The Root Spring 2019

Root THE UTS ALUMNI MAGAZINE

SPRING 2019

A GROUNDBREAKING MOMENT •

UTS Celebrates the Beginning of a Historic Transformation

PRESIDENT'S REPORT

Mark Opashinov ’88 PRESIDENT, UTSAA

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Past Students, Future Builders The beginning of construction to renovate and renew our school building made me pause to consider the collective effort that put the shovel in the ground at 371 Bloor. In particular, I was reminded of how uniquely supportive of this project our alumni have been, both in terms of financial contributions and overall enthusiasm.

The Building the Future campaign is the fundraising engine powering the transformation of UTS, and alumni have provided much of its horsepower. Of the $53.1 million raised towards the campaign’s $60 million goal (as of this writing), a remarkable 81% has been donated by UTS alumni. In addition, more than 10.5% has come from the estates of alumni. As an alumni association and as an institution, we often talk about how the bonds forged among UTS students — and between students and the school — carry on for decades after graduation. I can’t think of any stronger proof of this than the material commitment so many alumni have made to ensure future students experience the same benefits.

Even more than the dollar amount, it is the broad participation of alumni donors that stands out. While alumni are strongly represented among the 16 Founder-level gifts of $1 million or more made to the campaign thus far, hundreds more have given to move the project forward. It has been incredibly rewarding to see the alumni community rally en masse in support of Building the Future, an unprecedented initiative in UTS history.

What’s more, support for the UTS bursary program has remained strong as the building campaign has progressed. While our alumni understand the imperative to revitalize our building, they have continued to support the financial accessibility and merit-based admission process that make UTS distinctive among independent schools.

Alumni giving, through individual donations, graduating class projects, and other group giving initiatives, has been crucial in bringing UTS to this moment of imminent transformation. With that in mind, I invite you to look for new UTSAA donationmatching opportunities in the near future.

I am inspired by what we’ve done, and by what we’ll continue to do — because in true UTS fashion, I know we’ll see this project through to completion.

UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO SCHOOLS ALUMNI ASSOCIATION 371 Bloor Street West, Room 121 Toronto, Ontario M5S 2R7

UTSAA BOARD OF DIRECTORS PRESIDENT

TREASURER

HONORARY PRESIDENT

Mark Opashinov ’88

Kristina Bates ’88, P ’22

Rosemary Evans

VICE PRESIDENT

SECRETARY

HONORARY VICE PRESIDENT

Aaron Dantowitz ’91

Jenny Pitt-Lainsbury

Mark.Opashinov@utschools.ca

Laura Money ’81

Phone: 416-978-3919 Fax: 416-971-2354 E-mail: alumni@utschools.ca

Laura.Money@utschools.ca

Tina.Bates@utschools.ca

Aaron.Dantowitz@utschools.ca

REvans@utschools.ca

jpittlainsbury@utschools.ca

DIRECTORS

Jonathan Bitidis ’99

Jonathan.Bitidis@utschools.ca

Aaron Chan ’94

Web: www.utschools.ca/alumni

Aaron.Chan@utschools.ca

Facebook: www.fb.com/utschools

David.Dodds@utschools.ca

Twitter and Instagram: @utschools

Anne Fleming ’85, P ’17

David Dodds ’73

Anne.Fleming@utschools.ca

Peter Frost ’63

Peter.Frost@utschools.ca

Sara Son Hing ’97

sara.son.hing@utschools.ca

Oliver Jerschow ’92

Oliver.Jerschow@utschools.ca

Peter Neilson ’71

Peter.Neilson@utschools.ca

Bob Pampe ’63

Bob.Pampe@utschools.ca

Morgan Ring ’07

Morgan.Ring@utschools.ca

Tim Sellers ’78

Tim.Sellers@utschools.ca

Ian Speers ’98

ian.speers@utschools.ca

CONTENTS 8 BREAKING NEW GROUND

REGULAR FEATURES

Behind the scenes at a historic event for UTS.

UTS Board Report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Principal’s Report. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Fundraising Fun . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

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In School. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

HITTING THE RIGHT NOTE How generations of UTS staff changed music education.

Alumni News. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Mark Your Calendars. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

PUBLISHER

DESIGN

ON THE COVER

Martha Drake

PageWave Graphics Inc.

The UTS student Co-Captains put the ceremonial shovel into the ground at UTS. (photo by Dahlia Katz)

MANAGING EDITOR AND STAFF WRITER

Matt Semansky EDITOR

Sumner & Lang PROOFREADER

Morgan Ring ’07

PHOTOGRAPHY

Pages 8–13, 20, 21 Dahlia Katz PRINTER

Colour Systems Inc.

ABOVE

All smiles at the UTS Groundbreaking Ceremony. (photo by Dahlia Katz) CONTRIBUTORS

Our thanks to this issue’s contributors – Martha Drake, Rosemary Evans, Jim Fleck, Warren Lang, Mark Opashinov ’88, Karen Sumner.

Published in spring and fall, The Root is available to all alumni, parents, and friends of UTS. The issue is also available at: www.utschools.ca/root. Contact us at alumni@utschools.ca or 416-978-3919 to update your address or receive your copy electronically.

UTS BOARD REPORT

Jim Fleck C.C. ’49, P ’72 Board Chair, UTS

PRINCIPAL’S REPORT

Rosemary Evans Principal, UTS

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Groundbreaking.

That word was on my mind last December during the UTS Groundbreaking ceremony, when our community celebrated the beginning of construction on the building project that will rejuvenate our school. I had the opportunity to join many of the people who have helped make the vision of the Building the Future campaign a reality, as we lifted the first symbolic shovelfuls of dirt. With His Worship John Tory ’72 , Mayor of Toronto, University of Toronto President Meric Gertler and Vice‑President, Advancement David Palmer, as well as former UTS Elder-in-Residence Cat Criger participating in the ceremony, the Groundbreaking demonstrated the positive impact that our school makes throughout the city. The evening was a tremendous success, and a tribute to all of the people who worked so hard to make it happen. If the ceremony was about the literal breaking of ground, it also brought to mind the other meaning of groundbreaking. After all, our students, staff and alumni consistently break ground with bold new ideas in fields ranging from teaching and learning to technology to the creation of an equitable, inclusive society.

Michael Liu ’15 is one example of groundbreaking talent. The 21st Rhodes Scholar to emerge from our school, Michael has combined his interest in medicine with a passion for public advocacy on behalf of vulnerable populations. There are shining lights among our current students, too, including Angela Li (S5/Grade 11), who created her own non‑governmental organization to address the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

I can’t wait to see how young minds like these will shape the world with their ideas and accomplishments. Now that we’ve broken ground on the construction at 371 Bloor Street West, we’re that much closer to empowering generations of UTS students to discover and implement the groundbreaking ideas of the future.

