Pursuit - Fall 2013

Fall 2013 / Vol. 16, No. 2

University of Toronto

Kinesiology & Physical Education

WHO’S WHO IN HIGH PERFORMANCE

NEW LEADERSHIP STRUCTURE Renewed roles to help roll out academic plan

BOLSTERED BLUES Basketball, rugby see shifts on the bosses’ benches

STRONG SUPPORT Former Blue Adam Zimmerman gives back to Varsity Centre

Meet the people who’ll bring the Goldring Centre to life

“ “

It was important for me to give because I wanted to be part of

funding the world-class facility that the Goldring Centre is. It really brings U of T into the 21st century in terms of athletic facilities.”

– Alex Squires, U of T alumnus and Goldring donor

Where innovation happens.

Help make it happen.

The Goldring Centre for High Performance Sport is a multi-disciplinary hub like none other – and a long-anticipated resource for the University of Toronto and the broader sport community.

Hear more about what Alex and others have to say about the impact of the Goldring Centre at uoft.me/goldringvideo

If you like what you hear and wish to be part of the legacy, visit donate.utoronto.ca/goldring or call Robin Campbell at 416.677.5357

FALL 2013 / Vol. 16, No. 2 EDITOR Althea Blackburn-Evans ASSOCIATE EDITOR Valerie Iancovich CONTRIBUTORS Althea Blackburn-Evans, Mary Beth Challoner, Jill Clark, Adrienne Harry, Valerie Iancovich, Rachel Keeling

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PHOTOGRAPHY Jaime Hogge, Jing-Ling Kao-Beserve, Anne Kohler ART DIRECTION & DESIGN Joel Jackson PURSUIT is published twice a year by U of T’s Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education. www.pursuit.utoronto.ca Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: Pursuit 55 Harbord Street Toronto, ON M5S 2W6 Editorial comments P: 416.978.1663 F: 416.978.4384 a.blackburn.evans@utoronto.ca

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Contents 3

Faculty Notes

10

Blues News

Launching new leadership structure

New Blues bosses

Tips 14 Fit PHE alum expands his skills

The Goldring Age 16

The people who’ll populate the high performance sport centre

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Alumni Updates

35

Donor Spotlight

44

Time Out

Young grad takes the reigns

Pavilion room named for football alum

Recalling rower’s double gold

Dean's Message

Celebrating

the integrated Faculty

This is my favourite time of the year, and this year it is not only because we have launched into a new academic term but also because we have done so with a clear and fresh perspective afforded by our recent academic planning exercise.

medicine experts, trainers and fitness and recreation staff.

As this outstanding new facility takes shape, our cover story features some of the people who reflect the diverse but interconnected activities that will occur within its walls (see pages 16 to 33).

After completing intensive consultations with a wide range of stakeholders, we have developed a bold set of strategies to help realize our vision of national and international excellence in research, learning and practice. We look forward to sharing the plan widely once we receive University approval later this term.

Our academic plan also sets our sights on building our teaching and research resources, and you’ll see ample evidence of that in Faculty Notes (pages 3 to 9). Elsewhere in this issue we celebrate new coaching staff (page 10), standout student-athletes (pages 11 to 13), donor support (page 35) and exciting alumni accomplishments that make us so proud to be an integrated Faculty (pages 14, 36 and 44).

This is the first academic plan to articulate in one and the same plan both our curricular and co-curricular strategic objectives. Our integrated nature is at the core of everything we do. Nowhere will this intention be clearer than at the Goldring Centre for High Performance Sport, set to officially open its doors in 2015 to create new collaborations between researchers, coaches, athletes, graduate students, sport

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I hope you enjoy this issue of Pursuit. As always, we welcome your feedback!

Ira Jacobs, Dean

Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education

Faculty Notes

Faculty launches new

academic leadership structure

Professors Scott Thomas and Gretchen Kerr

The Faculty’s academic leadership structure underwent a renewal this summer, with two of its most experienced administrators moving into new roles. Professor Gretchen Kerr will take on the newly-created role of vice-dean for academic affairs, for a period of three years. Her colleague, Professor Scott Thomas, was appointed to the position of interim associate dean, research – a position he will hold until June 30, 2014.

This shift is a result of a revised leadership model introduced alongside the new academic plan, which is slated to be finalized later this fall. Kerr will provide leadership and oversight of all undergraduate and graduate degree programs of the Faculty. Thomas will focus on bolstering the Faculty’s collective research initiatives.

“Professors Kerr and Thomas bring a wealth of administrative experience to their new positions. That experience, together with their insight and commitment to students, augur well for their and our collective future success,” says Dean Ira Jacobs. “They will work with the Faculty’s leadership to finalize and implement our new academic plan, and contribute broadly to strengthening the Faculty as a whole, in a climate of equity, inclusion and collegiality.”

The reorganized leadership structure also includes the establishment of a director of undergraduate programs, filled by Professor Catherina Amara, and director of graduate programs, filled by Professor Marius Locke.

–Valerie Iancovich

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FACULTY NOTES

Faculty complement grows again

Registrar

passes the baton There are few staff roles that have a more significant and direct impact on students than the registrar. Longtime staff member Wenda Kwong (pictured, right), who has mentored thousands of students through their undergraduate journeys – and played a key role in ushering the Faculty through many changes to its academic offerings – will retire as registrar in January 2014.

“Wenda has been a constant strength to the academic administrators, as the Faculty expanded its range of degree programs and increased the size of the student body,” says chief administrative officer Rosanne LopersSweetman. “She has provided leadership to her staff and students, and team support to the growing number of faculty members over the years."

Kwong’s commitment to students inspired her recent nomination for U of T’s Chancellor Award in the influential leader category, as well as the Faculty’s choice to name her as recipient of the inaugural Staff Award of Excellence.

Filling Kwong’s shoes as registrar is Karen McLeister (left), who joined the Faculty on August 26. McLeister comes from U of T’s Rotman Commerce, where she was associate director of academic services. In addition to several stints in the United Arab Emirates, she also served as associate registrar in U of T’s Faculty of Arts and Science, registrar at University of Toronto at Scarborough, associate registrar at University of Toronto at Mississauga, and assistant registrar at Victoria College. A graduate of the Faculty’s own BPHE program, McLeister also holds a BEd degree from U of T and a MEd degree from Deakin University in Australia. –VI

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In addition to the recent announcement of Professors Katherine Tamminen and Dan Moore, featured in the spring issue of Pursuit, Dr. David Frost joins the Faculty as assistant professor for a three-year term.

His research interests focus on the capacity of individuals’ musculoskeletal systems to withstand the physical demands of their work, sport and activities of daily living. Frost shares research interests and lab space with Professor Tyson Beach. Working with other faculty members and instructors, he will also plan and coordinate the core first-year and second-year practica courses, while teaching the third-year practica and an upper-year kinesiology course.

Frost received his PhD in biomechanics from the University of Waterloo in January 2013. His MSc is in sports biomechanics from Edith Cowan University in Australia. He has three undergraduate degrees from Queen’s University: a BSc in electrical engineering, a BA in health studies, and a BPHE. An experienced practising kinesiologist, Frost has been actively engaged as the director of education for the Ontario Kinesiology Association as well as in consultations with the Transitional Council of the College of Kinesiologists of Ontario. –VI

PHOTOs/ JOEL JACKSON

FACULTY NOTES

Experts translate

brain-body conversation

The Faculty hosted its fifth public symposium, “The Heights of Human Performance: The Symbiosis of Brain and Body” on May 8 at Isabel Bader Theatre. A spectrum of motor control theory applications were discussed – from the everyday to the extraordinary.

Olympic gold medalist Rosie MacLennan explained how she learned and successfully executed the trampoline flips and twists that earned her top spot at the London Games.

Professor Luc Tremblay explained how visual information influences the way

we execute all of our movements, from picking up a cup of coffee to landing a double tuck somersault. Professor Tim Welsh, coordinator of the Centre for Motor Control, was the MC of the evening and explained how the principles addressed by his fellow speakers are informing the design of new, more sophisticated humancomputer interfaces. Dr. Heather Carnahan, of the department of occupational science and occupational therapy, wove the evening’s themes together in the context of the operating room.

explores the past and future of KPE

“Building On a Legacy: The evolution of physical education and kinesiology

PHOTOS/ (top) ALEX CHIU (Bottom) Jing-Ling Kao-Beserve

The next symposium, which will explore human physiology in extreme conditions, is scheduled for Tuesday, December 3. Visit www.physical. utoronto.ca for more details. –VI Pictured/ Second Left to Right: Rosie MacLennan, Luc Tremblay, Tim Welsh

They also discussed the future of the field.

Vice-Dean Gretchen Kerr, who has worked with each of the panel members over the years, shared personal anecdotes and insights as the event’s MC.

