The Shield - Spring 2015

SHIELDTHE A MAGAZINE FOR THE ROYAL ST. GEORGES COLLEGE COMMUNITY SPRING 2015

By George,

Behind the Scenes of the

50th Anniversary

Cooking the Georgian Way

The Duke of Ed: Education in the

Wilderness

Christopher Heck RSGC's

Tennis Ace

Celebrating 50 Years at the

Anniversary Galawhat a Party!

The Shield Spring 2015 Royal St. Georges College 3

The Shield Spring 2015Email: [email protected]

General Inquiries: 416.533.9481

Alumni Inquiries: 416.516.5202

Headmaster: Stephen Beatty 86

Editor: Laurie Mandarino

Copy Editor: Dave Mitchell

Designer: Jonathan Cresswell-Jones

Photography: CanGrad Studios, Tom Stevens, Tim Hutton, Laurie Mandarino, Mardi Michels

Editorial Committee: Stephen Beatty 86, Gail Graham, Maria Jordan, David Lee, Laurie Mandarino, Drew Blanchette 96

RSGC Board of Directors

Offi cers

Chair: Paul Clark 85

Vice-Chair: James Crossland

Past Chair: Ruth Woods

Treasurer, Audit and Finance Committee Chair: Cathy Bateman

Headmaster: Stephen Beatty 86

Chief Financial Offi cer, Board Secretary: Jane Nyman

Directors

Michael Barker, Facility Committee Chair

Bruce Chapple 87, Nomination and Governance Committee Chair

Peter Furnish, Advancement Committee Chair

Gail Graham, Guild Representative

Colin Watson 94, Alumni Representative

Dorothy ByersRyan Cookson 03 Molly JohnsonJennifer KeenanAdrian C. LangBruce MacLarenCaroline NewallJesse Parker 01, Clergy

The Shield is the offi cial magazine of Royal St. Georges College. Serving

RSGCs alumni and community, it

strives to engage, inform and connect

all audiences.

Contents

FEATURES14 Alumni Spotlight BY LAURIE MANDARINO

Canadas Next 36 has recognized Mark Kryshtalskyj 10 as one of the top young entrepreneurs in the country.

16 Student Spotlight BY LAURIE MANDARINO

Mature beyond his years, Grade 7 tennis ace Christopher Heck successfully juggles school and sport.

18 Parent Spotlight Tye Farrow is forever engaged with RSGC. The former Chair of the Board and alumni parent is the architect in charge of the planned renovations for Ketchum Hall and the Junior School.

20 The Making of the 50th Anniversary Celebration BY SUMNER & LANG

This special feature shares the behind-the-scenes details of the many special activities during RSGCs year-long 50th anniversary celebration.

27 A Royal Program for a Royal School BY SUMNER & LANG

The Duke of Edinburgh award has become an important part of RSGCs culture and has grown in popularity year after year.

30 Cooking the Georgian Way BY MARDI MICHELS

Junior School French teacher and popular food blogger Mlle. Mardi Michels shares her love of cooking with the boys in her Les Petits Chefs cooking club.

1814 30

Cover photo: CanGrad Studios

DEPARTMENTS

5 Message from the RSGCAA

7 Giving

8 Events

10 Tributes

12 Prefect's Corner

33 Our Changing Lives FPO

GEORGIAN SINCE 1964

In celebration of our Anniversary, we are proud to present our 50th Anniversary Commemorative History Book. Enjoy the stories of our pastthe people and events that formed who we are today. Th is hardcover book is beautifully presented with hun-

dreds of photos and stories that celebrate the College and our achievements. Th is will become a treasured keepsake for your family.

Please use the enclosed form or visit https://campus.rsgc.on.ca/history-book-orders to order your copy today!

The Shield Spring 2015 Royal St. Georges College 5 4 The Shield Spring 2015 Royal St. Georges College

s we prepare to bring another fantastic year to a close, Id like to thank all alumni members,

our executive board and the schools Advancement team for everyones contributions.

Aligned with the Colleges Strategic Plan, the Old Boys Association continues to focus on mentoring and developing events for alumni at all levels. In May we hosted our fifth annual Alumni Networking Event at Torontos Cambridge Club. Centred on an opportunity for Georgians to connect with their peers, the event also introduced a workshop for recent gradu-ates (10-13) on the value of personal branding and its role in helping young professionals establish themselves and build careers.

We also created an entirely new offering to current graduates this year by hosting our first university-series break-fast. The event brought together Grade 12 students and several recent alumni currently in university to help provide perspectives on where to go next year. We are looking forward to expanding these and other mentoring and network-ing initiatives in the coming year.

Building on the momentum of this years 50th Anniversary Old Boys Dinner, RSGC hosted its largest ever Gala at Maple Leaf Gardens in April. Themed as a throwback to the 1960s, the event was one to remember, and was a fantastic opportunity for the entire RSGC com-munity to connect under one roof.

The RSGCAA would like to extend our gratitude to all who have made financial contributions towards our College. Reinforcing our ongoing ties to the school through donations has always

been an important part of alumni life and this year was no exception.

We were delighted to see record support for the Manners Maketh Men Scholarship & Bursary Fund, created in honour of our founding headmaster, Dr. J. L. Wright, to attract future Georgians who may not otherwise be able to afford an independent school education. Also, as a special component of fundraising for the renovation of Ketchum Hall, alumni are invited to be recognized for any contribu-tion of $500 or more with a place on the Alumni Mantel, part of the floor-to-ceiling fireplace that will be the signature element of the renovated hall. I know we all share fond memories of that place!

We are looking forward to wrap-ping up this year and heading into an exciting 2016. We have numerous new alumni events and projects in the works, including the launch of the schools new website, which will feature an enhanced

MESSAGE FROM THE RSGCAA PRESIDENT

And Thats a Wrap

A

alumni portal, as well as our first RSGCAA annual general meeting, to be held in September.

We hope you all have a great sum-mer and look forward to seeing you out again next year.

Alex Edmison 02PresidentRSGCAA

Im writing these remarks on April 26, one day after the much anticipated 50th Anniversary Gala. For the more than 700 of you who were in attendance, I dont need to describe the remarkable affair. For those who didnt have the opportunity to attend, the photographs available in this issue of The Shield certainly show off the spectacle of the event, but they cannot do justice to the energy and spirit of the night.

The early reviews are unanimous that the Gala celebration was a great success larger than life, remarkably glamorous and, above all else, fun. Dance-before-dinner fun. Sleep-in-late-on-Sunday fun. The kind of fun you have at the wedding of your closest friends or a birthday party for someone you really love. The kind of fun you have with people youve known for a long time and youre authentically fond of. RSGC is the friend that introduced us all to each other. The least we could do was to dress up and come out for a party.

The celebration of the 50th Anniversary has underpinned the entire year here at the College. From the first day of school when the boys arrived to the welcome of our Knights of the Tarmac Colour Guard, its been a year full of memories. Within this issue of The Shield, youll find plenty of stories and photographs from this year of honouring a dear friend.

As the warm weather returns and the spring days grow longer, the ancient rhythms of the school year bring us to its natural end. As I look back on this special year, I am so proud that the dreams of our Founders continue to thrive and be worthy of such joyful celebration.

Happy birthday, old sport! Heres to many, many more.Stephen Beatty 86Headmaster

LETTER FROM THE HEADMASTER

Its hard to believe that after years of planning for the Colleges 50th Anniversary celebrations, its almost over! Its been a fun school year, with many exciting activities many of which youll be able to read about in this issue, including a behind-the-scenes look at how some of the key events came to be.

This issue also includes a special feature from Junior School French teacher, Mardi Michels, on her love of sharing cooking with the boys; an in-depth look at the schools participation in the Duke of Edinburgh program; and profiles on some very impressive people who make up the Georgian community. Thanks to everyone for sharing your stories. I hope you enjoy it.

As I prepare to go off for my second (and last!) maternity leave, Im already looking forward to continuing to put together The Shield while Im juggling a newborn and a toddler.

Have a wonderful summer and remember to please contact me if you have any updates or great stories to share.