Wellness has become central to our work at UTS, where we recognize that it provides a foundation for academic and life success. Students, staff and parents have met frequently to discuss wellness issues and how we can shape a healthy climate at UTS. In the fall, we held a parent forum to build understanding and provide a framework for parents to identify needs. The panel consisted of UTS alumnus Dr. David Kreindler ’84, an adolescent psychiatrist at Sunnybrook Health Sciences; UTS parent, psychiatrist and sleep expert Dr. Marta Novak; and psychologist Dr. Natasha Sharma, as well as two UTS students.

Our community has identified the need for an ongoing process that supports continuous improvement in wellness. Thanks to Physical and Health Education Department Coordinator Kris Ewing, UTS is one of the first independent schools in the province to register for the Ontario Physical and Health Education Association (OPHEA) Healthy Schools Accreditation Program. This program focuses on Physical Activity, Healthy Eating, Personal Safety and Injury Prevention, Growth and Development, Mental Health, and Substance Use, Addictions and Related Behaviours.

The OPHEA process is cyclical, from dynamic planning to action and to reflection.

Our team, which includes students, staff and parents, assessed needs and determined that our first two priorities are Personal Safety and Injury Prevention and Mental Health. Our initial action plan involved developing a week of wellness and social justice activities in April to augment our Day of Pink celebrations.

S6/Grade 12 student Lian Lambert played a pivotal role in organizing the week.

She invited all members of the student community, with a particular focus on equityseeking and wellness groups such as the Black Equity Group, the Pink Day Crew and the Indigenous Solidarity Committee, to brainstorm ideas. Jennifer Pitt-Lainsbury, Head of Student Support and Student Innovation, involved staff and parents in the planning process as well. Following the week we will reflect on our progress, celebrate our success and start the cycle over.

Wellness is a journey, and we are working to develop a framework that sustains a healthy climate for all UTS students.

THE FUN IN FUNDRAISING “Martha looks at me and sees a big fat wallet!” joked one of our campaign Founders. Indeed, there has never been an emphasis on fundraising of this magnitude in the history of UTS, so I can appreciate what prompted this remark. However, it’s not true!

While the encouragement of philanthropy at unprecedented levels has been our raison d’être since the launch of the Building the Future campaign in September 2017, it is the UTS community that is at the heart of this campaign. The money is simply the means to build our future, so that those of us blessed by UTS can keep our community, and so that generations of UTS students may join us to receive an unparalleled education at our beloved school.

At a year-and-a-half into the Building the Future campaign, I can’t help but reflect on some of the key moments on the campaign trail.

This year alone, the Building the Future campaign and building project have brought 1,600 UTS community members together to celebrate the school — from the Bon Voyage, 371 party in June to the Hello Humbert party in August to the Groundbreaking in December.

There have been some fun moments, such as when Board Director and actor Winsome Brown ’90 offered to host a campaign event in New York, only to learn that she had to be in Vancouver for the filming of the TV show Supergirl. Winsome’s husband, Claude, hosted UTS in her absence, and “Our Super Girl” Winsome joined us via FaceTime to deliver a compelling and gracious address from the West Coast — making the event our first coast-to-coast campaign reception.

Last spring, UTS parents pulled together in a grade challenge to participate in the campaign. Overall, parent support to the school increased by 254% with 172 first-time donors. The fun and new friends made in the process were the icing on the cake!

In December, at a UTS student and staff hockey match, staff coach Tom MacMillan ’67 — also a UTS Board Director, Campaign Cabinet member and member of the Building Project Steering Committee — challenged the staff team to win the game with a promise of a bonus donation to the Building the Future campaign. The staff rose to the occasion (or maybe the UTS students were easy on them). With a staff to student final score of 4-2, Tom made good on his word!

So, do I look at alumni, parents, staff and students with dollar signs in my eyes? No. What I see is a community that cares deeply about UTS and is keen to give back to build the future.

Martha Drake

Executive Director, Advancement

Coach Tom MacMillan (far left) and the players at the studentstaff hockey game.

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IN SCHOOL

As students and alumni well know, developing a commitment to responsible citizenship is a core tenet of the UTS experience. In January, the school partnered with the Afghan Women’s Organization to offer training to ten UTS students on how to provide outreach services to new Canadians.

These students subsequently volunteered in neighbourhoods throughout the Greater Toronto Area, helping to welcome newcomers with advice, tutoring, and friendly faces.

UTS students have embraced the unique opportunities afforded by the school’s temporary location in the Queen-Ossington neighbourhood. One highlight of the area is the vibrant street art, which inspired S5 (Grade 11) visual arts students to take a tour of the graffiti galleries in the laneways around the school. Beyond artistic appreciation, the excursion — led by student facilitators — gave participants the chance to learn about the history of the form, and how street art can make positive change in neighbourhoods.

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UTS student-athletes have enjoyed success on the course, in the pool, and on the court in 2018-19. Sam Ford (S6/Grade 12) earned a silver medal in the Ontario Federation of Student Athletic Associations (OFSAA) Senior Girls Cross Country race, adding to her phenomenal running record at UTS. Meanwhile, the UTS Swim Team finished second overall at the University of Toronto High School Invitational meet, thanks to a first-place showing from the boys and a fifthplace performance from the girls. Finally, the Varsity Girls Volleyball team won a silver medal at the OFSAA Single A tournament.

In School

When she won the ProjectBoard Impossible Science Student Challenge, Ananya Chadha (S5/Grade 11), earned a prize for the entire school. Her entry in the competition, a project in which she used electrodes to manoeuvre a remote-controlled car with her brain, was, as the ProjectBoard team described it, “literally mind-blowing.”

Thanks to her victory, all of UTS got to enjoy the mind-blowing magic of Jason Latimer, a renowned illusionist who uses science to wow the crowds at his shows.

It was a unique star performance by Latimer, brought about by Ananya — one of the rising stars at UTS.

In October, UTS was host to a Hackergal Hackathon, an event that brought Grade 7-8 girls from across the city to the school’s temporary location at 30 Humbert for a chance to show off their coding skills. The friendly competition embodied Hackergal’s mission to introduce more young women to coding, the UTS commitment to enriching opportunities for our students in the STEM fields, and above all, the incredible talents of the students themselves.

