THE SAINT - Summer 2022

HELLO

FROM THE SOCIETY BOARD CHAIR

WHAT A REMARKABLE YEAR!

We have been delighted to welcome into our community David Young, our new Head of School, and his charming and dedicated wife Sue, who teaches in the Junior School. David’s kindness, authenticity, and energy have been in evidence everywhere as the School navigates the latter stages of the pandemic, while at the same time preparing for the future.

The boys appear truly delighted as many of the things that were taken away for the past two years return — plays, school outings, sports, music, debating, tours, and the simple pleasure of gathering with various aspects of our community.

The energy and delight of many to see one another at our recent country-themed Fair was palpable. The numerous events hosted by the OBA Alumni, here and around the world, have seen record attendance as people reconnect in so many ways.

Our stunning new Academic Buildings are on track — fingers crossed — and we hope they will be completed in 2023! The generosity of our families, old and new to the School, has continued with the ONE+ Campaign (for buildings), Annual Giving (for current needs), and Endowment (to support future students) being all well supported this year — so thank you one and all!

David Young has been working with the Society Board on our next Strategic Plan, with opportunities for input from all members of our diverse community. That plan, when finalized and adopted in the coming year, should chart our course over the next decade as we approach our 100-year anniversary in 2030.

St. George’s application and inquiry rates are historically high. Our teachers overwhelmingly report that they understand, support, and are carrying out the School’s mission and goals. Our commitment to inclusion and diversity is unquestioned, and builds on our long-held mission to prepare fine young men for an increasingly complex world and their role within it.

This has been a busy year, and the coming year looks to be even more busy! Thank you to everyone for all your support. In particular, I would like to recognize the tremendous and impactful efforts of the members of the Boards of the St. George’s Parents’ Association, OBA Alumni, Foundation, and Society. It’s truly an honour to serve with you.

Sine Timore Aut Favore

MICHAEL A SKENE ‘85 SOCIETY BOARD CHAIR

IT HAS BEEN A TIME OF TRANSITION, CONTINUED GROWTH, AND GRATITUDE.

that St. George’s, like schools across the country, has endured a tough couple of years. The impact of the pandemic on schools and, most significantly, on our students has been profound. The summer gives us an opportunity, as a community, to pause, reflect, and also look forward with optimism.

A constant thread that I’ve found throughout the last year, that now fuels our drive forward, is the spirit that exists within this community — a spirit of togetherness, a spirit

THETHERE IS NO DOUBT OF ST. GEORGE'S SCHOOL

A REFLECTION ON FRIENDSHIP

Stevie Green. That’s his name.

An ordinary man by many measures: humble, simple, successful in the way many describe success. And if I were in need, he would be there. I met Stevie on the first day of university and he has been my lifelong friend ever since. At times, we have lived near each other, but for many years we have lived far apart. It hasn’t mattered. Our friendship was forged in conditions and through experiences that I suspect will tie us together forever.

Jamie Wrate. That’s his name.

I’m not actually sure what kind of man he is. The last time I saw him was when we were 20, on the edge of manhood. He was a kind person back then and funny — very funny. I have no idea where he is now; I heard he was in London. I met Jamie in high school, and he was a great friend to me at a particular time and for a particular need. He stood by and for me when I needed it and for that act of friendship, I will always be deeply grateful. It was a friendship that had a time and place, and that mattered.

Some friendships last a lifetime, moving and growing with us, weaving themselves into the fabric of our lives. Some friendships are for a short while — offering meaning, sustenance, and joy during a specific period. Both are important.

We know from studies that friendship is a vital component of a happy life. Some of us enjoy many friends; some of us need only a few. But the sustenance and comradery of a friend can form foundational components of our lives.

One of the most profoundly obvious observations I have witnessed during my time at St. George’s is that our School provides a place in which all kinds of friendships can grow — some that offer energy, excitement, and support for a while and others that last a lifetime.

As I meet our Alumni of all ages, it is common for a graduate of many years to still hold many of his peers from St. George’s as his closest friends. It is also common to hear it expressed that if a classmate reached out, he would offer whatever support he could, regardless of the last time they spoke — this level of friendship is rare and truly special.

I realize that it may be easy for me to overstate this sentiment. We are not a perfect school by any means. The pathway towards friendship can be bumpy. It’s not always true that friendships are easily made. However, it has struck me that, alongside our academic offerings and our culture of seeking to do our best work for ‘one boy at a time’, a huge strength of our School is that we cultivate friendships — meaningful friendships, friendships for now and friendships for life — friendships that matter. And those friendships sustain, support, and encourage: they signify care.

This edition of The Saint celebrates the spirit and particular strength of friendships that grow as a boy progresses through our School. When we begin to look to our future, building on these foundational friendships will be one of our strengths.

DAVID YOUNG HEAD OF SCHOOL

Friendships:

BONDING THROUGH ATHLETICS

BY: ALLSION McCANN , KELLEY FITZPATRICK , & PAUL PROZNICK

INVESTMENT IN FRIENDSHIPS THAT LAST A LIFETIME

Friendship plays an important part of daily life at St. George’s School.

Allison McCann, Head of Kindergarten; Kelley Fitzpatrick, Grade 7 Teacher; and Paul Proznick, Co-Head of Grade 12, interviewed students in their respective classes to find out where they first met and what makes their friendships so special.

KINDERGARTEN FRIENDS

WHERE DID YOU FIRST MEET?

For example, was it during class or on the playground?

“The first day.” - Everyone at the same time

“I think I knew Winston before that.” - Austin

“I feel like I knew Kiyan” - Ryan

“I knew you too!”- Kiyan

“Before I came to school, we went to the playground and ate a snack, and then later that’s where I met everyone. It was before the first day of school. That’s really hard to remember, but I do.” - Ryan

WHAT MAKES YOU ALL GOOD FRIENDS?

Do you have a common hobby or interest?

“Playing together.”- Kiyan “Playing, playing, playing.” - Austin “Sharing.”- Winston “Yeah, that’s a good one, Winston!” - Ryan

“Because not everyone is together after school so it’s kind of special at after-school care.” - Ryan “Because we sit with each other during our five minutes of reading.”- Kiyan

Yeah, and that is something that is very boring.”

DO YOU HAVE A FUNNY STORY THAT SHOWS US WHY YOUR FRIENDSHIP IS SO SPECIAL?

“I think I know. The first or third time I came to school, we sprayed water at each other and we all laughed.”- Austin “We built a marble run out of wooden tubes and it was so long. We all needed to help.”- Kiyan

WHAT DOES FRIENDSHIP MEAN TO YOU?

“Friendship means being friends by sharing.” - Ryan

“Being funny together…and silly.”- Austin

“Playing and sharing.”- Winston “Friendship means silliness and having someone with me.”- Kiyan

“I don’t remember the first day. This is from a long time ago.” - Austin

GRADE 7 FRIENDS

INVESTMENT IN FRIENDSHIPS THAT LAST A LIFETIME

WHERE DID YOU FIRST MEET?

Henry and Willem met in Kerrisdale by COBS Bread the summer before Grade 1 (age 5). “Our moms were friends and so we met through them. We remember it being awkward at first. Our moms wanted us to meet before we both started at Saints that fall.”

Henry, Willem, and Declan were all new boys in Grade 1. The three of them met Alexander in Grade 2. Alexander was already a competitive BMX biker and quickly became known as a highlevel athlete. Since he was a competitive biker and the fastest Grade 2 runner, everyone was trying to keep up with him.

“We have been here for a long time, but Grade 7 is the first year we have all been in the same class together. We are all in 7BS this year, so we have collaborated on a lot of school stuff because we work well together, respect each other, and enjoy each other’s company.”

WHAT MAKES YOU ALL GOOD FRIENDS?

“We are all connected through sports. We all thrive on competing together. We make each other work harder and be better, but we love to support each other, too.”

DO YOU HAVE A COMMON HOBBY OR INT EREST?

“We connect through a lot of sports. Three out of four of us spend our winter weekends in Whistler. We all share a passion for sports and extracurricular activities in and outside of school. Our goal is to make one another better and celebrate each other when one of us succeeds at something.”

WHAT DOES FRIENDSHIP MEAN TO YOU?

