THE MAGAZINE OF ST. GEORGE’S SCHOOL | FALL 2014 GLOBAL CITIZENS€¦ · GEORGE’S SCHOOL | FALL...
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1 FROM THE CHAIR OF THE BOARD FALL 2014 > > THE SAINT THE MAGAZINE OF ST. GEORGE’S SCHOOL | FALL 2014 GLOBAL CITIZENS
Transcript of THE MAGAZINE OF ST. GEORGE’S SCHOOL | FALL 2014 GLOBAL CITIZENS€¦ · GEORGE’S SCHOOL | FALL...
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THE SAINTTHE MAGAZINE OF ST. GEORGE’S SCHOOL | FALL 2014
GLOBAL CITIZENS
10 SAINTS’ LIFE Lessons from Liberia 22 COVER STORY
Global Citizens
16 KILL THE STIGMA Alley Outreach Project 42 GEORGIANS’ PHOTO ALBUM
All the Events!
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THE SAINT is published twice per year, expressly for Georgians, parents, and friends of St. George’s School. It is also distributed to other Canadian independent schools and selected public or private institutions. Comments about any of the articles are always welcome.
Address all correspondence to: Jason Fearon, Managing Editor, THE SAINT | St. George’s School | 3851 West 29th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V6S 1T6 CANADA Phone: 604-221-3891 Fax: 604-224-7066 Email: [email protected]
THE SAINT is copyright © 2014 St. George’s School, Vancouver BC Canada. Reproduction rights: We encourage you to circulate or copy this material unmodified for your own private use. You may quote any article or portion of article with attribution. Quotation of any article or portion of article without attribution is prohibited. THE SAINT, its contents, or material may not be sold, intact or modified, nor included in any package or product offered for sale. Please contact our office to be added to the mailing list.
ST. GEORGE’S SCHOOL IS PROUD TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH:
MANAGING EDITOR Jason Fearon Head of Communications
GEORGIANS EDITOR Chris Blackman Head of Georgian Relations
GRAPHIC DESIGNER Bruce Elbeblawy
SENIOR COPY EDITOR Nancy Kudryk
PRESIDENT OF THE GEORGIANS AND THE ST. GEORGE’S OLD BOYS’ ASSOCIATION Bruce Jackson '78
PHOTOGRAPHERS Richelle Akimow Photography Chris Blackman Bruce Elbeblawy Jason Fearon Bob Frid Shawn Lawrence Troy Liew St. George’s School Archives Catriana van Rijn
Publications mail agreement no. 40580507. Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: St. George’s School Society | 3851 West 29th Avenue, Vancouver BC V6S 1T6
THE MAGAZINE OF ST. GEORGE’S SCHOOL
THE SAINT04 FROM THE HEADMASTER
05 FROM THE CHAIR OF THE BOARD
06 ROMEO & JULIET
08 THE BUILDERS OF ST. GEORGE’S
10 LESSONS FROM LIBERIA
14 ONE CAMPAIGN
15 THE HUMAN LIBRARY
16 ALLEY OUTREACH PROJECT
20 GRAD PROFILE
22 GLOBAL CITIZENS
38 THE PRESIDENT
39 GEORGIAN RELATIONS
40 GEORGIAN PROFILE: RODERICK MACDONALD '66
41 DEFEAT IS QUIET
42 GEORGIANS’ PHOTO ALBUM
48 SAINTS’ NOTES
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st. george’s school annual fair 2015
The FairSATURDAY, May 2, 2015
BUILDING GLOBAL CITIZENSService at St. George’s school
Over the course of the school year, I have lunch with all of the Grade 12s, meeting with them in my
office by Advisory Group, eight to ten boys at a time. Engaging, informative, and always enjoyable,
these Grade 12 lunches provide me with the opportunity to get to know the boys and to secure
their feedback on a variety of issues and topics. They also allow the boys to learn more about me
and the School. For a Headmaster who all too often is caught up in committee meetings, email,
and deliberations about strategic initiatives, my Grade 12 lunches ground me in the reality of the
School, while highlighting in my mind the fact that all decisions need to made through the lens of
student learning, both present and future.
At a recent Grade 12 lunch meeting, the boys spoke eloquently about a variety of issues aligning with the School’s Strategic Plan, particularly the notion of global citizenship. While explaining how much they enjoy the overall boarding experience, several boarders noted how proud they are to be part of the Harker Hall community. These comments led to a fuller discussion of global-mindedness and how the presence of boys from close to 20 different countries, as well as from various parts of British Columbia and Canada, greatly enriches not just Harker Hall but also the larger St. George’s community. As the conversation unfolded, we touched on several interrelated topics, ranging from environmental stewardship through to the progress being made in ensuring that community service is integral to every boy’s St. George’s experience.
Coincidentally, this issue of The Saint addresses many of the same topics discussed at that recent Grade 12 meeting. The overall theme of global perspectives aligns with our aspiration to become Canada’s World School for Boys—a school of international significance at which boys develop the skills, fine-tune the values, and acquire the knowledge that will allow them to become engaged and effective global citizens. Ms. Suzanne Dill, our Head of Environmental Stewardship, elaborates on the progress being made in transforming St. George’s into a ‘green school.’ Mr. Alan Hesketh, our Director of Residential Life, will provide some insight into why our boarding students are among the most satisfied boys at the School. In this issue of The Saint, you also will learn about a cross-section of very exciting service learning initiatives connecting Saints students to far-flung places such as Kenya, Peru, and Guatemala, as well as to our disadvantaged neighbours here in Vancouver.
Underlying everything that we do at the School is a dual commitment to our boys and to an educational experience that will empower them to make the world a better place. As one student explained to me at that recent lunch meeting, we need to recognize that the world is a rapidly changing place. We are all interconnected, and Saints graduates will need a different sort of educational experience if they hope to flourish and to make a positive contribution in the years and decades ahead. I couldn’t agree more! In this issue of The Saint, you will learn more about what are doing to help ensure that we truly are building “fine young men” who will go on to become empathic and responsible global citizens.
DR. TOM MATTHEWS HEADMASTER
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MEANINGFUL VOLUNTEERISMBuilding character through service
Over the past few years, service at St. George’s has taken on a wider and more important role.
Certainly we have a long tradition of supporting the community through the Hamper Drive, the
Union Gospel Mission Thanksgiving drive, Terry Fox runs, and other key efforts. However, the
broadening out to Grade 8 with the Reading Bear Program and to Grade 10 with the Weekend
Backpack Program is very encouraging. Too often in competitive schools, service becomes a way
to burnish a resume for college applications. These programs work so well because they get the
boys into one-on-one relationships with other children in Vancouver who are in many ways just
like them, yet at the same time struggling with serious economic hardship. This kind of learning has
wonderful intrinsic value in giving the boys time to consider what is good and right for the world,
not just for themselves in their academic careers.
We know from many recent studies that transcendent values are so necessary for this generation. William Deresiewicz, in his book Excellent Sheep, surveys how today’s youth have the lowest levels of emotional well-being in the past 25 years. They are stressed out, over pressured, and suffering from toxic levels of fear, anxiety, depression, emptiness, and isolation (pg. 8). Madeline Levine, in her book The Price of Privilege, furthers these concerns, explaining that preteens from affluent, highly-educated families suffer from the worst rates of depression, anxiety disorders, and unhappiness of any group of children.
Clearly, the treatment of this problem is not more studying, higher test scores, or more accomplishment. The treatment must be found in a greater sense of meaning. This extends to studying music for the joy of it, pursuing art to better understand beauty, and playing sports for the exercise and the fun of it. But so much of this meaning can also be found in helping. Giving up your time and your effort to endeavours that have no tangible gain for the giver can be the most satisfying and gratifying undertakings in life.
We know that young people who engage in meaningful volunteerism have a greater likelihood of continuing to make positive contributions to their communities through their lives. We also know they are happier and better adjusted. This is what we aspire to as the School works to build fine young men, one boy at a time.
MRS. LESLEY BENTLEY CHAIR OF THE BOARD
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Romeo and Juliet is not one play, but two: a classical Roman comedy followed by a classical Roman tragedy. It is entirely symmetrical, the demarcation coming with Tybalt’s death at Romeo’s hands. Shakespeare devises this symmetry to support his theme and press home the point of all this mayhem: extremism is dangerous. Aside from that, the poetry is stunningly beautiful, the tensions dynamic, and the dramatic irony and conclusion devastating.
Our young actors revealed their understanding of these themes over four days in early November as they brought all of this to life on the ingenious staging created by the Stagecraft 11/12 class and the production crew. Deserving special mention are Hayden Davies as our Romeo and Delaney Lathigee as Juliet. They, along with the supporting cast, delighted audiences with their heartfelt performances.