Last fall, four senior students accompanied Principal Rosemary Evans and visual arts teacher Janet Williamson to Shanghai, at the invitation of Number Two High School Attached to East China Normal University (HSEFZ). The UTS sister school was celebrating its 60th anniversary, and in addition to participating in the ceremony, UTS delegates toured Shanghai, attended classes at HSEFZ, and visited the city of Hangzhou. The trip marked the third occasion that UTS staff and students have visited HSEFZ — whose students have twice made the opposite journey — and the two schools are working towards an official partnership for future exchanges, program development, and research.

For more UTS news and views, check out our blog, @371, at utschools.ca/blog.

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Breaking New Ground

By Matt Semansky

THE UTS GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY WAS AN UNPRECEDENTED MOMENT FOR UTS, AND THE ENTIRE SCHOOL COMMUNITY MADE IT HAPPEN

O L-R: UTS Board Chair Jim Fleck, University of Toronto President Meric Gertler and UTS Principal Rosemary Evans break ground at 371 Bloor Street West.

ne of the most significant days in UTS history was ushered in on a winter wind. On December 12, 2018, the ground surrounding 371 Bloor Street West was frozen solid, looking up at a grey sky that threatened snow. It was a day for puffy coats and toques, for watching the steam rise from hot coffees and teas and intermingle with clouds of exhaled breath. For getting indoors as much and as quickly as possible.

But the cold was no obstacle for more than a dozen UTS alumni, students, staff and partners now gathering near the corner of Bloor and Huron, donning hard hats and picking up shovels. This day was 108 years in the making, the last seven of which had featured a dedicated effort to secure the future of the school and the revitalization of the UTS building. So many had done so much to bring the UTS community to this moment of celebration, and this was the time to break ground — frozen or otherwise.

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TOP LEFT: Taiko drummers pounding out a dramatic rhythm.

TOP RIGHT (L-R): Toronto Mayor John Tory ’72, Jim Fleck C.C. ’49, P ’72 and Principal Rosemary Evans turn the ceremonial soil.

ABOVE CENTRE: Alumni, students, staff and partners pose onstage in John & Margaret Withrow Hall (UTS Auditorium)

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Several of the most influential shepherds of the UTS Building Project were on hand. Board Chair Jim Fleck C.C. ’49, P ’72 , UTS Principal Rosemary Evans, and University of Toronto President Meric Gertler, the three architects of the 2015 affiliation agreement that secured the future relationship between the school and the university — and prompted the Building the Future campaign — stood shoulder to shoulder.

They were joined by the award-winning architect of the revitalized building itself, Don Schmitt ’70, as well as honorary campaign co-chair Hal Jackman O.C. ’50 and other luminaries from our community.

Gloved hands gripped shovels and dug into the mound of fresh dirt that had been piled on top of the icy lawn for the occasion. Frigid faces craned up and smiled for the camera. A few snaps later, and the UTS Groundbreaking had been captured for posterity.

But there was so much more to come.

“To me, this moment is really special because it’s a culmination of the care, the support, and the hard work of not only the UTS administration

and staff, but also students, parents, and alumni.

All the support they give to UTS has led to this moment.”

Cameron Huang (S6/Grade 12), School Co-Captain for 2018-19, stood in the halls of 371 Bloor Street and reflected on the symbolic significance of the UTS Groundbreaking. Cameron had, like almost everyone in the UTS community, been well aware of the Building the Future campaign and the plan to renovate and improve the school’s facilities. Now, having been part of the delegation that posed for the chilly picture commemorating this historic day, she was struck by the sheer number of people who had come together to make it happen — and excited to be a part of it.

Of course, UTS being UTS, one moment of celebration could never be enough. It was a community effort that took the school from the brink of losing its building, its connection with the University of Toronto, and even its name to the bright future outlined in the affiliation agreement and reinforced by the Building the Future campaign. Thus, it was only appropriate that the

community be able to join in the excitement. And since only so many people can fit on a street corner in the middle of a December weekday, the shovels were broken out again just a few hours later for an indoor ceremony in the John and Margaret Withrow Hall.

The event drew attendees from all corners of the UTS community, with some, like Nicole Agnew Konzelmann ’95, making the trip from out of town. For Nicole, who is Partner, Principal Investment Area for Goldman Sachs in New York, the Groundbreaking was an opportunity to reconnect with the school.

“I hadn’t walked through those middle doors and gone to the auditorium in, I don’t know, 15 years?” Nicole says. “So I was struck by the fact that we need a new building. When you’re in high school, you tend not to notice these things.”

Just before 5:00 p.m., the heart-pounding beat of Taiko drums beckoned attendees from the lobby into the auditorium proper. There, they were treated to an address by one of the school’s most publicly visible and influential alumni: His Worship John Tory ’72 , Mayor, City of Toronto.

The Mayor joked about his disciplinary run-ins with former headmaster Brock MacMurray, and also spoke to the uniqueness of the school in preparing future leaders, and the relationships that students carry forward through the decades.

“This groundbreaking is great for UTS, and it shows the importance of the entire community working together to help our institutions continue to succeed,” said the Mayor in an email a few weeks after the ceremony.

“Our success as a city is founded first and foremost on education and smart people. UTS, while small in some respects, is big in the smart people business. That track record, that tradition, is so vital, and it is part of what makes our city such a great place to live and to grow.”

Nicole found Mayor Tory’s comments at the event inspirational, as they spoke to the longstanding bonds with the school that endure after graduation for so many UTS students.

“I found it to be very humbling to hear about the long history and the profound impact the school made on people, and that they would have this kind of attachment to it.”

TOP LEFT (L-R): Susan Opler ’79 and Monica Biringer ’78 discuss the First Girls Initiative to support Building the Future.

ABOVE: Architect Don Schmitt ’70 explains the design highlights of the revitalized UTS. BOTTOM LEFT (L-R): Principal Evans, Mayor John Tory and Jim Fleck are led through a land consecration ceremony by former UTS Elder-inResidence Cat Criger.

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Jim Fleck shares a laugh with Mayor John Tory.

Even the youngest members of the UTS community were moved by this tribute to the historic school building and the relationships that have grown within it. Walking through the halls of a building in which he has never taken a class, F1 (Grade 7) student Siddesh Mitra said, “I feel a sense of nostalgia, which is kind of odd, because I’ve never been a student in here.

“What I hope for in the future is that the building is still able to capture the charm and sense of history that it had before and still has now.

I want it to be kind of a hybrid between new and old — not letting go of the past, but building for the future.”

“I want it to be... a hybrid between new and old.”

Fortunately, Don Schmitt was on hand to assure young students like Siddesh that their hopes were in good hands. From the stage, the Principal at Diamond Schmitt Architects (DSAI) outlined how new features such as a 700-seat auditorium, a double-gymnasium, a media lab, and a new library and commons area would be grafted onto the historic façade of the building.