“Friendship means spending time together. Someone you trust and can go to for support. Someone who doesn’t judge you. Someone who understands how you tick. Someone who celebrates you in the good times and supports you through the not-so-good times. Someone who is genuinely happy for you when you do well at something. Someone who is there for you no matter what. Someone who challenges you in a good way to help you overcome your fears.”

DO YOU HAVE A FUNNY STORY THAT SHOWS US WHY YOUR FRIENDSHIP IS SO SPECIAL?

Skiing at Whistler, when Henry took Willem down a double black run. Willem was motivated but expressed hesitation because he was not as experienced a skier. Willem felt encouraged to try this run. He was terrified so Henry took the lead and showed him the best way to get down. In the end, Henry challenged Willem to try something new, and Willem felt so accomplished and inspired at the end of the run.

“What makes our friendship so special is difficult to define. We believe that it is all of the little things that we do with and for one another that has created the bond that we share. We have no doubt that we will carry this friendship with us through our years

GRADE 12 FRIENDS

INVESTMENT IN FRIENDSHIPS THAT LAST A LIFETIME

WHAT IS THE COMMON BOND BETWEEN THESE BOYS…

Jack commented that they share a strong love for athletics, but more importantly, they feel at ease around one another. They have a special friendship where their guard is down so this creates a freedom where they can talk to each other without judgment. They also commented that they have a similar sense of humour and love laughing with one another.

HAVE YOU EVER REFLECTED ON YOUR FRIENDS AND WHAT THEY MEAN T O YOU?

Arnaud commented how his friends have had a positive impact on him in many ways. Their interest and drive to succeed in their respective sports carries over to other areas of their lives whether they are in the classroom or at home. Jack commented that this current friend group is a different group than when he started at St. George’s School. He has migrated to a group of friends who are driven to succeed and willing to sacrifice some social time to invest in their passions, which are generally sports.

WHERE DID YOU FIRST MEET?

Arnaud and Ben first connected and chatted online while they were playing Fortnite

Aariz, who arrived at St. George’s School in Grade 8, met this group at the Welcome Back Barbecue. He took a leap of faith to join a pack of boys walking around the field together. Before he knew it, someone asked him his name and the rest is history. These students have been his friends since Grade 8. When I joked that he “knows how to pick his friends,” he chirped back, “or they knew enough to pick me.”

WHAT DOES FRIENDSHIP MEAN TO YOU?

“Memories and experiences.”- Arnaud “Our most valued quality of friendship is the ability to laugh with one another.”- Jack, Arnaud, and Aariz.

HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT ABOUT AN ACT OF KINDNESS FROM YOUR FRIENDS AND SAID, “WHAT GRE AT GUYS!”

Arnaud broke his leg in Grade 9. The boys came to his house and hung out with him because he couldn’t walk anywhere. Liam and Jack took it to another level, and visited him in the hospital. These are kind gestures that Arnaud will never forget.

WHOSE HOUSE IS THE HUB FOR THE GROUP?

Clearly Jack’s house is the meeting place for these boys. Aariz commented that it is like a home away from home — a shared space to relax with his friends.

This past school year, St. George’s students and faculty were delighted to share their excitement and love for these engaging disciplines with the school community.

The students and faculty at St. George’s School have an abundance of creativity and passion for both the arts and sciences — and understand the link between them. Their energy and enthusiasm is palpable as evidenced through this year’s theatre productions; incredible Band Concerts and gold standings at various music festivals; the joy that is ArtsWeek; as well as the awe-inspiring projects displayed at the Wonder Expo, Greater Vancouver Regional Science Fair, Robotics tournaments, and the Fusion Cohort. In all these instances, the entire Saints community was there to support and celebrate the tremendous talent and success of our student artists and scientists who dedicated countless hours to honing their craft, taking ‘deep dives’ into their projects, and demonstrating their love of learning.

BY: SARAH GHOSH, MARC CROMPTON , & JONATHAN MERGUI

CREATIVITY, PASSION, AND TEAMWORK

CONNECTING THROUGH IN THE ARTS AND SCIENCES

SENIOR SCHOOL

CREATIVITY AND PASSION

ARTSWEEK 2022

This year’s ArtsWeek theme was “Kintsugi: the art of repairing damage.” Kintsugi is the Japanese art of mending broken pottery pieces with gold or other precious metals. By embracing and highlighting flaws and imperfections to repair the piece, you create a stronger, more beautiful work of art.

This focus on healing through the creative process — to seek beauty and meaning — was a fitting theme as we emerged from the pandemic with a stronger appreciation and understanding of what it takes to be resilient.

“The role of art is central in our students’ education. The arts not only provide students with opportunities for self-expression, but also helps them understand abstract concepts, develop empathy to better connect with other people, and hone their creative problem-solving skills,” says Dr. Gary Kern, Senior School Principal. Senior School students were given a mini sketchbook and were encouraged to play, doodle, draw, and write in them to share their impressions of the week. Our current Rigg Scholars shared how they used their sketchbooks to iterate their ideas as they created their final pieces. At the end of the week, students were invited to display their books in a minisketchbook exhibition.

This year’s inspiring speakers shared their passion for their various artforms and encouraged everyone to engage with their own artistic sensibility. The line-up included contemporary Indigenous artist Luke Parnell, whose work uses a combination of contemporary process and traditional imagery to tell his stories; Jacky Yang ’17 and Richard Chen ’17, who shared a thought-provoking video presentation of their collaborative book Thinking of Place; and our final, live keynote David Paetkau '90, who spoke about the vulnerabilities of auditions, the process of acting, and the realities of an acting career.

As always, the culmination of ArtsWeek was the announcement of our Rigg Scholars for 2022–23. This prestigious designation is awarded to Grade 11 students selected through a rigorous application process for their leadership and commitment to Visual Arts, Music, and Theatre Arts.

Santhe LeBlanc, Head of Visual Arts at the Senior School, noted, “ArtsWeek 2022 left us with the feeling of celebration and a reminder of what it means to be human. For eternity, humans have used dance, painting, and song as means of expression. ArtsWeek is meant to re-awaken our creative soul. It is a reminder to all of us caught up in our daily routines, focused on the day-to-day chores, that there is another part of us that needs attention and care.”

JUNIOR SCHOOL

At the Junior School, ArtsWeek is often hailed as everyone’s “favourite week of school,” as this special time provides students with the opportunity to experience the joy and wonder of multiple art forms.

The ArtsWeek team invited professional artists from a wide range of disciplines to share their passion and dedication to the arts with the Junior School. The incredible line-up included guests from Vancouver Poetry House, Dunbar Pottery, Vancouver Circus School, Brockton's World Music Program, Jess Dance, and Goh Ballet as well as author Terri Tatchell, Scott Robitaille (RC Cars), Phil Cousins (Coalition Studios Xbox), and JC Ballroom Dance with York House School.

Karyn Roberts, Junior School Principal, enthused, “ArtsWeek at the Junior School was joyful and fun. Boys performed everything from the ukulele, to stand-up jokes, to handstands against the gym wall. Art, it turns out, is everywhere! Bubbles floated about during recess and our tarmac was covered in beautiful, bold chalk art. The boys learned about pottery, dancing, and even circus trampolining! And let’s not forget about our primary dance party.” She continued, “There were too many amazing moments to name, but certainly one of the highlights for the boys was a surprise lip-synch video that the teachers put together to the song “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” from the Disney movie Encanto. We showed the video on the first day of ArtsWeek, and the boys filled the gym with laughter and applause!”

CLICK TO VIEW VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS OF ARTSWEEK AT THE JUNIOR SCHOOL

Congratulations

JAKE

AXLER (Visual Arts)

My passion for art and design is underpinned by my own style of resistance to gender norms and systemic oppression. This inspiration originated in a synagogue. Divided by binary gender labels, the segregation between my mom and me, between the ‘men’ and the ‘women,’ ’never felt appropriate. Today, I try to not limit my expression to any particular medium.

ETHAN CHANG (Theatre Arts)

Theatre Production itself is inherently less flashy than the other arts purely because what we do isn't meant to be seen by anyone except for us. Obviously, there are artistic elements in designing lighting, set design, etc., but to make these things happen requires an aptitude with physical reasoning. The goal of Theatre Production is to take what the actor is doing and amplify it via the set design, lighting, or sound effects.

KOBY CHEN (Visual Arts)

My work can be described as peering into a trinket box — full of varying textures, diverse mediums, and personal stories. My process begins by reflecting on memories.

