toronto.

Dawn Tabobondung leads the Seven Generations program, shown here with Grade 12 English students during Treaty Week. Together they read Midnight Sweatlodge by Waubgeshig Rice ‘97. Rice is an Anishinaabe writer and journalist from the Wasauksing First Nation who is also an alum of RLC. His recent books include Moon of the Crested Snow and Moon of the Falling Leaves, published this year. He was named by the New York Times as one of “the Indigenous novelists reshaping North American science fiction, horror, and fantasy.” Seven Generations is funded through donations that benefit scholarships and resources.

Thank you

Thank you for investing in RLC’s present and future! To everyone who donated in 2023–24, we would like to extend our gratitude for your support.

• Todd Adair

• Larissa Adameck

• Stephanie Adams

• Chris Adams

• Olanipekun & Funmilola Adebutu

• Jonathan Alderson ‘87

• Margaret & David Allan ‘84

• Sue & Phil Allan ‘72

• Michael Anderson ‘88

• Bernice Anderson

• Anonymous

• Edgar & Abigail Aragon

• Jenn Armishaw

• Steve Arpin & Patricia Burns

• Nadine & Ron Artemis

• Cita Arzani

• Eileen Arzani

• Larry & Maria Badley

• Khalid Badruddin

• Maya Badruddin

• Michael & Franziska Bahms

• Tom Baker

• Len & Colleen Beaulne

• Shaun Beaulne

• Tami Benayon

• William Bensen ‘28

• Lyndsay Bensen Bond

• Scott Biddle

• Joan Binnendyk ‘87

• Martin Birthelmer ‘87

• Scott & Cheryl Bissonette

• Ken & Bernice Bissonette

• Danielle Blakley

• Bernice Booth

• Glen Bowker ‘89

• Serena Bowker

• Janice & Bill Bremner ‘83

• John Britten

• Glenn Wood & Faith Brown-Wood

• Ian Browning

• Bart & Eileen Calderone

• John Campbell ‘91

• David & Melanie Carmichael

• J Carmichael

• Bob & Maureen Carreau

• Christina Carreau

• Carreau Family

• Sarah & Kelly Carrick ‘85

• Shelley Casey

• Monique Charlton

• Kunhong Chen & Shuping Shi

• Gavin Chen & Xiaolei Zhou

• Kam Hung Yeung & Kin Lai Chui

• Lyle Clark

• Melissa ClaydenTabobondung ‘17

• Elinor Cole

• Erika Connor

• Louise De St Jorre & Alan Coutts

• Christopher Criswick

• Phil & Eva Cunningham

• Rose David

• Winsome & Lionel deMercado ‘76

• Sue & Greg Devenish ‘71

• Tracy & John Di Cesare ‘92

• John Dinner

• Charleen & Jeffrey Dods ‘85

• Diane Doucette

• Simon Day & Nadine Doyle

• Elizabeth Duncan ‘93

• Pam Dunlop

• Tim Dunn ‘84

• John Myles Lawlor ‘72

• Brian & Beverley Lay

• Darren LeClair ‘84

• Trevor Lewis & Sue Baxter

• Martha Lewis

• Anne Lindsay

• Mike & Christina Bissonette Lines

• Jinjun Liu

• Melissa Lloyd Ibarra ‘20

• Erin Lyttle

• Ann MacDiarmid

• Jaclyn Macleod

• Douglas Herron & Moira MacSween

• Trevor Mannion ‘10

• Rachael Wheldon Marshall ‘86

• Karen Mason

• Stella McEwen

• Ian & Tara McNaughton

• David McRae

• Trevor & Karen Hodgetts

Misfeldt ‘86

• Bill Morris ‘73

• Tom & Kim Bissonette Morton ‘88

• Kerry Mueller

• Andrew Muffitt & Heather Evans

• Mark Mullally

• Adam & Carin Mullen

• Cory & Angela Mullen

• Chiacheng Chang & Nana Muramoto

• Kevin Nevile-Smith ‘87

• Carol & Peter Newall

• Dave Nicoletti

• Shu Fang Ning & Lawrence Lam

• Christine O’Sullivan

• Brad O’Neill ‘87

• Lorne Oates

• Tracey & Philip Ogden ‘79

• Cathy Olson

• Katie Olson-Kari

• Dave & Denise Bissonette Orton ‘92

• Deena & Jeremy Osborn ‘88

• Parks/Ludlam

• Randy & Lena Patten

• Pauleen Patton

• Michele & Cullen Perry ‘84

• Joyce & Paul Pingkian

• Tony Pisano

• Marcus & Nadine Plevoets

• Maksym & Inna Poliakov

• Michelle Polson

• Jacqueline Priolo

• Steve Priolo

• Monica Rand

• Gail Rand

• Zachary Randle

• Katherine Ravensdale

• Catherine Redman

• James Reid

• Mark & Selene Richards

• Mark & Julia Robertson

• Carlos R

• Suzie Roy

• Carla Royer

• Fernando Ruiz de Chavez

• Jee Hyoung Lee & Jia Ryu

• Nancy & Christopher Sainthill ‘72

• Tia Saley

• Thomas & Michelle Sartor

• Gabriel Schmerler ‘86

• Stephen Scholten

• Teresa Schoonings

• SCRRW

• Sue Sedgwick

• Barbara Segal

• Blair Sharpe

• Blair & Debbie Sharpe

• John Shelly ‘70

• Jessica Sheppard

• Thomas & Joy Shields

• Kevin & Natalie Smith

• Graeme Smith

• Gina Smyth

• Eduardo Snyder Lau & Rosa Navarro Trujillo

• Olga Soldatenko

