Getting COVID's Number

CELINA CAESAR-CHAVANNES TIFF MACKLEM 5 TO WATCH Hear her now, steers the Bank of Canada Meet our new Canada in her own words through the pandemic Research Chairs QUEEN’S ALUMNI REVIEW THE MAGAZINE OF QUEEN’S UNIVERSITY SINCE 1927

Getting COVID’S number How Dr. Troy Day is using math to chart the course of the virus

SPRING 2021

CONTENTS Spring 2021

Tiff Macklem (Artsci'83) in the front entrance hall of the Bank of Canada

Features

S ALUMNI REVIEW BY JENNIFER ROBERTS; (RIGHT) RÉMI THÉRIAULT; SPOT ILLUSTRATION SOL COTTI ILLUSTRATION SPOT (RIGHT) RÉMI THÉRIAULT; JENNIFER ROBERTS; REVIEW BY S ALUMNI 20 24 30

A global pandemic Five women whose The Bank of Canada’s — by the numbers research leads the way Queen’s tradition How an applied mathematician Find out what they’re studying Why have so many governors is helping forecast where and how they are changing of the Bank of Canada been the COVID-19 virus will go next. the world around us. Queen’s grads? Ask Tiff Macklem.

COVER SHOT EXCLUSIVELY FOR QUEEN ’ FOR EXCLUSIVELY SHOT COVER BY TOM SPEARS BY TY BURKE BY MICHAEL ONESI

QUEENSU.CA/ALUMNIREVIEW 1 CONTENTS

On Campus Off Campus

07 Campus News A compendium of the latest “I found Queen’s news – and the people it can be very and things that are making it fulfilling to look outside yourself The Big Picture How do you build a and consider ventilator for the world? the people Keep it simple 12 around you and how you can affect ABOUT THE COVER their lives Dr. Troy Day, Queen’s applied in even the mathematician, was photographed by smallest way.” Jennifer Roberts My First Job — DR. IDARA EDEM, on March 17, 2021 in Tutor to P. 35 Kingston, Ontario. neurosurgeon.

CELINA CAESAR-CHAVANNES TIFF MACKLEM 5 TO WATCH A trailblazer Hear her now, steers the Bank of Canada Meet our new Canada in her own words through the pandemic Research Chairs QUEEN’S ALUMNI REVIEW reflects THE MAGAZINE OF QUEEN’S UNIVERSITY SINCE 1927 35

36 Books and The Backstory Jennifer Turliuk wants to help you figure out what to do with your life Getting COVID’S number How Dr. Troy Day is using math to chart the course of the virus

SPRING 2021 QAR-SP21-Cover_V2.indd 2 2021-04-01 11:41 AM 38 If These Walls Could Talk Day is surrounded Alumni reflect on their homes by symbols of 42 from home Class Notes the COVID-19 variants Where are your classmates that have changed 39 From the QUAA and housemates now? the trajectory of the pandemic. “I wanted Symbols of change retain this photograph to what’s special reflect the serious nature of the story, which has a darkness about it, but I also wanted there to be a light that reflected the hope Dr. Day’s research is bringing,” says Roberts, whose For the Record clients include Can you hear her now? the New York Times Celina Caesar-Chavannes and Rolling Stone. 14 speaks her mind “Finding that balance was key to the shoot.”

18 Work in Progress How I Got Here 52 Created at Queen’s Queen’s researchers go back Keeping score: From Two Queen’s alumni in time to unlock the mysteries math and science take a deep dive into of the natural world 40 to a top job in the NHL the world of mining O'SHANE HOWARD GALLERY/ALAMY, FINN O'HARA, ANTIQUA PRINT ROCKMASS TECHNOLOGIES, RICE, COURTESY OF LEFT) HAMIN LEE, SARAH TOP FROM (CLOCKWISE BY PHOTOGRAPH 2 SPRING 2021 FROM THE PRINCIPAL

such powerful engines of personal, social, cultural and economic development, universities are a natural and inevitable venue in which we might expect this reappraisal to take place. At Queen’s over the last twelve months we have seen that process play out in countless different ways: shifts in the form of academic assessment, flexibility introduced in funding eligibility for graduate students, modified approaches to performance review for faculty members, radically changed assumptions about productivity and working from home, a rapidly evolving relationship to technology for teaching and learning, a new understanding of what is owed to and might be expected from international students, an evolving sense of the physical campus and of what the “Queen’s experience” is or might be in relation to that physical space, and a doubling down on questions of relevance and value. Not all of this was driven by COVID-19. The advent of the pandemic happened to coincide with a planning process for the University APPREHENSION AND HOPE which as early as October 2019 had begun to ask questions about our values and purpose – questions that were amplified and invested with greater urgency by the health crisis and o much about this issue of the Queen’s Alumni Review speaks the peculiar social reset which it precipitated to the future and to the potential for positive change and and which continues today. Like every one development that attends this moment, as our university of the individual students who make up this S and communities everywhere are daring to imagine again a institution, we as a community are looking life not shaped and constrained by the COVID-19 virus. There is to our future and as we do so, pondering our certainly great hope in the moment, but undoubtedly there must agency. What do we imagine for the University also be apprehension, because one important lesson of the pan- in the coming years, and how do we negotiate demic that will stay with us for a long time is that our agency has those aims and ambitions in the context of limits: humans can dream and prepare as they wish, but nature what COVID-19 has taught us is a profoundly may have other plans. unpredictable future? I believe that heightened consciousness of this fact – which That unpredictability is cause for apprehen- many of our current students will be experiencing as a sudden sion, as I remarked at the outset, but it is also loss of youthful innocence – is a significant factor in the dramat- cause for hope, in that it leaves us no choice ically increased need for mental health supports both on campus but to embrace change, creativity, and the reli- and in society at large. The challenge is not that COVID-19 has ance on human empathy that has brought us emptied the future of promise, but rather that it has revealed the through this exceptionally challenging phase vulnerability and fragility of our longings and aspirations. It has in Queen’s history. forced us to revise what we take to be “normal” in the trajectory described by the lives of individuals, organizations, and societies; and in doing so it has encouraged us to look more deeply for meaning in immediate, rather than remote, opportunities. That cooking, pet care, cycling and cross-country skiing have found new popularity during COVID-19 illustrates the point – not Sincerely, just because such things provide comfort during confinement, PRINCIPAL PATRICK DEANE but because they do not require belief in an assured future. In this way, the pandemic has required us to scrutinize and reconsider

PHOTOGRAPH BY BERNARD CLARK BY PHOTOGRAPH the values that underpin our life choices. And because they are

QUEENSU.CA/ALUMNIREVIEW 3 OUR NEW LOOK

QUEEN’S BY THE NUMBERS

Queen’s University continues to attract leading researchers, competitive funding, and awards through a number of national and international programs – in the past year alone, the university has received hundreds of grants for new projects and research infrastructure. A quick snapshot of the numbers reflects our reputation for research excellence.

pring is here and change is INSIDE YOU’LL FIND in the air – not just on campus, but also at the Queen’s Alumni Review, where our first issue 47 S More stories are landmarks 3rd Queen’s is home of 2021 marks a new beginning about the of the University in research to 47 Canada and a brand-new look. incredible District (be sure income growth Research Chairs It’s a change that’s been in the research that’s to send us your (medical – a prestigious works for almost a year as we happening right stories!) category) national according honour created connected with our alumni around now at Queen’s – whether it’s well For the Record to national to promote the world, incorporated community research leading-edge established or – a Q&A that lets feedback, and took a deep dive rankings research an exciting pro- you hear the full into readership surveys to find posal about to story from the out what people wanted to see make waves source, in his or in their magazine. her own words We listened. We talked. And Greater diver- 60 million we brainstormed. sity and new Profiles – Number of dollars Queen’s received And then we worked with the perspectives people who in major sciences initiatives award-winning Studio Wyse to help to better reflect are changing (MSI) funding from the Canada us capture everything you wanted the Queen’s the world, and Foundation for Innovation in a bold design that reflects the community wearing the tricolour with pride, Queen’s University of the future. The Big Picture whether they’re The end result is a reimagined – a new feature describing how Queen’s Alumni Review with a Seven that will take you they landed their Number of new look and, we hope, a new feel. 5th inside the lab and dream career, Queen’s in research In this, Queen’s University’s into the field to how they got research intensity 180th year, there seemed to be no unlock secrets of their start, or projects (research better time to look back with pride technology and what it took to receiving income per and embrace the change of the research that get to where funding full-time are changing the they are today from the New faculty future. We hope the new Queen’s Frontiers in world around us member) Alumni Review will help you do both. Research Fund Plus bigger If These Walls photos, new Could Talk – voices and all a walk down your regular memory lane favourites, such 219 million as alumni tell the as Class Notes, Number of dollars Queen’s has stories of life in Books, and received from international

the houses that Campus News sources in the past five years SOL COTTI BY ILLUSTRATIONS DELLA SPOT ROLLINS; BY PHOTOGRAPH

4 SPRING 2021 YOU WROTE QUEEN’S ALUMNI REVIEW VOLUME 95, NO. 1, 2021

at times over the months of the QUEEN’S UNIVERSITY PRINCIPAL pandemic and see a parallel AND VICE-CHANCELLOR Patrick Deane with some of Steven Heighton’s feelings. Wanda Praamsma goes VICE-PRINCIPAL (ADVANCEMENT) Karen Bertrand, Artsci’94 on to describe his courage to travel to Greece to experience what it EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, MARKETING, was like to assist refugees arriving COMMUNICATIONS AND DONOR RELATIONS Scott Anderson at the island of Lesbos. I ask myself how I can be more present DIRECTOR, MARKETING AND PUBLICATIONS in my life. How can I strengthen Alex Beshara my ability to pay attention, and DIRECTOR, STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS be more aware of actions I can AND EVENTS (ACTING EDITOR) Nothing like Ruth Dunley take to improve my life and a good read to contribute to a better world? COPY EDITING AND PROOFING Wanda’s article has inspired Lois Casselman, Amy Lee, start the day. Cat London (Artsci’03), me to read Steven’s book, and Anita Murray (Three C Communications), —@KEEPUPWITHTI to re-read other articles in the Angel Schur (Artsci’98), Wendy Treverton magazine. ART DIRECTION Thank you. Studio Wyse Time to Reflect SUSAN RUTH PRATTEN, ARTS’70 WRITERS This is my first time writing Tony Atherton, Ty Burke, Rosemary Counter, a letter to the Editor since Scott Cruikshank, Deborah Melman-Clement, graduating from Queen’s over Still competitive Michael Onesi, Tom Spears

50 years ago. Not only did I read It was interesting to read about PHOTOGRAPHERS AND ILLUSTRATORS issue 4 from front to back, I Rhonda Leeman, her passion Sol Cotti, O’shane Howard, Johnny C.Y. Lam, re-visited several articles. for hockey, and her reference Hamin Lee, Callum Linden (Artsci’20), Finn O’Hara, Sarah Rice, Jennifer Roberts, I credit the opportunity to to Cookie Cartwright. I skated Rémi Thériault, Wendy Treverton, May Truong re-read issue 4 to a greatly slowed regularly on outdoor rinks and

2020/21 Christmas and New Year’s roller skated but didn’t play CONTACT US period. In pre-COVID-19 times, I hockey until Cookie Cartwright ONLINE queensu.ca/alumnireview would be out at holiday brunches organized girl’s hockey during EMAIL [email protected] with friends and family and would my first year at Queen’s. It was TWITTER @queensureview be spending hours browsing the fun, even in figure skates, and PHONE 1.800.267.7837 (toll-free in Canada and U.S.) Boxing Day sales even though when I returned to Thunder Bay, I ADVERTISE IN THE REVIEW [email protected] there was nothing I needed. actually organized a hockey game I thoroughly enjoyed a slower for the girls in the badminton The Queen’s Alumni Review is published by the Queen’s Office of Advancement. Queen’s is a reading with time to reflect. club. We played badminton from member of the Council for Advancement and Perhaps this is one of the pandemic 7 to 11pm and then rented the Support of Education and the Canadian Council for the Advancement of Education. Subscriptions benefits. I was struck by Wanda main hockey arena for an hour are free to alumni, $25 cdn/year for others. Praamsma’s feature story, “Bearing of fun, but very unprofessional, Opinions expressed in the Review are not witness,” about Steven Heighton’s hockey. While I never played necessarily those of Queen’s University. Queen’s Alumni Review (circ. 130,000) new book, Reaching Mithymna. hockey again, I am still playing issn #0843-8048 Ms. Praamsma describes the competitive badminton, having author’s awareness that living gone to the last three Canadian TO UPDATE YOUR ADDRESS or change your subscription to either the online or the writer’s life can result in a Masters Tournaments with app version, email: [email protected] disconnect between text and the my husband, who is over 80. or call 1.800.267.7837 (toll-free in Canada and U.S.) MARIAN CHILDS, ARTS’65 reality of the lived experience. Canada Post publications mail permit #41089017 Although his experiences were in 2015, four years before Queen’s Alumni Review Queen’s University Old Medical Building the pandemic, I reflected on the 50b Arch Street, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6 numbness I have experienced Phone: 613.533.6000 ext. 77016

Queen’s University is situated on traditional Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee Territory The Queen’s Alumni Review welcomes WRITE comments at [email protected]. TO US All comments may be edited for @queensureview clarity, civility and length.

