The Shield - Winter 2014

SHIELDTHE A MAGAZINE FOR THE ROYAL ST. GEORGES COLLEGE COMMUNITY WINTER 2014

Telling a Story Jack Schwartz, Class of 2014, is making his mark

Entrepreneurs and the Georgian Bond

The Power of a Good Debate

The Faces that Welcome You

Golden Jubilee Almost Here

Together we make a difference.

Annual Giving 2013-14Whether your association with RSGC is as a current parent, an alumnus, a parent of an alumnus, a grandparent, a member of the faculty and staff, or a friend, we can all agree that RSGC is a truly special place. More than just a school, RSGC is a community in which everyone strives to give the students opportu-nities to thrive, take risks, grow and succeed. At RSGC, all of our boys are known and loved. Please consider a gift in support of Scholar-ships and Bursaries, Headmasters Initiatives or Campus Redevelopment.

To make a donation or for more information, visit

rsgc.on.ca or contact Fiona Cooper at [email protected]

or 416.533.9481 ext. 299.

The Shield Winter 2014 Royal St. Georges College 3

The Shield Winter 2014Email: [email protected]

General Inquiries: 416.533.9481

Alumni Inquiries: 416.516.5202

Headmaster: Stephen Beatty 86

Editor: Laurie Mandarino

Assistant Editor: Fiona Cooper

Copy Editor: Dave Mitchell

Designer: Jonathan Cresswell-Jones

Photography: Tom Stevens, Tim Hutton, Laurie Mandarino

Editorial Committee: Stephen Beatty 86, Gail Graham, Maria Jordan, David Lee, Laurie Mandarino, Colin Watson

RSGC Board of Directors

Officers

Chair: Paul Clark 85

Treasurer, Audit and Finance Committee Chair: Cathy Bateman

Headmaster: Stephen Beatty 86

Chief Financial Officer, Board Secretary: Jane Nyman

Board Members

Michael Barker, Facilities Committee Chair

Anthony Caldwell, Nominating and Governance Committee Chair

James Crossland, Communications Committee Chair

Sandy Gibson 01, Alumni Representative

Ruth Woods Past Chair

Dorothy ByersBruce Chapple 87Ryan Cookson 03 Peter FurnishMolly JohnsonJennifer Keenan Adrian C. Lang Bruce MacLarenCaroline Newall Jesse Parker 01, Clergy

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

RSGCs alumni and community, it

strives to engage, inform and connect

all audiences.

Contents

FEATURES

18 Alumni Spotlight BY LAURIE MANDARINO

Renowned oral and maxillofacial surgeon Cameron Clokie 81 is making international headlines with his groundbreaking research.

20 Student Spotlight BY LAURIE MANDARINO

Jack Schwartz, Class of 2014, has plans to leave his mark at the College.

22 Parent Spotlight BY LAURIE MANDARINO

The Firstbrook Family: Three generations of Georgian tradition.

24 Georgian Connections BY ANDREW HEPBURN 02

Of the many Georgian alumni in the business world, several have involved other Old Boys in their ventures.

28 The Strength of an Argument BY KATHY FLAXMAN

The popularity of debating at RSGC.

31 The GSA and the Georgian Legacy: Were All Brothers BY SUMNER AND LANG

The Gay-Straight Alliance has become a vibrant part of school culture.

8 286

DEPARTMENTS

5 Message from the RSGCAA

6 Culture: A Bridge to Success

8 Culture: The Faces that Welcome You

10 Tribute: Giles Bryant

12 Events: 2014 is RSGCs Golden Jubilee Year

17 Alumni Connections

34 Our Changing Lives

36 Retrospective: New jobs and interesting tidbits on RSGC alumni

FPO

4 The Shield Winter 2014 Royal St. Georges College

Dear Fellow Georgians,I am writing this on a bitterly cold day in January. We have just rung in 2014 and its human nature to consider both the year just ended and the year just begun. When I reflect on this as Headmaster of the College, to paraphrase Robert Frost, I think we have much to look back on with pride and much to look forward to with hope.

As members of the RSGC community, we can look back with pride on the transformation of our campus over the past two years. This project, which was fully com-pleted early in 2013, has created a true urban gem and has provided for our boys places to learn, play, create and grow. The project was made possible by the success of the Honouring Our Past | Building Our Future campaign, which was generously supported by donors representing all of our constituent groups. On behalf of the students, now and future, my thanks.

As we sit in the middle of the current school year, I can report that the College is thriving. Our enrolment is at full capacity, with waiting lists in most grades. Our academic program continues to challenge and inspire the boys with a broad range of academic offerings, and an engaged and committed faculty and staff. Our arts, athletics and community outreach programs offer the boys amazing opportunities to broaden their horizons and learn more about themselves. Our reputation as one of the finest schools in the country is well-earned.

As you will see in this issue of The Shield, we have much to look forward to with hope. This past September, our Board of Governors unanimously ratified

a five-year strategic plan for the College. This plan is built on a primary goal to prepare our boys to thrive and lead in a rapidly changing world. Supporting this primary goal is our enabling goal of fostering innovation and excellence by engaging our community and partners. We need to ensure that an RSGC education is creating original thinkers, creators, problem solvers and builders possessing strong moral character, confidence and resilience. Our strength at RSGC has always been our small size and our understanding that the best learning happens in authentic relationships. The stra-tegic plan is an exciting roadmap that will continue to keep us at the front end of the evolution of education. A summary of the strategic plan is included in this edition of The Shield.

Also ahead is the celebra-tion of the Golden Jubilee of the College. Jack Wright, John Bradley and the other Founders of the College welcomed the first students to 120 Howland on September 7, 1964. A full year of 50th birthday celebrations will begin in September 2014, includ-ing a homecoming weekend and a Gala. The 2014/15 school year will be a time to celebrate.

I hope you enjoy this issue of The Shield. It is created from the spirit of looking back and looking forward. Your input is always welcome.

Heres to great things ahead!

Stephen Beatty 86Headmaster

LETTER FROM THE HEADMASTER

A Note from the Editor

Welcome to the first issue of The Shield for 2014. Its my fourth issue since I started working at the College and its still one of the favourite parts of my job. So much so that I agreed to continue putting the magazine together while at home on maternity leave with my new baby. Kayla Mandarino is an absolute joy and quite the presence at RSGC! She has been with me to meetings, interviews for Shield articles and just to visit. Mr. Beatty is smitten, as are the faces that welcome you (see page 8). But quite possibly the most smitten are the boys in Mr. Robinsons Grade 6 class, who have been spending an hour each month with the honorary Georgian! Kayla is the Roots of Empathy baby and the boys are watching her development throughout the year, helping to reduce levels of aggression and increase empathy. Its an important program, enjoyable for the boys, for Kayla and for me. Between that and this magazine, Im still as much a part of the Georgian com-munity as ever. And its my pleasure. Enjoy the read.

Laurie [email protected]

What Lies Ahead?


our years ago, the RSGC Alumni Association was presented with a novel idea. Guy

Burry 77 had seen the success of speed mentoring programs at York University and suggested RSGC start a similar program. So in September 2008, the Alumni Association Executive launched an initiative that brought in 30 RSGC alumni volunteers to mentor Grade 12 boys for up to five minutes at a time. The Grade 12s made their way through the room and each met about ten members of the Alumni Association. The results were immediately obvious.

The Grade 12 boys were much more aware of the possibilities that existed in a networking community of Old Boys, and their parents were supplying very positive feedback. Grade 12s then began reaching out to the Alumni Office and to members of the alumni community requesting more advice and more access. After five successful Speed Mentoring evenings, we saw engagement reach its highest level yet

in 2013, with more alumni volunteering to be mentors and more Grade 12 boys connecting with them.

The Class of 2009, the first to be speed mentored, will be happy to know that this spring, theyll be invited to attend the third annual Alumni Networking Forum. The Forum is an exclusive event for Old Boys of all ages and is managed to ensure a broad range of jobs are represented. The inaugural forum in 2012 saw 50 Old Boys in attendance and in 2013 over 75.

The success of alumni mentoring programs has not gone unnoticed. The completed 2013 RSGC Strategic Plan twice mentions the value of alumni mentoring and networking programs, and further pushes the Alumni Association to broaden the scope of these programs. The goal a few years from now is to engage alumni and parents to support community-based learning opportunities for the boys, as well as other learning and mentoring programs. The Alumni Association is

MESSAGE FROM THE RSGCAA PRESIDENT RSGCAA Executive Committee

Alumni Association PresidentColin Watson 94

Vice President and Mentoring & Networking ChairAlex Edmison 02

Representative to the Board of Governors & Past President Sandy Gibson 01

Alumni Ball Hockey & Recent Grads BBQ Event ChairDave McCarthy 04

Fundraising Committee Chair & Capital Campaign Alumni Co-ChairJamie Lint 98

Faculty RepDrew Blanchette 01

Capital Campaign Alumni Co-Chair & Member-at-LargeJamie Peters 90

Membersat-LargePeter Antonoff 82

Micheal Fountain 99

Arthur Kennedy 81

Jay Murray 79

Networking Success

Fworking on a Strategic Plan of our own to make sure this happens.