Laurie MandarinoEditor, The [email protected]

Dear Fellow Georgians,

RSGCAA Executive Committee

Alumni Association President:Alex Edmison 02

Vice President & Faculty Rep:Drew Blanchette 96

Representative to the Board of Governors & Past President:Colin Watson 94

Communications Co-chairs:Micheal Fountain 99

James Patava 03

Mentoring & Networking Event Chair: Geoff Osborne 08

Recruitment Chair: Jamie Peters 90

Alumni 50th Anniversary Steering Committee Co-chairs:Graham Hunt 85 Stewart Istvan 84

Alumni Ball Hockey & Recent Grads BBQ Event Chair: Tim Clark 03

Alumni Legends Ball Hockey & Basketball Tournament Event Co-chairs: Jeff Enfield 97 Rickesh Kotecha 00

50th Anniversary Gala, Alumni Representatives: Marc Burroni 98 Jay Murray 79

Alumni Stewards: Benjamin Barnes 15 Andrew Firstbrook 15

Members at Large: Peter Antonoff 82 Irfan Hajee 08 Christian Mathews-Gagne 08

A Note from the Editor


W ith the 50th Anniversary Great School, Great Boys campaign in full swing, there is much to look forward to as the vision inches closer to reality. One of the opportunities that will emerge with the refurbishment of Ketchum Hall is a new kitchen. While much has been done over the years to ensure that the boys receive a healthy, balanced diet, Chef Corey Jongsma, RSGC Director of Food Services, and his Aramark team are limited in what they can serve because of space and equipment constraints.

Im extremely excited about all of the possibilities in a newly renovated kitchen in Ketchum Hall, said Corey. I dont have a grill or proper ventilation and its just so tight in there now. You really have to forget everything you

know about cooking and learn to do it with whats available.

Th e heavy hitters have been called in to help create the best possible space, in order to allow Corey to make even more fresh, made-from-scratch, healthy foods. Michael Bonacini, Partner at Oliver & Bonacini and RSGC alumni parent, has joined the advisory board that will develop the plans for the new kitchen.

My role is to understand what the current challenges are, get my head around where the development plans are going and try to fi gure out how to best provide a kitchen that will give Chef Corey a greater opportunity to put out great product, said Michael. Having a proper fl ow that makes sense is one of the key things were looking at.

CAMPAIGN

The Vision for a New Kitchen50th Anniversary Great School, Great Boys campaign

Corey is looking forward to having a kitchen with better workfl ow possibilities for him and his team, and a better collec-tion fl ow for the boys.

Im hoping to have the hot food servery right by the kitchen, said Corey. Not only will it be much easier to put the food out, but it will also be a chance for the students to see what goes on behind the scenes and how the food they eat every day is produced.

While the fi nal layout of the kitchen has yet to be determined, the team has a sense of what its ideal layout is.

Our goal is to try to make the kitchen bigger because its very tight right now, said Michael. Th e amount of food and produce that comes in the back door and leaves out the front door is enormous. Th ere will surely be compromises, but that doesnt need to be refl ected in the calibre of the food or the usability of the space.

Th e plan also aims to include a more open kitchen, so that the boys can see directly whats going on inside.

Everyone is fascinated with watching a kitchen in action. Its wonderful to see the fresh salads and other foods being made, and the aromas and sounds that go along with it, said Michael. Of course, it goes without saying that good, healthy food is as much a part of RSGCs values as getting to know the boys and being in a special place.

Both Corey and Michael know that the new kitchen will be of great benefi t to the boys.

Not only will the team be able to serve the boys more quickly and effi ciently during lunch, but it will also allow the chef and the kitchen team to work with more fresh products and make more from scratch as part of a fresh, wholesome approach, said Michael.

Th e more we can bring food to life and have the boys feel, touch and taste wholesome, hearty ingredients, the better! Its defi nitely an important part of having a wholesome school life.

Leave a Legacy...because the world needs more Georgians.

Some things you can do today to leave your legacy gift:

Prepare a will.

Leave a gift to RSGC in your will.

Consider using assets for your legacy gift.

Name RSGC as the bene ciary of an existing life insurance policy.

Before making any nancial decision or commitments, contact your nancial planner.

For more information or a legacy brochure, please contact:

Maria Jordan

Executive Director of Advancement

[email protected]

416-533-9481 ext. 298

No matter your association with RSGC, we can all agree that RSGC is a special place. For 50 years, RSGC has been a community in which everyone strives to give the students opportunities to thrive, take risks, grow and succeed. All of our boys are known and loved. Please consider a gift in sup-port of the Manners Maketh Men Scholarships and Bursary Fund, Ketchum Hall Renovation or Headmasters Initiatives.NNo matter your association with RSGC, we can all agree NNo matter your association with RSGC, we can all agree that RSGC is a special place. For 50 years, RSGC has been Nthat RSGC is a special place. For 50 years, RSGC has been a community in which everyone strives to give the students Na community in which everyone strives to give the students opportunities to thrive, take risks, grow and succeed. All of Nopportunities to thrive, take risks, grow and succeed. All of our boys are known and loved. Please consider a gift in sup-Nour boys are known and loved. Please consider a gift in sup-port of the Nport of the Manners Maketh Men Scholarships and Bursary NManners Maketh Men Scholarships and Bursary FundNFund, Ketchum Hall Renovation or Headmasters Initiatives.N, Ketchum Hall Renovation or Headmasters Initiatives.

Information provided by Leave a Legacy Canada, a program of the Canadian Association of Gift Planners www.cagptoronto.org

Celebrating Generosityyears of50

Please use the enclosed form to make a donation or for more information, visit rsgc.on.ca or contact [email protected].

Michael Bonacini

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8 The Shield Spring 2015 Royal St. Georges College

RSGC ReadsRSGC Reads 2015, held on April 14, welcomed alumni parent and Founding Artistic Director of Soulpepper Theatre Albert Schultz, and actor Paul Lee to discuss the acclaimed Kims Convenience by playwright Ins Choi. Kims Convenience explores the issues of immi-gration, racism and parenting in the urban setting of Regent Park from the perspective of a Korean convenience store owner. The play has been performed across Canada, with sellout crowds at the Soulpepper. The entertaining evening was enhanced by the par-ticipation of the Grade 11 students, who studied the play and saw a performance at the Young Centre for the Performing Arts this past fall. Over the past few years, RSGC Reads has hosted Richard Wagamese, Joseph Boyden and local author Ray Robertson. Special thanks to the Georgian Parents Guild, RSGC parents Natalie Kirsh and Nancy Taylor, and English Department Head Dr. Trena Evans for making this event happen.

Grad Moms TeaEvery year, RSGC pays tribute to the mothers of the boys in the graduating class. This year on April 10, the mothers from the Class of 2015 were invited to afternoon High Tea at the Royal Canadian Yacht Club. Headmaster Stephen Beatty 86 and representatives from the Colleges Alumni Development Team welcomed the group, who were later surprised by their sons, who joined them for a special photo opportunity. Each mom also got to leave the event with a keepsake they will cherish long after their sons have left the College, but shhhh we dont want to ruin the surprise for future grad moms.

Dont forget to add these exciting events to your calendar:

September 9

RSGCAA Annual General Meeting (6:00 pm)

September 25

Terry Fox Run (9:00 am)

September 27

Knights Fayre (11:00 am)

October 1

Grad & Alumni Speed Mentoring Event (3:30 pm)

November 21

Old Boys Dinner (6:00 pm)

December 15

Alumni Legends Ball Hockey and Basketball Tournament (3:30 pm)

December 17

Service of Lessons and Carols at St. James Cathedral

(7:30 pm)

The Shield Spring 2015 9

EVENTS

Memorable Moments

Hidden GemsThe Hidden Gems concert on February 4 didnt disappoint! Every year, more and more members of the Georgian community are coming out of the wood-work to reveal their talents. Emceed by David Fitzpatrick, Dean of Students, and Anthony Lisi, Class of 2015, the evening was once again headlined by renowned jazz singer and RSGC parent Molly Johnson, and songwriter, singer, actor and RSGC parent Stephanie Martin. From jazz standards, piano solos and band numbers to acoustic guitar pieces and duets, it was truly a magical night of performances. Some of the Branksome Hall girls even made an appearance for a few Grease numbers! Proceeds from the event benefit the Georgian Scholarship for the Arts. A special thank you to all volunteers and sponsors.

Pictures dont do the evening justice, but theyre still great! http://ow.ly/JAtRv

Alumni Parents High TeaOn April 9, the Georgian Parents Guild hosted the first-ever High Tea for over 75 alumni parents whose sons have graduated from the College. Ketchum Hall was transformed into a lovely dining area, where a traditional tea was served. Guests also enjoyed a performance by the Junior School Choir, a message from Headmaster Stephen Beatty 86 and tours of the campus. Each guest was also sent home with a Proud Georgian Parent tea towel. Feedback from attendees was overwhelmingly enthusiastic, with parents raving about how wonderful it was to be back on campus.

10 The Shield Spring 2015 Royal St. Georges College The Shield Spring 2015 Royal St. Georges College 11

He was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, an edgy industrial city of shipbuilding, aircraft manufacturing (Canadas Bombardier now owns the Irish facility) and tobacco manu-facturing, among others.

He went to elementary and secondary school in Belfast in the 1950s. Hes glad to have missed the liberal educational changes of the 60s.

He always wanted a dog, but his widowed mother could neither walk nor support one, so he had to do without. His desire to care for a pet was fulfilled when he was given permission to keep a loft of homing pigeons. Serious schoolwork put an end to this hobby.

