The Link Winter Edition 2025

CDS Dreams Together

The Growing Mind

CDS Rite of Passage

Graduation 2024

University

Notes

GAME

“TO THE VISIONARIES WHO CAME BEFORE AND THE DREAMERS YET TO COME.”

During The Country Day School’s 50th anniversary year (2022-2023), a dedicated group of staff, retired faculty, alumni and past parents collaborated to chronicle CDS’s first half century in this beautiful coffee table book, Vision & Wonder.

Order your copy today for $50 at www.cds.on.ca/vision-and-wonder

DEPARTMENTS FEATURES

22 Introducing our Class of 2024 You’ve made us proud—we wish you all the best!

24 Stealing the Show

CDS talent lit up the stage this past year with three remarkable performances.

26 CDS Says Farewell to Retiring Staff and Faculty

We wish them well in their post-CDS journeys.

The GY University Trip; East and West Editions.

32 Alumni Profiles

Meet Tarah Coates ’03 and Mike Cross ’03

COVER Michael Creglia ’26 takes possession of the ball in Senior Boys’ Soccer match against UCC during

Game Day. Final season record 8-0-1.

COVER CDS’s Girls’ Senior Field Hockey team ended their season with a 2-1-2 record.

Students came out in droves to support CDS teams during the fall Game Day October 23rd.

FITNESS FOR LIFE

CDS welcomes opening of arena and fieldhouse plans

Happy new year! Th is year marks the 175th anniversary of King Township – another exciting milestone for our community. With the opening of the new Zancor Centre just north of The Country Day School, prominently featuring The Country Day School Arena, our synergies with the local community are stronger than ever.

The proximity of this state-of-the-art facility is ideal for our students and families. It offers a nearby venue for hockey teams and skating events, while also featuring two swimming pools that expand our Physical Education options. These pools will provide students the opportunity to learn vital water safety skills and earn certifications relevant to outdoor education trips. It’s truly a win-win for CDS and the community!

Meanwhile, we are making strides on campus with plans for our own significant athletic enhancements, starting with a new Fieldhouse to replace the aging Cyclone Dome commencing next January. This issue’s cover story pays tribute to the first of three Game Days planned for the school year, a tradition initiated by Drew Schnekenburger ’24 and his classmates. Athletics have always been an integral part of CDS’s Education with Balance approach, and now more than ever, we recognize their importance of promoting student health, wellness, and strength of personal character.

In other exciting news, a new book detailing the history of King Township, authored by Ann Love, a past CDS parent

and Board member, will be released in April 2025. Titled The History of King Township: A Community Shaped by the Land, this 476-page historical narrative delves into the Township’s unique natural landscape and the lives of those who shaped it. Th is book will be celebrated with a launch on April 24th at the Municipal Building, perfectly aligning with the Township’s 175th anniversary. Copies will be for sale at various locations throughout King, including the King Heritage & Cultural Centre.

Th is new publication follows the fall release of CDS’s 162-page 50th anniversary book, Vision & Wonder, which celebrates our school’s dynamic history and remarkable achievements. Together, these books highlight the beauty and heritage of King Township and CDS’s place within it.

I encourage you and your family to take part in the many exciting events planned for this year to celebrate King’s rich history. Additionally, please join us in supporting CDS’s Dream Together Campaign, an initiative dedicated to promoting fitness for life at CDS and beyond. ■

Kim Sillcox Director of Communications and Marketing

EDITOR

Kim Sillcox

Director of Communications and Marketing

CONTRIBUTORS

Kirsten Baird

Gisa Bevacqua-Tirone

Celia Bland

Amy Cicchillo

Maya Di Biase ’28

Scott Garbe

John Liggett

Adam Montgomery ’24

Karen Sumner

Rob Waldron

Jen Weening

Ann Wildberger

DESIGN

Michael Cherkas

PHOTOGRAPHY

Stan Behal Photography

Gord Butler

Jeff Kirk

Nick Iwanyshyn

Zach Lawton

Aidan Scholten ’25

Beatrice Stefanescu

Jen Weening

The Link

The Country Day School

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King, ON L7B 1K5

T: 905.833.1220

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E: communications@cds.on.ca www.cds.on.ca

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The Link is published by the Offi ce of Community Relations at The Country Day School for CDS families, alumni, staff, faculty and friends.

OPPORTUNITY AHEAD…

Let’s Dream Together for a new fieldhouse and more

Having recently celebrated our 50th anniversary, completing the Building Magic campaign and opening our rejuvenated Junior School, the school has been abuzz with energy and excitement. That energy extends into the second half of our fi rst century as plans and dreams for the future are in abundant supply—there is more excitement to come!

At the annual CDS Auction in June, we announced a new campaign theme of Dream Together for a new Fieldhouse, and are now further dreaming about augmenting this Fieldhouse into a larger athletic and flexible educational complex on the site of the existing dome. Expect to hear more in the coming months about these incredible opportunities for CDS to continue to grow and thrive.

We have also struck a strategic partnership with the Township of King to have the signature CDS arena in the township’s new Zancor Centre be named The Country Day School Arena and become our “home” ice! CDS is fortunate to have this facility so close to campus and appreciate all of the King community support that made it happen.

When you stop by next, be sure to check out the King Sports Hall of Fame to see our two CDS alumni recognized: McKinley Hunt ’15 and Adriana Leon ’10! We are truly grateful that King and CDS have forged such a wonderful, collaborative relationship over the past five decades.

As we continue to build and advance our reputation as a leading educational institution, we will look to grow even stronger in supporting, knowing and inspiring our students. CDS will continue to provide innovative and engaging programs through educators who genuinely care and always preserve that sense of connectedness and community that underpins everything we do. ■

John Liggett Head of School

“As we continue to build and advance our reputation as a leading educational institution, we will look to grow even stronger in supporting, knowing and inspiring our students.”

School Highlights



March Break Trips

80th Anniversary Battlefields Tour; Adventure Travel in Croatia

Twenty-six Senior School students and faculty members travelled to France and Belgium to commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day by tracing the footsteps of Canadian heroes who played pivotal roles in both World Wars. Students had a profound and enlightening experience visiting the iconic landmarks of Paris and solemn beaches of Normandy, as well as the historic town of Ypres and vibrant streets of Amsterdam. At the same time, 12 other students and two faculty members travelled to Croatia with World Challenge International. Th is trip was designed to allow students to make many independent decisions and step out of their comfort zones. They slept in tents, managed a group budget to cover groceries and snacks, cooked outside on camping stoves, kayaked on rivers and the sea, hiked in beautiful places, and explored 1000-yearold forts, old cities, and abandoned villages.

Another

Successful Terry Fox Day!

Over the past 33 years, CDS has raised $546,788 for the Terry Fox Foundation!

Successful CAIS Accreditation Visit

Last January, CDS hosted a Peer Review Team made up of 10 outstanding CAIS colleagues from schools across Canada. They spent three days talking with faculty, staff, students, parents and alumni as part of a highly reflective and collaborative school improvement process. Head of School John Liggett received overwhelmingly positive feedback in an accreditation report a few months later. “It is a testament to the entire Country Day School community that the Peer Review Visit so easily conveyed the warmth, vibrancy and school spirit of this invitational school… Everything about the visit demonstrated that The Country Day School is a school that models deep connection and commitment in all it does.”

CDS Commissions Song About Mascot ‘Cyclone’

At last May’s Middle/Senior Spring Concert, CDS’s new Head of Music, Larry Shields, debuted a song he commissioned a friend to write about our school mascot, the Cyclone! The result was a wonderful piece called Windstorm written by Vincent Gassi, which the Senior Concert Band performed at the May concert.

Middle School Opens Idea Lab

Building on the overwhelming success of the Senior School Makerspace, CDS has launched an IDEA Lab tailored specifically for Middle School students. This vibrant new space is designed to inspire collaboration, creativity, and invention through hands-on learning experiences and is home to the new Navigating Technology 7 and Design Technology 8 courses. Equipped with cutting-edge tools like 3D printers, laser cutters, professional colour printers, and a print/cut machine, the lab mirrors many of the features of the Senior School space, with some exciting additions for Middle School learners.

Robotics Team Reaches FRC Finals

Last April, our Robotics Team travelled to Windsor for a stellar weekend competing in the First Robotics Competition. After a tough round of qualification matches, CDS persevered and joined up with two other teams for an alliance. That alliance made it all the way to the finals, ultimately falling short at the last hurdle against the number one ranked group of teams. Making the finals means the CDS Robotics Alliance came home with the silver medal and the Judge’s Award for their “unique efforts, performance or dynamics that merit recognition.”

Students Walk for Wenjack

On September 30th, Middle and Senior School students took part in a Walk for Wenjack on our back trails. The walk focussed on Chanie Wenjack’s story, a 12-year-old Anishinaabe boy who died while fl eeing his Residential School in 1966, with students observing symbolic signposts and refl ecting on the reconciliation process and their role in Truth and Reconciliation.

Future MARS Rovers Navigate Back 40

In October, a team of aerospace engineers from MDA Space spent several days on campus testing the guidance and navigation systems on one of their rovers in the Back 40, taking time out of their busy schedules to interact with students in two of our Senior School classes, Grade 11 Computer Engineering and Grade 12 STEM and the Future of Science. Thank you, Elliot Eydelman ’15, for helping to make this happen

Our World Class Debaters

CDS once again qualified three students to compete at the World Individual Debating & Public Speaking Championships (WIDPSC) held at Canberra Girls Grammar School in Canberra, Australia. Millie Steinmann ’25 is World Champion of Persuasive Speaking, and Ethan Wahba ’24 is World Champion of Interpretive Reading and 3rd in Debating out of 124 kids. Overall, Ethan was the 3rd place speaker, Millie was 9th and Sarah Croxon ’24 was 18th. As well, CDS had several fi rsts in that our three students competed in a total of eight fi nals this year. We have never had two World Champions in individual events in the same event!

Grandparents Day

The Most Wonderful Day of the Year in the Junior School!

CDS Arena Opens at New Zancor Centre

Last month, king Township’s new Zancor Centre opened just north of CDS, and we are thrilled to share that The Country Day School has naming rights to Ice Pad 2 in this new multi-use recreation facility at the northwest corner of Dufferin and 15th Sideroad.

A mere 800 meters from CDS, this $86-million facility features a six-lane lap pool and leisure pool, two NHL-sized ice rinks, an artificial turf field with running track, and a multi-use community space. Outdoor amenities include a large courtyard with direct access to social and community rooms, with future plans for the site including connections to the Oak Ridges Moraine trail system and outdoor sports fields.

While CDS is in the process of improving its own array of athletic facilities in the form of a new Fieldhouse to replace the aging Cyclone Dome, having access to the facilities at the nearby Zancor Centre will only enhance the student experience. The pools will also serve to help students learn important water safety skills and receive certification for outdoor education related trips.

Due to the uncertainty around the Zancor Centre’s opening last fall, no CDS hockey games were scheduled for the winter 2025 term. However, the U12 hockey team is already practicing there and a Junior School Skating event took place February 21 with members of the Senior Boys’ and Girls’ teams helping out. As of next hockey season, the CDS Arena will be a hive of Cyclone spirit.

The Grand Opening Celebration took place on Sunday, January 26, complete with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, the Mayor’s Pancake Breakfast and recreational swimming, skating and sports. It was followed by a King Rebellion Junior A game (featuring CDS alumni Jake Andersen ’22 and Matthew Andersen ’25) later that afternoon against the Caledon Admirals.