We know RSGC Old Boys like to give back. The broad success of the Capital Campaign and the growth of the Alumni Scholarship Fund prove it. In the next few years, RSGC alumni should expect to hear more from the school asking about giving back through mentoring. Im confident the message will be well received.

Colin WatsonRSGCAA President


CULTURE

A Bridge to Success

From their graduation ceremony in the Chapel at the end of Grade 12, the common path for our graduates is one summer to enjoy before heading off to university and its responsibilities, fun and new experiences.

But for some, post-graduation is a special time to expand horizons in a year-long learning experi-ence before the next step in education. The gap or bridge year is growing in popularity in Canada, catching up to the United Kingdom and Australia, where it has been commonplace for years.

Students often use the year for self-discovery and to figure out what they want to do, said Emma Totten, RSGCs Community Service Coordinator. If theyre working or volunteering, its usually in fields in which they think they may want to work. I think it helps to shape what direction they take.

Derek Woods 12 chose to take a gap year, spending the first few months at Neuchtel Junior College in Neuchtel, Switzerland, before travelling and working on three differ-ent continents.

There was so much I wanted to do before I had to commit to school again, so Neuchtel was the perfect balance, said Derek, who despite already graduating from RSGC decided to take some courses at the Swiss

school. It kept me focused because I was still in school, but I got to travel on my own or with school almost every other weekend.

Knowing where his weak-nesses were in the classroom, Derek decided to focus on developing his writing skills. The extra time in school also allowed him to make a deci-sion on which university he would attend after deferring acceptances to St. Andrews in Scotland and the University of Miami.

After Neuchtel, I knew I didnt want to be in North America anymore, said Derek, who is now in his first year at St. Andrews, studying Management with a minor in Economics and Math. But I always plan to come back to Toronto its my home.

After his semester at school in Switzerland, Derek met up with two fellow Georgian alumni Wyllie Malcolm 12 and George Graham 12 in Australia, where the trio backpacked. Then Derek went to Hong Kong on his own, working on the trading floor of the CIBC for one month. After that, he headed to Rwanda where he helped entrepreneurs set up businesses.

RSGC typically sees about five to 10 boys each year look into taking a bridge year. In fact, as part of the Strategic Plan, the College is looking at creating a formal bridge year program for students

interested in gaining travel and work experience before heading to university.

The reasons for a gap year are varied, said Emma. Its a time for self-discovery so they can figure out what to do next. Some of our boys pursue further academic study or work for part of the year. However, for most, its less about earning money and more about growing, learning and volunteering.

And Canadian universi-ties are now showing more interest in students who have had these global experiences. James Clarkson 94 said it was likely his gap year experience

in 1994-1995 that got him into Western Universitys Ivey Business School.

If you come in and have a really high average but all youve done is study calculus, they dont really want you, said James, who said his aver-age was right at the cut-off. However, they really like candidates who have experi-enced a bit of the world. Im 99 per cent positive that thats how I got into the program.

James and fellow graduate Dave Sterin 94 did a more structured gap program, going on an exchange to England organized through a company.

We thought wed be

BY LAURIE MANDARINO

James and Dave with Gage Love.

Derek and George backpacked in Australia with another alumnus, Wyllie Malcolm.


running all of these outdoor activities on these beautiful grounds in Englands Lake District, but when we got there, they said heres your dishrag ! he laughed.

They spent nine months cleaning bathrooms, making beds, serving tea and maintaining the gardens at Rydal Hall. For James, it was an eye-opening experience.

I loved that experience but it made me realize that I never wanted to be in a position where Im cleaning rooms or washing dishes for the rest of my life, said James, who is now the Director of Pension Accounting for the Toronto Transit Commission. During Frosh Week, everyone else was out partying and I was in the library! It made me very motivated.

Despite the grunt work, James knows it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Id never be able to have that opportunity now, he said. To leave my job, my mortgage, my family, would never be possible. Im so happy I was able to do it when I did.

As for Derek, hes still getting into the groove at university, though he certainly feels more prepared to be living on his own and handling all of the responsibilities that come with it.

It was the best year of my life, he said. I recommend it one hundred per cent.

Just one of Dereks amazing experiences during his gap year!

James, roughing it in the Lake District.

Englands Rydal Hall

Our Man in CambridgeGeorge Graham 12 wanted to gain work experience in an area relevant to his chosen degree subject to make sure he made the right choice, so a gap year between school and univer-sity made perfect sense. It was also an opportunity to explore the world before committing to further years of studying. He deferred acceptance to McGill for Mechanical Engineering and took the year to work and travel.

He spent the first half of the year working in a Stem Cell Research Lab at the University of Toronto. He worked with PhD students involved in

various Stem Cell Research projects such as changing mature adult cells back into embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and changing ESCs into certain blood lineages and immune cells.

His work at the lab was an incred-ible experience, during which he realized where his true engineering interests lay: biochemical applications. It has also helped him understand what career path he would like to take after university.

So, before heading off for months of travel around Australia and Europe, George decided to apply to Cambridge University in the UK something he hadnt had sufficient time to focus on while studying and applying to Canadian universities in Grade 12.

His decision paid off. George is currently in his first year at Cambridge, studying Chemical Engineering via Natural Sciences Biological, a course directly related to the work experience he gained during his gap year.


CULTURE

The Faces that Welcome YouThe staff and faculty at Royal St. Georges College are a special bunch. No matter what their role, their priority is always the boys. Get to know the women who are often the first to meet your sons. Get to know the faces that welcome you.

Jacquie Baby, Junior School AdministratorWhen did you start at RSGC? I started in 2001.

Where did you work before RSGC? I worked for the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Toronto Raptors prior to coming to RSGC. I ran the concerts and events at the Air Canada Centre and Maple Leaf Gardens.

Whats your role at the school? Administrator of the Junior School (and Head of Band-aid and ice pack distribution).

Whats your favourite part of the job? The nonchalant visits I get from the boys and the cama-raderie of my colleagues.

How does it feel to be a part of the Georgian family? Im proud to be part of this community.

Youre kind of like a silent hero doing the work with-out the limelight. How does that make you feel? Hero is a big word. Helping the boys in good times and bad is a reward in itself.

What is your favourite day of the school year? I have a few: the first day of school each September, Halloween and Georgians Have Talent show days.

What do you have to say about the boys? I love the boys.

Sherry Fitzpatrick, Senior Reception/Attendance Clerk

When did you start at RSGC? I started in March 1998.

Where did you work before RSGC? I worked for the Government of Ontario, teaching the payroll system to other government employees.

Whats your favourite part of the job? Getting to know the boys and their families.

How does it feel to be a part of the Georgian family? Like a warm fuzzy hug! Everyone is so friendly and caring.

Youre kind of like a silent hero doing the work with-out the limelight. How does that make you feel? I dont feel like a hero. I am just happy to know that I have helped make someones day a little easier.

What is your favourite day of the school year? Halloween. I love to see the spirit that this holiday creates and the amount of enjoyment not only the students have, but also the staff.

What do you have to say about the boys? The boys are amazing young men. You can see that they really care for each other and are so proud to be part of the Georgian family.


Dianne Ryan, Assistant to the HeadmasterWhen did you start at RSGC? I started off working part-time in the Junior School office in September 2006.

Where did you work before RSGC? Prior to working at RSGC, I was at home raising our two girls. Before that, I worked at Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada as a Senior Litigation Law Clerk.

Whats your role at the school? I am the Headmasters Assistant, which, amongst other things, includes scheduling Steves appointments, liaising with parents, staff and boys, managing the RSGC calendar of events, booking facilities and liaising with the Board of Governors.

Whats your favourite part of the job? My favourite part of the job is helping and interacting with the boys. The junior boys have the most interesting, fun stories and the senior boys are such admirable young gentle-men. I will never grow tired of the boys opening doors for me while saying good morning maam or thank you maam.

How does it feel to be a part of the Georgian family? Working at RSGC is a unique privilege. Having been involved with various organizations over the years, I am convinced that there is a very close community culture here that is rare among other schools or workplace environments. The Georgian community at RSGC is an inclusive, caring, sup-portive and enjoyable community in which to work.

Youre kind of like a silent hero doing the work without the limelight. How does that make you feel? Working with the Headmaster, while enjoyable, does have occasions when it is important to ensure that any wrinkles are managed professionally and confidentially while keeping the safety and well being of the boys first and foremost. It is important that the students, staff and parents are aware that we are here to assist in any way we can.