He won a scholarship to Dublins Trinity College, which he attended from 1962-1966. There, he studied English and Latin with sub-sidiary subjects, French and Ancient Greek.

He reveres the generation that went through the Great Depression and World War II,

which gave him the opportunity of an edu-cation. The 1944 Education Act made it possible for children who would normally be unable to afford it to get free secondary and university tuition.

He was a naval reservist for two years.

He taught high school in Belfast for three years while preparing for the Irish civil service exams, which he passed after two tries. He was admitted to the Irish Foreign Service, in which he spent 11 years, and has served in Bonn, Berne, Vienna and New Delhi. He speaks French, German and some Irish Gaelic.

He thought he might like to be an Anglican minister and, while that did not happen, he remains a churchgoer. He likes Anglican liturgy, but cur-rently attends a Baptist church.

He learned rugby in high school and has coached the game at RSGC.

He is married to Sue Yun. They have no children.

TRIBUTE

Morris Reid came to RSGC in 1990 from the Toronto Board of Education. He has been living in Canada since 1981. At RSGC, he has taught English, French, Latin, Greek and, currently, Classical Civilization, and has been active in coaching debating and rugby. Morris will be inducted into the Order of the Dragon, which honours those who have served the College for 25 years, in 2015.

Who is Morris Reid?

Ten Things You May Not Know About Morris

My parents were upset with my middle school experience and felt that an independent school would be the best option for helping me not slip through the cracks. My parents chose St. Georges because it was the only school I could get into, and initially even they didnt want me. I tried UCC, Crescent and even SAC. The latter said I could attend but only if I boarded. Eventually I was let in on the condition that I attended math summer school. Rory Gilfillan 91

My parents were concerned about me going to the local Junior High. They were concerned about class size since I was coming from a small school of 200 students. At the end of Grade 8, I was given the option of going to North Toronto CI, but I made many friends and really liked St. Georges College, so I decided to stay for Grade 9. At the end of Grade 10, I had the option of doing high school in four years instead of five. By the end of Grade 10,

I already knew I wanted to do engineering and go to Waterloo. I knew the courses I needed and the chance of get-ting there faster in four years was also an incentive. Even more so, I really enjoyed SGC. I stayed and graduated in 1989, a year ahead of cohorts at NTCI. David Bourne 89

My older cousin and my brother attended SGC and both had great experiences. My cousin became a Prefect and my brother found teachers who inspired him. It seemed natural that I would join them. I had been accepted at UCC on the condition that I become a boarder. This seemed extreme for a 9-year-old who lived two subway stops away from the school. SGC won out handily. I owe UCC a huge thank you. Adrian Dafoe 88

My parents had decided early on that public school wasnt going to work for me (perhaps my ADHD had been progressing at a torrid pace), which resulted in me being enrolled atU of Ts Ontario Institute of Child Study for Grades 5 and 6. The lab-rat mentality there was indeed strange, so I was happy to be making a switch. I arrived at RSGC for Grade 7. I was accepted at UCC, but my parents (and, more impor-tantly, I) believed strongly that RSGC was a better fit for me considering its smaller size, location and its exceptional

music program. Oh, and the tarmac. You cant forget the tarmac! Greg Hardwick 90

Istarted at RSGC in Grade 9 because friends of my parents told them it was the best high school in Toronto. My friends in the Junior School also told me it was a great school before I even applied. Mack Horton 13

My late father was attracted to (R)SGC because it is an Anglican boys school and offered an educational experience similar to the one he had growing up in Hong Kong. He also rightly believed that the quality of education at St. Georges was better than what the public school system provided. Im grateful my dad enrolled me in St. Georges, and its the educational experience I treasure the most. Plus, I made lifelong friends. Ferdinand Poon 87

My Godfather was an old friend of Jack Wrights and pushed my parents to send me to RSGC for Grade 5.

Im really glad I went, especially because it started me singing. Marc Tyrrell 78

My parents emigrated here from the UK in the late 1950s and for them, education was an investment that could never be taken away or lost. So, when it came time for high school, they began looking into schools that provided a good education, small class sizes and where some of the school traditions they had experienced (think the cricket bat on the back of a few class-room doors) were in place. As soon as my dad met Mr. Tansey ( Junior School Headmaster), he was hooked, and I really didnt have much choice in the matter! Roger Cattell 84

My parents were not satisfied with the local public school by the end of Grade 2 and began searching for private schools. They got a great feeling from RSGC when we went for a tour. They never forgot the great conversation they had with Mr. Wright in the Guild Room while I was in my interview. John Sayers 87

ALUMNI CONNECTIONS

WHY DIDCHOOSE

YOUR PARENTSRSGC?

Jack Wright was a huge draw for new students and parents.

The Tarmac. Oh, the Tarmac.


AL: I understand you were also pretty active in the choir. DE: Yes, I was in the choir right from the beginning and loved it, got to do some choir trips. If youd asked me before I went to St. Georges if Id have any interest in joining a choir, I would have said Definitely no! But it was one of the coolest experiences I had at St. Georges and something I look back on fondly. AL: Ive had a very similar experience. I started very young too. I had the option, so I figured I might as well try it out its easy to join a sport outside of school, but not so much a choir! Its been awesome. Ive gone on many choir trips and were doing England again this year. DE: Nice! You guys will have so much fun. Its too bad I just moved back from London I would have loved to be there.

AL: What were you doing in London? DE: I was doing my law degree. I just finished it up last summer and now Im articling at a firm starting in August.

AL: Did you do university here and then go to England? DE: Yeah, I had a midlife crisis really early on! I went to Queens and did the Commerce program there. I loved it and decided to go into accounting. I liked it didnt love it but realized that Im young and have the rest of my life to work, so decided to change things up. So I went to law school in the UK and now

Im back doing my qualifications exams so I can practice in Canada.

AL: Did you find it tough to balance sports and choir? DE: A lot of the choir commitments were during school, so I didnt really find that I had to juggle it too much. I do remember singing at an event once and my Dad was parked in the car outside. I had to run out the second we were finished so I could get to hockey.

AL: Its been similar for me for sure. Now lets talk about the mix between sports and choir. I know Ive kept it out of my hockey circle for sure!DE: Haha yes, I kept it out of there for as long as I could! And then I must have had a choir event or something and I was late for hockey, so it came out. I got teased a bit, but you develop a thick skin. Plus, if its something youre passionate about, then who cares? If thats what you like to do, then thats what you like to do. AL: Its nice, though, because inside RSGC, its just part of the culture. Its amazing how its just a regular thing amongst the guys. DE: Absolutely. You could probably say that youre the only choirboy in your entire league, but at St. Georges, youre one of many jocks in the choir.

AL: How did you find being Head Boy? DE: Amazing. It was really my first opportunity to manage a bunch of people.

It was amazing to watch different people come together with different ideas and create something special.AL: I agree. The leadership opportuni-ties weve had have been incredible. Ive found that hockey leadership brings so much, but theres something to be said about working in a team without sports. Its a completely different dynamic and a different and unique kind of learning. DE: Its true. The hockey leadership really is transferrable. We didnt always have the most successful hockey teams at St. Georges, so I had to learn how to lead the other guys in how to just go out there, have fun and put it all in perspective.

AL: Do you still play sports and/or sing now? DE: I dont sing anymore, unfortunately, but I love going to the Carol Service with my Dad, who is also an alumnus. We try to go every year. I definitely still play hockey though.

AL: Im wondering if you have any advice for me DE: Remember all of the life lessons you have learned throughout your time at RSGC, whether it was on the tarmac or in the classroom. Things that I was taught years ago have stuck with me to this day. Most of all, follow your passions, whether it be pursuing your hockey career, university or anything else you do in your future. Good luck!

David, left, played for the Knights and for the GTHL. Anthony, right, plays Junior A hockey in Hamilton.

Caption Xxyxyx xyxyxy

PREFECTS CORNER

Anthony Lisi: I understand you were very involved in athletics. What sports did you play? David Edwards: While I was at St. Georges, I played soccer, hockey, golf and softball, though my favourites were definitely soccer and hockey. I loved it. Mr. Jamieson was my very first soccer coach. I believe his first year was also my first year and I remember to this day, during the first few weeks at school, we had a tournament in the freezing rain. AL: He tells that story about how miser-able he was the whole time! I dont think he ever coached again!

DE: Do you play any other sports besides hockey? AL: As I get older, its been narrowing, but over the years, Ive played soccer, volleyball, softball, school hockey and track. Hockey has since taken over my life with the workouts and everything. The off-season is sometimes busier than the season! DE: I definitely did not play at as high a level as you do, but I remember having to juggle school athletics with outside hockey

as well. Its pretty demanding stuff, and for you, you have to travel to Hamilton and all over Southern Ontario. Its pretty impressive that youre able to do that and your school work at the same time.

