A keen eye for the unmet need


May 28, 2016 - ...

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HTS Alumni News

May 2016 Volume Five

Alumni Update

A keen eye for the unmet need Courtney Whiteside ’99 “Life is short. Take a chance. Do it.” “Don’t ever think your idea is too small.” These are words of advice from HTS alum Courtney Whiteside in her keynote speech to the Grade 9 students at their 2015 Trade Show. Courtney is the owner and co-founder of the Campus Servus Group, which offers various services for college, university and boarding school students across Canada. Through Store Your Dorm, Dorm Essentials, ScholarFX and Student Airport Welcome, Campus Servus helps thousands of students every year. As the company continues to expand, Courtney finds herself more and more passionate about her work, and about entrepreneurship. After HTS, Courtney went to the University of Guelph to study politics and economics, and then on to an MA from the University of Warwick in the UK – an experience that changed her perception of the world and, perhaps, planted the seed of the idea of helping international students. Back in Canada, Courtney found work at a recruitment firm, a job she soon realized she did not love but which gave her experience and exposure to the corporate world. Then two things happened. First, she thought back on her summer between high school and university. Perceiving cottagers’ needs, she had created a newspaper-to-dock delivery service on the lake at her family cottage and expanded it into a property maintenance company. She had earned a substantial amount of money, for a 19-year-old, that summer. But more importantly, she realized, she’d been motivated and happy creating her own business. While still thinking about this, Courtney moved into a condo and noticed there was nowhere to store her off-season clothing. She suddenly found herself perceiving an unmet need again, with an idea about how to meet it. In short order, she left her job, rented a warehouse and created Store Your Style, a clothing storage service for condo dwellers. Before long, it occurred to Courtney that university students had dorm rooms full of stuff that had to be stored for the summer, and she expanded. The new brand was Store Your Dorm, which provides students with packing materials, picks up the packed boxes, stores them for the summer and returns them in the fall. Through her dorm business, Courtney connected with international students and their families, and Student Airport Welcome was born. Picking up a mini-fridge for one of these students led to becoming a rep for Danby and the creation of Dorm Essentials. Now working with

by Danielle Younge-Ullman ’90

the universities themselves, Courtney established Campus Servus, which includes ScholarFX, a tuition payment service for international students coming to Canadian schools, and is poised to do more work with international education. The Campus Servus brands offer exactly what their names suggest, and Courtney explains that the naming was very deliberate. She and her partner realized early on that students respond best to branding that speaks directly to a specific inner need. Therefore each service provided has its own brand and functions as its own business, from the customer’s point of view. In talking to the HTS students, Courtney had this advice: “Spend the next four years saturating. Do as much as you can here – arts, sports, all of the co-curriculars – to find out what your true passion is, because you have to be really passionate about something to stick it out in the long haul.” Nuggets for future entrepreneurs included: “Take a risk. If you fail you’ll have almost certainly learned something… more than if you hadn’t tried at all.” “It’s cool to make mistakes.” “Listen twice as much as you speak.” “Know what your strengths and weaknesses are.” “Don’t turn away opportunities.” “Don’t be afraid to go back to the drawing board.” “Start lean.” “Plan to make money.” Courtney feels strongly that her time at HTS helped her become the creative and successful person she is. “HTS allows for and encourages creative thinkers,” she says. “It’s a well-rounded education where you’re involved in a lot of things at a young age. You’re exposed to arts, music,

sports. That really allows you to learn more about yourself. For me, a lot of it happened on the field – competition and teamwork and having to make decisions on the fly really started me out down that entrepreneurial path.” Courtney also cites experiences such as Camp Kandalore, Kilcoo Camp and travelling to Washington, DC, as highlights and experiences that helped her grow as a person. Interpersonal skills are another valuable asset Courtney says were honed at HTS. “You get into the workforce and there are all the small things, like standing up when someone comes into the room, shaking someone’s hand, looking them in the eye. It sounds crazy, but I meet people in their 30s who don’t do any of those things. At HTS that’s just what you did. Those were the expectations. HTS instilled so many life skills.” Never content to rest on her laurels, Courtney is continuing to use her many skills and talents to shift and expand. “We’re definitely going towards online, to being less logistically and seasonally focused. When we started out, all of our businesses were exceptionally seasonal, which is very difficult for staffing because you can’t employ people year-round.” She hopes to do more consulting and international student recruitment, helping schools attract more students from all over the world. “The area we’re passionate about is ‘internationalizing’ education, and finding more ways we can do that.” There’s no question that, with her willingness to take risks and go after what she wants, she’ll make all of this happen. And as she goes along, she’ll continue to adapt her ideas to opportunities as they arise, taking on new and exciting projects that might not have been in the plans. For Courtney, that’s half the fun, not to mention a key ingredient in her recipe for success.