The presentation, and the Groundbreaking as a whole, left an impression on Elijah Goldstein (S6/ 12

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Grade 12), student Co-Captain for 2018-19.

“We’ve known that the renovation was going to come for some time, but now it seems really real,” Elijah says. “The shovels are going in the ground, the construction is starting, and we can start to picture what it’s going to look like in the end.”

The Mayor and the architect were just two of many members of the UTS community to grace the stage at the indoor Groundbreaking ceremony.

David Palmer, Vice-President, Advancement at the University of Toronto, spoke about the historic and vital connection between the two affiliated institutions, including the training opportunities UTS provides to teacher candidates from the university’s Master of Teaching program. He also noted that, as the northwest gateway to the campus, the UTS site is an important element of the university’s urban footprint.

Monica Biringer ’78 and Susan Opler ’79 also took to the podium to discuss the First Girls Initiative, a fundraising campaign geared to women from the first 10 co-ed graduating classes at UTS. It was the perfect opportunity for the duo to announce their plan to make the First Girls, collectively, a Building the Future Founder — and that they were already halfway to that goal.

Jim, meanwhile, made a point of recognizing the 16 donors who have made Founder-level gifts of $1 million or more to the Building the Future campaign, and in so doing have created essential momentum for the building project. Jim also lauded the many volunteers, locally and around the world, whose support has been so vital in bringing the school closer to providing a stateof-the-art learning environment for students, and praised Rosemary Evans, with whom he shared emcee duties for the evening, for her exemplary leadership.

More than one speaker noted how much UTS students had been able to accomplish, despite a relative lack of high-end facilities at the school.

These comments resonated with Anthony Lee ’86, who led the Taiko drumming performances that opened and closed the Groundbreaking event.

“It’s always been the case that UTS was popular and famous and lauded despite the facilities,” Anthony says. “I was here in the 80s, and the boys’ washroom has not changed since then.

Not since the 50s, maybe! So it’s exciting to see that the facilities are going to reflect the quality of the experience.”

As varied and insightful as they were, speeches were only one aspect of the UTS Groundbreaking experience. Given the location of the school building on Indigenous lands, it was only appropriate that the land itself be honoured prior to the commencement of the building project.

Cat Criger, former Elder-in-Residence at UTS, presided over a ceremony that included Rosemary, Jim, and Mayor Tory, each of whom scattered ceremonial sage into the soil-filled planter’s box that served as the onstage symbol of the UTS Groundbreaking.

Attendees were then treated to a unique presentation that blended video and live action, as well as past, present, and future. In the video, students at the temporary 30 Humbert Street location of UTS — where the school is operating during construction — ran a relay of sorts, passing two UTS-branded shovels between various sets of hands. The shovels eventually found their way to Cameron and Elijah, and the camera, wielded by UTS Marketing Communications Coordinator Emma Jenkin ’03, followed the Co-Captains on their TTC journey back to 371 Bloor Street. Upon reaching their destination, the video ended — just as Cameron and Elijah burst through the doors of the auditorium to deliver the shovels to Jim and Rosemary, and to give an inspiring speech of their own.

“I’m just really excited, because this seems like the moment that everything’s really starting to happen,” said Elijah.

In all, the UTS Groundbreaking ceremony left attendees feeling energized, informed and more deeply connected to the school. Former staff member Gillian Bartlett described it as “creative, warm-hearted, uplifting, and inclusive” in an email following the event.

“Such events have a propensity for dreariness — but not in this case!” Gillian wrote. “From the

talented and thunderous drumming at the start to Cat’s articulate and thoughtful explanations of the Indigenous peoples’ respect for the land, from John Tory’s rapid-fire yet delightful memories of life under [former Headmaster Brock MacMurray] to Don Schmitt’s evocative portrayal of the new space, from that charming spade delivery video by the School Captains to that clever box of soil on stage — it was a joy to be there.”

Joy. Satisfaction. Excitement. All of these emotions were unearthed at the UTS Groundbreaking, the recognition of an inflection point in the history of the school. Many had wondered whether such a moment would ever truly happen. “It sounded like a bit of a pipe dream at the beginning, because it was just so monumental,” says Anthony of revitalizing the UTS building, a project he has contributed to as the organizer of a Class of 1986 group giving initiative that has raised more than $121,000.

“But as it moved along, there were images, there were architectural drawings, there were plans, and all of a sudden it was pretty spectacular.”

As Jim puts it, the UTS Groundbreaking signified the point when the transformation of the building shifted from an abstract idea to a concrete action.

“This is tangible. We’re actually putting a spade in the ground, and it’s going to happen,” Jim says.

“It’s an exciting day, and it’s the culmination of the work of many over the last seven years.”

A culmination, yes. But at the same time, the UTS Groundbreaking represented something even more profound: a new beginning. ■

Students jump for joy in front of the new, UTSbranded construction hoarding at 371 Bloor.

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45 45 YEARS OF MUSIC INNOVATION AT UTS

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HITTING the THE RIGHT NOTE

by Karen Sumner

T

he elimination of Grade 13. An updated and modernized curriculum. The end of the jacket and tie as required dress. An outgoing “headmaster” and incoming “principal.” The arrival of the First Girls and first women teachers. The departure of the cadet corps.

Ten years after Bob Dylan cautioned that “he who gets hurt…will be he who has stalled,” the times were indeed a-changin’ at UTS. By the mid-1970s, the seismic cultural shifts of the previous decade had caught up with the school, owing in part to UTS students themselves protesting against what they viewed as archaic educational traditions.

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45 BELOW: Former music teacher John Fautley in discussion with a student.

BOTTOM LEFT: John jamming with the UTS Centennial Band in 2009.

BOTTOM RIGHT: Former music teacher Natalie Kuzmich.

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Riding that tide of change was the expansion of the arts program within a school known primarily for its math and science in the classroom and athletics beyond. Historically, music instruction had been limited to a few classes and a small cadet band. The issue wasn’t a lack of talent or dedication among music teachers like Leslie Bell (1939-1945), R.J. Jones (1945-1961) or Gordon Fitzgerald (1967-1973). It was more a question of identity: UTS just wasn’t a “music school.”

As Derek Bate ’71 recalls, “There wasn’t a strong musical education in my time at UTS. But the year after I graduated, Don Gutteridge became the principal. He then hired John Fautley in 1974 — in time for my younger brother Graeme ’75 to have him as a music teacher. In just a handful of years, I saw emerge an enthusiasm and joy in the music program that wasn’t there when I attended. It really happened that fast.”