On the final evening, a celebration was held to honour four ladies who have devoted considerable time and effort to costuming Saints actors over many years: Raquel Gonclaves McFetridge, Paula Masterson, Sandi Cobb, and Heather Schuetze. Their tireless, artistic, and professional work on the design, care, and creation of so many wonderful costumes helped to make the productions the successes they were, and we are grateful to them.
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AROUND THE SCHOOL
SAINTS’ LIFENEWS, EVENTS, AND STORIES.
ROMEOJULIET+
COMING NEXT!
Saints’ Players continues their season next with the Junior School production of What a Knight, a crazy romp through medieval pantomime, followed by Mark Twain’s sly, hilarious take on the art world in Is He Dead?, the Middle School show in March. We close our season with the V1STA one-act play festival, coming back for its third year, bigger and better than ever. Join us for all these shows and be rewarded with excellent entertainment!
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A SAINTS’ PLAYERS PRODUCTIONIN ASSOCIATION WITH YORK HOUSE SCHOOL AND CROFTON HOUSE SCHOOL
FEBRUARY 4 & 5, 2015 | 7:00 PMWHAT A KNIGHT!
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The 2014 Honorees are:• MR. JOHN HARKER (1896-1975)
Former Headmaster, was introduced by Mr. Nicolas Parker-Jervis ’61, and the award was accepted on behalf of Mr. Harker by his son , Mr. Christopher Harker ’57. Mr. Harker was the much-loved second Headmaster of the School, and widely acclaimed as helping to create the legacy of “St. George’s School for Boys and Dogs!”
• MRS. DOREEN LAM LAU Parent of Georgians Christopher ’09 and Brian ’11, former Board member, and major supporter of St. George’s School for more than 20 years. Mrs. Lau was introduced by Dr. Stephen Chung ’77. She is passionate about voluntary service to others, and, as she told the audience, believes everyone should “give until it hurts, just a bit.” Doreen was instrumental in the creation of the Global Perspectives & Voluntary Service Fund at St. George’s, which supports the School’s Service Learning Program. She is the daughter of former Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia, Mr. David Lam.
• MR. PETER BENTLEY, OC, ’47 A Georgian himself, he is also parent of a Georgian (Michael ’80) and grandfather to three Georgians (Spencer ’04, Nathaniel ’07, and Caleb ’11), as well as a current Saint, his grandson Theo (Class of 2021). Mr. Bentley is also a past Director and Trustee of the School, and a major supporter of St. George’s for more than four decades. Mr. Bentley was awarded the Order of Canada in 1983, and we believe him to be the first of a number of Georgians to be so honoured in Canada.
The second annual Builders of St. George’s Dinner and Awards Ceremony was held on Monday, May 12, 2014. More than 110 guests arrived to a welcoming reception, followed by an elegant dinner in McLean Hall. The ceremony is a formal one, and the honoured guests were piped in to the Hall along with Headmaster, Dr. Tom Matthews; Board Chair, Mrs. Lesley Bentley; and Senior Master, Dr. Tony Mercer.
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Lessons
BY COURTNEY KLASSEN
In March 2014, I was fortunate to have the opportunity to travel to Liberia, as part of a group from First Baptist Church, Vancouver. I learned much during my short time there.
FROMLIBERIA
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Lessons from Liberia:
A selection of photos from Liberia, March 2014.
I spent most of my time at a private school, the Kwendin Vocational Training Centre (KVTC). When my friend, Bob Swann, taught at KVTC in 1980, the buildings were like new. There was an active boarding program for boys and girls, a dining hall for the whole school, and space for over 600 students from grades 1 to 12. The campus had electricity and running water. It included 2000 acres of land for agriculture training and sports fields. It even had an airstrip. It really was one of the top schools in the country. Less than six months after Bob arrived in Liberia, the president was assassinated and a period of civil war began which lasted about 25 years.
Given its location near the border of Cote D’Ivoire, the warlord Charles Taylor saw KVTC as the perfect place to become a base for his army of child soldiers. Although the soldiers looted extensively, the damage to the buildings was largely superficial.
I mainly taught at the Senior School level, Grades 5 to 9.
School begins at about 8:00 am, when the Principal rings a hand bell. Every 45 minutes, he rings the bell to signal the next class. I quickly learned that the bell was more of a suggestion than an actual start/stop to the class.
I also learned that it wasn’t uncommon for teachers to simply be absent, and not show up to school. I took this as my opportunity to jump in and teach Math lessons. The teachers at KVTC are good people, doing the best that they can with few resources, little training, and in most cases, no pay. Many of the teachers at KVTC are working for free. I can’t be upset with them for spending a day at their farm, getting food for their family, when they have no other source of income. Some of them teach in spite of no pay, because they know it is good for the community.
One unexpected thing I encountered was that no one understood how to draw graphs—not even the Math and Science teachers, because they had never learned themselves.
Receiving an education is not a given in Africa. The school fees alone are prohibitive to many families – as much as $4600 Liberian, or $55 Canadian.
After my return, I was telling one of my classes about the short school days and absent teachers, and one boy blurted out “OH! LUCKY!!!” I know he was joking, but it still stung me. I don’t know what’s lucky about being a 20-year-old former child soldier in the 9th grade. Although, I guess it’s better than being the 24-year-old who is in the 4th grade. I don’t know what is lucky about being in 9th grade, and having no idea how long a metre is, how to use a ruler, or what a thermometer looks like.
I want you to understand that these are real people, like you and me. Kids who LOVE soccer and playing games. They are much more than statistics and stories on the news. They are real people who need hope and help to rebuild what has been destroyed by war, and now face a deadly disease that seems to be stalking them too.
I’d love to tell you more about these people, but I don’t have space here to put the whole Liberian story into its proper context – so if you want to hear more, and see more pictures and video, or contribute to the ongoing work there, please contact me at [email protected]
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ORDER OF CANADAThe Order of Canada Award was established in 1967 by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and is the centrepiece of Canada’s honours system. It recognizes people in all sectors of Canadian society, acknowledging lifetime achievements, dedication to community, and service to the nation. A number of Georgians already feature in the list of recipients, but we need your help to ensure the list we have is complete.
Please visit: bit.ly/OrderRecipients and tell us if you can identify any Georgian names. We have identified the following as recipients:
• Peter J. Bentley ‘47• Geoffrey C. Robinson ‘38• Michael P. Robinson ‘69• J. Edward Chamberlin ‘60• Norman B. Keevil ‘47
We are also gathering data on those Georgians who may have received a Provincial Order recognition.
If you or anyone you know from St. George’s has been honoured in this way, please contact:
• Chris Blackman: [email protected]
• Dominique Anderson: [email protected]
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OneO N E V I S I O N . O N E S C H O O L . O N E C A M P A I G N .
WHAT’S IN A NAME?A LOT, WE BELIEVE.
That’s why we engaged volunteers, staff, and consultants in developing the name for our new capital campaign. You will be hearing more about the
campaign in the months ahead, but let us give you a sneak peek now at how it will be presented to prospective supporters...
The One Campaign unites us in one shared vision about educating boys for their best futures. We are One School committed to instilling in our boys the values and the
academic excellence that will shape their lives beyond our gates. This is the promise of the One Campaign, the largest capital fundraising project in our School’s history.
For more information, please contact: Adrienne Davidson, Director of Advancement at [email protected] or 604-221-3883.
or Sean Ayers, Capital Campaign Manager at [email protected] or 604-221-3626.
The One Campaign website will be launched early in the new year.
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THE HUMAN
LIBRARYBY ELIZABETH WALKER
The world is chock-full of fascinating people and ideas, and the Human Library initiative at the St. George’s Junior School Library aims to expose our students to these fascinating people and ideas, one boy at a time.
Guest speakers and whole-school presentations are time-honoured events at schools around the world, but what kids miss with that format is personal relevance. Many students may not be even slightly interested in the presentation, but are compelled to attend. Other students may have lots of questions but time constraints, or anxiety, prevent them from asking. The Human Library turns this format on its head. In the Human Library system, students can “sign out” a guest for a 15-minute appointment, resulting in a more intimate and personally relevant experience. Students are placed in small groups and given an appointment time, and then come to the Library prepared with questions for
the guest. Students who are not interested in the speaker or topic simply do not participate.
Our goal with the Human Library initiative is to invite guests who represent a wide range of backgrounds and experiences that our students would not ordinarily have exposure to in their day-to-day lives. In some cases, we choose people who have interesting careers—so far we have hosted two software engineers and one waterslide designer, as well as a certain Headmaster! —but we also like to invite guests with extraordinary life stories or backgrounds of interest to our students. Our very first guest in 2012 was a blind athlete, and we also enjoyed a visit with former students of the Convent of the Sacred Heart,
who shared stories of attending the school in the 1950s and 60s to the delight of our boys. We have also hosted a children’s author, an Olympic rower, and representatives of the BCSPCA.