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Messages

Message from Alumni Association President Greetings, fellow HTS alumni: I am thrilled to be writing you today as the newest President of the HTS Alumni Association (HTSAA). It is an honour for me to serve you and our alma mater in this capacity. The HTSAA has existed in various forms over the past few years, and I am pleased to inform you that the foundation for the Association is strong. We have a number of exciting initiatives on the horizon, and I look forward to sharing those with you over the course of the next year. The school is undergoing a number of exciting changes. HTS has embarked on an ambitious capital campaign that is going to make HTS an even better learning environment than it already is. The innovative Shaped by Experience campaign speaks to the collaboration, sustainability, relationships, and reputation of HTS. It is an exciting time for HTS, a school with a tradition in excellence, embarking on a future of innovation. As alumni, we need to do what we can to support future HTS alumni by providing them with a sound network of individuals whom they can rely upon after graduation. I encourage you to become more involved with HTS in whatever capacity you can! We are accepting new members to the HTS Alumni Association; and I invite you to reach out to me directly to learn more about what you can do to get involved. I know our alumni network is diverse in experience and rich in expertise, and I look forward to getting to know more of you in my role as President. I also encourage you to attend alumni events, put your hand up to mentor our young alumni community for professional and personal development, volunteer at Career Night, follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn for upcoming opportunities, and consider making a gift to support the new campaign. I hope you enjoy reading this edition of the Trinitarian! With kindest regards, Kathryn (Rutherford) Foster ’03

Thank you to the former HTSAA President, Catherine Demajo-Borovoy ’93, for her dedicated service from 2011 to 2014. Your contribution to the HTSAA has helped make the executive committee what it is today. Your strong sense of leadership and dedication to the alumni of HTS is greatly appreciated by all.

Message from Head of School I was delighted that we were able to welcome Courtney Whiteside ’99 to the HTS Trade Show last year as our keynote speaker. She spoke so powerfully of the entrepreneurial and innovative skills she has developed that have enabled her to start several successful businesses. It is no coincidence that the theme for this year’s edition of the Trinitarian is focused on entrepreneurial alumni like Courtney, because it is clear that the mindset adopted by people like her has become essential for all students, as they learn how to think, learn, and thrive in a rapidly-changing and highly-complex world. At HTS, we are aware that employers are increasingly demanding an innovative and entrepreneurial workforce and seeking individuals with critical-thinking, problemsolving, collaboration, communication, and other entrepreneurial skills. This has strongly influenced our program, and I believe any alumni returning to HTS today would be excited to see all that is going on to prepare our students for a world where a high average mark will not solely be enough for entry to the best programs, and that we recognize the urgent need to produce graduates who possess the knowledge and the skills that the workforce now demands. Our new campaign, Shaped by Experience, is the vehicle through which our students will develop the knowledge, skills, and behaviours that will enable them to succeed in life, and will see them benefit not only from several exciting educational initiatives, but also from new facilities. Please visit the HTS website for more information. Best wishes, Barry Hughes

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Career Night

On November 17, 2015, 15 HTS alumni shared their experiences at Career Night for current parents and students. Representing everything from the music industry and marketing to health sciences, Andrew Ascenzo ’05, Jake Barnes ’09, Alexander Bilbily ’06, Cameron Boyd ’02, Victoria Doobay ’06, Alysha Ferguson ’06, James Greenhalgh ’03, Nicholas Hawkes ’06, Lisa Hood ’00, Brittany Linton ’08, Carol Ma ’06, Ashlyn Patterson ’07, Tara Rivas ’10, Meagan Suckling ’08, and Courtney Wittmann ’11 participated as the guest speakers. Each of these alumni offered insights into different career paths, postsecondary studies, and their experiences after graduating from HTS. The event provided an excellent opportunity for current students and their parents to ask questions and interact with alumni through the rotational roundtable format. Students later shared some feedback, saying that the alumni speakers helped them gain perspective about their future and balancing their interests and their family’s aspirations. The next Career Night will be held on Wednesday, November 16, 2016. Please contact Megan Hughes, Advancement and Alumni Relations Coordinator, at [email protected] or 905-737-1290 ext. 260 to learn more about how you can get involved.