AL: Its crazy, but I get a lot of help. There are lots of good people at the College. Did you play hockey outside of school? DE: I played AA for the Mississauga Jets. In Grade 11, my team won every-thing, which is why I missed the Grade 11 trip to BC. I still think about that! We went to the Ontario Winter Games and won that too.

AL: Did you miss a lot of school for your sports commitments?DE: I definitely missed school because of the combination of playing GTHL hockey and playing all of the sports at school as well, but like you, I had some pretty awesome teachers who were very flexible and supportive of my outside interests. My parents were also very supportive of everything I did, but also in making sure that my marks were where

they needed to be. It was definitely a juggling act between making my hockey and school commitments. AL: This year has been especially hard. Sometimes Ill miss half a day of school to travel to my games and by the time I get home, its 1:00 or 2:00 am. Then I have to get up to go to school the next day!DE: Wow. Thats really hard! I remem-ber getting home at about 11:30 pm and having to do my homework. AL: When I was looking at teams last year, I walked into Mr. OLearys office and asked if he thought it would be man-ageable. He said that they would make it work. The school and the teachers have been fantastic. DE: Thats definitely one of the things that St. Georges has that sets it apart from everywhere else.

Anthony Lisi 15 and David Edwards 05This year, in our annual Prefect Q&A, we are straying from the usual Head Prefect chat with the Head Prefect from 25 years ago to bring together two Prefects a decade apart who have a lot in common. Anthony Lisi 15 is a Wellness/Junior School Prefect who plays Junior A hockey in Hamilton and is very active in the RSGC Choir. David Edwards 05 was the Head Prefect in his final year, was very active in the choir and spent much of his free time playing sports. In an interesting co-incidence, they are both lifers, with Anthonys first year being Davids last year. David was part of the group of Prefects that taught Anthonys Grade 3 class how to tie a tie! Below are the highlights of their informal chat.


have a huge impact on him. It should help him take his projects to the next level and accelerate his development as an entrepreneur.

Marks parents are incredibly proud of their son. In fact, Mark and his younger brother Michael 13, who is in his second year at Western in both the Medical Sciences program and Ivey School of Business, are both huge sources of pride for the Kryshtalskyjs.

Were very proud and supportive, said his father, Dr. Bohdan Kryshtalskyj, Head Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery,The Trillium Health Partners. Mark is independent, admired by his peers, is looked up to and makes good decisions. Im sure that these are the core values he has learned from RSGC.

Bohdan also credits the College with helping shape the incredible man Mark has become.

The values Manners Maketh Men, looking someone straight in the eye and shaking hands with a good firm

handshake are probably the most valuable tools you can have in a young person trying to make a name for himself, said Bohdan. I think the most influential people in his life have been his teachers at RSGC. He always goes back to RSGC when he comes back to Toronto and feels like its his home. We feel like its our home too.

In the meantime, while Mark bal-ances media engagements, working on his venture and his academic commit-ments, he still remembers people like Montreal Canadiens great Jean Beliveau and Hal Hannaford, who always made time for people no matter how busy or important they were.

In business, you can have the best products or the best innovation, but if you dont have time for people, no one is going to want to do business with you, said Mark. Its pretty busy, but I still try to maintain some sort of a social life as well. Its sleep that is suffering the most!

Mark and his Rockstar Caf team.

He has an enor-mous amount of integrity and really wants to make a difference in the world. Paul Darvasi

Mark Kryshtalskyj 10ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

Mark Kryshtalskyj 10 has always been a self-motivated guy. When he learned about The Next 36, he took it upon himself to apply. And its a good thing he did, because he has now officially been recognized as one of the top young entrepreneurs by Canadasmost selective program for young entrepreneurs.

Its nice to be recognized, said Mark, who is in his final year of the Science and Business Co-op program at the University of Waterloo. University is very different from RSGC youre just a number and your accomplish-ments from high school dont really get acknowledged. So this feels really good.

Over 630 impressive students applied to The Next 36from 45 institutions across the country, as well as from top US schools including Harvard,Columbiaand Yale. Seventy-two students were then invited to the National Selection Weekend, where they were whittled down to 36.

It was a really intense four days and

an exhausting, amazing experience, said Mark. There was a lot of network-ing, time to sell people on your ideas, interviews by judges and the program founders, and really interesting keynote speakers. By the end of it, youre put into teams and you have to solve problems.

Mark credits RSGC for helping him make it through the weekend.

A lot of it was how you carry your-self: the handshake, Manners Maketh Men and Respect, Responsibility, Voice. These are intangibles that RSGC really instills in you, said Mark. First impres-sions are so important and RSGC really built that foundation. Its a place where you can make yourself unique, find ways to discover more about yourself and the unique gifts you can give to the world.

Now, in addition to finishing up his university classes, Mark will spend a good portion of the rest of the year building up his company with the support of mentors, a unique academic program and a pool of business advisors.

Were working on our ventures part-time until the end of school, said Mark. When thats over, all 36 of us

will be living in the University of Toronto Grad House residence together, where well take classes and apply what weve learned to our ventures.

Marks venture is called Rockstar Caf, Canadas first entrepreneurial and sustain-able community coffeehouse. He has put together a team of eight students from Western and Waterloo to pull all of the pieces together, including a brick and mortar location for the caf, which he hopes to have in place by early 2016. So far, the project is going extremely well.

Rockstar Caf is a place where students can network, engage in community projects and discover their passion, he said. The support weve had from both universities and many of the incubator programs weve been to has been tremendous. The community wants to support us because were promoting student innovation and finding new, unique ways for people of various backgrounds to connect and collaborate.

One of Marks biggest supporters has been RSGC English teacher Paul Darvasi, who makes himself available for his former student to pick his brain.

Mark has always been a really hard-working kid and has always surpassed expectations, said Paul. He has an enor-mous amount of integrity and really wants to make a difference in the world. Hes morally driven and his initiatives tend to have a social justice and environmentalism slant to them Ive seen that in Mark since day one.

So Paul isnt at all surprised that his former student has been recognized by The Next 36.

Its such a huge credit to him that he has been acknowledged and that his hard work is being seen as progressive, said Paul, who remembers Mark as incredibly self-motivated, with big vision and independence of thought. Hes mingling and interacting with other like-minded people, and it will

BY LAURIE MANDARINO

Mark is already doing

speaking engagements.


BY LAURIE MANDARINO

Its hard to watch what he gives up sometimes, said Christophers mother, Maria. I wish he could just be a boy and hang out, but it just doesnt work that way. Theres no middle ground and hell keep doing it as long as he wants to.

The dedication to the game that Christopher shows every day is part of the reason why he has gone from a good tennis player to a fantastic player ranked in the top three in his age group in Canada. He has won one Under-12 National doubles title and is a two-time Under-12 National finalist.

In the last year, he has gone from a kid who was simply keen, to being in the finals at Nationals, said his coach Gary Muller, who is the Head Tennis Director at the Ontario Racquet Club and spent 20 years on the ATP Tour, both as a player and a coach. Its now a question of how far he can take it. You have to be able to work hard, travel to tournaments and take on the challenges of developing as a junior. Hes definitely got potential.

Christopher has his eyes on turning pro one day, and knows that getting there will require focus and sacrifice. Unfortunately, that means giving up social time with the new friends he has made at RSGC since he started at the College last September.

Christopher has really connected with the boys at school, said Maria. They seem to be of like mind and he has an easy time connecting with them.

I wish he could do more and see these kids outside of school, but there just arent enough hours in the day or the week.

In fact, one of the reasons Christopher left his old school to attend RSGC was to be able to distance himself a bit from tennis and make new friends.

My old school, Hollycrest, was very sports-oriented and I was only there three hours a day, said Christopher, who started playing tennis at age five and competing at age eight. I wanted to have more friends besides tennis and I wanted more of a school feel not just tennis, tennis, tennis all the time.

Despite the difficulties of balancing a new school with three-plus hours of ten-nis daily and plenty of travel, Christopher seems to be adapting well to RSGC.

Tennis is such a huge commitment for Christopher that he cant do any extracurricular activities, which is tough at a school like ours, said Catherine Kirkland, Head of the Junior School. But he has certainly found his niche, and has made some really good friends who he connects with every day.

Yet while the other boys in his class run around for Physical Education, Christopher is on his own, spending the hour working on his schoolwork.

Hes meeting the Ontario Curriculum requirements for physical activity since he practices so frequently and weve also made an arrangement with his coach, said Catherine about Christopher not participating in gym class. The hard part for him is that hes missing that social component of getting together with his entire cohort.

According to his mother, Christopher is okay with spending less time

socializing with his classmates. Hes very proud of what he does and

what he accomplishes he wants to do well in everything he does, said Maria. He does miss the social part of things, but its a choice he makes. There are no in-betweens these are the sacrifices you have to make. Thats why RSGC is so important! If the day comes that he says he doesnt want to play anymore, we havent given up on his education. Its totally up to him.

