My dearest St. George’s: It’s been quite a while since I’ve thought about writing a love letter…but what better time than now, as I reflect on my time with you. You have been my true love these past five years. I came into this relationship not knowing what to expect, just knowing that the people within your walls seemed committed and that your progressive philosophy of teaching and learning resonated with my own. With these thoughts, and a sense of adventure, I took a leap of faith and moved to a new part of the country, and began to get to know your many facets. What I quickly discovered was that you are no ordinary school. It was easy to pick you out of the crowd. Yes, your bricks and mortar may be ordinary, but what the rest of the world may not know is that you are full of extraordinary people. You foster a growth mindset and the whole child is at the centre of everything you do. Fortunately, you have strong DNA—your founders provided you with guiding principles that are progressive, and still guide you today. You are superintelligent, and you are a great conversationalist—always looking for a better and more innovative way of doing things. You never rest on your laurels, and always strive to enhance the experience of your students, faculty and staff, parents, and alum. I admire your work ethic. I also greatly admire the sense of community that you tend to daily. You have made me feel that I add value and am valued. You make others feel the same way—I hear about it in conversations with alum and the families you serve. I’m not sure the exact day I fell in love, but I do recollect the many joyous experiences I have had. Most of these relate to conversations with individuals or groups that ended in great ideas and a commitment to act and to enhance our students’ experiences. I also have to say, your sense of teamwork and willingness to partner and collaborate with parents is admirable. There is no doubt that you care deeply about your students. You spend many collective hours ensuring they are growing in every way—and you truly listen to them. They are encouraged to lead the way, and they have been given the skills and confidence to do this! You have also shown me that you not only care about those in your community, but you care about our world, and constantly look beyond your walls. You have acted to ensure a more sustainable world for our children and inspire others to do the same. Through all of this, you have remained humble and kind. You may not be perfect in every way yet, but you have been perfect for me. Thank you for always believing in me and allowing me to give my whole self to you, just as you have done with me. Know that I will take with me all the best of St. George’s and pay forward the knowledge and inspiration I have gained from our relationship.
Dear St. George's: A Love Letter
Thank you, St. George’s. It has been an amazing journey! Sharon Klein Head of School
Our cover photo features Reunions from 2018-2019
Dragonlink Summer 2019
2 | Letter from the Head of School 4 | What's New 10 | Energized on Earth Day 11 | Excellence in Teaching: Joey Feith Recognized 13 | St. George's Grad Goes Pro 14 | Celebrating 10 Years of Glee at St. George's 17 | It's Here: St. George's New Website! 18 | Thinking of Hosting an International Student? 19 | Congratulations, 2019 Graduates! 20 | Alumni Reunions 24 | Alumni Events 25 | Alumni Guest Speakers 26 | Introducing the Alumni Corner 27 | Milestone Reunions in 2019 28 | Alumni Today 32 | Alumni Executive Committee 33 | Planned Giving: A Lasting Legacy 34 | Beliefs into Action – Thank you!
It was such a pleasure to have Jessie May Wolfe '93 back at St. George's in January to help us learn to channel our hearts through the HeartRise Movement. Jessie May founded the HeartRise Movement with the goal of igniting hundreds and thousands of hearts around the world. She first joined us for our staff and faculty Wellness Day before leading a third session for parents and High School students. Thank you for bringing your positive energy back to your school!
The St. George's robotics squad attended the CRC Robotics Competition at Centennial Regional High School again this February, where they went head to head with robots from other schools and CEGEPs to make it all the way to the quarter finals! They picked up a few other accolades along the way, including first place for robot design and third place for construction, all in the top division. Way to go! In May, the annual King of the Hill robotics competition was hosted in our own High School gymnasium, with students and robots from LaurenHill Academy invited to participate. It’s always a spectacular show and showdown!