What do students gain from the Human Library? The answer to that is unique to each participant. The boys learn a little bit more about the people and the world around them: they understand more about computer programming; they learn about animal welfare laws; they appreciate the challenges faced by the visually impaired. Through small group discussion, they apply their critical thinking and interpersonal skills through questioning, clarifying, listening, and empathizing. The more intimate format allows quieter students to find their voice. The
guests, too, benefit from the program. Many of our guests have minimal daily interaction with children, and appreciate the natural curiosity and candor the students offer—our boys ask some tough questions!
We aim to host the Human Library once a month this year, and are looking forward to good conversation, the exchange of ideas, and the building of a community of learners in the Junior Library. Our next two guests will be a veterinary neurosurgeon and volunteers with Orphaned Wildlife Rescue. If you or someone you know would make a good candidate for this program, please contact: Ms. Walker at [email protected], or Ms. DeLancey at [email protected].
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In 2011, Mark Lindsay, a recovering OxyContin
addict and former investment advisor, came
to St. George’s to speak to the senior boys about
the risks of addiction, depression, and how to
cope with the anxiety caused by lofty personal
goals and expectations. BY DANNY GREENBERG ’14
Kill the Stigma Educate. Advocate. Inspire. Student-led Charity formed by Saints Alumni
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Something in his address struck a chord with a few of the seniors. That day, the Alley Outreach Project (AOP) was born. At the time it consisted only of Lindsay, a rolling cooler, and one t-shirt, but it has now evolved to a structured three-step program exclusive to seniors at St. George’s School. The mission is simple: Educate. Advocate. Inspire.
To educate, Lindsay and his team of alumni introduce themselves to the new senior class at an Assembly with an inspirational dive into Lindsay’s story of addiction, and a presentation about what the AOP does. After this initial assembly, the rest of the work is done on the streets of Canada’s poorest postal code – the downtown east side of Vancouver. Each semester, a bus is loaded full of donated clothing (toques, socks, mitts, and rain ponchos), candy, water, and advocacy brochures designed by Saints seniors, that outline services available to downtown eastside residents, which the boys then distribute.
“I was inspired to advocate AOP’s vision—to offer firsthand support for those in need— after i was able to relieve the perceptual barriers and premature stigmas surrounding the
downtown eastside community for my fellow classmates and myself.” - Michael Lising ‘13
Each outing touches the lives of more than 1000 community members. Participating students tour the First United Shelter, widely considered ground zero for addiction and homelessness in the city. The year culminates with a BBQ in Oppenheimer Park supported by local business Vera’s Burgers, Safeway, and other Saints alumni donors. This past year, we were able to line Oppenheimer Park with Saints athletics tents to dish out 800 hot dogs, 1000 bottles of water, and 300 noodle boxes, and also to run a boutique-style donation tent, stocked with donations from the Annual School Fair, where individuals were able pick out three items each.
AOP is now entering its fourth season at St. George’s and is gearing up for a busy year, with more than 90 new senior volunteers and many events planned for 2014-15. Interviews were held over the summer to fill the two Senior Liaison positions with the Board of the AOP. Ben Scher and Naryan Dass are in charge of organizing at the school level this year and will put in hours and hours of extra work.
Seniors from the Class of 2014 at Oppenheimer Park during the first outing of the 2013-14 school year.
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Alley outreach Program Photos from the first annual AOP BBQ at Oppenheimer Park that took place on June 7, 2014.
“When I first spoke at St. George’s School in 2011, Alley Outreach was just a dream. But walking through their doors that day in 2011, a grassroots project was born. Dr. Matthews, I say it with the deepest sincerity, you are doing one heck of a job. These young men are not just impeccably polished, mature, and kind-natured, but the character instilled in these future leaders at your school is like nothing I’ve seen. These kids actually care. They don’t put in hours just for their resume as so many students all over the country do, they do it because they know it matters.” - Mark Lindsay, Founder of Alley Outreach Project
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From those humble beginnings, AOP is now applying for official status as a registered charity in Canada, and is led by a Board of Directors comprised solely of Georgians: Josh & Aiden Tong ‘13, John Hoskings ‘14, Danny Greenberg ’14, and Michael Lising ‘13. The project is supported not only by students; Brian Lee (Associate Principal, Academic Life) and Mark Sauer (School Counsellor) have developed a personal and professional passion for AOP and support not only the administrative side, but also help to organize and attend advocacy walks and BBQs with their families. They are now helping to organize what we hope will be the first annual AOP fundraising hockey game, to purchase AOP backpacks that will be utilized by the senior class volunteers during outings.
The AOP Board would love to see more Saints Alumni come out and join us on any Advocacy Walk throughout the year or on June 16, 2015 for our party in Oppenheimer Park with Vera’s Burgers. The website is live – www.alleyoutreach.com, and the student-run Facebook page provides an easy way to stay in touch with the amazing work the School is doing in Vancouver as they work to “kill the stigma” of mental illness and addiction, one school at a time, for all of BC.
Thanks to Jeff Ayre ‘77, Ross Gilley ’73, John Dolmage ’71, Paul Goldman ’70, and Michael Bull ‘70, we were able to identify that the line out photo above,
reproduced on page 19 of the spring 2014 edition of The Saint, originally appeared in the 1969-1970 Georgian, and featured Alasdair Hamilton ‘70, John
Dolmage ‘71, Dick Pachal ‘70, Jock Scott ‘70, Kent Giles ‘70, and Colin Lester ‘70.
Corrections
FIRST INTERNATIONAL RUGBY TOUR:
Thanks to the many people (including Kathie Overton (wife of the late faculty member David Overton), Chris Harker ’57, Robert Williams ’66, Richard Freer
’58, and Bob May ’61) who emailed to let us know that the gentleman in the centre of the shot is not Mr. Russell Palfreyman, but rather Tommy Roxburgh.
The others in the picture are Peter Tynan ’54 and Richard “Itchy” Freer ‘58.
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St. George’s School congratulates its 2014 graduates on their university acceptances.
142 Universities around the globe are seeing the same potential.
At St. George’s School, we see the potential for greatness in every boy who makes the commitment to learning and achievement.
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How many years were you at Saints? 3 years - Grades 10-12.
What clubs / sports did you enjoy most? The clubs and sports offered at Saints are phenomenal and unmatched by any other school I have attended. During my time, I took advantage of as many as I could. Some of the clubs included: GPACS (Global Perspectives and Community Service), Admissions Team, Peer Tutoring, Bee Keeping Club, and Ceramics/Sculpture Club. I was also part of the Varsity Swimming, Rowing, and Water Polo Teams.
What are you currently studying? Where do you think you’re headed in terms of a career? I am currently in Biomedical Sciences at McGill majoring in Pharmacology. Career goal: Dentistry
What did St. George’s do to prepare you most for university? St. George’s School prepared me for university through the rigour and high academic standards expected in each of the classes I took there. My higher-level classes were especially helpful, as they provided a sound foundation on which I am now building in University.
What do you miss most about your time at Saints? What I miss most is the brotherhood, camaraderie, and family atmosphere of the boarding house. I truly felt like I belonged to a family.
The tight support system and opportunities to genuinely connect with the teaching staff really make Saints a unique place. That family atmosphere is difficult to develop in a university with thousands of students.
What was the biggest adjustment in moving to university, and how did Saints help you prepare for that? The biggest adjustment was that of fully taking care of myself, and organising my weekdays and weekends, but Saints gave me good training for this. I’d like to express my sincere gratitude to the house parents of Saints—you gave me a good head start, compared to my peers.
What advice do you have for the Class of 2015? Don’t be the cow who only realised the pleasure of having a tail the day she loses it.
Enjoy every single day at Saints. Time flies. Once your time has come to leave, you will really miss our School, the teachers, your friends, and you will often look back and realise what an amazing school Saints was
and is. You will literally want to turn the clock back! Enjoy the moment as this time will be gone before you know it.
Best of luck to all of you!
I understand you are involved in a foundation with your sister – what is its name? And, can you tell us a bit about that initiative? Its name is the Yayasan Pratiwi Foundation in Surabaya, Indonesia, the city where I spent the majority of my childhood. My younger sister, Seline, and I helped to create it in 2009 after visiting the children’s cancer ward for leukemia in Dr. Soetomo Hospital and seeing the sadness and boredom in the children’s eyes. Children from not-well-to-do families travel from all over Indonesia there to seek treatment, but the wait time for a diagnosis and subsequent treatments can take months. What affected us most was the fact that the children there were only a few years younger than us. We wanted to do something and felt that we could at least help them pass their time, so we started by providing the children with fun activities; this has since evolved to providing them with formal education after we discovered that once children are admitted, they fall behind on schooling. Currently, the foundation supports a mobile teaching unit consisting of three Indonesian teachers who go to the hospital on a daily basis. We actively work at collecting funds to cover daily operational costs. When we visit our parents in Surabaya, we spend time at the hospital with the children and meet with the teachers in order to evaluate the strengths and shortcomings of our project. Although we sadly lose 80 % of our children to leukemia, we do not lose hope. We invest in each child and believe in a bright future through education.