Roundtable discussion

The four leaders who have seen the field of physical education and kinesiology develop from its beginnings at U of T to its current status as a thriving, integrated Faculty took the stage at a special roundtable event held April 30 at Trinity College.

The speakers revisited various topics during the discussion panel, moderated

by Globe and Mail science reporter Ivan Semeniuk. A video of the full event can be found at uoft.me/KPEsymposia.

at the University of Toronto” featured former directors and professors emeriti Juri Daniels (pictured, left) and Roy Shephard (on screen) along with former dean, Professor Bruce Kidd (centre), and current dean, Professor Ira Jacobs. Each shared stories of their successes and challenges while leading the discipline at U of T over the years.

The evening ended with a panel discussion, led by the Faculty’s experiential education specialist Dr. Ashley Stirling, guided by questions from the audience.

More about the event, including a video of the discussion, is available at uoft.me/ deansroundtable. –VI

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FACULTY NOTES

Can financial incentives inspire exercise?

When it comes to sticking to an exercise plan, we’re all looking for solutions to ensure that new healthy habits transform into long-term lifestyle changes. PhD candidate Marc Mitchell has published findings in the September online issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine suggesting that receiving coupons and vouchers for as little as five dollars can help people stick to new fitness regimes. The conclusion proved to be a hot topic, with several news outlets, including The National Post, The Sun and CBC sharing his research.

Under the guidance of professors Jack Goodman and Guy Faulkner, Mitchell has completed a systematic review of research into the efficacy of financial incentives in inspiring lifestyle and health behaviour changes, specifically in people who’ve experienced cardiac problems. His analysis suggests that these small rewards increase the odds

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that patients will maintain an active lifestyle in the longer term. Mitchell’s project looked specifically at 1,500 patients as they transitioned out of Toronto Rehab’s cardiac program, designed to help people with heart disease improve their strength and fitness to reduce their chances of future heart problems.

“Patients do well during the six-month program,” observes Mitchell. “But a lot of them stop exercising after they leave.

The idea is to offer a modest incentive to facilitate that transition to independent exercise.” In the model that Mitchell is working on, patients will receive these incentives after submitting their daily exercise logs, through an online portal called, “BestLifeRewarded.”

During the second phase of his project, Mitchell led patient focus groups to determine which types of incentives resonate most with the

cardiac rehab patients. Many liked the idea of receiving parking vouchers to supplement their costly trips to the hospital, while others preferred grocery store vouchers or a chance to donate their incentive to a charity of their choice.

Mitchell predicts that the act of submitting the entries will serve as a stepping stone to developing increased awareness and continued patient engagement. “If they submit an empty entry, they’ll still get the incentive,” he explains. “Just doing that will continue to encourage them to self-monitor.

We think of it as a gentle nudge; it’s not supposed to be a carrot that we’re dangling.”

The final stage of the project – the launch of the pilot program – is set to begin later this fall. –VI

PHOTO/ iStock

FACULTY NOTES

Research highlights

Dr. Michael Hutchison has joined the Faculty as its first-ever research associate, overseeing the clinical and research activities related to sport concussion. The appointment is funded jointly by Professor Lynda Mainwaring’s Canadian Institutes of Health Research Catalyst Grant, “Stress markers in concussed athletes” and the David L. MacIntosh Sport Medicine Clinic. A former Varsity Blues hockey player, Hutchison (pictured above) holds a BPHE and master’s degree in exercise sciences from the Faculty as well as a PhD in rehabilitation sciences. He has helped develop prevention initiatives and management protocols for concussion, and his groundbreaking work analyzing hits in National Hockey League play resulted in changes to the league’s rules. Hutchison’s current work focuses on attempts to

PHOTO/ JOEL JACKSON

measure both psychological and physiological stress in concussed athletes, which have the potential to influence concussion management and return-to-play decisions.

“Mike brings a wealth of sport-related concussion knowledge, which will strengthen not only our lab but also the opportunities that could open up,” says Mainwaring. “There are very few sport concussion scholars in the world, so we are thrilled to have him.”

A team of KPE researchers

has received a Prostate Cancer Canada grant to create a software application that may help to improve the mental and physical health of patients undergoing androgen deprivation therapy. Patients who undergo this treatment often struggle with multiple side effects, including fatigue, weight gain, muscle and bone loss, reduced mental

sharpness, and depression symptoms that impair overall quality of life. Considering this, Professors Guy Faulkner, Catherine Sabiston and Kelly Arbor-Nicitopoulos have combined their expertise in psychosocial oncology, medicine and exercise psychology to propose the creation of an online app that prompts patients to sit less and move more. “This is the first collaborative project that we’ve done,” says Faulkner.

“It is really exciting because it has merged several interests and areas of expertise.

Professor Jack Goodman has

received a three-year grant from CIHR to augment his research on exercise and heart health. The funding will allow Goodman to better explore the risks and circumstances that lead to cardiac complications experienced by weekend warriors and elite athletes alike. Goodman

will work with Professor Scott Thomas and experts at St. Michael’s and Mount Sinai hospitals to analyze the cardiac function of two groups of middle-aged men and women (between 45 and 65 years old) – individuals who perform regular, recommended aerobic exercise and those with long-standing experience in intensive endurance exercise.

Goodman sees the research as a major step towards clarifying the appropriate limits to exercise and increasing overall awareness about the risks and rewards of extreme exercise. “Our larger, longer-term goal is to create a nexus of research committed to athlete heart health that would increase knowledge dissemination for a spectrum of athletes, from the recreational right up to the elite level.” –VI

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FACULTY NOTES

The Sochi dilemma With the Sochi Olympics just a few months away, many are calling for action against Russia’s controversial new law banning “gay propaganda.”

Olympian, sports historian and human rights activist Professor Bruce Kidd weighs in on the possibility of a boycott and the relationship between human rights and the Olympic movement.

What has been your reaction to recent developments out of Russia concerning LGBTIQ rights?

It’s outrageous what the Russians are doing. It’s important that the entire sports world puts pressure on the Russian government to repeal this new law, and supports LGBTIQ activists in Russia (and other countries where homophobia is state-sanctioned). For Sochi, we must hold the International Olympic Committee and the Russian Government to their promise that LGBTIQ and pro-LGBTIQ athletes, coaches, officials and spectators will be fully protected. In keeping with Olympic tradition, the IOC must tell Putin that during the course of the Olympic Games, Sochi is an Olympic city governed by the Olympic Charter, which prohibits discrimination of every kind, not a Russian city governed by Russian law.

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If Canada and other countries were to boycott the Games, what are the potential outcomes?

A boycott is unlikely and undesirable at this stage. Our first step should be to pursue education and diplomacy. That’s what the Olympics are about. They were founded as a way to bring people from different countries and different perspectives together to talk through differences. Also, athletes – despite their powerful, symbolic status – shouldn’t be the only ones to carry the ball on difficult human rights issues.

What about other forms of protest?

Rule 50 of the Olympic Charter prohibits political protests and demonstrations, but up until Beijing, it was never used to prohibit self-identification.

Aboriginal paddler Alwyn Morris raised his grandfather’s eagle feather on the victory podium in 1984; Aboriginal sprinter Cathy Freeman ran her victory lap in Sydney with both Australian and Aboriginal flags; many athletes wear cultural or religious markings such as crucifixes, turbans and hijabs, all without incident. No athlete should be prohibited from wearing a rainbow triangle at the Games. If such action were taken, the athlete should

immediately appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, which is set up at every Games to hear urgent cases, with the full legal support of the international community.

Do you think that any development or circumstance would warrant cancelling these Olympics? What action should the IOC take going forward?

Yes, if Putin were to say that if a pro-gay person comes to Sochi they will be imprisoned, then the IOC must say that we’re not having an Olympics in 2014.

That’s a definite. And in the future, the IOC has got to make its support of human rights much more emphatic.

In the past, the Olympic Movement accepted all countries regardless of their human rights records in an effort to bring everyone into the tent. But everyone is now in the tent, and the world expects a higher standard. We’ve got to make full respect of human rights part of the IOC contract with host cities, and it needs to clearly state that we will never even entertain a bid from a country that does not respect all aspects of human rights.

This is an updated version of a Q&A published in August at news.utoronto.ca and in the Ottawa Citizen. –VI

PHOTO/ Getty images

FACULTY NOTES

People from all around the world are looking to solve the same problems – things like doping in sport, obesity and mental illness.”