QUEENSU.CA/ALUMNIREVIEW 5 PAGE SLUG HERE

Inaugurated by the University Council in 1974, the Distinguished Service Award recognizes individuals who have made the university a better place through their exemplary service and extraordinary contributions.

Selim G. Akl Jan Allen Jacquie Brown Dedicated faculty member since 1978, Queen’s alumna, former director of the Long-serving program assistant in the current professor, nationally recognized Agnes Etherington Art Centre, expanded department of Mechanical and Materials computer science researcher and the centre’s exhibitions, publications, and Engineering, committed to student scholar, and tireless champion for the acquisitions; and promoted collaborative support, safety on campus, and continu- School of Computing. curatorial and research work; nationally ous training resulting in positive impact recognized curator and arts leader. on the lives of students, faculty, and staff.

Congratulations to each recipient, and thank you for your service to Queen’s University. Send recipients your notes of congratulations through [email protected] XXXXXXXXXX BY PHOTOGRAPH

6 SPRING 2021 Photograph by xxxxxxxx NEWS — ANNOUNCEMENTS — RESEARCH AND MORE

Inaugurated by the University Council in 1974, the Distinguished Service Award recognizes individuals who have made the university a better ON CAMPUSJol Thoms, The place through their exemplary service and extraordinary contributions. Bulk: Frameworks, 2021, slotted steel angle with Fresnel lenses and mirror ball motor. Collection of the artist.

Jennifer Medves Richard Reznick Daniel R. Woolf Former vice-dean (Health Sciences) Former dean (Faculty of Health Sciences), 20th principal and vice-chancellor, and director of the School of Nursing, director (School of Medicine), and CEO principal emeritus, Queen’s alumnus, former vice-chair of Senate, and (Southeastern Ontario Academic Medi- professor of history, instrumental in the exemplary participant in university cal Organization), pioneer of innovative transformational gift for Smith School of governance, devoted to student mental educational programs, internationally Business, introduced governance reform health, innovative programming, and renowned medical education expert, and position of provost, committed to the profession of nursing. and leader of transformative change. faculty renewal, wellness, and the arts. Drift: Art and Dark Matter is a multi-faceted residency and exhibition that brings artists and scientists together to engage with one of the biggest mysteries in modern cosmology. Scientists know that gravitational “glue” holds the galaxies in place, but no one can yet detect this invisible “dark matter.” Congratulations to each recipient, and thank you for your service to Queen’s University. What: Drift: Art and Dark Matter residency and exhibition project Where: Agnes Etherington Art Centre,

PHOTOGRAPH BY TIM FORBES BY PHOTOGRAPH Queen’s University, 36 University Avenue, Kingston, Ontario When: February 20, 2021 until May 30, 2021 Send recipients your notes of congratulations through [email protected]

QUEENSU.CA/ALUMNIREVIEW 7 CAMPUS NEWS

the diversity of the responses among the artists, from visceral and poetic to cerebral and intellectual and even socially critical.” In addition, a book, a digital exhibition, and a series Artists and scientists alike Artists selected for the project of programs aimed at different embark on speculative adventures didn’t have to be versed in audiences will be offered. But in search of the intangible, physics. Each, however, had to the process itself, driven by the says Sunny Kerr, Curator of be open to straying from typical artists’ own approaches and Contemporary Art at the Agnes art spaces to learn about particle responses, is what’s most Etherington Art Centre. Drift: physics, which involved travelling valuable, Kerr emphasizes. Art and Dark Matter, now on two kilometres down in an “It’s engaging in this process display at the Agnes, aims to active mine, walking through with the McDonald Institute open up transdisciplinary the drift to the lab, showering and SNOLAB that has been avenues of exchange and to (dust can compromise sensitive really eye-opening and deserves yield new understandings of experiments at SNOLAB), and attention, aside from the our place in the universe. changing into special clothing various outputs.” Broader contexts across art and that reduces dust in the lab. And there’s much more to science – disciplines that don’t From a curator’s perspective, discover. “We’re proceeding in always connect – were vital while what is most thrilling about Drift a way that we can do this again,” organizing the project, says Kerr. is the receptivity to possibility. says Kerr. “A lot of potent Developed by the Agnes “Art and science share a sense new avenues have materialized, Etherington Art Centre, SNOLAB, of adventure, of being open to questions that haven’t been and the Arthur B. McDonald the unknown,” says Kerr. a sustained focus since the Canadian Astroparticle Physics Of the resulting exhibition, Renaissance, when art and science

Research Institute, Drift builds Kerr says he is “pleased with were much closer together.” HOUR MEDIA GROUP (BELOW) BY PHOTOGRAPH on previous initiatives. It is named for the drift, the horizontal tunnel in a mine – in this case, the passageway between a working copper and nickel mine and the clean lab spaces of SNOLAB, an expansion of the original underground facility where McDonald’s Nobel discovery was made and where detection work continues. In July and October 2019, four artists were invited to engage with physicists, chemists, and engineers contributing to the search for dark matter. Nadia Lichtig and Josèfa Ntjam, both based in France; Anne Riley, who lives in Vancouver and is Slavey Dene and a member of Fort Nelson First Nation; and Jol Thoms, from Toronto and based in London, U.K., visited SNOLAB’s surface and underground facilities and toured the Arthur B. McDonald Canadian Astroparticle Physics Research Institute’s research facilities at Queen’s University. An exhibition of resulting artworks runs from Feb. 20 to May 30 at the Agnes and then

will embark on a national tour. XXXXXXXXXX BY PHOTOGRAPH

8 SPRING 2021 The Follow — @queensengineer / The official Twitter account of the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science at Queen’s University.

The Cause Ryan Riordan in Goodes Commons, EDII in Engineering Smith School of Business. ▲

Queen’s Engineering is active on a number of fronts related to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Indigeneity. The faculty recently became one of six participants in IBET: the Indigenous and Black Engineering and Technology PhD project, through which Queen’s Engineering is offering two $25,000 scholarships each year to qualified Black and Indigenous ▼ PhD scholars. And there is great The Ingenuity pride in a student-led initiative to the end of February. The Faculty “what gets financed, gets built,” Lab Research Institute, join the National Society of Black also remains committed to the Dr. Riordan, who is associate where mobile Engineers, accomplished recently “30 by 30” program established professor and Distinguished researcher by alumna Thea Rainford (Sc’20) by Engineers Canada, with a goal Professor of Finance at Smith, Naveena and current student Geneviève of having 30 per cent of newly has noted that to build the low- Pandillapally works with a Norris-Roozmon. The faculty’s licensed engineers be women carbon economy of the future, Clearpath self- commitment to addressing by the year 2030. we need to finance that future. driving robot. issues regarding marginalized He is currently working with communities in STEM is also multiple government agencies to active in youth outreach, with The Catalyst implement the recommendations the recent creation of Black Ryan Riordan’s Globe of the CMP. Youth in STEM, a project for grade-school aged Black youth Changemaker Award run by our Aboriginal Access The Road Map to Engineering program. Smith EDII Strategy & Action Plan Publicly The Gift Smith finance professor Ryan Posted Women in Engineering Riordan has been named a 2021 Changemaker by the Globe and Mail’s Report on Business for his research on financing the transition to a low-carbon economy and his leadership On March 8, Smith School Following the announcement in creating Smith’s Master of Business publicly posted of the Chair for Women in of Financial Innovation and its Equity, Diversity, Inclusion Engineering last October, Technology. This new award and Indigenization Strategy funded by a generous gift from program showcases 50 emerging and Action Plan for 2021 at anonymous alumni, inaugural leaders transforming business smithqueens.com/inclusion. The Chair Dr. Heidi Ploeg has built an today. In his role as the Research strategy is the culmination of online subsection of resources, Director for the Institute for the work of many within Smith tools, and opportunities Sustainable Finance (ISF), Dr. and Queen’s who contributed for women in engineering. Riordan co-authored the Capital to its development and have Concurrent with Dr. Ploeg’s Mobilization Plan for a Canadian been committed to supporting work in this area, a group of Low-Carbon Economy (CMP), a Smith’s EDII efforts. Producing Queen’s engineering students landmark research report released the strategy document is not have convened the first annual in September that provides a the end point – it is what drives Q-WASE (Queen’s Women in concrete, data-driven capital Smith’s efforts on equity, diversity, Applied Science and Engineering) blueprint for Canada’s low-carbon inclusion, and Indigenization

PHOTOGRAPH BY XXXXXXXX BY PHOTOGRAPH conference, which took place at transition. Driven by the idea that and decisions on resources. The

QUEENSU.CA/ALUMNIREVIEW 9 work is challenging and vitally important, and it is driven by the efforts of many and the support of all in the Smith community.

The Development Faculty of Arts and Science to Introduce Minor in Black Studies for Fall 2021

Scholars in the Faculty of Arts and Science are looking forward to developing a new BA Minor/ General in Black Studies with a target launch date of fall 2021. The Minor in Black Studies will create cohesion between existing Black studies courses offered in the Faculty of Arts and ▲ Art Conservation is poised to be for a group of Queen’s Film and Science. These include courses Queen's Film at the leading edge of research on Media students to gain some related to Caribbean political and Media paintings, sculpture, manuscripts, valuable hands-on experience. students had economies, water politics in the opportunity historical artifacts, and more. The arrival of Netflix is the southern Africa, Black sound to get hands- The equipment was selected latest win for Alex Jansen, the studies, African-American history, on experience to provide the widest range of Kingston Film Office and Film Black feminist thought, Black when a Netflix applications and, particularly in Commissioner, who is also a production geographies, and more. This shot scenes in the case of a new Macro-X-Ray lecturer and term adjunct with the Minor in Black Studies has the Kingston. Fluorescence (XRF) scanner, to Department of Film and Media. potential to open fields of study expand the scope for the field of Among the courses that Jansen by introducing Black Studies art conservation beyond Queen’s. teaches is FILM 457/458 – Film as an interdisciplinary minor As the only Macro-XRF scanner and Media Practicum, which to both Black and non-Black of its type in Canada and one connects students with industry scholars, stimulating cross-faculty of only a handful around the partners for experiential learning. conversations and engagement. globe, this piece of equipment When Locke & Key committed will open up a wide range of to Kingston, a special opportunity opportunities to collaborate arose for Queen’s students to work The Upgrade and build relationships with hands-on in a volunteer capacity The New Age of Art researchers and institutions across outside the course. Canada and North America. The close connection with the Conservation Kingston Film Office has been an invaluable source of learning The Partnership opportunities. During the 2019–20 course, all the students worked When Netflix Comes on Murdoch Mysteries when the The reality of art conservation is to Town CBC production shot an episode far more varied and increasingly in downtown Kingston. Some also high-tech these days. Thanks worked on Star Trek: Discovery to a donation last spring from when the science-fiction show the Jarislowsky Foundation for shot at Kingston Penitentiary. the purchase of equipment and Looking ahead, Jansen says that the donation of polarized light When the Netflix production Locke students in the upcoming course microscopy (PLM) equipment by & Key set up in downtown Kingston will have the chance to work on the Isabel & Alfred Bader Fund to shoot scenes for an upcoming two larger productions arriving

at Bader Philanthropies, Queen’s episode, it provided an opportunity in Kingston this year. SOL COTTI BY ILLUSTRATION RIGHT) BERNARD CLARKE; SPOT FILM OFFICE; (TOP LEFT) GARRETT ELLIOTT/KINGSTON (TOP BY PHOTOGRAPHS

10 SPRING 2021 The Display Raising Flags in Solidarity Visitors to Queen’s will see a new display of flags across campus. The flags are hung to show solidarity and to celebrate people of all backgrounds. Here is what each flag means:

The Farewell QAR Editor Retires

The Métis flag The Anishinaabe The Transgender features a white First Nations flag Pride flag features In the summer of 2014, Andrea infinity symbol on is the thunderbird – three colours in Gunn, MPA’07, accepted her dream a blue background. a bird of protection five horizontal job. She had been managing The infinity symbol with the power to stripes. The top represents the bring a cleansing and bottom blue the Alumni Marketing and joining of the rain upon the earth. bands represent Communications office and editing European and The Anishinaabe boys. Two inner the QAR’s “Keeping in Touch” First Nations to are a group of First stripes are pink to section when the magazine’s create the distinct Nations that are represent girls, and editor post became available for culture of the related culturally the centre colour is the first time in 28 years. Métis. The Métis and linguistically white, symbolizing Andrea stepped behind the flag is the oldest and who live in both those who are editor’s desk, determined to Canadian patriotic Canada and the either transitioning, respect the traditions of this flag indigenous to United States. gender neutral or venerable publication, but Canada. don’t identify with either gender. The contribute significantly to it at the flag is symmetrical same time. And contribute she did. so that it always She introduced theme issues appears correct and brought a new graphic focus when flown. to the magazine, overseeing a transition that has augmented exceptional storytelling with The Two Row equally impressive photos, The Six Nations Wampum flag illustrations, and graphics. She Confederacy flag features the Two also ushered the QAR into the displays a wampum Row Wampum belt representing belt, made of digital age, introducing new each of the original white wampum online content to complement five nations. shells with two The LGTBQ2S+ each print edition. She built The first symbol purple rows of Pride flag strong relationships and worked represents the wampum running represents tirelessly to keep alumni feeling Mohawk, followed alongside each the Lesbian, engaged and connected. Her by the Oneida. other. The first row Gay, Bisexual, efforts were recognized with 10 At the centre is symbolizes a canoe Transgender, national and international awards. the Great Tree representing the Queer, and Although Andrea retired at the of Peace, which Haudenosaunee Two-Spirit social end of 2020, her contributions represents the way of life, while movements. It Onondaga. To the the second row is composed will live on, and not just at the left of the tree is symbolizes a ship of six colours QAR. She was an engaged member the symbol for the representing the symbolizing life, of the Queen’s community, Cayuga, followed Dutch way of life. healing, vitality, serving as president of CFRC by the Seneca. The vessels travel serenity, harmony, Radio’s Board of Directors, and The symbols side by side on the and spirit. The on the Queen’s Senate Library are connected, river of life in peace rainbow signifies Committee. signifying the union with one another. a connection Please join us in wishing Andrea of the nations. with nature. all the best in her retirement.