Our humble goals for the foundation include that of establishing similar mobile teaching units for other wards in Dr. Soetomo Hospital and maybe eventually spreading our units to include other hospitals. Bringing medical know-how and increasing the children’s chances in overcoming their battle with cancer is our ultimate goal.
If someone wanted to donate, how would they do that? They can contact me at [email protected] We are equally interested in intangible support, such as: contacts of people with experience in similar fields, materials in Bahasa Indonesia, and activities that could be done with the children. An illustration of a challenge we face is that of only being allowed to take materials that fit into a ‘carry-on’ suitcase into the ward. One of the solutions to this was to raise money for iPads; our challenge now is to find educational apps in Indonesian.
YASSIN VANCOLEN '13G R A D P R O F I L E
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The world we live in today is significantly different than the world our grandparents knew as young adults. The evening news on the radio or TV has been replaced with constant 24/7 podcasts to your personal mobile device. Today’s world is vastly more connected – the internet has allowed many of us to peer into other countries, into other cities and into other communities. Information that used to take weeks to travel from one continent to another now is available “as it happens.” St. George’s School is actively connecting your sons to the new global perspectives they will come to rely upon as they grow into their world – a world they will help to shape. Our continued focus on Service Learning gives the boys opportunities for hands-on experiences in different cultures. Our commitment to environmental stewardship showcases the interconnectedness of our actions in the School to landfills or the quality of water we drink. Our Residential Life Program brings together boys from over 15 different countries for the shared experience that brings a global perspective into all our classrooms.
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GLOBAL CITIZENS
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GLOBAL CITIZENS
A HELPING
HANDSERVICE LEARNING AT SAINTS
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In selecting Peru’s Challenge, we focused on finding a small, local organization that was working directly with villages in need to help them develop educational opportunities and economic independence. The Peru’s Challenge model involves supporting a community for five to seven years with new infrastructure and services so that they can improve their quality of life while continuing to live their traditional lifestyles in a sustainable and independent way. They provide employment opportunities for members of the community and make an effort to source supplies locally in order to support the local economy. The founders of the organization live in Peru and meet regularly with the leaders of villages to establish priorities for projects and link groups with communities. For St. George’s, this has
meant building a classroom in the village of Pumamarca in 2008 and a school (2011), community kitchen and greenhouse (2013) in the village of Miski Uno. By returning regularly to Peru, we have also had the opportunity to see the growth and change in these communities and witness the power of providing basic education.
The Peru experience goes beyond simple construction. The trip provides the opportunity to become part of a community and to experience a lifestyle. The students camp on-site, spend time in the homes of the villagers, participate in celebrations, play with the children, challenge the fathers to soccer matches, and live an immersive and life-changing experience. Students come away with a greater understanding of community service, the importance
of culture, and the power that they have to impact the world around them. Through our three trips to Peru, we have fundraised to provide more than $60,000 in support. This has covered the cost of the construction projects and provided additional funds to support special needs in the communities: providing medical clinics, paying for teachers and educational supplies, supporting families through social work, and taking care of special medical emergencies.
In the summer of 2015, St. George’s will travel to the Cusco area to partner with Peru’s Challenge again. A third village, close to both Pumamarca and Miski Uno, will host up to a dozen students for three weeks to build another classroom for their youth.
Since 2008, St. George’s School has been partnering with Peru’s Challenge to provide support to remote villages in the Cusco region of Peru. Three separate trips (2008, 2011, 2013) have taken groups of students to live in small communities and work alongside locals to learn
traditional construction techniques and build schools to improve educational opportunities for children.
PERU’S CHALLENGE If you would like to contribute to the work in Peru, please contact Alan Hesketh at: [email protected]
To have the full experience and really know how you are helping, you really have go… meet the people… live in the conditions.
Connor Wittig ‘14
Going there and seeing the conditions compared to what we have opens your eyes. It is really touching to be able to help and make their lives better.
Hamish MacKay ‘15
I never really connected to community service up until this point. This trip was really hands-on and you got to meet the people you were helping.
Hayden Davies ‘15
We as the young generation really have the power to influence the world around us and this trip really showed me how much I can do.
Tony Li ‘15
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A few aspects of Project Somos that appealed to us:
• We wanted to build a meaningful partnership that Saints could be involved with from inception to completion.
• We wanted to work with a Vancouver-based organization that we could engage with in multiple ways.
• We wanted to support an organization with a focus on both ecological sustainability and community engagement; and
• We wanted to support an organization committed to long-term change and not a band-aid solution. Project Somos focuses
on teaching skills and completing vocational training on site, as well as a commitment to agriculture and social enterprise.
Project Somos ticked all of the boxes and in 2010-11 we began a long-term commitment to volunteering with and supporting their project. In the past four years, two student groups have travelled to the village to work on the project. They have helped to build a wall around the village and a playground for the children and have also raised approximately $15,000 towards the project.
We are excited to be sending a third group of Senior School students to live at and volunteer on the site this March. For the first time in the village’s history, there will be three Guatemalan mamas and their
children living in the village, which will make the experience even more meaningful.
Currently in the works is an individual project sponsored by our 2013-14 School Captain, Matthew Boroditsky, who is donating a Medical Centre to the village, using the wish granted to him by the Make A Wish Foundation during his battle with cancer last year.
Future goals for St. George’s School include the construction of an administration building at Project Somos, as well as integrating more meaningful curricular connections with the project into our classrooms in Vancouver. Stay tuned for future developments!
Saints was one of the first schools to partner with Project Somos, and our involvement was sparked by a school connection. I first met with Heather Knox, one of the co-founders of Project Somos, in the spring of 2010 and was immediately engaged in her passionate vision of
creating an ecologically sustainable children’s village in rural Guatemala. Soon after that, I learned that Saints parent Joe Fiorante was a member of the Project Somos board and his engagement and involvement in the project spurred our interest in getting involved.
SAINTS IN GUATEMALA If you would like to contribute to the work for Project Somos, please contact Heather Morris at : [email protected]
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The Project Somos Village is an eco-sustainable alternative community for at-risk mothers and children.
• The Village has family homes and an organic farm within the small Kaqchikel community of Chivarabal in the Central Highlands of Guatemala.
• Project Somos believes that a child’s best chance for success comes from being raised by their own family in a stable supportive environment.
• As an orphan prevention program, the Village supports widowed and single mothers who are at risk of losing their children due to poverty and difficult living situations.
• Project Somos offers a home, education and vocational training to help mothers provide opportunities and a new beginning for their children.
• Project Somos offers a stable, loving environment for women and children to heal and start their lives over again.
• Project Somos educates mothers and children in nutrition, hygiene, and organic gardening and offers opportunities to learn the skills and self-confidence to prepare them to return to their communities and live independent lives.
• Project Somos works to reunite mothers with their children that have been removed and put into care.
• Project Somos partners with other NGOs to provide services and housing for mothers and children so that they can return to their communities and live safer, healthier lives.
• Vocational training offer the mothers a practical opportunity to earn and provide for their families on a long-term basis.
• Social Enterprises are established to provide long-term financial sustainability within the Village. While living in the Village, the mothers contribute to the running of these enterprises.
• The Village works hand in hand with the local Guatemalan community and other NGOs on the ground.
Each year we choose a different pillar of sustainability to support. In our first year, we devoted our energies to raising awareness about education in the community. Through our fundraising activities we were successfully able to build a classroom for the students of Kipsongol. In 2013, we looked at the importance of safe drinking water for the community, and we raised sufficient funds to build a well. Members of the School’s Scouts program held a walkathon to raise funds and awareness by walking the 15 kilometers that a typical Kipsongol child would walk in order to get drinking water.
The 2014-15 academic year is the Year of Empowerment with Free the Children. Our goal is to raise $5000 for the community of Kipsongol. With that money, community members can open small businesses, take financial literacy courses, or simply raise chickens as a way of supporting their families. We wish to empower the people of Kipsongol so they can be more in control of their own lives.
In adopting this village, we are providing a hand up not a hand out.
In 2012, St. George’s Junior School entered a partnership with the international charity, Free the Children. We did so to provide sustained assistance to a community in need and because we wanted our boys to
develop a relationship with that community. Working closely with Free the Children, we decided to adopt the village of Kipsongol in Kenya.