What's New Around the School
Robotics Rivalries
St. George’s Ignites the Power of the Heart
Ukulele Love at the Elementary School
It’s a Kindergarten tradition: in February Kindergarten students welcomed their families to school for the annual Multicultural Celebration, a festive showcase of the diverse cultures that make up our school community. Song, dance and food were once again the highlights of a lively and colourful event!
Celebrating Cultural Diversity in Kindergarten
The Elementary School has started its own ukulele group! So many students were curious about learning to play that it became a regular recess time activity this spring, thanks to music teacher Leon. They even got to show off their skills in the Spring Concert!
This April saw the inaugural Mental Health Week at the High School! It was five days of guest speakers and activities to stimulate mental wellness for students, faculty and staff. As everyone arrived to school on Monday morning, friendly faces offered fruit and handed out bracelets with a slogan for the week: "It's okay to not be okay!" Guest speakers visited classes, all were invited to a special movie night screening of "Inside Out", and a Resource Fair gave students an opportunity to explore different strategies for managing stress and anxiety.
Gaining Life-altering Skills
Also in April, our Grade 11 students had the opportunity to learn CPR thanks to a new endowment fund established at November's Tribute Dinner, where St. George's parent and first responder Robert Sibthorpe was celebrated for his role in saving the life of a current Grade 11 student. Global Montreal stopped by to get the scoop! You can read more about the first Robert Sibthorpe and Benjamin Silverman First Responders Fund CPR/AED certification, and contribute to the fund on our website!
High School Mental Health Week
Believe it or not, our Grade 4 students built their own musical instruments out of recycled materials! Taking inspiration from the “Recycled Orchestra” of Cateura, our young musicians embarked on a research project to understand how each instrument family functions in relation to its physical properties (brass, percussion, strings, woodwinds). Care was taken by the students in choosing materials and designing the structure of each recycled instrument to achieve the desired sound. The limitation to only recycled materials resulted in very creative solutions. And, in an exciting collaboration with Zenia’s art studio, the recycled instruments were also beautifully decorated to their final state! At the end of April, the class held a Gallery Walk to share their fascinating collection of one-of-a-kind musical creations!
Orchestral Recycling in Grade 4
Starting New Traditions
This year’s Grade 6 class were the first to embark upon Passage Projects, an exercise in reflecting on their experiences with perseverance and growth, working with others, and belonging and contributing to community throughout Elementary School. These students presented their Passage Projects on an evening at the end of May, where they were encouraged to continue their reflection beyond their own thinking with input from the people who care most about their learning and growth: their teachers, peers, and families. They'll be starting High School in the fall - what a perfect time to look back on everything they have experienced and achieved!
In High School, students make a commitment to a particular community organization or cause each year, and on designated Community Learning Days throughout the school year give their time as volunteers or by working on special projects. Some of the organizations our school and our students partner with are the Cummings Centre, the Friendship Circle of Montreal, Moisson Montréal, the Starlight Children’s Foundation, the SPCA and more. Check out these awesome photos from another fantastic Community Learning year!
A Year in Community Learning
Thank you, Class of 2018 families!
The High School back yard has an exciting new feature thanks to the Class of 2018 and their Parent Grad Gift, installed this month: a beautiful pergola that will create a new gathering space for the school community. The structure will highlight the natural beauty of our mountain-side environment as well as provide shade with climbing plants and foliage. Thank you, families of the Class of 2018! Your gift will surely be enjoyed with the start of the new school year and the return of students and teachers. We'd love for you to come by sometime and see it for yourself!