Avendano-Gutte (right) practices kendo with classmates Lily Dong (left) and Alex Woloschuk

International immersion

Undergraduate expands perspective at Japanese University Last fall when David Avendano-Gutte received an email about the opportunity to travel to Japan for the week-long Tsukuba Summer Institute for Sport and Physical Education, he immediately knew that he had to apply. The note came from then sessional lecturer, Professor Guido Geisler (a varsity soccer alum who also earned his bachelor’s and doctorate degrees at the Faculty). Geisler was teaching at the Faculty between contracts at the University of Tsukuba – one of Asia’s top schools for physical education and high performance sport.

In July, after submitting a statement of interest and proof of his high academic standing, Avendano-Gutte boarded a plane from Toronto to Tokyo, alongside

fellow kinesiology undergraduates Lily Dong and Alex Woloschuk, and exercise sciences graduate student Patrick Jachyra.

The foursome were among over 80 aspiring physical educators and kinesiologists from 12 countries across Asia, Europe and North America who were accepted into the program. Upon arriving on campus, the fifth-year kinesiology student and his peers were immediately immersed in discussions exploring timely topics in the field, ranging from fundamental motor movement to physical education pedagogy and coaching. “We quickly realized that while we had some cultural differences, there were more similarities.

The itinerary offered students a choice of three streams to focus on throughout the week: collaborative research; laboratory studies; and sport and physical activity and culture. Avendano-Gutte chose in the latter, experiencing firsthand Japan’s unique approaches to physical education.

Observing gym classes in local schools made a lasting impact. “Everything was very organized. They all wore uniforms.

Physical education class is mandatory for all grades, right through to university.

They have regular, standardized fitness testing starting in elementary school and they report results to the government.”

For Avendano-Gutte, that testing reflects the high value that the country places on being healthy and active.

While he did a lot of listening and observing, Avendano-Gutte also had an opportunity to try his hand at new physical feats, including kendo and judo. "Before we started anything practical or physical, we learned the theory and history behind what each activity means in Japanese culture.”

This holistic approach is one he hopes to translate to his own lifestyle here in Canada. “In Japan, physical activity and sport skills are taught, but life skills and respect are equally emphasized. I really appreciated that.”

This first trip to Asia has inspired Avendano-Gutte to gain more academic experience abroad. He and several of the students have connected on Facebook and plan to continue to correspond.

“Now I know that I want to participate in a longer exchange. The experience definitely helped me to see the bigger picture. Being able to relate to and learn from people from so many different places was the most rewarding part of the whole experience.” –VI

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Blues News "Jim brings a great mix of coaching and playing experience to the University of Toronto," says Beth Ali. "We are thrilled to have someone with his credentials on board and eager to impart his knowledge to our student-athletes."

Born in Plymouth, Devon, England, Delaney played for the English U19 squad and played with the Gloucester Rugby Club for six years before moving to Canada in 1982. Starting off with the Ontario provincial team, Delaney went on to play for Canada’s senior men’s national team in the first-ever IRB World Cup in New Zealand in 1987.

New bench bosses

Clockwise from the left: John Campbell, Jim Delaney and Gareth Williams

Men’s basketball Men’s basketball welcomed a new bench boss when, after a nation-wide search, John Campbell was named head coach in May. “It was clear to us that John is the right coach for the job,” says Beth Ali, director of intercollegiate and high performance sport. “His knowledge of the game and his coaching experience, not only across the CIS but on the international stage, will help us revitalize our program as we move into a new chapter of men’s basketball at U of T.” Campbell joined the Blues after 11 seasons coaching the Dalhousie Tigers, who earned two Atlantic University Sport championship titles under his leadership. Campbell was named AUS coach of the year in the 2010-11 season.

Internationally, Campbell helped Canada to a silver medal as the assistant coach at the FISU Games in Shenzhen, China, and was an assistant with the British Basketball under-20 team that placed sixth at the 2012 European championships.

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Before he took the helm at Dalhousie, Campbell was the head coach of the Laurentian Lady Vees women’s basketball team, where he captured two Ontario University Athletics (OUA) titles, a Canadian Interuniversity Sport bronze medal and was named the OUA East coach of the year three times (1999, 2001, 2002).

He also worked as an assistant coach with both the University of Victoria (1996) and Laurentian University (1994) men’s basketball teams.

“I’m excited for the opportunity to come to U of T,” says Campbell.

“The investment that the athletic department is making in men’s basketball is very exciting. I believe that, with the combination of the new Goldring Centre for High Performance Sport and the support of the institution, there’s a possibility of great success.” –Mary Beth Challoner

Men’s rugby The men’s rugby program welcomed a new head coach when Jim Delaney joined the Blues in July.

Delaney’s coaching experience includes serving as head coach for the provincial U15s and U16s, and the national U19 team. –MBC

Women’s rugby A new chapter is unfolding for the women’s rugby program, as Gareth Williams takes on the job of head coach.

Former vice-captain of University of Stirling’s rugby team in the UK, Williams helped the Seneca College Sting to three Ontario College Athletic Association bronze and one silver medal in the past five seasons. He also served as coach for the Highway to High Performance program, a project designed to identify and hone young rugby talent across Ontario. Under Williams’ direction, the Toronto region captured gold at the 2012 Ontario Summer Games.

Most recently, Williams worked with the Rugby Canada under-20 squad, helping develop kicking ability prior to the Nations Cup in July.

“We are happy to have Gareth on board,” says Beth Ali. “His resume speaks for itself, and his enthusiasm is contagious.

We are definitely excited to see what the future brings.” –MBC

PHOTOs/ Jing-Ling Kao-Beserve (Left and top), Martin bazyl (lower right)

International accolades It was a busy summer abroad for the Blues, as several of them took to the world’s stage to compete in the FISU World University Games and FINA World Championships in July, and the IAFF World Championships in August.

Swimming veteran Zack Chetrat swam a personal best in the 200 butterfly with a time of 1:57.92 in his FINA World Championship debut in Barcelona, Spain.

In Russia, track and field standouts Khamica Bingham, Alicia Brown and Sarah Wells took to Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, site of the 1980 Summer Olympics, to compete in the IAFF World Championship.

Veteran coach

In neighbouring city Kazan, Brown and Wells helped Team Canada earn a silver medal in the women’s 4x400-metre relay at the FISU World University Games.

earns OUA nod

Blues women’s rugby wing Karla Telidetzki ended her CIS run at the Games, helping the women’s rugby sevens to a bronze medal. The podium finish marks Canada’s first medal in a team sport.

Blues swimming head coach Byron MacDonald was honoured as the Fox 40 OUA male coach of the year at the 2013 OUA Honour Awards Banquet.

The award celebrates one male and one female coach for their outstanding contribution to OUA sports. MacDonald is the first U of T coach to win this award since its inception in 1987.

Other sports represented at the FISU Games included badminton, where Blues Andrew Wilkinson and Bethany So lent their talents; beach volleyball, where Charlotte Sider competed; water polo, where Marko Bjelica served as forward; soccer, where Blues Dylan Bams and Mario Kovacevic hit the field; weightlifting, whose roster included Richard Gosalves; and swimming, where Team Canada had help from Heather Maitland, Paige Schultz, Frank Despond, Edward Liu, Chris Manning and Zack Chetrat. Varsity coaches John Campbell, Michèle Bélanger, Laura Inward and Bob Westman also represented U of T at the Games, serving as assistant coaches in basketball, volleyball and track and field. –Adrienne Harry

In his 35th season at U of T, MacDonald led the Blues men’s swimming team to their tenth consecutive OUA title and first CIS championship banner since 1994, breaking an 18-year winning streak for western Canadian teams.

With his guidance, the men’s team won 24 medals, including 12 golds, at the 2013 OUA championships, setting eight OUA records in the process. MacDonald went on to help the Blues to nine podium finishes and three gold-medal swims at the national championships in Calgary. –Jill Clark

Blues Sarah Wells (center left) and Alicia Brown (center right) help Canada earn a silver medal in the women’s 4x400m relay at the FISU World University Games.

University of Windsor’s Noelle Montcalm (left) and Simon Fraser University’s Helen Crofts (right) round out the Canadian women’s relay team.

PHOTOs/ Lewko Hryhorijiw (Left), Matt Zambonin – Freestyle Photography (right)

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BLUES NEWS

Provincial prestige

Blues volleyball player Caleigh Cruickshank received the Ontario Volleyball Association’s first-ever beach player of the year award in July.

Fresh out of her first season with the Blues, Cruickshank accumulated the most OVA Beach Tour points in both the men’s and women’s categories, blazing a trail at her first OVA Beach Tour competition.

On a court of another kind, men’s tennis player Ivan Markovic topped 64 other players in his first adult tournament, earning his first provincial title at the Ontario Tennis Association’s Class A provincial championships in August. Markovic defeated five seeded players to claim top honours at the event. –AH

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National pride Badminton

Swimming

After helping the Blues to a provincial banner this past season, badminton player Jackie Yeung, along with partner Josh Hurlburt-Yu, earned the boys’ doubles title in May at the 2013 under-19 Canadian championships in Saskatoon. The pair defeated the number two ranked team in the finals to earn the title. Yeung was named 2012-13 OUA badminton and U of T male rookie of the year for his efforts.