I pick out major themes, like immigrant identity, sibling tensions, or gender oppression, and then research how others have conveyed them through sculpture.

JULIUS DA SILVA (Visual Arts)

I create art centred around themes of apathy and how people interact with what surrounds them. I use a mix of different mediums and formats and have begun to branch from fine art into film. I create art for myself, first and foremost, and my greatest concern is if I were to see someone else make what I make, would I find it interesting?

KIERAN FRENCH (Theatre Arts)

As a lighting and sound designer, I work with directors to support the themes of the show with various lighting and sound techniques. A play's sound design defines its overall atmosphere and heightens the audience's engagement because of its ability to evoke emotional responses from audience members.

RUNBO HE (Theatre Arts)

I joined Theatre Arts because of its community. That speaks to what theatre is all about: diversity, support, and collaboration. As an artist, the creativity drew me in even further. As I received more freedom in expression through the mediums of sound and light, it sparked something in me.

to all the Riggs Scholars who were honoured during ArtsWeek at the Senior School! We are thrilled to share some excerpts from our 2021-22 Rigg Scholars' artist statements to shine light on their creative process:

JAMES HOU

(Music)

To me, music is more than an art. It is a tool utilized for the cultivation of emotions that no other medium can elicit. When I began to play both piano and flute in my primary years, I despised it because of the competitive environment that I was immediately exposed to; however, when I transitioned to a point where I was creating music not against but for the community around me, that was when I truly matured as a musician.

MIKE JAEGER (Theatre Arts)

To me, acting is the art of discovering how people behave and interact with the world. This is done by exploring different characters and portraying them in stories. My goal with every performance is to transform my character from simple words in a script to a real person that could believably exist in the real world.

SEAN LEUNG (Music)

I have always been captivated by the different styles that I can produce: from sorrow, to elation, to bitterness, and everything in between. Music is an expression of emotion, and it allows me to interpret it in different ways to make it unique and meaningful to me. It has also been a medium for me to relax and take a break from studying, allowing me to be in the present, instead of worrying about the past or future.

JOHNSTON LIU (Music)

Throughout my years of practicing, listening, and performing, I’ve come to ask myself frequently what all of this is for. Why do I play music? For me, music is an amalgamation of the past, present, and future. It’s the fulfillment I receive during performances when I’m reminded of my countless hours of practice and I realize just how far I’ve come. It’s the profound emotion that comes from listening to and performing repertoire — the longing for a love never meant to be or the chilling fear of living each day knowing it could be your last.

VINCENT LUO (Visual Arts)

When I was in elementary school, I always loved sketching cars and buildings. I always dreamed of becoming a designer. As I matured, I came to the realization that art is about more than just designs and decoration. It is a form of expression that allows me to share my personal feelings, opinions, and observations of the world.

MAX McCARTER (Theatre Arts)

The world around art is not just reserved for those who are very artistic, but also sustains a network of support personnel. Throughout my experience in the Theatre Department, I have focussed my creative efforts on laying the groundwork for those who are performing. Such a journey has taken me from the blued and exciting wings as a crew member, to the "white-knuckle" experience of Assistant Stage Management, and finally to the cherry-on-top that is full Stage Management.

CONNOR O'KEEFE (Music)

When I pick up my mallets, two things come to mind. The first is fear — fear of making a mistake, fear that I didn’t do enough to prepare. The second is anticipation — the thoughts that now is my moment to shine, my moment to bring my hours of practice justice. At face value, percussion is not that hard — I’m just hitting a piece of wood with some yarn, with almost total creative freedom of how I do so. That complete freedom and space to do whatever is exactly why I find it so difficult — I have decisions to make.

ERIC WU (Visual Arts)

I envision a future where I can develop the idea of escapism, and lean into the story and world-building aspect of my work. I have always appreciated the dream-like qualities portrayed by surrealist artists such as Rene Magritte for this reason; they can create a world inside the imagination of the viewer and build an oeuvre of works to create a context for themselves.

CREATIVITY AND PASSION

Teamwork Passion +

IN ST. GEORGE’S SCHOOL THEATRE DEPARTMENTS

Theatre Arts at St. George’s

provides a trusting and fun environment for students to grow, take risks, and increase their confidence as performers and individuals. This year, the creativity and passion of our student-actors and stage crew ignited the stage — with live audiences once again. This year’s productions included A Few Good Men, Oliver Twist, The Claw, and Pirates: The Musical.

The first week of November brought us the Saints Players production of Aaron Sorokin’s play A Few Good Men. Although the production required masks and vaccine passports, the performances were energized with more than two years of pent-up artistic energy that burst through the masks of these young actors and the crew. While digital performances helped ensure “the show must go on,” it is the presence of and interaction with an audience that makes live theatre unique.

Ryan Ho was stellar and captivating as the defence attorney Lt. Kaffee and was supported by wonderful performances by Zach Steiner as Lt. Weinberg and Anabel Tiwana as Commander Galloway. Other memorable performances came from Julius Da Silva as the malevolent Col. Jessep; Bogdan Muzychko as the conscientious Col. Markinson; John Ayden as the Marine prosecutor; and Edward Ding as the over-zealous Lt. Kendrick. Michael Jaeger and Mattias Luers provided layered performances as the defendants Cpls. Dawson and Downey.

The Middle School presented Oliver Twist, a theatrical adaptation of Charles Dickens’ classic by award-winning playwright Robert Thomas Noll, in April — sans masks and vaccine passports. The cast featured Liam Hughes in the title role alongside a talented, genderneutral cast of Grade 8–10 students from Saints, Crofton House, York House, Lord Byng, and Sir Richard McBride Schools. This dynamic production featured professional-quality lighting and sound design, under the direction of stage manager (and Rigg Scholar), Ethan Chang ‘22, and was spearheaded by Theatre Arts teacher and Director Jamie Donnici ‘11. The cast and crew were elated to perform for packed audiences each night.

“Passion for theatre isn’t just about your own moments in the spotlight. One Friday late in the rehearsal process, Liam Hughes ‘24 — playing the lead role of Oliver Twist — asked me if his understudy, Gregor Smyth ‘26, could play the lead role in the last dress rehearsal. Of course, I said yes, and Gregor earned a standing ovation from his castmates for his performance on that final rehearsal. To me, that desire to let someone else take the spotlight

CLICK TO VIEW A TRAILER FOR OLIVER TWIST

"Although they were toys, they were telling a story that speaks to the deeper human experience. The theme of The Claw was accepting change and being courageous when faced with the unknown.”

The same collaborative spirit was on full display during the Junior School’s presentation of The Claw. Grades 4–7 students started preparing for the production in November and were thrilled to finally perform in front of a live audience in May. This delightful new children’s musical included Flair Bears, Mighty Mutant Power Turtles, Beanie Elders, Tellebubbies, Army Trolls, and an all-knowing Mystical 8-ball.

Munira Murphy, Arts Curriculum Leader and Director of The Claw shares,“To bring the characters to life on stage required our actors to animate vocally and physically, translating a musical into a cartoon-come-to-life. Throughout rehearsals, we lifted each other up as we navigated live performance during a pandemic. These young actors devoured the opportunity to be together, sharing something that went deeper than the colourful costumes and the bright lights of the claw game. They wanted to tell this story passionately, and because of this, their creativity shone through.”

Murphy continues, “Creative risk-taking and celebrating the individual identities within the ensemble provides everyone with their chance to shine. The commitment of our young actors is driven by their passion for performance and telling the stories of their character.”

The Primary students shared their unabated joy in singing and acting with their spring musical. Their adorable production of Pirates: The Musical, by John Jacobson and Roger Emerson, warmed the hearts of family and friends, and much was learned during their two months of rehearsal.

Karen Campbell, Grade 3 Teacher shared, “Students created some of the choreography and movement for the songs, memorized their lines with expression, and learned about working as a team to put on a show for a live audience.” She continued, “The opportunity to create a poster for the show provided a showcase for their artistic talents in addition to their musical abilities. This was one of the first opportunities for many of these young actors and singers to perform in front of a large audience. It was an experience that won’t soon be forgotten and has hopefully inspired some to continue to participate in future productions at St. George’s School!”