Top 3 Ways to Give Back to Your Alma Mater 1. Volunteer your time: We’re always eager to have alumni return to campus and give back to our community. Volunteer on the Alumni Association, help prepare care packages for the young alumni, or take part in events like the Grade 9 Trade Show. 2. Share your talent: Interested in mentorship or speaking engagements? We have many opportunities for you to share your post- secondary and/or career experiences at Career Night or be a guest speaker in class! 3. Make a gift: You can always give back to HTS by making a donation. Donations are used to support and improve student services, scholarships and on-campus activities. You can make a donation at: hts.on.ca/donate. 3

Alumni Entrepreneurs

Fall once, stand up twice

How Ronnie’s failures illuminated his path to success by Meagan Suckling ‘08

Ronnie Varghese ’99 knows a thing or two about success. Interestingly enough, he is most grateful for his failures. Originally from India but raised in Saudi Arabia, Ronnie moved to Canada when he was 14 years old. He spent the next few years at HTS as a star student, winning national spelling bees and earning accolades as a regional debate champion. His success continued throughout university and into the early years of his career. After spending a few years in management consulting, he got an itch to start his own company. At the age of 29, he founded his first tech startup, Veritasq, with his

three best friends. “We built this amazing software and raised $250,000 of angel funding to build the business. The problem was, no one wanted to buy our product. Our first startup was a miserable failure.” He desperately wanted to put it all behind him, but Ronnie knew the importance of learning from his experience. While there were many contributing factors, he determined the most significant to be simply his approach to business. “When I was in university and the corporate world, I developed a big ego and was conditioned to be afraid of failure. This ‘I can’t fail’ attitude really made

Young Entrepreneurs Laura Healey ’13

by Megan Hughes, Advancement & Alumni Relations Coordinator

Laura Healey found her entrepreneurial spirit in an unexpected place after taking a baking class with her mother. What started out as a hobby – YouTubing and researching ways to work with fondant and other baking techniques – turned into a passion as Laura started making tasty treats for friends and family. Her knack for flavour and creative design was quickly recognized, and the buzz about Laura’s baking continued as she was encouraged to start her own business. Through Ontario’s Summer Company program, Laura was chosen to receive grant money to help kick-start her business, Sun Flour Cakes. The Summer Company mentors helped Laura expand her understanding of marketing, business, and accounting. While Laura’s future plans do not include a career in baking, she appreciates having these skills and may consider continuing her business on the side after she’s completed her studies. Laura says that the Summer Company program helped her overcome her reservations about starting her own business. She encourages anyone interested in pursuing an idea to see what resources are available and “just do it and try it now rather than later.” Intrigued by the world of biomechanics, Laura is considering pursuing a Master’s degree in that field or occupational therapy after completing her studies in kinesiology at Queen’s University.

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me freeze up and ultimately led to the failure of my first company.” While his business was floundering, Ronnie was also struggling with an addiction to alcohol. Fortunately, he sought professional help and, by committing himself to a 12-step program, was able to turn his life around. In the process, he turned his business around too. “The thing about entrepreneurship is that there really is no separation between who you are when you’re building your business and who you are when you’re building your life,” says Ronnie. “My addiction collapsed who I am in my professional life and my personal life into one. No more playing different characters in different parts of my life.” The second time around, Ronnie and his business partners launched Polyform Labs, a service-based company that builds custom software to solve specific problems for clients. After a year and a half of growing success, the company was acquired by Venture Communications, a marketing company owned by Dragons’ Den personality Arlene Dickinson. Now that he was approaching his business practices differently, he approached his life with a refreshed attitude. “I switched from looking at life from the viewpoint of ‘what can life give to me?’ to ‘what can I contribute to life?’ That’s really where my business took off. If I didn’t have something useful to contribute, I didn’t want to waste the potential client’s time. I focused on what I’m here to give, instead of what I’m here to take.” Ronnie has been sober for over three years now and recently left his job to enjoy some time with his wife and their newborn son. He has no immediate plans to return to business, but instead wants to focus on spending time with the important people in his life. Despite all his success, Ronnie says: “I’m most grateful for the failures in my life, and most proud of the people around me as I continue my journey.”