In another first, Blues swimmer Matt Myers won his first Swim Canada title in the 200m backstroke at the national championships in Pointe-Claire, Quebec, in July. The 2011-12 rookie of the year finished the race in an impressive 2.00:30, a time that head coach Byron MacDonald says will make Myers a strong candidate for international teams in the future.

Track and Field Sprinter Alicia Brown took top honours – and her first national title – in the women’s 400-metre sprint at the Canadian track and field championships in June. The 2012-13 Blues athlete of the year finished the race in a personal best time of 52.92.

Rowing Blues rowers Kate Sauks, Kate Nay, Jennifer Seidel and Meg Lewicki earned a first-place finish at the 131st Royal Canadian Henley Regatta in August. Held in St. Catharines, Ontario, the Henley Regatta has grown to become one of the largest professional rowing tournaments in North America.

PHOTOs/ Jing-Ling Kao-Beserve (Left) Jill Clark (Right)

Blues News

Fall highlights The women’s field hockey team closed September with a flawless 7-0-0 record at press time. Fourth-year forward Ally Evanshyn helped the Blues to a flawless victory against the Waterloo Warriors on September 15, and a 6-0 shut-out against the McGill Martlets on September 22. Evanshyn’s performance earned her the honour of being named OUA female athlete of the week for the period ending September 22.

On September 29, the Blues defeated the Warriors once more in a 7-0 sweep, with help from midfielder Tegan Stairs and sophomore Alison Lee, who scored two goals each in the game. The field hockey team has won the provincial title for the past two seasons and took national silver at the 2012 CIS field hockey championships at Varsity Centre.

The women’s lacrosse team opened their season with two big wins against the York Lions and McMaster Marauders on September 14. Veteran Taryn Grieder scored six goals in a dizzying 17-4 victory over the Lions, while rookie Sarah Jamieson hit the ground running in her first game as a Blue with three goals. The duo then dominated against the Marauders, with Jamieson scoring another hat trick, and Grieder scoring four goals. Jamieson was named OUA female athlete of the week for the period ending September 15. The pair went on to score five goals combined in a 11-8 win against the Queen’s Gaels on September 29, helping to improve the Blues’ standings to 6-1 at press time.

Women’s soccer rookies Brenda Murillo, Nicki Parkes and Claudia Piazza started their careers with the Blues on a high note, helping to pull the women’s team out of an early season slump in a thrilling defeat against the Trent Excalibur on September 11. The trio each snatched their first career goals, with striker Murillo scoring the winning goal in the 4-0 shut-out game. After defeating the Queen’s Gaels 2-1 on September 22, and shutting out the Ryerson Rams in a 1-0 victory on September 29, the Blues moved to second place in the OUA East division, their standings sitting at 7-2-1 at press time. –AH

Upcoming action Athletes from across Canada will head to U of T with their eyes on a title, as the Blues host three championships this season.

Women’s Soccer

Water Polo

Swimming

For the second time since the program’s inception, the women’s soccer team will battle for the national title at the 2013 CIS women’s soccer championship November 7-10. This will be the team’s second time hosting a national championship. A CIS win would mark the team’s first-ever national championship title.

Later in November, some of Ontario’s best will head to Varsity Pool for the 2013 OUA water polo championships November 29 – December 1. Between the men’s and women’s programs, the Blues have won a provincial title every year since 2008. The men are defending champions heading into this year’s event.

After the women’s team earned bronze and the men’s team claimed the title in Calgary last season, U of T will host the 2014 CIS swimming championships on February 20-23, 2014. Should the men’s team become repeat champions in Toronto, it will be the first national title the Blues have won at home since the women’s field hockey banner finish in 2007.

U of T will hold its seventh annual Cheer Blue, Think Pink Weekend in support of the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, January 24-26. The weekend will kick off with women’s and men’s basketball against Algoma at 6:00 and 8:00pm. The women’s hockey team will go head-to-head with Brock on January 25 at 2:00pm, and men's and women's volleyball will close the weekend, competing against Western at 12:00pm and 2:00pm on January 26. To purchase tickets for Think Pink games, visit www.varsityblues.ca.

PHOTOs/ Martin Bazyl

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FIT TIPS

Going Strong

A fitness challenge for a cause Ron Castro is no stranger to hard work. From his role as a registered massage therapist at a downtown gym, to traveling the world with Swimming Canada, to working as a strength trainer for the Varsity Blues swim team, the BPHE alum has always pushed himself to expand his skills. His latest challenge – cycling 600km over six days this summer for the Toronto People With Aids Foundation (PWA) – did just that. Castro spoke to Adrienne Harry before and after his big ride to share his training regime, his thoughts about the race and his advice to those who might want to go the distance themselves.

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Pursuit: What is your typical workout?

Ron Castro: Usually, I do a mixture of weights with

some conditioning such as pushing a tire or doing tire flips, Farmer’s Walk [walking a set distance with a heavy weight in each hand], kettlebell classes and Olympic weightlifting – typical “strong man” exercises. I’ve been doing this four to five days a week for about three years.

P: Tell us about the Friends for Life bike rally.

RC: The rally is a major fundraiser for PWA. My friends have been doing it for the last two or three years. All riders raise money in order to help anybody living with HIV/AIDS. For six days, we bike 100 to 120km, with the exception of day three, which is 60km. We camp at specific destinations at night and take off the next morning. This year’s race started in Toronto on July 28 and ended in Montreal on August 2.

P: How did you alter your workout to prepare for the rally?

RC: At first I was doing spin classes… I ended up doing a

three-hour spin marathon! Once the weather got better, the PWA scheduled practice rides every weekend. As the months went by, the distance would increase. We started out with an easy 30km, then progressed to 50km, then 75km, and then 100km. Sometimes I couldn’t make those rides so I got a lot of help from a friend of mine who does distance cycling. He guided me through my longer rides to keep me going.

P: Was it difficult making an adjustment from strengthbased to endurance-based exercise?

RC: Going from deadlifting 500 lbs to biking for six hours was definitely interesting, but I wouldn’t say that the physical component is tough. It’s more of a mental toughness that is required when you’re on a bike during really flat, long stretches – your mind can wander. I think I was conditioned well enough prior to training, but mentally it proved a lot more demanding.

P: How do you mentally focus during those long stretches?

RC: I focus on the atmosphere; I break it up. The rest stops along the route help me to think short term. In the beginning, all I could think about was 600km. To make it less overwhelming, I started looking at it as 100km per day. Then I broke it down further, thinking, “It’s really

only 25 to 30km and then I’ll get a break.” I also kept in mind that it’s not a race; the rally is more about appreciating what you’re going to experience, rather than getting from point A to point B. P: Did you change your diet during training?

RC: It was definitely experimental along the way. My diet was

more low-carbohydrate, high-protein, but when you are on the bike for six hours, you really have to consider different means of replenishment. I had to play around with my diet in terms of adding simple sugars, post-workout electrolyte replacements and more complex carbohydrates once a ride was done to make sure that I was properly refuelling.

P: What advice would you give to someone who wants to train for a long-distance race or event?

RC: Don’t be intimidated by what you “haven’t” done. Let

what you are capable of doing be your guide. Also, a general strengthening program would be good. There are a lot of postural muscles at work when you are cycling and you want to strengthen those before you get on the bike. Don’t just focus on cycling. Focus on the whole aspect of health and fitness in terms of strength and endurance.

P: What did you learn from the experience?

RC: I don’t think I can convey how amazing the rally was. It is something I want to hold onto because it was that special and gratifying. I always felt supported during the experience.

There was a crew along the route to encourage people or offer water. I think I could have done more training rides to get used to the routes. Other than that, I felt very comfortable with it. I can’t stress the importance of strengthening postural muscles.

P: What advice would you give to others who want to get involved with the Friends for Life bike rally?

RC: Get on a bike. Get comfortable with the bike and include

strength training in your preparation plans. But more importantly, have faith in your process. Have faith that all the training you do is going to help you and know that you’ll get there. It will be wonderful to know that you did something to make a difference in people’s lives.

The PWA’s Friends for Life bike rally raised $1.5 million for people living with HIV and AIDS.

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The

by Valerie Iancovich Photography by JaImE Hogge

GOLDRING

AGE

Meet the people who’ll bring the Centre for High Performance to life

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With the hulking steel skeleton at its full height, a new chapter is beginning to unfold in the story of the Goldring Centre for High Performance Sport. The multi-faceted space has been years in the making and, as it comes to life, plans are well underway to put each and every corner to good use.