The Hecks are thrilled with RSGC and how he fits into the community.

We wanted somewhere where he would really be able to connect with the school without taking part in the extracurricular activities, said Maria. I really wanted him to feel like a part of the community. He needs a nurturing environment and RSGC provides that.

Described as mature beyond his years because he has to be, Christopher is driven to succeed.

He has put a priority on success, said Catherine. When youre successful, you have to be willing to make the sacrifices and hes willing to do that. Hes given up a lot to get where he is.

But according to his coach, only time will tell where Christopher takes his game.

Its very difficult to be a professional without weapons and its also really important to be a phenomenal athlete as well, said Gary. Chris is going to have the size, but now he has to be able to work hard enough to back that size up with mobility.

Christopher also used to ski at a high level.

The Heck family: Mikaela, Jan, Maria and Christopher.

Christopher's hardware col-lection continues to grow.

CHRISTOPHER HECKRSGC'S

TENNIS ACE

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

Being a high performance athlete is challenging for any-one, no matter the sport or the age of the athlete. But

when youre 13 years old, at a new school and spending six days a week on the tennis court, its a completely different ball game. For Grade 7 student Christopher Heck, practic-ing serves, working on strokes and doing hours of physical

training each week comes before all the things that the average teenager might do in his spare time.

Christopher with the top tennis player in the world, Novak Djokovic.


gives him so much pleasure and energy. The College is part of him. He knows the culture. I cant imagine anyone could know the school, the people and what they do and believe in more intimately. He has heard it all.

Tye has developed a deep appreciation for the impact that RSGC has on young men.

When my daughters have a group of kids over, the boys all head downstairs right away. But when there are Georgians in the group, they stop and say, Hi Mr. Farrow, how are you, what are you cooking? They engage with me, want to have a conversation and not just say hello. They are boys who will become men who are interesting and interested. Thats magical stuff.

Those who know Tye well say that a genuine interest in others and a strong character are qualities that he himself embodies.

Tye is very thoughtful, open to peoples opinions and respectful of their feelings, said Eileen. Son Brendan echoes his mothers descrip-tion: he sees his father as humble, loving, honourable, and driven, with strong morals and a strong voice.

In his work, Tye has merged these personal qualities with a gift for inspiring people.

Tye has great vision, said Mike Barker, a fellow RSGC

alumni parent and real estate development expert who has worked with Tye on and off over the last 20 years. He has an ability to understand a situation and his process is impeccable, especially the way he listens to users.

Mike is also Chair of RSGCs Facilities Committee and sees how Tyes character and experience make him an ideal choice for the project.

He has a great imagina-tion and he uses it well, said Mike. He is thoughtful, a consummate gentleman, confident, self-assured and a great communicator. And he has a really deep connection to the school.

Tyes professional phi-losophy is closely connected to the ethos of RSGC. He travels extensively to speak about the Cause Health Initiative, a movement he founded that works to change the way we think about design. His goal is to spur the creation of spaces that promote health in people and communities. And he has been commended by globally influential groups such as the World Congress on Design and Health for making a significant contribution to health and humanity through the medium of architecture and design.

We have to ask how the environments we create allow us to do our best, said Tye.

From commercial buildings to the communities we live in, our spaces have an impact on our minds, how we think and how we work. We need to build things that allow us to thrive.

Tye sees this emphasis on healthy communities as consistent with RSGCs mis-sion to provide a stimulating and supportive environment.

There is no better example of the impact of space than in a place where you come to learn, said Tye. A space that promotes relationships

between you and your friends and between students and their teachers. A space that inspires teachers to be amaz-ing at what they do.

As he led the RSGC com-munity through the design process, Tye was acutely aware of the importance of Ketchum Hall one of only two communal spaces used by the entire school.

We had to ask, how can Ketchum Hall become the thriving heart of the school? How can it reflect the values of the school and help everyone to be the best version of themselves?

Working together, Tye and the RSGC community are answering those questions through studying the design, character and function of the very structure itself.

Its exciting to design spaces that deepen relation-ships, that promote health, that help people to flourish. Thats what RSGC stands for.

PARENT SPOTLIGHT

TYE FARROW: Improving Health and Humanity through Architecture and Design

If you made a wish list of qualities you would want to see in the architect leading the design process for RSGCs 50th Anniversary Great School, Great Boys campaign, you might come up with these: a dazzling international portfolio of award-winning designs; a his-tory of inspiring and engaging communities; an emphasis on spaces that promote health and wellness; worldwide recognition as a leader in the field; a superior educa-tion; intimate knowledge of independent schools; and, if possible, a personal connec-tion to RSGC.

With your profile com-plete, you wouldnt need to look very far. At the heart of the RSGC community exists an industry leader educated at U of T and Harvard who

tours the world speaking about the role of design in promoting health. His stun-ning designs can be found in North America, Asia, Africa and the Middle East. He has created beautiful spaces at the Country Day School and BSS. And he has been intimately involved with RSGC for over a decade.

His name is Tye Farrow.Parent of two Georgians

Connor 10, who started in Grade 5, and Brendan 12, who was a lifer Tye has served on the Board for nine years, including two years as Chair, from 2009-2011. His passion for the College has further deepened his bond with the community every year.

Tye is so busy with his own everyday stuff, said wife Eileen. But being involved

The Farrow family.The first day of school!The main entrance of the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre.

Tye is working on expanding the Kaplan Medical Centre in Israel.

Tye designed the new Student Centre at BSS.


BY SUMNER & LANG

THE MAKING OF THE

When Dr. Jack Wright welcomed the fi rst Georgians in September of 1964, the Canadian ag was just being designed, fi lming was starting on a new TV series called Star Trek, Martin Luther King Jr. was about to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize and the Toronto Maple Leafs had recently beaten the Detroit Red Wings to win the Stanley Cup.

50THANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION


JUNIOR SCHOOL DECADE DAYEvery year before the February long weekend, the Junior and Senior Schools hold Spirit Week to cure the winter blues. In the Junior School, the week is led by the Junior School Captains, who designed activities to create buzz. Highlights included breakfast for lunch, the famous chicken fi ngers and fries meal, and a weeklong dodge ball tournament where the winning team gets to challenge a team of teachers. It is a week full of House Spirit that culminates with a whole-school closing ceremony in the chapel.

Th e week also featured a theme for each day, such as House Colours Day, Jersey Day or Pyjama Day. Th is year, as part of the Colleges 50th Anniversary celebrations, there was also a special Decade Day during which students were encouraged to dress up in the clothing style of one of the decades of the past 50 years.

Th e participation was amazing, said Jennifer Bonetta, Junior School French teacher and Coordinator of Student Life & Leadership. Th e boys went all out. It was a wonderful way for the younger students to connect to the history of the school.

CHOIR TRIPSince its beginnings as an Anglican choir school, RSGC choirs have been touring the world. Th is year, the choir has something special planned.

We felt it was important to go back to our roots, so we picked England, said Director of Choral Music Doug Jamieson, who has been at RSGC for 20 years. Forty-fi ve boys are making this years trip to the UK.

We chose repertoire that resonates with our history, said Doug. We have several pieces from Healey Willan, the fi rst Warden of the school and a well-known composer of choral music. We also have some contemporary work written just for our choir. And, of course, when you are performing in some of the most famous cathedrals in the world, you have to have some of the greatest hits!

Th e 11-day tour in mid-June includes visits and performances at cathedrals such as St Pauls, St. Albans (namesake to the RSGC Chapel), St. Edmundsbury, Bristol and Exeter. It will also include sightseeing in Stonehenge, Avebury, Kings College at Cambridge and the Imperial War Museum.

50th Anniversary

ALUMNI SPEAKER SERIESIn an eff ort to connect current students to alumni, Old Boys were invited to Th ursday Evensongs.

We built the series on the idea of duty and responsibility based on the schools motto Scientia Pietate, said David Lee.

Led by Graham Hunt 85, who was also the fi rst speaker in the series, the com-mittee chose connected topics: Volunteerism, Mental Health, Georgian Spirit, Steps Towards Success and Georgian Gratitude.

Highlights of the series include Graham explaining that a Georgian always responds when he is called upon, Michael Latifi 11 inspiring the boys to reach out for help when they are struggling, Olympian Michael Lambert 04, dressed in a Canterbury House shirt, emphasizing that success in life is about sur-rounding yourself with positive, motivating people, and Michael Sherman 08 emphasizing that real success is all about fi nding something you love to do and then fi guring out a way to go do it! In the fi nal speaker series, George Rutherford 71 spoke to the audience at the Grad Class Legacy Dinner about the importance of Georgian gratitude.