BUILDING PILLARS OF SUSTAINABILITY IN OUR ADOPTED VILLAGE
If you would like to help with our work in Kenya, please contact Stephen Sturgeon at: [email protected]
KIPSONGOL, KENYA
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IMAGINE ENVIRONMENTALLY LITERATE ST. GEORGE’S BOYS WITH THE TOOLS, KNOWLEDGE, AND SENSITIVITY TO PROPERLY
ADDRESS ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS, WHO ROUTINELY INCLUDE THE ENVIRONMENT AS AN IMPORTANT CONSIDERATION
IN DAILY LIVING, AND WHO ENJOY A HEALTHY AND PRODUCTIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT THAT SAVES ENERGY AND RESOURCES. THIS IS THE VISION OF OUR NEW HEAD OF
ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP, MS. SUZANNE WECKEND DILL.
ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP
Creation of this position, to ensure that there is a well-coordinated and well-led cross-campus plan, was a key recommendation of the Environmental Stewardship Framework Report tabled last spring by Stephanie Foster, the consultant who completed a green audit of our School, work that was undertaken to address Priority C of the School’s Strategic Plan—A Boy of the World. The audit established the School’s baseline environmental impacts, provided a framework that included recommendations for future actions, and summarized ways that we could promote the inclusion of environmental stewardship principles into learning outcomes and operational decision-making in the future.
Priority C specifically cites Environmental
Stewardship, defined as the responsible use and protection of the natural environment through conservation and sustainable practices. After completing the green audit last year, the School added two more goals under the Priority C Action Plan:
1. Development of a shared vision for environmental stewardship.
2. Creation of Operational and Academic Action Plans for Environmental Stewardship.
These two goals involve both campuses, all operations departments, faculty at both campuses, and, of course, all of our families. The scope of this work is vast but the pay-off is even greater, and for that reason, we have prioritized it.
We know that there is already much learning occurring in many areas, and building on what we are already successful at and committed to is a great place to start as we begin to identify what needs to change or to be added in order to move forward. Ms. Dill has already begun work with the Operations Department and the Junior School faculty, and priorities and plans are beginning to take shape. Beginning in January, a task force comprised of students, staff and faculty will work to draft a shared vision for Environmental Stewardship. This process deliberately includes a broad range of stakeholders because we hope our shared vision will spark enthusiasm and inspiration throughout the Saints community and give us all commitment to a larger purpose.
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At our School, connecting boys to nature occurs experientially in Grades 1 through 10 via the Outdoor Education Program. In the younger grades this means a day trip, and by Grade 10 our boys are out in nature for an entire school week—and even longer for those in Discovery 10. Learning in the outdoors inculcates stronger connections to and curiosity about nature in our students. Jay Kennedy, Head of Outdoor Education, is committed to ensuring that these trips connect to what’s being learned in the classroom, thus encouraging deeper
and conceptual learning.
The future of environmental education at St. George’s is bright. We will teach social and environmental responsibility through the understanding of global issues. We will offer opportunities to learn about environmental best practices and encourage creative thinking. We will model sustainable building principles and continue to engage students, staff and faculty in the “greening” of Saints. We will embrace the special qualities of our location between old forest, ocean, and mountains, and we will
use them to guide our teaching and learning plans and practice. We will be proud of The Boy of the World.
In our vision for the future, St. George’s School will be recognized by its entire community as an agent for enacting positive environmental and educational change for the benefit of the local and global community. The School will have reduced its carbon footprint and be a healthy, green, and productive place that the boys love, respect, and feel responsible for.
The Academic Plans for the Senior and Junior School will ensure content areas are integrated by using environmental and sustainability topics as a common theme. Environmental literacy & education for sustainability, as defined by the BC Ministry of Education is integrated in all grades. All teachers use inquiry, problem, and project-based pedagogy to facilitate learning about global systems and relationships. Outdoor experiences and fieldwork support learning about complex systems, connecting humans with other humans, and all aspects of the natural world.
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TIMELINE...2014-15 is about the development of a shared vision and the creation of action plans for operations and academics; the subsequent two years will be about implementation. Targets will be set, and we will work hard to determine how to best ensure we meet them.
STUDENT INVOLVEMENT…Student involvement in decision making and student-led initiatives will help us all to bring about positive environmental advances.
• An Environmental Prefect position has been added, following the green audit recommendation.
• At the Senior School, Ms. Dill has brought together students representing each grade to form a Student Environmental Committee.
• Ms. Jill DeLancey has brought together a small group of students with the same goal for the Junior School.
• To help with the creation of our shared vision, all Senior School students will be given the opportunity to share their thoughts, feelings, and ideas through an online survey about what the future for ES at St. George’s School could look like.
CHANGES THAT HAVE RECENTLY OCCURRED IN THE SCHOOL…
• Free school bus service;
• Compost bins added around both campuses;
• No bottled water being sold on campus;
• Paper cups removed from the staffrooms;
• Increased use of compostable products in the Saints Café; and
• Plastic shopping bags no longer being used in the School Store.
AREAS FOR US TO BE AWARE OF POTENTIAL FOR….
• Building on current eco-initiatives around the Annual School Fair.
• Earth Week in April.
• Real-world service learning projects that explore solutions to local, regional, and global problems and issues and teach 21st century skills.
• Stewardship projects that allow students to take responsibility for their own school grounds.
• Place-based projects and practices that include, but are not limited to, school farms, forests, and gardens.
• Student participation in land restoration projects, such as native eco-system or brown fields remediation.
• Teachers and leaders provide opportunities for students to make local and global connections.
Our students, through an enhanced and coordinated Environmental Stewardship Academic Plan, will further strengthen their 21st century learning skills of connection, creativity, collaboration, questioning, adventure, and curiosity. In becoming a greener school, we will enhance student health and learning while conserving natural resources and empowering students to develop sustainable behaviors, enabling them to become the stewards of the future. Allowing them to learn locally, and to develop a systematic appreciation for how they impact the planet through their decisions around waste diversion (i.e. composting and recycling) and choosing their mode of transportation to school, will make them finer young men, and by, doing so, the School will move closer to its mission of being Canada’s World School for Boys.
SUZANNE WECKEND DILL Ms. Dill Joined St. George’s School in July of 2007 as the Director of Aquatics and a year later added Head of Senior School Athletics to her portfolio. Last year, she seized the opportunity to apply her skills and experience to Environmental Stewardship. Suzanne has experience with both strategic planning and organizational change initiatives through her Masters in Leadership, her work at St. George’s School, and through the roles she holds as a board member with Commonwealth Games Canada, the Commonwealth Games Federation, and the Pacific Institute for Sport Excellence in Victoria. She has a real passion for working collaboratively with colleagues to create plans that fulfill strategic priorities and overall missions, and she holds a true appreciation for nature, stemming from the training she has done while swimming, biking, and running in numerous places around the world. Suzanne competed for Canada both as a swimmer and a triathlete. Her appreciation for where she comes from, combined with a strong belief in the importance of understanding the immutable connection each of us has to the rest of the world, is what drives her new area of work and responsibility.
HEAD OF ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP
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THISisBOARDINGnow!
BY ALAN HESKETH
Through our strategic plan, St. George’s School recognizes the value that a diverse and vibrant boarding community offers the school and commits to both the short- and long-term development of the residential life program. Boarding provides the opportunity to share the St. George’s experience with students from around the world, and also to bring new perspectives, energy, and diversity to our campus, thereby adding value for all students.
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CANADA
USA
MEXICO
ECUADOR
CHILE
GERMANY
FIJIINDONESIA
SINGAPORE
SOUTH KOREACHINA
TAIWAN
HONG KONG
IRAN
SOUTH AFRICA
NIGERIATRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
CANADA
JAPAN
SPAIN
JAMAICA
Over the past five years, the School has been working on a series of changes to the programming, structure, and staffing of boarding in order to attract and support mission-appropriate students from around the world. This is combined with a significant effort by our Admissions team to visit new countries and invite students from under-represented parts of the world to come to the School. Recognizing that there are also many excellent students within Canada with lots to offer the Saints community, we have also implemented a scholarship program for domestic students. The result is a more diverse group of boarding students who currently represent 17 countries and three Canadian provinces.
BOARDING STUDENTS HOME COUNTRIES: 2012-2015
FRANCE
UNITED KINGDOM
MALAYSIA
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Fundamental to becoming a world-class school is strengthening our Residential Life Program and making Harker Hall open and available to students throughout the school year. While Harker Hall continues to be closed for the long breaks in December and March, programming is provided for every other school holiday from September to June. Over long weekends and the term breaks, students who cannot go home can participate in trips such as visiting Tofino on Vancouver Island in November for whale watching, surfing, and a day at the natural hot springs. In the winter term, the Family Day long weekend is spent at a ski resort in the interior of British Columbia while the spring offers a trip to Whistler. Over these weekends, the boys live together with the staff, contribute to household tasks, relax together, try new activities, and visit exceptional parts of the province.