• Maria & Rick Somerville ‘70

• Cooper Squirrell

• Juanita and Jim

• Don Stoakley

• Ken Storimans

• David Straiton ‘83

• Xiaoyin Sun & Debin Wang

• Nian Hu & Bin Sun

• Steve DePiero & Susan Surry

• Paula Swaine

• Tom Symes ‘88

• Dawn Tabobondung & Tim Clayden

• Steve Taylor

• Ross Thielmann & Angela Walsh

• Vic Thiessen

• Paul Mascarin & Jessica Tickle

• Gert Tracy

• Stephen Turvey

• John Van Loenen

• Emily Vance

• Mary Varcoe

• Belen Viglione-Murch

• Laura Walker

• Zhiying Wang & Zhen Yang

• Yaoguang Wang & Jiwei Tian

• Pamela Wedd

• Jinmin Wei & Liya Liu

• Hao Wen & Min Zhang

• Erin Weslock

• Fiona Whalen

• Steve Wheldon ‘90

• Adrian & Mirlande White

• Ryan & Jill Wilson

• Emily Windrem

• Robin & Brian Windrem

• Tim Withey

• Alison Withey

• Kam Ping Wong & Hor Yan Cheuk

• Brad Wood ‘92

• Chris Holmes & Casey Erin Wood

• Kanlin Wu

• Kevin & Tong Tong Wu

• Valerie Wye

• Fengjin Xiao & Xuguang Zhang

• Margaret Young

• Sergii Zabolotniy & Nadiia Atamanchuk

• AROH Inc

• Thomas Design and Build Inc

• Lyle’s Tree Service

• David Straiton Productions Inc.

• Hawkrigg Inc

• Releaf Foundation of Canada

• MSH International (Canada) Ltd

• Newlake Transportation Limited

• Canadian Tire Bracebridge

• The Estate of Alice Booth

• Hall Construction

• Muskoka Kia

• Boom Imaging

email Kim Bissonette Morton ‘88 at kim.morton@rosseaulakecollege.com.

The accuracy of our donor recognition list

CLASS NOTES

Brad Wood, 1974-2023

By Kim Morton ‘88, Director of Advancement

On July 28, Rosseau Lake College received a note from Brad Wood ‘92 that read “What a great privilege and honour it is for me to be able to make this donation. RLC was such a powerful influence on me, and I hope this helps pass it forward so another young adult may also experience that.” Included with the card was a cheque for US$100K.

The donation from Brad did not come as a surprise, although Brad’s earlier email dated May 25, 2023 certainly did. Brad began the letter with “I am an alumnus of RLC, class of 1992. RLC had a profound impact on my development, and I believe I would not be the person I am today without my experience and education from grades 10-13 at Rosseau.”

Unfortunately, RLC had lost touch with Brad after graduation. As it turns out, he had moved to North Carolina in 1996 and had only been on campus twice since he graduated. One of those times was during the summer in 2020 when he was on a motorcycle trip with some friends and stopped by to say hello. I had the pleasure of meeting Brad on campus that day. Our years at RLC did not overlap. His time as a student began the September after I graduated. Robert Carreau was the Head of School on the day Brad stopped by to visit. He made an impression on Brad and following Robert’s tragic accident, Brad contributed $1500.00 to the Robert Carreau Memorial Trail.

Brad’s email in May went on to say that he had Stage 4 Cancer and although his prognosis was not good, he had every intention of beating the disease. Since his diagnosis, Brad had been reflecting on life and decided that while he was still alive, he would like to make a positive impact and “pass it forward.” His email said “I would like to support something specific, with a decent sized donation, at least for my means, but I don’t know the needs of the school at the present moment.”

We were planning to formalize the donation in July. Brad had plans to bring his wife Courtney and their 12 and 10 year old children for a visit. They were coming to Blue Mountain for a wedding and he was excited to show his family where he lived and went to high school for four years. Brad spent two years in Brock House and two years in Clarkson. His last year in Clarkson, he was the house captain. Brad and I spoke a few times about his upcoming visit to campus. He wanted to walk along the waterfront and tour the boarding houses. He wanted to show his kids where he lived and played. Sadly Brad had to cancel his visit. Although he maintained a positive outlook, his treatments were becoming more difficult and he was unable to travel.

We were saddened to hear of Brad’s passing on November 14. He is survived by his wife, Courtney, their daughter Margot and son Sebastian.