HISTORY BOOKA writer was commissioned from Echo Memoirs to tell the story of the College from the very beginning by conducting interviews with past Headmasters, faculty, alumni, neighbours and friends of the College. To support the project, RSGC hired an archivist who dug out all of the treasures and mementos of the past 50 years and brought them online. Th e book project, which will be unveiled in the summer, was overseen by a committee comprised of staff and alumni, who worked to ensure that it is a true refl ection of the ethos of RSGC.

Fifty years later, a special RSGC 50th Anniversary Committee was formed and tasked with planning a year of events designed to bring everyone associated with the College back into the fold. We wanted to engage as many community members as possible. Th ats the

Georgian way, said Maria Jordan, Executive Director of Advancement. Her sentiment was echoed by David Lee, Director of Advancement and Alumni

Development. While the school has grown, the Georgian values that were in place fi ve decades

ago are still on display today, said David.Here is a brief tour of some of the celebrations.

Michael Lambert 04 spoke about Georgian Spirit.

The Choir also performed at the College's opening day this school year.

Westminster Abbey was one stop for the Choir in the 1970s.

This Choir Tour should be just as special as the one to the UK in the 1970s. Michael Latifi 11

spoke about Mental Health.

50th Anniversary History Book Sponsors

The Sherman family is honoured to congratulate and support RSGC on the

milestone of its 50th Anniversary.

Cynthia, Bradley, Michael 08, Kathryn and Rachel

Mike's Graduation from RSGC, June 2008


Head Boy Lachlan Devir, Class of 2015, delivered a reading from Ecclesiastes 12 and communion was served with two bishops at the stations.

To this day, the College has a strong relationship with the Anglican Church of Toronto, said Father Donkin.

The boys are very respectful of what happens here, he said. We have had students of many faiths participate in our services in various capacities. It is a pleasure to see students finding comfort and a sense of community in this place.

BLAzER CEREMONYThe blazer is such a recognizable symbol of the College that Headmaster Stephen Beatty 86 has his Grade 3 blazer hanging outside his office along with his admission letter to RSGC. When boys move from the Junior School to the Senior School, they transition from a maroon blazer to a navy one. This year saw a special ceremony in the Chapel during which the Grade 12 students presented the Grade 9s with their navy blazers.

We wanted to come together as a community to bear witness to the arrival

of these young men in the Senior School. We felt it was an important way to respect the history and connect the boys to each other, said Dean of Students Dave Fitzpatrick.

After an address by the Headmaster, Head Boy Lachlan Devir led the Grade 12s in an oath to the Class of 2018. The Grade 12s then put the blazer on each Grade 9 they had been paired with.

The guys loved it, said Dave. And they love being connected to a Grade 9 boy now.

FULL SCHOOL PHOTOTo commemorate the first day of school in 1964, the entire school community gathered on the first day of school on the new J.S. McCain Field and looked up toward a photographer perched on a 20-foot ladder. It was the first full school photo since the opening of the College and included 443 students and over 100 faculty and staff.

It was a moment that blended past and present into one, said Dave Fitzpatrick. We began on the modern turf field and then processed into the Chapel to recreate the well-known photo from 1964 when all the boys processed into the Chapel. It was an inspiring moment.

HOMECOMING WEEKENDWe wanted an event that would bring the entire community together, so we created a weekend full of them! said David Lee of the first ever Homecoming Weekend, held September 26-28, 2014.

The weekend kicked off with a school Terry Fox run and Friday night reception for alumni at the Marriott hotel. Saturday afternoon featured a Golden Jubilee Service in the Chapel to pay tribute to the founders, with every constituent invited. The service also introduced the Knights of the Tarmac, a colour guard of students dressed as medieval knights and bearing house colours and logos. This elite band of Georgian brothers was specially formed to celebrate RSGCs 50th Anniversary and have made an appearance at numer-ous special events throughout the year.

After the Golden Jubilee Service, buses took alumni to the Old Boys Dinner at the Toronto Reference Library, while all others were invited to a recep-tion in Ketchum Hall.

A record 300 alumni and 50 former staff members one for each year of the Colleges history attended the dinner. There was a special recognition of the members of the Order of the Dragon, faculty who taught at RSGC for more than 25 years.

Sunday included the third annual Knights Fair with full medieval styling for current families and neighbours.

One moment that stood out for me was the Golden Jubilee Service, said Maria Jordan. Many of the founders have passed on and were represented by

their families. There was such a sense of pride. Many of them had not been back in years. All weekend, people kept saying, Look how far our little school has come!

TREE PLANTINGA tree planting ceremony in St. Albans Park is planned to celebrate the accom-plishments and contributions of parents and neighbours of the College.

We want to symbolize the invest-ment in the future that parents and neighbours make when they support the school, said Gail Graham, past President of the Parents Guild and current member of the schools Board of Governors, who has two Georgian sons. We also want to help with the restora-tion of the neighbourhood following significant storm damage.

The tree is being recognized with a special plaque from RSGC.

REDEDICATION SERVICE In 1964, RSGC held a Dedication Service in the Chapel attended by the Primate of all Canada and several other senior church officials. The 50th Anniversary Committee and Father David Donkin decided to hold a Service of Rededication to recreate the original order. Area Bishop Philip Poole 70 presided over the ceremony and delivered the homily, sharing his memories of RSGC. Dean Douglas Stoute and Archbishop Fred Hiltz, the current Primate, were also in attendance.

The entire school took part in the Terry Fox Run. The Knights of the Tarmac.The Knights' Fayre. The Grade 12 students presented the Grade 9s with their navy blazers.

Area Bishop Philip Poole 70 presided over the Rededication Service.

50th Anniversary


ROYAL PROGRAMFOR AROYAL SCHOOL

Tom Stevens knows how to help a boy see the vast capabilities he has inside. As coordinator of the Duke of Edinburgh program at RSGC, Tom has grown the award from a fledgling offering 13 years ago to the significant force that it is today. His passion for the kinds of new experiences that develop insight and extend character is equalled only by that of the boys.

The program has been a huge success at RSGC because it is a great fit with

our students, said Tom. They want to be involved and try new things. Every year, we have at least 30 of our Grade 9s enrol.

An award that His Royal Highness Prince Philip describes as a do-it-yourself growing up kit, the program challenges youth between the ages of 14 and 24 in four areas called Pillars: Service, Physical Recreation, Skill and Adventurous Journey. Participants pursue three levels Bronze, Silver and Gold with Gold participants

also required to complete a residential service project.

As the Director of Admissions witnessing the boys development from the moment they first express an interest in the College, Tom sees the programs expeditions as offering an important opportunity for personal exploration.

Along with Senior School Science teacher Julie Girvan, former Director of the tripping camp Wapomeo, Tom leads the majority of the Duke of Edinburgh trips run

by RSGC. These expeditions are a valuable extension of the school-wide outdoor educa-tion program and include winter hiking (and sleeping in yurts) and canoe trips. The students travel to a wide range of Ontarios provincial parks, including MacGregor, Silent Lake, Lions Head and their more well-known cousins Algonquin and Killarney.

I love when a student, who isnt necessarily a star in class, comes on a trip and when you get out there, he shines, said Tom. Hes

BY SUMNER & LANG

FEATURE

A

There is more in us than we know if we could be made to see it; perhaps, for the rest of our lives we will be unwilling to settle for less. Kurt Hahn, Duke of Edinburgh Award pioneer

Old Boys DinnerAs the dinner held in the Toronto Reference Library was gaining steam and the 300-plus alumni in attendance were reconnecting, telling stor-ies and getting ready to sit down to dinner, David Lee moved to the podium. He reported that they had a special live feed from RSGC.

On screen appeared the members of the Order of the Dragon gathering in the Headmasters office faculty who have at some point served the College for 25 years or more. Over hoots and hollers from the alumni watching, one former faculty member on screen asked, Is that Jacks desk? Headmaster Stephen Beatty 86 replied, This is the same desk that has been here for every Headmaster since the beginning of the College.

Some banter ensued and then the group began to talk about mov-ing along to the dinner. Senior Master Chris DArcy asked, Why are we having the dinner there? and Athletic Director Mark Ackley responded, I dont know, but Im excited about it. Ive never been to a library!

Amidst much laughter at the legendary Athletic Directors expense, Headmaster Beatty pulled a copy of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe from the famous desk and pronounced, Gentlemen, its time. He then turned and opened a wardrobe, inviting the collected group to enter one by one. As if by magic, they began to appear out of a ward-robe at the alumni dinner. The room exploded into applause.

It was pandemonium, said David. The guys were so excited to see all of those long-standing staff members. It was amazing for us to be able to recognize those teachers for their important roles in the history of the College.

Dressed in customized black blazers with monogrammed initials, Order of the Dragon buttons and a maroon RSGC tie, the distinguished educators were thrilled to be welcomed with such energy by the enor-mous group of alumni in attendance.