An enhanced Activities Program throughout the year also keeps boarders busy and provides opportunities for students to engage with their shared community. To bring the entire boarding community together in a meaningful way, each year the first weekend of September is spent on a retreat to Anvil Island in Howe Sound. Students and staff bond together through participation in activities, challenges, kitchen and clean-up responsibilities, and shared social time away from the distraction of home. Every subsequent weekend throughout the year there are a minimum of two special activities offered, and often many more. On weeknights, regular student-led intramurals, special event evenings like the annual Battle of Harker Hall basketball game, and focused workshops take place after study.
ACTIVITY PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTSA selection of the 60+ weekend activities offered:
CULTURE, SERVICE, AND LOCAL LANDMARKS
• Pacific Spirit Park Volunteering• Vancouver Food Bank Volunteering• Capilano Suspension Bridge• Opera and Theatre Performances• Richmond Night Market• Film Festival• Karaoke Night• Theatre Sports
EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES• Vancouver Aquarium• Science World• Cooking/Baking• Whale Watching• FlyOver Canada
SPORTING AND OUTDOORS• Professional Sports: Lions, Canucks, Whitecaps• Skiing and Snowboarding• Hiking and Snowshoeing• Paddleboarding• Surfing• Curling• Bouldering and Rock Climbing
FUN• Go-Karting• Movies• Casino Night and Poker Tournament• Trampoline Park• Snow Tubing• Paintball and Laser Tag• Zip Lining
TRAVEL• Tofino• Victoria• Kelowna• Whistler
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Articulating the objectives that we have for boarders, not only as students of the school but also as members of a residential community, has informed the development of a multi-year curriculum for boarders. The curriculum recognizes that some of the most important learning that happens is outside of the classroom. Life lessons in key focus areas challenge students to develop the knowledge and skills that will help them in their transition to post-secondary education and career. The activities program has been designed to provide opportunities for students to learn. Cultural events, community service events, special courses and educational trips balance traditional fun activities and provide a well-rounded experience in boarding.
RESIDENTIAL LIFE OBJECTIVESFive key objectives for residential life guide our program and curriculum:
• ACADEMIC SUCCESS AND SUPPORT Students gain the skills and experiences required to achieve to their full academic potential as a boarding student at St. George’s School.
• INTERPERSONAL/INTRAPERSONAL DEVELOPMENT Students develop an increased understanding of others and themselves and explore their role within the context of community.
• PRACTICAL LIFE SKILLS Students leave residential life with a basic set of practical life skills.
• PERSONAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS Students gain the knowledge and experience required to make good decisions about and take positive action towards their health and wellness.
• CULTURAL AND SOCIAL AWARENESS Students gain a greater appreciation for other cultures, including the culture of Canada, and demonstrate social responsibility.
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From the perspective of facilities, we are coming to the end of a multi-year phased renovation that has updated student rooms and common spaces, improved furnishings, increased access to resources, and provided spaces that are conducive to the type of learning that St. George’s School values. There are many group study spaces to allow students to collaborate on homework and academic assignments, and mini-kitchens and enhanced laundry facilities allow for learning essential life skills. A new fitness and multipurpose room is currently under renovation and will be in use by students in January. With a student population that increasingly lives on-site, excellent use is made of all of these additional resources.
Much of the benefit and learning from residential life is the result of staff/student contact time. We have grown our staff and we now have 12 house parents, (including two lead house parents), and 4 associate faculty working with the boarders, supported by a full time Director and a program assistant. More time for quality interactions with the boys has been provided through the implementation of electronic and web-based tracking and communication systems that reduce the amount of time staff have to spend dealing with the administrative aspects of attendance. Every weeknight four staff are on duty in Harker Hall to support student learning, and specialists in key
subject areas join them during study time to provide academic support. The greater number of staff in Harker Hall also means that each house parent has fewer advisees assigned to them, allowing for greater communication and more individualized attention.
New ways of communicating with parents are helping to strengthen the relationship between the School and our international and non-local families. Through the website, parents have access to a blog with photos of our activities, live streaming and recordings of parent information nights, newsletters, calendars of Harker Hall events, and access to information about their son’s involvement and engagement. This allows parents a window into life in Harker Hall and allows them to feel involved and able to support their sons, even from far away.
How about the results? So far, we are pleased by the changes and the progress that we see in the residential experience for our students. We have better access to resources, an enhanced program, a larger team working with the boys, and significantly upgraded facilities. Over the last three years, feedback from student surveys showed boarding students have the most significant increase in satisfaction. The number of students on campus over the weekend, one of our key metrics, has increased. In 2010, only 20% of our
students were 6- and 7-day boarders; this has risen to 65%. As the dynamic of the boarding population continues to change, we anticipate this number becoming even higher. The depth and breadth of the programming available to our boarding students is much broader than in the past, and our students are taking advantage of the opportunities far more than ever before.
Moving forward, St. George’s is committed to further developing our place as a world school by continuing to focus on the development of boarding as a key pillar of the Strategic Plan. This year, we are working on connecting day students to boarding opportunities, developing greater relationships with our sister schools on Vancouver Island, continuing to improve our communications with families and the broader school population, and implementing key parts of the new residential curriculum. Our Admissions team continues to work on increasing the diversity of the population. Our Harker Hall staff continues to develop quality, meaningful mentor relationships with our students. And, our students continue to learn, engage and enjoy residential life. As we continue towards building our vision of being a world school, our goal is to make boarding the St. George’s experience.
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A NEW PRESIDENTfor the Old Boys Association
After serving for eight years as a Director, the Old Boys Association (OBA) has determined that the
quickest, surest way to dislodge me is to elect me as President for the next two years. Regardless of
their intent, I accept the honour to follow the likes of our immediate past President, Michael Skene
‘85, and his predecessors, as we build on the growing legacy of excellent work and progressive
thinking that has become the hallmark of this Board.
In truth, I am very much looking forward to the next two years. The Board has developed into a very cohesive, forward-minded group that strives to stay attuned to the wants and needs of the Georgian community, while anticipating changes in direction to better serve in the future.
St. George’s has evolved over the years and, in many respects, is a better place than when I attended. Certainly there is more diversity and respect for the individual needs and talents of each boy, rather than the conformity matrix of the past. As representatives of all Georgians, the Board needs to recognize the changing face of both the school and its alumni, while ensuring our core values remain unchanged.
The next two years will involve considerable work within our organization as we move to further develop our Mentoring and Networking programs to better assist young graduates, upgrade our events, and strategize on how to effectively liaise between the School and the Georgians to help meet the challenges ahead.
I look forward to meeting many of you over my term and I am always open and available to discuss your questions, concerns, and suggestions.
Sine Timore Aut Favore
BRUCE JACKSON ‘78 PRESIDENT, THE OLD BOYS’ ASSOCIATION
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FACE-TO-FACEthe best social media option!
The emails really never stop arriving. Not too surprising, as that’s the primary way I connect with
numerous Old Boys almost every day. However, whenever possible, I would opt for a face-to-face
meeting. If distance is an issue, then a phone call is the next best choice. I’m also active on LinkedIn
and on Facebook, not what would be categorized as two-way communication. Social media is a big
part of my daily work world.
Email is perhaps the easiest way for me to connect with the current Grad Class, the more than 155 boys who will, in a few short months, join the ranks of the Georgians. They’re bouncing from class to class all day and all have after school activities. I work to balance my electronic communications with these boys with in-person connection as often as possible. Setting up a laptop in the Upper Great Hall at least one morning each week gives me a chance to connect directly with those grads. I can get a spot in front of the Grade 12s as Head of Grade 12 Pat Palmer ’80 is more than happy to slot me into the agenda for a grade assembly.
My time in Harker Hall allows me to develop close ties with many senior boys, especially those on Woodward Floor where I typically work my duty shifts. A few of these boys, those who play rugby, will get to see me with a whistle in hand when I officiate a rugby match. An even smaller group of those boarders have been seated in a classroom while I gave a 45-minute introductory session about sport psychology to the Golf team. These are incredibly valuable and meaningful opportunities for me to get to know the boys outside of the classroom.
The recent visit to Harker Hall of a group of 15 boarders from the Class of ’99, all in Vancouver for a classmate’s wedding, was a wonderful opportunity for me to host a tour while also getting to engage in several one-on-one conversations (see group photo on page 52). My thanks to Simon Hui ’99 for helping with that event and for the great chance I had to connect directly with a number of Old Boys I’d never met. That type of “face-time” is truly special.
Whether we connect via email, a LinkedIn discussion, a Facebook post, a phone call, or a face-to-face meeting on campus or at an event, I look forward to connecting.