According to our calendars, April 22 is Earth Day – a celebration of the achievements of the environmental movement since its inception in the 1970s. As environmental and climate change issues become more pressing, so too does a need to engage with a collective responsibility to effect change in an active way. At St. George’s, learning takes the form of special projects and activities relating to sustainability for one day each May. The custom began at our school’s Elementary campus years ago, but has since grown to involve the entire K to 11 community. Last year, Grade 7 to 11 students participated in a day of action with the inaugural Earth Day Summit, a first for the High School campus. The event was an overwhelming success that involved nearly a quarter of the student body in facilitating workshops for their peers and teachers. On the morning of Friday, May 3, High School students again ran and participated in workshops exploring topics like biodiversity, climate change and energy efficiency. Before ending the day with a walk-a-thon fundraiser for our friends at the Sheela Bal Bhavan home for girls in Jaipur, the student body, teachers and staff committed to a “zero waste” picnic lunch on Mount Royal – that is, a meal with minimal environmental impact through the use of reusable and compostable materials. A week later on Friday, May 10, Elementary School students, parents and teachers devoted themselves to yard work and innovative urban agriculture projects, including planting crops of herbs and leafy greens that will be harvested for local food banks later in the year. These activities are long-standing traditions at the Elementary School! “For years, Earth Day events at our Elementary School have inspired and unified our community of students, teachers, and parent volunteers,” says Head of School Sharon Klein. “Last year’s high school Earth Day Summit provided an invaluable platform for student activists; as workshop leaders they channeled a contagious energy into igniting a similar passion and sense of urgency in their peers.”
APEQ President Katherine Baker and Joey Feith at the Physical and Health Education National Conference
St. George’s Elementary School teacher Joey Feith was recognized by the Association of Physical Educators of Quebec (APEQ) for his excellence in teaching at the Physical and Health Education National Conference in early May 2019. The Dr. Graham Neil Excellence in Teaching Award recognizes dedicated physical education teachers who go above and beyond at the elementary, secondary, or CÉGEP levels. These teachers serve as positive role models within their school and surrounding community, offer innovative physical education and health programs that include and engage all students in learning, and allow students to develop their movement competence through a variety of activities as well as extra-curricular program offerings. The accolade came as no surprise to us at St. George’s. “Joey lives, breathes, and embodies physical education and we are remarkably lucky to have him on our team,” said Elementary School Assistant Head Aidan De Jean. “By bringing the concept of physical literacy to the forefront of our Phys Ed. department, he has helped countless students shift their focus from a place of fear or hesitation to one of active living, where they see how they are growing and how this growth can impact their lives.” APEQ President Katherine Baker noted that Feith’s accomplishments as an educator extend beyond his classes at St. George’s, impacting and enhancing the careers of teachers near and far. “Very few people come close to matching the amount that he contributes to our professional community, all grounded in the work he does with his students every day. Simply put, he is a stand-out teacher and professional in so many ways, and so deserving of being recognized,” she said. Baker cited Feith’s involvement with the APEQ Executive Committee, accomplished professional speaking record, and dedication to disseminating original pedagogical and professional development resources through his personal website and brand as among the major defining qualities that set him apart. “His reflection on his own teaching opens the door to so many of the discussions he brings forward to physical education colleagues about teaching and learning.”
Elementary School Phys Ed. Teacher Recognized at National Conference
Excellence in Teaching:
"Simply put, he is a stand-out teacher and professional in so many ways, and so deserving of being recognized." Katherine Baker, APEQ President
“I am honoured to have received the Dr. Graham Neil Excellence in Teaching Award. Although I am very proud of the work I do both inside and outside the gymnasium, I fully recognize that everything I have achieved throughout my career has been done while standing on the shoulders of giants. There are so many people who have supported and mentored me along the way: family, friends, each and every one of my amazing students, fellow teachers, administrators, and – of course – St. George's School of Montreal who took a chance and hired a guy who refuses to call it "gym" and who passionately fights for his students' right to effective, meaningful physical education each and every day. Most importantly, my wife Jess and son Ollie are the ones who give me the love and motivation I need to confidently work towards raising the bar for physical education everywhere.” - Joey Feith
Congratulations, Joey!
