Vince Guzzo ’86 will receive Speirs Medal 2021

Hal Hannaford receives Speirs

The second pillar of Hal’s legacy is the concept of being a relational school. “Becoming a relational school is everything,” he said.

The third, which he calls the “glory of education,” consists of “taking boys and molding them into…great men.”

The fourth is faculty culture. “Teachers and staff are number one,” he says. “It’s a great faculty at this school, and I was honoured to be able to work with them.”

Raising a boy into a great man also requires four things, he said: “First, boys must be exposed to strong and effective male role models. Second, boys must also be exposed to a substantial female influence. Third, we must let boys be boys.

“In order to become a truly great man, you must be a boy first,” he said.

Last—and perhaps most important— are friends and family, he concluded, punctuating his remark with a kiss on the cheek of his wife, Susan Doherty.

“You cannot do this thing alone,” he said. “Susan has been just as big a part of Selwyn House as I ever was.”

“We’ll miss you, but we will never forget you.”

Other Honorees

In addition to Hal Hannaford, five other staff members retired this year after having served 25 years or more at the school. They were: James McMillan, Brad Moffatt, Christine Krushelnyski, Carol Manning and Roman Pylat. Together, their time at Selwyn House totalled almost 200 years.

These same staff members were also inducted as Honorary Old Boys at Founder’s Day, except for Christine Krushelnyski, who, along with her late husband, Marc, was inducted as an honorary Old Boy in 2012.

Also at Founder’s Day, Selwyn House Parent and Parent Volunteer Association member Roula Rossy received the Nancy Pitfield Memorial Award for volunteerism.

Minna Shulman

Vince Guzzo will receive Speirs Medal 2021

Vincenzo Guzzo ’86, one of the strongest supporters the school has ever had, will receive the Speirs Medal for 2021. The announcement was made by Michael Avedesian ’88, Chairman of the Selwyn House Association Board of Directors, along with Headmaster Mike Downey.

Since 2017, the man known on national television as “Mr. Sunshine” has been a member of the investors’ panel on the popular CBC series Dragon’s Den. He is also a Canadian entrepreneur and philanthropist. He currently serves as CEO of Cinémas Guzzo, Groupe Guzzo Construction Inc., Guzzo Medical and Guzzo Hospitality.

At Selwyn House, he has served on the SHA Board of Directors since 2015 (current Fundraising Committee Chair), as well as on the Old Boys’ Board from 2003 to 2006. He has been a staunch supporter of Old Boy events such as the annual Old Boys and Friends’ Golf Tournament, which he won in 2014.

Vince has served on many campaign cabinets that have raised over $12M for the school, including the Centennial Endowment Campaign in 2007 and the Campaign for Selwyn House in 2013. Currently, he is co-chair of The Path Forward Campaign, which will enable the school to flourish as a fully private school.

His contributions, such as the Veritas Sculpture, the Guzzo Family Playground and the Old Boys’ Association Playground, have enhanced the school immeasurably.

Vince has four sons who have attended Selwyn House: Angelo 2015, Vittorio 2017, Vito 2022 and Delano 2026.