CHRIS BLACKMAN HEAD OF GEORGIAN RELATIONS
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INTERVIEW BY CHRIS BLACKMAN
RODERICK MACDONALD CAME TO ST. GEORGE’S IN GRADE 9, IN 1962, AND STAYED THROUGH GRADE 12 IN 1966. HE CURRENTLY LIVES IN CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA.
Roderick'66MacDonald
What is your first memory of St. George’s School? My first memory of Saints was my mother driving me up to the old school and dropping me off. I was a weekly boarder in my first year. Being an only child, I loved boarding because for the first time I had all these brothers around me. It was great.
What did you fear about the School? I honestly did not fear anything at Saints. Maybe getting the cane, but after a while I wanted it to see what it was like. One of the wonderful aspects of Saints was that the masters did not try and instil fear in the students.
Which staff or faculty member do you most remember and why?I recall John Blackmore very fondly. For the first time in my life he taught me how to understand maths. Up to that point in time maths was a total mystery to me but Mr. Blackmore unlocked the mystery and for that I am very grateful.
Looking back do you have any regrets about your time at Saints?I have absolutely no regrets whatsoever about my time at Saints. I consider myself exceptionally fortunate to have attended such a wonderful school.
Which talent did you discover at Saints?I don’t know about developing a “talent” but what I did discover was self belief and a vision for my future. Prior to attending Saints I had no vision for my future. Saints instilled that vision in me and made me the person I am today.
What is one of your happiest memories from your time at St. George’s?My happiest memories are the friendships I developed. We had such a good time. My closest friends (in Canada) are boys I met at Saints.
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Defeat is Quiet
BY GAVIN LYTTON ‘10
The field, outlinedan immaculately slanted white,sports this new geometry for the imminent scrimmage uniformed momentum reaching restless, relentless divide; those flawed calculations of lost sleep and appetite—not hunger,always hunger—mean nothing, pushfurther than bodies were meantto bend; this new gravity requiresmisunderstanding of mathematics a refusal of science for today rain sweat tears are no more than liquid—the only fluid shareduntil a lone uniform remains.
The grass wet with anticipation, licksdirt off the bottom of your cleats. There’s a certain cleanliness to this sanctuary.
The whistle blowsbeginning or ending this affair.These boys’ facesthe only necessary telling.
Victory is not always had, he cannot be owned. He is loud, drunk on himselfcomplimenting everything you’ve done.You think yourself present, in that moment,the feeling you cannot sustain.It is not glory if it has never known true
Defeat—is quiet, she stays with you beyond celebrationwatched and endured, past the bareness of the locker room, the silence of the car ride home, the burning cold shower, the stillness of dinner alone— Still there in the morning, she twirls the tie around your neck a little too tight.
She sips herself into your water bottle,slips into your pocket, you feel her deep, suffocating presence each echoed
good try almost next time
takes you back, pushes youback to the locker room, then back out to the field again. She nerves you when drained, your body screaming
good try almost next time
for one more lap, one more suicide—your body wishes you would—but you don’t stop you cannotgive her that, your bones won’t allow it; they keep shape, keep your face toward the next contest and not until
the grass wet with anticipation, licks that dirt off your cleats, do you kiss her goodbye, do you breathe deep, moving on as the whistle blows again.
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September 2014: The second weekend in September finds hundreds of Old Boys gathering at Saints to reconnect and share stories with their classmates. At the Friday night reception, the Great Hall filled with close to 200 alumni and current and retired faculty. The various Classes headed out for dinners and parties while the Class of 1964, celebrating their 50th Reunion, joined the Headmaster and the Head of Georgian Relations for dinner in McLean Hall. A total of 16 from the Class of 1964 joined us for a wonderful meal and shared memories of their time at Saints, thanks to the guidance and support of Derek Simpkins and Bill Norris.
REUNION WEEKKEND
Photo AlbumGEORGIANS’
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Class of 1969, from Left to Right;
Front: Charles (Chaz) Teeple, David Chambers, Gordon Atkinson, Iain Palmer. | Back: John Christopherson, Mark Simpson, Norm Roaf, Douglas Kerr, Michael Stevens.
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September 2014: Gene Covert ’89 and his family winery were once again featured at the second annual Georgians Wine Fest in mid-September. Close to 125 guests – Old Boys, current parents, and current and past faculty – enjoyed tasting vintages from Old Boys’ Vineyards Covert Farms, Mission Hill, and CedarCreek as well as the Private Reserve Saints’ wine while sampling hors d’oeuvres from the Heather Hospitality Group team.
2014 WINEFEST>
September 2014: The University Golf Course at UBC once again hosted close to 100 golfers – a mix of current parents and Georgians – in the 11th edition of this venerable event. A damp afternoon didn’t impact the enthusiasm on the course. A highlight of the post-golf dinner was the fine sense of humour brought to the mic by MC Donovan Tildesley ’02. Geof Stancombe ’62 dropped by the celebrations and eagerly helped with a few prize presentations.
STANCOMBE OPEN GOLF TOURNAMENT>
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November 2014: Under clear blue skies, hundreds came to the Senior School campus to join in a full day of events. Dixon Gym was once again standing room only. RCAF Captain Rob Millen CD ’00, 443 Maritime Helicopter Squadron, was a guest reader while David Wallace ’41 was one of the oldest Georgians to attend. A new Board of Directors for the Old Boys’ Association was elected and then dozens took to the rugby field, the basketball court, and the soccer pitch for the annual Georgians Games.
REMEMBRANCE DAY & THE GEORGIANS GAMES>
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ALL THINGS GEORGIAN
SAINTS’NOTES
> STEPHEN MILLEN ’70
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CLASS UPDATESSTEPHEN MILLEN ’70 has recently joined the Sales & Marketing team at Autoform Performance Inc. www.autoformco.ca
GORDON KRUBERG ‘78 a long-time resident of San Francisco, came back to Saints recently to showcase technology from his company, Gumstix Inc., that is used in commercial drones, and to describe some of the underpinnings of flight control systems.
JOHN LEWIS ’95 has joined the coaching team for the Rowing Program at his alma mater – University of Western Ontario – and recently hosted Benny Pulver ’16 for a visit.
MICHAEL SUNG ’96 continues to prove his “baby-making” skills with the arrival of Henry Thomas Sung, a second son, on May 28 this year, in Baltimore, Maryland, where his family now resides while his wife completes her dermatology residency at Johns Hopkins. Michael has transitioned from real estate & private equity to focus on management of investments for his family office, Sasquatch Partners.
If any Old Boys are passing through the DMV (DC/Maryland/Virginia), they’re welcome to reach out via email, [email protected]
> BENNY PULVER ‘16 & JOHN LEWIS ‘95
> GORDON KRUBERG ‘78
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ANDREW HUPFAU ’98 has been a career diplomat with the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade, and Development since 2003. He was recently appointed Consul and head of political affairs at the Consulate General of Canada in Detroit, Michigan. This is his second assignment abroad in the Canadian Foreign Service, having previously served as Senior Trade Commissioner at the Canadian Embassy in Tunisia.
JAMES HAY ’04 married Ashley, on August 31, 2012 and on November 11, 2013 they welcomed a son – Grant Jackson Kade Hay.
ELIOT RAIBL ‘07 recently graduated from the Rochester Institute of Technology, where he played four years of Division I NCAA Hockey. He is now in Vancouver indefinitely, applying to law school while helping out as an associate coach with the St. George’s Hockey team. Eliot is also part of a start-up called Suitcase Sports (www.suitcasesports.com), which aids athletes in choosing their next destination through real reviews. The start-up, while well underway, hopes to launch fully in the new year. You can connect with Eliot on LinkedIn, or at [email protected]
CRISTIAN LIU ’04 has joined the Boston Consulting Group, as a consultant, in their San Francisco office.
DAVE MUNROE ‘06 recently moved to Amsterdam, Netherlands to continue his career with PwC. He is now a Senior Associate in the firm’s public company audit practice, dealing with US-listed clients in Europe.
MATTHEW HAYTO ‘07 recently joined the Taproot Foundation as the product manager of Taproot+ (www.taprootplus.org), a new project that aims to match nonprofits with people looking to volunteer their professional skills, pro bono. He completed his first Olympic distance triathlon this year and currently lives in Brooklyn, NY. Connect with Matthew on LinkedIn, or at [email protected]
CONOR TRAINOR ’07 has continued to play for the National Men’s XV and Sevens teams in recent months.
SEBASTIAN HAYTO ‘08 is now living in Manhattan after spending two years in Toronto working for Target Canada. He’s currently the youngest account manager at Quirky (www.quirky.com), a New York-based retail start-up that brings publicly sourced invention ideas to major retailers across North America. Find Sebastian on LinkedIn, or at [email protected]
HARRY FREDEMAN ’10 while playing for the Trinity Western Spartans (goalie) signed a professional contract with Swedish Div. 2 club IFK Ore.