The fourth and final phase of the new Varsity Centre complex, the Goldring Centre will be a lot of things to a lot of people. It’s a much-anticipated resource for the region’s high performance athletes, who have long coveted a cuttingedge training venue on a par with those found elsewhere in the country. It’s the impressive new home for the Varsity Blues basketball and volleyball programs. It’s a state-of-the-art space for tens of thousands of students to play, work out and cheer on the Blues. And it’s a hub for sport medicine and sport science research like the University of Toronto has never seen.

What happens within Goldring’s walls will be shaped by people like those featured here – athletes, leaders, researchers, students, doctors, fitness professionals, coaches, trainers, therapists and teachers. And each of them has a vision of what Goldring will mean for them, for the world of sport and for the health of Canadians more broadly.

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The symbiosis between academic and athletic programs is one of the Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education’s most distinct features. According to Dean Ira Jacobs and Anita Comella, assistant dean of co-curricular physical activity and sport, this synergy stands to be further strengthened at the Goldring Centre for High Performance Sport.

Anita Comella and Ira Jacobs

REINFORCING INTEGRATION

“The first thing that this building does is increase our capacity for everything we do. Convergence is also key,” says Jacobs, referencing the sheer expansion of opportunities that the 92,000-square-foot building will afford. This growth will also allow new partnerships to develop and existing collaborations both within the Faculty and beyond to evolve.

For Comella, the integrated set-up will give the varsity program an edge. “Researchers won’t only use athletes as subjects, but they’ll give their findings back to the trainers, athletes and their coaches to better inform them. That’s really unique. You don’t see that all the time.”

As a result, Comella sees the new space as a means to fully realize the vision for high performance sport at U of T, elevating training spaces to match the bolstered human resources recently allotted to the program. “We’ve increased the strength and conditioning coaching that we offer to our teams [see page 26]. Now this amazing infrastructure is going to be aligned with this training.” This expanded framework includes a more robust sport medicine clinic and state-ofthe-art fitness equipment, which Comella predicts will lead to better performances and fewer injuries.

While the Blues’ results on the court are poised to improve, the academic arm of the Faculty is also set to grow stronger.

Jacobs credits the Goldring plans with helping to recruit top talent over the last few years. “We wouldn’t have attracted [some of our new faculty members] if we didn’t have Goldring on the horizon. One of our selling features has been this additional new asset.”

While Goldring has already proven to be a draw for academics and athletes alike, Comella is just as excited about the new opportunities the centre creates for all U of T students.

“Between the new courts and the strength and fitness facility, we are creating even greater access for any student who wants to be active, at any level.” The architecture itself, boasting soaring ceilings and oodles of energy-boosting natural light, may be inspiration enough. “There will certainly be a ‘wow’ factor – and we hope it will keep students coming back again and again.”

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An outstanding athlete isn’t nourished by determination and talent alone. As high performance training becomes increasingly intense, it’s essential that a body pushed to its limits is replenished in efficient and healthy ways. Professor Dan Moore, who joined the Faculty in July, is poised to gain ground in this crucial field of nutrition and high performance sport when he moves to his new research space at Goldring.

Dan Moore

REFUELLING THE ATHLETES

Plans for Moore’s biochemistry lab include state-of-the-art equipment to home in on his research goals. “I’m interested in the role that nutrition can play in enhancing recovery from, and adaptation to, exercise. Specifically, I look at what types and what quality of protein can enhance muscle repair after exercise and therefore help the body to adapt to certain training programs.”

A prize piece in the space will be the gas chromatography mass spectrometer. This highly-sensitive tool allows researchers to study how different nutrients (primarily protein, but also fats and carbohydrates) are metabolized in individuals and within muscle itself, tracking where they go in the body. “From that we can measure how much of each nutrient is incorporated into the muscle and therefore how quickly the muscle is repairing itself after exercise.” While this technology exists elsewhere on campus, no one is yet using it to study muscle response to exercise training.

A lifelong sports enthusiast, Moore is excited to work at a centre so focused on elite athletes, but he is equally passionate about applying his research to broader populations, including children and the elderly. “We know that people lose muscle mass as they age. So how best can we target exercise and nutrition strategies to help hang on to that muscle and make sure that it’s also high-quality? A lot of the findings in healthy, young individuals can be adapted to the needs of other populations. I find that really inspiring.”

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Varsity Blues women’s basketball head coach Michèle Bélanger remembers the glory days of sport at U of T, when the Athletic Centre was built and the then state-of-the-art facility made waves through the world of intercollegiate sport. Head coach since 1979, Bélanger has seen the program through thick and thin, but few milestones have thrilled her as much as moving her team to Goldring.

Michèle Bélanger

REINVIGORATING THE TEAM

“It’s taken us over 30 years to build something for high performance. Moving basketball and volleyball to this fantastic new space, surrounded by great labs that allow professors to really focus on high performance athletes, is sure to regenerate basketball and volleyball on campus.”

Bélanger admits that this renewal won’t happen overnight, but she’s inspired by the potential for growth. “The 2000-seat spectator capacity is really great. We may not draw that many people right away, but one day we will.”

She already sees the impact that Goldring’s prestige is having on team morale. “This building is going to do outstanding things for our players. Some are actually disappointed that they are graduating this year. The team will finally have a place to hang their hats – a change room, a team room.

They’ll have a larger sport medicine clinic with even more of the high-quality care they’re already getting.”

As part of U of T’s core full-time coaching faculty, Bélanger is looking forward to increasing collaboration with her colleagues when both the basketball and volleyball programs call the Goldring Centre home. “It will be great to get back into a unit so that we can talk to each other and get on the same page. It will really boost our team dynamic and give us an inspiring place to engage with our peers.”

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“The Goldring Centre was one of the reasons that I applied to the University of Toronto in the first place,” says graduate student Gillian White. The up-and-coming scholar, who defended her master's thesis in September, wants to know more about how to repair athletes’ damaged muscles and how her findings could apply to broader populations. Come fall 2015, she’ll be well-positioned to delve further into this topic, with standout lab space and unprecedented access to athletes in action.

Gillian White

REFINING RESEARCH

White’s work to date has focused on assessing the efficacy of cold water baths in muscle recovery, under the supervision of Professor Greg Wells. While cold water immersion has long been a post-training practice, White’s research compared subjects’ physiological responses to taking baths of varying temperatures to gain a better understanding of just how icy water needs to be in order to maximize recovery. Even among U of T athletes, temperatures can vary from a cold 20 degrees down to a frosty 10. Her findings could make recovery techniques more effective and efficient, while contributing to the broader understanding of muscle recovery.

In the very early days of the PhD program, White is still finalizing her focus but remains committed to generating research beyond the niche of high performance athletes. “My next study topic will be similar to my master’s – something that applies to high performance sport, but also to general physiology and is more broadly applicable across the wider population.” Focusing on elite athletes represents one end of the spectrum, White says, which is highly valuable when trying to better understand the big picture. “Using them as a study population is logical because you can rather easily consider how your findings would apply across a broad range.”

While White has been working in one of the Faculty’s newest labs in the Athletic Centre, she’s eager to move to a space that integrates several areas of sport science research alongside training and competition. “We’ll all be in the same area as the athletes and all those working with the athletes; just being exposed to how they do things will help to inform and improve how we do things.”

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As its name suggests, Goldring will be a hub of high performance activity. But, just like the Athletic Centre that came before it, the new building must serve double duty as a fitness and recreation venue open to nearly 60,000 students on St. George campus.

Adrian Lightowler and Karen Anderson

REBALANCING THE WORKOUT

Karen Anderson, who manages the Athletic Centre’s strength and conditioning centre, and Adrian Lightowler, the Blues’ strength and conditioning coach, have worked with planners to ensure that Goldring’s four-tiered strength and fitness facility will offer elite athletes the best training resources while meeting the needs of regular members.

Anderson is especially excited about the new studio space, which will have mirrored walls and a hardwood floor, similar to the much-loved, multipurpose dance studio at the Athletic Centre. “We’re hoping to offer some different, innovative programming – a TRX class or a cross fit-type program – something that isn’t being offered at any other facilities on campus.”

The tier that features turf flooring is a key addition for Lightowler’s training plans. “It’s going to be an ideal place to do speed, agility and plyometric exercises. It’s similar to the field sport playing surface, which is softer and more forgiving on athletes’ bodies.” The new weight room will also include an enhanced Olympic training area that will feature force plates and digital analysis, resources not currently offered at the Athletic Centre.

But cutting-edge equipment is only half of the picture. For Anderson the new space means a chance to expand fitness offerings and create a fresh, welcoming environment for recreational users. “At the Athletic Centre, we see quite a range, from the true beginners right up to intercollegiate and high performance athletes. Ideally, I’d like to see a similar complement at the Goldring Centre, so we will train our staff well to generate a culture that is inclusive to that wide range of members.”