What is your favourite day of the school year? My favourite day of the school year has been the Junior Schools Georgians Have Talent day. While I thoroughly enjoy the performances of all of the boys who participate, the part that makes me smile is when the other boys listen respect-fully, and then clap and cheer on their classmates. This year, I was also fortunate enough to participate in the Terry Fox Run and I ran with the boys from the Grade 3 class. I had some pretty engaging conversations while running with those boys so now that event may be one of my favourite days!

What do you have to say about the boys? Our boys are polite, caring and well-mannered students. Recently, while I was at a hockey arena with a parent who has girls attending another private school, the parent brought up the subject of RSGC boys. She mentioned that her daughter had attended a house party and remarked, you can always tell the RSGC boys they are the ones cleaning up, putting dishes in the dishwasher and generally helping out. True Georgians.

Toni Nosworthy, Admissions Associate

When did you start at RSGC? I started in August 2003.

Where did you work before RSGC? The Air Canada Centre.

Whats your favourite part of the job? I love meeting people and helping prospective families feel at ease while going through the whole Admissions process.

How does it feel to be a part of the Georgian family? Words cannot describe how I feel. It feels like HOME.

Youre kind of like a silent hero doing the work without the limelight. How does that make you feel? I feel honoured and privileged to work at RSGC.

What is your favourite day of the school year? The first day back to school. I miss the boys over the summer!

What do you have to say about the boys? They are true gentlemen.


TRIBUTE

Theres just something about Royal St. Georges College that makes it a difficult place to leave. Take former Head of Choral Music, Giles Bryant, for example. He retired from the school in 1999, yet hes still a prominent figure in the Chapel and at special services.

Ive stayed in very close contact with the College since I left in 99 and Douglas [ Jamieson, Director of Choral Music] has been very kind to me, said Giles. Im his first call to come and play when it comes to special services and I have continued to be on all of the choir tours as organist since I left. You probably see me as many as 20 times a year at school.

Which is why its no surprise that the decorated musician was recently made an Honorary Old Boy.

I cant think of anybody whod be more worthy, said Douglas Jamieson. His corporate memory goes a long way. He has the unique connection of having been close friends and colleagues with several Founders of the College. He has been a stalwart supporter of the College and the choir as well.

Humbled by the honour, Giles is now approaching the age of 80, yet continues to play the organ at events like the Carol Service and pack his bags for the choir trips. In addition to playing the organ on the tours, he plays the role of surrogate grandfather and banker.

He holds the kids spending money and they all visit him after breakfast, said Doug. Then the Bryant Bank opens and he makes a big show of it he cries a bit when he hands over the bills and the kids get a big kick out of it!

Of course, the boys love Giles for more than just the pocket money.

They love him, plain and simple, said Doug. He brings a lot of joy into their lives because hes a natural with interacting with them. He knows what makes them tick and how to make them laugh, which is a really valuable skill to have. He also knows how to get the best out of them in terms of singing.

Giles loves RSGC too, which makes it easy for him to donate his time and efforts.

Im tremendously proud of the choral tradition at St. Georges College and I gave it everything I could when I was here, said Giles. What RSGC offers to boys is a marvel-lously mind-enhancing, enriching experience. Being taught to sing at the level they are is something that will be with them for the rest of their lives. Even if they never sing again, it will be part of the discipline and artistic experience.

Giles adds the title of RSGC Honorary Old Boy to the honorary degree of Doctor of Sacred Letters he was awarded by Wycliffe College in 1988 and by Trinity College in 2001.

Singing Giles Bryants Praises

Royal St. Georges College Honorary Old Boys

John Jack L Wright Class of 1978Mary Mc Kellar Class of 1981John R Latimer Class of 1996Evelyn Miller Class of 2010Gage Love Class of 2011Giles Bryant Class of 2013


TRIBUTE

Who is Nick Van Herk?

He was high school Valedictorian and Outstanding Student in his graduating class

He was very active in Scouting until his late teens, and was one of the first recipients of the Chief Scouts Award, the highest award that can be earned in Canadian scouting. He led the Beaver Scouts (ages 5-7) for four years and was nicknamed Rusty.

As a teenager, he was a champion snowshoe racer.

He is an avid bird watcher who is known to plan family holidays around bird watching hot spots.

He played a year of professional basketball in England, leading the league in rebounding.

He spent nine and a half (non-consecutive) years in univer-sity and has four university degrees.

He once worked for the Department of National Defence in Ottawa.

He has run more Terry Fox A Runs than anyone else in the history of the College 21 and counting and was one of the original Dirty Dozen in the inaugural year.

His shoe size is 15 EEEE.

He has never owned a car (or a microwave).

The Colleges Director of University Counselling, Nick Van Herk has been at RSGC since 1990. He arrived fresh out of grad school at Queens, where he earned a Masters Degree in Economics and a Master of Public Administration. Nick started out teaching math to Grades 10 through 12, as well as OAC Economics. In his second year, Nick took over the OAC Finite Math course (now Grade 12 Data Management), which he has taught (by his own count) to a total of 43 different sections, including 11 years of summer school both at BSS and RSGC. He also had brief stints as Head of Business Studies and Acting Dean of Students. Nick coached the senior basketball team for many successful years before moving to the Under-16 level. Other coaching duties in the early years included cross-country and Under-14 badminton.

Ten Things You May Not Know About Nick


ALUMNI CONNECTIONS


SAVE THE DATE FOR OUR 50TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONSSeptember 8, 2014Back to School Anniversary Celebration

September 26-28, 2014 Golden Jubilee Homecoming Weekend

September 26, 2014 Terry Fox Run andHouse Spirit Games

September 27, 2014Chapel ServiceCommunity ReceptionOld Boys Dinner

September 28, 2014Knights Fayre (Community Fun Fair)

December 17, 2014Annual Service of Lessons and Carols

February 26, 2015Georgian Parents' Guild Past Presidents High Tea

Spring 201550th Anniverary Gala


ALUMNI CONNECTIONS

An Evening at the Old Boys Dinner November 22, 2013

Photos: CanGrad Studios


An Evening at the Old Boys Dinner November 22, 2013

Thanks to Dinner Chair

Stanley Janecek (R).


EVENTS

Memorable Moments

The weather gods were on our side this year!

Knights FayreOctober 6, 2013 was the second annual Knights Fayre on campus. Despite the rain early in the morning, the weather gods were on our side this year and it was a beautiful day. Families came out in droves to enjoy the day. Face-painting, ball hockey, zorb balls and jousting were just a few of the fun activities never mind the delicious barbecue and yummy treats!

Want to see more pictures? http://gallery.rsgc.on.ca/view_album.php?set_albumName=album119

Mark your calendars for these RSGC classics!

February 11 Hidden Gems ConcertApril 11 Grad Mothers Day Tea April 15 RSGC Fashion Show (tentative)May 1 Showcase ConcertMay 9 Junior School Mothers Day TeaMay 15 Alumni Ball Hockey & Recent Grads BBQ May 22 Grad Class Legacy Dinner May 27 Athletic Awards CeremonyJune 11 Graduation

Alumni NetworkingSeptember 26, 2013 was the third annual alumni mentoring and networking event. It was a resounding success, with attendance dou-bling. The young alumni were extremely profes-sional a testament to the calibre of students graduating from the College. In addition to the professional networking amongst the senior alumni, a number of younger graduates were able to secure internships and full time jobs as a direct result of this event.

Next year we have equally ambitious plans to take this to the next level. We will be hosting the event on May 8, moving our venue to First Canadian Place where we anticipate triple digit attendance. We will also be inviting current and past parents to participate. Formal invitations will be sent out in March.

Terry Fox RunThe weather could not have been more perfect for the Terry Fox Run and Spirit Day on September 27, 2013. The entire school gathered in High Park for the run, fun and games, and a delicious BBQ. The day started off with our older boys helping our younger boys get their faces painted in House colours. As for the run, it was a great showing by the boys, some of whom ran their personal best times. From tug of war to frisbee toss, the day was extremely Georgian, full of camarade-rie and fun, all while supporting a worthy cause.