Community collaboration and partnerships like this one help cement CDS’s place in King, and The Country Day School Arena is evidence that community spirit is stronger than ever!

–Kim Sillcox

COMMUNITY COLLABORATION AND PARTNERSHIPS LIKE THIS ONE HELP CEMENT CDS’S PLACE IN KING, AND THE COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL ARENA IS EVIDENCE THAT COMMUNITY SPIRIT IS STRONGER THAN EVER!

Spirit Soars During Winter Game Day!

Cyclone spirit was alive and well during our Senior School Winter Game Day in February, and our CDS teams secured victories in all three games. The U16 Girls’ Volleyball team dominated SJK, winning in three straight sets, 3-0. The Sr. Girls’ Volleyball team hosted Lakefield College and battled to a hard-fought 3-2 victory.

Meanwhile, the Sr. Boys’ Basketball team staged an exciting comeback at the end of the third quarter, ultimately clinching a thrilling 45-42 win against Crescent School. The fans were jubilant!

Th anks to our community’s efforts, the Social Justice Bake Sale raised nearly $500 for Their Opportunity, helping more children participate in sports who might not have had the chance otherwise. A special shoutout to our Student Leaders for organizing yet another spirited and memorable afternoon for all!

The Growing Mind

BY DR. KAREN SUMNER Freelance writer and editor

Laying the Foundation of Deep and Lasting Learning

RESEARCH SHOWS THAT STUDENT SUPPORTS PLAY A VITAL ROLE IN SOCIAL AND ACADEMIC SUCCESS

Final exams are coming up, and Grade 10 student Abby is having difficulty concentrating on studying. There has been a lot of tension in her friend group, and she’s been excluded from a few hang outs recently. In addition, she’s not feeling on top of her exam prep. In the past, she mainly reread her class notes, which was enough to get by. Th is year, her course work is so much harder, and she’s not sure how to organize her materials or make a plan, or even where

to go get the help she needs. She’s troubled about her friends, increasingly anxious about her grades, and feeling stuck. To cope, she’s spending hours on TikTok and YouTube as a distraction.

If Abby was in a school with comprehensive student supports, she would know how to begin the process of getting unstuck: perhaps starting with her homeroom advisor, or her guidance counsellor, or her peer tutor, or a learning strategist, and then seeking out others

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The Growing Mind

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like her subject teachers as needed. She would still be worried about the shifting dynamics among her friends and how to tackle the advanced concepts of her classes. But she could access an in-school network of counselors, advisors, peers and specialists to support her social, emotional and academic needs. With those supports, she is far more likely to reduce her anxiety, increase her belief in her own abilities, be well prepared for her exams and, in the end, fi nd greater social and academic success.

The Burge Family Student Services Centre

The research on academic and nonacademic student supports is clear: the array of resources available within the learning environment has a significant impact on both student wellness and academic performance. For example, explicitly teaching learning skills, such as how to study for tests and exams, has been shown to decrease anxiety, increase confidence, and improve learning outcomes. Not surprisingly, anxiety is a barrier to learning, so any relief a student can get will help to advance both their wellness and their academic achievement. Studies have shown that university students who are able to access counselling for depression and anxiety are also able to increase their GPA as well as their feelings of competence and confidence.

Other proven techniques for lowering anxiety and increasing academic success include teaching students how to set and meet goals and working with students to determine an academic pathway. Goal setting is often taught in learning strategies classes and in student services centres, as are organization

With four counsellors, three learning strategists, and a test room manager, every student has academic, career, social and emotional supports available. Whether students are looking for peer tutoring or for help with study skills and time management, academic planning, or feelings of anxiousness and sadness, there is someone in the SSC with the compassion and expertise to guide them. The SSC also has a psychotherapist and a social worker on retainer for access outside of school if needed.

“We’re mindful of reaching every student, whether to help with academic stresses, pressures to excel, healthy relationships, or planning for a future after CDS. And we love it when students come in with new ideas for how the school can support them.”

Alanna Houston Director of Student Services

skills, study skills, and time management—areas where our hypothetical student, Abby, is struggling. Schools that also support students in setting their academic pathway—a kind of road map through high school to prepare them for postsecondary education or other post-graduation opportunities— also help to lower the anxiety that impacts both academic and personal growth. Backward planning is one way to help students feel ready for the requirements of post-secondary programs they may want to pursue.

Positive peer relationships are also critical for students to both feel and achieve their best. When counsellors are available as a school resource, they can help students to develop and maintain healthy friendships. One research study has shown that peer relationships are positively related to learning motivation, learning engagement, academic achievement. Another study demonstrated a direct positive effect of peer acceptance on a student’s sense of academic competence, which further positively predicted their academic performance. It’s interesting that a student who feels that they have good friends also feels more competent as a learner—and just having that sense of competence then boosts their achievement.

Peer tutoring also has a significant impact on student learning. It’s not always the expert teacher or professional adult who is needed at lunchtime or after school for extra help. One way to think of tutoring is that it teaches students to become their own teacher: both the tutor and the tutee develop new skills in their learning relationship that they then carry into their own individual lives. In addition, when peer tutoring is highly student controlled

Homeroom Advisory

Each student has a homeroom advisor who is their mentor and who helps guide their academic and emotional growth. In addition to being a friendly face at the start of the day, monthly advisory periods offer extended time for goal setting, progress check-ins and just personal connection. These periods also provide opportunities to discuss larger issues like diversity and inclusivity, how to build relationships, and university preparation.

“My favourite part of the day is first thing in the morning when you see your advisor who checks in with you and makes sure you are prepared for the day. My homeroom is like a close-knit community away from my other classes.”

Andy Grade 9

(peers rather than teachers are involved in setting goals, monitoring performance, and evaluating performance), the positive effect on learning and achievement is even higher.

Aclassroom approach called “relational learning” taps into the importance of positive relationships in student self-confidence and achievement. When teachers intentionally work to develop trusted peer-peer and teacher-student relationships, motivation, engagement and active class participation increase. Relational learning sets up a support network within the classroom so that students feel both socially and academically assisted: teachers are mentors and allies for students, and so are students for each other. Th is works to reduce stress, anxiety and feelings of isolation, which as we know undermine learning. The bottom line is that teachers who work to create positive peer-to-peer classroom relationships and who demonstrate they care about the learning of each student as a person create an environment with a strong measurable impact on student achievement.

If Abby attends a school with all of these classroom and student supports in place, she has a much better chance of working through her difficult friendship dynamics and putting successful exam study habits in place. In fact, if she were in such a school, she would have already accessed these supports as an individual and in her classes from grade to grade, so they would already be familiar and reliable resources. Given the vital role that student supports play in social development, learning and achievement, it is likely she could have avoided altogether some of the challenges that have thrown her off balance at the end of Grade 10 and into social media use in an attempt to avoid hard emotions. ■

Innovative and Enriched Programming

In the Senior School, CDS regularly offers new courses so that students have the opportunity to explore a wide range of topics and pursue their interests. These “boutique” courses include Happiness & Wellbeing, Entrepreneurial Spirit, Film & Ideology, Nature of Change, and STEM (science, technology, engineering and math). In addition, all Grade 11 students are enrolled in AP Seminar through their English course, and Grade 11 and 12 students have access to eight other AP options in math, science, computer science, economics, English and politics.

“We want our students to take some risks and try new things. The idea isn’t to load up on extra courses or feel pressured to be the best—after all, we deeply believe in ‘Education With Balance.’ The idea is to help students think about themselves and their world in new ways.”

Dave Harvey Director

of Academics, Middle and Senior Schools

Cyclones in Action

Athletic Highlights from Winter, Spring and Fall 2024

Ithink some of the best advice I received over my years in education and athletics is that you have within you the power to be the best version of yourself. Life is an incredible journey, full of twists and turns, challenges and triumphs. But, there’s only one constant: your potential. Being the best version of yourself isn’t about comparison or competition with others. It’s about setting your own standards and relentlessly pursuing them. It’s about waking up each day with a determination to grow, to learn, and to progress.

Sometimes, the path to self-improvement might seem daunting. There will be setbacks, moments of doubt, and times when you feel like giving up. But remember, it’s in those moments of struggle that your true strength emerges. It’s in overcoming obstacles that you discover just how resilient and capable you truly are.

So, embrace the journey. Celebrate your successes, no matter how small they may seem. Learn from your failures, for they are valuable lessons in disguise. And never forget that the only limits that exist are the ones you place upon yourself. You are capable of achieving greatness. Believe in yourself, trust in your abilities, and never stop striving to be the best version of yourself. ■

John Andersen, Director of Athletics

CDS Alpine Ski team’s CISAA season results: Avery Templeman ’25, 2nd Open Female; Jessica Jackson ’25; 6th School Trained Female; and Seth Train ’24, 7th Open Male.

Senior Girls Tennis D1.

Sarin Gosal ’24 at the gate OFSAA race.

Co-ed Ultimate Frisbee D2 team wins CISAA Gold.

Amelia Duff ’25 volunteered to play in net for the Field Hockey team with just one day of practice before a game against Villanova where her efforts paid off with a shutout victory.

U14 Boys Volleyball D2 wins CISAA Silver.

U14 Girls Soccer D1 CISAA Gold.

U16 Girls Soccer D1 wins CISAA Silver.

Karson O’Connor ’30 won the Large Hunter Pony Stake at this year’s Royal Agricultural Winter Fair sponsored by the Dunlap family in memory of CDS Co-founder Moff at Dunlap.

Diviya Amarnath ’25 and Coach Aimee Lee at OFSAA qualifier.

Grade 6 students Aniya and Emma won first and second place in their 1st JS Cross County race of the season!

Senior Boys Soccer D2 at CAIS.

Juliet Chieduch ’26 qualifes in Cross Country for OFSAA.

U13 Boys Basketball D2 team wins CAIS Gold medal.

Junior Boys D2 Basketball wins CISAA Championship.

Senior Boys Hockey D1NC wins CISAA Silver.Senior Girls Volleyball D1B Wins CISAA Gold.

A CDS Rite of Passage

Question: What do you get when you combine over 80 CDS students, six chaperones, nine universities, four hotels, and two buses heading in opposite directions?

Answer: The GY University Trip (East and West Editions 2024)

BY DAVID HUCKVALE

I LOVED IT ALL AND THINK IT WAS A VERY GOOD BALANCE OF UNIVERSITY TOURS AND OTHER ACTIVITIES. THE HIGHLIGHT WAS PROBABLY THE FREEDOM TO EXPLORE UNIVERSITY LIFE AND ALMOST FEEL LIKE I WAS ALREADY ENROLLED IN UNI!”

The GY Trip is a valued CDS tradition and rite of passage for Grade 12 students and is now in its second decade. This year the buses rolled out on Wednesday, September 25th and were greeted by open roads and three days of great weather.

The East trip made stops at Queen’s, McGill, Ottawa U, and Carleton with overnight stays in Kingston and Ottawa. The West trip visited the campuses of Western (plus Huron), Wilfrid Laurier, Waterloo, Guelph, and McMaster while bunking down in Waterloo and London.

In addition to the structured tours and information sessions, there was plenty of free time on campus and in the towns and cities that will become second homes for our soon to be graduates. A key feature of this event is that the visits take place during the week on bustling campuses where they can witness academia in action.