JUSTIN HAYTO ’11 who was Deputy Head Boy, is completing his Mechanical Engineering degree at McGill while remaining heavily involved with the National Organization for Business in Engineering and McGill Students for Right To Play. He is pursuing career opportunities in consulting, and is always looking to connect with fellow Georgians. Reach him on LinkedIn, or at [email protected]
TONY CHEN ’14 was accepted into the Royal Military College.
ANDREW CHEN ’14 is a House of Commons Page.
> GRANT JACKSON KADE HAY
> SUZANNE DILL & CONOR TRAINOR ‘07 AT THE
GLASGOW COMMONWEALTH GAMES
CORRECTION: Kenneth Li ’95 welcomed a son, Desmond, on August 20, 2013.
> TONY CHEN ’14 > ANDREW CHEN ’14
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> THE INVESTMENT CLUB: L TO R: MATT LAU ‘12, DEVAN DASS ‘12, RUPERT KAY ‘14, OSCAR HONG ‘15, ANDREW MO ‘17, KARMAN SUYAMA ‘13, HAN TONG ‘12.
All are past executives from the IC. Our current students - Andrew and Oscar - are executives next year as well: Andrew Mo will serve a
second year as Learning Coordinator and Oscar Hong, vice-president this year, will be the Club’s President next year.
GARY NIXON a former Master, in June 2014 in Vancouver, BC
SEDLEY BELL-IRVING SWEENY ’35 on December 19, 2013 on Cortes Island, BC
JOHN ANDREAS CHRISTENSEN QC ’47 in Gravenhurst, Ontario
HARRY ROBERT RENDELL ’48 on November 6, 2012 in Vancouver, BC
KARL ANTON RIEDEMANN ’50 on September 15, 2014
JAMES ALLEN MCHUGH ’52 on September 22, 2014 in Vancouver, BC
GRAHAM G. CUMPSTON ‘58 on November 7, 2014 in Vancouver, BC
LP JAKE LANCE ECKARDT ’59 in July, 2014
KOSTIE JAMES KILLAS ’71 on June 12, 2014 in Vancouver, BC
GEORGIANS WHO HAVE PASSED…
DOUGAL FRASER - HONOURARY GEORGIAN a former Master, on November 18, 2014, while in hospital in Victoria. Dougal taught English at Saints for 22 years and was an influence on the intellectual and scholarly lives of many Old Boys during their formative years. He was also a graduate of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts and directed numerous Saints theatre productions of high quality. Dougal retired from the School in 2002.
CAROL VAN RIJN | SEAN MULDOON | SARAH BURNS | BHIKHU HAJIRAKAR
STAFF & FACULTY RETIREMENTS
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THOMAS D. COLDICUTT JR. ’64 and wife Elizabeth were Executive Producer and Producer respectively of the recently released award-winning documentary Mary Pickford, the Muse of the Movies about the legendary Canadian actress and entrepreneur. Well-known-actor Michael York narrates the movie, which traces the life and work of the legendary silent film star, movie pioneer, and keen business woman who co-created United Artists Studios. Pickford’s life (1892-1979) also parallels an even larger story, the telling of the birth of the cinema. Mary, known as “America’s Sweetheart”, was the first actress to earn one million dollars during a single year and the only star to ever receive a 50% profit share of her movies.
To order this film, please contact the Caroline Victoria Coldicutt Arts Foundation: www.cvcartsfoundation.org/store. All proceeds will be gifted to St. George’s Arts Department.
> Nicholas Eliopoulos, Producer, with Michael York. Pordenone, Italy.
> Thomas Coldicutt, Elizabeth Wood Coldicutt, and Nicholas Eliopoulos at the 14th Annual Satellite Awards, Los Angeles, CA.
A VISIT TO HARKER HALL BY A GROUP OF 15 BOARDERS FROM THE CLASS OF ’99: From left to Right:
Top: Ben Ho, Steven Siow, Benny Chang, Tommy Keung, Derek Chung, Hans Lee, Simon Hui, Alex Tsun, Ringo Hui. Bottom: Darren Wong, Vito Sze, Kelvin Chan, Brandon Hui, Eponine Wong (Brandon’s Wife), Chris Blackman, David Fu,
Morris Fu (David’s Son), Ruby Chung (David’s Wife)
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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 186:00 PM: REUNION WEEKEND KICKOFF Reception for all Participants The Great Hall, Senior School 4175 West 29th Avenue, Vancouver
7:30 PM: SENIOR GEORGIANS DINNER for those celebrating their 50th reunion and beyond McLean Hall, Senior School
8:30 PM: CLASS DINNERS (organized by each class) Off-campus venues
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 191:00 PM – 3:00 PM GEORGIANS & FAMILY BBQ & OPEN HOUSE Senior School The gyms, pool, and fields will be open for use by all. Complimentary burgers, hot dogs, chips & beverages. Rain or shine, come out & relax.
If you would like to volunteer as a Class Reunion Organizer, please contact:
CHRIS BLACKMAN Head of Georgian Relations 604-221-3885 | [email protected]
For more information:
www.georgians.ca
We invite all Georgians from classes ending in 5 and 0, along with all Senior Georgians
(those celebrating their 50th reunion and beyond)
to enjoy a weekend of fraternity and reunion.
1935 – 1965 | 1970 | 1975 | 1980 | 1985 | 1990 | 1995 | 2000 | 2005 | 2010
SEPTEMBER 18 & 19, 2015
SAINTS REUNION WEEKEND
GEORGIANS UPCOMING EVENTS
• HY’S BUSINESSMEN’S LUNCHEON THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2014 Hy’s Steakhouse, Vancouver
• YOUNG GEORGIANS & YORKIES CHRISTMAS SOCIAL FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2014 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm, Rainier Provisions
• HAMPER DRIVE SATURDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2014
• MONTREAL RECEPTION TUESDAY, JANUARY 27, 2015 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm, Place D’Armes Hotel
• LOS ANGELES RECEPTION MONDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2015 Details TBA
• SAN FRANCISCO RECEPTION TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2015 Details TBA
• LAS VEGAS RECEPTION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2015 Details TBA
• VANCOUVER YOUNG GEORGIANS PUB NIGHT THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2015 Details TBA
• VICTORIA RECEPTION TUESDAY, MARCH 10, 2015 CANOE Brewpub Details TBA
• CALGARY RECEPTION WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015 Details TBA
• HONG KONG RECEPTION THURSDAY, MARCH 26, 2015 Details TBA
• ANNUAL GEORGIANS DINNER FRIDAY, APRIL 17, 2015 6:00 pm Reception, the Great Hall 8:00 pm Dinner and Awards, McLean Hall
• ST. GEORGE’S DAY THURSDAY, APRIL 23, 2015 Six rugby games at the Senior School From 12 Noon
• TORONTO CHAPTER DINNER WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2015 Details TBA
• NEW YORK CITY CHAPTER DINNER THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2015 Details TBA
• DRAGONS’ LAIR THURSDAY MAY 14, 2015 7:00 pm – 9:30 pm, Auditorium, Senior School
• OKANAGAN PUB NIGHT THURSDAY, MAY 21, 2015 Kelowna Details TBA
• GEORGIAN ARTISTS BBQ FRIDAY, JUNE 5, 2015 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm, Senior School
For more information on our events, please visit our online calendar at:
www.stgeorges.bc.ca/georgiansevents
BECAUSE EVERY BOY BENEFITS EVERY YEAR FROM THESE FUNDS.
THE ANNUAL FUND
WHY GIVE?We have one purpose in raising money: it’s about the boys and the adults who teach, coach, and counsel them. Look behind any activity at Saints, whether in classrooms, athletics, arts, or outdoor education, and you will find the gifts that help sustain St. George’s School’s approach to exceptional education: donations to the Annual Fund.
Annual Giving is an essential part of the financial landscape. By reducing the School’s reliance on tuition revenue, your annual contribution, large or small, will support and expand the educational opportunities for the entire school community.
The mission of the Annual Fund is to provide consistent yearly support—beyond what tuition provides—for programs and activities that make a difference for every student. Your support provides opportunities that will develop the unique potential of every St. George’s student.
PRIORITY PROJECTS THIS YEAR INCLUDE:
1. Junior School Library renovations
2. Senior School classroom furniture refurbishment
3. New Senior School Mac lab and Junior School technology upgrade
The Annual Fund appeal continues until June 30th, 2015. For additional information or to make a gift, please contact:
TRACIE WATSON 604-221-3902 [email protected] or visit www.stgeorges.bc.ca/AnnualGiving
www.stgeorges.bc.ca/AnnualGiving
RETURN ALL UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO:
40580507
3851 West 29th Avenue, Vancouver BC V6S 1T6 Canada