50th Anniversary

As if by magic, the men began to appear out of a wardrobe onto the main stage.


Soon after founding the famous Gordonstoun School in Scotland, Hahn established an award in the mid-1930s called the County Badge Scheme. He then offered

the award across Morayshire as the Moray Badge, with the intention of extending it across England. His plan was thwarted by the outbreak of the Second World War.

After the war, Hahn took up his plans again and focused on finding a patron for the program. In his typically ambitious style, he convinced His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh to lend his name and support to the award. In a press release dated February 16, 1956, Buckingham Palace officially announced the inauguration of the award. John Hunt, who led the first successful expedition to summit Everest in 1953, would lead the program.

Just before RSGC opened in 1964, the program came to Canada and has since grown substantially. In Ontario alone, there are now over 15,000 par-ticipants. Canada-wide, over

11,000 youth join every year. The program also uses online registration and tracking for participants activities and has been developing its programs for at-risk youth through sponsorship activities with corporations like RBC and TD Bank.

The broad personal development that Harrison, Adam and other RSGC Duke of Ed participants appreciate is what Kurt Hahn had in mind when he said, I regard it as the foremost task of education to ensure the survival of these qualities: an enterprising curiosity, an undefeatable spirit, tenacity in pursuit, readiness for sensible self-denial and above all, compassion.

No doubt, Hahn would have made an outstanding Georgian.

capable, confident and in charge. I remember one situa-tion when I was paddling with a Grade 9 who asked, did you see that snapping turtle back there? I replied, what snapping turtle? We paddled back and sure enough, there it was: a massive snapping turtle resting on the bank of the river. I had totally missed it. The other students were very impressed with their new guide, as was I.

New growth experiences are familiar to Harrison Gardner, Class of 2016, who is currently working on his Gold award. Since beginning the program in Grade 9, he has completed service work with Saints, an organization in North Toronto that supports seniors, and with the Toronto Student Film Festival. He has taught himself how to play billiards, started an ultimate Frisbee club at RSGC and joined in many of the expeditions as both a participant and a leader.

On one of the canoe trips, a Grade 9 student and I challenged each other to do two back-to-back three-kilometre portages with one or no stops, said Harrison of the kind of confidence and friendship that develops in the program. We did both with-out stopping. It was amazing. Its an experience that he and I will always share.

Harrisons enthusiasm matches that of fellow Georgian Adam Burns 07, who works on the trading desk at BMO after having attended the Richard Ivey School of Business at Western University. When Adam was enrolled in the Duke of Ed while at RSGC, he was involved in the fashion show for Kids Help Phone, a free and anonymous counselling service for young people. He also played volleyball and

hockey, learned how to cook and participated in several expeditions, including plan-ning the route for a canoe trip in Algonquin Park. Looking back, Adam sees the long-term benefit of the program.

I see a lot of people who are very narrowly focused on their careers, said Adam. Sure, I want to excel, but I know that for me to be a best version of myself, I have to look at life beyond the work. Thats something I learned at RSGC and through my Duke of Ed experiences.

Both Adam and Harrison view the community and relationship-building ele-ments of the Duke of Ed trips as an important part of their personal development.

We were able to trip with kids from other schools and we got to know kids from other grades as well, said Adam.

Harrison added that there is another benefit to the trips.

I really enjoy getting to know my teachers in a com-pletely different setting, where everyone is really relaxed, he said. Mr. Stevens and Ms. Girvan are so friendly and warm-hearted. They really encourage us to learn how to lead, but they are always there to help us if we need support.

Jill Hermant, Executive Director of the Ontario Division of the Duke of Edinburgh organization, cred-its the enormous popularity of the award to both the personal development it promotes and the fact that it is instantly recognizable to employers in an increasingly competitive global job market.

Having the award on your resum speaks volumes about who you are. It tells the employer that you have initiative, you are community minded and that you have the

spark and spirit of a leader, said Jill. Everyone knows that it takes substantial persever-ance to complete the award. It does not happen overnight.

As the pioneer of the

Duke of Ed award, Kurt Hahns decades-long persis-tence in bringing the Award to as many youth as possible is a perfect illustration of the spirit of the program.

Hiking in Killarney

I really enjoy getting to know my teachers in a completely dif-ferent setting, where everyone is really relaxed. They really encourage us to learn how to lead, but they are always there to help us if we need support.


real food recipe and asks those people to pass on their knowledge to two or three others). As I listened to Jamies impas-sioned plea for everyone to get back to cooking real food, I felt, as an educator, it would be wrong for me not to be involved somehow.

A few months prior, Id started a food blog (www.eatlivetravelwrite.com) and I thought it would make for an interesting topic to write about there as well. I got my hands on a copy of Jamies Food Revolution cookbook and in January 2010, Les Petits Chefs cooking club was born. In 2012, I began offering Cooking Basics, for the youngest Georgians, as well.

Fun fact I had originally intended to offer this club en franais, but after thinking about it, I decided it was better to keep it in English. Les Petits Chefs isnt just a way to teach the boys valuable life skills; its also a great way for me to get to know them (and them, me) outside the classroom. I was hopeful this would improve my in-classroom interactions with some of my students and I was right it has absolutely changed my relationship with many of them for the better. Lets face it French is not exactly everyones favourite subject, so I have been truly grateful for the oppor-tunity to show the boys another side of Mademoiselle Michels!

But wait I hear you ask. Where exactly do you teach the boys cooking? RSGC doesnt have a teaching kitchen. It doesnt even have an oven the boys

are able to use. Necessity is the mother of invention, after all, so the fact that we dont have a kitchen hasnt stopped us!The Junior School Science Lab (where no chemicals are used, so its safe for food prep!) is our base once or twice a week and we couldnt be happier. In fact, were living proof that you dont need a fancy space and expensive equipment to make fabulous food.

Jamie Oliver once said of his TV kitchen, The Naked Chef kitchen might have looked lovely on telly, but it was rubbish.Jamie also says that with about $100 worth of pantry items and a couple of good pots and pans, you can work miracles.

So when I was planning the club over five years ago, I didnt go crazy buying fancy equipment. In fact, most of our initial equipment came from the dollar store. Over the years, I have built up our collection by bringing in things I no longer use or need at home, including products I am asked to review or work with for my blog. Weve now got a toaster oven, a food processor, two electric hand beaters, two blenders and a Magic Bullet to complement our pots, pans, bowls, utensils, knives and our very un-fancy science lab hotplates.

Wait knives? Yes, real knives. Paring knives, to be fair, but not kiddie knives, which the boys will outgrow. We teach them basic knife skills and we do a pretty awesome job with those paring knives, if I do say so myself.

So, we have a basic space and basic

FEATURE

What do you want to be when you grow up? The age-old question... It might surprise you to hear that I actually wanted to be either a chef or a journalist/writer when I grew up. As a second lan-guage teacher for the past 23 years, I have not had much of a chance to practice my cooking and creative writing, but my love for both has not diminished. At RSGC, Im fortunate enough to be able to weave a little bit of both into my classroom practice.

Ive been teaching French to the boys in Grades 3-6 at RSGC for 10 years now and, like all the teachers, I am also

responsible for at least one after-school activity each week. For my first few years at the College, I offered a variety of clubs, mostly tech-related. It wasnt until November 2009 that I finally figured out what it was I wanted to be teaching the boys after school. Actually, what I should be teaching them.

That November, I heard Jamie Oliver speak in Toronto about his fledgling Food Revolution (he had just finished filming the television series in Huntington, West Virginia) and his Pass it On campaign (where everyone teaches two or three people to cook a simple, from-scratch,

Cooking the Georgian Way

BY MARDI MICHELS

RSGC GRADE 3-6 FRENCH TEACHER


David Bourne 89

David is now work-

ing as the Contracts

Manager on the Region

of Waterloo LRT Project

with Aecon Construction

as part of the GrandLinq

Contractors JV with

Kiewit Infrastrucure.

Charlie Osler 14

Call it Georgian luck!

Charlie was at the Live with Kelly and Michael show in New York on

March 20, 2015 and was

randomly chosen to win

a luxury kitchen appli-

ance prize package.

Congratulations, Charlie!

Alex Edmison 02

Alex and his fiance Dana

Stenabaugh were mar-

ried in the RSGC Chapel

on May 23. Father David

Donkin led the ceremony,

which also included Old

Boys Andrew Rains 02,

Pat Taylor 02, Cale Cook

02 and best man Geoff

Cardy 01.

Lucas Peel 07

Lucas passed away on

May 3 after a valiant bat-

tle with lung cancer. Four

weeks before he passed,

Lucas married the love of

his life, Stephanie Grand,

in what he described as

"by leaps and bounds, the

best day of my life." Our

condolences to Stephanie

and the Peel family.

equipment. But what about time? We only have an hour each week. According to Jamie Oliver, 10 to 20 minutes is more than enough time to put out a healthy meal, but, as weve discovered, thats with everything fully prepped and ready to assemble.