QUEENSU.CA/ALUMNIREVIEW 11 BIG PICTURE

Perfectly simple. A new ventilator gives new hope

BY TOM SPEARS

anadian physicists, led by Nobel laureate modes – full ventilation for patients who can’t Dr. Art McDonald of Queen’s Univer - breathe at all or gentler breathing support. sity, are playing a central part in the The big advantage is simplicity. “We have C lightning-fast development of a new [about] 50 central components in the device,” ventilator design that’s meant to reduce the Dr. McDonald says. Typical hospital ventila- global shortage of these devices during the tors “can have more than 1,000.” That means pandemic. the MVM can be built quickly and in countries that are not industrial leaders. Particle physicists from nine countries – mainly Canada, the United States, and Italy – brought “The new MVM has sensors and computer soft- the Mechanical Ventilator Milano (MVM) from ware to open and close valves as required for the early-concept stage to Health Canada a number of circumstances.” says Dr. Noble. authorization in six months last year. “For instance, the machine must react if a patient who wasn’t breathing on their own There has been a supply problem: Manufactur- starts to breathe a little.” The ventilator rec- ers are making ventilators, but many of them ognizes such changes and reacts in a safe way. “have so many bells and whistles and are applicable to a much broader suite of things. Engineers tracked down parts that are avail - That helps drive up the price – and also the able worldwide and designed the hardware 50 time it takes to build them,” says Dr. Tony based on that availability. Hospital doctors in Number of central Noble, scientific director of Queen’s Arthur B. Lombardy, a region of Italy with high rates of components in the McDonald Institute, which studies astropar- COVID-19 at the time, gave advice from the device. Typical hospital ticle physics. He said the Milano model is front lines on what they needed and tested ventilators often have more than 1,000 like the Second World War jeep: simple and prototypes beginning last April. (The device is designed to be mass-produced. named Milano after the capital of their region.)

The new device was inspired by the Manley “What really impressed me was the fact that ventilator of 1961. The MVM is designed for the people who worked on the project piv - large-scale production in a short time and oted quickly and enthusiastically from what at a limited cost, as it relies on off-the-shelf they were normally doing. They were just components readily available worldwide. so pleased to do something that might be of concrete assistance in the pandemic,” Dr. The first working MVM prototype was built McDonald says. just 10 days after someone suggested it, which is amazingly fast, Dr. McDonald says. There MVM began as the brainchild of Cristian Gal- are now 6,000 MVMs in Ottawa ready for use biati of Princeton University, who was in Milan here or for export to less developed countries. when the pandemic arrived. Besides Queen’s, Canadian groups involved include the Arthur Simple to operate: The ventilator needs only B. McDonald Institute, Canadian Nuclear compressed medical air or oxygen and an Laboratories, TRIUMF in British Columbia, electrical supply to power it; there’s no motor. and SNOLAB. In Canada, the device is built by Controls are simple: the MVM has two main Vexos Inc. of Markham.

12 SPRING 2021 Photograph by Hamin Lee Milano Name of the device, after the city 6,000 in Italy where prototype created Number of ventilators ready to go

9 Number of countries where particle physicists developed the Mechanical Ventilator Milano (MVM) from the early concept stage to 10 days production in Canada last year Time from mere suggestion to prototype

QUEENSU.CA/ALUMNIREVIEW 13 FOR THE RECORD Celina Caesar-Chavannes is the new Senior Advisor, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusivity (EDI) Initiatives in the Faculty of Health Sciences – and the author of a new book, Can You Hear Me Now? How I Found My Voice and Learned to Live with Passion and Purpose. The former Member of Parliament reflects on her past role in politics and her current role at Queen’s – and what she sees for the future.

Tell us a bit about your new role as Queen’s You have spoken before about how you see your Senior Advisor Equity, Diversity, and Inclusivity role in a communications capacity, opening (EDI) Initiatives in the Faculty of Health Sciences. conversations with everyone, not just BIPOC This really is an opportune role for me, and students. How do you go about getting everyone I’m really excited to be at Queen’s. I under- involved, and making everyone feel a part of the stand the role of some of the policies that process? Queen’s has had and how they have really When we talk about equity, it’s not just related disadvantaged students, especially Black stu- to race, it’s related to gender, sexual orienta- dents, through the ban on Black students in tion, ability, religion, socioeconomic status, medicine. Post-2020 there’s an opportunity to and more, and I think everybody could see really leverage this moment and redress some themselves fitting into a particular category. of the inequity that has existed at Queen’s for Most importantly, when we think about students, in particular Black and Indigenous equity, it’s about making sure that people – students, and also to change the culture at no matter what their background – have an Queen’s. My role offers the opportunity to do equal opportunity to not just survive but to both, to really look at that transformation that thrive in an institution. At the same time, is required to shift the culture toward equity if we’re doing a lot of great work at Queen’s and to support students, allowing them to and nobody hears about it, then how good graduate feeling like their optimal selves. is that work? So as much as we want people

14 SPRING 2021 Photograph by O’shane Howard QUEENSU.CA/ALUMNIREVIEW 15 to really feel welcome within the Faculty of Health Sciences’ (FHS) EDI office, we need to do as much communicating as possible, not just within the Queen’s family but outside the Queen’s family too so that this leadership moment for the university is capitalized and becomes a benchmark for how future institutions change and adapt.

Under Principal Deane, the university released a Declaration of Commitment to Address Systemic Racism. And the Principal’s Conversation Report, released last fall, spoke about the need “to address once and for all the intractable problem of racism at Queen’s, and to entrench more broadly and deeply the principles of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Indigeneity (EDII).” Tell us about the things that first struck you when you arrived at Queen’s that you wanted to address immediately. When I think about increasing equity in a workplace, I look at Robert Livingston, who is a professor in the U.S. He’s created a process called the PRESS process. Number one, or the P, is to understand the problem, and Principal Deane’s Conversation Report clearly identified the problem. The R is the root, and he clearly identified the roots of the problem as well. We didn’t just get to this situation where there’s racism on campus, he knew that this has been stemming from a long ▲ history of problems at Queen’s. E is empathy, Now fast-forward, and 2020 happens and everybody’s In her book, and in Principal Deane having these conver- talking about it. So, when I was talking about it two Celina Caesar- sations he actually displayed to leadership years ago, I was too early. Chavannes says she used her what is required in order to address systemic But now we’re in the middle of a pandemic, having con- time in Ottawa racism, which is to have empathy to connect versations about climate change and the global crisis to speak up for with people to listen to their stories and then around refugees, so can we talk about racism now? Can people who were be able to respond. we talk about the disparity that exists between people, not often heard in the House of Then, the first S is strategy, and Principal especially racialized people, that causes them to die Commons. Deane is using this conversation to develop and that causes them to not have the services that they that strategy. And the final S is sacrifice. He’s need? That’s why that title is so important. Can you willing to put the skin in the game, he’s willing hear me now? Let’s have this conversation because we to have resources put in to redress the situa- should have been having it two years ago and now we’re tion, he’s doing the model of what an institu- kind of catching up. We should have been leading in tion should be doing. this domain. I think with Patrick Deane and Dean Philpott in FHS we’re seeing leadership at the highest There’s a scene in your book when you level in Queen’s come together and that’s the describe how it was critical to you that you most important thing. The tone is always set not be considered a “token” in govern- from the top. They may or may not know about ment – and yet, you continued to feel as if the PRESS model from Robert Livingston but you were. Can you tell us a bit about how they’re certainly acting it out. That is how Queen’s can move forward with diversity anti-racists behave. and inclusion initiatives but simultane- “We’re changing ously guard against tokenism? the culture from You have a new book out – Can You Hear Me Now? When you add diversity into an organi- Can you tell us why you chose that title? zation in which the culture of that orga- one that is very I chose the title because we’re not listened nization is toxic, that’s tokenism. You elitist to one to most times. I look back on my time in add diversity, but you know that those that is striving Parliament in 2018, talking about racism individuals will not be supported, they

and being gaslit for it. will not be sustained, and they end up toward equity.” SCOTTI/PMO ADAM BY PHOTOGRAPH

16 SPRING 2021 leaving and you never get to a point of equity. To have an environment where leadership is That is the definition of tokenism, when you ready to act and I can bring my experience of don’t want to actually listen to people. action around equity, that’s just a beautiful What I think Queen’s is doing right now, recipe for transformation and change. because we’re changing the culture from one that is very elitist to one that is striving You start your book by recounting how you had toward equity, is that when we sprinkle that “zero political aspirations” and had always diversity in, we actually have those conver- thought that philanthropy would be the way you AT A GLANCE sations like the principal did with his report. would give back to society. What was it that drew From her years It is very intentional what Queen’s is doing, you to philanthropy, and what advice would you serving as a Member to prevent that tokenistic behaviour, which have for alumni who share that goal? of Parliament to is typically found in organizations that just One of my mantras is “To whom much is her most recent say, “Oh, well, something happened, and we given, much is expected” and I’ve received a role as author, here are a few need to increase the amount of Black people lot to get to here. A lot of people helped me, things you should or Indigenous people in our organization,” a lot of people saw my struggle and pushed know about Celina without actually taking time to figure out me toward being better. Having the capacity Caesar-Chavannes. whether they’ll be able to survive and thrive to give back and having the capacity to create in that organization. What Queen’s is doing that for someone else is critically important became the is having that cultural assessment. Once you for me. In fact, it’s an expectation for me; it first Black person understand where the pain points are, that’s is something that I live by. elected to represent when you can build strategies to make them the federal riding of Whitby, Ont. better and to drive forward the process of Your book deals with gender and how you were making change. treated as a woman in politics giving voice to served as a women’s issues. What is the most important Member of You are an immigrant, coming to Canada from lesson you learned that you would share with Parliament (MP) Grenada when you were a child. Tell us some of women trying to carve out a career today? from 2015 to 2019 the ways the immigrant experience shaped you, I would tell them that their voice matters. and helps or hinders you in your work at Queen’s. That standing in their principles and their was the I think one of the things that it does is it truths and their values matters. I often quote Parliamentary allows me to understand the experiences of a Clayton Christensen, who was a Harvard Secretary to Prime lot of students. Being first in their family to go to professor, and in his essay “How Will You Minister Justin university, being first-generation Canadian, or coming Measure Your Life?” he says it is easier to Trudeau to another country to make life better for themselves stand by your values 100% of the time than to founded ReSolve and the pressure to do well. Some people are coming stand by them 98% of the time. If you stand Research Solutions from poorer countries, some people are escaping con- by your values 100% of the time and you’re on Inc. for which she flict, and some people are well off, but they still hold the right side of history, do not be silenced, was named Business expectations that their family places on them. I’ve had do not cower, do not be afraid, stand boldly Entrepreneur of opportunities to speak with a couple of students here in your truth. the Year in 2012 by who have had challenges, and as a Black woman I think the Toronto Region they get a sense that it might be easier to talk to me Tell us a bit about what you hope the Queen’s of Board of Trade because I understand what they’ve gone through. tomorrow will look like. Tomorrow will have students who feel like named one of the Global 100 Under How did your background in entrepreneurship and in poli- they are part of a university that sees them, 40 Most Influential tics prepare you for the work you are now doing at Queen’s? that welcomes them, that allows them to be People of African My background is in health care-based research man- supported and sustained. I think the sus - Descent in 2017 agement, so there’s a clear line there to FHS. There’s a tained piece is the part that is most import- lot of disparity in medicine and not just for racialized ant to me because I want students to feel like named one of people. I worked with people who had neurological they’re not just brought into Queen’s because Chatelaine conditions, and socioeconomic status plays a huge they’re a paycheque for the university; they’re magazine’s Women role in that. You have people who cannot afford their brought into Queen’s because we actually of the Year in 2019 medications and they have to leave a province because have a responsibility to them. We have a their drugs are not covered under one plan or another. responsibility to shape their minds and to With the leadership of Dean Philpott and Patrick grow them and sustain them while they’re in Deane, we are seeing real action and ownership. They’re this environment. A lot of students are feel- taking responsibility, they’re changing the culture, ing frustrated and feeling like they have to do they’re not afraid to talk about some of their own chal- extra work to make sure that there’s equity, lenges and not afraid to say “Yes, we know what the his- and that’s not their job. Their job is to go to tory of Queen’s is like.” Just to speak up like that, it con- school and do well and graduate. That’s all I trasts with the leadership that I experienced in politics. want them to do.