Now resident conductor of the Canadian Opera Company, Derek knows good musical instruction when he sees it. And he saw much more of it when his daughter Ashley Bate ’16 attended UTS. “I would call it a whole music program now:

theory, history, composition, performance. That wasn’t available to me. But I do credit Gordon Fitzgerald with seeing something in me. He allowed me to conduct the school band and direct a musical production, which meant a lot to a high school student.”

It’s an understatement to say that the music program changed under John Fautley’s influence — erupted would be more accurate. John admits to being a bit of a terrier, frequently lobbying Principal Gutteridge for more music periods in the timetable. As a result of tenaciousness on one side and a collaborative leadership style on the other, he got his way.

“The lack of class time for music might have been seen as appropriate for an esteemed academic and athletic institution,” he explains. “Music was seen as secondary. But when I arrived, the school was in transition. Don was open to increasing class time, and the kids were so bright, we could try almost anything. My approach was to get the Ministry stuff covered, and then explore every aspect of music that I thought might interest people.”

Together, John and the students developed a particular mentality: “Someone would ask, ‘What would happen if…(fill in the blank)?’ The same answer often came back: ‘I don’t know. Let’s try it.’

There was an experimental attitude. That was the tone of UTS.” A willingness to try anything became a hallmark of the music program, and John continued to be a catalyst for creativity and growth in his time as a music teacher and ensemble director. In addition to curricular and co-curricular development, he expanded opportunities for student leadership and peer mentoring, aided and inspired by fellow teachers such as his mentor Natalie Kuzmich (1984-1998), an innovator in Ontario music

education through her work with the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Education and the originator of the UTS strings program in the late 1970s.

“I could say to students, ‘Learn it, then do it, then show me, then teach it to somebody else,’” John recalls. “We formalized that process, providing structure and documentation. Soon, the kids were also putting on their own concerts, just coming to teachers for advice and booking rooms. They were given the freedom and support they wanted, which led to all kinds of creative endeavours.”

The Twig Tape is one example. A compilation of original music created and performed by a mix of current students and alumni, the project began as a class project in 1986 and, due in part to a changing school culture that gave students greater freedom to make choices, think independently and pursue individual interests, evolved into an informal apprenticeship program run by students. While technology has changed over time, the eclectic inventiveness of the annual collection has not.

The creation of the Twig Tape signalled that there was something of a revolution underway at UTS, and that the music program was one of its principal drivers.

By the time former music director Judy Kay (1992-2016) arrived, UTS was offering a holistic music education as a natural outgrowth of that cultural transformation.

“I was a professional musician, and my attitude initially was all about performance,” she says.

“But John was engaged in these incredibly creative projects, with the idea that every aspect of music should be as experiential as possible.

The goal wasn’t just to perform well. It was to create something. There was as much emphasis on thinking and inventing as there was on technical skill. That was unusual for a music program then — and still is now.”

Throughout Judy’s tenure at the school, composition became more systematically integrated into the music program. Leadership opportunities also expanded, with students forming ensembles, leading band sections, teaching younger peers, and organizing school concerts.

“Teaching music at UTS was very challenging,” she recalls. “You had students with Grade 10 piano from the Royal Conservatory mixed in with others with little musical background.

You needed to keep every student engaged and learning. Composition challenged everyone, as did teamwork and leadership. Music performance

training on its own does not provide so many opportunities for growth.”

Conrad Chow ’99 was one of those musically gifted students challenged in new ways at UTS. A violinist since the age of four, Conrad is now a professional musician who performs and teaches around the world. When he arrived at UTS in Grade 7, however, he didn’t disclose his history with the violin. He played saxophone for two years and stayed away from the strings.

“I studied hard to get into UTS and was really focused on my academics,” he explains. “At first, I didn’t want to get too involved with music. But I got back to the violin and I took music all the way to Grade 12. The emphasis on composition and creativity was exciting. So was the latitude students were given to work with each other. Having been a section leader and concertmaster, I left UTS with a level of confidence beyond playing violin. I learned how to lead student groups and create shows.

You can’t acquire those skills through theory and performance.”

Alumna Cynthia Smithers ’06 remembers that dual emphasis on autonomy and creativity. Now a professional vocalist and dancer who regularly performs in musical theatre at Stratford and Opera Atelier, Cynthia’s strongest memories of UTS are of organizing events within a culture that encouraged original student expression.

“In addition to playing in school concerts, students were putting together their own ensembles and solo performances,” she recalls.

“So much was always happening at the student level, which was a natural response to the creative energy of the music teachers. And even though it’s an academic school, people were fearless about choosing a musical career. The focus wasn’t just on effort — ‘work hard and you’ll get there’ — it was on creativity. It was on the potential of music as expression and as a calling.”

Former music teacher Judy Kay leads her strings students through a rehearsal.

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It was also on the potential of people. “Like everything at UTS, the music program is about empowering students to recognize that they have the skills and resources to do whatever they want.

I got that message. So did my friends.”

“My passion is science, and I wanted the best instruction.

But I’m also a classical pianist, and I wanted to learn from the music teachers, who are professional musicians and composers. A highlight of my time was writing an original six-to-seven minute piece for piano. Where else could I have done that while also preparing for a life in science?”

- Aaron Dou ’18

BELOW LEFT: Ron Royer brought his experiences as a professional composer and performer into his music teaching practice.

BELOW RIGHT: Current music director Mark Laidman conducts a class.

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Former music teacher Ron Royer (19972018) would be pleased to hear that. Though an accomplished cellist, conductor, and composer whose works have been performed by over 50 orchestras, Ron sees a nobler cause for music education.

“The most important thing that UTS does is build life skills,” he says. “That’s a big focus in the music program, which is about more than just music. It’s about collaboration. It’s about leadership. It’s about personal growth. The goal of the program is not to train professional musicians, though some students take that road. The goal is to help students develop themselves. And to teach a love of music, in whatever direction that takes.

Maybe performance, maybe composition, maybe appreciation.”

Ron points to some fundamental changes in the 1990s that shaped the music program. One was

a larger pool of students when UTS enrolment expanded from about 450 to over 600. Another was the decision to increase instructional time in the Foundation years from 50 to 75 minutes, putting music on par with the core academic subjects. A third was a growing awareness in the community — a resurgence after the ’70s — of the role the arts play in learning.

“The whole UTS community — from administration to faculty to parents — wanted strength across the board, excellence in everything,” says Ron. “Research was showing how important creativity is for development and also for success in fields like science, technology, and math. Doctors, engineers, computer programmers — wherever our students were going to contribute, they needed to think creatively, see things differently. An arts education teaches creative skills for every field.”

Ron joined UTS with that clear vision. But he recalls an earlier time when he held a more conventional view of his task: simply, teach music to students.