For Lightowler, the new facility represents a reward to the athletes, who go above and beyond for their sport, especially as training becomes increasingly demanding. “I always remember that they are students first and athletes second.

The commitment that they make to manage academics and high performance sport is incredible. The design of this new space will offer the most efficient way to get their workouts done so they have time to actually enjoy student life and to be in the classroom, performing well.”

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After three years of diligence and commitment to the team, Varsity Blues volleyball standout Michael Denton is set to cap off his intercollegiate career on a high note: being among the first to spike, serve and volley on the pristine new court at the Goldring Centre.

Michael Denton

REACTIVATING THE GAME

Denton joined the Blues on an academic scholarship, alongside seven other first-years recruited to help a then-fledgling team grow into the improved squad John Barrett coaches today.

Denton says that in the last two years he and his teammates have made significant strides as high performance athletes.

“There’s been a major change in our preparations for the season since I first started, which has a lot to do with our new leadership and Adrian, our strength and conditioning coach.

We have a much more serious training program, especially in the off-season.”

The new space at Goldring will serve as a fitting complement to the revamped training regime and, according to Denton, excitement about the facility is building. “The team room is going to be a big deal. We’ve never had that. Having a place where we can go to get pumped up, where we can hang out between classes, will be amazing.”

Denton predicts that the team will also get an extra morale boost from having visiting schools compete in the impressive new space. “It’s going to be great to host games at Goldring. If we can get a big crowd, it will be a tough place for opponents to come to play.”

Now a fourth-year kinesiology student, Denton is equally as passionate about the integrated nature of the Golding Centre. “The research labs are going to be awesome. It’s a great opportunity for our Faculty, for everyone to work so closely with athletes and trainers.”

As excited as he is about 2015, Denton suspects one year at the new facility won’t quite cut it. “I’m definitely going to try to stay involved after graduation. I’d like to extend my education here at U of T. I really want to get involved with coaching, helping younger athletes and enjoying hanging around the Goldring Centre just a little bit longer.”

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Since the David L. MacIntosh Sport Medicine Clinic first opened its doors over 60 years ago, it has earned a reputation for excellence in the field of athlete care. In 2015, when the clinic relocates from the basement of the Athletic Centre to the Goldring Centre, awareness of its expanded services and expertise is sure to spread. “This is going to be, without a doubt, Canada’s flagship sport medicine clinic,” says medical director Dr. Doug Richards.

Doug Richards and Andrea Prieur

REPAIRING THE BODIES

Head therapist Andrea Prieur agrees. “We’ll be able to serve more people and we’ll be more accessible to the general public. We think of ourselves as the best kept secret on campus. When we’re in that beautiful building, we know that won’t last.”

The new clinic will be twice as large as its current location and this increased capacity will create an opportunity to bring in larger, more sophisticated equipment and shorten wait times for patients. “We already offer a higher minimum standard of care to our varsity and high performance athletes,” Prieur points out. “This will give us the chance to take it to the next level.”

This elevated care will mean offering onsite medical imaging, including X-rays, ultrasound technology and, most ground-breaking, a possible MRI machine. “There are no clinics in the country that have that. And only three in the United States offer these services right in their clinics,” says Richards. He is also excited about having zero gravity treadmills, which use a harness to control the amount of weight a recovering athlete bears while running. Only three exist elsewhere in the province. Recovering athletes will also reap the rewards of the plunge pools slated for the basement of Goldring, which will provide entire teams with unprecedented access to this post-workout muscle rehab remedy.

While this additional equipment and space will enhance care, Richards is enthusiastic about the possibilities for knowledge-sharing that this hive of integrated expertise will create. “The opportunities for teaching and collegial interaction will be unbelievable. We’re going to have physicians, imaging experts, surgeons, physiologists and biomechanists all in the same area.” This set-up, he says, creates the kind of integrated support more common in multidisciplinary hospitals. “In so many ways, there isn’t going to be another clinic in the entire country that can compare. For me, it’s like a dream come true.”

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Construction overview Students weren’t the only ones kicking their work into high gear this September. The Goldring Centre construction site has been a hive of activity, reaching several architectural and engineering milestones in recent weeks.

Enormous trusses that clear a span of over 55 metres and will support the weight of the three above-ground floors were installed in the lower level. These gigantic ties bear the weight of what architects and engineers call “dead” and “live” loads – from thousands of pounds of research equipment to all of the building’s occupants, furniture, rain and snow. “This type of steel structure is actually most similar to a bridge,” says Aaron Letki, of MacLennan Jaunkalns Miller Architects. “Individual pieces were assembled into trusses to allow them to span much longer distances than a simple beam would permit. It is unusual to see this type of structure in a building.”

Conventionally-designed buildings are supported by interior walls or columns. But since the Golding Centre field house’s expansive ceilings cannot have these types of intrusions, the floors must be supported by these exceptionally strong beams.

Hoisting these superstructures has proven a feat in its own right.

On July 26, neighbourhood early-risers awoke to see a mammoth 550-tonne crane creeping down Bloor Street before sunrise for temporary work on the site. The machine is the largest mobile crane in Ontario and travels around the province to heave loads associated with the most lofty infrastructure projects.

Most recently, the entire steel skeleton of the Goldring Centre was put into place, creating a glimpse at the shape of the building to come (pictured right). Workers are currently laying the concrete slabs that make up the floors between the steel beams.

By December, the building is expected to be enclosed and contractors will proceed with internal finishing work over the winter months.

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Goldring capacity, by the numbers

Goldring’s Kimel Family Field House will hold 2,000 basketball and volleyball fans, compared to the 800-fan capacity at the Athletic Centre’s sports gym.

The Goldring Centre will allow the David L. MacIntosh Sport Medicine Clinic to deliver approximately 50,000 services annually to patients, up from approximately 25,000 in its current location.

*Numbers are approximate and based on plans at press time.

100%

Å

100% sport medicine

Å

Å

Å

150% fan capacity

100%

research space

strength and fitness space

Goldring will create dedicated new research space for several faculty members and graduate students, including those working in cardiac health, motor control, human physiology, media studies and sport psychology.

With its multi-tiered strength and fitness centre, Goldring will more than double the Faculty's resources for whipping muscles into shape.

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Š 2012/2013 Marriott International, Inc.

Dean's Message Sub Heading

Legacy of Leadership This place has had a long history in my family and I’m proud of it.”

Adam Zimmerman first got football fever nearly 70 years ago when, as a high school student at University of Toronto Schools, he and good friend Bill Saunderson made weekly visits to Varsity Stadium. They joined some 20,000 fellow fans who packed the stands to cheer on the Blues, reveling in the spirit that swept the campus.

Zimmerman (Trinity 4T9, Football) has seen the program through thick and thin, first as a fan and a player himself, and later as a strong advocate, financial supporter and vocal champion. Friends, family and fellow former Blues gathered on September 27 to honour Zimmerman, during a ceremony to formally name the key gathering place in the Varsity Centre pavilion the Adam Zimmerman Room. Zimmerman was joined at the event by his

PHOTOs/ Jing-Ling Kao-Beserve

wife and fellow U of T alum, The Honorable Barbara McDougall.

“It’s safe to say that Adam Zimmerman, from his days at Trinity and, of course, his proud days as a member of the Varsity Blues football team, has shown extraordinary leadership capacity,” said President David Naylor, who went on to list Zimmerman’s many accomplishments in business and his tireless support of the University of Toronto. “We are fortunate that he has remained involved in the University of Toronto long after he left our campus, and I’m very happy that the spirit of Adam Zimmerman will be here looking out over the Varsity field for many, many decades to come.”

A founding member of the Friends of Football, which rallied against the University’s

plan to cancel the football program, Zimmerman’s reputation as a business leader and his passionate advocacy helped convince the University to change its mind.

His efforts and volunteerism over the years have earned him the University’s Arbor Award and the Faculty’s Loudon Award for the Advancement of Athletics.

Taking in the view of the new Varsity Stadium from the sunlit space which now bears his name, Zimmerman’s nostalgia shone through. “I always loved football; I really loved it. This place has had a long history in my family and I’m proud of it.”

With a birds-eye view of the state-of-the-art new stadium, the Adam Zimmerman Room offered guests of the event the best seat in the house for the Blues’ battle against the Carleton Ravens, which kicked off as the reception wound down. In the spirit of the celebration, the Blues chased the Ravens away, 50-10.