Alumni Entrepreneurs

Guitar hero

by Meagan Suckling ‘08

A love of string instruments inspired a successful entrepreneur For Eric Bickerton ’00, wearing a suit to work was never an option. As a luthier and owner of his own business, building and repairing string instruments, Eric finds his career keeps him out of the office and in the workshop. “I’ve had a fascination with guitars since I was about 14 years old. They are functional art to me and I enjoy every aspect about them – the history, the design, the variety of music they are used in,” explains Eric. “In Grade 10, I worked with a career counsellor at HTS who helped me figure out how to turn this passion into a career, and I’ve never looked back.” Eric didn’t have a dream, he had a plan; and he spent his time at university and in the early years of his career working towards opening his own business. Following his graduation from the University of Guelph, he took a luthier course in Lindsay, Ontario, where he learned from a European master luthier. Now he is the owner of BickertonE Guitars, a successful Toronto business specializing in the building and repair of string instruments. He crafts custom hand-built instruments from a variety of carefully selected tonewoods, adding personalized features and quality hardware. Guitar players of all kinds walk through the doors of his shop, from beginners to professional musicians. With between 250 and 300 hours going into the construction of each instrument, you might think that Eric would get attached to some of his creations. On the contrary, he says it’s putting the finished product in his client’s hands that makes his line of work so rewarding. “Sometimes customers come into my shop in tears because a very sentimental, personal item of theirs has been broken and they think that nothing can be done to fix it. Then I’m able to bring that instrument back to life for them and it’s actually a very emotional experience to see their excitement.” At times Eric gets some odd requests, but that’s what keeps his work interesting. A recent project involved handcrafting a guitar with a pixelated poisonous-mushroom design for a man who is both a chef and a gamer. Eric is currently in the midst of developing a barbecue-inspired guitar, complete with grill marks and a wooden T-bone on the back. He takes great pride in his work, spending time making each instrument in the best and most useful way. “What makes me really happy is the energy that people have when they are enjoying their instrument and enjoying their music,” he explains. The road to success hasn’t always been an easy one for Eric, but his entrepreneurial spirit drives him forward and he looks forward to seeing what the future brings. “There is an old adage where you have to do 10,000 hours of work before you become successful in anything. I’ve done the 10,000 plus, and there’s still a long way to go.”

Photo by Eric Dewar ‘15

Lucas Gismondi ’15 by Megan Hughes, Advancement & Alumni Relations Coordinator

Recipient of several entrepreneurial business awards, Lucas Gismondi is surely making a name for himself through his innovative ideas. A specialist in drone photography, Lucas took advantage of funding provided by the province’s Summer Company program in order to launch his own business, Aerial PhotoWorks. The startup quickly attracted an impressive roster of A-list clients, winning bids for high-profile projects from TLN’s Salsa on St. Clair Street Festival in Toronto to the Assassin’s Creed Leap of Faith event for video game giant Ubisoft in Montreal. Capturing the attention of many big-name companies, Lucas hopes to grow his business by shooting aerial video and photography of properties for the real estate sector. While he plans to expand his business further in the future, for now Lucas is focusing on his studies, pursuing a Bachelor of Computer Science degree at the University of Toronto.