“That didn’t last long,” he says. “I quickly learned that my job was to teach students through music. It’s an amazing vehicle for developing creativity, autonomy, reflection, confidence. The music program hands over a lot of responsibility to students, gives them a lot of freedom to make choices and to produce events.

Even the most accomplished student musicians need to learn how to work with their peers, how to be a section leader, how to collaborate in creative ways.”

This is the educational approach that greeted current music director Mark Laidman when he arrived in 2016.

“I walked into a program where students engage creatively with music and where the emphasis is on becoming well-rounded thinkers,” he says. “We want students to create and connect to music on multiple levels — through their other academic interests or through films or through social and political movements. Perhaps consider how music influences morality, elections or wars. We want them to engage more deeply than just playing music so they make connections to who they are and to the world.”

Mark walked into a program that had developed a legacy of impressive staff pedigree. When esteemed professional musician Claudio Engli (2005-2014) departed, for example, Dr. Nancy Dawe, a Doctor of Philosophy in Music Education, joined the department. The program’s numbers had also grown more robust, with four music classes in Grade 9 — two winds and two strings — and one of each in Grade 10.

While string instruction has long been on offer, its expansion was aided by the arrival of Sarah Shugarman, music teacher and Department Coordinator, Expressive Arts. A working musician and composer, Sarah arrived at UTS in 2006.

Within a few years, the number of students enrolling in string classes increased, and the junior and senior string ensembles both grew significantly.

Having grown up playing in ensembles, Sarah understands the importance of building a sense of identity and community around the experience.

“The students really enjoy being a part of something special,” Sarah says. “They also embrace the challenge of playing in the arts

world at professional events, so we have worked as a department to increase those opportunities.

Authentic performance experiences— like playing at Nuit Blanche or with the Dreamwalker Dance company — immerse students in a meaningful, real-world context. Working alongside professional artists amplifies their learning.

Plus, they love doing it.”

“The music program now offers the same degree of excellence as the academic program,” Sarah adds. “It also strikes the perfect balance between high-level performance and a creative, authentic student voice.”

Composing and performing original works.

Leading band sections and ensembles. Producing recordings and arts events. Developing a voice and a sense of identity. Cultivating creativity, appreciation, collaboration and connection.

After decades of leadership and growth, this is the state of the music program today. But with a refurbished 371 Bloor Street on the horizon, the next phase of music education is about to begin. Life is always in motion, and the times are changing again at UTS. ■

UTS recipients of the Royal Conservatory of Music's ARCT Diploma pose in 2015.

FROM the OUTSIDE IN In the past, some student musicians opted not to join the UTS program because of heavy commitments outside of school. Professional composer and sound designer Richard Feren ’85 was one of them. Trained in music theory and classical violin, Richard began experimenting with electric violin, synthesizers and predigital electronic equipment as a teenager.

“I was a bit avant-garde back then, combining sound mixing, tape playback, and improvised live music.

I would compose and produce music on a multi-track cassette recorder with friends and perform for class projects or on arts nights. John Fautley was always a wholehearted supporter. He was open to unconventional musical paths and always encouraged me to make music in the school. And my experiments were enthusiastically received.”

Talented artists like Richard have always found musical mentorship at UTS. But thanks to the evolution of music at UTS over the past several decades, students now get the most rewarding educational experience within the music program itself.

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ALUMNI NEWS

Notes on the milestones and achievements in the lives of our alumni.

There are plenty of ways to stay in touch! www.utschools.ca/alumnidirectory alumni@utschools.ca @utschools @utschools / @rosemary_evans @utschools

ANNUAL ALUMNI DINNER October 20, 2018 was the date, and the Marriott Hotel in downtown Toronto was the setting, for the latest Annual Alumni Dinner. Alumni from grad classes ending in threes and eights joined staff members and the 2018-19 School Captains for the customary meal, the bestowing of awards and updates about the school.

The evening featured remarks by UTSAA Vice President Laura Money ’81, P ’22 , who shared highlights about class giving initiatives and introduced

the UTS Connect program, which helps alumni build connections with one another. Principal Rosemary Evans, meanwhile, discussed the successful transition to the school’s temporary location at 30 Humbert Street, while UTS Board chair Jim Fleck C.C. ’49, P ’72 spoke about the progress of the Building the Future campaign that is empowering the transformation of the historic UTS building at 371 Bloor Street West. The architect of this transformation, Don Schmitt ’70 of Diamond Schmitt Architects (DSAI), was also on hand to give attendees a

visual idea of what the new building will look like.

Taken together with the presentations of the H.J. Crawford Award to Monica Biringer ’78 and Susan Opler ’79, as well as the induction of beloved former staff members Lynda Duckworth and Norah Maier into the UTS Hall of Fame, the 2018 Annual Alumni Dinner was, as always, a night of celebration. But perhaps most memorably, it brought more than six decades of UTS graduates together to revel, reminisce and recharge the relationships that make our alumni community so uniquely vibrant.

UTS alumni gather in the Marriott Hotel lobby prior to the Annual Alumni Dinner. OPPOSITE PAGE (Clockwise from top left): Friends reconnect for an impomptu photo; Monica Biringer and Susan Opler head to the stage to receive the H.J. Crawford Award; Laura Money addresses the crowd; Newly inducted into the UTS Hall of Fame, Lynda Duckworth poses with Rosemary Evans; Architect Don Schmitt with a rendering of the renewed UTS building; the Class of 2003 puts their hands in the air.

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Alumni News

// Michael Liu ’15 has been named a Rhodes Scholar, the 21st UTS alum to achieve this prestigious honour. The Harvard University student, who stopped by to visit UTS at its temporary 30 Humbert Street location in December, will take his studies to Oxford this fall. In a Globe and Mail profile, Michael recalled how his “curious and driven” peers at UTS helped to inspire his success. He also told the newspaper about his interest in the social determinants of health and their impact on brain development, as well as his expectation of pursuing medical school.

Remembrance Day is always a special occasion at UTS, and the 2018 assembly, held for the first time at 30 Humbert Street, was no exception. Alumnus Adam Chapnick ‘94, who is Deputy Director of Education at the Canadian Forces College and an Assistant Professor of Defence Studies at the Royal Military College of Canada, spoke to the UTS community — including 13 veterans — about the tremendous sacrifices made not only by service members, but also their families.