An additional secret ingredient is the informal participation of CDS alumni who come out to meet and connect with their former teachers and schoolmates offering firsthand and invaluable insight to the experience. Th is year, more than 50 Alumni made time to greet us between both trips. The grads most excited to reconnect are typically from the Class of 2024 now in their third week as university students. The result is a memorable excursion that helps our GYs develop a shared vocabulary and campus experience for the university application process.

These trips are also wonderful bonding experiences for our Grade 12 students as they embark on their final year at CDS. Many include it as one of their fondest memories when Grad comments are read during the graduation ceremony in June.

As one student anonymously wrote on the post-trip survey:

“I loved it all and think it was a very good balance of university tours and other activities. The highlight was probably the freedom to explore university life and almost feel like I was already enrolled in uni!”

GY East students congregate in the centre of McGill University’s campus (top) and GY West students enjoy a beautiful day at University of Waterloo (bottom). Our GY East trippers toured Queen’s, McGill, Carleton and Ottawa, while GY West trippers visited McMaster, Guelph, Waterloo, Western and Huron.

Graduation 2024

EXCERPTS FROM THE JUNIOR SCHOOL GRADUATION

Navigating Friendships

Making friends, breaking friends and learning to be a friend are three things in constant motion in our Junior School.

Friendships can bring happiness, heartbreak and learning, sometimes all in one day. Making friends when you were in JK and SK was fast and simple. Everyone was friends with everyone. But as you get older and begin to establish your interests, friend groups start to form and friendships begin to emerge. This is a natural part of growing up and your social development.

When you are making friends, you know you are in a good friendship by the way you feel inside. You can be yourself. You are not being judged. The friendship is easy; it comes with no drama, no gossip, and no lies. You mostly laugh and smile and just have fun together.

The breaking friends part can be painful and difficult, but it is part of growing and learning too. Sometimes friendships break when trust is broken and friends let us down. When a friendship is hard, it hurts us and it doesn’t make us happy. This is usually a forewarning of breaking friends.

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR GRADE 6, GRADE 8 AND GRADE 12 GRADUATES!

Accepting that sometimes friends change can be really hard.

Understand that breaking friends is sometimes exactly what is needed for you to be happy.

Learning to be a real friend is one of the most important things you learn in your childhood. Once you have figured that part out, you’ll know how to be a true friend to others and how others should treat you in return.

– Be honest in all your words.

– Know how to apologize and forgive gracefully.

– Don’t ever talk behind someone’s back.

– Always help.

“

LEARNING TO BE A REAL FRIEND IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS YOU LEARN IN YOUR CHILDHOOD.

What I hope for each of you as you venture to Middle School is lots of fun making friends, fewer times of breaking friends, and many tomorrows of being a true friend.

Ann Wildberger, Director

of Junior School

EXCERPTS FROM THE MIDDLE SCHOOL GRADUATION

Comparison is the Thief of Joy

Today, I’d like to share a lesson that has resonated with me this past year as I have walked the hallways with you. It’s a simple yet profound truth: comparison is the thief of joy. In the age of social media, it’s easy to fall into the trap of comparing ourselves to others. We see highlight reels on Tik Tok, Instagram and Snapchat, and suddenly, our own lives seem a little less glamorous as we fall into the trap of measuring our worth against someone else’s perfectly curated facade.

Grade 8s, imagine two students, Sarah and Ryan, both of whom have just completed their Middle School journey. Sarah is an exceptional athlete, always leading her team to victory, while Ryan is an avid artist, creating beautiful pieces that captivate everyone who sees them.

As they stand on the brink of high school, Sarah starts comparing herself to Ryan. She begins to think, “I wish I could draw like Ryan. My sketches are nowhere near as impressive as his artwork.” On the other hand, Ryan looks at Sarah and thinks, “I wish I could be as athletic as Sarah. I can’t run as fast or kick a ball like she can.” What neither of them realizes is that they each possess unique talents that make them special. Sarah’s athleticism and Ryan’s artistic abilities are like different colours on the palette of life. If Sarah and Ryan spend their time comparing themselves to each

IN

SEPTEMBER, AS YOU STEP INTO HIGH SCHOOL...

CELEBRATE THE UNIQUE GIFTS YOU BRING TO THE WORLD, CHERISH THE FRIENDSHIPS YOU’VE FORMED, AND, MOST IMPORTANTLY, BE INSPIRED TO BE AUTHENTICALLY YOU.

other, they might miss the joy of celebrating their own strengths.

Grade 8s, resist the urge to measure your worth by someone else’s standard. Your journey is not defined by the achievements of others but by the unique tapestry you create, the lessons you learn, and the friendships you cultivate.

Sure, you might not be the fastest runner, the top math kid, or the next Picasso—and that’s perfectly okay! Embrace your individuality, celebrate your quirks, and find joy in the unique path you’re carving for yourself.

Remember, success is not a one-size-fits-all concept. Some of the most successful people in the world didn’t follow a conventional path. So, in September, as you step into high school, embrace your individual talents, celebrate the unique gifts you bring to the world, cherish the friendships you’ve formed, and,

most importantly, be inspired to be authentically you.

Never forget who YOU are, what YOU do best, and how many people will be inspired by YOU being authentically YOU! It’s time to celebrate YOUR uniqueness! The privilege of a lifetime is to be who YOU are!

Rob Waldron Director of Middle School

EXCERPTS FROM THE GRADE 8 VALEDICTORIAN SPEECH

Friends Help Complete the Journey

Looking back at our Middle School journey, when we walked down the ramp and through the Middle School doors, we were all a bit shorter, a bit more hesitant, and a lot hungrier since the lunchtime hour changed making the wait in the dining hall line feel even longer. Two years later, we have grown a few inches, gained some confidence, and learned that the real MVPs of Middle School were the ones who could sneak snacks past the teachers’ watchful eyes.

Through the books we read in Middle School, it became clear that the relationships we build shape who we are and give

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“

AS WE LOOK BACK AT THE PAST TWO YEARS, WE REALIZE THAT THE JOURNEY WOULD NOT BE COMPLETE WITHOUT OUR FRIENDS, THE PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE SHARED SO MANY EXPERIENCES WITH – EXPERIENCES THAT HAVE PRODUCED MOMENTS OF TEARS AND WORRIES AND MOMENTS OF FUN AND LAUGHTER.

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meaning to our lives. Whether it was The Outsiders, The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas or Nimona, these books all emphasized that relationships are the cornerstone of life. We see this in Ponyboy’s relationship with the Greasers, Bruno’s friendship with Shmuel, and Nimona’s relationship with Lord Ballister.

We have also seen this in our own Middle School journey. We have made friendships and connections that will stay with us forever. We have spent so much time together in the classroom, in the Middle School recess yard, and of course in the dining hall. As we look back at the past two years, we realize that the journey would not be complete without our friends, the people that we have shared so many experiences with – experiences that have produced moments of tears and worries and moments of fun and laughter.

Our teachers have played an important role in our Middle School journey. They have taught us so much and not just about math, English, science, history or the arts. They have provided mentorship and guidance and have been there to support us, helping us to learn and grow. They have taught us to think creatively, have confidence in ourselves, be responsible individuals, set goals and have the courage to achieve those goals. But most importantly, they have taught us that each one of us has unique qualities that make us special in our own way and for that we are truly grateful.

We also want to thank our very first teachers: our parents. Thank you for your unconditional love and support. This day would not be possible without you. You have been there for us in whatever challenges or triumphs that we faced, not only in our studies but in our lives, and for that we are forever grateful.

Maya Di Biase Valedictorian, Middle School

EXCERPTS FROM THE SENIOR SCHOOL GRADUATION

Words Matter

When you look back on your time here, what words have mattered to you?

Positive words of encouragement from the people sitting opposite from you right now? Words that created a lightbulb moment for you in a particularly challenging class? The encouraging words of a friend, a parent, a coach or counsellor?

OUT BEYOND IDEAS OF WRONGDOING AND RIGHTDOING THERE IS A FIELD. I’LL MEET YOU THERE.” RUMI, 13th Century Persian Poet and Scholar “

And yes, perhaps the hurtful or careless words that may have been written on one of your more difficult high school days. What have you learned from these, and what will you take with you as you venture outside of our doors as a CDS graduate?

Our words are powerful and should be chosen carefully. They can be used for the greater good and they can cause great damage and pain. Who knows fully where your paths will lead. One of you might be Prime Minister one day, and I can think of a couple of you who that might be. Undoubtedly, you will be leaders in one way or another: leaders at school, leaders in your workplace, leaders in your friendship groups, and leaders in your families one day, including the quiet leaders among you who lead by discreet example.

I challenge you to consider how you use your words, especially when you find yourself

in difficult situations. Always assume good intentions in the other person, until they show you otherwise. Always use words that treat others and yourself respectfully. And use kind words wherever possible. And know when it is better to remain silent and hold your words, choosing rather to listen to others than to speak in haste. And be sure that the words you speak to yourself are equally kind and thoughtful. I encourage you as you head out into the proverbial field, to use your words wisely, kindly and thoughtfully. Seek to listen and to understand, to build relationships and to treat people with respect. Use them to make peace, and use them speak up when something isn’t right. And by all means, use your words to make people smile, to make them laugh, and to absolutely make their day.

If you hold these intentions at your core, they will help you lead a more meaningful life. You will undoubtedly be valued as a person of integrity, and you will make the world a better place for all who come into contact with you.

Be the change, Graduates, be the change.

Celia Bland Director of Senior School

EXCERPTS FROM THE GRADE 12 VALEDICTORIAN SPEECH

Overcoming Adversity

Iwould like to focus on a lyric of one of my favourite songs, “Videotape” by Radiohead. The singer says, “You are my centre when I spin away out of control on videotape.” In the song, he reflects on his life as if it were on a videotape, and it echoes largely my sentiments for today. Looking out now playing our high school videotape, I first see the journey of what we’ve had to overcome to get here. Obviously, I see COVID at the beginning, as well as every single challenge it threw at us: the Google Meet lessons, lack of extracurriculars, masks, and everything in between.

Fast forward a year, and I see the long nights of hard work to study for the next exam, and I also see the last couple of awful Taylor Swift albums. I see so many lifelong memories as well. I see the great times had from our grade coming together for semi-formals. I see our Home-

AS WE LEAVE TODAY, ROLLING THE END CREDITS, MAKE SURE “TO TAKE THE VIDEOTAPE OFF THE SHELVES EVERY SO OFTEN TO REMIND YOURSELF OF YOUR CENTRE –CDS – AND THE PEOPLE WHO MADE THIS SCHOOL SO SPECIAL.” “

coming, our band performances, our robotics tournaments, our Coffeehouse performances, and public speaking competitions. I also see the victories on the field, court or ice, bleeding the green and blue with pride.

And now toward the end of this videotape, I see the grade coming together for our Senior Sunrise, playing soccer on the turf until the lights shut off, the DJs in the grade coming out for a set, and of course camping out at the school to watch the sun come up in the morning over one of our final days at such a defining place in our lives.

But what would this videotape be if it weren’t for the cast of characters? Looking at the Class of 2024, I see a grade of proud individuals who have moulded together to become a united and supportive group. I see a grade with an incredible drive to accomplish whatever they set their minds to. I see a grade with a phenomenal work ethic, and you can see this with the mountains we have moved just this year.