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Reflection

Reflecting on

My Time at HTS by Tina Lage, Retired Faculty Member

Although I am seldom at a loss for words, at this moment I am sitting in my classroom, looking at all of that beautiful greenery through the window, with no words to describe how I feel. HTS has been home to me for the past 25 years. I have spent more time here than anywhere, and there is a rush of emotion as the memories cascade over one another, threatening to sweep me away, as well. I marvel at how fortunate I have been. They say that you make your own luck, but sometimes, I think that luck finds you. I think back to the day I was hired at the Science Centre office on Wellesley St. I was told that my resumé was chosen from the pile due to curiosity about what a cheerleading coach looked like. The one skill that I thought would be of no use at all actually served me well. That’s luck… and irony. Hopefully, that kind of thing no longer happens in our post–Mad Men world. By the time I was hired at HTS, I had eight years of teaching behind me already. I spent four years in northern Ontario and two years on an isolated First Nations community in northern Manitoba. That community was as different from HTS as you can get. I was allowed a glimpse into a world that few people will ever experience, and it changed me forever. I interacted with a group of people who are still suffering from the impact of the residential schools on their ancestors. I was able to gauge for myself the depth of the damage done, of the trickling of pain down through the generations, and of the learned helplessness that resulted from it. I saw, firsthand, the monumental struggle that these children have had and the challenges that they face when they try to further their education in unfamiliar, unsupportive environments where they face discrimination daily. I saw how impossible it is to build resilience when you do not have it yourself. The chief of this reserve (Wasagamack, Island Lake) happened to be J.J. Harper, who was, himself, shot by the police on Main Street in Winnipeg a few years later. He had been mistaken for a car thief. Another leader with so much potential, lost. I did not know what an independent school was but was told that that’s where I wanted to be, so I accepted the position at HTS rather than the one offered by the public school board. Although the perks were many, an unexpected one was not having to worry about going on strike. HTS was wonderful right from the beginning. From our first staff meeting, which took place in what is now the Middle School art room, I knew that I was going to be very happy here. My colleagues have been supportive, fun, helpful and inspiring. Many have become lifelong friends. When the school was smaller we were like a family, doing things together and enjoying one another’s company. The staff

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room was always filled with laughter and vitality. We played jokes on one another… at one point, Sue Dickinson began to record all of the funny things that were being said or done. Unfortunately (or fortunately) the book disappeared during the expansions, but we can always count on John Edgecombe or Brad Stephens to remind us of some of that hilarity. HTS parents are unique in the way that they support all facets of the school. I have taught close to 3,000 students throughout my time here, and the warmth and stability that permeates through the generations is apparent. This is what creates resilience and leads to success. Success is something that all HTS students know a thing or two about. The school fosters drive and confidence and provides opportunities for involvement and leadership. Our students are quality human beings, and I am proud of all of them. This is the turn that my memories have taken. I think of all of those amazing students that I have had the privilege to teach. As the afternoon sunlight lengthens across Ms Osmond’s garden behind me (and Mr. Wilson scoots past on his tractor), I think of all of those children. They have meant so much to me. I will reserve a little space inside myself for each one of them. As I clean my classroom, sorting through old marks and notes,

the years tick by… 1990 to 2015… I revisit those students one by one, missing them, wishing that they all do well and certain that most of them are. I can only hope that I have imparted something of importance during our time together, perhaps lightened their days a little, made them laugh and made them like French a little more. At least, I hope I did not make them like it less. I take comfort in the beautiful words of one student, wise beyond her years, who said, “Madame, you taught me the value of a smile, and now I smile all the time, too.” If that can be my legacy, I am beyond content. And now, as I embark on my new journey, I am excited about the future. I am heading off to Europe with my entire family to celebrate my mother’s 90th birthday. I plan to walk the El Camino trail in Spain and to do some travelling before I return in November, just in time for Christmas, and yet bypassing the startup of school in September. Although I will miss HTS terribly, I look forward to spending my life travelling, taking courses and living every moment to the fullest. I hope I enjoy the next 25 years as much as I have enjoyed the last. I would love to stay connected to everyone. I am on Facebook and Twitter and will accept all friend requests. Goodbye, HTS. I love you.

New Alumni

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE

Class of

2015

Welcome to the HTS Alumni Association You did it! You made it to the next chapter of your lives, and we are proud to welcome each of you as a new member of the HTS Alumni Association. What does it mean to be a part of the alumni family at HTS? Being an alum means belonging to an extensive network of peers all around the world, who have a common past, HTS. There are benefits to being an alum too! It means that you will be invited to attend alumni events; in fact many of you did in Toronto, London, Kingston and Hamilton this year. You can be engaged with current students as mentors, and maybe some of you will join the Alumni Association. We encourage you to explore

all of your options by staying in touch with your alma mater. The best way to do this is by updating your contact information with us regularly. Part of the deal is you also get to listen to us brag about you! Your class is the second largest graduating class in our history and consisted of 99 incredibly successful students with a broad array of talents. We are extremely proud to share that you and your peers received acceptances to very competitive programs at prominent Canadian and International institutions. We want to extend our heartfelt congratulations to you, the class of 2015. We hope the experiences gained at HTS will allow you to continue to set new goals, explore the edges, and discover an endless world of possibilities.