MUNIRA MURPHY

ARTS CURRICULUM LEADER AND DIRECTOR OF THE CLAW

St. George’s believes Music education offers students the opportunity to express themselves in new ways as they grow their personal confidence, develop cooperative and collaborative skills, hone their leadership, and gain highly refined listening capabilities. Their joy in performing comes through loud and clear, making their self-discipline with practice worthwhile.

Passion Hard Work Time

Creative Potential CREATIVITY AND PASSION

The Grade 6 and 7 Bands held their year-end concert in May. The audience enjoyed performances of a collection of contemporary hits, including “Old Town Road”, “Counting Stars” (featuring Mr. Marshall on drums), and “Bohemian Rhapsody.” Traditional awards were presented between performances, honouring the students’ commitment to their music studies throughout the year. The concert finale featured the Advanced Band — a club of very dedicated student-musicians who rehearse once a week in the early morning. They received a standing ovation for their stellar performance.

Junior School Music Teachers Teigan Paish and Julie Tomlijenovic reflect, “The boys have overcome so much in the past two years and were able to perform a beautiful concert this spring for their friends and families. Their creativity was tested with new pieces that encouraged them to experience music in different and exciting ways.The Grade 7 boys conquered the task of creating a lush soundscape filled with blowing wind and rustling leaves for their piece “Spirit of the Wolf.” We love helping boys discover their passion for music and watching them flourish as musicians!”

Over at the Senior School, it was a busy year with the return to live performances. Although pandemic restrictions resulted in a different format for the December concert — with performances divided into three separate events to allow for socially distanced seating and reduced capacity — they sold out! Two concerts were held on December 7th: the first featured the Junior and Intermediate Concert Bands and the second showcased the Jazz Ensembles (Junior, Senior, and Combos). The third concert featured stunning performances by the Wind Ensemble and Senior Concert Band.

Just before Spring Break, the Wind Ensemble and the Senior Jazz Ensemble took to the stage again to delight the audience with A Night at the Movies. The light-hearted, entertaining evening included music from favourite cinematic hits such as The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly by Ennio Morricone; The Incredibles by Michael Giacchino; the The Pink Panther Theme by Henry Mancini; and much more.

April was a busy month for the Concert Bands, Jazz Ensembles, and Jazz Combos as they returned to performing in music festivals for the first time since 2019. The Jazz Ensembles and Jazz Combos earned a clean sweep of Gold standings at the Vancouver Kiwanis Jazz Festival and at the B.C. Interior Jazz Festival in Kelowna. The Concert Bands then competed at the Vancouver Kiwanis Concert Band Festival, earning Gold standings and high praise from the adjudicators for their inspiring performances.

Finally, on April 28th, all our award-winning ensembles presented the annual Spring Concert Aurora Awakes, featuring all the Concert Bands and Jazz Ensembles. The highlight of the evening was Graduate Concerto winner, Johnston Liu ‘22, performing Paul Creston’s Concerto for Alto Saxophone and Band “As we approach the Spring Concert each year, I often find myself reflecting back on the journey of each of our graduating students. Five years is a long time and the passion and creativity demonstrated by our students during this period is incredible,” says Dr. Dean Markel, Head of Music at the Senior School. “Our graduate concerto winner, Johnston Lui, is an excellent example of a student who was driven to be the best saxophone player he can be. He demonstrated not only passion and creativity, but an intrinsic motivation and work ethic to achieve his goals. Passion is the emotion that drives individuals to work through stress and frustration, emotions that are inevitable in the process of mastering an instrument.”

CLICK TO VIEW THE LIVE STREAM OF A NIGHT AT THE MOVIES

CLICK TO VIEW THE LIVE STREAM OF AURORA AWAKES

THERE IS AN ART TO SCIENCE, AND SCIENCE IN ART; THE TWO ARE NOT ENEMIES,

" "

ISAAC ASIMOV

BUT DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF THE WHOLE.

Full

ofCreativity &Innovation

CREATIVITY AND PASSION

Many people perceive that passion and creativity are found only in the arts and not as much in the sciences. However, at St. George’s this could not be further from the truth. The Science Departments at both the Junior School and Senior School are full of inspiration, innovation, and imagination — as demonstrated by the incredible projects students created this year for the Wonder Expo, the Greater Vancouver Regional Science Fair, the Saints Robotics Club, and the Fusion Cohort.

THE SCIENCES AT ST. GEORGE’S SCHOOL:

The Wonder Expo and the Greater Vancouver Regional Science Fair (GVRSF) provided students with the chance to share their creativity, curiosity, and passion for science.

THE FUTURE LOOKS BRIGHT FOR THESE BUDDING SCIENTISTS!

Every year, the Grade 7 Neighbourhood comes alive as students share their Wonder Expo projects. This authentic, hands-on learning experience inculcates a joy of learning in our students who relish the opportunity to show what they know. After their demonstration, students wrote an abstract and created a website so that Wonder Expo could be seen, shared, and celebrated beyond the walls of the Junior School.

This year, six students attended the Greater Vancouver Regional Science Fair — one from the Junior School and five from the Senior School. Over the fall and winter months, they each worked independently on their original research and in early April, they travelled to the University of British Columbia (UBC) to present their projects to professors and industry professionals for assessment. It was the first in-person Science Fair in two years, and the students were thrilled to discuss their hard work with one another as well as with seasoned researchers. Students also took advantage of the opportunity to tour different labs and facilities at UBC when they were not sharing their projects.

Kathryn Murray, Science Teacher at the Senior School noted, “The students did themselves proud. They were well-spoken, engaged, and their passion for their projects was palpable as they spoke with the judges. Our students did incredibly well, with everyone earning an award.”

Curious about what kind of projects our boys are creating? Here is more information about their award-winning projects:

• RAY ZHOU '23 developed an artificial intelligence code that was able to analyze data from potential cancer patients and generate a score to indicate how likely it was for the patient to have cancer. This artificial intelligence code would speed up diagnosis for patients awaiting treatment.

• IAN CRAWFORD '24 created and tested an artificial intelligence for a computer and phone app that would instantaneously translate sign language into spoken speech, reducing barriers for people with hearing challenges.

• JACOB DORLING '27 used sound waves to test the stability of snow and ice, which would assist in negotiating snowy driving conditions and enhance safety for skiers with better information about the snowpack.

• THOMAS LI '26 conducted some interesting experiments about how background radio waves could be used to help charge batteries on airplanes.

• CHRISTOPHER YU '23 and JAYDEN LIN '23 explored repurposing eggshells from restaurants and converting them into a viable fertilizer for plants to reduce mining of calcium carbonate.

• JASON YANG '23 sequenced the DNA of cancer cells and helped to determine why some specific ones will reoccur.

CLICK TO VIEW VIDEOS OF THE STUDENTS SHARING ABOUT THEIR FASCINATING SCIENCE PROJECTS

A

THE FUSION COHORT

BY: MARC CROMPTON HEAD OF SENIOR LEARNING COMMONS AND FUSION LEAD

THINKING

Fusion is a Grade 10 Cohort Program that allows students to spend a year applying their growing knowledge of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM). Going into its seventh year, the program emphasizes using Design Thinking to solve problems in teams and as individuals.

The work of the year culminates in a major, selfidentified project that tasks students to find a problem that is meaningful to them where they can solve it using their STEM knowledge or STEM skills. They are mentored through this process by a number of generous Alumni who are currently working or studying in STEM industries. Problems that have been tackled in the past include: How might we clean up the growing garbage patch orbiting the earth? How might we create a more environmentally friendly printer? How might we bring American Sign Language translation to the masses? How might we make solar energy

production more efficient? How might I help my sister not kill our house plants? How might we build rockets that place satellites in orbit more effectively and with less carbon impact? How might we make designing for 3D printing so easy that everyone could have a 3D printer in their homes?

Fusion graduates have often gone on to study in fields such as Computer Science, various Engineering disciplines, Industrial Design, and other STEM fields. They take with them an understanding of how to break down a problem, work with a team to produce a solution, and communicate their ideas with their team and their end-users.