QUEENSU.CA/ALUMNIREVIEW 17 WORK IN PROGRESS

Dr. Smol’s time machine Queen’s biologist finds key to unlock mysteries of the natural world. BY TOM SPEARS

A Queen’s University biologist is using “ecological time machines” to decipher ancient environmental records left by the natural world in places where no human records exist. To fully understand today’s environment, says John Smol, it’s necessary to learn what that world looked like before we changed it. “Many of the answers [in environmental science] lie in the past. You go to a doctor when you’re sick, and the first thing the doctor does is try to get your medical history,” he says. Dr. Smol has shown that the medical history of an ecosystem exists in sediments at the bottoms of lakes, rivers, and ponds. They preserve a large spectrum of indicators, such as fossilized, single-celled diatoms, which are algae with tough, glass-like outer shells that stay intact in sediment for thousands of years. There are thousands of species of diatoms, identifiable by their distinct shapes, much like seashells. “To fully understand anymore; acid rain damaged their The key is that different types of lakes years ago, and though acid rain diatoms thrive in different condi- today’s environment, has declined, it had stripped away tions – more or less acid in the water, it’s necessary to calcium from the lakes that crayfish for example, or different tempera- need to make their shells. tures, levels of salt, and so on. Learn learn what that world Diatoms are at the heart of much which diatoms lived long ago, and looked like before of Dr. Smol’s work.

you can begin to understand what Collecting them is done by taking past conditions were like. we changed it.” vertical core samples of lake sedi- This ability to look back in time has ment. Dr. Smol and Mr. Duda use an put Dr. Smol into headlines around single cell, Dr. Smol and his team instrument called a corer to retrieve the world for tracing climate change, still study whole ecosystems. For a record of mud and many indica- wildlife, pollutants, and now, with example, he has traced the spread tors, including diatoms, which are Queen’s PhD student Matthew Duda, of a species of smelly, brown algae preserved in layers that can be dated. the curious declines of huge num- in Canadian Shield lakes and the One of their current projects is bers of Canada’s Atlantic seabirds. possible links to climate warming, investigating the suspected decline In an age where biology is heavily and his team found clues as to why of large numbers of one of Canada’s PHOTOGRAPH BY RICHARD CROSSLEY; RICHARD CROSSLEY; BY PHOTOGRAPH focused on the molecules inside a cottage owners don’t see crayfish most common seabirds, the Leach’s PRINT GALLERY/ALAMY ANTIQUA BY ILLUSTRAION

18 SPRING 2021 CAREER HIGHS

Is the founder and co-director of the Queen’s research lab called PEARL, which studies the 1980s. Lakes were acidic and fish long-term were dying, but nobody knew what changes in the natural state of the lakes was. environments “I cut my teeth on acid rain,” he around the says. “You could go to Adirondack world using lake Park, where we did a lot of work, sediments. or to Algonquin Park, and the lakes Showed were acid in the 1980s. But how do that droppings you know they weren’t always acid?” from seabirds In the Adirondacks, they found entering lakes the 1980s diatoms were species that can be used live in very acidic water, but often to track past before about 1930 there were types changes in adapted to much less acidic water. bird populations, And that helped settle the debate as well as a over whether the lakes were natu- source of pollut- rally acidic. ants in parts of the Arctic and Dr. Smol arrived at Queen’s as a elsewhere. young PhD student in the fall of 1979 and now holds the post of Can- Showed ada Research Chair in Environmen- how historical tal Change and is President of the approaches Academy of Science, Royal Society can be used to of Canada. reveal how He has a long list of major awards other wildlife and has done many projects with move nutrients storm-petrel. The bird is tough to of diatoms, forming a pattern for his brother, Jules Blais of the Uni- and pollutants, study: it lives on the open ocean and anyone able to read it. such as Pacific versity of Ottawa. The brothers were comes to land only at nesting time. That’s Dr. Smol’s job. salmon swim- jointly the Royal Canadian Geo- It is also nocturnal. “It’s like a time machine,” he says. ming upstream graphic Society’s environmental Storm-petrels “are very abun- The storm-petrel produces very to spawn. Such scientists of the year in 2008 and dant but they seem to be in decline acidic guano. It both fertilizes the data can be used were awarded the NSERC Brock- everywhere,” Dr. Smol says. “But pond water and makes it acidic. to track long- house Prize for interdisciplinary are they in decline? We have so So, for periods in the past, “when term changes in research in 2014. In 2004, Dr. Smol little data. We need to reconstruct we find acid-type diatoms in large populations won the Gerhard Herzberg Canada past seabird trends. The key lies in numbers and also diatoms indicat- linked to both Gold Medal, Canada’s highest award natural and sediment cores." ing high nutrients [i.e., fertilizer], in science and engineering, given to human impacts. Dr. Smol and Mr. Duda could see then bird populations were higher.” one person a year. the effects of the bird’s droppings Four years of work show the bird’s “Scientists live in a different in freshwater pond sediment on the numbers are dropping severely, and world, a charmed world. They don’t uninhabited Baccalieu Island north the reason is closer to a solution. ever want to retire at 65,” he told the of St. John’s, Nfld., where storm- Dr. Smol developed some of his Ottawa Citizen a dozen years ago. petrels nest by the millions. Drop- techniques decades ago, when acid He recently turned 65 and isn’t pings in turn influence the growth rain posed a frustrating puzzle in retiring.

QUEENSU.CA/ALUMNIREVIEW 19 GETTING COVID’S NUMBER HOW DR. TROY DAY IS USING MATH TO CHART THE COURSE OF THE VIRUS

BY PHOTOGRAPHS BY Tom Spears Jennifer Roberts

20 SPRING 2021 21 WHEN A NEW VARIANT OF COVID-19 RECENTLY APPEARED, WITH THE ABILITY TO SPREAD MUCH FASTER THAN THE ORIGINAL VIRUS, MANY PEOPLE WERE TAKEN BY SURPRISE. BUT NOT TROY DAY.

Dr. Day is an applied mathematician at who forecast which route a major storm is Queen’s University who for years has been likely to take and when it will hit land. studying the evolution of microbes that “We’re all volunteers. We got into it because cause infectious diseases, and he knows we’re interested and want to help.” how quickly these can mutate into new ver- They are somewhat self-directed, he says, sions. His expertise has now made him a key since they all have their own ideas and member of the Ontario COVID-19 Modelling approaches, but there are also questions from Consensus Table, a group of experts trying to Ontario’s policy-makers and public health forecast where the virus is headed next. officials – the people who have to make deci- Very little about this virus’s sudden change sions for the province. is surprising, Dr. Day says. “Given what we “So, should we be testing in schools? If we know about evolution and about infectious test in schools, how should we be testing? diseases, it’s a pretty standard sort of thing to What would be the consequence of that?” have happen. We actually published a paper Other questions could include “anything last April that was exploring what sorts of that is quantitative,” and this is where his things might be expected to happen evolu- combined specialty in mathematics and tionarily,” he says. biology works. This virus has taken a major leap in its abil- “It could be projections of numbers of ity to replicate and spread. cases. It could be projections of how or when Dr. Day developed a model this winter that the hospitals could be overwhelmed. It could showed for the first time that the new variant be projections of how much sequencing do can cause case numbers to double every 10 to we need to do on viruses in order to monitor 15 days, as opposed to 40 days for the origi- the spread of this variant through the popu- nal virus. When he got this result, he was so lation.” (Sequencing is identifying the virus’s surprised that he asked colleagues to check genetic code.) whether he had made a mistake. The pace is relentless. He hadn’t. And his finding showed that the “Really, since it started it has been crazy, new variant has a greater potential to over- and super-crazy again since late fall,” he says. whelm hospitals than the original virus. A Kelowna, B.C., native, Dr. Day did one Ontario has brought together people “from degree in biology, then a master’s in math and all over the place” – virus experts, epidemiol- biology combined, followed by a Queen’s PhD ogists (who study patterns of disease), genet- in math. He taught for three years at the Uni- icists, mathematicians, and more. versity of Toronto before joining Queen’s in Their role is similar to hurricane modellers, 2001. He will be assuming the role as Head of the Department of Mathematics and Statistics at Queen’s this July. He’s 52. So, is he mainly a biologist or a mathematician? The question gets a laugh – “on a good day P. 22 I’m both, on a bad day, I’m neither.” The group’s job is “to come to some sort evidenced by the fact that there’s a continued of consensus on what the modelling says dialogue between the decision-makers and WHEN A VIRUS – models that we ourselves do but … also the modellers. They must be getting some - models that people elsewhere in the world thing out of it,” he says. MUTATES are building.” He wonders what his career will look like in They work together, all on Zoom, either a post-COVID-19 world, when the skills that bringing different skills together on one prob- shot him into demand a year ago “will go back Viruses mutate regularly – lem or taking separate runs at a question and to being not of interest to anybody else.” But some more than others – but comparing results afterward. “I’m impressed infectious diseases are always evolving. it’s normal and natural for all by how well it [Zoom] works, but I’m so sick of “There is going to be no end to them,” he of them. The viruses whose just sitting in the same chair all day.” says. “Habitats are changing. There are going genetic material is made of Results have to be useful to policy-makers, to be new interactions between things. Lyme RNA (including coronaviruses, and the researchers work hard on how to disease is here in Kingston, and all that kind flu, measles, and various cold present their work clearly to people who are of stuff. There will be no shortage of prob - viruses) mutate the most often. not scientists. lems along these lines to work on. One day Mutation happens when a virus reproduces: It sometimes fails “I think it has been really successful, just at a time!” to copy a small part of its RNA accurately, in effect injecting a typo into its genetic code.

The mutated virus is not always more dangerous than the original. Some mutations make it weaker.

Mutations can do two harmful things, however: They can make a virus cause a more severe form of illness or make it better at spreading. The UK variant of COVID-19 is more transmissible than the original strain. Recent research also indicates that this variant causes more severe symptoms. But the good news is that vaccine makers say current vaccines are effective against both the original and later strains.

And there’s a paradox: if a virus becomes too deadly, this can actually reduce its impact because the hosts – meaning us – do not spread a virus efficiently when they are very sick, or dead.

The science journal Nature reported last fall that researchers had found some 12,000 mutations in the virus that causes COVID-19, but “scientists can spot mutations faster than they can make sense of them. Many mutations will have no consequence for the virus’s ability to spread or cause disease.” —Tom Spears

QUEENSU.CA/ALUMNIREVIEW 23 Canada Research Chairs support research excellence, and five emerging researchers at Queen’s University have been awarded new chairs. These new research chairs will provide five years of support to researchers in fields as diverse as plant immunology, humanitarian health equity, and labour practices in African cities. FIVE ON THE RISE

BY TY BURKE Grace Adeniyi- Nigerian workers’ rights were updated in 2004 with a comprehensive labour act that PHOTOGRAPHS BY Ogunyankin enshrined minimum wage, pension, and MAY TRUONG paid leave. Yet workers remain vulnerable. —Youth and Africa “Some women encounter demands to Urban Futures engage in aesthetic labour,” says Dr. Adeniyi- Ogunyankin, “to ‘look good’ and ‘sound right’ to cater to heterosexual desirability as Africa is rising – and urbanizing rap- a way of attracting clients. idly. Over the past decade, domestic Failure to do so could result in ostraciza- businesses have grown and foreign tion at work or employment termination.” ones have set up shop. In cities such as Lagos, There is both extraordinary wealth and Nigeria, modern office towers house banks extreme poverty in Lagos, and Dr. Adeniyi- and corporate offices. Youth are a majority of Ogunyankin is exploring the interplay the population, and there is a need for a criti- between them. cal understanding of the relationship between youth, labour, and urban transformation. “Employers aren’t really held accountable, and workers see themselves as disposable,” says Grace Adeniyi-Ogunyankin, an assistant professor in both the department of geog- “EMPLOYERS raphy and planning and the department of gender studies. AREN’T “I’m interested in how workers are nego- REALLY HELD tiating this and examining the investments they make in themselves.” ACCOUNTABLE, Dr. Adeniyi-Ogunyankin was awarded a AND WORKERS Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council Canada Research Chair to better SEE THEMSELVES understand youth labour practices in Nigeria AS DISPOSABLE.” and possibly Kenya.

24 SPRING 2021 PAGE SLUG HERE

QUEENSU.CA/ALUMNIREVIEW 25 “WE WANT TO PUSH OUR UNDERSTANDING OF GLACIER CHANGE BACK IN TIME.”

“Glaciers make an easy visual for communicating climate science, but a lot of people don’t know what goes into making measure- ments of glacier change,” says Laura Thomson, an assistant professor in the department of geography and planning, who was awarded a Canada Research Chair in integrated glacier monitoring practices. Relative to other regions, Canada’s Arctic glaciers have been understudied, but there are records that can help Dr. Thomson understand changes that have already occurred. “We want to push our understanding of glacier change back in time," she says. “We’ll work with historic photos and maps to study changes over the decades.” Dr. Thomson will continue to manage the glacier monitoring program at White Glacier on Axel Heiberg Island, Nunavut. It’s one of North America’s longest-running monitoring programs, and the opportunity to continue the Laura Thomson work of retiring researchers is what drew Dr. Thomson to become a glaciologist. —Integrated Glacier The study will also collect data about the impact melting glaciers could be having on Monitoring Practices Arctic ecosystems. “We want to understand how glacier runoff could affect the volume and quality of water Satellite images of retreating glaciers reaching the Arctic Ocean. It’s been really are symbols of Earth’s changing cli- rewarding to make connections with ocean- mate. To track glaciers’ retreat, glaci- ographers who study ocean circulation and ologists conduct research in some of the most coastal ecosystems and see our research con- remote locations on the planet. tribute to the work of others.”