St. George’s Grad Goes Pro
Earlier this year Noah Eisenberg ’15 became the first St. George’s alum to play professional soccer, after signing with Derriaghy Football Club in Northern Ireland. Derriaghy FC competes in the Premier Division of the Northern Amateur Football League. Noah attended St. George’s from Grade 7 to Grade 11, and considers his time at our school as some of the most formative years of his career. He said, “St. George's was a huge factor in getting me to become the player I am today. St. George's allowed me to be myself. I was lucky enough to have the best coach of my life on the field at St. George’s, along with the best teachers in the classroom. Everyone is always pushing you to be better. To do better. Everyone wants you to succeed.” He credits his St. George’s coach, Cameron Folkerson, as a major influence. Folkerson remembers Noah as the most driven and hard-working athlete he has had the privilege of coaching: “He never let an injury or a rough stretch individually in his sport deter him from accomplishing his goals,” he said. “He also had a big heart, and reached out always to the underdog-type player, which was very mature for his age!” After graduating from St. George’s, Noah headed south to play for a New England prep school on an athletic scholarship. He then went on to play for a semester at Birmingham-Southern College in Alabama before being approached by professional clubs in Europe. He ultimately signed with the Northern Irish team based in Derriaghy, County Antrim in February of this year. He looks forward to showcasing his talent on fields in in the United Kingdom, and has major ambitions to make a name for himself while representing Montreal and Canada abroad.
Congratulations, Noah!
Celebrating 10 Years of Glee at St. George s
G Major presents: “A Night to Remember”
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St. George’s Glee program celebrated a decade since its inception with an outstanding anniversary performance that wowed crowds at the D.B. Clarke Theatre throughout its four-night run. The show involved a record-breaking cast of 100 performers, including cameos from more than twenty Glee alumni as well as a handful of faculty and staff.
Alumni Cocktail Reception
It was great to see so many alumni from graduating classes as far back as the 1960s out at the Alumni Cocktail Reception, which preceded the Thursday night performance! Alumni and performers got to mingle and marvel at what the Glee program has contributed to St. George’s over the past ten years.
Here are a few video highlights from the last decade:
2018: St. George’s Glee stages ambitious plot-driven year-end show
2010: The early days of Glee at St. George’s
2012: G Major talks about their first experience at the Show Choir Canada Championships
2016: G Major wins Grand Champion title at Show Choir Canada Championships
The last ten years have certainly been eventful, as what began as an informal after-school singing club steadily grew into one of our school’s most popular activities, competing each year in the Show Choir Canada Championships and enticing sold-out crowds every spring.
2014: St. George’s Glee performs alongside ‘80s arena-rock band Foreigner
Have you seen our new website?
Did you know that without our Homestay families, we would not have been able to welcome nine of the wonderful international students we have been lucky to count among our student body this year? As a community we can take pride in the curiosity, diversity of thought, and globe-spanning lifelong friendships that this program has cultivated in our school and beyond. Meet Kevin, a recent grad and international student who found a home away from home at St. George’s through the Homestay Program:
International students bring the world into our school, and we’re proud to provide a family Homestay experience for those requiring housing while at St. George’s. To us, the word “family” signifies meaningful relationships cultivated in a secure and nurturing environment. Our Homestay hosts are current families, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends introduced to us through our school’s network.
Want to find out more? See our Homestay at a Glance FAQ or contact Stefania Montuoro at 514-937-9289 ext. 235 or stefania.montuoro@stgeorges.qc.ca.
We can't wait to see what you do next!
Congratulations to our Grade 11 Class of 2019!
Congratulations to our Grade 6 Graduates!
Getting Back Together
30th Year Reunion Saturday, May 4, 2019
Class of 1989
20th Year Reunion Hosted by Samantha Welscheid ‘99 Thursday, May 23, 2019
Class of 1999
Class of 1979
40th Year Reunion Saturday, May 25 and Sunday, May 26, 2019
Interested in getting together with your classmates? Curious as to what St. George’s High School or Elementary School looks like now? The Alumni Office can help coordinate a wine and cheese reception or a weekend brunch at the school for you and your fellow classmates. For more information, contact Patricia Lavoie at alumni@stgeorges.qc.ca.