Enjoy the day in pictures! http://gallery.rsgc.on.ca/view_album.php?set_albumName=album105

The Shield Winter 2014 17

Learning to tie our ties with then Headmaster, Mr. Latimer. Jonathan Abraham 02

Meeting Mr. Latimer for the first time. Rarely has a leader made such an impression on me; the les-sons he imparted over the years were invaluable throughout my life. Manners, being a gentleman, listening attentively to people and generally being compassionate to the people and causes around me have helped me tremendously. That day, he brought all the new boys into his office and took some time to greet each one before sending us out to the traditional new boys BBQ. Generally speaking, it was always sunny and the ice cream truck would be there ready to serve the long lineup outside. It didnt take long for the school year to get kicked off and for many friendships to be forged. In short, I have many great souvenirs of my first day! I entered Grade 9 in 1992 and graduated five years later as my House Captain (York). Jason Taylor 97

The only thing I remember about my first day is being terrified! I have lots of great memories, but 20-odd years worth of hindsight has made me realize that these memories and experiences in high school arent nearly as important as something that happened at an administra-tive level in 1986, the year I applied to, and was initially rejected by, the school. Coming out of a public middle school, I was a marginal student at best and there wasnt a lot to recommend me to St. Georges. In my first inter-view, the school passed on me but my father convinced the school to take another look at me. Several weeks later while I was firing pucks in my driveway, my parents came out and showed me the acceptance letter. The next five years at St. Georges would be punctuated by trials and tribulations for myself and certainly for the teachers and coaches that worked with me. But they stayed with me and in the spring of 1990, I was elected Head Prefect by my peers. What I will always remember is that St. Georges took a chance and gave me a shot. For that I am deeply grateful. Rory Gilfillan 91

My best memory of my first day was getting my Canterbury house shirt, learning our cheer and feeling that first sense of the Georgian community. Morgan Rubes 03

Wednesday, September 4, 2002 was my first day of Grade 3. Its

funny how I remember the exact date 11 years later! Having just moved from Houston, Texas, three months ear-lier. I found the adjustment to a new school environment, and to life in

Toronto, difficult. I even considered taking the first flight back to Houston because I felt so homesick and everything was new to me. However, with help from teachers and classmates, I was able

to rebound. What I took from this experience was not only a great education, but also the love and respect that I was given over the years. It is the friendships I made that made my years at RSGC the happiest time in my life. Anthony Mariano 12

My first day was way back in 1976 and I was entering Grade 7 in John Birketts class. I remember that Father Scott was giving us an orientation about attending chapel three times each week and he said: We have a greeting here: The Lord be with you. And your response is: And with thy spirit. He meant, of course, that this was one of the exchanges during chapel services, but I misunder-stood completely and thought that if you passed another boy or a teacher going between buildings, one of you needed to say, The Lord be with you and the other person needed to respond with, And with thy spirit. I told my parents about it that first night and Im sure they were wondering what kind of kooky, cultish experience theyd signed me up for. Day Two brought waves of relief as nobody greeted me that way during my travels around campus. I spent six wonderful years as a Georgian. David Gordon 83

ALUMNI CONNECTIONS

Memories from the First Day as a GeorgianThe first day at a new school is an experience most of us will never forget. We asked a number of RSGC alumni about their most vivid memories of their first day at 120 Howland. Heres what they said.


Cameron ClokieALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

He may not enjoy the name recognition of Brad Pitt or Madonna, but renowned oral and maxillofacial surgeon Cameron Clokie 81 has made headlines around the world. The RSGC alumnus is known internationally for his groundbreaking research on bone regeneration.

Using a protein called BMP (bone morphogenetic protein), Cameron has performed numerous surgeries to repair jawbones using a unique method that involves stimulating bone growth. He made his first discovery in 1994. Now, hes one of the top oral and maxillofacial surgeons in the world.

No one is less surprised about Camerons success than Chris DArcy, who had Cameron in his Grade 10 homeroom class in his very first year of teaching back in 1977.

Hes world famous now probably

one of the top guys in the world if you need an operation on your jaw, said Chris. He is a specialists specialist.

Born into a dental family, both he and his brother Fraser 83 followed his fathers footsteps and went into dentistry.

I wanted to be a facial surgeon and was under the impression that to become a good facial surgeon youve got to go into dentistry first, said Cameron, who did one year of a Bachelor of Science at McGill before getting into the univer-sitys dental program. I practiced for a few years and then went into the oral and maxillofacial surgery program while doing a Ph.D.

Now, the surgeon, scientist, teacher and entrepreneur has his hands full, serving as the Professor of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at the University of Toronto and running his own clinic in Torontos Yorkville neighbourhood. As if that werent enough, he also owns a business selling medical devices related to bone healing.

Cameron credits Royal St. Georges College for teaching him one of the key lessons for balancing a busy schedule: teamwork.

You have to work with good people, he said.

During his time at the College from 1974-1980, he also picked up a few other values that are still with him all these years later.

Hard work, an attempt to get along with everybody and the ability to under-stand that you dont always win, said Cameron. The Manners Maketh Men that Jack Wright espoused in us is also still with me today.

He also believes that RSGC helped him become the best version of himself .

Thats a very good motto that applies to me 100 per cent, said Cameron. I had a slight learning disability that was recognized early on in Grade 7. By Grade 8, I had become a student beyond my expectations.

So much so that Chris DArcy remembers him as a student like it was yesterday.

BY LAURIE MANDARINO

Cameron and Bill Clarke at Bills 50th birthday party.


Cameron ClokieHe was one of the brightest in

a very bright grade and he made a real impact on me in terms of his character, his athleticism, his obvi-ous academic ability and his focus, said Chris. He was a very together kid, had a really nice sense of humour and an endearing way about him. If he had any flaws, I couldnt see it. Everyone said he was a leader, destined for really big things.

With his leadership and well roundedness, it seemed very likely that Cameron would end up as the Head Boy for the Class of 1981. However, he opted to graduate early from RSGC to head to McGill straight from Grade 12 in 1980. That opened things up for his best friend, Bill Clarke 81. At least, thats how Bill remembers it.

We often joke about it because Cameron was clearly the class leader for our class and would have been the Head Boy had he not left early, said Bill, who works as a guidance counsellor at an Ottawa high school after teaching math for 25 years. I was like the bridesmaid a nice second choice! He was clearly the person to have been the leader there.

Close friends since they met at RSGC in 1976, Bill and Cameron remain in close contact. Of course, Bill has only good things to say about his fellow alum.

Hes very grounded, has high moral values, is empathetic to peoples concerns and is very willing to take action. He has gone on to do really good things, said Bill. His solid character is something he can be most proud of that can be attributed to St. Georges.

Cameron even credits RSGC for his teaching style thanks to the influence of his mentors Chris DArcy and Gage Love.

Theres a little bit of both of them in my teaching style, said Cameron, whose son Duncan graduated from the College in 2012. DArcy had a way of making it exceptionally clear and breaking it down into steps, while Gage always kept it fun. Thats what I try to do for my students.

Cameron, with Duncan, his mother and Chris DArcy.

Cameron (middle) with his cousin and sons Duncan (right) and Colin.


JACK SCHWARTZTELLING A STORY

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

BY LAURIE MANDARINO

ack Schwartzs mother, Melissa, says that when her son has a strong interest, he pursues it. That admirable trait couldnt be truer when it comes to the Grade 12 student, who has become the unofficial videographer of Royal St.

Georges College. What began as a hobby has turned into a lifestyle and

hopefully a career. Jack spends copious amounts of his time volunteering for the Toronto International Student Film Festival, running video assemblies and making school videos in his spare time.

He has done some great promotional videos for school events and he doesnt get credit for it, said Dean of Students Dave Fitzpatrick, who has also coached Jack in cross-country for the last four years. In fact, a lot of the communication that the Prefects do as far as building school spirit goes has been done behind the scenes by Jack Schwartz in support of Communications Prefect Charlie Osler and the rest of the team.

But for Jack, Class of 2014, the behind-the-scenes work is his pleasure.

I do it because I love the whole process of it filming, editing, seeing peoples reactions when they see the finished

Jack in Utah.

J


product, he said. I just love being able to tell a story to really create something out of nothing. Its creating something thats relatable and that can have an impact on your audience, can make them feel or think about something.

Jacks love for filmmaking started when he was in Grade 7. His sister had just started taking part in a cooking club at school so he convinced her to film a cooking show for YouTube. They made a dozen videos over four years.

We had just gotten a new iMac and I was looking for a reason to use iMovie and try it out, said Jack, who even built a teleprompter so his sister wouldnt have to memorize a script.

Over the years, he taught himself more about the trade, becoming more and more interested in telling a story through pictures. This past summer, he enrolled in the National High School Institute Cherub program at Northwestern University, where he received five weeks of formal filmmaking education. He took classes in directing, production, screenwriting, animation and editing, and said it was the best summer ever.

RSGC has allowed Jack to flourish in the field, supporting his efforts and

giving him the time and opportunity to make his movies.

RSGC has given Jack a lot of self-confidence and has helped him discover a lot about his ability and where it fits in with the school, said Melissa. When he got to RSGC, he told them he was really interested in film and the teachers gave him a chance to use his skills.