For me, its important to show the boys that the mise en place (prepping all the ingredients) is actually the key to successful meal preparation. In Les Petits Chefs/ Cooking Basics, there are very few ingredients that arrive in the lab ready to go. No pre-cut veggies. No pre-grated cheese (although those are items I would suggest using if time is of the essence and its a choice between a home-cooked

meal with some shortcuts or fast food). No, the boys do everything themselves (with some gentle guidance*).

And what exactly do we cook? Everything and anything! Weve worked our way through Jamies Food Revolution cookbook, 30-Minute Meals, 15-Minute Meals, Comfort Food, Save with Jamie and his Home Cooking Skills website. The younger boys have worked with Jennifer Tyler Lees 52 New Foods cookbook, and Dorling Kindersleys Cook it! and The Childrens Cookbook. The boys have even helped me test recipes for my blog.

A couple of years ago, drawing on the connections I have made in the Toronto food community through my blog, I started a guest chef program where chefs and food enthusiasts from around the city come in to work with the boys in Terms 1 and 3 (or they visit the restaurants). Its been a huge success. In the lab alone, the boys have made pizza, gnocchi, pasta, Asian dumplings, authentic Mexican salsas, traditional Panamanian empanadas and candies, molecular gastronomy dishes, sushi, sausages from scratch (yes, we ground the meat!), pickles, jam, bread and butter.

Theyve cooked in the kitchens at Luma, The Gallery Grill, Lisa Marie, The National Club, En Ville Catering and The Renaissance Toronto. Some non-restaurant field trips they have loved were Nutrition in the Aisles at Loblaws and a trip to Cheese Boutique. Together, we have participated in Food Revolution Day (a day of global action created by the Jamie Oliver Food Foundation to

engage and inspire people of all ages to learn about food and how to cook it) every May for the past three years. Eighteen boys also appeared on Breakfast Televisions Live Eye (three hours of cooking six different dishes from scratch!) in May 2014.

Through my work with the boys, I see them learning life skills (ingredient and nutrition knowledge), academic skills (math, reading comprehension and problem solving) as well as basic kitchen skills, which will serve them well in their futures.Parents have been pleased to see their sons branching out to try new foods (food is always so much more appetizing when you make it yourself !) and I have been thrilled to watch the boys attack complex recipes and techniques with the can do attitude only kids have.At the end of the day, we can all learn a lesson or two from my experience cooking with the boys: you dont need fancy equipment or ingredients or a lot of time to make a healthy, from scratch meal. Vive la (Food) Revolution!

* With thanks to Ms. Michelle Carter, Ms. Emilie Toguri and Ms. Janet Stephenson for their assistance with my club over the years.

Mardi Michels teaches French to Grades 3-6 at RSGC. She is the author of eatlive-travelwrite.com, is a regular contributor to JamieOliver.com and a voluntary Food Revolution Super Ambassador for Canada. A version of this article first appeared on the Food Revolution website in November 2011.

Why the Boys Love Cooking with Mlle. Michels

I never liked cooking until I joined the club! You really get to cook a lot, so you get great experience. Cameron Kinnear, Grade 4

Once I went to the first class, I realized how much fun it was going to be! We make a whole bunch of yummy food and then we get to take it home and eat it! Andy Van Nostrand, Grade 4

Its fun. I really love to cook and I think I want to be a chef when I grow up. I wouldnt have discov-ered that talent had I not been part of that club. Jack Beatty, Grade 5

Its fun because you get to learn stuff that you can cook at home on special days like Mothers Day. I did that for my mom! Andrew Woollcombe, Grade 5

We get to eat what we cook and we make some really cool things. Jonathan Munroe, Grade 5

You learn a lot of recipes, the food is great and cool guests come in. Ben Dreger, Grade 7

It was a new experience and something Im not used to. I love cooking now! RJ Steele, Grade 8

Its a great life skill to have it serves you well when you live by yourself later in life. Its certainly convenient to know how to cook! Jamie Stephenson-Smith, Grade 9

Happenings Weddings Deaths

Want to share your latest

news, proud moments

and achievements with the

RSGC community?

Send details to

[email protected] Changing Lives

o SAVE THE DATE November 21, 2015Old Boys DinnerCHEERS TO THE NEXT 50 YEARS!This year's signature alumni event will be back on campus.

5:30 pm - Chapel Service

6:00 pm - Cocktail Reception

7:00 pm - Dinner

We will be celebrating the anniversary classes of

65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 00, 05, 10

and honouring Nick Van Herk and Morris Reid

as they are inducted into the Order of the Dragon

for 25+ years of service to the College.

o

From L to R: Morris Reid and Nick Van Herk.

Mike Holownych 94Mike has recently moved back

to Toronto from Kitchener, Ont.,

where he worked for BlackBerry.

He has taken on a new role at BMO

as the Major Incident Recovery

Team Facilitator for Treasury and

Payment Services.

34 The Shield Spring 2015 Royal St. Georges College

The highly anticipated 50th Anniversary Gala did so much more than live up to the hype it surpassed all expec-tations by leaps and bounds! With over 700 guests from the RSGC community in attendance at the storied Maple Leaf Gardens, including current and alumni parents, alumni, staff and faculty, the celebration was one that will never be forgotten.

Th e British invasion theme made for fun costumes and sparked creative activities like a London phone booth photo station, a Beatles tribute band, and Stephen Beatty 86 mak-ing a grand entrance on a Vespa wearing a Union Jack blazer. Th e entertainment was non-stop and included a very special performance of the Rolling Stones You Cant Always Get What You Want by RSGC staff , Emcee Ed Robertson and the RSGC Choir.

Board Chair Paul Clark 85 also made a special toast to the College, followed by a group photo of everyone raising their glasses to RSGC. A special thank you goes to the Gala Committee and its Co-Chairs Julie Crossland and Denise Loft, all volunteers and, of course, the sponsors, without whom the event would not have been possible. Proceeds from the gala benefi t the RSGC 50th Anniversary Campaign.

BY GEORGE, WHAT A PARTY!

Grade 7 parents Robert and Martha McFarlane.

50th Anniversary Gala Guests.

Sandy Gibson 01, Scott McCain, Jeffrey McCain 10 and Headmaster Stephen Beatty 86.

Emcee Ed Robertson and Headmaster Stephen Beatty 86.

50th Anniversary Gala Committee Co-Chairs Julie Crossland and Denise Loft.

Board Chair Paul Clark 85 and Susan Clark.

50th Anniversary Campaign Chairs, John Firstbrook 76 and Ann Firstbrook.

Beatles Tribute Band, The Mockers, with Beatlemania fan girls.

A 50th Anniversary toast to RSGC.

Stewart was a lifer at RSGC spending 10 years at the school (74-84) while both David and Chuck spent the balance of their high school years there (78/79-84 respectively). We all look back fondly on those formidable years remembering the wonderful teachers, classmates and of course good ol Tonys popcorn wagon, our cafeteria (a.k.a. the lunch truck) and many after school games and tournaments played on the asphalt field.

30 years after graduation, the three of us have remained not only friends but have joined together as partners, taking over the Forest Hill Branch at HollisWealth (formerly DundeeWealth) in May of 2005. Since then, we continue to help clients with their wealth management needs. We provide solutions to concerns about estate planning, mitigating tax, insurance needs and overall life planning objectives and strategies.

Most institutions want you to come in for a second opinion; we would like you to come in for a better onea personal approach, from one Georgian to another.

HollisWealth, Forest Hill Branch980 Eglinton Avenue WestToronto, Ontario M6C 2C5416.785.0513www.watermark-wealth-management.com

Charles Magyar, CIM, FCSI David Lyon Stewart IstvanPortfolio Manager, Director: Private Client Group Financial Advisor Licensed AssistantHollisWealth (a division of Scotia Capital Inc.) HollisWealth Advisory Servies Inc. Marketing and Client [email protected] Insurance Advisor HollisWealth (a division of Scotia Capital Inc.) HollisWealth Insurance Agency Ltd. [email protected] [email protected]

30 years after graduation, the three of us have remained

Fellow Class of 84 GeorgiansChuck Magyar, David Lyon and Stewart Istvan

Working together, using a holistic approach to managing clients wealth management needs

Watermark Wealth Management is a personal trade name of Chuck Magyar.

HollisWealth and the Scotiabank companies do not provide income tax preparation services nor do they supervise or review other persons who may provide such services. Insurance products provided

by HollisWealth are provided through HollisWealth Insurance Agency Ltd.

Trademark of The Bank of Nova Scotia, used under license.

Documents

The Shield - Spring 2015