But now this is all in the past, recorded on the Class of 2024’s videotape. We will take these experiences that we have lived throughout our time here to make change in the world and to keep moving these mountains. As we leave today, rolling the end credits, make sure to take the videotape off the shelves every so often to remind yourself of your centre – CDS – and the people who made this school so special.

As the song says, “This is one for the good days, and I have it all here on videotape.”

Adam Montgomery Valedictorian, Senior School

Introducing The Country Day School Class of

GRADS

‘LIFERS’

2024!

OUR 79 GRADUATES have demonstrated immense grit and resilience during their high school careers and have accepted offers of admission to top programs at a diverse selection of post-secondary institutions across Canada, the US and UK.

Well done, Class of 2024! We could not be prouder of you and wish you all the best!

Bevin Amarasinghe

Ella Ballard

Ty Bigourdan

Isobel Bruun

Layla Campoli

Hailey Casciato

Sarah Cathers

Ryan Chen

Evanna Colinas

Costa Colivas

Shepard Cowan

Sarah Croxon

Olivia Cuscuna

Hayley Dagenais

Isabelle Danailov

Katie Dowling

Keenan Downey

Carolyn Du

Averie Easton

Alex Estabrooks

Sofya Fefelova

Aayan Feroze

Avery Fortin

Owen Gater

Seth Gelb

Patricia Giancola

Sarin Gosal

Lili Gray

Jessica Grossman

Sydney Hansen

Alexa Hrynyk

Samir Islam

Alex Kaminsky

Derya Karakul

Roshni Karmali

Lilja Laughlen

Brooke Ledson

Nathan Leo

Ryan Letichever

Austin Li

Stone Li

Brock Lobreau

Julianna Marchese

Matthew Matrosov

Madelyn McCarthy

Adam Montgomery

Avery Morse

Alex Musker

Jesse Novik

Kiara Ogor

Jessen Patel

Georgia Petrozza

Harkin Porter

Neeka Pouragha

Kyra Preston

Heidi Qian

James Rea

Samantha Romero

Martin Roussev

Daniel Ruscitto

Siara Rustom

Maguire Ryan

Drew Schnekenburger

Kate Sha

Tyler Shepherd

Cole Sheppard

Emily Skeats

Kian Tabandeh Doust

Avery Tallman

Seth Train

Ethan Wahba

Alex Wang

Ricky Wang

Brooke Wappel

Avalyn Woods

Joey Wu

Kevin Yang

Nicholas Young

Felix Zhang

Post-Secondary Institution Destinations

Brigham Young University

Carleton University

Dalhousie University

Fanshawe College

Georgetown University

Georgia Institute of Technology

Huron University at Western

Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts

London School of Economics and Political Science

McGill University

McMaster University

New York University

Queen Mary University of London

Queen’s University

Rollins College

Toronto Metropolitan University

University of British Columbia

University of Edinburgh

University of Guelph

University of Leicester

University of Miami

University of Toronto

University of Waterloo

Western University

Wilfrid Laurier University

York University

Stealing the Show!

CDS talent lit up the stage this past year with three remarkable performances!

The Junior School’s Grade 4-6 students performed The SpongeBob Musical April 18-20, 2024.

The Grade 7-9 students performed Peter and the Starcatcher November 14-16, 2024.

The Grade 10-11 students performed Clue February 29, March 1-2, 2024.

Coming Soon!

Join us for one or both of our upcoming 2025 Senior and Junior School productions

RADIUM GIRLS

February 27 & 28, March 1

Show Synopsis (From Dramatic Publishing):

In , radium was a miracle cure, Madame Curie an international celebrity, and luminous watches the latest rage—until the girls who painted them began to fall ill with a mysterious disease. Inspired by a true story, Radium Girls traces the efforts of Grace Fryer, a dial painter, as she fights for her day in court. Her chief adversary is her former employer, Arthur Roeder, an idealistic man who cannot bring himself to believe that the same element that shrinks tumours could have anything to do with the terrifying rash of illnesses among his employees. As the case goes on, however, Grace fi nds herself battling not just with the U.S. Radium Corporation, but with her own family and friends, who fear that her campaign for justice will backfire.

Written with warmth and humour, Radium Girls is a fast-moving, highly theatrical ensemble piece for a company of actors, who play more than 30 parts—friends, co-workers, lovers, relatives, attorneys, scientists, consumer advocates, and myriad interested bystanders. Called a “powerful” and “engrossing” drama by critics, Radium Girls offers a wry, unflinching look at the peculiarly American obsessions with health, wealth, and the commercialization of science.

FROZEN JR.

April 24 – 26

A story of true love and acceptance between sisters, Frozen JR. expands upon the emotional relationship and journey between Princesses Anna and Elsa. When faced with danger, the two discover their hidden potential and the powerful bond of sisterhood.

With a cast of beloved characters loaded with magic, adventure, and plenty of humour, Frozen JR. is sure to thaw even the coldest heart!

CDS Says Farewell to Retiring Staff and Faculty

We wish them well in their post-CDS journeys

The Legendary Coach

John Andersen retired last June after 21 years of legendary coaching, teaching, guidance, support and leadership as CDS’s Athletic Director. As a teacher, coach and AD, John likely coached every sport CDS had to offer at one point and inspired countless athletes to do their

best, try something new, and practice good sportsmanship. As one colleague aptly observed years ago, “If you want something done, ask Johnny.” He has been a great ambassador for our school, and his pride in CDS is always at the forefront. In our estimation, there is no AD better at finding the balance between participation, fitness for life and competition. In his final Athletic Assembly, John offered the following inspirational advice to his students: “Embrace the journey. Celebrate your successes, no matter how small they may seem. Learn from your failures, for they are valuable lessons in disguise. And never forget that the only limits that exist are the ones you place upon yourself. You are capable of achieving greatness. Believe in yourself, trust in your abilities, and never stop striving to be the best version of yourself.” We wish you all the best in your retirement Johnny, including lots of family time and fishing at the cottage!

Passionate Promoter of Reading and Kindness

Celia Bland retired last June after 24 years spent teaching at CDS across all three divisions. Celia started at CDS in 1998 as a teacher in the Junior School as a passionate promoter of reading as a means to understanding the world. Celia went on to teach English and Drama in both the Middle and Senior Schools, serve as Head of English, then as Director of Middle School, and most recently, Director of Senior

Retiring faculty John Andersen, Sandy Townsend and Celia Bland were honoured at last June’s Closing Ceremonies.

School, a position she held for nearly 10 years. Celia has worked on countless drama productions and seamlessly and expeditiously led the Middle and Senior School extracurricular program to new heights. Celia started her teaching career in the inner-city neighborhoods of London, UK, and has continued to make time to effect social change throughout her career. We are excited for what her next chapter will bring as there are limitless places to travel, volunteering opportunities to pursue, and captivating books to read. We wish her all the best on her future adventures!

A Gifted Educator

Hillary Hall retired last June after an incredibly successful career in education and after four years of service to The Country Day School as our Junior School teacher/librarian. We wish Hillary had come to CDS sooner, and we wish she could have stayed longer. Hillary served our school through the pandemic and entire Junior School build. We remain thankful that she was the teacher/librarian who re-launched the library in the Building Magic Opening Fall of 2023. Hillary is a gifted educator who loves books, and it shows in all that she does. We will be forever grateful for the impact she made on students and teachers alike.

True Team Player

Liz Lang retired last June after 25 years teaching in the Junior School. Starting as a classroom teacher and finishing as our resource teacher extraordinaire, there is no one in the Junior School who can imagine the place without her in it. Liz was always steadfast in her work, an expert in her field, amazing with the parental community, a true team player, and a kind and patient educator to her students. Teaching was her life’s work, and she gave it all to CDS with love and dedication. The decision to retire wasn’t easy because she is so entrenched in CDS professionally, socially and emotionally. The fact that she has returned as our resident supply teacher this year has been a wonderful silver lining!

CDS Faculty and Staff Recognized for Years of Service in June 2024

25 Years of Service

Krista Edwards

Liz Lang

Shannon Mahan

Deirdre Tait

20 Years of Service

Laura Aldoroty

Jenna Romanowich

15 Years of Service

Alli Birtwhistle

Catie Ferguson

Dave Harvey

Pete Milonas

Nancy Pavlich

Rob Waldron

Eileen Paddags

10 Years of Service

Alanna Houston

Efraim Katan

Zach Lawton

Darby Moreau

Lauren Roszell

Beatrice Stefanescu

Melissa Mazurkewich

Commitment to Excellence

Sandy Townsend retired last June after more than 30 years educating students, the past 27 years of which have been spent at CDS. Sandy’s commitment to relational teaching—both in Senior School social sciences and on various fields of play—was exceptional. His dedication and contribution to our rugby program, and indeed all of his coaching experiences, will rest in the legendary category for certain. Sandy’s positive impact on students and faculty alike had a breadth and depth that is difficult to convey. We will miss Sandy, but know he will visit often and can count our blessings that we have had so many years to walk these halls with this educator.

A Friendly Smile

Freda White retired last June after 13 years of service as a valued staff member in the Premises Department. Freda started at CDS in 2011 as a custodian, then joined the Grounds Operation Crew before moving on to become our Operations Support Administrator. She has been an absolute treasure and is one of the friendliest people you will meet with her positive mindset and helpful nature. We wish Freda all the best in her new adventures! ■

Community News

Kelly Carlson joined the Modern Languages Department as a Middle/ Senior School French Teacher in September 2023. She comes to us from Holy Trinity School where she taught everything from Core French, English and Social Studies to Grade 10 Canadian History and Civics & Careers. Kelly has worked at several other independent schools in Ontario over the past 20 years, as well as at the Halifax Regional School Board. In her early years, she taught ESL in Japan for two years, exploring Asia at every opportunity. She has a BA in French and a B.Ed. from Université Sainte-Anne, Church Point, NS.

Alison Carrie returned to CDS in September 2023 as the Student Services Test Room Coordinator and an Associate Teacher: Middle/Senior School. Previously, she worked abroad teaching at the Ossett Academy in the UK. She brings many years of experience teaching Grades 6–12 and has taught a variety of different curricula. Alison has a Postgraduate Certificate in Education from Goldsmiths, University of London, and a BSc in Geography from the University of Birmingham, England.

Katie Chadsey joined the Junior School Faculty as an SK teacher in September 2023, having recently worked as a Grade 3 core teacher at Crescent School. She also taught with the TDSB as a

core teacher for JK through Grade 5. Katie has a Master of Science in Teaching, Childhood Education from the State University of New York at Potsdam and a BA from the University of Guelph.

Carmen Chu joined CDS in September 2024 as a Middle/ Senior Science teacher with nearly a decade of prior teaching experience, having taught in China for several years before teaching high school math at both St. Clement’s School and Holy Trinity School. She received her BSc in Mathematics and Biology (Hons) from the University of Toronto Scarborough and B.Ed. from UofT’s OISE.

Amy Cicchillo joined the Middle/Senior English and Drama Departments in September 2023, having recently taught Grade 5 at Rotherglen Elementary School. She has also worked at several independent schools teaching various classes ranging from grades 3 to 12 as the Head Instructor at the Theatre Arts Summer Camp at Appleby College, and as a Drama teacher for Grades 7–12. Amy holds a BA (Hons) in Drama in Education from Brock University and a B.Ed. from Trent University.

Kira Duff joined CDS in January 2024 as a Theatre Production Associate. Kira has worked with many theatre companies across Canada

in a wide variety of roles. Her primary area of focus includes scenic painting, prop/mask building, puppet making, designing, costuming and millinery. Kira’s education includes a Bachelor of Fine Arts, Ryerson University and OCAD University, Visual Arts.