– Althea Blackburn-Evans

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WELL-PLACED TO PRACTISE

by ALTHEA BLACKBURN-EVANS

This past September, a time when many people embarked on new experiences, Luigi Nalli (BPHE 0T7) marked a major career milestone. The young chiropractor, just one year into the job, took over the practice of his longtime mentor – someone who years ago opened a door that many others had shut.

In 2006, Nalli was a third-year PHE student searching for a chiropractic clinic to complete his second professional placement course the following semester. “The Faculty had chiropractors who were already [part of the placement program], but I liked the idea of doing a placement closer to home.” So the Mississauga-based student started knocking on the doors of clinics in his area, hoping to find a willing mentor.

After dozens of rejections, Nalli found Dr. David Gryfe. “I figured he’d be like the 20 doctors before him who weren’t interested, but he said he’d love to meet me.”

Walking into the Humber Family Chiropractic Clinic, Nalli made an instant connection with Gryfe, and the placement plans were set. The following year, on his Tuesday and Thursday visits to the clinic, Nalli was inspired by Gryfe’s approach to patient care. “Everyone he would see, everyone I got to meet, all loved him. He had such positive interactions with everybody, and, in a way, his patients became friends, too.” Nalli credits the experience – and the written reflections required in the placement course, which helped him see the “pros far outweighed the cons” – with solidifying his career path in chiropractic medicine.

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Nalli's interest in the health sciences dates back to high school, when the self-described “heavier kid” discovered wrestling, got into shape, and became his friends’ go-to guy for tips on fitness. Inspired by his older brother, a personal trainer and kinesiology student at York University, Nalli looked to the classroom – in particular, a grade 12 course in exercise science – to expand his knowledge about physical activity and health.

There he met teacher Laura Zago (BPHE 9T2, OISE 9T3, Volleyball), his first U of T connection. “She was a big reason why I chose U of T. I was impressed with the knowledge she had, and the class was a good mix of physical and social sciences, just like [the Faculty’s BPHE program].”

During his time with the Faculty, the sense of camaraderie, the physical activity classes and the standout teachers – for Nalli those were Doug Richards and Jack Goodman – made for fond memories, but he credits the placement program for helping him discover his strengths and his passion.

The determination that drove Nalli to knock on so many doors back in 2006 is what he draws from now, as the owner of a thriving practice at just 27. “Most people who know me will tell you that when I put my mind to something, I’m determined and that’s all there is to it. When I was making calls to all those chiropractors who kept saying no, no, no…maybe things just happen for a reason. Had someone else said yes, where would I have ended up? I would like to think that everything, from that placement class all the way to today, did happen for a reason. It was a great class and it’s gotten me here.”

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Alumni Updates Getting together

Family affair for former Blues

U of T Sports Hall of Fame Fresh off a plane from Sault Ste. Marie, former Blue’s women’s tennis star Alice Ridout (pictured) headed straight to Hart House for her induction into U of T’s Sports Hall of Fame.

Her eyes twinkling as she received her corsage at the preceremony reception, she spoke of how she had just finished teaching two classes earlier that day and dashed straight to the airport, eager to reconnect with her fellow Blues. All around Ridout in the Great Hall, there were warm hugs, hearty handshakes and tearful reunions as past and present Hall of Fame inductees gathered to celebrate their honours.

Although the British import’s parents could not make it to Toronto from England to celebrate her accomplishments, there was no doubt that Ridout was among family.

The June 6 ceremony at Hart House Theatre acknowledged the stellar accomplishments of eight athletes, two teams and one builder, while celebrating the bonds created between teammates, coaches and, in Ridout’s case, the staff at the David L. MacIntosh Sport Medicine Clinic.

“In 1990, I was told by my back specialist that I would never play tennis again,” Ridout said, tearing up during her induction speech. “The sport medicine clinic told me otherwise.”

She credited the clinic staff for being instrumental to her success at U of T. Other inductees noted that support from their teammates mirrored the support they got at home. “I know most people would say swimming is an individual sport,” said former Blues swimmer Beth Hollihan, whose 19 provincial titles and nine national medals cemented her spot in the Hall of Fame.

“But for me it was about the team. They made me want to be better and try harder every day. They raised me as much as my parents.”

Vanier Cup titles in 1993. Watching a clip of highlights from their incredible season was a chance to relive what offensive guard and individual inductee David Scandiffio called a “magical time” for the Blues.

“We’re honoured to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, but Flooding the theatre like a cheerful band of brothers, the 1993 more than that, we’re honoured to call ourselves a family,” said cornerback Brian Devonish, standing at the podium men’s football team reunited in one of the most anticipated and beaming at his teammates as he spoke on their behalf. highlights of the night. After saluting their former head “You’re looking at a group of guys I would die for any day of coach Bob Laycoe at a reception earlier in the evening, over the week.” –Adrienne Harry 50 athletes from the team gathered on stage to accept their induction for their impressive 11-1 record and Yates and

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PHOTOS/ Jing-Ling Kao-Beserve

Class of 6T3 The class of 6T3 were very active this year in celebrating their 50th reunion. Twentynine alumni got together at Camp Robin Hood in Markham, Ontario, on May 29. Many also attended U of T’s Spring Reunion events on campus and enjoyed a tour of the facilities that current kinesiology students use every day. A big thanks to class rep Joanne Moyle for bringing this group together, and to Judy Paterson for organizing the tour on campus.

Back Row: Betty Cullingworth, Larry Bell, John Webster, Phil Bradstock, Jim McAdams, Wayne Wessell, Jim Gilchrist, Ken Thrush

Middle Row: Bonnie Pronk, Tussy Goode, Ariel Kappler, Tom Sears, Pat Brand, Joanne Moyle, Anne Cuff, Irene Jakubow, Sue Hubert

Front Row: Kersti Lepik, Donna Ervine, Jill Kalotay, Sheila Romeiko, Inge Neumann, Glenn Marshall, Larry Dodd, Betty Sharpe, Sue Kanitz, Judy Paterson

Back Row: Murray Hadlow, Dunc Ellis, Jim Frame, Peggy Walker, Joe Harris, Doug Swales, Mary McDonald Front Row Sitting: Marny Riddell, Bill Bewley, Lyn McVey Front Row Standing Left: Dorothy Fulford, Doreen Crone, Mary Jane Smith Front Standing Right: Jane Hansuld, Janet Sheridan, Donna Graham, Gerry Henderson

Class of 5T3

On June 2 members of the class of 5T3 gathered to celebrate their 60th reunion at the Credit Valley Golf and Country Club in Mississauga. Seventeen of the 40 members of this graduating class gathered to celebrate this milestone.

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Alumni Updates

UPCOMING EVENTS AND OFFERS CIS Women’s Soccer Championships November 7-10, 2013 Varsity Centre Stadium For tickets visit www.varsityblues.ca Alumni Reception: November 7, 5:30pm, Adam Zimmerman Room, Varsity Centre Contact Rachel Keeling at rachel. keeling@utoronto.ca

Faculty Research Symposium – Extreme Human Physiology December 3, 2013 Isabel Bader Theatre For more details closer to the date, visit www.physical.utoronto.ca

CIS Swimming Championships February 20-22, 2014 Varsity Pool, Athletic Centre For tickets visit www.varsityblues.ca Alumni Reception: February 20, 2014, 4:30pm, Athletic Centre Lobby Contact Rachel Keeling at rachel. keeling@utoronto.ca

Varsity Blues Ticketing Flex Pass Support our basketball, hockey and volleyball teams and save! For $100 receive a Flex Pass ticket package that gives you 12 tickets to any regular season OUA home games. For more information contact David Frizzell at david.frizzell@utoronto.ca

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Judy Chu, centre, with President David Naylor (left) and Chancellor Michael Wilson

Arbor Awards President David Naylor hosted the annual Arbor Awards ceremony at his home on September 10. The event recognizes the most outstanding volunteers from across the University. The Faculty was proudly represented by four longtime supporters who have offered their time and expertise to various areas, including athletics, KPE placements and campaign advising.

Judy Chu has been contributing as a volunteer mentor to the Faculty’s professional placement program for 27 years. She works as a kinesiologist in the department of fitness and health promotion at Terraces of Baycrest, a global leader in innovations related to aging and brain health.

Hans Fischer has been with the Varsity Blues Nordic ski team since he was the team’s rookie of the year in 1999, eventually rising to the rank of head coach.

While juggling his coaching duties Hans completed his PhD in biomedical nanotechnology in the fall of 2010.

That same year, he was recognized by

Ontario University Athletics (OUA) as coach of the year.

Chris Tortorice has been affiliated with the University of Toronto golf program since 1997, first as a player, and then as a coach, manager and administrator. He guided the Blues men to an OUA title in his first year, and has since helped the women’s squad to two provincial titles in the past four years. Chris was named the 2012 OUA women’s golf coach of the year.