And much to Jacks delight, the College has introduced a film course this year. Some more formal training will hopefully help Jack to reach his goal of entering a Radio and Television Film program at an American university after he graduates this spring.

Melissa is 100 per cent supportive of the direction Jack wants to go.

I know he wants to go into film so Im hoping with his university selection process, hell find a program that will give him some film production experience and a liberal arts education, she said. I hope it leads to a lot of good opportunities for him.

Its hard to imagine RSGC without Jack walking around with a video camera, but he will not graduate without leaving behind another legacy as well. As the Year-in-Focus Prefect, Jack has chosen something extremely important on which to focus his energy.

Ive chosen to focus on making sure everyone feels comfortable in who they are, who others are, their place in the school, and how theyre doing in class and in their social lives, said Jack. I know what its like to feel unaccepted and I dont want others to feel like that, said Jack. Ive never felt excluded at RSGC.

A quiet guy, Jack knows how important it is to speak up for himself and for others. And hes teaching others to do the same. In his prefect address to the Senior School, he spoke about the importance of saying what needs to be said. Whether its training for cross-country or making videos for the school, Jack gets his message out there, leading quietly by example.

Hes a quiet guy but when he has something to say, hes not shy to say it, said Dave Fitzpatrick. Hes a man of character and integrity.

With the school year half over, there is still time for Jack to leave more than a large library of videos for RSGC.

The mark Jack will have made is to challenge other students to speak up for themselves, and build the culture and safety for others to do the same, said Dave. Jack hasnt just modelled it hes challenging other students to do the same.

Jack with sisters Maisie and Bridget. Jack and his parents.


PARENT SPOTLIGHT

GROWING THE FOUNDATION

Over 40 years ago, Founders Hall opened its doors, thanks to an innovative and determined Board. The new facility transformed Royal St. Georges College from nothing more than a church basement and the weathered remains of See House and Ketchum Hall into a full-fledged school with a gymnasium, science labs and purpose-built classrooms.

Headmaster Jack Wright, along with the Founding Board of the College, knew that their enterprise couldnt last as the facilities stood. So they built what they needed, never losing sight of the Colleges principles, which had nothing to do with facilities and everything to do with manners and character.

Ron Firstbrook was a member of that board from 1968-1972, helping to ensure that RSGC remained close to the former Cathedral of St. Alban.

There were challenges in the early days, but in the build-ing of any organization, things happen, said Ron. Yet despite those challenges, St. Georges has managed to get on and stay on the proper road.

As an insurance broker with a keen business sense, Ron was responsible for, among other things, doing

the accounting for the schools choir tours.

They needed somebody to collect the money, do the accounting and do the busi-ness from the standpoint of making the trip viable, he said. So I did it collected the money and paid the bills for the first five or six choir tours. I went along with them too.

But how did this former Earl Haig student come to be so involved with RSGC? It all started when he was camping in Port Sanfield, Ont., where Jack Wright happened to be renting a cottage.

I saw him there and we got talking, said Ron. He had three children but had lost his babysitter so he asked me to take over. So I babysat for three boys for a week! When the school opened, he wrote me a letter telling me about the school. Thats when I applied for my son, John.

And so began the legacy. Rons son John Firstbrook

76 attended the College from Grades 5-11. Johns own son, Andrew, is part of the Class of 2015, having joined RSGC in Grade 9.

Ron is proud of the people his son and grandson have become and credits RSGC with playing a significant role.

Private school is a wonderful opportunity and

Manners Maketh Men makes a big difference, he said. One thing that impresses me most is the fact that theyre gentleman. They pronounce their ings and give back to the community, which is very important in life.

John definitely feels that the College played a role in shaping the person he has become.

The discipline that I learned in the Junior School in particular made a huge difference in how I run my

business, said John, who continues in the tradition of being in the family insur-ance business. I was taught focus and how to deal with tough situations, and I had teachers who challenged me. As I matured as a person, I realized that a lot of my background comes from what I learned while I was there.

The challenges of grow-ing up were made easier at RSGC as well.

To have a home base that isnt judgmental makes a big

BY LAURIE MANDARINO L to R: John, Andrew and Ron Firstbrook


GROWING THE FOUNDATION

difference, said John. It was a very safe haven there and thats built from the ground up thats why its still like that today.

That nurturing environ-ment is a big part of why Johns son Andrew is now a Georgian.

Andrew has done so well and hes so happy here we couldnt have asked for more, he said. The friends that he brings home or to the cot-tage theyre all great kids. Theyre first class.

Andrew is now in his third year at the school and loves it.

Its the perfect place for me not too big, not too small, he said. I like to know everybody by name and Im able to do that here.

And every day, Andrew can see the influence his family has had on the school from the classrooms in Founders Hall to the new facility, which the Firstbrook family generously supported through the Honouring Our Past | Building Our Future Campaign.

We made a conscious business decision to help pay building expenses, said John, who said the idea behind

the Firstbrooks gift was to help put the school on better financial footing.

We wanted to make the point that people need to give back, but wanted to do it quietly, said John about the donation. Nobody knows

what we gave, but it meant a lot to us. RSGC is still a hidden gem, so we need to shout from the mountaintops and ask people to contribute financially through the alumni association to grow the foundation here.

By George, I Think Weve Got It

By George, a school we surely need

Was Jack Wrights foresight, and high keyed

Yesteryear was just a start

To great tradition in Torontos heart

Whats the name St. Georges College

Magnificent staff, a fund of knowledge

A host of old boys, such success

Building leaders we must confess

So to Jack Wright, John Bradley too,

We raise a toast, to have a few

Now to salute the majesty

Its Royal St. Georges as you can see

Theres one old boy, back at school

In todays language, boys think hes cool

Stephen Beatty leads the parade

Speaking of greatness, his dues are paid

And to the future, tradition sound

Thanks to insight greatness found

The original thought to try, you can

Manners, manners, maketh man!

Ron Firstbrook

One thing that impresses memost is the fact that theyregentleman. They pronouncetheir ings and give back tothe community, which is very

important in life.


Georgian Connections

F*&!ed UpFEATURES

Among RSGC alumni in the business world, some work for large, established companies, while others work for them-selves. Yet among those grads who have taken the entrepreneurial plunge, a few have involved other alumni in their ven-tures. Whether as investors, advisors or partners, the friendships formed at the school have blossomed into meaningful business relationships.

If theres a common thread among the people profiled, its trust. Whether they went to school together or first met as alumni, theres a common bond of shared friends and a shared history. Starting a business is risky enough. Having solid, trustworthy friends to draw on for support helps make the experience immeasurably easier.

FEATURE

BY ANDREW HEPBURN 02


F*&!ed Up

Not all that far from the campus of what was then St. Georges College, three alumni from the class of 1984, Chuck Magyar, David Lyon and Stewart Istvan, work as a team. Together, they run the Forest Hill wealth management branch of HollisWealth, formerly known as DundeeWealth.

When you hear their life stories, it is not at all surprising that the trio would join together in business. Theyve done virtually everything else together already. All grew up in the west end of Toronto. All were Prefects in their final year of high school. All went to Western and graduated with degrees in Economics. They attended each others weddings. Between the three of them, theyve only missed a handful of Old Boys Dinners and Alumni Ball Hockey Tournaments.

Outside of work and family, the three Georgian alumni participate yearly in the Pedaling for Parkinsons biking event held in Parry Sound each summer. Stewarts brother, Peter Istvan 87, started this ride in 2010. In 2013, the ride raised over $100,000 for the Parkinsons Society. Chuck, Dave and Stewart donate not only their time and the cycling jerseys for the event, but they also participate in the three-day ride.

It was only after their graduation from Western in the late 80s that the three finally took slightly different paths namely with their careers. Chuck, who has a stomach of steel for market

fluctuations, traded his own portfolio and made his livelihood at the Toronto Stock Exchange. David joined Royal Bank of Canada, where he worked for 10 years, while Stewart started his career in the pharmaceutical industry with Parke-Davis, a division of Warner Lambert.

Fast forward to February 2005 when Stewart, Chuck, Dave (and Gord Martin 84) met to discuss buying a financial wealth management firm. What sealed the deal was a shared desire to do something new all were looking for a change. Dave was tired of the corporate world; Stewarts employer was moving to Montreal following a takeover by Pfizer and he was keen to stay in Toronto. As for Chuck, he notes that the world of trading was taking its toll.

I was ready for a change and tired of the corporate world said Dave. I was really looking to have my own business and I couldnt think of better business partners.

They opened the doors of their Wealth Management firm in May 2005 under the name of DundeeWealth, now HollisWealth, and have not looked back since.

Though responsibilities do overlap, each has his forte. Dave, a self-professed Excel spreadsheet junkie, loves the planning aspect of wealth management. Chuck most enjoys the trading. Stewarts strength is client relations.