Michael Fiore joined the Business Office in January 2024 taking on the new position of Assistant Director of Finance.

Michael has a BComm from York University, is a CPA, CA, and has worked as a professional accountant in the private sector for eight years, as well as an auditor in public practice for three years. Michael previously worked as a Financial Controller for a large company.

Scott Hassberger joined the Junior School as a Grade 4 teacher in September 2023, coming from Palgrave Public School where he taught a number of Junior grades for many years. Th is year he is teaching in the Grade 5 classroom. Scott has a Graduate Diploma in Education from the University of Wollongong, Australia, with teaching qualifications in the Primary, Junior and Intermediate divisions, and a BA from the University of Windsor.

Michelle Kettrick joined the Music Department as a Vocal Music Teacher in September 2023. Most recently, she was Secondary Vice-Principal at All Saints CSS where she led

the Arts and Media Program and has also served as teacher and curriculum chair with the TCDSB. Michelle has a B.Ed. from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto and a BA and MA in Music and Vocal Performance from Northern Arizona University.

Moon Kim joined the SSC as a MS/SS School Counselor and Learning Strategist in September 2023. Most recently, she worked as a Senior Education Consultant in Seattle, WA, supporting students and their families in academic, emotional and social development with a focus on learning strategies, mental health coaching and career planning. Moon has a B.Ed. and a BA in Psychology and English Literature, both from Queen’s University.

Jennifer Middleton joined us as a Junior School Support Teacher in November 2023 with a wealth of experience, having served as the Kindergarten Assistant at Pickering College for 19 years. She has a BA from Queen’s University and is a past graduate of Havergal College.

Lisa O’Connor joined the Middle/Senior School as a Health and Physical Education teacher in September 2023, having previously served as a Physical Education Department

Head and teacher at Crestwood Preparatory College. A five-time OUA All-Star Varsity Athlete, Lisa has a B.Ed. and a Bachelor of Physical and Health Education from Laurentian University.

Daniel Robertson joined CDS in January 2024 as a Theatre Production Associate. Daniel has worked with many theatre companies as well as film and stop motion animation studios. His primary area of focus includes scenic painting and prop building with experience in puppet building, mold making and soft prop fabrication.

Olabode Sanusi joined the IT Team as a Help Desk Specialist in April 2024. He has many years of experience as an IT support professional with expertise in troubleshooting and resolving complex hardware and software issues. Ola’s work experience includes more than 12 years as a software and hardware engineer with Oyo State in Nigeria. He holds a BSc in Computer Science from Escae-Benin University and is a recent graduate of the Humber College IT Infrastructure Bridging Program.

Jimmy Sarjeant joined CDS in January 2024 as Associate Faculty, Middle/Senior School, having previously worked as a PE and Special Education teacher at Armitage Village Public School in York Region and for the YRCDSB. He is now full-time faculty in the

Sports ‘Hall of Famers’

CDS has five Sports Hall of Famers, including two new inductees

Junior School faculty member and coach Ellie (Seedhouse) Cawfield was inducted into Western University’s Sports Hall of Fame in September 2024!

Ellie Seedhouse dominated the rink during her time as a Women’s Ice Hockey player for the Western Mustangs from 2007 to 2011. For three consecutive years, she led her team in scoring and capped off her senior year as team captain. Her exceptional skills on the ice earned her the title of MVP in three out of her four seasons. Ellie was also recognized as a First Team All-Star, a two-time CIS Academic All-Canadian, and a Purple Blanket Award recipient.

In 2010, Ellie competed as part of an OUA All-Stars team against the U18 National team, contributing an assist in their 4-2 victory. In January 2011, she represented Canada at the Winter Universiade in Erzurum, Turkey, where she won a gold medal.

Ellie was selected in the 2014 Canada Women’s Hockey League Draft and went on to join the Brampton Thunder. She played 54 games for the Thunder, between Brampton and later in Markham, from 2014 to 2018, culminating her professional career with a Clarkson Cup victory in her fi nal season.

Following her time at Western, Ellie transitioned into coaching, serving as an assistant coach at Ontario Tech University, and was active in women’s hockey development in her hometown of Whitby, before joining The Country Day School as a Phys-Ed and Outdoor Ed teacher in 2015.

Longtime CDS teacher and rugby coach, Sandy Townsend was inducted into the Aurora Sports Hall of Fame in November 2024.

Coach Townsend played rugby all through

high school and went on to play four years at Queen’s University. He has been growing and building the game of rugby ever since as both a coach and coach educator and was inducted into the Queen’s Rugby Hall of Fame in 2021.

It was under Sandy’s guidance and tutelage coaching rugby at CDS for the past 27 years that our Senior Boys’ Rugby teams (and later our Girls’ Rugby teams) won numerous championships, instilling a lifelong love for the game among many of players, some of whom have gone on to play at university and beyond. Sandy retired from CDS in June 2024.

An active contributor to his community, he has held head coaching positions with Aurora Barbarian teams for the past 23 years as well.

Sandy was officially inducted alongside three other outstanding Aurora athletes at the 11th Annual Induction Celebration on November 7.

Congratulations to Ellie and Sandy on their well-deserved recognition.

Other CDS Hall of Famers

Josh Collins was inducted into Purdue University Fort Wayne’s Sports Hall of Fame for Volleyball in 2017 for his team’s record-breaking historical season with two back-to-back Final Four appearances and winning the semi-fi nal at the Final-Four to play in the fi nals in 2007.

Jenny Cooper was inducted into the University of Toronto Sports Hall of Fame for Hockey in 2014 for her 2000-01 team’s undefeated season.

Go Cyclones!

Community News

Health and Physical Education and Student Services departments. Jimmy has a BA in Finance from Mercyhurst University and a B.Ed. from Niagara University.

Helen Turner joined the Community Relations Office in March 2024 in the capacity of Communications Coordinator and is responsible for the weekly Backpack newsletter, website updates and design, and assisting with a wide range of parent communications and IT and Admissions special projects. Helen holds a B.Eng. degree (Hons) in Electrical Engineering, has served in global strategic business roles with Celestica, and has developed websites and supported businesses with digital marketing for the past 20 years. A passionate CDS parent volunteer for the past eight years serving as Grade Parent and a member of the Parent Association, Helen also organized our annual CDS Holiday Fair for the past six years.

Danny Viotto joined the CDS community as the new Director of Senior School in August. Having led the Huron Superior Catholic District School Board as the Director of Education for the past several years, Danny also served as an Academic Superintendent, an Elementary Principal and a Senior School Principal with HSCDSB for almost 15 years. He believes strongly that as educators we are called to develop

the full potential of every child. In between his roles at HSCDSB, Danny spent two years as School Principal at De La Salle College in Toronto, where he worked closely alongside the school’s President, staff, students and parents—listening to the voices of all constituents so to best prioritize De La Salle’s needs and create intentional, strategic directions. Danny holds a B.A. in English and a B.Ed. from Lakehead University and an M.Ed. from Nipissing University and has a history of working with school teams to nurture a community of belonging that supports self-expression and fulfi lment and believes strongly that music, drama, art and athletics help develop well-rounded citizens and future leaders.

Fiona Whitby, a CDS Parent and Kinesiologist, can be found on the sports fields and in the gyms at every home game this year as the CDS Athletic Therapist. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology from Queen’s University and a Sports Injury diploma from Sheridan College. Fiona has been a professional and age group triathlete since the early 2000s, winning numerous Ironman races and qualifying for the Ironman World Championships multiple times. As the CDS Athletic Therapist, Fiona is dedicated to supporting the CDS student/athletes by providing acute injury care on the sidelines and developing personalized follow-up rehabilitation programs to help them recover and return to peak performance. As of January 6, Fiona will be in the Wellness Centre MondayFriday afternoons for assessments and taping.

Owen Witten joined the Operations Team as a Groundskeeper in May 2024. Owen has extensive experience in property maintenance, various machinery, vehicles as well as working with teams and crews.

Jason Wood joined the Junior School Faculty as a Grade 6 teacher in September 2023, having previously worked as a science teacher at Crescent School, with prior experience at Holy Trinity School. He is currently an Apple Learning Specialist and has also redesigned the NASA Challenger Space School Program to provide a more technologyrich, interactive and theatrical experience at the Ontario Science Centre. Jason holds a Bachelor of Administration from Lakehead University and a Bachelor of Professional Studies in Education from Niagara University.

Eunice Yu has joined the ranks of the Middle/Senior Mathematics Department in November 2023, having taught at Philopateer Christian College and at the Brampton Christian School. Eunice has a BSc in Biomedical Science from the University of Ottawa and a B.Ed. and M.Ed. from Western University.

Baby News

David Drake and wife Kristin welcomed a baby girl, Chloe Alexandra, on Friday, May 3, 2024. Big sister Avery is especially proud.

Moon Kim and her husband, Dan, welcomed a second son, Jared, on April 19, 2024.

Andrew Watts and Danielle Brassard welcomed a beautiful baby daughter, Laurel Mackayla Stevie, on December 24, 2023. Their son Flynn is proud to be a big brother!

Sierra Zrnec and Andrew McGhee welcomed their baby boy, Lachlan Lamberton, on November 9, 2024. Proud grandparents Judy and Andy Zrnec are overjoyed!

Staffing Updates

Jenny Cooper is now Director of Athletics in the Junior School. David Drake is now Assistant Director of Senior School.

Alanna Houston is now Director of Student Services.

Andrea Leacock is now Head of Student Life for Middle/Senior School.

Sarah Williams is now Assistant Director of Academics for Middle/ Senior School.

Connections

Upcoming Events

Alumni Sports Night

Thursday, February 20 6:30 pm

Basketball, Soccer and Volleyball RSVP to alumni@cds.on.ca

Alumni Pub Night in Toronto April 2025

Date and location to be confirmed.

Alumni Hockey Game May 2025 Date and location to be confirmed. RSVP to alumni@cds.on.ca

5th Annual Chess Tournament

Thursday, May 22

7:00–9:30 pm

CDS Community Golf Tournament

Thursday, August 14

Details to follow.

2000 & 2015 Reunions

Class of 2000

Join us for your 25th reunion

Saturday, June 21

Cocktail reception 7:30 pm

Class of 2015

Join us for your 10th reunion Friday, June 20

Cocktail reception 7:30 pm

Spouses and significant others are welcome at both events.

Don’t miss out on receiving information about all of these events. Update your address, cell and email address at alumni@cds.on.ca.

1. Alumni Basketball last February; 2. Alumni Soccer in the dome last February; 3. 4th Annual Alumni Chess Tournament; 4. 2024 Annual Community Golf Tournament; 5. Class of 1999 Reunion; 6. Class of 2014 Reunion.

ALUMNI NEWS AND UPDATES

Alumni Snapshots

TARAH COATES ’03

Surf’s Up!

Riding life’s waves with style

BY SCOTT GARBE

Creativity, embracing failure, and the imaginative ability to turn adversity into adventure have been hallmarks of Tarah Coates’s personal and professional journey since leaving CDS. Who would have thought learning to ride the metaphorical waves of life would lead to a rewarding professional life riding literal waves?