Neil Wright has been involved with the Faculty for over five years. As the chair of the Harbord Street BIA, Neil has promoted the Varsity Blues programs to the community, encouraged external partnerships, and engaged various community leaders in the Faculty’s community outreach plans and programs. Neil is also a member of the Campaign Advisory Board for the Goldring Centre for High Performance Sport capital campaign, and has contributed creative solutions to secure new funding for the project.

PHOTO/ ©2013 Gustavo Toledo Photograph

Alumni Updates

Golf Tournaments

Men’s Hockey Golf Tournament The men’s hockey team and alumni gathered on July 9 at King’s Riding Golf Club in King City, Ontario, to tee off, catch up and celebrate the team.

PICTURED/ L to R: John Precious, Rocci Pagnello, Ron Harris, Allen Gelberg

Football Golf Tournament On August 13 the Varsity football team and the Varsity Leadership Foundation hosted their annual golf tournament at Mill Run Golf Club in Uxbridge, Ontario. Alumni and Blues athletes and coaches gathered to enjoy a great day of golf as they looked forward to the 2013 season.

David Naylor

honoured at the President’s Reception Women’s Hockey Golf Tournament

The women’s hockey team hosted another successful golf tournament this year – an event that has grown to become the program’s biggest annual fundraiser. A big thank-you goes to Kylemore Communities and Angus Glen Golf Club for sponsoring and hosting the event.

At the annual President’s Reception – a luncheon hosted

by President Naylor to celebrate varsity athletes and the staff who support their program – the president himself received a standing ovation. In honour of his long-standing support for athletics and his final term as president, Dean Ira Jacobs presented President Naylor with the Thomas R. Loudon Award for the advancement of athletics at the University of Toronto.

PICTURED/ L to R: Deandra Locicero, Dave Wakabayashi, Safiya Muharuma and Candice Ceelen PURSUIT | FALL 2013

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Alumni Updates

Class Notes 1960s

1980s

Paul Carson

Dan Thompson

Cary Kaplan

BA 6T7

BPHE 8T1, Swimming

BA 9T2

A longtime University of Toronto sport historian and former staff member, Paul was the recipient of the J.P. Loosemore Award at the Ontario University Athletics Honour Awards Banquet in May. Paul was recognized for his contributions to athletics and recreation while always upholding the principles of ethics, integrity and honesty. We congratulate Paul on this well-deserved honour.

Last June, Dan began an exciting new career as the CEO of Skate Canada.

He was previously the president of the Canadian Tire Foundation, which advocates for kids’ involvement in sport and recreation. We wish Dan the best as he continues to do positive work in Canada’s athletic community.

Cary, the president of Cosmos Sports, has brought an exciting sport connection back to his alma mater this year, introducing the first professional ultimate disc team to the City of Toronto. The Toronto Rush, the first Canadian franchise in the American Ultimate Disc League, partnered with the Faculty to host their eight home games at Varsity Centre.

Kay Worthington BA 8T3, Rowing

Kay was celebrated this fall with induction into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame, alongside her teammates who won the gold for Canada at the 1992 Summer Olympic Games in the women’s coxless 4 event. For more on Kay’s gold-medal accomplishments, see page 44.

Rick Makos BSc 8T4, Football and the Varsity Leadership Foundation

The Varsity Leadership Foundation continues to be a chief supporter of the Varsity football program. The tireless work of alumni like the foundation’s president, Rick Makos, has resulted in significant contributions to the football program since the inception of the Varsity Leadership Foundation in 1993.

In addition to his leading role with the foundation, Rick acted as MC at the University of Toronto Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony in June.

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1990s

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2000s Daniel Correia BPHE 0T6, OISE 2007, Football

Dan has recently assumed the volunteer role of chair of the Faculty’s Restricted Funds Committee. He joined the committee last year and will now contribute his time and insights as a wealth management professional in his lead role. Dan is also active in the sport community as a volunteer coach for a local high school football team.

Alumni Updates

In Memory Henry Sissons BA 3T7, Hockey

Henry passed away on May 12 at the age of 98. He had a varied and rich life, accepting a scholarship to play hockey in Germany shortly after graduation and before the Second World War began. He was involved in the war effort, playing a pivotal role in the flow of critical materials between Ottawa and Washington. He went on to pursue a public sector career as an executive with Ontario Hydro. Henry was also a former chair of the board at Victoria College and remained active within the University throughout his life. He was recognized with an Arbour Award in 1991.

The Hon. Justice A M Carter

Prof. Brian S. Merrilees

BA 4T0, Water Polo

Volunteer and friend of the track and field team

On March 20, Justice Carter passed away at the age of 94. A graduate of Victoria College, he was a member of the champion Varsity water polo team in 1939 and continued to swim throughout his life and career as a judge.

Dianne Halika PHE 6T7

Dianne passed away on June 13 at the age of 66. Dianne was a physical and health educator who strove to instill a sense of self-worth in her students through the promotion of physical fitness.

Gregory McFadden PHE 5T1, Football, Track & Field

Gregory passed away at the age of 85 on June 27. After graduation, he went on to become a teacher and kept his love of sport alive throughout his life.

Brian passed away at the age of 74 on September 6.

When the retired professor of French was not in one of his favourite libraries, he was enjoying his other calling: athletics. He was a long-standing supporter and volunteer for the Varsity Blues track and field team, always a familiar face at track events. He frequented fields and golf courses and consistently incorporated sport into his life. The Faculty is grateful for his steadfast support throughout his life.

Ellen Perrin PHE 4T8

Ellen passed away peacefully on June 29 in her 87th year. After graduation, she pursued a teaching career, during which time she also coached high school basketball.

Donald Phalen

Dr. Douglas Wigle

PHE 4T8

MD 5T3, Football, Basketball

Donald died on May 29 at the age of 90. After earning his degree, he began working for the YMCA and became a leader within that organization while maintaining an active lifestyle throughout his years.

A renowned cardiologist, Douglas passed away on July 3 at the age of 84. He was the director of cardiology at Toronto General Hospital and a leader in his field.

Jack Roberts BA 5T2, Football

Jack passed away on April 14 at the age of 83. An avid athlete, he was part of the champion Blues football team in 1951 and went on to win the Grey Cup in 1952 with the Toronto Argonauts.

Jack became an actuary after his football career and rose to the top of his field as the president of Canadian General Life Insurance.

Terence Wardrop BA 5T1, Hockey

OTHER ALUMNI WHO PASSED AWAY IN 2013 INCLUDE: Michael Bonnycastle Engineering 6T0, Swimming

Dr. Thomas Broadhurst Engineering 5T2, Soccer

Anna Radecki BSc 7T1, Hockey

Jacqueline Sanderson PHE 5T5

Norman Seagram Engineering 5T8, Squash

A former chair of Governing Council, Terence died at the age of 83 on April 10.

Terence was passionate about sport, and in addition to his time with the Blues, he was an avid canoeist, tennis player and skier.

Gerald Wojdon Engineering 5T8, Basketball

Our condolences to family and friends.

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Time OUT

Double Happiness

By Althea Blackburn-Evans

These golden beauties, designed by celebrated Spanish sculptor Xavier Corbero for the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, take their cue from the original Trionfo – Italian for “triumph” – first created for the medals of the 1928 Games. The pair belong to former Blues rower Kay Worthington (UC 8T3), whose path to triumph was a winding one but, in the end, ever so sweet.

Worthington catapulted from a successful varsity career onto the world stage, spending seven years with the national team and enjoying some strong successes.

Then a crushing defeat in Seoul in 1988, her second Olympic Games, knocked the wind out of her. The loss was so devastating Worthington thought she’d never row again. But after three years away from the sport, she decided that the only way to overcome her biggest disappointment in rowing was to get back in the boat.

Determined just enough to displace one member of the 1991 national team, Worthington headed to Barcelona to compete in the eights and play back-up for the coxless four. At the eleventh hour, faced with an injured teammate in the four, Worthington found herself in the boat for both competitions – and shook off the shadows of Seoul to race her way to gold, twice.

The next year, Worthington was inducted into the U of T Sports Hall of Fame and now, 20 years later, she has taken the national honour. She and her coxless four teammates shared the limelight once more as they were inducted into the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame on October 16.

Looking back on her storied career, Worthington admits that while Olympic victory was indeed sweet, the lessons in adversity and perseverance proved more valuable than gold. “It wasn’t about the result, it was about the journey,” she reflects. “The path is the reward.”

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PHOTO/ Anne Kohler

We Have the gear. Do you have the drive?

Proud Sponsor of the Varsity BlueS • Ordering for your team? Ask in store for details Varsity Sports Store Athletic Centre • 55 Harbord St Toronto ON M5S 2W6 (416) 977 8220

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May 28-31

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