In hindsight, if you had to pick a

less than ideal time to enter the wealth management business, 2005 was it. By the fall of 2008, the world was enveloped in a massive financial crisis. Not the easiest time to be managing other peoples money.

It was incredibly difficult because the news was unbelievably negative, said Chuck. The world was falling apart in the eyes of everybody, the stock market dropped 50 per cent in about four months and people watched their money literally disappear.

Having a solid friendship helped the three 84 alumni ride out the storm.

When the market did crash, those were some pretty tough days coming in, Stewart said.

They would constantly remind each other that they would get through it, which they have. And through the ups and downs, the one constant is their strong Georgian background.

Working with Chuck and David has been exactly what I thought it would be, said Stewart. The trust and respect we have for one another stems from the values that were instilled in all of us during our years at RSGC.

One just has to visit their office to experience this firsthand. They treat all of their clients (and fellow Georgians) with the same care, understanding and respect that their first Headmaster would have been proud to witness. Manners Maketh Men is certainly a truism with these three Georgians.

Together in business and in friendship

When you hear their life stories, it is not at all surpris-ing that the trio would join

together in business.

CHUCK MAGYAR, DAVID LYON AND STEWART ISTVAN 84

26 The Shield Winter 2014

Sandy Gibson 01 remembers a particu-larly trying time as an entrepreneur.

I got off the plane from Brazil my first vacation in five years, he said. My uncle had died while I was on the plane.

At 6:00 am the next day, he got an email saying his Chief Technology Officer was leaving to take a job with LinkedIn.

He credits his RSGC classmate and business partner Brad Milne 02 with helping to steady the ship during those tumultuous days.

Brad managed to keep our technical team together, said Sandy.

Together, the two run Elevate Inc., which helps companies deliver exceptional email newsletters on time. According to Sandy, their technology means that making a newsletter is about 95 per cent faster than normal and gets you from two to ten times more engagement.

Normally people go out and write a newsletter, said Sandy. What our product does is pulls all the content directly from your website and crafts the newsletter automatically. So youre now editing the newsletter and dragging and dropping, as opposed to writing it from scratch.

Elevate has landed clients such as Sun Life, PricewaterhouseCoopers and Accenture.

Brad and Sandys shared entrepre-neurial streak dates back to their school days.

Throughout high school, we were

definitely both interested in how to start companies, with the end goal of having a more interesting life, said Brad.

While at different universities, Brad said that he and Sandy kept in touch by working on a business plan for a computer-assisted language-learning program. At the same time, the pair also started a company importing scarves and East African wraps.

For his part, Sandy says he was always entrepreneurial.

I used to save up my Halloween candy so I could sell it to other kids, he said of his RSGC days. Id use the money to buy ice cream.

More recently, Brad was working for RBC just out of university when Sandy mentioned an opportunity to co-found a technology company in the U.S. Eventually, the two returned to Canada and founded the initial incarnation of what is now Elevate.

That forerunner was called Room 7B, named after the place where Brad and Sandy met: John Birketts Grade 7 homeroom.

Coincidentally, the two grads have relied on the business mentorship of another Room 7B alumnus, George Thompson 88.

Sandy was at an Old Boys Dinner a few years back doing fundraising for the Richard Holdsworth Memorial

Scholarship when he met George. The two started talking business.

Sandy and Brad were looking for advice on their venture and George, a long-time entrepreneur himself, was happy to help out.

Sandy will still call me up or send me an email looking for some thoughts on various issues that come up, anything from strategy to HR issues, said George. Their ability to seek assistance in a way that makes people want to help you is incredibly good.

Sandy credits George for providing invaluable guidance, particularly about closing a deal.

As Sandy puts it, George taught me how to sell.

Brad and Sandy have also relied on the mentorship of another RSGC alumnus, Guy Burry 77.

Upon their return to Canada, the two were looking to connect with people who could provide guidance. RSGC Director of Advancement and Alumni Development David Lee introduced them to Guy, who has over a decade of experience in helping early-stage ventures.

Guys contributions to Elevate have been as varied as they are significant. For starters, he invited Brad and Sandy to use some extra office space where he worked. He also used his knowledge of early-stage

SANDY GIBSON 01, BRAD MILNE 02, GEORGE THOMPSON 88 AND GUY BURRY 77

An unlikely foursomeTwo grads from

the 2000s, one from the 80s and one from the

70s all working together to make a succesful

business.


ventures to assist Elevate, connecting them with new potential customers to accelerate revenue growth.

His influence is still visible to this day, having introduced Brad and Sandy to the current chairman of their board.

But Guy hasnt simply offered years of wisdom to the younger alumni he has also invested in their venture. Its a reflec-tion of his respect for Brad and Sandy.

As an investor, I always look for the people, said Guy.

He underscores how much it means when mentors take a stake in a company theyve advised.

The ultimate compliment a mentor can make is to invest, said Guy.

STEPHEN BUTLER 88 AND TIM LOGAN 88Stephen Butler 88 isnt sure whose line it is, but the way he puts it, fellow 88 alumni Tim Logan 88 has been doing due diligence on him since Grade 8. And for most of the time theyve known each other, business wasnt in the equation.

I really had Tim very squarely in the friend bucket, said Stephen.

Until one phone conversation during which the two discussed Stephens new company.

At the end of the call, Tim told me to sit down and mentioned the amount he wanted to invest in my venture, said Stephen.

That investment allowed Stephen to quickly reach the $500,000 mark for his technology startup, Gummii Inc. Simply put, Gummii aims to be a complete math tutor for elementary school kids on a tablet such as the iPad. It is the only math app to ever crack the top 25 in the Apple store.

Gummii was born out of my frustra-tion with tutoring for my daughter, explained Stephen.

Stephen had both personal and entrepreneurial motivations for starting Gummii. His daughters time in math tutoring became a miserable experience for the family, requiring a large amount of effort from her parents in the form of drives to the centres and marking work.

Moreover, his own research suggested that the tutoring service they were using really wasnt even all that effective. While it was effective at automatic-ity having kids know the answer to a question by memory it didnt do so well in facilitating true understand-ing. While his daughter knew how to multiply two numbers off by heart, when it came to three numbers, she panicked.

Stephens entrepreneurial side instincts were soon triggered.

Im always looking for markets that are ripe for disruption and sniffed an opportunity, he said.

It turned out that the corporate structure in big tutoring companies invites competition.

Nearly every major tutoring service uses a franchise model whereby theyve sold off the geographic rights to use their model in different neighbourhoods, said Stephen. This model precludes them, effectively, from ever going online.

Enter Gummii. The app aims to do three key things:

have the right technology, have the best curriculum and make learning engag-ing for the student. The latter aspect, known as gamification, amounts to making learning fun for kids, in part by offering various incentives for complet-ing tasks. Call it the carrot approach to learning.

Tim understood how gamifying something could be effective. Back in 1993, he started a stock market simula-tion game aimed at high schools and universities. It was eventually sold to the Canadian Securities Institute.

He also knew Stephen very well. Not only is he bright, hes talented,

said Tim, listing his friends integrity and honesty as other key attributes.

So when he heard his former class-mate was starting his own business and looking for capital, he jumped at the opportunity.

Im glad I was able to get a little slice of Stephen Butler stock, said Tim.

Stephen says the investment from Tim was crucial.

I cant put enough emphasis on how critical it was in getting this company off the ground that he was as supportive as he was, when he was.

Many Mongolians still live in yurts, which they heat by fire in the cold winters.

Gummii makes math funStephen Butler had the idea, but it was only thanks to support from fellow classmate Tim Logan that Gummii came to fruition.

Stephen with his 6-year-old son, Tim (formerly known as Jasper!).


FEATURE

Debates are a compelling and mesmerizing experience. Think about some of the great orators: Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King Jr., and Sir Winston Churchill come instantly to mind. In Canada we have a radio show, The Debaters, which is hilarious comedy yet still follows the speak-and-refute model. In politics or law, those who can command the audience outrun those who stumble, no matter how graciously. Kathy Flaxman looks into the popularity of debating at Royal St. Georges College.

StrengthArgument

of anThe

Michael Lemanski, Canadian National Debate Champion, with Stephen Beatty 86 (L) and John Lambersky (R).


There are many awards in the form of Cups, but only Royal St. Georges College has a Saucer. This prize, the Challenge Saucer, is part of the long and cher-ished tradition of debating at RSGC and a symbol of the thought, hard work and innovation that has gone into the debating program. Canadian and World Studies teacher John Lambersky, who acts as advisor to the current debating program, notes that the Saucer started over 30 years ago and has been strong since its inception.

The Challenge Saucer is a staple on the RSGC debating and public speaking calendar, he said. We attract some of the finest debating teams in the GTA.