Rebecca Sanders ’99 recently published

her first book, Plausible Legality: Legal Culture and Political Imperative in the Global War on Terror (Oxford University Press, 2018). The book examines the role of legal norms in constraining and enabling torture, indefinite detention,

// As the English translation of the UTS motto goes, “from the tree, so the branch.” Recently, one of those branches led to a Cup. The Stanley Cup, to be precise. Jake Avery ’47 and Don Avery ’49 were once stars on ice for the UTS Blues hockey team, and Jake went on to be inducted into the Western University Mustangs Hockey Wall of Honour in 2014 for his prolific university career. Last summer, they got their hands on hockey’s ultimate prize, as Tom Wilson, a forward for the 2018 NHL champion Washington Capitals — Jake’s grandson and Don’s greatnephew — spent part of his day with the Cup at Jake’s home.

targeted killing, mass surveillance, and other controversial forms of state violence perpetrated in the name of national security. Rebecca holds a PhD from the University of Toronto and is currently an Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Cincinnati in Ohio, where she lives with her husband, Jeffrey Millar, a linguistic anthropologist, and their four-year-old daughter.

Kat Sandler ’04 built on her reputation as one of Toronto’s most prolific playwrights with the production of Retreat at Hart House in March.

The play puts an entertaining twist on the modern workforce, where job competitions are fiercer than ever.

Focusing on four characters vying for an unpaid internship, Retreat had audiences laughing and thinking in equal measure.

Congratulations to Jennifer Luong ’06 and Christopher Yau ’06, who welcomed their son Lukas Luong-Yau into the world on October 24, 2018.

Christopher Yau, Jennifer Luong and their son Lukas.

The first career Simu Liu ’07 embarked on after graduating university was in the financial industry, where he worked as an accountant. When he lost that job, he had to weigh the obligation of finding stable employment with the opportunity to follow his heart. Simu chose the latter, and now, just a few years later, he is one of the stars of the CBC hit Kim’s Convenience. In January, he spoke to UTS students about his unusual path to television fame, the opportunities and

Simu Liu speaks to UTS students.

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Alumni News

challenges facing actors of Asian descent, the influence of parents on school, work, and life choices, and much more. Among his nuggets of wisdom: “You’ve got to do it your own way. Don’t be afraid to follow your passions.”

// Last fall, TJ Lou ’93 brought a collection of stunning travel photography to 371 Bloor Street West to exhibit for the 2018 edition of the Keys Gallery. Dubbed RE/SORTS, the exhibition saw TJ take several of his photographs from locations around the world and pair them in new and unexpected ways.

UTS FAR AND WIDE In October, UTS Head of Student Support and Innovation Jennifer Pitt-Lainsbury and Student Success Counsellor Julie Klein took the opportunity to meet with Bostonbased alumni. Mengting Qiu ’14, Kyra Colbert ’16, Taylor Shirtliff-Hinds ’17, Owen Torrey ’17, Cindy Gao ’17, Shuli Jones ’18, and Amy Kim ’17 joined the visiting staff members for dinner at the Grafton Street restaurant in Harvard Square.

Staff and M4 (Grade 10) students visited Washington, D.C. in October, and found some time to meet up with UTS alumni living and working in the area. Attendees enjoyed a great meal while catching up and making connections that bridged generations of UTS history.

En route to the Canadian Council for the Advancement of Education (CCAE) Independent Schools Summit in Victoria, BC, Principal Rosemary Evans, Executive Director, Advancement Martha Drake and Associate Director, Advancement Carole Zamroutian joined a group of more than 20 UTS alumni now based in Vancouver. In addition to meeting

for a UTS Vancouver reception, the staff contingent also met for lunch with recent graduates currently studying at the University of British Columbia.

These gatherings, along with the CCAE Summit, for which Rosemary and UTS Board Chair Jim Fleck C.C. ’49, P ’72 delivered the opening plenary, made for a fun and productive week out west for UTS.

TOP LEFT: Boston alumni smile for the camera. TOP RIGHT: Rosemary Evans with UTS alumni studying at UBC. BOTTOM LEFT: Breaking bread with Washington, D.C alumni. BOTTOM RIGHT: 20-plus alumni meet with UTS staff at the Vancouver branch event.

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Alumni News

BRANCHING OUT As part of the Branching Out mentorship program, several young alumni have recently returned to the school to speak to S6 (Grade 12) students about applying and transitioning to university life.

Andrea Ho ’16, Cindy Gao ’17, Patrick Kim ’17, Georgia Laidlaw ’17, Alec Sampaleanu ’17, Taylor Shirtliff-Hinds ’17, Levi Tepner ’17, Owen Torrey ’17, Chelsea Cao ’18 , Clare Fiala ’18, and Audrey Ho ’18 all shared their insights and advice about life after UTS graduation.

Interested in joining the Branching Out program to mentor senior UTS students?

Contact Rebecca Harrison for more details: rebecca.harrison@utschools.ca.

Students listen to insights from alumni at a Branching Out event.

REUNIONS Last fall, the Class of 1948 gathered at the Rosedale Golf Club in Toronto to celebrate a remarkable milestone: the 70th anniversary of their graduating year. Organized by John “Butch” Bowden ’48 , the reunion brought together more than a dozen 1948 alumni as the group extended its lifetime association with UTS.

The Class of 1948 at the Rosedale Golf Club.

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With their classmates from one year ahead marking their 70th, the Class of 1949 is next in line for this magic number. And, while it was not formally a 70th anniversary event, the group’s annual luncheon this past January took place just shy of seven decades since attendees last walked the halls of UTS as students. With Jim Fleck C.C. ’49 looping in via video conference call, the

Alumni News

1949 alumni met at 371 Bloor Street West for a reunion.

In October, the Class of 1953 celebrated their 65th graduation anniversary with a reunion lunch. Classmates got together at the condominium of Allan Morson ’53 to share great food and great memories, some of them prompted by the presence of a vintage UTS Blues Varsity jacket.

The Class of 1968 celebrated their 50th anniversary with a private reception prior to the Alumni Dinner at the Royal Canadian Military Institute. Fortythree members of the class attended the reception.

Some class reunions are the products of diligent planning. Others come about due to spontaneous inspiration and the closeknit relationships amongst classmates.

In November, Paul Wright ’70 headed east to Toronto from his Whistler, British Columbia home and made a plan to meet Steve Stone ’70 for coffee. But a quick email to the rest of the Class of 1970 led to a group of nearly 20 meeting up in Burlington, Ontario, with class members coming in from Ottawa, the West Coast, and elsewhere across the country.

According to Paul: “The meetup was one of friendship, no special occasion. We have an amazing class for connectivity and it is only increasing. We’re a lucky group that way.”

The Class of 1978 hosted a 40th anniversary reunion the evening before the Alumni Dinner at the Toronto Cricket

TOP: The Class of 1953 at the home of Allan Morson. BOTTOM: The Class of 1970 in Burlington, Ontario.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS MAY 15 – OCTOBER 4 The next Keys Gallery exhibit, The Works of Fred Speed, will be showing in Room 137 at 371 Bloor Street West beginning May 15. Don’t miss this chance to enjoy the work of the late Mr. Speed, a beloved former UTS teacher.