How to Organize a St. George's Reunion
We had a great turnout as several alumni came from out-of-town to join their St. George’s classmates who now reside in Toronto. Retired Math teacher and alumnus, Michael Morrow ’65, was there as well as alums from the 1960s to the 2000s. A highlight of the evening was the sharing of those St. George’s stories and memories from all decades present. We are so grateful to our host, Richard Diamond from the Class of 1977 and his wife Ronda for welcoming us into their lovely home. Toronto – we will be back!
Our East Side Reunion in Toronto was truly a night to remember!
Grade 11 Barbeque with the Class of 2018
On Wednesday, June 5th over 40 alumni as well as some current and former faculty/staff attended the annual Alumni Pub Night which was held at Monsieur Restaurant + Bar, owned by Kim Lallouz '97.
Alumni Pub Night
Canadian Team Mathematics Contest
Alumni Events
On Wednesday, April 10, 2019, St. George’s School of Montreal hosted the Fifth Annual Canadian Team Mathematics Contest. Senior students from local private schools participated in this friendly mathematics competition. The theme this year was Finance and Math and we were delighted to have as keynote speakers both Harvey Tepner and Kenneth Lester from the Class of 1973. It was truly a mathemagical event!
It was great to see several members from the Class of 2018 take the time out of their busy end-of-year CEGEP schedules to celebrate our Grade 11 students at their annual barbeque on May 21st.
The following alumni spoke to our Grade 11 Media Studies students on social media, branding and personal values.
Amanda Wolfe ’94 and Rebecca Wolfe ’99 Mandy’s Gourmet Salads
Lee Haberkorn ’02 Lee addressed our Grade 10 & 11 students on April 1st during our Mental Health Awareness Week.
Lee Haberkorn ’02 Virgin Radio Host
Jessie May Wolfe ’93 January 23, 2019 For their CORE5 Wellness Day, faculty and staff were treated to a HeartRise Meditation Session. Jessie May also presented to parents and students later that evening.
Adam Greenberg ’04 Virgin Radio Host
Alumni Guest Speakers
Rob Lennard ’78 January 30, 2019 Musician, entertainer, songwriter, historian and author visiting from Calgary, Rob attended Donny Kennedy’s Music Class and Jazz Band.
Introducing the Alumni Corner
We're excited to share that there has been considerable interest in starting a St. George's alumni jazz group! If you think you might like to take part in this exciting new endeavour, please email Donny Kennedy at: donny.kennedy@stgeorges.qc.ca
We are happy to announce that we created an Alumni Corner in our Learning Commons. This display will showcase books written and donated to the school by our alumni. Our sincere thanks to those who have already donated books to the Alumni Corner. Please contact alumni@stgeorges.qc.ca if you’d like to donate one of your books. We are looking forward to filling the shelves with the works of our many talented alumni authors.
Calling All Jazz Enthusiasts
1969
Milestone Reunions in 2019
2009
2014
1989
1999
1984
The Alumni Office takes great pride in organizing alumni reunions. Let us help you plan your milestone reunion. They are a great opportunity to reconnect with your classmates and former teachers and rediscover St. George’s School. This year, we invite members of the following graduating classes to join us on Homecoming Weekend to celebrate exciting milestone anniversaries! Homecoming takes place the weekend of November 2-3, 2019. We hope to see you there at the Reunion Brunch or on the court for the Gilbert Plaw Memorial Basketball Tournament on Sunday, November 3rd!
1959
2004
1994
For more information on organizing a reunion, please contact Patricia Lavoie, Alumni Relations Coordinator at alumni@stgeorges.qc.ca or 514-937-9289 x206 or visit our website at www.stgeorges.qc.ca/reunions. We look forward to celebrating with you!