I feel privileged that I had a small window to get to know Brad a little bit. He mentioned a few times how pleased he was that he got to live such a great life. He only talked about positive things. Brad was passionate about providing an opportunity for others to experience the benefits of the RLC community. He wanted to share the ‘why’ behind the donations so his gift would inspire others to give. Although we never found the right time to do a full interview with Brad, I think the ‘why’ is summed up well in the card that he sent with his donation.

Whenever anyone retires from the RLC staff, there’s a void, though this year saw three departures that will be felt deeply for some time to come. They’ve been described as the backbone of the school, and for good reason: Cheryl Bissonette, Jim Moring, and Len Bealune account for a combined 80 years of service and have touched the lives of literally thousands of students.

A huge RLC congratulations to Waubgeshig Rice ‘97 who received an honorary doctorate from Nipissing University this past June. Journalist and author Waubgeshig’s most recent novel, Moon of the Crusted Snow, was published in 2018 and became a national bestseller. His next, Moon of the Turning Leaves, will be published later this year

It was a glorious day for the Come Sail with Us event on June 7. We were delighted to host friends, alumni, students, and family to enjoy the new docks and new boats and inaugurate the redevelopment of the RLC sailing program.

CLASS NOTES

Hekkla? Heck yeah! This year the event raised $9K to build and maintain the Robert Carreau Memorial Trail. Thank you to all the donors. We had lots of alumni and friends joining in on the day, either in person or around the world. Among those pictured here are Karen Hodgetts Misfeldt ‘86, Corvallis, Oregon; Jeff Dodds ‘85, Kitchener, ON; Margaret James ‘91, in Hamilton, ON; Melissa Lloyd Ibarra ‘20; past parent Chris Criswick, Cheryl Bissonette, Assistant Head, Student Services, Bill Morris ‘73; Jonathan Alderson ‘87, Toronto, ON; Andrew Dennis ‘06; Janis & Bill Bremner ‘83 in Riau, Indonesia; and Debbie Todgham ‘85 and friends in London, ON. We were honoured to be joined virtually by Robert’s family and friends as well as his sister Jessica’s running and walking club in St. Catharines, ON.

The 3rd Annual RLC Seven Generations Pow Wow was held last June. First begun as a Discovery Week project by Courtney Tabobondung ‘20, the event grows each year. We were delighted to have alumni join us as well. Shown above from left to right: Cheryl Bissonette, Reid Istvan ‘18, Meaghan Tabobondung ‘17, Savana Kimewon ‘19, Dave Krocker, Audrey-Anna Colson ‘18, MaryJoyce Clayden Tabobondung ‘15, Zoyer Clayden Tabobondung ‘14, Kim Bissonette Morton ‘88, Zeegwon ShillingTabobondung ‘23, Melizza Clayden Tabobondung ‘14.

Sarah and Kelly Carrick ‘85 hosted an ‘80s alumni reunion at their home in Stouffville. Current and past parents, some RLC staff, a large number of the ‘80’s alumni along with many other RLC faithful came together. It was a magical evening.

Andrew Just ‘13 was a contestant on Dragon’s Den. (Go Andrew!!) He developed a fitness app that tracks movements and counts reps using artificial intelligence.

It was a delight to connect with alumni at the various pub nights, including lots of recent grads who met up in Toronto in February. Photo below Matt Criswick ‘20 and Ben Leon ‘19.

Darren LeClair ‘84 took the role of construction and production manager for campus development. After graduating from RLC, he completed a degree in construction engineering, ultimately working in the industry for 35 years. We are very proud and fortunate to have him bring his skills and experience to this role.

CLASS NOTES

Jordan Patten ‘11 and his wife, Heather, are proud new parents to a beautiful baby boy, Wesley, born in March. “Navigating parenthood is a joyous challenge,” writes Jordan. “Adjusting to parenthood has been both a challenge and a joy, a seemingly endless cycle of diaper changes, midnight feedings, and cherished first moments.” He adds that “the values I learned at RLC continue to guide me in this new journey. I’m grateful for this community and look forward to sharing more of our family’s milestones.”

Gabrielle (Moquin) McLaren ‘16 earned her Honours BA in Philosophy from Western University in June 2020, where she met her husband Garret. They married in 2020, and have since welcomed three children, Edith (September 2020), John (September 2021), and Phillip (June 2023) into their family. Gabrielle and Garret now live in Peterborough where they run their digital media company, Boutique Media.

Jordan Tabobondung ‘09 graduated from the Early Childhood Education- Anishinaabemowin program at Kenjgewin. “This program was truly medicine for my heart, my spirit, and my being over the past few years,” she writes. “I felt so grateful and blessed to complete a task I promised Ndeydeyban I would do during our last phone calls before he gave back his final breath. The program is offered by Kenjgewin, an Anishinaabe place of learning in M’Chigeeng. “I’m ever so grateful for our kind and beautiful instructors, language carriers, grandmothers, aunties, uncles, and my amazing cohort of peers that shared their teachings and walked this journey alongside me.” Congratulations to Jordan!