26 SPRING 2021 “WHEN SEXUAL VIOLENCE IS USED AS A WAR TACTIC, WOMEN ARE DISPROPORTION- ATELY TARGETED.”

Stéfanie von Hlatky —Gender, Security and the Armed Forces

Women experience war differently than men do, and their full partici- pation in peace and security efforts is critical to forging lasting peace. In October 2000, the United Nations Secu- rity Council passed Resolution 1325, which counterinsurgency, capacity building, or recognizes the important role women have nation building by only talking to half the in preventing and resolving conflicts. The population. Inclusive security delivers better Women, Peace, and Security Agenda grew results, but it is a slow process of change.” out of that resolution and, 20 years later, has An associate professor in the department of catalyzed changes in how peace and security political studies, Dr. von Hlatky was awarded organizations approach conflicts. But each a Canada Research Chair in gender, security, organization has charted its own path. and the armed forces. She will examine how “Traditional conflict resolution didn’t prop- organizations such as NATO, the UN, and erly acknowledge how war was experienced the European Union have implemented the differently,” says Dr. Stéfanie von Hlatky. Women, Peace, and Security Agenda. “When sexual violence is used as a war tac- “They have adopted new norms, following tic, women are disproportionately targeted, the UN’s lead. There is now more female lead- while men represent the majority of combat ership and gender-based analysis to guide deaths. These different experiences should programming,” says Dr. von Hlatky. inform conflict analysis and response. Yet in “There is recognition that women weren’t the past, interactions between multinational being included, and it’s been a revolutionary contingents and host societies were often lim- shift in how these organizations do business, ited to male members of the military talking recruit, and deploy resources. This project to male members of local security forces or will take stock of this shift and compare how host communities,” she says. “You can’t do organizations have rolled out this agenda.”

QUEENSU.CA/ALUMNIREVIEW 27 Jacqueline Monaghan —Plant Immunology

Plant diseases can be catastrophic for farmers. Like drought or severe weather, pathogens can destroy an entire season’s crop. “It is an Achilles heel of major agricultural production,” says Dr. Jacqueline Monaghan, an assistant professor in the department of biology. “Monoculture farming allows for increased efficiency and production, but you have a field of genetically identical material that can easily be overcome by disease. Micro - bial pathogens can evolve much faster than plants, and adapt more easily to environmental changes. Fields with a single crop are a kind of sitting target.” Dr. Monaghan was awarded a Natural Sci- ences and Engineering Research Council Canada Research Chair in plant immunology to research how plants defend themselves against pathogens. “All organisms battle pathogens every day,” she says. “We study genes involved in the immune responses of plants.” Understanding these processes at a cellular level could enable the use of genetic editing tools or molecular breeding to modify plant genomes precisely so they produce the pro- teins necessary to fight disease. This could help prevent crop failures and reduce the need for pesticides that currently keep pathogens at bay. “We want to understand how cells respond to pathogens. We study how immune pro - teins work together to clear infection,” says Dr. Monaghan.

“ALL ORGANISMS BATTLE PATHOGENS EVERY DAY. WE STUDY GENES INVOLVED IN THE IMMUNE RESPONSES OF PLANTS.”

28 SPRING 2021 Photograph (above) by Johnny C.Y. Lam “I WANT TO BRING RIGOUR TO COLLECTING EVIDENCE THAT CAN INFORM POLICIES AND PROGRAMS THAT AFFECT WOMEN AND CHILDREN.”

Susan Bartels —Humanitarian Health Equity

More than 80 million people have been displaced by conflict, insecurity, and natural disasters. That’s roughly one of every 100 people on Earth. Most displaced people are women and children, and Dr. Susan Bartels has been awarded a Canadian Institutes of Health Research Can- ada Research Chair in humanitarian health equity to study the social determinants of health for these groups. “This type of research often takes place in difficult socioeconomic and geopolitical situations with limited infrastructure,” says Dr. Bartels, a practising physician and associate professor in the department of emergency medicine. “Traditional methods of data collection can take too long and can be methodolog- ically challenging in these contexts. I want to bring rigour to collecting evidence that can inform policies and programs for affected women and children. To do that, we need to use innovative methods.” Dr. Bartels has ongoing projects in Leba- non, Haiti, and the Democratic Republic of Congo and will also study the displacement of Venezuelans across three countries in Latin America. “There can be a tendency to focus on how many refugees have been resettled, but there are millions of others left in very challenging situations, and they don’t get emphasized as much,” says Dr. Bartels. “When people live in precarious circumstances, without access to health care and education, and you layer forced displacement and insecurity on top of that, it greatly exac- erbates health risks. Mitigating those risks is the focus of my research.”

QUEENSU.CA/ALUMNIREVIEW 29 30 SPRING 2021 CRISIS

TIFF MACKLEM’S JOB IS TO HELP STEER THE COUNTRY’S ECONOMY DURING

THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. FORTUNATELY FOR CANADIANS,

THIS ISN’T HIS FIRST TIME TRYING TO SAVE THE ECONOMY DURING A GLOBAL CRISIS. MANAGEMENT

BY MICHAEL ONESI

Photographs by Rémi Thériault

QUEENSU.CA/ALUMNIREVIEWP. 3131 WHEN TIFF MACKLEM (ARTSCI’83) STARTED global, affecting literally every person in the world. Mr. Macklem’s HIS NEW JOB AS experiences in 2008–09 taught him the critical importance of collaborating with both Canadian and international officials, GOVERNOR OF THE weighing the risks of various policy options, and listening to diverse opinions to come up with the best approach. BANK OF CANADA IN Fellow Queen’s alumnus David Dodge (Arts’65, LLD’02) knows exactly what Mr. Macklem is going through. Mr. Dodge served JUNE 2020, as the Bank of Canada governor from 2001 to 2008 and was on IT WAS TWO a plane flying home from Switzerland in 2001 when the Sept. 11 terror attacks happened. MONTHS AFTER Mr. Dodge feels Mr. Macklem is doing a great job leading the bank through this challenging time. THE COUNTRY WAS “The fact that he has spent the last six years or so in Toronto with the business community means he has a very good and open line of communication with the financial markets, which is SHUT DOWN BY THE always helpful,” says Mr. Dodge, referring to Mr. Macklem’s term as dean of the Rotman School of Management before taking the COVID-19 PANDEMIC. governor’s job. The Governor of the Bank of Canada has been described as the Forget about a honeymoon period to get used third-most important economic figure in government, behind to the job. The world was, and still is, in crisis. only the federal minister of finance and the prime minister. So While doctors, nurses, and scientists it might come as a surprise that when Mr. Macklem first came work to get vaccines into the arms of Cana- to Queen’s in 1979, he had no idea economics was going to be a dians, Mr. Macklem is focused on people’s part of his future. wallets and employment. The main role of He started in geography while taking the odd economics course. the central bank, according to the Bank of He soon found himself drawn to economics because he liked the Canada Act, is “to promote the economic and way it changed his perspective and made him think differently. financial welfare of Canada,” which is why He cites an example of how rent control was used because of Mr. Macklem is trying to steer the economy high inflation in the 1970s. As a student renting an apartment, he toward a resurgence. thought rent control was good. But when he went to his econom- “The sooner we beat this virus, the sooner ics class, they discussed how capping rent would cause people large parts of our economy that have been to build fewer apartments, which would reduce the supply of badly affected can heal and start creating jobs available places to live. again,” he says. “Economics really broadened the way I was thinking,” Mr. Normal activities such as eating in restau- Macklem says. rants, shopping in malls, and taking vacations “It makes you think beyond the direct and obvious conse - will hopefully resume in a few months. That’s quences and think about what might be the unintended conse- why Mr. Macklem is predicting strong growth quences of a policy.” in the second half of 2021 and early 2022, Soon he was reading C.D. Howe Institute policy papers and although a complete recovery to pre-COVID-19 books by now-retired Queen’s economics professor Tom Courch- economic conditions will take some time. ene. By fourth year, he took only economics courses to have This isn’t Mr. Macklem’s first experience enough credits to graduate as an economics major and then went helping the economy during a global crisis. on to earn a master’s degree and a PhD from Western University. He was Canada’s associate deputy minister The only thing more important to Mr. Macklem than discov- of finance (under Minister Jim Flaherty) in ering a love for economics while at Queen’s was starting to date 2008–09, when economic leaders around the world feared the global financial system was in danger of collapsing. (The collapse didn’t happen, but it was the deepest global reces- sion we’d seen since the Great Depression BEAT THIS VIRUS, of the 1930s.) “THE SOONER WE Mr. Macklem was the top international official in the Department of Finance at the THE SOONER LARGE PARTS OF time and learned some valuable lessons. “In CAN HEAL a crisis you have to act quickly and you have OUR ECONOMY AND to be bold,” he says. “You need to try [to] over- START CREATING JOBS AGAIN. whelm the crisis.” The pandemic has moved much faster than the 2008–09 financial crisis and is more 32 SPRING 2021 ” THE QUEEN’S CONNECTION An important part of economics is interpreting data and crunching numbers. Here are some stats that will make alumni proud:

Of 10 governors in the Bank of Canada’s 87-year history; 40 per cent of them have been Queen’s graduates.

Three out of the last four Bank of Canada governors are alumni.

Artsci’83 grad Tiff Macklem is the most recent grad who is part of this impressive run. Mr. Macklem replaced Stephen Poloz (Artsci’78), who served from 2013 to 2020. Before David Dodge (Arts’65, LLD’02) served his term as Queen’s Chancellor from 2008 to 2014, he ran the bank for seven years, stepping down in January 2008. A fourth alumnus, Gerald Bouey (BA’48, LLD’81), was in charge for 14 years from 1973 to 1987.

So, why do so many Queen’s grads become governors? Mr. Dodge and Mr. Macklem point to the economics department’s connections to Ottawa in the 1960s, ’70s, and ’80s, when many professors were advising politicians and high-level civil servants. “I do think in that era Queen’s had a strong economics department with a lot of people thinking deeply about Rosemary Cuthbertson (Com’83). The two were married three economic policy. It was very connected years after graduating. They have been together for more than to Ottawa,” says Mr. Macklem. “I am three decades now and have three children. sure that rubbed off on all of us.” Two of their children – Holly Macklem (Sc’17) and Richard The economics department was also Macklem (Artsci’13) – graduated from Queen’s, continuing the unique in that lessons went beyond the family’s long history with the university. Tiff’s father (Dick Mack- statistics and formulas that were taught lem, Com’52) and uncle (Peter Macklem, BA’53) are among his in textbooks. There was a stronger focus on the real-world impacts of economic many relatives who also called themselves Gaels. policies compared to other universities. Dick and Peter grew up in Kingston near campus at 18 Barrie St. “If you are trying to explain why three Dick eventually moved to Montreal (where Tiff was raised), and of us from the Queen’s economics Peter went on to a groundbreaking medical career that saw him department from the 1960s, ’70s, and posthumously inducted into the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame. early ’80s became governors, you have to When Dick and Peter’s mother, Katherine Bermingham Mack- put it down to there was a policy activism lem, passed away in 1993, the family donated the house to Queen’s, at Queen’s that was really quite strong,” and it is now the administrative home for the Faculty of Health says Mr. Dodge. “[The lessons were] Sciences. Tiff Macklem is proud that his grandmother’s home, more engaging and less academic.” which he used to visit as a child, is now a part of the university. “My uncle was a physician, so my grandmother had a soft spot for the medical school,” he says. “The idea that [Health Sciences Dean Dr. Jane Philpott] is in her house would make her very happy. I just think Queen’s has done so much for our family. It’s a wonderful feeling to give back.” P. 3333

“This was something I could do where I felt I was “ accomplishing something. Dr. Margaret Gibson, MD’76, Queen’s alumna and legacy donor

Doing something tangible, making a difference — this was Dr. Gibson’s motivation to study medicine at Queen’s. And it has been the guiding force behind her decision to include a gift in her will to create an annual lecture on Mental Health of our Children, named in her parents’ memory. It also inspired her to learn how to hook rugs like the one she presented to the university. queensu.ca/alumni/giftplanning CAREER — BOOKS — CLASS NOTES AND MORE OFF CAMPUS

First Up Dr. Idara Edem, Neurosurgeon

Neurosurgeon Idara Edem, Meds’13, has always been obsessed with the complex nature of the brain. In high school, she knew she wanted a career that involved studying one of the body’s most mysterious organs. Today, Dr. Edem, who emigrated from Nigeria when she was 13 years old, has overcome many barriers to (maybe) make medical history – she might be Canada’s first Black female neurosurgeon. In the first of a semi-regular series, Dr. Edem tells us about her first job – a long way from the operating room but one of the many steps that led her to where she is today.