1979
"Kulturalna historia papieru toaletowego"
www.susanglickman.com
simonmagus.com
I was a weird kid and fit right into the chaos. In later life, I moved to New York where, for PBS, I created novel ways of telling history on television. I have won five Emmys and many other awards, all of which I dedicate to my teachers at St. George’s. They gave me the confidence to be an individual and the freedom to be weird. I have now written a series of books on the history and sociology of yucky things that come out of the human body one of which has just come out in a deluxe edition in Polish. I feel I am proudly keeping up the St. George’s tradition, and I tell new graduates not to be afraid to go forth into the world and be weird.
www.instagram.com/glencram/
Peter Gabor ’67 I’m an award-winning architect. Although I graduated from McGill as an architect, I also worked on interior design, and master planning in Canada and internationally. I have loved my career since the beginning in 1973 and I thank St. George's for establishing such a great education for me, it has helped with my work, my optimism, my new approaches, and my constant hunger for continuing education to keep making me smarter and smarter. All because of St. George's.
Susan Glickman ’70 Susan has just published her 7th book of poetry with Signal Editions of Véhicule Press, in Montreal. "What We Carry" is her 15th book overall.
Ronald Blumer ’60 There were only five other students in my graduating class in 1960. The High School was then very new and very anarchical.
Robert Fleming ’80 I lived in Virginia for the last 20 years. Moved to the Atlantic Ocean, in Lewes, DE, USA. I work as a television writer for comedy and game shows in USA, UK, and Canada. June 2019 attended Walt Whitman writer’s tribute, on Long Island, NY, and Alumni Pub Night in Montreal. Continue to volunteer for animal welfare (dogs). Will visit classmate, Max Wallace, in Toronto.
St. George's Alumni
Today
"The Secret Life of Sweat"
www.facebook.com/womanincar/
Glen Cram ’69 I have recently published my first novel, Book 1 of The Acts of Simon Magus in the First Century AD, the tale of the Gnostic sorcerer who tried to corrupt the early Christian Church with silver and strange heresies, and his epic magical battles with the Apostles.
Gabrielle Lazure ’74 Recently in Montreal for the shooting of a first feature length independent film by another St. George’s alumna, Vanya Rose-Kuhrt ’89! It is such a small world! The film is called "Woman in Car".
Ronald Blumer – IMDb
Claire and Brian on CBC All in a Weekend, January 14, 2019
The collection has been shown at apparel industry shows, in Toronto, New York, Atlanta, Las Vegas, Chicago, and other major hubs. Claire paints full-time, and shows her original artworks in select North American cities. Claire recently showed her paintings at Gallery 543, on the URBN campus in Philadelphia, and she live-painted at StyleMax Chicago. Claire is married to David Glickman (’79), and they live in the natural beauty of the Laurentians, an hour north of Montreal, where Claire’s painting studio is located.
Now we are doing major power installations for ships going into the offshore oil fields. We avoid traffic by taking nana boats to work.
In the news:
Abstract artist Claire Desjardins and apparel designer/manufacturer Brian Azeff have paired up, and are now collaborating on a project together: they are creating wearable art for women. In other words, Claire’s paintings are reproduced onto apparel that is designed and created in Brian’s camp. The new line is selling under the signature collection, Claire Desjardins by Carré Noir. In January 2019, the collection made its maiden voyage to boutiques across North America, shipping to about 500 shops across Canada and the US. So far, the label has only been growing in popularity, and they are preparing for an even busier 2020.
Claire and Brian on Breakfast TV Montreal, March 28, 2019
John Laidley ’83
Claire Desjardins ’82 Brian Azeff ’81
I’m still running my engineering company - 30 strong now. Working in manufacturing and oil and gas. I take gifted and talented young men and put them through vigorous training and then put them into school to pass their city and guilds electrical exams. I’m told that these smart guys would wind up on the wrong side of the track. I am getting fantastic results and raising eyebrows as well.