“Fusion was a new and unique experience, a highlight of my time at Saints. As my first introduction to the design process, it bridged the gap between the creativity of design and the academic nature of science and math. It took the concepts I had learned about in the classroom, and made me realize how important it was to apply them to real-world design,” says Phil Dumitru ‘19 (Fusion OG). “I still remember our first project: a mousetrap-powered vehicle. My team decided to use a rail system to keep our car straight. It sounded great, until test day, when our vehicle barely left the start line because we hadn’t thought about the friction between our wheels and the rails. That embarrassing mistake turned into quite the learning experience, and I certainly haven’t ignored friction since! Fusion has given me a strong foundation in design and problem solving, skills that I continue to use and develop every day.”

BY: JONATHAN MERGUI HEAD OF ADST

Connecting through creativity, passion, and teamwork in the Arts and Sciences is at the core of the Applied Design, Skills and Technology (ADST) Department's mission. Whether it be in Woodworking, Computer Science, Business, Drafting, or even Robotics, students enrolled in the ADST elective courses embrace the opportunity to work on passion projects.

Students engage in the Design Thinking Process and use it as a framework to stimulate their creativity and problemsolving skills. In ADST courses, students are often faced with design challenges that require unique and creative solutions to solve a problem. Some happen individually and some in a team environment. Students organized in teams are explicitly and intentionally taught how to work collaboratively to ensure the best use of the strengths of each team member. Leadership, mentoring, and coaching on how to give and receive feedback is critical, whether you are working with the competitive Robotics Team or working on product innovation in a business class. From entrepreneurship and business to creation and innovation, or even by simply making a woodwork piece, students experience working collaboratively and creatively while having the opportunity to thread their passion into their projects.

A NEW DEPARTMENT AT ST.GEORGE’S SCHOOL

SAINTS ROBOTICS CLUB:

DEVELOPING OUR FUTURE INNOVATORS

ADST (Robotics) Teacher Andrew Kay, who retired in June, has encouraged generations of students to explore their passion and creativity for robotics. This year, Allan Crawford ‘27, Nathan Dai ‘27, and Niko Bozikis ‘26 were the youngest students to compete in the VEX BC Robotics Tournament — and they won, earning the right to represent Canada at the 2022 VEX World Championships in Dallas, Texas. “The BC Zone is one of the most difficult competitions in the world because it is so competitive. We are proud of these talented Grade 7 and 8 students!” says Kay.

Further validation of the Robotics Club came during the VEX Burnsview Cup — the last robotics tournament of the season — when Adi Yadav ‘23, Winston Chow ‘25, and Alan Chen ‘26 took home the Create Award Trophy, issued to the team with the most distinctive game strategy and robot design. Their creativity and innovation definitely yielded positive results!

St. George’s students’ passion for the arts and sciences as well as their commitment to collaborating as a team, successfully completing their projects, and providing support to each other is inspiring. Their sheer bliss, enthusiasm, and resilience at these recent events spread throughout the school community, showering everyone with joy, magic, and wonderment. The future looks very bright indeed for the St. George’s community!

"WE HAVE SOME VERY INTELLIGENT SCIENTISTS HERE AT OUR SCHOOL, AND I AM DELIGHTED THAT OUR FUTURE IS GOING TO BE IN THEIR CAPABLE HANDS.

KATHRYN MURRAY SENIOR SCHOOL SCIENCE TEACHER

Twenty-five years ago, a young man entered my Latin 8 class. Lively, witty, enormously talented in language and music, this was Timothy Hsia ‘02. After an undergraduate sojourn at Princeton, followed by a medical degree at the University of Southern California, he still has a fascination with Latin and music. So, in 2018, with a mission to support representation in the North American music industry, Dr. Hsia collaborated to be the Executive Producer with two-time Grammy-winning composer Christopher Tin for his third album, To Shiver the Sky. Recorded at the legendary Abbey Road Studios with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, it features an international roster of singers and is sung in a panoply of languages: English, Latin, Italian, German, French, Polish, Russian, and Sanskrit.

BY: CATHERINE MORI, WITH NOTES FROM DR. TIMOTHY HSIA ‘02

CREATIVITY AND PASSION

TO SHIVER THE SKY

Dr. Hsia's creative motivation for producing the album was twofold. Firstly, to commission a soloistic piece, “Movement 7,” honouring his late paternal grandfather, Philip Y.C. Hsia, a pilot in the Second World War with the Flying Tigers. And secondly, to commission an operatic piece, “Movement 3” that puts the words of the Roman poet Ovid to music — specifically the story of Daedalus and Icarus (from the Metamorphoses) — which Dr. Hsia had learned and loved as a Latin student under the tutelage of his favourite magistra, Catherine Mori, to whom this particular movement is dedicated.

To Shiver the Sky is an oratorio about the history of flight and humanity's quest to conquer the heavens. Told through the words of 11 of our greatest astronomers, inventors, visionaries, and pilots, it charts our relentless need to explore the universe, defy our earthly bonds, reach for the face of God, and ultimately claim our place among the stars.

It is the story of men and women who strapped on helmets and boots to brave the longest distances just to leave their footprints on new lands. It is also the tale of those who made their journeys possible: the astronomers who showed us our place among the

stars and the poets who showed us our place between heaven and hell; the 19th-century French novelist who invented science fiction and awoke a public desire for space exploration; and the American president who, a century later, harnessed that desire into putting a man on the moon.

It is also the story of courage: the courage to be the first woman to fly the Atlantic or the first man launched across the threshold of space. And, it is also a story of failure — of the fall of man, whose hubris made him reach for forbidden knowledge. It is a story riddled with cataclysmic disaster, where the soaring inventions of great men and women plummet to earth in fiery wreckage. And at its darkest moments, it is also a story of death: one where airplanes built to soar among the clouds are used instead for dropping bombs or, on one day of extreme darkness, become the bombs themselves. Humans are resilient though, and the call of the sky will not be denied. And so Tim, his family, and I took to the skies and made the pilgrimage to Washington to finally hear the long-awaited premiere!

To Shiver the Sky is available on all major platforms online.

THE PREMIERE OF AN ORATORIO BY CHRISTOPHER TIN IN WASHINGTON, DC ON MAY 15, 2022

A BARN-RAISING ON 29TH AVENUE

CELEBRATIONOF COMMUNITY

BARN-RAISING AVENUE

In rural Canada, the ultimate example of a neighbourhood working on behalf of its members is a barn-raising. The farming community puts aside individual chores, meets at a neighbour’s property, and literally raises a barn from the ground. There is plenty of food for everyone and dancing in the evening.

The ties built through barn-raising are powerful: trust in each other, achieving a common goal, and strengthening of the whole community by working together.

BY: AGNES FINAN

On May 7, 2022, St. George’s School witnessed a barn-raising event with a twist. The historic facade of the Junior School was temporarily transformed into a red “timber-framed” barn. It was so authentic, you could almost hear the chickens and smell the cows. Almost.

St. George’s School has a strong tradition of putting on a countrythemed fair. The first Fair was held on the first Saturday in May in 1953, and was convened by Marjorie Palfreyman and the St. George’s School “Ladies Auxiliary.” It was still a country event in 2002 when Wendy Armstrong and Rose Smith were the Head Convenors, this time representing the St. George’s Parents’ Association, the successor to the Auxiliary.

For many years, the themes shifted, occasionally boomeranging back to the country. The last in-person Saints Fair was held in 2019, when dinosaurs roamed the Junior School grounds. But then, in 2020, as if a virus-based meteor hit almost all events, meeting together on the first Saturday of May was not possible. We were all grateful that our boys could attend classes and participate in many school activities, but the in-person Fair had to be put on hold. A wonderful online Fair in 2021 did not dull our desire to work together again.

It was time to go back to our roots, to reintroduce ourselves, and to raise the barn together. 2022 Head Convenors Elizabeth Bell and Emily Lazare knew just what was needed. They carefully managed

the changing protocols, adapted the Fair to ensure that all public events could be held outdoors, and hoped for good weather. Their incredible Booth Convenors reimagined the Fair with hay bales, tractors, an obstacle course, the traditional BBQ, and line dancing. Then everyone held their collective breath, grabbed a metaphorical rope and pulled, watching the red barn rise.

Lazare and Bell said it best, “We were honoured to bring the Fair back in person this year: a day filled with long lines, the Grad BBQ, and a whole lot of cakes! We loved seeing everyone having fun and enjoying time with their friends and family — complete with the sugar highs, the upper field games, and the thrill of winning a prize!”

We took nothing for granted on May 7th. Being together brought back a type of relieved delirium. Everyone smiled until it hurt. Some of us ate until we doubted the wisdom of that third burger. We were together again, strengthened by our collective labour, and looking forward to many other events.