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The Shaped by Experience campaign celebrates how far our humble school has come, and how far we will go with your support. With this $22.9 million campaign – the largest in our history – we are honouring our school’s founding beliefs and traditions by making a bold commitment to the exciting future already unfolding on our campus. We have named the campaign “Shaped by Experience” because we know the learning experiences we deliver play an important role in shaping the extraordinary

leaders our students will become. HTS is already recognized as one of the leading independent schools in Canada, as reflected in a 2014 review by the Canadian Accredited Independent Schools (CAIS). We are justifiably proud of our accomplishments, but we also know that leaders do not stand still for very long. Our goal is to continue improving our school. Shaped by Experience will enable us to do just that.

The Shaped by Experience Campaign is Built on Four Key Pillars:

Learning Commons

Music Studio

STUDENT LIFE AND LEARNING

THE ARTS, CREATIVITY, AND IMAGINATION

Transforming the George Rutherford Library into a Senior School Learning Commons will underpin a personalized learning experience for every student, while providing a novel resource and catalyst for innovation in teaching and learning.

Investments in the school’s music, art, and drama infrastructure will nourish the imagination and talents of HTS students and prepare them to thrive in a world where one of the most valuable assets is creativity.

HEALTHY BODIES AND MINDS

INQUIRY, INNOVATION, AND DISCOVERY

Research confirms that the lessons learned in sports and fitness transcend the classroom and shape success in careers and in life. The new fitness centre, dance studio, and lap pool will provide students with the opportunity to learn leadership, discipline, perseverance, goal-setting, and time management.

Health & Fitness Centre

Inspired by the same ambition and courage we ask of our students, we will redesign our laboratories and classrooms to support modern learning models, introduce innovation and design labs, and an outdoor classroom.

Innovation Lab

OUR ‘HIGHER STANDARD’ IS GROWING EVEN HIGHER Future Campus

“Our teachers and our students are already exploring beyond the edges in so many ways. We need an environment that doesn’t just match our commitment to nurturing global leaders who thrive in every aspect of life, but raises the bar to an even higher level.” — Barry Hughes, Head of School

EXCITING DAY AT HTS The ground breaking ceremony for Phase 1 of Shaped by Experience was held in March, and marked the beginning of an exciting time in our history. Among the HTS community were Mayor Barrow of Richmond Hill, many Richmond Hill councillors, and HTS governors to celebrate the joyous occasion. Thank you to all who came to celebrate with us and to our student representatives; Kenny (Gr. 1), Joseph (Gr. 7), Isabella (Gr. 11), and Head Prefect, Rohini (Gr. 12) who helped us break ground. We are also thankful for the blessing given by Father Crowther. We have an exciting future ahead of us so stay tuned, as we’ll be sharing the stages with you along the way.

HELP HTS SHAPE THE FUTURE

PHASE 1

Music, Art, Drama, and Innovation Labs

PHASE 2

Senior School Learning Commons and Studio Theatre

PHASE 3

Health and Fitness Centre (including a lap pool)



How can our HTS alumni support the campaign? If you’re an alum and haven’t yet contributed, take this moment to reconnect with HTS – and give back to the school that helped shape who you are today. Your donation to the Shaped by Experience campaign is of critical importance at this moment in our history.

You can make a cash gift online at bit.ly/SBEdonate



Did you know that your employer may be one of thousands of companies that will match your charitable contributions to HTS? Matching gift programs are a great way to double the impact of your giving.

Do you own or work for a company that could provide a gift in kind to the construction?

The Shaped by Experience campaign is the most ambitious fundraising endeavour in our school’s history. The total project cost is $22.9 million. Construction and renovation will take place in three strategic phases beginning in 2016. The third and final phase is scheduled for completion in 2020.

Please call Danielle Gibb, Executive Director of Advancement, at 905-737-1290 ext. 274, to find out more about how you can support the campaign. Over the years, the support we have received from generous parents and alumni like you has enabled HTS to grow into the school it is today. Donations are a critical source of funding that allow us to provide an exceptional education and learning environment for our students.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

Alumni Events Young Alumni Care Package Stuff-a-thon In October, parents of alumni were invited to help us prepare 400 alumni care packages. Staying in touch is important to the HTS alumni family. Thank you to those parents who have updated their child’s address, and a big thank you to those who came last October to help!

HTS Arts Night Last May, alumni displayed their work in the alumni art exhibit. Thank you to all who participated and remember that this annual event is open to everyone and features the talents of HTS students and alumni.