After graduating from CDS, Tarah went to Dalhousie, mostly because she, “fell in love with Halifax.” During her second year, she was accepted into the acting program, honing practical skills that continue to have a lasting impact on her entrepreneurial career as a business owner, whether it is in creating video content or making speeches and presentations to local community partners. “It’s amazing, actually, how much theater and drama has continued to play such an imperative role as I continue through life. One of the scariest things you can do is be in front of people or act —that’s a huge way to get out of your comfort zone. And that’s the other thing—in life or business, you have to be so comfortable with being uncomfortable.”

Along with being the site of Tarah’s post-secondary education, Halifax was also the place where a lifelong passion for surfi ng was ignited. Surfi ng in the Maritimes, you say? Yes indeed. Lawrencetown Beach in Nova Scotia is a hot spot for boarders everywhere. With her trademark carpe diem attitude, Tarah skipped the lessons, rented a board with some friends and jumped into the waves to “figure it out.” While Tarah would return to surf in Lawrencetown as often as she

could, she still did not have a sense that her new-found passion would be a part of her future professional life.

After several years of acting and doing voice work in Halifax’s independent arts community, Tarah found herself looking to catch a wave that might lead to a more straight-forward professional path. The sciences had been an area of interest that had run in tandem with the arts, and it was that interest that led her to move back to Ontario to enroll in the Wind Turbine Technician/Industrial Electrician program at St. Lawrence College, and into a field that was very male-dominated—something she didn’t realize at the time. “I think I’ve seen a lot of promotion for STEM for women. I’m happy to see that women know that that’s a career option for them—because it is. I graduated and was actually the fi rst woman hired by Siemens Wind Canada. I didn’t really run into too many issues. I do think I was treated a little differently at times, but

“

TARAH, WITH HER TRADEMARK IMAGINATION, CAUGHT THE WAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY HAD PRESENTED TO LAUNCH HER OWN BUSINESS.

I think that’s to be expected. But nothing major, nothing like, ‘Women don’t/can’t do it.’ No, I’d say honestly, it was a good experience.”

Collaborating on the construction of wind turbines with people from across the world—the United States, Denmark, Austria, the Philippines—was exciting work. “As a commissioner, you’re going in, you’re making electrical connections, you’re problem solving, you’re loading software and you’re working in a construction environment which, believe it or not, is really fun, right? There’s a lot going on.” However, when the work shifted from construction to maintenance, Tarah’s itch for adventure set her looking for a new wave to catch. Surprisingly, the wave would be literal, and would rise from the waters of Lake Huron.

“I did a lot of (turbine) projects in southwestern Ontario—Kincardine, Grand Bend—all these little areas along the coast±and there’s really good wind right

Tarah notes: “I learned from the locals that you could surf the lakes … I wanted to try it out. I had to see what it was like.”

off the lake. Th at’s actually where I learned from the locals that you could surf the lakes. I had no idea. I had only ever surfed ocean, and I only surfed when I traveled. But you just don’t hear about it. I wanted to try it out. I had to see what it was like. I went looking to try and rent a board. I thought, ‘There have to be local surf shops.’ Anytime I’ve traveled, anywhere I’ve ever been where there were waves, there’s always a local surf shop where you could get a board. There was no store, no shop, nothing to develop or even give people access to these waves. And that was a light bulb moment for meoh, there’s a huge opportunity here.”

And so it was that Tarah, with her trademark imagination, caught the wave that opportunity had presented to launch her own business. Armed with a detailed marketing study done in Kincardine, a location was found, contracts drawn up—all while continuing

(continued on page 34)

Alumni Snapshots

(continued from page 33)

to work in the turbine industry to pay the bills. “It was tough. There were long hours. Luckily, I had worked a ton of overtime, so I had a lot of banked days. I was able to take time off so I could work in the summer—and that’s what launched Surfsup Eco Shop in 2017.”

The community took to the shop immediately. Not only were locals and tourists able to rent and buy surf and paddle boards, gear and apparel, they could take lessons from Tarah in order to fully embrace the opportunity that the beautiful shores of Lake Huron presented. Soon, a burgeoning surf community was flourishing.

Little did Tarah know, however, that a tsunami in the form of a pandemic was on its way. Once again, her ability to ride the wave of adversity, rather than being swamped by it, was pressed into service.

“I learned how to get my e-commerce site going very quickly. I got all the products online and I started shipping and local delivery. The government subsidies helped for sure. If you don’t have an online base, an online clientele, it’s hard to gain that in a few months. We were really lucky because we were allowed to open the doors later because COVID numbers went down in the summer. Th ankfully, we were able to open for the 2 to 4 months where we make the majority of our income. And because nobody could travel, you had more people buying hard goods. Th at was good for us as well.” Tarah also used time in isolation to jump online to earn her International Surfi ng Association certification as a level one instructor.

In the end, Tarah was able to ride the stormy waves of the pandemic safely to shore, even opening to two more locations of Surfsup Eco Shop in Goderich and Grand Bend. She even opened an indoor skateboarding ramp and coffee shop – a Skate Café - for the boarding community to enjoy in the winter. “Parents love it because their kids can skate as long as they can, and they can sit and have coffee.”

Creating her own business, transforming a passion into a rewarding living, has been a thrill – but it has not been easy. Taking stock of lessons learned, Tarah shares, “Embrace failure. I know that’s said a lot, but I think it’s not taught enough. Everything’s so focused on your accomplishments. But what they rarely show are all the failures that person went through to hit that milestone. My time with acting taught me that you just really need to realize that you’re going to fail – but the failures are what gets you to the successes. And you need to spin them positively.”

“Embrace your problem solving and your creativity. It is the only way. Whether you’re in science or you’re an entrepreneur, or you’re an artist, you need that creativity to problem solve.”

In other words, when you face your inevitable “sea of troubles,” rather than opposing the waves, consider using your imagination and creativity to harness them to your advantage. You might lose the horizon you expected, but you also may ride onto a shore lined with surprising new opportunities for fulfi llment, discovery and adventure. ■

Discover more about Tarah’s story at surfsupecoshop.com

Tarah was able to ride the stormy waves of the pandemic safely to shore, even opening two more locations of Surfsup Eco Shop in Goderich and Grand Bend.

Lessons from the Earth and Sky

A pilot reflects on lessons learned while a student at CDS

BY SCOTT GARBE

The first day in a new school can be an experience fraught with anxiety, nerves and self-doubt. For Mike Cross ’03, there was also a dash of tween anger and resentment thrown into the mix as he sat with his Grade 7 classmates in front of the legendary Mr. Davison on orientation day in the fall of 1996.

“My parents had torn me away from a school where I was happy and had a wonderful group of friends,” Mike recalls. “I suddenly found myself sitting in a restrictive uniform and tie in front of this man (Mr. D) who was terrifying—although I would soon fi nd out he was far from scary. He was telling us how difficult it would be, how much homework we would have, and how high the expectations would be in terms of our behaviour. I had a meltdown in the backseat of my parent’s car and exclaimed that I would never go back.”

But Mike’s parents managed to coax him back the next day, and what he found were a welcoming group of friends that would stand with him, beside him and behind him, no matter the circumstance—friends that he still draws strength from more than 20 years later.

“What I came to appreciate most was the community building aspect of CDS—supportive peers in the class-

room, in the hallways, and on teams—there was an expectation that you would be a good citizen beyond being a solid student or athlete. I was fortunate to have a fantastic cohort.”

Mike also came to appreciate how CDS created opportunities where students had the freedom to deepen relationships and make choices which allowed them to make discoveries about who they were amongst themselves—whether it be the Middle School trips to Quebec and Ottawa, the grade 9 orientation journey to Camp Arowhan, or the athletic trips across the country to places like Stanstead, Quebec. In fact, it was in Stanstead where Mike would have an experience that would test the limits of community and friendship that he had come to value so deeply during his time at CDS.

It was Friday the 13th of October 2000, and Mike had travelled with the Senior Boys’ Soccer Team to Stanstead for the national fall tournament with coaches Al Jackson and Jim Lanskail. Mike played the morning match, but after lunch his ankles began to hurt so badly that he was unable to play. Once back at the hotel, Mike began to develop other troubling symptoms which persisted through the night, including fever

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MIKE CROSS ’03

Mike with his wife Steph and their three sons James, Jordan and Jonathan.

Alumni Snapshots

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and vomiting. Worried roommates called Mr. Jackson at 6 am. When he noticed that a rash had developed, Coach Jackson knew from experience that it was a telltale sign of meningitis. It was that experience, and Mr. Jackson’s instant response, that was to prove pivotal in saving Mike’s life.

Pushed by the advocacy of Mr. Jackson, Mike was rushed directly to the hospital in Sherbrooke. His teammates remained behind where they played their morning match with Mike’s nickname—“#1 Pinner”—written as a tribute on their arms. The rest of the tournament would be cancelled that afternoon out of respect for Mike, as all indications from the medical team were that he would likely die within 24 hours. The attending doctors had never measured levels of the creatine kinase (CK) enzyme (an indication of organ breakdown) as high as Mike was experiencing where the patient had survived.

Asked to reflect on what it was like to have come so close to losing his life, Mike is steady and thoughtful. “It’s strange, but I was not scared at all. Th ings were very calm and peaceful. The body will do what it does. Beyond treatment and staying healthy proactively, there is not much more you can do. My take away was to hang on to what you can control and let go of what you can’t. Deal with what you can change rather than obsessing about what is out of your hands.”

Mike’s parents flew immediately to Sherbrooke and would eventually move there temporarily to be with him while he slowly recovered. They would temper the

seriousness of his illness when speaking to his sister, Lindsay ’01, who was completing her graduating year in Neuchatal, Switzerland. Alumni Duncan Sinclair ’03, A.J. Brown ’02 and Frank Gairdner ’02 made the eight hour drive from Aurora to Sherbrooke with the help of Duncan’s father, Bruce, to support their friend and he fought through a coma and kidney failure. Once he was stable enough to fly, Mike was transported by air ambulance to Sick Kids Hospital in Toronto where he recovered for another three weeks. His treatment included kidney dialysis and the dressing of open soars which had developed during his illness. “At that point I was 6’-2” 110 pounds—just skin and bones.”

What was it that got him through?

HANG ON TO WHAT YOU CAN CONTROL AND LET GO OF WHAT YOU CAN’T. DEAL WITH WHAT YOU CAN CHANGE RATHER THAN OBSESSING ABOUT WHAT IS OUT OF YOUR HANDS.” “

“The lesson I took from my experience is the knowledge that things can always get worse, and that knowledge developed within me the ability not to become stressed. Another phrase that is helpful to me is, ‘Th is too shall pass,’ the idea that hope comes in the morning if you grit your teeth and keep pushing through.”

Finally, like the challenge of navigating his fi rst week with Mr. Davison in Grade 7, the most important aspect of Mike’s recovery was relying on those he loved, like the stream of visitors that would come to keep him company during his time in the hospital—his fellow teammates, CDS faculty, even his cousins who would sleep over at the hospital with him. Another special

The Senior Boys’ Soccer Team from 2000 with his nickname “#1 Pinner” emblazoned on their arms.

visitor was the young woman he had just started dating two weeks prior who would eventually be his wife, Stephanie Wilson ’03

Clearly, there was a future to embrace!

By December, Mike was back part-time at CDS in a wheelchair—and then, remarkably, fulltime on his own two feet in the new year. Everyone pitched in as Mike played academic catch-up—Mr. Jackson continued his support by doing 1-on-1 math tutoring, extra help was made available, and exams were specially tailored for Mike’s circumstances by the faculty. No stone was left unturned or stops left unpulled to keep Mike moving forward.