Nine years ago we had a reunion for the Class of 1985 and Gil Plaw begged me to write something. I didn’t and I regret that my last assignment from Gil was incomplete. So, I am not going to be delinquent this time. We had a reunion in 2018 and here is a little blurb and some photos: St. George’s has some deep roots! It started as an idea from a St. Georgian who left after Grade 6, Hyam Bolande, to celebrate turning 50 with some of his fellow classmates. Emails, texts, and Facebook messages were exchanged et voilà, we had a reunion for the Class of ’85. We met at Murray Hill Park near where the rocket ship used to be, and reminisced about life, loss of hair, and the dangers of tobogganing into frozen hay bales :). Dinner followed at a great restaurant recommended by our Cuban Ambassador, Heidi Hollinger, and we were joined by some more ’85ers. We can’t wait for 2020 for our 35th reunion! I wonder if the Boulevard Shoppe caters?
Left to Right: Hyam Bolande, Heidi Hollinger, Gordon Aronoff, Jessica Brian, Elan Packer, Barbara Faber, Trina Cholewicki, Lisa Mashaal & Avery Plaw at dinner.
Left to Right: Monte Perlman, Jessica Brian, Robert Hoppenheim, Gordon Aronoff, Avery Plaw, Hyam Bolande, Heidi Hollinger & Elan Packer at Murray Hill Park.
Elan Packer ’85
Caitlin Tobias Kenessey ’05 After completing a Master of Architecture at the University of Toronto in 2014, Caitlin relocated to London, UK. She currently works for a boutique practice and is pursuing post-professional studies at The Bartlett School of Architecture, University College London. Last August, she married her partner of nearly a decade, Marton Kenessey. Several St. George's alumni travelled across the pond to join them in the Norfolk countryside for a weekend-long celebration.
Jacob Lavigne ’08 After recovering from a bone tumor at the age of 15, I pledged to commit my career to healthcare, to give back to the system. Having just completed my PhD in orthopedics research (Experimental Surgery at McGill), I am currently working towards this goal and gathering experiences that will enable me to bring my ideas to life. I will be in Boston this summer for an intensive program called the MIT/Harvard Medical School Healthcare Innovation Bootcamp. This program aims to expose participants to the process of developing companies in the healthcare sector and will be an amazing opportunity to network and learn from exceptional leaders in this field. I have channeled my experiences into a life of purpose and am dedicated to being a game-changer in healthcare innovation, to bring my ideas to life to help others.
Michael with sister Diana '12 on graduation day.
I am currently working at HBC in Toronto as a Digital Marketing Coordinator after just graduating from Ryerson University in Professional Communications and a Minor in Fashion studies a month before. I believe the reason for my success is St George’s High School. I am dyslexic and have a short term memory disability and now am working in one of the oldest and largest companies in North America. The tutoring and accommodations that I received at St. George’s allowed me to grow and learn at my own pace and taught me valuable skills in working and strategizing so I can do what everyone else can. I think it's important to keep helping the children with learning disabilities grow and give them all the help and valuable skills they need in order to blossom.
Richard Cooper ’16
Jordan Lennen ’07 Jordan played on the St. George’s soccer team! He is currently a Management Consultant with the Monitor Group in Deloitte and lives in Toronto.
Paulina Mendel ’12
Michael Stepner ’07 I completed my PhD in Economics at MIT in June. Next year I will be a post-doctoral fellow at the National Bureau of Economic Research in Boston and spending part of the year doing research at Statistics Canada in Ottawa.
Aaron Dolman ’12
I’m happy to say that I have just earned my B.Mus in Jazz Performance from McGill, and I just received a provincial grant to record my first album of original music, which is set to be released in November of this year! I released an EP in December, which is available to listen to on my website aarondolman.com or at aarondolman.bandcamp.com. The EP features the same group that I’ll be working with for the album. I’ll also be spending some of the summer touring central Canada, performing at a number of Folk Festivals. I’m expecting a busy year of music-making, so if anyone is interested in staying updated, I have a mailing list which can be joined through my website. No junk mail, I promise! Only the most important news about performances or releases!