Debating itself is popular, with students coming out to watch and root for their favourites as well as speak.

Our young men, like all young men, have a competitive streak, John said, explaining the popularity of debating at the College. Debating allows an expression of that, yet with an emphasis on decorum and order. And contrary to media stereotypes, young men like intellectual activities. They think deeply about important issues, about philosophical issues.

Exactly how much interest does debating generate at RSGC?

We have had almost 100 students come out at some point to watch a lunchtime debate, though not at the same time, of course, said John. We usually get between 30 and 40 students out as specta-tors on any given Monday. Typically, we will take about 20 students to tournaments outside the school each year.

Our weekly intramural debates can be a hot ticket. Last term, spaces were claimed more than a month in advance.

The debating sessions (currently called the Speaking Union) are held Mondays at lunch and are relatively informal.

There is sometimes shouting, but its very civilized, said Grade 11 student Anthony Lisi. The moderator (a student who knows the formalities of a debate) will always smack the gavel when the room gets too crazy. That being said, the audience loves a good one-liner and doesnt hesitate to reward the speaker with laughter.

Anthony, a key member of the RSGC Knights hockey team and the Captain of the Vaughan Kings, is obviously extremely busy between academics and sports. Why does he include debating in his activities?

I have always looked up to powerful speakers people who can resolve intense conflict with words, who can articulate their ideas well and who can move others with words, said Anthony. Ive found that debating has helped and will continue to help me become one of these powerful speakers I aspire to.

The skills of debating translate rather neatly onto the hockey arena, says Anthony.

Conflict is inevitable, he said. Ive found much success in using logic to sort out conflicts on the team either person-ally or between other players. Also, being the Captain, its my job to be the voice of the players when talking to the coaches. Especially in a much more mature setting, using logic and other aspects of debating has helped me to achieve

ArgumentBY KATHY FLAXMAN

Photo: Julie W

helan

Anthony Lisi says the skills of debating translate well onto the hockey arena.


positive outcomes from conversations while maintain-ing a good relationship with the coaching staff.

The Speaking Union activities have prepared students well, with RSGC winning on a national stage.

Michael Lemanski 12, now studying philosophy at Yale, won last years Canadian National Debate, using his talents as a speaker and his affinity for deter-mined study.

He found that he had a solid foundation after many house debates.

The format of the championship entailed topics chosen half an hour before the debate, so there wasnt any time to prepare the content, said Michael. I found that the best preparation for this kind of debate was to study history and keep up-to-date on current events. I could

then produce the strongest examples to support my case.

So what got Michael so interested in debating?

I hated losing an argu-ment, he said.

He cites rhetorical speak-ing classes given by Evelyn Moore (known as Mrs. Miller during her 23 years at RSGC) as a major influence on his powerful debating record.

Debate coach Mrs. Evelyn Miller gave us a foundation with work

that was challenging and comprehensive, pushing us on both speaking presenta-tion and argument, he said. She allowed us consider-able flexibility in how we prepared for tournaments, but would always offer rigorous criticism.

Debating is a special tradi-tion at RSGC, said Evelyn. In the early 1990s, RSGC was the only secondary level

school to attend NAMUN (North American Model UN), for example. We have hosted international tourna-ments with students from all around the world, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Cyprus and Pakistanover 100 countries.

There are numerous competitions throughout the school year, including the Challenge Saucer, the Fulford League (again, the prize is not a Cup but a trophy featuring a gavel), the Independent Schools Public Speaking Championships, competitions of the Ontario Student Debating Union and occasional university-sponsored high school tournaments.

Debating is a wonderful form of expression and it allows the teachers to get to know the boys very well, she said. When you accompany a young man to a debate in, say, BC, spending time in a taxi going place to place, you really get to know him.

I feel I was able to help the boys overcome any fear of public speaking and learn to turn anxiety into excitement.

Debating stays with you. Bruce Patterson 86 is now Deputy Chief Herald of Canada in the Governor Generals office in Ottawa. He notes that his years as a debater at what was then St. Georges College were a wonderful way to make friends and meet people not only from the College, but from

other schools too. Now, in his professional role creating coats of arms, he routinely makes lectures and presentations, and writes documents supporting his work to senior manage-ment. His debating skills come right into play.

Debating taught me how to prepare and present an argument, said Bruce. One learns how to construct a pas-sionate view of an argument from both sides of the case.

What exactly are the skills of a successful debater? One that stands out is the ability to listen. Its fine to expound on a subject with passion and eloquence, but in some forms of debate, your opponent is likely doing the same, so refuting will be your subsequent challenge.

Often, you have to recap and respond to what someone else has just said, Bruce said. That entails being skilled at thinking on your feet.

Confidence is a key component as well.

If you believe in what youre saying, the audience notices and will also believe in what youre saying, said Anthony. Speaking logically is another one of the most important aspects of debating.

Prizes aside, it seems that the satisfaction of winning arguments at any level is a strong motivator for partici-pation in debating. I find great satisfaction in arguing, especially when I win, said Anthony. Something my parents can definitely attest to!

If you believe in what youre saying, the audience

notices and will also believe in what youre saying.

Bruce Patterson 86, Deputy Chief Herald of Canada, says his years of debating at

RSGC have stayed with him.


Georgian Legacy:Were All Brothers

Grade 11 student Harrison Jarvis Cohen doesnt claim to be an expert in all of his school subjects, but hes an ace at understanding and explaining the challenges of the teenage experience.

Identity seems to be everyones struggle and focus in high school finding,

proving and showing who we all are, said Harrison. Putting a lot of points of view together in one room really helps.

Harrison is referring to his membership in the Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA), a student-run discussion group that began at Royal St. Georges College in 2010 and

has grown into an interschool organization among the single-sex independent schools in Toronto. Now, up to 50 boys and girls meet twice a month to talk about positive relationships, equality and the acceptance of all individuals, regardless of background, gender or sexual orientation.

With the whole com-munity open to asking and answering difficult questions about identity, the GSA has become a vibrant part of school culture. The key to its success has been its fidelity to its original purpose: to offer a safe place for students to share personal issues, including but not limited to

BY SUMNER & LANG

FEATURE

and theThe GSA

Jake Brett-Turner, John Carney, Nicholas Scime and Jack Schwartz are some of the many Georgians involved in the GSA.


gay, straight and gendered identities. Topics of discussion include the sexualized nature of popular culture, the essence of cool, fears about not fitting in, the challenge of switching friend groups and the role of technology in relationships.

The importance of seeing beyond sexual labels and overcoming social barriers resonates for many students today. Alex Shum, former Head of Mathematics at RSGC and co-facilitator of the group with RSGC social worker Andrea Kaye, under-stands why the GSA appeals to so many teenagers.

We can get stuck in us and them issues and see the world in terms of barriers and differences, said Alex, who is currently the Head of Mathematics at Havergal College. The GSA is about having meaningful conversations across divides, which requires vulnerability. Teenagers really want to be authentic and be vulnerable, but it can be difficult without a group that holds acceptance as a core value.

Being yourself and accepting others for who they are takes courage as does forming a club that deals in part with sexual orientation within a boys school. But as Harrison explains, taking care of others is an important value at the school.

Being there for each other is being a Georgian, no matter your demographic or interest, he said.

The GSAs origin story at RSGC is one of guts and compassion.

It began as a small group of boys supporting a friend who had been open with them about his sexual orientation, said Andrea, who worked with the students to launch the group. That student Andrew

Mok 11 came out publicly in his Grade 11 year after he and his friend Jack Keilty 10 established the group in the spring of 2010.

While the group was origi-nally composed of young men forming a circle of support around a friend, it was never focused exclusively on issues of sexual identity. The group has grown and its bi-weekly meetings now welcomes boys and girls from UCC, BSS, Crescent, Havergal, St Clements and Branksome.

The GSA is for anyone who feels different in some way, said Andrew, now in his third year at McGill University. Its a place to go

and be yourself and have your own opinion. Its a place of hope for everyone.

The group began with small meetings in Andreas office in the basement of the Senior School, a safe and welcoming space that was familiar to the boys. It then moved to larger venues like the school library because membership grew quickly, adding both RSGC boys and students from other schools

interested in the idea of hav-ing real conversations about life issues.

Authenticity is the prime directive of the GSA.

Dropping the mask of fakery is a great relief to a lot of boys, said Andrea.

Within the group, there are often discussions about why people wear masks, what they choose to show and hide, and what they fear about disclosure.

"The GSA is a place to go and be yourself and have your own opinion. Its a place of hope for everyone."

The group gets together in an informal setting.

Up to 50 boys and girls meet twice a month.


Alexs experience shows that teenagers can learn how to be more open and honest within a safe environment.