I had my first job when I had just started high school, so maybe 13 or 14, and I was a tutor. I started with a few family friends who lived in the area – basically they’d come to my house and I’d do homework with them. I taught math, English, biology, and chemistry for something like $10 an hour. Then word spread and I got more and more students. Soon I was pretty busy. I remember there was this one kid who was very intelligent but not that great at applying himself; he just

Photograph by Sarah Rice QUEENSU.CA/ALUMNIREVIEW 35 FIRST UP THE BACKSTORY

couldn’t seem to sit down to do the work. His grades dropped and his parents were concerned. They weren’t well-to-do enough for con- sistent outside-of-school education, so they hired me instead, which actually turned out great because we were able to build a good rapport over time that I don’t think would have happened if we had not been close in age. Because he felt comfortable with me, he could apply himself and pay attention better. It was so rewarding to me because I already knew he was smart and knew the work – he just didn’t feel like doing it. Maybe he wasn’t getting the attention he wanted or he wasn’t feeling ful - filled, because as soon as we fixed that, his grades improved immediately and then even more over time. During my undergraduate years, I joined a volunteer tutoring program called Project Universal Minds and continued to grow the skills in myself and impart skills in others. I always liked the idea of education and learning and passing on knowledge. I was inspired by my Jennifer teachers, who took the time with me. Turliuk, I grew up in Nigeria and had great Com’10 teachers who indulged my wide array of interests and went out of their way to find books that might interest me or that I wanted to read. Out of the Shadows In high school, it was my civics teacher who introduced me to liter- Queen's alumna turned job-shadowing into a blueprint ature, and we developed a rapport for finding a career — and a book. that lasted outside the classroom. So it was a natural extension of that to want to do the same for others. It hen Jennifer Turliuk, Com’10, reflects on her life journey, she thinks always stood out to me how much about the wisdom Steve Jobs shared in his 2005 Stanford commence- of a difference you can make in ment speech: “You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can people’s lives when you invest in W only connect them looking backward.” them. It goes beyond the math or When Jennifer took the time to connect her own dots, she realized there chemistry itself; it’s important to was a book in them. notice what makes them tick, how Her journey started early, when a Harry Potter website she coded in ele- they learn both inside and out of the mentary school went viral after being featured in a children’s magazine. classroom, how they take in knowl- By the time she graduated from Queen’s, Jennifer’s interests had evolved edge of their world and process their and she was ready to enter the corporate world. Less than a year into her environment, and how it affects first job, though, she realized that world wasn’t for her. In search of a new their behaviour. This process was start, she entered a competition to job-shadow a Silicon Valley angel inves- so interesting to me, and still is in tor. She was so confident in her chances of winning that she quit her job my work as a neurosurgeon, which and moved to California. “I didn’t win,” she says, “but I realized that I still is another extension of this process. wanted to shadow people.” I want to grow these skills in myself For the next six months, Jennifer lived in the shadows, job-shadowing and impart them to others. everyone from Stanford professors to the founders of Kiva and Airbnb.

—As told to Rosemary Counter “I was figuring out what I wanted to do and what kind of environment I KLASSEN ASHLEY BY PHOTOGRAPHS

36 SPRING 2021 BOOKMARKS

wanted to do it in,” she says. New content from faculty After deciding that she preferred small for-profit companies, Jen - and alumni nifer set out to start one of her own. In 2012 she attended NASA’s POUND ON!! Singularity University, where she n the summer of 1859, British and American troops stood at the brink of war over a small island in the pacific northwest, each claiming sovereignty THE over the region in a military standoff that has become known as the “Pig IWar” of San Juan Island. In the midst of the dispute sat a Hudson’s Bay learned about using exponential Company farm, where seventeen year-old Flora Ross, the Métis daughter (Anishinaabe/Scottish) of a prominent company family, nursed a farmworker’s dying wife. The American instigator of the military incursion, Paul K. Hubbs, Jr., ART courted Flora throughout the standoff, and they were married as the two nations announced a peaceful joint occupation agreement. Their marriage was celebrated in newspapers as a second joint occupation of the island. But the marriage didn’t technologies such as 3D-printing turn out to be peaceful, as Hubbs soon turned abusive and kept a mistress on a OF neighboring island. To escape, Flora had to overcome the lack of civil divorce laws in the colony of their marriage, the political power of her father-in-law in Washington Territory, and societal prejudices against a young Métis woman to help solve some of the world’s LOSING struggling to regain her independence and build a career as a nurse. most pressing challenges. “I chose IT A MEMOIR OF GRIEF AND ADDICTION to focus on education,” she says, IN HER OWN FOOTSTEPS is written in novel form, but tells the true story of Flora Amelia Ross—a pioneer in the B.C. healthcare industry—and her struggle for identity and independence, to the extent surviving documents permit. It is B.C. history told through the eyes of a young Métis woman caught between two communities, and caught between two nations.

USD $18.99 CAD $23.99 FROM THE GLASS SLIPPER “because if you help people level www.butterwortbooks.com www.djrichardson.ca www.floraross.com TO THE GLASS CEILING Tales of Alpha Women Chasing the Fairytale ROSEMARY KEEVIL Cover design by www.covetdesign.ca up their educations, you empower ROBIN ROTENBERG them to help in other areas as well.” Remembering how empowering 01 02 03 04 her childhood coding experience had been, she started MakerKids, Rosemary Roy M. D.J. (Dave) Robin a Toronto-based company that is Keevil, Artsci’77, Paul, Artsci’85, Richardson, Rotenberg, inspiring thousands of kids around is the author (Th.D., Golden Artsci’86 Artsci’79, the world to become entrepreneurs of Losing It: State School of (JD), is the Ed’80 (Law, and innovators through virtual A Memoir Theology), shines author of In Her Western) is the of Grief and a spotlight Own Footsteps: author of Pound camps, programs, and parties. Addiction. When on Jonathan Flora Ross and On!! From the As she connected the dots that her brother dies Edwards, the Her Struggle Glass Slipper brought her to MakerKids, Jennifer of AIDS and her American for Identity and to the Glass realized she had created a viable husband dies revivalist Independence Ceiling. This process that could help people find of cancer in activist-preacher in the Colonial book explores satisfying careers quickly. “It was the same year, and theologian West, a novel real ways to all about how to go from a place Rosemary is who brought based on a true effect change, of overwhelm with thousands of left on her own Christianity to story. Flora Ross lead with deter- possibilities to a place of knowing with two young the Mohican worked as a mination, and what makes the most sense for daughters and (Algonquin) nurse in the support women antsy addiction population in midst of the in the workplace. you,” she says. demons dancing Stockbridge, British/U.S. “Pig Featuring a col- Her realization led her to write an in her head. This Massachusetts, War” of 1859, lection of stories article for Forbes and then expand it is the nucleus and advocated married its from female trail- into a book, How to Figure Out What of The Art of for their rights American insti- blazers at the top to Do With Your Life (Next), released Losing It: a young at the same gator, and then of their game in a by Dundurn Press in March. mother jerking time. Jonathan had to find the variety of indus- “The productivity crisis in North from emergency Edwards and means to escape tries, “Pound America is a trillion-dollar crisis, to emergency as the Stockbridge an abusive mar- On!!” defines and it’s directly attributed to dis- the men in her Mohican Indians: riage. The book what it means satisfaction at work,” Jennifer life drop dead His Mission began as a 1985 to be an alpha around her; a and Sermons Queen's history woman and says. “My hope is to move the nee- high-functioning includes a history research paper offers a road dle – even slightly – so more peo- radio show host of the Mohican on the San Juan map on how to ple can find satisfying work, and waging war with peoples and a Island boundary become one. that way we can have more people her addictions biography of dispute. The tackling the world’s grand chal - while trying to Edwards, as well discovery of lenges with their full potential.” raise her two lit- as an analysis Flora’s wedding — By Deborah Melman-Clement tle girls who just of his sermons, announcement lost their daddy; most of which in an 1859 news- and finally, a had not yet been paper triggered stint in rehab published. a need to view and sobriety that these events ushers in a fresh of west coast brand of chaos history through instead of the Flora’s eyes. This tranquility her is the first of a family so desper- planned trilogy ately needs. about her life.

QUEENSU.CA/ALUMNIREVIEW 37 IF THESE WALLS COULD TALK

238 VICTORIA STREET

BUILDING Two-storey triplex STYLE Suburban modernist

TOPHER LAMM (ARTSCI’14) Lived there from 2013 to 2014

KELSEY GOODINE (ARTSCI’14) Lived there from 2012 to 2014

Victoria Street, just west of the Queen’s coming home from the bar at night that you University campus, is a neighbourhood of didn’t stagger into the wrong triplex,” says Our mostly gracious pre-war homes, two- and Goodine. three-storey brick-and-frame structures with The accommodations were snug. Lamm Place steep-pitched roofs and welcoming verandas. (Artsci’14) remembers the living room being And then there is 238 Victoria. “about half the length of a Leonard (Dining The stories of University “It looks like a red brick box,” says Kelsey Hall) table.” Just big enough to accommodate District houses, as Goodine (Artsci’14), who spent two years in the the floral pink couch donated by Goodine’s basement apartment with two roommates. The nana and a battered leather love seat they told by the alumni who mid-century triplex – “Let’s call it a Wood- picked up on the streets of the student ghetto. lived in them. stock baby,” says Topher Lamm, one of those Each of the three bedrooms could fit just roommates for the second year – is matched by a single bed and a small dresser/nightstand. BY TONY ATHERTON identical red brick boxes on either side. “I built my stuff up vertically,” says Lamm. “You had to be careful when you were “I’d have my dresser, and then I’d have my

38 SPRING 2021 Illustration by Wendy Treverton FROM THE QUAA

little guitar amp on top of that, and then I’d A new light have my record player on top of that, and then … on top of that would be all my records.” Change is a powerful symbol. With a Another roommate who valued his sleeping new logo and a new magazine, we’re comfort above all else installed a queen-sized bringing in a new era for all alumni. bed that took up the entire room, says Goo- dine. Everything else he owned was piled on top of the bed. “In that place you didn’t have your own space unless you were in your really small he Queen’s University tricolour has been a symbol of pride bedroom,” she says. And even then, privacy for our alumni for generations. The blue, gold, and red was at a premium, which led to some inter- waves proudly from our campus, flies high above Home- esting arrangements, she adds. T coming, and is a part of the Queen’s experience that all of “On more than one occasion, I’d come home us carry with us when we graduate. and (Topher) would have a visitor just sitting For these reasons, we undertook the redesign of our Queen’s outside his (basement) window … because alumni logo, a tricolour flag, very seriously. And, after much there was more room outside than inside.” debate and exploration, we are very excited to introduce it to Sometimes, says Lamm, someone enter- our Queen’s community. taining at the apartment would send out “a It’s worth noting that the last time we updated our logo was frantic text to his roommates saying, ‘Why in 2007, when we were just starting to use iPhones and many don’t you stay at campus tonight and I’ll buy social-media platforms were in their infancy, and we could not you coffee in the morning.’” have conceived of the pandemic that changed our world this past What the triplex lacked in square footage, it year. In short, our world has changed, and so has Queen’s. made up for in location. It was central but rel- As you know, over the past few years – and especially under the atively quiet, unlike some other streets where leadership of Principal Patrick Deane – the university has been student housing predominated. The three taking steps, with the input of alumni, to confront elements of buildings were filled with students, but the the past and chart a new course for the future. It’s a future that rest of the neighbourhood was mixed, with includes everyone and that connects Queen’s to the world around families and seniors. us. This new logo is intended to reflect the best of “It was quick to get to your classes; it was Queen’s tradition while also pushing us forward, quick to get to the bar; it was quick to get to into an even brighter tomorrow. parties or anything else … but you didn’t feel The new logo coincides with the advent of a new like you were living on Aberdeen Street, where Queen’s Alumni Review, a publication that brings us you couldn’t go home and study or go to sleep back to the campus we all called home. It’s a place if you needed to,” says Goodine. to share stories, reconnect with each other, and Lamm and Goodine figure they were fated read the latest news. You’ll notice that it features to be roommates after meeting in a history a bolder design, better reflects our diverse alumni community, seminar at the end of Frosh Week. and puts all of us in a new light. “I was just doodling on my paper to try and Change is itself a powerful symbol, and sometimes we like to stay awake,“ says Goodine. “I was walking out hold on to the way things were. It’s my hope, and the hope of of class, and there was Topher right beside me the QUAA, that we have held on to what makes our logo and making some sort of quip about my drawings magazine so special. But I also believe that the changes we have and my artistic ability, and I thought, ‘Yup, made have helped us move forward in ways that are not only this is my friend.’” meaningful to our alumni but that also show where we stand They each tried other off-campus housing – on the issues that matter most. For each of us, the most critical Goodine shared an apartment with a colony of issues will be different – but we hope you will find the common ants, and Lamm was so far off campus no one ground that unites us in these new approaches to our logo and wanted to visit him – but they were delighted the Alumni Review. to be roommates for the last year of their honours programs. Goodine is a teacher now in Swift Current, Sask., while Lamm practises law in Toronto, but they still connect whenever they can. And Sincerely, when they do, they inevitably get the giggles RICO GARCIA, PRESIDENT, QUAA about that red brick box on Victoria Street.