After graduating from St. George’s, I moved on to Dawson. I found my passion for law enforcement and have relocated to London, Ontario for Police foundations and am just finishing my first year. I attend Fanshawe College and will be applying for the Ontario provincial police after next year.
www.jllavigne.com
Thank you for taking the time to consider this request, we look forward to hearing from you! Patricia Lavoie Alumni Relations Coordinator
from Your Alumni Executive Committee!
The Alumni Executive Committee has the following vacant positions: Strategic Initiatives Position Background in marketing, communications, business management and social media Research and champions new innovations in alumni engagement and outreach Attends school events, reunions and meetings Community Representative (Past or Current Faculty Member) Participates in the organization and recruitment of milestone reunions and out-of-town reunions Key contact for alumni faculty and staff engaging them in school events/activities Dragonlink Content Attends school events, reunions and meetings Mentorship (Professional) Assist in the recruitment of possible mentors to create and develop a mentor/mentee programme Assists with the engagement of Alumni Guest Speakers and recruitment of Alumni in Career Fairs Big Brother/Big Sister - matching alumni with current students and matching alumni faculty/staff with new faculty/staff Attends school events, reunions and meetings
In addition to alumni-related activities and initiatives, we are also busy at work on next year’s Tribute Dinner and are already planning for the School’s 90th Anniversary in 2020! Can you believe it? We are looking to all alumni to help us identify people to complete the committee. The list of open positions and their descriptions are outlined below. The Committee meets monthly at the school. Please reach out to me directly at alumni@stgeorges.qc.ca if you are interested in joining us, or if you know of classmates who you feel would want to be involved.
The current committee is composed of the following individuals: Adam Greenberg ('04) Chairperson Samantha Welscheid ('99) Vice Chair Matthew Aisen ('12) Young Alumni Representative Lee Haberkorn ('02) Member at large Patricia Klein ('88) Member at large Risa Lukofsky ('82) Tribute Dinner Co-Chair Kenneth Salomon ('64) Member at large
Greetings,
Planned Giving
A Lasting Legacy
For many people, charitable giving is an integral aspect of their life. The act of planned giving can help take philanthropy to the next level, but this requires careful planning, negotiation and counsel. Donors who want to see maximum value in a long-term gifting relationship with their favourite charitable organization should consider planned giving. With proper planned giving, money, investment capital, and other assets that donors give to their preferred organizations can provide them with a great sense of satisfaction, happiness and purpose. Planned giving is a method that enables philanthropic individuals to consider larger gifts than otherwise possible from just their income alone. It utilizes estate and tax planning techniques in order to maximize gifts to St. George’s School of Montreal and/or minimize its impact on the donor’s estate. The planned gift is made in someone’s lifetime or at death as part of a donor’s overall financial and/or estate plan, and helps individuals achieve their philanthropic, tax and financial goals all at once. With a little planning, the donor can create a lifetime of honour in memory of a special person in their life which will establish a truly lasting legacy for generations to come. An increasing number of families are reaching a point in their lives in which the questions of transition, wealth transfer, and philanthropic planning need to be addressed. Families with a long-term vision strive to ensure future generations will benefit from successful enterprise. This vision is not always complete without engagement in philanthropy. If you are interested in learning more about planning a legacy gift, please contact Donna Boyd, Director of Advancement and Communications, at (514) 937-9289 (ext 275) or donna.boyd@stgeorges.qc.ca.
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Dragonlink is a publication of the Advancement and Alumni Relations Department of St. George’s School of Montreal
Writers (in addition to those identified): Donna Boyd, Patricia Lavoie, Rebecca Riordon Design: Victoria Dobbin Editors: Donna Boyd, Rebecca Riordon Cover Image & Back Cover Image: St. George's Reunions in 2018-2019 Photos: Luisa De Armas, Victoria Dobbin, Patricia Lavoie, Rebecca Riordon, Galia Siman-Tov, St. George’s School of Montreal, plus those submitted by our community!