Although Mike had to give up hockey and rugby due to his illness, he was fi nally able to return to sports, fi rst by playing softball with Mr. Lanskail and then by rejoining him again with the Senior Boys’ Soccer Team the next fall. As a tribute to Mike and his triumphant return, his teammates again played each game at the national tournament with his nickname written on their arms, a sign not only of Mike’s inspiring determination during the most trying of times, but of their steadfast, enduring friendship.

In the spring of 2003, Mike would graduate with Steph on his arm at the Senior Semi-Formal and an offer of acceptance into the Commercial Aviation Management program at Western in his hand. Alumni

Duncan Sinclair and Chase Cooper ’03 would be his roommates as the young man who had survived a brush with fate by the thinnest of margins now worked to shape his future.

Eventually, like his father, Mike would successfully earn his pilot’s license. His fi rst professional work was flying an air ambulance for the same company that had flown him from Quebec to Sick Kids only a few years before, with the priority of serving the emergency needs of remote First Nations communities. It was not lost on him that previously it was he who had been the recovering passenger in the back of the air ambulance he was now flying.

After two years, Mike’s next professional step was to work as a Flight Executive for King Air at Buttonville Airport. Since that time, Mike has flown a Gulfstream jet for his current employer, Skyservice Business Aviation for over 15 years. He serves corporate business clients within a team of 3 pilots, allowing for flexibility of hours and a more rewarding quality of life—crucially important to Mike as he co-pilots his family with his wife, Steph, while raising their three boys: Jonathan (12), James (10) and Jordan (8).

How have his experiences affected his approach as a father? Mike is quick to pay tribute to Steph, who he compliments as being an amazing mother and partner—patient, supportive, thoughtful and loving. “You can try to micro-manage your kids, but it is really the example you set through your actions that makes the lasting impression. The biggest influence comes when they watch you. How I speak to Steph, how I approach problems and challenges, even how I cut the grass—I am trying to lead by example.”

Clearly, living life a mile off the ground has given Mike perspective. Now 40 years old and looking back, as a pilot, husband and father, he thoughtfully reflects, “I really attribute the success in my path in life to CDS—I feel my life could have gone in two very different directions. The education I received, the support given me during trying times, the relationships I made and still have, including my incredible wife, Steph, all have their roots in CDS.” ■

Mr. Garbe wishes to sincerely thank Mike for sharing his incredible story and reflections with the alumni community. If you have a story you would like to share, please contact alumni@cds.on.ca

(left) Mike and friend Duncan Sinclair, Spirit Day 2001. (above) A photo taken at the 2001 April Semi-Formal with his future wife, Steph.

ALUMNI NOTES

1990 S

KATE (LLOYD) GUY ’96 writes that she and her husband Noel both ran the Boston Marathon in April 2024, and news of her first-place finish for a Canadian Female aged 45-49 (3:10:19) made it into Canadian Running Magazine ! Noel was also featured for placing first in his age category (2:41:55). Congratulations to them both! Kate and Noel are now living in Victoria, BC.

RYAN NEEDLER ’99 writes that he and his family are living in Naples, FL, where he works in commercial real estate. He and his wife have two children: a 10-year-old daughter and a 5-year-old son.

Postcard from a Grad

VIVIANA (YI) MILETSKII ’00 writes, “It’s been almost 17 years since I’ve started teaching, and I am now Assistant Head Teacher and English lead at my very large primary school in Queen’s Park, London (Reception to Year 6 = 650 pupils). I was seconded to Deputy headship last year.“It may be interesting for you to know that I still wear my grad ring, as the motto of CDS has defi ned my classroom values from the very beginning. It also builds nicely on my school values of Inspire, Believe, Excel. A few years ago when I was in Toronto, there was a new CDS graduate on the subway sitting across from me who noticed the ring. He asked when I graduated, and I had to tell him about 20 years ago!”

2000 S

MELISSA MACIVER ’06 and husband, David Witkowski, welcomed a daughter, Sienna Sophia, on December 10, 2023. Photo taken by Monica Healy ’12 at Monica Healy Photography.

TIMUR SAKLICA ’06 joined CDS as a Middle/Senior School Associate Faculty member in

February 2024 and is now a full-time MS/ SS science teacher. He previously worked at Blyth Academy Lawrence Park as the Director of Student Life and as a science and mathematics teacher and also taught abroad at Harris Academy Falconwood in the U.K. for several years. Timur has a Master of Science and B.Ed. from D’Youville College, and a BSc from the University of Toronto.

Join CDS Online Social Media www.facebook.com/TheCDS1972 www.youtube.com/TheCDS1972 www.instagram.com/TheCDS1972 Network with CDS alumni at our LinkedIn page

KAYLA (ROSS) EMBLEM ’09 and JACK EMBLEM ’11 are celebrating the arrival of their daughter, Andie, on September 3, 2024. Kayla is a Senior Manager in Deloitte’s HealthCare Strategy Consulting practice. Jack returned to CDS to speak to the Grade 10 Careers students about his life in the music industry as a Toronto-based mix engineer and record producer. Recently, Jack was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical for his work on Charlotte Day Wilson’s album, Cyan Blue. Congratulations to the entire Emblem family!

FRANK WALKER ’09 received received a 2024 JUNO nomination for Dance Recording of the Year, “I Go Dancing (featuring Ella Henderson)”.

2010 S

TABITHA (CHAN) MA ’12 and her husband Chung Ma welcomed a beautiful baby boy, Shiloh Amias Ma, on Thursday, April 18, 2024. Tabitha has worked as a Communications Coordinator and Webmaster in the Office of Community Relations at CDS since 2018.

SYDNEY WILSON ’12 joined the Junior School as the Aftercare Coordinator in September 2023. She earned a BA in Health Studies from Queen’s University, an Early Childhood Education Diploma from George Brown College, and a B.Ed. from Lakehead University.

MEGAN LAVIS ’13 married Zach Harrison on February 24, 2024, at Madison’s Greenhouse. CDS

RECORD RELEASE PARTY

In early March, CDS alumni gathered spontaneously to cheer on JP Saxe ’11 during the hometown stop of his World Tour celebrating the release of his album A Grey Area. It was a spectacular show that also featured alumnus TJ Whitelaw ’11 on guitar, who JP mentored when TJ arrived at CDS in grade 9. Longtime friend of JP, Justin Nozuka, opened the show. Justin’s siblings Margaret ’02, George ’04, Sandy ’03, Philip ’06 and Henry ’09 also attended CDS. We wish JP and TJ all the best for the rest of the tour and beyond.

guests in attendance included Chelsea Webber ’14, Mitch Binnie ’14, Nolan Brown ’18, Jessica Faiella ’18 amongst others. The newlyweds are now living in Newmarket.

Ms. Bevacqua and Mr. Garbe saw ALEX GRUSPIER ’14 perform in Low Pay? Don’t Pay! by Dario Fo at the Alumnae Theatre in October. Megan Hill ’15 was also in attendance. It was a fantastic show!

CHELSEA WEBBER ’14 and MITCH BINNIE ’14 were married in Haliburton on September 21, 2024. Beau ’17 and Quinn ’22 Binnie and Kyla Webber ’17, Will Stanton ’14, Jordan Clements ’14 were in their wedding parties and Bryan ’16 and Caroline Leary ’17, Alex Smith ’14, Megan (Lavis) Harrison ’13, Ciara Ambrose ’14 and Jessy Rosen ’14 were also in attendance.

Jennifer Legge, Mitch’s mom, served on the CDS Board of Directors for six years and Chelsea’s mom, Rachel (West) Webber, is also a CDS alumna. Chelsea’s grandmother, Wilma West, worked at CDS for 27 years as Executive Assistant to three Headmasters!

Mitch is now the Director of Operations at Haliburton Hockey Haven and Chelsea is a Case Manager with LOFT Community Services.

JAMES SIMMONDS ’14 married Amanda Wells on June 22 at King Valley Golf Club (just up the street from CDS). James works at RBC in portfolio management and recently completed his Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation. The newlyweds are living in King City (also up the street from CDS!).

ELLIOT EYDELMAN ’15 returned to CDS in October to share his experience studying Aerospace Engineering at Carleton University and joining MDA Space, a Canadian space technology company that provides geo-intelligence,

robotics and space operation services and is best known for developing the Canadarm on the International Space Station. He chatted with Mr. Simmonds and his Grade 12 STEM class, Ms. Romanowich’s Grade 10 Careers class, and also visited Mrs. Street in the Junior School to speak with her Grade 6 students.

Earlier in October, MDA Aerospace Engineers were on campus testing their guidance and navigation systems on one of their rovers, thanks to Elliot recalling the challenging terrain found in our Back 40!

ALEX FINLAY ’15 writes that he is now working for HydroOne as a diesel mechanic and recently got his Red Seal certification as a journeyman mechanic.

BETH FOURNIER ’15 graduated from McMaster’s Justice, Political Philosophy and Law Program and is now working in National Emergency Management for the federal government on a wide range of fascinating projects where each day is an exciting challenge!

SJORLAND GIBSON ’15 has been residing in New York City for the past few years and will be completing her MFA at Columbia University. In addition to her studies, she has joined forces with her sister, Thais Gibson ’08, to co-manage a business centered on Thais’ groundbreaking work in attachment theoryexamining how early childhood experiences impact adulthood relationships. Their venture has grown quickly, amassing 50,000 members across 125 countries worldwide.

Together, Thais and Sjorland have co-authored two insightful

books on attachment theory: Learning Love: Build the Best Relationships of Your Life Using Integrated Attachment Theory and Attachment Theory: A Guide to Strengthening the Relationships in Your Life. Both titles are available online through Indigo and Amazon.

NICK MANTELLA ’15 was back on campus last May conducting a crash course in quantum physics for Mr. Edwards’ Grade 12 students. Nick graduated with a BSc in Physics (Hons) from UBC Okanagan in 2019 and was offered direct-entry to U of T’s PhD program in Quantum Mechanics (a fi ve-year program instead of the usual four). Nick shared the history of quantum physics (what started it and why it is so important) and then related it to his current research.

(NIP)

‘16 married Charlie

and

SKYE

BIRKETT

Birkett on May 11, 2024, at the Bonnie View Inn in Haliburton surrounded by family and friends, including Lauren Michelberger ’17 who was in their wedding party. Skye

Charlie are living in Victoria, BC,

Alumni Notes

where she works in Client Success for Benevity and Charlie works as an Associate in Private Debt for BCI.

BRITTNEY NICHOLS ’16 has been travelling for the past 10 months across Asia and Australia. In May, she launched The Express Travel Journal as a means of documenting a three-month and six-month trip for vacationers, backpackers, and campers. In just fi ve minutes a day, Brittney’s format allows travelers to effortlessly capture their most precious memories, emotions, and moments. Their uniquely curated pages allow travelers to document the highlights of their adventures (where they stayed, what they ate, what they saw) quickly and easily, ensuring they’ll have a collection of cherished memories to look back on forever. Check it out at www.theexpresstraveljournal.com/ or follow Brittney on Instagram at @ thexpresstraveljournal.

BILAWAL SINGH ’16 graduated from the University of Guelph with a degree in Bio-Medical Science in 2020 and recently graduated in the Class of 2024 MD from Central Michigan University last spring. Bilawal is now doing his residency at the Virginia Commonwealth University Medical System in the field of Otolaryngology, which is head, neck, and skull base surgery.