Parents of Alumni Tea hosted by Mrs. Pat Hughes, September 2015

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HTS Reunions Last May, we celebrated 5, 10, 20, and 25 year reunions with the classes of 1990, 1995, 2005, and 2010. It was an excellent evening that was well attended by faculty and alumni. This year, we’re excited to host the classes of 1991, 1996, 2001, 2006, and 2011 who are all celebrating reunions. We look forward to having you join us on May 28, 2016 at HTS for a fun night to catch up with old friends and former faculty members. Registration is still open – get your tickets today at occ.hts. on.ca/HTSReunion2016

Class of 1990

Class of 1995

Class of 2005

Class of 2010 Want to be kept in the loop about upcoming alumni events including your class reunion? Be sure to keep us up-to-date with your mailing address and email to ensure you receive your invitation. Update us by sending an email to [email protected]!

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HTS Alumni Socials KINGSTON 2014

WATERLOO 2014

LONDON 2014

CHRISTMAS RECEPTION 2014

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HTS Alumni Socials TORONTO 2015

KINGSTON 2015

HAMILTON 2015

LONDON 2015

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Class Notes RETIRED FACULTY

Former Head of School, George Rutherford, reconnected with Jack and Jane Rose while in Victoria, British Columbia, in July. Jack was our first Headmaster and his wife, Jane, was the Director of Academics. Jack was known as Fr. Rose to the students as he is an Anglican priest who still does some work on behalf of the bishop in Victoria, where they now live.

ALUMNI 1987

Mike Stanford recently took the role of Chief Marketing Officer for Batelco in the Kingdom of Bahrain. Batelco is Bahrain’s leading telecommunications company offering wireless, fixed and broadband services for both consumers and businesses across Bahrain. Mike is settling into the new role and new location and can be reached at [email protected] if there are alumni in the Persian Gulf region who want to connect.

1993 Catherine Demajo-Borovoy and husband Jason welcomed their first child, Stella Theadora Borovoy, on March 8, 2015, at Mount Sinai Hospital. Catherine and Jason are overjoyed to have her, as she is a sweet and gentle little girl, even though she likes to pull her dog Monty’s hair.

1997

2000 Lisa (Woodcock) Hood married Jeffrey Hood on September 26, 2014, in Guelph. Among the friends and family helping Lisa and Jeff celebrate were Brian McCreery and Michael Saccucci, both of ’00. Lisa and Jeff are pleased to announce the birth of their first child, Patrick Ross Hood. He was born on October 9, 2015, just in time to make for a happy and grateful Thanksgiving weekend.

2002 Lucia Cesaroni is preparing the title role Isis for the world premiere of the Canadian opera Isis and Osiris at the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts in April 2016. Lucia will sing the leading role of Susanna in Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro with worldfamous conductor James Conlon at the Spoleto Festival in Italy this summer. Debuting next season, Lucia appears as Musetta in a new production of La Bohème with Opéra de Montréal. On a personal note, Lucia married Canadian tenor Adrian Kramer in May 2015, in Toronto. They split their time between Toronto and New York.

2005 Steffi Wong completed her Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering from California Polytechnic State University on a full athletic scholarship for women’s tennis. Upon graduation, Steffi moved back to Toronto and received a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the University of Toronto. Steffi is now living in Toronto and owns a dental practice in Little Italy called Palmerston Dental.

2006

Ashley (Reid) and husband Brian Csinos welcomed baby Leah on March 10, 2015. Ashley has been enjoying maternity leave with Leah, who is a very sweet baby and is already full of personality. Life is very adventurous with their older son, Tyler, 3.

1999 Jeremy Roche married Erin Cole in Banff, Alberta, in September 2015. Jeremy is currently working for CMH Heli-Skiing as the Director of North American Sales. Jeremy can be reached at jeremy. [email protected].

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Kevin Leung defended his doctoral dissertation in January 2015 and received his PhD in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from the University of Waterloo. His research examined the motivational impact of leaders’ visions for organizations as they are framed and conveyed in connection with their followers’ personal values. Kevin is currently a faculty member at the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management, where he is teaching Organizational Behaviour and Human Resources Management.

2007 Lukas Brown and Isabella Bei were married on October 17, 2015. Father Stephen Crowther officiated the ceremony, surrounded by friends and family, with several HTS alumni in the bridal party. The newlyweds are living in London, Ontario, where Lukas is completing his medical residency in anesthesia and Isabella works as a teacher.