It was the first Saints Fair for David Young, our new Head of School. He wasn’t disappointed, “It’s easy to talk about community and its value; I suspect all schools do. But it’s only when you are together, gathered, laughing, sharing, conversing, listening, that you feel its value. At the Fair, we felt the value of community. The Fair and all it affords allowed us to gather and understand that value again. And wow, it felt good!”

CLICK TO VIEW VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS OF THE SAINTS FAIR

In honour of St. George’s rich history and tradition, we are delighted to take you deep into the archives and share some rarely-seen artifacts from years past.

BY: SAMMY VAN HERK

DELVING Into the

Archives

CONNECTION TO A RICH HISTORY AND LASTING LEGACY of St. George’s School

Winston Churchill Letters and Telegram, 1960-1962

Two letters from Winston Churchill thanking the staff and boys of St. George’s for their birthday wishes and one telegram containing the note sent to Churchill along with his response.

Excerpt from Without Fear or Favour, pg. 60-61: The school in this era also proudly celebrated its connection with Britain, which for many staff and students was still regarded with affection as the Mother Country. A handsome poster produced for Trafalgar Day in 1950 gives some idea of the importance of these occasions to the St. George's community. A letter to Sir Winston Churchill on the occasion of his birthday in 1954 further conveys a sense of the connection between the school and England and shows that memories of the dark days of the war had not yet faded: "Honoured Sir,

We thought you might care to know that the masters and boys of this independent school ...some two hundred and fifty strong...met this morning in our chapel to pray for you and to bless you on your birthday. At this service extracts from your speeches, to which we had listened fourteen years ago, were read again and we remembered with thankfulness your inspiring leadership in the cause of freedom and your noble contribution to the betterment of mankind."

Sir Winston replied, saying that he was "deeply touched by the kind thoughts and prayers of the masters and boys of St. George's School on my birthday."

Sine Timore Aut Favore Sign, Used Until 1980

This is a hand-painted metal sign that features the School’s motto, Sine Timore Aut Favore (Without Fear or Favour). The sign also features the School’s crest of a red cross on a white background with a green maple leaf in the upper left-hand corner. The sign hung above the entrance to the School House at 3954 W 29th Avenue until it was demolished in 1980. The School House was a multipurpose building used as a classroom, boarding, and dining space for all students. Approximately 40 students lived in the building, with 20 occupying bunk beds in the attic room and 20 more in the two rooms below.

Photograph depicts John Blackmore, Head of the Junior School from 1965 to 1988, on the steps of the School House below the “Sine Timore Aut Favore” sign.

Rigg Scholarship Hand-Painted Plaque, 1975-2000

The plaque displays the list of scholarship recipients between the 1975–1976 and 1999–2000 school years. The scholarship, named after Philip Rigg, is awarded to Grade 11 Arts students who demonstrate notable artistic ability, a dedication to the program, and a passion for art. Rigg’s name and accomplishments are honoured by this scholarship established by his family in memory of the fine young man who died in 1974 at the age of 16. The culmination of ArtsWeek at the Senior School is the naming of the Rigg Scholars in the Visual and Performing Arts for the coming year and the presentations by the current Rigg Scholars.

Cricket Cap and Striped Blazer, Used as Early as the 1930s

Wool “Baggy” cap with “XI” that was worn by members of the “First Eleven” Cricket teams. The v-neck sweater was worn by all teams of cricket players. The striped blazer was originally worn by School Prefects, 1st XI, and 1st XV players, and features a crest with the School’s initials and a dragon winding around the red cross. This specific iteration of the blazer was worn as early as the 1930s.

Photograph depicts the members of the First XI Cricket Team of 1941. Team members can be seen holding their “Baggy” cricket caps and sporting their striped blazers. Two boys are wearing v-neck sweaters similar to the one shown on the mannequin.

Various Blazer Crests, Various Years

10 different blazer crests demonstrating various iterations of the School’s crest over the years. Note the School’s 75th Anniversary crest (top right).

Sports Trophies Won by Robert Greig and Giles Mackenzie,1942

Trophies won by Robert Greig (Class of 1942): Senior 100 and Senior Challenge and 220 yards.

Trophies won by Giles Mackenzie (Class of 1942): Senior 440 yards and Senior Cross Country.

Photograph depicts (from left to right) Robert Greig, Giles Mackenzie, and Mike Pottinger at the 1942 Sports Day where Greig and Mackenzie won the trophies depicted here. In 1942, Greig and Mackenzie were both School Prefects. Greig was the Cricket Captain, and Mackenzie was a House Captain.

Architectural Drawings, Created Prior to 1912

The architectural drawings were created by architect Charles G. Badgley in conjunction with the Denny-Renton Clay & Coal Company and Pacific Heating + Plumbing Co. Ltd. The drawings detail the plans for the construction of the Convent of the Sacred Heart building, which was executed in the Gothic Revival style and completed in 1912. The building was home to a girls’ boarding school until 1979 when it was purchased by St. George’s School. The building is currently occupied by St. George’s Junior School.

• One architectural blueprint detailing the plans for the architectural façade on the boiler house of the Sacred Heart Convent.

• One architectural blueprint detailing the location and specifications for the concrete oil tanks for the Convent of the Sacred Heart.

• One architectural blueprint detailing the specifications for the terra cotta of the bay over the porte cochere of the Sacred Heart Convent.

• One architectural blueprint detailing the terra cotta details for the main entrance of the Convent of Sacred Heart building.

Photograph depicts trophies like those currently found in the archive’s display cabinet and those awarded to Greig and Mackenzie. Photograph was taken in 1939.

Detention Booklet, 1952–1953

This booklet contains the name of the “offender”, the “offense”, the “signature of offender”, and the “signature of master”. Offenses include everything from “Disturbance in class”, “Insubordination”, “Doing nothing in study period”, and “Talking Display Cabinet of Trophies, Plaques, Crests, Awards, Sports Ephemera, and Sculptures; various years.

This cabinet, located in the archives, currently houses dozens of items with historical significance for St. George’s School, with a particular emphasis on athletic achievement. Trophies and awards included are from as early as the 1930s and as recent as the early 2000s.

THE ONE+ CAMPAIGN:

A VISION FOR THE FUTURE

BY: DAVE FITZPATRICK

HELPING OUR DREAM BECOME A REALITY

THIS IS A TRANSFORMATIONAL TIME IN THE LIFE OF ST. GEORGE’S SCHOOL.

Inspired by our compelling vision of boy-centred learning, we are reinventing our teaching spaces and creating a new heart for the Senior School. As we approach our 100th year as a leader in the education of boys, two things become abundantly clear. The first is that thousands of fine young men have been shaped by the philanthropy of previous generations of families. The second is that our current facilities no longer adequately ensure the same for future graduates.

St. George’s proudly proclaims its mission of ‘Building Fine Young Men. One Boy at a Time.’ This unique framework for the education of boys necessitates the best possible facilities to support each learner as he aspires to his full, unique potential in a complex and rapidly changing world. The current Senior School facilities are restrictive, traditional, and do not support our vision. The new spaces will support innovative, varied, hands-on, and flexible boy-centred learning.

Close to a century of experience has allowed St. George’s to refine the art of teaching boys. St. George’s vision for learning is based on research, experience, and expertise. Engaging, varied, and individualized learning requires specialized spaces to support each boy and all of our teachers as they leverage a wide range of instructional strategies. The ONE+ Campaign allows us to expand the reinvention of boy-centred education. New elements include a learning commons, a student centre with personal and university counselling, and a great hall to gather the entire community for meals and celebrations. This is all anchored by the central courtyard which will serve as the heart of the School. Great progress has been made at the Junior School in transforming learning spaces to enrich every boy’s learning experience, but our Senior School facilities are still lacking. 70% of these classrooms are below grade, have little natural light, poor ventilation, and are too small. As our young men develop in body and mind, they deserve appropriate spaces to support their learning.