When teenagers are authentic with each other, when they are supported and find the courage to be exactly who they are, they find out that they share more than they differ, said Alex.

The students interest in starting a GSA at RSGC was supported by others who were com-mitted to encouraging a club that positions itself at the forefront of social change. Students, teachers, parents and school leaders have been challenged to take up the fight against homophobia, intolerance and exclusion. In a school that inspires each boy to know and be the best ver-sion of himself, the GSA very quickly took root.

From the beginning, the GSA had amazing administrative support, said Andrea. There was no pushback. In fact, there was tremendously positive

messaging from above to support the grassroots interest among the boys.

Former head of the GSA Iain Bryant 13 was not surprised by the schools heartfelt support of the group during his time as a member and student leader.

The school is a family, a community, he said. If you have a huge problem based on someones sexual-ity or on any other specific point of identity, youre going to run out of people to talk to at RSGC.

The GSAs history at RSGC may not be long, but its influence has already been widespread. It is now hosted on a rotating basis at the member schools in Toronto and the meetings are highly valued by the participants, who often head out to dinner together afterward.

Now in his first year at Trent University, Iain reflects on the appeal of the GSA for high school students.

Its basically a whole bunch of people with

similar principles but lots of individuality and differences, he said. You have an immediate feeling of total relaxation in the group. People are so sympathetic and so sweet to each other. Its a place where you can show your heart.

Despite its growth among independent schools, the group at RSGC has remained true to its roots. Harrison believes that the GSA reflects the values of his school: trusting people, being true to your word, and respecting the rules and traditions that unite a group.

But most of all, Harrison sees the GSA as an extension of RSGCs credo.

You know how we say that Manners Maketh Men? Thats not about superficial behaviours like holding a door, he said. Its the basis of looking out for someone else. Its about being there for others in all the ways that count. Its about remembering every day that were all brothers.

Clubs GaloreThere is a very active club community at RSGC, envelop-ing all interests. Here are just a few of the clubs in the 2013-14 school year:

Board Games Club

Book Club

Boxing and Fitness Club

Business Club

Dr. Death Jazz Band

Duke of Edinburghs Awards

Engineering Club

Environment Club

Gamerz Union

Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA)

The Grifter Newspaper

Miniature Figures Painting Club

Ping Pong Club

Reach for the Top

RSGC Ball Hockey League

Speaking Union

L to R: Alex Shum, Harrison Jarvis-Cohen and Andrea Kaye.

Former Leafs General Manager Brian Burke spoke to Georgians about his son coming out.


Michael Rutherford 87Michael is thrilled to

announce the birth of

his daughter Aria Clare

on July 17, 2013. He is

extremely proud of his

wife Lisa Ennis for giving

birth in their home in

Ottawa.

Jeff Enfield 97 Jeff and his wife Melissa

welcomed a new baby

boy to the family on

September 28, 2013.

Adrian Case Enfield

weighed 8 lbs, 2 oz. Big

brother Kaid is thrilled

about the new addition.

Marc Burroni 98 Marc and his wife Isobel

Russell were thrilled at

the arrival of Cole Russell

Burroni at 2:30 am on

May 10, 2013. Despite

arriving six weeks early,

he weighed a strong 4

lbs, 11 oz. Everyone is

healthy and feeling great.

Matt Aaronson 94Matt and his wife Kate

Sanderson were thrilled

to welcome Sarah, born

in June. Her big sisters

Alex, 8, and Caroline, 5,

were likewise excited

(and 4 months in, the

novelty hasnt worn off!).

Matt and Kate continue

to live in Chicago where

Matt is a Partner &

Managing Director at the

Boston Consulting Group.

BIRTHS

Our Changing Lives

Cole

Sarah with sisters Alex (L) and Caroline (R)

Adrian

DEATHSJonathan Hames 88On November 6, 2013, Jonathan passed away peacefully, smiling and

with his friends by his side. He was 44. Beloved son of the late Joan

and Marshall Hames, Jonathan was survived by his brother David and

sister-in-law Jodie. Jons close friends were touched by his Herculean

capacity for giving. He inspired those around him to sacrifice in equal

measure. A passionate sailor, Jon looks down on us now from his

heavenly barge, captain of his own ship at last. His funeral was held

at RSGC. In lieu of flowers, Jon asked that donations be made to the

Jonathan G. C. Hames Memorial Fund at the Toronto General and

Western Hospital Foundation, which he established to help people

battling cancer. Please call 416-340-4430 or visit www.tgwhf.ca.Jons memorial can be viewed at www.henrywalser.com.

Andrew McKinnon 07Andrew passed away peacefully on

December 8, 2013 from complications

due to diabetes. Beloved son of Barb

and Angus. He will be sadly missed by

brothers, Stuart and Cameron. Beloved

grandson of Alastair McKinnon. He will

also be missed by many aunts, uncles and

cousins. If desired, donations in Andrews

memory can be made to The Canadian

Diabetes Association or Learning

Enrichment Foundation at 116 Industry St.,

Toronto, Ontario, M6M 4L8.


Ed Conroy 95 Ed married girlfriend

Sarah Tunney in the RSGC

Chapel on August 13, 2013.

Several Old Boys were in

attendance. Below, pic-

tured from left to right: Erik

Otema 95, Blake Markle

95, Ed Conroy 95, Mark

Magee 93, Markus Otema

98, Daragh Sankey 93 and

Andrew Prior 93.

MARRIAGES

Dave Gordon 83

On July 6, 2013 in beautiful Quebec City, Dave married girlfriend

Ashley. Other Georgians in attendance were classmate Andrew

Abouchar 83 and a business school classmate, Simon Holford 94.

The couple lives in Houston, TX.

Andrew Newbury 01Andrew and Charlotte Hall

(Branksome 01) were married on

October 19, 2013. The grooms-

men were all RSGC alumni: DArcy

Cook 01, Rob Macdonald 01, Ben

McPhee 01 and James Hall 99.

Andrew and Charlotte first met at

an RSGC dance in Grade 10.

Jonathan Abraham 02On August 4, 2013, Jonathan

married Joyce Satgunam.

Jonathan is a Research

Associate at the New England

Reseach Institute in the arena

of public health. Jonathan

graduated from the University

of Toronto (BSc) and Brown

University (MPH). They cur-

rently live in Boston, MA.


David McClocklin 72The International

Association of Crime

Analysts (IACA)

announced that

Provincial Constable

David McClocklin 72 from

the Ontario Provincial

Police is the 2013 win-

ner in the Analytical

Category, Intelligence and

Crime Charting. It was

Davids sixth consecu-

tive win in the category.

He is a 32-year veteran

and works in the OPP

Provincial Operations

Intelligence Bureau at the

provinces headquarters

in Orillia.

John Secor 73John has written a book

of poetry in French,

which has recently

been published by Les

Editions Pippa, in Paris,

France. John provides

his own translations/

versions of the poems in

English, with illustrations

by his eldest son, Michael,

who has an MFA in paint-

ing. The book is titled

Dessert du soir / Evening Sweets and is available in North America through

John for $20, post-

age/handling included.

For more information,

contact John at j.secor@

moreheadstate.edu.

Robert McCann 77Robert graduated

from the University of

Waterloo Ph.D. pro-

gram in Experimental

Psychology in 1987.

He then completed

a National Sciences

Foundation Postdoctoral

Fellowship at NASAs

Ames Research Center

in California, conducting

basic research in human

multi-tasking perfor-

mance and the role of

attention in visual word

recognition. From 1990-

2000, he co-developed a

suite of cockpit displays

to help pilots navigate

airport surfaces in low

visibility conditions. One

of his publications from

this work, An Evaluation

of the Taxiway Navigation

and Situation Awareness

(T-NASA) system in

High-Fidelity Simulation

won the Society of

Automotive Engineers

Wright Brothers Medal

1970s

Want to share your latest

news, proud moments and

achievements with the

RSGC community? Send

details to Fiona Cooper at

[email protected]

Retrospective

Robert McCann works for NASA.

McClocklin keeps on winning.


for outstanding technical

paper in 1999. In 2000,

Rob joined NASA Ames

Information Sciences and

Technology Directorate as

a NASA research psy-

chologist. He is currently

designing and conducting

human factors evalua-

tions of cockpit displays

and user interfaces for

next-generation space-

craft. Rob is the author

or co-author of over 60

technical papers and

research publications that

have been cited over 1000

times in the open scien-

tific literature.

Paul Jennings 79Rev. Canon Paul Jennings

has resigned as Director

of Pastoral Studies at

the Montreal Diocesan

Theological College to

move to Nova Scotia. His

wife, Elisabeth Bachem,

a United Church minis-

ter, has accepted a call

as Minister of Annapolis

Royal United Church

there.

Bruce Lawes 81 Bruc

The Shield - Winter 2014

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