Math and Computer Science teacher Phil Moorlag was visiting San Francisco last March Break and had the chance to catch up with fellow University of Waterloo grad JULIA GARBE ’17 who is enjoying her time at Apple as a hardware engineering program manager and just finished working on the new and exciting Apple Vision Pro headset.

Mr. Moorlag fondly remembers Julia’s time at CDS. She helped him to organize a Middle School Girls Hackathon, created outstanding computer science projects, and was an integral part of the CDS robotics program. What a great role model for young girls interested in STEM courses!

married Matt Thom on November 8th. Ali is a Senior Account Manager for the Gibson Group and she and Matt are living in Toronto.

MATTHEW DIBBLE ’18 completed a double degree in Business and Computer at Wilfrid Laurier University and now works as a Software Engineer at Activision, contributing to games like Call of Duty. He was back on campus in November offering students in

our Grade 10 Careers course valuable insights as they navigate their own paths. He encouraged students to explore their interests and stay curious; build good habits early; choose their circle wisely; keep their options open; stand out; put in the effort now; and finally, trust that good things will come. Thank you to Matthew for sharing his journey and inspiring the next generation!

CHLOË FLOWERS ’18 recently launched the King Theatre Company, and CDS was out in force in support of her production of Salt-Water Moon at Pine Farms Orchard in August! Chloë brings a wide range of experience in theatre, having produced, directed, and performed for theatre companies in Ontario.

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Cheering on Team Canada!

CLAIRE GALLAGHER ’18 and McKINLEY HUNT ’15 made history last May helping Team Canada win against New Zealand, the reigning champions, in the Pacific Four Series in Christchurch.

Then over the October mid-term break, the two best women’s rugby teams in the world went head-to-head. Andrea Leacock, Allie Kousathana and Anne Wellnhofer, as well as a few CDS alumni, were in Vancouver to watch McKinley and Claire represent Team Canada, ranked second in the world, take on reigning WXV 1 champions England for the 2024 title. It was a back-and-forth battle the entire game with England adding one last try before the whistle to claim the title with a fi nal score of 21-12.

ALI IWAI ’17

Alumni Notes

(continued from page 41)

She produces Theatre Georgian Bay’s annual Bard on the Bay series and was an Associate Producer for Theatre by the Bay’s inaugural Simcoe County Theatre Festival. Chloë has also worked for Toronto theatre companies, including Mirvish Productions and Shakespeare in Action. She recently finished working on The Lion King at the Princess of Wales Theatre in Toronto. She is also an awardwinning playwright for A Portrait of Two Men, co-written with CDS classmate Victoria McIntyre ’18.

GABRIELLE GOUDIE ’18 has been at Sheridan College pursuing an Honours Bachelor in Creative Writing & Publishing. After taking a year to backpack through Europe, run a planting

crew for a remote (the middle of the wilderness kind of remote, not the virtual kind) tree planting camp in Northern Ontario, New Brunswick, and even Cambridge, ON., she is back for her final year and is the Managing Editor of the school’s student-run art and

KIYAN HEYBATI ’18 is a graduate of McMaster’s University Health Sciences program and is currently in the fourth and final year of his MD/MSc at the Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine. Kiyan came back on campus in October to give a basic introduction to vascular neurology (stroke) to our students in the Health Sciences Club. He presented a case study of an elderly female patient who presented in the emergency department with a facial droop. He then taught students how to conduct a basic neurological exam using the NIH Stroke Scale and other typical scans and tests that would be performed on a patient presenting with neurological symptoms. Kiyan’s career goal is cardiac ICU and we wish him all the best!

literature journal, B222. You can read it at www.b222journal.ca or on Instagram @b222journal. Gabrielle visited Ms. William’s GY Writer’s Craft class a few years back as part of an assignment for a Creative Writing Pedagogy course. Joined by a few peers, she taught students memoir writing and creative non-fiction. The lesson was a blast, and Gabrielle is now set on pursuing teacher’s college in the near future.

MADISON HOSSACK ’18 graduated from the University of Toronto in 2022 with a dual degree in Philosophy and Biology. She went on to earn her MSc at UofT while doing research in a radiation oncology lab at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre and is now in her first year of Med School at the University of Calgary.

SARAH LOCILENTO ’18 spoke to the Grade 10 Careers class in October. She is currently at Guelph University doing her Masters in Integrative Biology. She completed an Honours, Bachelor of Science in Biology, concentrating in Cell and Molecular Biology and Genetics, and a minor in Chemistry at Laurier.

SIERRA MCNULTY ’18 completed her first half marathon on May 25, 2024, winning the Toronto Women’s Run Series

event in 1:29:41. Sierra was a proud member of the X-Country and soccer teams while at CDS and also enjoyed the Mock Trial Team. She went on to complete an Honours Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology at Queen’s University, graduating on the Dean’s Honours List with Distinction. Sierra has now completed her first year of the Master of Social Work program at the University of Toronto.

JESSE LEVINE ’19 graduated from the University of Waterloo in 2022 with an Honours degree in Recreation and Sport Business. He is now working as an Amateur Scouting Coordinator for the Toronto Blue Jays, focusing on preparation for the MLB Draft. Jesse is based at the Rogers Centre in Toronto, but spends quite a bit of time in Dunedin, Florida, and travelling across the US, scouting and helping coordinate meetings, workouts and events. Working

for the Blue Jays has been a long time dream of his since his days at CDS, and he is grateful to his CDS teachers for instilling confidence and encouraging him to achieve his goals.

SHAYAAN KHAN ‘19 graduated Summa Cum Laude from Syracuse University in 2023 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts: Film degree and a minor in Global History and was named a VPA Scholar, the highest undergraduate academic honor. He now lives in Los Angeles working in the film industry as a

Programming Executive at TriCoast Worldwide where he manages content acquisition, marketing and operations for the ad-supported streaming service Dark Matter TV. Additionally, Shayaan works within the Film sales and distribution sector of the industry and recently began working within Ad Sales.

EM WRIGHT ’19 recently published a YA book, The Valenian Triology: The Monsters Within, which they started in Grade 9 at CDS. This is the first in a trilogy, so stay tuned for two more! Em graduated from the University of Waterloo with a degree in Chemical Engineering in 2024.

WHITMELL ‘19 is studying Neurologic Music Therapy in the Applied Music

and Health Masters program at the University of Toronto and performs Friday evenings at Sweet Dutchess Kitchen & Café Aurora. She recently released a new single, “Subway,” which you can listen to here: https:// allysonwhitmell.ff m.to/subway

2020 S

ANDREW EASTERLING ’20 performed in his final graduating show as part of the Sheridan/U of T theatre program in March.

Jeremy Garbe ’19 travelled to the U of T Erindale campus to catch his fellow CDS gad and Into the Breach Theatre cast member in a humorous call back to their performance together as cousins Usnavi and Sonny in Lin Manuel Miranda’s In the Heights

KARSEN ROY ’20 graduated from Acadia University in June 2024 with a Bachelor degree in Kinesiology and is now working on her Masters in Occupational Therapy at Queen’s University.

Karsen was voted as Valedictorian for her graduating Kinesiology class and could not be more grateful to represent such an amazing group of individuals!

While in California, Mr. Moorlag made his way to Cupertino’s Apple Park and met up with SEAN SONG ’20, a current Computer Science student at the University of Waterloo. Sean was on a co-op term in Sunnyvale, working as a software engineer at Yugabyte, a startup distributed database company.

Mr. Moorlag and Sean discussed great memories at CDS, including some of Sean’s outstanding work in mathematics and computer science courses and his time on the CDS basketball team. “Sean has a promising future in the technology industry, and we are looking forward to seeing where his career path takes him,” says Mr. Moorlag.

(continued on page 44)

ALLYSON

ANNE-MARIE BASSI ’21 shared her unique journey as a full-time psychology student at The University of Toronto and also a

CDS Drama and Into the Breach Theatre alumni Chloe Flowers ’18, Allyson Whitmell ’19, Jeremy Garbe ’19, Anthony Rea ’20, Alia Brown ’17 and Jana Docherty ’11 returned to catch the incredible matinee performance of Clue last March.

Alumni Notes

(continued from page 43)

thriving fl ower farmer with French Blooms with Grade 10 Careers students in November. Her story, a blend of academia and artistic passion, offered students invaluable insights into navigating career paths and embracing personal growth.

KATYA HARBAUER ’21 is in her final year at the University of Ottawa studying Ethics and Political Philosophy. She is a member of Lost Baggage Musical Theatre Company and performed in The Addams Family Musical that ran from October 31 to November 3. In October, Mr. Garbe and his son Jeremy ’19 had the good fortune to catch up with Katya in between rehearsals in Ottawa!

In Our Memories …

Robbie Power ’10 passed away peacefully on March 13, 2024. Robbie left CDS after Grade 8, but was a member of the Class of 2010. Joey Power also attended CDS, as did his younger brother Danny Power ’13, and his step-brother Jack Fournier ’18

Fore! Taking

U of T by storm

Mia Sung ’23 is a standout on the Varsity Blue’s Women’s Golf team and is now in her second year studying Biomedical Toxicology (with minors in computer science and statistics) at The University of Toronto. In her fi rst season, Mia successfully earned OUA academic achievement honours, while contributing to an OUA silver-medal performance at the provincial championships, and was also nominated for Women’s Rookie of the Year! This season, she was one of four women from her team to represent U of T at the OUA Championships where they won the tournament.

Last fall, U of T featured Mia in a student-athlete story where she shares some of her recent academic highlights:

“One of my favourite academic memo-

IN SUPPORT OF SOUTHLAKE HOSPITAL

CDS was well represented at the Southlake Hospital “Future is Now”

Gala by CDS faculty member Alanna Houston ’07 and husband Kevin Tudhope, Kristina Brown ’11 and Ryall Stroud, past CDS parents and faculty Scott Garbe and Jen Sanderson, CDS faculty member Kerrigan Brown ’12 and Duff Isberg, and Hayden Brown ’14 and Brett Seldon.

Kerrigan is President of the CDS Alumni

Executive and Hayden is on the Alumni

Exec as well. Thank you to the Stanton family for donating a table!

ries at the University of Toronto so far was the opportunity to present my research at the 2024 Trinity College Undergraduate Research Conference. The support and guidance I received from my professors and peers was invaluable, as they challenged me to think critically and refi ne my arguments. And then standing before an audience of fellow students, faculty members, and experts in the fi eld, I was both nervous and excited. But as I shared my fi ndings, I was thrilled to see the audience’s engagement and interest in my work. This experience solidifi ed my passion for research, and it was a pivotal moment in my academic journey at U of T. I cherish it as a testament to the university’s commitment to fostering a vibrant and supportive research environment.”

MIA SUNG ’23

THANK YOU!... TO EVERYONE WHO SUPPORTED AUCTION 2024!

The 48th Annual Auction would not have been such a huge success without your support! CDS raised $266,000 toward the Dream Together campaign. A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO OUR 2024 AREA AND PLATINUM SPONSORS!

GRAB YOUR HAT AND BOOTS AND JOIN US FOR AUCTION 2025 ON FRIDAY, MAY 30!

If you are interested in supporting via sponsorship, advertising or donating an item, please visit www.cds.on.ca/auction today! Sponsorship and advertising space is limited. Tickets go on sale in late February.