As we witness the new campus emerging from the ground, it becomes evident that the architecture designed by Gensler and IBI will serve our needs for generations to come. It is an exciting time as we prepare to open the new campus in the 2023–24 school year. For a more detailed portrayal of our vision, please see www.onesaints.ca

Each and every one of us has an opportunity to participate in this transformative time by supporting the ONE+ Campaign in a way that is meaningful. While hundreds of families and alumni have demonstrated their community spirit and leadership, we are still striving to fund this project through the generosity of our community. Please consider a gift to St. George’s and make a positive difference for the boys who are the beneficiaries of our Mission, Vision, and Values. We have the capacity to make a world of difference in the lives of our students for generations to come.

CLICK TO VIEW THE ONE+ BUILD LIVE EYE LIVESTREAM FEATURING THE CONSTRUCTION SITE AND A TIME LAPSE OF THE WORK TO DATE

BEN COOPER ‘95 has been selected as an assistant coach for Team Canada for this year’s Spengler Cup hockey tournament. Ben is currently an assistant coach for EC Salzberg Red Bull in the Austrian Hockey League.

SAINTS’ NOTES

Congratulations to LAWRENCE CHEE ‘84 and BRYAN STATHAM

Their company Lifeboosters has partnered with WL Gore & Associates (known for GORE-TEX) to help create a new era in smart safety apparel for industrial workers worldwide!

BRIAN GRANT DUFF ‘83 and his company, All Nations Stamp & Coin, helped broker the sale of a pair of rare 12-penny black stamps for $165K.

MICHAEL SKENE ‘85 has been included in the 16th Edition of The Best Lawyers in Canada. He has been recognized as one of the leading lawyers in Construction Law and Defamation and Media Law.

Congratulations to our Alumni who have been recognized by the BIV’s Top 500 Business Leaders of BC List:

PETER BROWN ‘58 (Living Legend)

JAKE KERR ‘61 (Sports)

ANTHONY VON MANDL ‘68 (Wineries)

PETER ARMSTRONG ‘72 (Tourism)

KIP WOODWARD ‘74 (Food and Beverage)

CHRIS CATLIFF ‘77 (Banking)

JON STOVELL ‘77 (Residential Development and Investment)

MICHAEL FEDER ’95 (Commercial Law)

DAN SUTTON ‘04 (Cannabis)

Fresh off his victory as an amateur on the Vancouver Golf Tour, SADIQ JIWA ‘14 will make his professional golfing debut on the Mackenzie Tour at the Elk Ridge Open in Saskatchewan.

ALYKHAN SUNDERJI ‘00 has opened his own law firm, Sunder Legal (sunderlegal.com). The focus of the firm will be to help businesses, professionals, creatives, and entrepreneurs form companies, raise capital, buy and sell businesses, negotiate their most important contracts, and market their products.

DAVID BLACK ’16’s recent presentation at the 2021 BMIAI conference, “Human Teleoperation: A Haptically-Enabled Mixed Reality Interface for Teleultrasound,” won BMIAI’s Fall Research Showcase research award.

JOSHUA KANG ‘14 recently caught up with Saints Latin teacher Catherine Mori in Washington, D.C. Mori reports back: “After attending Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, Josh is now in his fourth year at Georgetown University School of Medicine, hoping to become a neurosurgeon. He is enjoying the fast pace and challenge presented by his current discipline. If his success in Latin is anything to go by, this young man can achieve whatever he sets his heart on!”

Congratulations to PHIL BERNA ‘14 and THEO SAUDER ‘14, who were part of the Canadian Sevens Team at the Malaga World Rugby Sevens Event! The team finished 10th at the tournament. Berna was the captain of Team Canada.

Congratulations to SHANE FENNESSEY ‘06. He and his team have been nominated for five AMPIA awards for Bisping, their documentary about Michael Bisping, UFC champion.

RICK BROOKS-HILL ‘88 has launched Goldpan, a managed win-loss service.

Congratulations to HOWARD CHIANG '01. His book, Transtopia in the Sinophone Pacific, is a finalist for the Lambda Literary Award in

ANDREW KAROLYI ‘79 has been selected as the new Dean of SC Johnson College of Business at Cornell University. Professor Karolyi previously served as a Professor of Finance at the School.

AHMED ALGHAMDI ‘19 signed a five-year contract with Saudi Professional League side Al-Ettifaq.

SEAN SHIM-BOYLE '04 had his work included in Hearing Trumpet, Part I. This is the first installment of a group exhibition gathering artists of Asian descent from the Americas and Europe. The exhibit ran from February 26th–March 26th, 2022 at Galerie Marguo in Paris, France.

Congratulations to BEN SCHER '15 and PIERS VON DADELSZEN '18. They were selected to represent Oxford University Rugby Football Club at this year's Varsity Matches (Oxford vs. Cambridge). The game was played at Twickenham with Oxford coming out on top.

The CLASS OF 1957 recently gathered for a reunion. Here are some wonderful photos of this event!

LGBTQ Studies.

ZACH YUEN ‘11 was part of the Chinese Olympic Men’s Hockey Team.

SAINTS’

DAVID EPSTEIN ‘07 married Lauren Adelman on February 10th, 2022 at Kualoa Ranch, Oahu, Hawaii. Epstein’s brother ALEXANDER EPSTEIN ‘10, as well as fellow OBA Alumni CHRISTIAN WOOLLEY ‘07, and ADAM FINE ‘06 were in attendance.

JEFFREY WONG ‘05 and Kseniia Tokar were wed on Friday, February 11, 2022 in Lviv, Ukraine, under threat by Russian tanks. But love conquers all…

JACKSON AU ‘14 married Kirsten Heron on April 2, 2022 in Victoria.

NICK ALLEN ‘00 is pleased to announce the arrival of Bodhi Mitchell Allen, born on October 25, 2021.

On October 17, 2021, GRAEME JONES ‘01 and Julie Facchin ‘00 (York House School) welcomed their second boy, Albert Frederick Jones.

In January 2022, DREW TESKEY ‘03 and his wife Jenn welcomed their son Jackson.

Peter Bentley ‘47

Builder of St. George’s School

March 17, 1930—September 6, 2021

Imagine coming to Saints, speaking only a little English and being bumped up a grade because your math wasn’t bad. That was my dad’s start at our school in 1938. He went on to matriculate at UBC, where he was asked to leave before graduating, despite earning athletic Big Blocks. Academics were clearly not his passion, but business and sport were.

His primary career was leading Canfor, a forest products company known for setting benchmarks for employee safety, environmental stewardship, and innovation. Dad also served as a long-standing director of the Bank of Montreal, Shell Canada, and the International Advisory Board of Chase Manhattan Bank. He founded or helped lead a number of ventures, including the group that brought BMW to Western Canada, the Canucks to the NHL, and also SierraSil Health.

My dad was very active in the community. Perhaps most surprisingly given his own academic record, he was an advisor to multiple faculties at UBC, the Chancellor of UNBC, Director of The Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, and on the SFU Advisory Board. He was also involved in governance at St. George’s and York House Schools, strongly supporting them financially. At the request of Premier Bill Bennett, he founded the VGH/UBC Hospital Foundation and stayed with it for 40+ years, supporting the raising of over a billion dollars for health care in B.C. Yet, my dad’s greatest love was for sports. He was a multi-sport athlete, competitive at tennis, skeet shooting, car racing, and golf, in addition to playing hockey at the collegiate level. He was on the Canadian Olympic Committee; he chaired the 1966 Canadian Golf Open; and he and his friend Ron Cliff ‘46 were the first Saints Alumni or parents to become owners of the Vancouver Canucks. My father, Mr. Cliff, and their associates purchased the team after a failed 1967 NHL bid, putting together the successful bid for 1970. Shortly after, they sold the team that would find its way to other Saints families, first the Griffiths and now the Aquilinis. Core values of empathy, humility, integrity, respect, responsibility, and resilience are the hallmarks of a Saints student. Dad lived these values. Angela Chapman, CEO of the UBC/VGH Hospital Foundation wrote, “For over 40 years, Peter was engaged, advising, mentoring and supporting successive generations of board presidents, directors, and chief executive officers to create the most remarkable impact on healthcare in B.C. Peter’s passion for health, for the people and prosperity of this province is something he imparted to me the first time we met. His discipline and diligence as a volunteer director surpassed all others through four decades.” Dr. George Iwama, President of Quest University shared, “One couldn’t do better than having someone like Peter in your corner. There is no half-measure with Peter.”