THURSDAY, JUNE 6 Get your clubs ready for the UTSAA Alumni Golf Tournament at St. Andrew’s Valley Golf Club. Join your fellow duffers for a catch-up session, updates about UTS, and some friendly competition on the course. Tee-off times begin at 11:00 a.m.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 2 UTS looks forward to celebrating our alumni community at the 2019 UTSAA Annual Alumni Dinner. This year’s event honours the graduation anniversaries of alumni whose grad classes end in “4” and “9.” Join us at the Marriott Downtown Eaton Centre Hotel for a reception beginning at 5:30 p.m., followed by dinner at 7:00 p.m.

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Alumni News

IN MEMORIAM JACK ELLIS 1936-2018 Jack Ellis ’54 lived a

The Class of 2008 on Ward's Island in Toronto.

Club. Several members of the class came out, as well as former UTS staff members, while John Robson ’78 presented a slideshow featuring photos of classmates taken before and during their time at UTS. In addition, the class also hosted a gathering in December with 14 people, including three former teachers, in attendance.

The Class of 2008 enjoyed some summer fun last August, with about 25 members of the class meeting on Ward’s Island and rounding out the day with dinner and drinks in downtown Toronto.

The most recent UTS alumni year — and the last to graduate from the prerevitalization UTS building at 371 Bloor Street West — took some time to get together just before the holidays in December. It was a unique event, in that the Class of 2018 gathered at a different school location from the one they studied in, meeting at 30 Humbert Street. For some, it was the first chance to check out the school’s temporary location.

For everyone in attendance, it was a chance to relive their recent high school careers and share stories from their post‑secondary adventures.

long and full life, one he made richer by sharing his knowledge and enthusiasm with others. An educator and an activist, he was in every sense an explorer, travelling the world and, as an avid reader, continually learning about how it worked.

Jack was a member of the Faculty of Environmental Studies at York University, serving as its Associate Dean and, in later years, as Professor Emeritus.

As an environmental advocate, he anticipated the challenges of achieving and maintaining global sustainability that now face the world. As an educator, he helped to give generations of students the tools and knowledge to grapple with these challenges.

While he was passionate about the environment, Jack’s interests extended far beyond one issue. He had a deep interest in, and compassion for, people from all over the world, and took it upon himself to learn about and embrace a variety of cultures, ideas, and languages.

His colleagues and students remember Jack as a teacher and mentor who encouraged a sense of community and belonging. An obituary on the York University website featured recollections from numerous people testifying to his warmth, passion, intelligence, and vision of an interconnected world.

One memory in particular stood out as a tribute to a man whose awareness of and expertise in global environmental challenges were matched by his optimism: “Jack was a hopeful, intelligent and positive man in a cynical world. I feel grateful to have encountered and learned from him.”

With files from the Globe and Mail and the York University Faculty of Environmental Studies website.

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Alumni News

MARGARET FLECK 1932-2019 The Reverend Dr. Margaret Evelyn Fleck was not a UTS alumna or a former staff member, but her contributions to the UTS community were significant, and representative of the generosity of spirit she brought to her family, her community, and the world at large.

In 1951, while in Montreal cheerleading for the Western Mustangs football team, she met Jim Fleck C.C. ’49, P ’72 , who played the cymbals in the University of Western Ontario band, and began a partnership that spanned 65 years of marriage, four children (Robert ’72 , Ellen, David and Christopher), five grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

Margaret was passionate about pursuing her educational and spiritual goals, and about serving her community.

Her experience as leader of a youth group at St. Augustine of Canterbury Anglican Church inspired her to ultimately earn Master of Divinity and Honorary Doctor of Divinity degrees from the University of Toronto’s Trinity College. An ordained minister, Margaret went on to serve four parishes in her career.

Margaret was, along with Jim, a generous donor to UTS, notably contributing a Founder-level gift to the Building the Future campaign. Moreover, she graced our community with her easy smile and ebullient personality.

When she passed away — fittingly, on Epiphany, and the 34th anniversary of her ordination — Margaret was holding Jim’s hand, and at peace with the legacy of warmth and wisdom she has left to everyone who was fortunate enough to meet her.

Adapted from the Globe and Mail, January 12, 2019 PETER HERTZBERG 1921-2018 A graduate of the Class of 1939, an engineer and a decorated veteran, Peter Hertzberg dedicated his long and full life to serving his family, his community and his country.

Peter’s valour was evident even before he graduated from UTS. In 1936, he was awarded the Royal Canadian Humane Association and Hero Fund Medals for Bravery for attempting to save a person drowning at Peggy’s Cove in Nova Scotia.

His resoluteness in the face of danger

would be further demonstrated during the Second World War, where he served in the UK, Italy and northwest Europe with the Royal Canadian Engineers and the 5th Canadian Armoured Division from 1941-1945. Peter earned the rank of Major in his military career.

After high school, Peter’s education continued at the Royal Military College and the University of Toronto. He completed a P.Eng degree and went on to a career in consulting engineering, and retired as President and General Manager at the firm of Proctor & Redfern in 1985.

In all aspects of life, Peter embodied the concept of service. He earned the Professional Engineers’ Citizen’s Award in the Arts category and volunteered with organizations ranging from the Canadian Junior International Equestrian Foundation to the Art Gallery of Ontario to Roy Thomson Hall.

A member of the Royal Canadian Legion and the Royal Canadian Military Institute, Peter was proud to be a veteran.

In his later years, he regularly attended Remembrance Day assemblies at UTS, accompanied by his granddaughter, Carly. His presence was an inspiration to students and a testament to the bravery and sacrifice on which our school and our nation are built.

With files from the Globe and Mail and the Canadian Military Engineers Association

◆ What will you do?

To designate UTS in your will or as a designation for memorial gifts, please contact Martha Drake, Executive Director, Advancement.

416-946-0097 mdrake@utschools.ca ◆

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LOOKING BACK

A CHAMPIONSHIP ANNIVERSARY One hundred years ago this spring, the UTS hockey team captured the first-ever Memorial Cup, defeating the Regina Pats 29-8 on aggregate in a two-game series. The team was led by Dunc Munro ’20, who would also go on to win a gold medal with Canada’s Olympic team and a Stanley Cup with the NHL’s Montreal Maroons. Over the ensuing century, the Memorial Cup became the most coveted trophy in Canadian junior hockey — and at the UTSAA Annual Alumni Hockey Match in April, it returned to its original home.