Tell us about the University District house you lived in and the memories you made [email protected]

QUEENSU.CA/ALUMNIREVIEW 39 HOW I GOT HERE

Using statistics from the NHL, he was deter- The edge mined to develop his own analytics, and out of that fascination came ExtraSkater.com, which was launched in 2013. Early days saw of hockey’s the website averaging one view per day. Soon, though, daily traffic grew to 10,000. He began new frontier to receive positive feedback, first from like- minded fans, then from player agents and How one fan’s passion for analytics hockey writers – and soon from NHL clubs. turned his hobby into a top job Emboldened in the lead-up to the 2014–15 with the Toronto Maple Leafs season, he decided to expand the website and include analysis of junior players across Canada. That summer he batted around a BY SCOTT CRUIKSHANK few ideas with Victor Carneiro, scout for the Ontario Hockey League’s Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. Carneiro brought Metcalf’s plans to the attention of Kyle Dubas, the Greyhounds’ general manager, who had a productive exchange he goal wasn’t to land a hockey job. Rather, Darryl with Metcalf about the upside of underlying Metcalf was driven by the need to satisfy his own metrics and their rightful place in hockey curiosity. performance measurement. The timing was T By day he worked for a Toronto-based mar- fortuitous. Just a couple of weeks later, the keting and technology firm. But his spare time was Leafs hired Dubas as their assistant general devoted to the website he created to fill a void – manager, and shortly after, Dubas asked Met- ExtraSkater.com, an online hobby horse that explored calf, then 26, to come aboard as part of their the use of advanced statistics in the assessment of new analytics department. National Hockey League players. “It was a big decision because, obviously, I “The primary audience was really just myself,” Met- hadn’t had any realistic [thoughts] of working calf says. “I was building something that I had wanted within hockey – it was just something I was to see.” doing for fun,” says Metcalf. So, how did that curiosity turn into a top hockey job? Shaking the shock, he shuttered the web- “[The journey is] definitely remarkable if I were to site and joined the Leafs in 2014. Dubas is step back and look at it from a broader perspective,” he now general manager of the team and Met- says. “I can’t say that I saw any of this coming.” calf is officially the special assistant to the Which is what makes it such a wonderful story. general manager. On the team’s website is a Metcalf’s unprecedented road to the Leafs’ front office list of its brass – tellingly, only four names began in Toronto, where he grew up playing hockey and are above Metcalf’s. baseball. He adored the Leafs, admiring the heroics of The wave of interest in the emerging field Gary Roberts and Mats Sundin in the ’90s and early of advanced statistics was significant. The 2000s. But, perhaps hinting at his tendency to delve hockey world had been somewhat divided, deeper, he also appreciated the contributions of lesser with the old guard relying on observation to players such as Dmitri Yushkevich and Jason Smith. make decisions and these analytics upstarts At Queen’s University, intrigued by math and science brandishing their newfangled metrics. Now, classes, he pursued a degree in chemical engineering. you won’t find an NHL team that doesn’t Graduating in 2009, he was hired on at Yfactor Inc. depend on its own stats crunchers. Continuing to follow sports closely, Metcalf noticed Metcalf is an integral part of that new fron- the “data evolution” in baseball. The Moneyball tier. In 2016, Metcalf was promoted to director approach, detailed by the book and movie of the same of hockey research and development. He cur- name, had thrust analytics into the mainstream. rently oversees an advanced stats department “That helped me to think about hockey in a different of eight full-time employees. Their handiwork way,” says Metcalf, “and wonder if there were things we influences all branches of the Leafs’ hockey could learn about hockey and how it’s played from the operation – scouts, coaches, managers. data, like people were doing in baseball.” “My job is to help us improve our deci - Were there better ways to measure performance? sion-making across the organization,” says Were there underlying indicators beyond point totals Metcalf, 33. “The best part of my job – and and plus-minus ratings? Other sharp-pencilled keen- probably the best part of any job – is being able ers were on the same path, tracking variables such as to work with a team of people who you like and shots taken, puck possession, and zone time. appreciate to make a real impact.”

40 SPRING 2021 Photograph by Finn O'Hara QUEENSU.CA/ALUMNIREVIEW 41 CLASS NOTES

▲ and Jennifer, along with her Crabapple classmates, was able to graduate trees bursting this past fall. Well done, everyone!” into bloom 1960s outside Fleming Hall are always a sign that spring has arrived on Sue (Allcock) Iaboni campus. 1970s and Peter Iaboni Arts’68 / Arts/PHE’70 Sue and Peter are delighted to announce that their daughter, Eleanor Daley Jennifer Eaman, recently Mus’78 graduated from the nurse Eleanor was honoured by the practitioner program at Queen’s. Ontario Arts Foundation Sue writes, “Jennifer has university (OAF) with its prestigious Louis degrees from both Western and Applebaum Composers Award Ryerson, but she finally ‘saw in December. The award the light’ and joined the ranks of recognizes excellence for a body Queen’s students. She was of work in the field of composition especially happy with her decision for young people. Eleanor is the WRITE TO US because many other universities long-time director of music at The Queen’s Alumni Review that offer this program had to Fairlawn Avenue United Church in welcomes comments at postpone the practicum Toronto, where she conducts three [email protected]. All comments may be edited for requirement due to lack of choirs. She received her BMus clarity, civility, and length. placement opportunities during from Queen’s organ performance the pandemic. Queen’s, however, and also holds diplomas in found placements for all of both organ and piano from the @queensureview the nurse practitioner students, Royal Conservatory of Music

42 SPRING 2021 recognizing their intelligence world during the past 40-plus and potential; leading them years. Tarek has extensive to explore and grow musically.” experience in international and humanitarian work, leading Derek Wilson official missions in more than Sc’71 20 countries in Africa, the Derek was awarded the Peter Middle East, Asia, Southeast Asia, Hulbert Accessibility Award by and Europe. With the UN World the City of Port Moody, B.C., Food Programme, he worked in December. This award honours at UN headquarters before being an individual or group doing assigned to senior positions at exceptional work in removing missions in Liberia, Afghanistan, barriers for individuals with Sudan, Iraq, and East Timor. disabilities. Derek was recognized for his many years of advocating Stephen Kouri for the accessibility needs of Artsci’84 residents in all parts of the city, Stephen retired from the consumer particularly in Glenayre, where packaged goods industry in he helped to bring about a number November after almost 35 years of improvements – such as curb in marketing and sales roles letdowns, sidewalk installations, at Unilever and Smucker. He and street lighting – that have celebrated his retirement made the neighbourhood more online with a number of Queen’s walkable and safe. From 2014 to friends and old roommates in 2020, Derek organized and January. Stephen lives in Toronto delivered the Handy Helper minor with his wife Jill (Roberts), home repair program for clients Com’84. Stephen managed the QP of the United Way’s Better at Home in 1984 and is looking to organize program. Home repairs completed a staff reunion when that becomes through this program included the possible. He can be reached at in Toronto and Trinity College installation of grab bars, hand-held [email protected]. in England. She has more than 150 shower heads, and single-handle published choral compositions faucets in bathrooms and kitchens and is commissioned extensively to assist clients with disabilities. throughout North America. Included in her unpublished 1990s choral works are dozens of anthems, 12 Missae Breves, four pageants, and hundreds 1980s of descants, introits, and psalm Jamil Mawji settings. Her compositions Com’94, MIR’95 have been widely performed, Jamil is co-founder of National recorded, and aired throughout Annette Saulnier Bergeron Care Group, an adult specialist care North America, Great Britain, Sc’87 company which is now the largest Europe, South Africa, and Asia. Annette recently received Tarek Elguindi privately owned provider in The OAF jury was unanimous the Governor General’s Sovereign has led official the U.K. His company was recently in its choice, stating: “A prolific Medal for Volunteership. missions in more recognized by the Sunday Times composer in many realms, In January, she began serving as than 20 countries Virgin Atlantic Fast Track 100 as Eleanor Daley’s dedication to chair of the board of the Electrical in Africa, the one of the top three fastest growing her work with young people Safety Authority (Ontario). Middle East, Asia, companies nationally. Jamil and includes music for performance Southeast Asia, his colleague, Faisal Lalani, were by, education of, and pure Tarek Elguindi and Europe also shortlisted for the prestigious enjoyment by young people. Her MPA’88 2020 EY Entrepreneur of the Year vast number of published works Tarek and his colleagues at the award (North of England category). have national and international United Nations World Food Founded in 2016, National Care reach and are performed Programme were honoured with Group now employs 2,400 staff around the world. Eleanor’s the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize who support more than 1,250 compositions show a deep respect for their collective achievement adults with complex needs. Jamil for the capacity of young people, toward fighting hunger in the says, “As we continue to grow

QUEENSU.CA/ALUMNIREVIEW 43 CLASS NOTES

nationally, we remain committed plant and refinery explosions, to our vision of being the best and and wrongful death. He is licensed most trusted care and support to practice in Texas, Michigan, provider in the United Kingdom.” and in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas. Cicelyn Tejada-Slade Edward completed his degree in Artsci’97 political studies at Queen’s, Cicelyn and her husband, where he was also a member of William Slade III, welcomed their the Vanier Cup-winning Gaels second child in January 2020. football team. He received his J.D. Ashlyn Rose is sister to eight-year- from the University of Texas old Liam (William Slade IV). School of Law, where he was a Keeton Fellow Scholar. Graeme Watson Artsci’98 Nicholas Godwin Graeme was honoured by and Wendy Grace Eddy the Ontario Museums Association Artsci’11 / Artsci’13 with a 2020 Award of Excellence Nicholas and Wendy married in the category Volunteer Service. on May 22, 2020, in a small Graeme was selected for his work backyard ceremony in Calgary. as the former volunteer director of since 2015, most recently as senior ▲ Their reception on Sept. 26 the Murney Tower Museum. director, global communications, Nicholas was a lovely, warm fall evening Godwin and overseeing the strategic direction surrounded by family and Wendy Grace and management of the Eddy first friends (Queen’s alumni and non- company’s external and internal met at a QUAA alumni alike). The couple met communications. Prior to joining pub night and in 2015 at a pub night hosted by Blue Ant Media, Sarah owned were married the Calgary branch of the Queen’s 2000s last May and operated Phoenix PR. in Calgary. University Alumni Association. Grace is a medical radiation technologist and Nicholas is an Jenna Beck environmental adviser. and Eric Virtue NSc’08 / Artsci’08 2010s Derek Hurst Jenna and Eric Com’13 are delighted to On Nov. 18, Chloe MacDonald announce the proposed to Derek Hurst birth of their daughter, Beatrice Thuy-Dan Dang while feeding the ducks in Anne Virtue. Beatrice was born Artsci’14 Hyde Park. The couple recently at home on March 19, 2020, Thuy-Dan married moved to London to be closer in Edmonton. Beatrice is also Jared Porter at St. to Derek’s prized Arsenal football welcomed by her aunt Sophie George’s Cathedral team while developing their Virtue, Artsci’11, her grandparents in Kingston on new business making sheer blonde Clarence Virtue, Artsci’79, MSc’81, Oct. 3. Thuy-Dan works as a lawyer hair products. and Geneviève Courant, NSc’80, for the Department of Justice. her great-uncle James Virtue, She and Jared live in Orléans, Ont. Com’80, and great-aunts Barb Virtue, Sc’83, and Sharon Virtue, Edward Festeryga Artsci’83, as well as her second Artsci’13 cousin, Lindsey Virtue, Com’14. Edward joined the Houston law Sarah Etherden firm of Abraham, Artsci’03 Watkins, Nichols, Sarah is now VP, global Sorrels, Agosto, Aziz, and Stogner communications, at Blue Ant as an associate. Edward’s current Media, an international legal practice focuses on a wide content producer, distributor, range of personal injury matters, Millie and and channel operator. Sarah including catastrophic injuries, Scott welcomed has led the company’s global commercial motor vehicle a baby girl communications portfolio accidents, workplace injuries, in September.

44 SPRING 2021 IN MEMORIAM

Millie (O’Brien) and Scott Jay Lois (Knights) Barker Con.Ed.’16 / Con.Ed.’12 BA/BPHE’61 Millie and Scott are thrilled to Lois died Sept. 18 after a lifetime announce the birth of their of community service and daughter Orla Louise, born Sept. unrelenting advocacy for the 11. Orla has brought so much underserved. Lois was a fierce, joy to her family. Scott and Millie tenacious woman before it are so grateful they both happened was cool. She was a natural athlete to be at Alfie’s for Throwback from childhood, excelling on Night back in 2013! the basketball court, in the pool, and even on the ski jump. As a young woman, she obtained her private pilot’s licence. As assistant director of water safety services for the Red Cross in Toronto, Lois noticed a failing in the national swimming badge system that (including Darcie Greggs, resulted in children abandoning Artsci’80, and Jonathon Greggs, instruction. She redesigned Artsci’83) and grandchildren; the program, keeping kids in swim and by Cooper the dog. Bob was programs across the country, predeceased in 1997 by his and thus saving countless lives. first wife, Robin (Howland), BA’54, In 1980, Lois began her 23-year and dogs Shandy, Georgie Girl, tenure as CEO of the Fort Erie Tamworth, Candy, MacDuff, Tory, YMCA. Once a small storefront Casey, and Terra. Bob pursued organization, the Fort Erie YMCA knowledge all his life. He earned became, under Lois’s ambitious his BSc in geology from Queen’s, Rupa Karyampudi vision and perseverance, a then advanced degrees from UBC, and Courtney Mulqueen state-of-the-art facility complete before returning to Queen’s as Law’11 / Law’00 with daycare centre, running a professor of geological sciences. Rupa and Courtney, partners track, and even a waterslide. The His expertise in sedimentary at MK Disability Lawyers, are building owed its existence to geology inspired many of his happy to announce that their firm the “Lois Factor,” her dedication students as well as his own has won the Women-Led Business to the community, and her ability children (with both Darcie and Award at the Markham Board to convince people to open Jonathon becoming geologists). of Trade’s 30th Annual Business their wallets and contribute. The Bob was known for his early Excellence Awards. Lois Factor, of course, extended work in the Canadian Rockies, to her home life, with husband on horseback no less, and Stanley (Brent) White Joseph Barker, Sc’60, and children for detailing the strata around MSc’10 Karen, Artsci’86, and Kim. She southeastern Ontario. After Stanley successfully defended encouraged her daughters to try leaving Queen’s, Bob moved west his PhD dissertation in everything. She taught them to work in the energy industry interdisciplinary studies at the that there were no limits on what in Calgary until he retired. University of New Brunswick they could achieve. She inspired on Dec. 11, 2020. Brent is scheduled them to make volunteering an Margaret Natalie to receive his diploma at the essential part of their lives. As a Whyte (McGiffin) May encaenia, and he continues mother, friend, and employer, Lois Heilig, BNSc’57 teaching at the Ron Joyce was as tough as she was giving. Margaret died Centre for Business Studies She often saw more potential in Feb. 20, 2020, in at Mount Allison University others than they saw in themselves Toronto, aged 85, in Sackville, N.B. and she never gave up on helping with her four children by her them achieve it. She changed the side. She was predeceased by her lives of many. She will be missed. husband, Bob Heilig, BASc’55, in 2017, and by her sister Mary in 2019. Robert Greggs, BA’55 She is survived by children John, Bob died at home on Dec. 3. He Katherine, Nancy, and Michael, is mourned by his wife, Marilyn her sister Kathleen Satchell, Hood, Arts’70, MEd’76; their Arts’51, and extended family. combined family of children Margaret and Bob met at Queen’s,