My dad was highly honoured for his accomplishments, ethics, and philanthropy, earning numerous accolades and awards, from the Business Laureates of B.C., the B.C. Sports Hall of Fame, the Order of Canada, and the Order of B.C., among others. He received honourary Doctorates of Law from UBC and UNBC, and was recognized as a Builder of St. George’s. Yet, Peter Drucker wrote that there is no such thing as a perfect man. And my dad, like the rest of us, had his fair share of imperfections despite his laudable and recognized accomplishments. I was grateful to be with him, to pray for him, as he passed at VGH early on September 6th, 2021. He died peacefully, eyes wide open and focussed high. He had a life lived fully to the age of 91, and is now in the company of heaven.

Sine Timore Aut Favore Michael Bentley ’80

It is with great sadness the family announces the sudden and unexpected passing of Phil Johnson. Born in Vancouver, and blessed with a keen, inquiring mind, Johnson graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Engineering from UBC and a Master's Degree from the University of Guelph.

He worked for the Ministry of Agriculture in the Fraser Valley for many years before moving onto the field of Building Science Engineering. He retired from RDH Engineering of Vancouver in 2015 and moved to the Sunshine Coast where he found great joy in coastal small town living. He was an active and valued member of Calvary Baptist Church of Gibsons. Throughout his life, Johnson was dedicated to mentoring the next generation of young men through the Christian Service Brigade. He was also greatly committed to enhancing the work with children of all ages at Keats Camps. Johnson enjoyed many hours sailing the local waters with family and friends.

He is survived by his wife Katherine; sons Daniel (Vanessa), Mark (Magdalena), and Samuel; grandsons Maverick, Elliot, and Theodore; as well as his brother Harold, and sister Nelie.

Born in 1952, Galbraith-Hamilton grew up in Burnaby and North Surrey, enjoying summers in Tulameen. A St. George's Old Boy, his keen math and physics skills propelled him into a career of hardware design, support, and troubleshooting in Burnaby and Calgary for Flextronics, Ericsson, Redback Networks, Abatis, Sonic Systems, and Computing Devices Canada. He also held his HAM radio license. Galbraith-Hamilton enjoyed sharing historical research into old railways, West Coast Flying Boats, and Hawaii’s Inter-Island Airways. His greatest freedom was found Free Diving in the ocean with all her creatures, and Hawaii became his winter escape.

He is survived by his wife Mary-Jane; brother Doug; sisters Pat (Dan Mumford) and Marg (Jim Welch); aunts Marg Cherot and Ivy Lofdahl; nephew and nieces Michael, Brianne, and Caitlin Welch; and many cousins in B.C. and Alberta. He is predeceased by Rod and Anne, his loving parents.

Philip Johnson ‘70 June 19, 1952—June 17, 2019

Gregory Galbraith-Hamilton ‘70 Gregory Galbraith-Hamilton passed away suddenly at St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, on November 14, 2021. He was 68 years old.

1963-64

December 24, 1944—December 11, 2021

It is with profound sadness we acknowledge the passing of Butch Nielsen after a long struggle with cardiac disease.

Nielsen was the epitome of the Saints motto, “Sine Timore Aut Favore.” He was bigger than life, a large and positive presence, and wherever he went, he left his mark. Born in Prince George, he came to St. George’s in Grade 6. On the playground during recess, Nielsen was always dusty, shirt tail hanging out, tie askew, and maybe on one knee comforting or assisting a junior student for whom things were just not going right. He had an intensity, be it in Rugby, Cadets, Scouts, Basketball, or Track & Field. He played hard, hit hard, and no matter what — if he won or lost — at the end of the game, his crooked smile was always there.

In the mid-1970s, the provincial government discerned the need for special Youth and Family Counsellors, focussing on students at high risk of dropping out of school or identified as possible offenders by police. Nielsen and his work partner became counsellors for this special innovation. Their exemplary work resulted in confidence and recognition from the government, and similar teams were quickly added to inner-city schools throughout the province. Nielsen was completely dedicated to the young people with whom he worked — and quickly became known by the students, parents, administrators, and teachers as a warm-hearted man with special skills who produced positive results.

Nielsen’s strength of character, love of life, and indomitable spirit allowed him to live several years longer than his medical team thought possible. He was a rare person, much valued by all who came to know him. He contributed so much in both his professional and private life. He was what St. George’s taught him to be: hard working and benevolent in caring for others, with no need of any lofty moniker. Nielsen touched people in so many ways that this school, his school, should be very proud. He shall be deeply missed, and his memory cherished by many people.

Jack Kowall '54

April 2, 1937—November 18, 2021

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Jack Ernest Kowall at age 84. Kowall trained as an electrician and married Patti, the love of his life. They lived in Ontario and Manitoba with their two children, before finally settling in Enderby B.C. He was an avid skier and enjoyed outdoor adventures and CB radio. Kowall and his wife enjoyed travelling, be it in their motorhome, with YWAM, or just on short road trips. Kowall loved the Lord and was never shy to tell people how God had transformed his life, which included a 58-year sobriety and involvement in AA.

He also enjoyed gardening and was able to grow veggies in his greenhouse well into the winter.

Kowall is survived by Patti, his wife; Kimberly, his daughter; Shannon, his grandaughter and her husband Jeremy; Nicholas, his grandson and his wife Jillian; and Jeffrey, his grandson; as well as his great grandchildren Cordaliene, Kaeli, Jacob, and Josia.

Hugh Locke Macaulay ‘77

Hugh Locke Macaulay passed away from cancer peacefully surrounded by family in Vancouver on January 24, 2022.

Macaulay was born in 1959, and raised in Vancouver. He graduated from St. George's School, and matriculated at Simon Fraser University where he met his partner Eve Edmonds, with whom he shared two beautiful children, Lachlan and Georgia Macaulay.

After stints in Medicine Hat and Ottawa, the family moved back to Vancouver and then to Roberts Creek, where he wrote for the Coast Reporter and partnered with his dear friend Laurel Phillips to create Coast Community Consultants, a platform that designs and supports programs and services that help make communities stronger. He had varied interests and a great capacity for the enjoyment of them. He was deeply committed to his community. Anyone who had the opportunity to know him experienced his playfulness, humour, and intellectual curiosity.

When the weather brightens, the family will hold a gathering in Roberts Creek, B.C. to remember Macaulay’s life. He served as a board member and volunteer for the Arrowhead Clubhouse in Sechelt, B.C., which was a cause close to his heart. Donations in his honour may be made to the Sunshine Coast Community Services Society, specified for the Arrowhead Clubhouse.

Archibald Wesley Shafonsky ‘53 Archibald Wesley Shafonsky was born on June 14, 1934 and passed away on January 10, 2020.

January 22, 1958—March 15, 2022

Paul Latham was born in Vancouver and graduated from St. George’s School in 1975. After completing a degree in Psychology at UBC, he pursued a career as a Federal Peace Officer for Correctional Service Canada at Kent Institution in Agassiz, B.C. Latham was a sensitive, intelligent man with a great sense of humour and positive spirit in the face of serious health problems. A strong sense of both justice and injustice infused his worldview with sincere caring and concern for marginalized people. He worked with many groups, including the mildly disabled in a continuing education and social recreation project at UBC's Bob Berwick Memorial Centre.

Latham’s mischievous smile and twinkling eyes will be sorely missed by his many friends, his sister Ann, and brother Mark ‘70.

John Michael Vaux ‘60

February 6, 1942 —April 22, 2022

John Michael Vaux or “Mike” passed away at the age of 80 at Victoria General Hospital after a sudden illness.

Vaux attended St. George’s School, Dalhousie University, and the University of British Columbia. He lived life to the fullest and enjoyed the simple pleasures of life.

Vaux had a great love for history, outdoors, and wildlife conservation. He cherished walking his dogs with his family and friends, playing a round of golf, and sharing his many stories about Victoria's history and Butchart Gardens during his cruise ship tours.

Predeceased by his parents and his young son, John Christopher Vaux, he is survived by his loving wife Beverly Lynn Vaux (nee Adams); son Graeme Michael Vaux (Kathy); daughter Lynn Michelle Delany (Brian); five grandsons; and two great-grandchildren.

A celebration of life for family and friends will be arranged later in the spring/summer 2022. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation.

Douglas Barry (Butch) Nielsen ‘64 School Captain

Paul Latham ‘75

Peter Fleming ‘73 passed away in Mexico on December 7.