Siavash Raigani, MD, will be relocating to Boston in June to start his general surgery residency at the Massachusetts General Hospital, after graduating from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland. He can be reached at [email protected].

2010 Brandy Hoover and Julian De Meneghi graduated from McMaster University together, both developing their separate careers. Having been together since they were 17-yearolds, Brandy and Julian became engaged on January 21, 2016, in Mont-Tremblant, Quebec. They are excited to celebrate almost seven years together and plan to get married in 2017.

2011 This summer, Katie MacDonald is heading to Bar Harbor, Maine, to start a cross-country bike ride with Bike the US for MS, which will end 69 days and 4,295 miles later in Seattle, Washington. The purpose of the ride is to raise money and awareness for Multiple Sclerosis, a disease that affects 2.4 million people worldwide. The goal of every rider on the team is to raise one dollar per mile, for a grand total of $4,295 each. You can help support Katie’s ride by donating at www.bit.ly/1jBlIIg.

In Memoriam Dr. Catherine (Broughton) Marshall, former Chair of the Board of Governors, on November 10, 2015, in Toronto. Betty Adams, retired HTS staff, on November 17, 2015 in Richmond Hill. Nicola Moore ’91 on December 8, 2015, in Toronto.

FACULTY and STAFF New Full-Time Hires HTS welcomed many new staff and faculty members this year: Carolynne Bull (Marketing and Communications Coordinator), Danielle Gibb (Executive Director of Advancement), Katie Lai (Development Coordinator), Megan Hughes (Advancement and Alumni Relations Coordinator), Pauline Ash (Lower School Teacher), Tammy McQueen (Database Coordinator), and Yolande Pratt (Accounts Receivable Coordinator).

New Appointments Congratulations to the following faculty members on their new appointments: Patrick James (Department Head of Business and Computer Science), Maria Locacciato (Director of Community Relations), Christine Lovrics (permanent faculty member), Zack Palmer (permanent faculty member), Steve Poplar (permanent faculty member), Nikki Thompson (Head of Physical Education), Andrew Whitebread (permanent faculty member).

Growing Families Congratulations to Kelly Bryant, Eunice Chan, and to Brian and Ashley Csinos, who welcomed new additions to their families in 2015.

Retiring Faculty and Staff Thank you to Ron Deane, Tina Lage, Tirchander Kanwar and Azita Vahid for many years of dedicated service to HTS. Congratulations on their exciting new chapter, and all the best in your future endeavours during retirement.

We are always looking for updates and class notes! Please send your news to [email protected].

Upcoming Events MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR THE FOLLOWING UPCOMING EVENTS: May 2016

June 2016

November 2016

Reunions for the Classes of ‘91, ‘96, ‘01, ‘06 & ‘11 Saturday, May 28th, 2016 5:30 pm to 9:00 pm Holy Trinity School Tickets available online bit.ly/HTSreunion

HTS Golf Classic Wednesday, June 8, 2016 Silver Lakes Golf & Conference Centre Special alumni pricing is available: occ.hts.on.ca/golf-classic

Career Night Wednesday, November 16, 2016 Holy Trinity School

Be sure to check the website for more information about these and other HTS events.

KEEP IN TOUCH

Have you updated your contact information? Be sure to update your address and email so you can continue to hear about upcoming events, volunteer opportunities and more!

Like us on Facebook facebook.com/HTSAlumni

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As an HTS alum, you experienced first-hand the broad range of opportunities that allow students to go beyond academics to explore music, art, drama, athletics and so much more. HTS students are encouraged to explore their passions in and out of the classroom. Applications are now being accepted for admission for the 2017-2018 academic year. We welcome the opportunity to speak to you about the possibility of continuing your family tradition at HTS.

Join us on Linkedin linkedin.com/groups/2103567

Building on Excellence Year After Year Alumni pride can be seen by a strong alumni participation in annual giving. Giving to the annual fund is a means of expressing gratitude for the outstanding education you experienced. As an alum, we invite you to demonstrate your pride and satisfaction by giving a gift today and making a meaningful difference in the lives of current and future HTS students. “Seeing the continual growth and improvement, not only in our child, but in all the children and the school, is extremely important to our family.” - Carrie and Rod Darmaga ’90 To make your gift, please visit hts.on.ca/donate. HTS is a registered charity and all donations are 100% tax deductible. Charitable registration #122397417RR0001

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