QUEENSU.CA/ALUMNIREVIEW 45 IN MEMORIAM

where they made lifelong that anyone could hope for. Donald Keenleyside friendships. They were happily Gilbert was predeceased by his BA’54, MD’56 married for 58 years and their brother Donald, BASc’50. He Donald died on Nov. proudest accomplishments were is survived by his wife, Ardeth; 25 in Kingston. raising their four children his children Margaret, Janet, He is survived by and spending time with their Artsci’90, PhD’95 (David Palmer, his wife of 28 years, 10 grandchildren. Margaret Artsci’89, PhD’95), and Andrew, Linda; children Laura, David, went back to school while raising Sc’91; his younger sister Mary Artsci’84, and Tim, Artsci’86; her children and completed a Summerby, Meds’55; and many and extended family. Donald specialist degree in history from nieces and nephews. was predeceased by his first wife, the University of Toronto. Her Anna. Donald grew up in interest in history led her to work Alexis Hyland, BASc’61 Kingston, attending Victoria Public at the Toronto Mackenzie House, Al died peacefully on Oct. 22 in School and KCVI (where he and her nursing education to work the presence of Joan, his wife was head boy, 1947–1948) before at The Gage as a health educator. and best friend. Al immigrated studying at Queen’s. He was Margaret spent many years as to Canada from Trinidad as a a caring doctor for generations a Girl Guide leader in Henry Farms, young man to pursue his studies of families. He had a longtime cultivating young women to be as a chemical engineer at Queen’s. association with Hotel Dieu independent and caring, and to After graduation, he eventually Hospital. His special projects love the outdoors. Her energy made his way to Montreal and through the years included and optimism and love of spent most of his working life at property development of the adventure were what drew people Seagram Distilleries, where he Medical Arts Building to her. It was her caring and met Joan. Al and Joan enjoyed and Ongwanada Hospital and nurturing ways that kept them a loving and wonderful life serving as president of the close. She is greatly missed. together for 44 years, travelling Physicians’ Services Incorporated on exotic adventures, playing Foundation. He was awarded J. Gilbert Hill golf and bridge, enjoying their emeritus status by the Ontario BASc’51 (Engineering Chemistry), garden and cherishing their College of Physicians. He had MASc’62 (Biochemistry), time with close friends. Al’s a most fulfilling life. His passions PhD’63 (MD, McGill) intelligence, charm, diplomacy, included baseball, hockey (he Gilbert died Oct. 25, two days gentle disposition, memorable played for Queen’s as a student), after celebrating Mole Day. belly laughs, and his insatiable golf, curling, and skiing. While at Queen’s, Gilbert’s sister, appetite for vanilla ice cream Mary, set him up on a blind date will be greatly missed by William Kettle, with Ardeth Justus, Arts’52. They his family and many friends. MD’61 married in 1956. In 1965, Gilbert Bill died peacefully began his career as a clinical Wayne Hypponen, MBA’62 at home on July 31. biochemist at the Hospital for Wayne died Nov. 17 with Leena, After graduation Sick Children in Toronto. He was a his wife of 52 years, by his side, from medical pioneer in laboratory automation following a lengthy battle with school and three years of family and became biochemist-in- Lewy body dementia. Wayne practice and pediatric residency, chief. He simultaneously rose is also survived by his children, Bill began practice in Midland, through the academic ranks Taina Phelan, Artsci’93 Ont. He was truly an all-round at the University of Toronto in (Douglas Phelan, Com’92), practitioner; he performed what is now the Department and Maria Hypponen, Artsci’95, minor surgical procedures and of Laboratory Medicine and From a young MA’98, and five grandchildren. delivered hundreds of babies. Pathobiology. He was recognized age, Gilbert Wayne is also missed by extended He was a skilled clinician and with a lifetime honorary had a taste for family members and friends educator dedicated to his membership in the Canadian adventure. At 17, in Canada and Finland. Born and patients and yet always remained Society of Clinical Chemists in he was a crew raised in Montreal, Wayne studied humble. He was well-loved 2011. Gilbert retired from SickKids member on the engineering at McGill before and active in the Georgian Bay in 1995 and took on a second RMS Nascopie, pursuing his MBA at Queen’s. community. Bill continued career in medical informatics. a Hudson’s Wayne was a true gentleman; his love of hockey well into his Bay Company Gilbert was an advocate for he had a kind and gentle soul 70s and developed his skills ship, when it conservation and an enthusiastic sank in July 1947 as well as an impish sense of in sketching, woodworking, and naturalist. His kindness, sincerity, after hitting a humour. He loved animals and model-boat building. Bill was integrity, and calm presence reef off Beacon soaking up some Vitamin D devoted to his family: his wife, made him an excellent teacher Island near at the cottage. He was extremely Hazel, five children, and 10 and mentor, and the best father Cape Dorset. proud of his Finnish heritage. grandchildren.

46 SPRING 2021 Gerald Irvine Faculty and Staff Mennie, BASc’53 Gerald died peacefully on April 14, 2020, in Toronto. Gerry is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 65 years, Ida; children Sharon and Bruce, Sc’86 (Anita); and grandson Bryce. Gerry had EDWARD FARRAR PAUL WIENS KENNETH (KEN) GEORGE EWAN VICTOR a long and fulfilling career as a Professor Former BALL Professor SNIECKUS Emeritus (Geo- university Technological Emeritus Professor civil engineer with Ontario Hydro. logical Sciences librarian, Education Work- (Physics), Emeritus He was initially assigned to the and Geological on Nov. 19, shop Adminis- on Dec. 15, (Chemistry), expansion phase of the Sir Adam Engineering), 2020. trator, on Feb. 14, 2020. on Dec. 18, Beck hydroelectric power project on Nov. 8, 2020. 2021. 2020. in Niagara Falls, where much of his time was spent in underground civil construction as part of an undertaking by mining and civil John Robert to his 50th reunion, which brought infrastructure crews to construct MacKay, Com’70 him immense joy. a series of 50-foot-diameter John died tunnels. He was involved with peacefully at home Merylin Elizabeth numerous power-generating and on Nov. 3, 2020, (Masters) McKinley, BA’56 transmission stations throughout at the age of 72. Merylin died Nov. 20. She the province, extending John treasured his family and was preceded in death by from the Winnipeg River in the will be dearly missed by his wife, her husband, A. Colin McKinley, northwest to the Abitibi River Shirley, KGH Nursing ’71, and MD’58, and is survived by in the northeast and Lake Ontario his children Geoff, Steph, Artsci/ sons Dougal and Robbie, and to the south. Gerry’s happiest PHE’04 (Kyle Bournes, Artsci’04), two grandchildren. Merylin and most rewarding times were and Andrew, of whom who he taught school for several years shared with family and friends. was immensely proud. John was before becoming a homemaker Gerry also valued his solitude the adoring “Grumps” to his who excelled at instilling a and moments of quiet reflection, grandchildren Linden, Rowan, love of reading in her children, and is remembered for his and Juniper and his granddogs. creating magical Christmas congenial and thoughtful He was also close to his cousin memories, and demonstrating nature, wisdom, integrity, and Steve Knox, Com’74, and his family, how to persevere through consideration towards others. as well as a large extended family. challenges. Painting was John grew up in Kingston and went a lifelong passion she pursued James Mucklow on to spend most of his career in through classes, exhibiting, and BASc’85 (MESc, the federal government, occupying volunteering with art galleries. Western University) several roles, most significantly as She also knitted and quilted, Jim died Oct. 28 a senior program officer and policy creating prized family heirlooms. in Thunder Bay, analyst, investigating unfair trade Her grandkids were crazy about surrounded by his practices by foreign exporters to their “Nana,” who always had family. Jim met the love of his Canada. While Ottawa was home, fun things to do, treats not seen life, Cindy Warwick, NSc’85, in John considered himself a at home, “Nana rules,” and help first year at Queen’s, in residence K-Town boy at heart. He was with special projects. Her nephews at Jean Royce Hall. They married an athlete and a passionate sports remembered her for being a warm, in Thunder Bay in 1985 shortly fan. He had a cherished circle supportive aunt with a great sense after graduation. Jim worked of friends from his school days of humour. Both Merylin and first in mineral exploration and in Kingston, his time at Queen’s, Colin spoke lovingly about their then in consulting engineering, and his career in the federal time at Queen’s and gave back assessing and remediating government. Many of these friends to the school through the contaminated sites and assessing visited him right up until he died A. Colin and Merylin E. McKinley groundwater resources. He of advanced prostate cancer. Bursary to support medical also served as manager of John was a faithful attendee at students. Condolences may be environment and community his class reunions and even sent to [email protected] affairs for Fortune Minerals managed to make it, virtually, and [email protected]. for projects in northern British

QUEENSU.CA/ALUMNIREVIEW 47 IN MEMORIAM

Columbia and the Northwest curling, mountain biking, golfing, Electronics. Don joined the Territories. A significant portion skiing, and kayaking. He made design team for Canada’s first of this work involved consultations a living as a carpenter, mostly in space satellite, Alouette 1, which with First Nations. Jim learned Whistler, and subsequently bought proved to be the most complex a lot from the people he met in a home in Squamish. Jon excelled and reliable satellite of its time. the First Nations with whom he in every endeavour of his life but While managing an engineering consulted. One of his proudest had to overcome several health research group at the Defence moments was when Miluulak, issues, including a recent eight- Research Telecommunications a Sim’oogit (house chief) of the week bout with COVID-19. Sadly, Establishment in the 1960s, Gitxsan Nation in northwestern Jon struggled within himself and Don was an adjunct lecturer at B.C. honorarily adopted him into as he lived on his own terms, he Carleton University, where the house. Jim benefited from also died on those terms. During he helped develop its graduate mentoring by many experienced the late evening of Dec. 13, Jon electrical engineering program. professionals and, in turn, he decided to take his own life, leaving On his appointment in mentored those who worked for his friends and family devastated. 1968 to lead a new Canadian and with him. Jim loved travelling radar research program, Don and discovering new places and Chris Nova (Nowakowski) initiated the original Canadian people. Jim was a member of BCom’60 engineering studies of synthetic the Rotary Club of Thunder Bay Chris died peacefully at home in aperture imaging radar. Funded (Port Arthur) where he ran the Washington, D.C., surrounded by the Department of National youth exchange program for by family, friends, and dedicated Defence and partnering with the several years; his family hosted caregivers after a spirited battle Department of Energy, Mines, several youth exchange students with Alzheimer’s. Chris began his and Resources and with NASA’s Don joined the from around the world. Jim is life as he lived it … full speed. He Jet Propulsion Laboratories, design team for survived by Cindy, his loving and spent the first four years of his life Canada’s first Don’s group produced a ground- patient wife of 34 years; his two escaping Nazi-controlled Europe, space satellite, based image processor for NASA’s accomplished children, Gillian eventually ending up in Ottawa. Alouette 1, which Seasat satellite which, when and Isaac; his mother, Ines; A natural athlete and bon vivant, proved to be the it was launched in 1978, carried siblings Nancy, Artsci’86 (Shane he excelled in football, skiing, and most complex the first space-borne synthetic Dunne), Peter, Sc’86 (Judy Morash, boxing at Ashbury College. Chris and reliable sat- aperture imaging radar. This NSc’87) and Laura, Artsci’93 (Tony later attended Queen’s, Carleton, ellite of its time Canadian image processor Calverley); and extended family. He and HEC Paris, where he continued provided such excellent earth and was predeceased by his father, Dr. his “extracurriculars” with ocean images that the U.S. military James Mucklow, in 2019. Jim is also passion. After 15 years at Wood immediately classified the Seasat survived by his surrogate children, Gundy in Toronto and London, project. This exclusion from Seasat the 10 exchange students that Chris founded InterSec Research led to Don’s group transferring its the family hosted and continue to Corporation and never looked technology to Canadian industry keep in contact with. Jim had back. He took as much pride in the partner MacDonald Detwiler numerous close friends and their success of that venture as he did Associates, which resulted in families that he also considered in the annual get-togethers of loyal Canada’s successful program family. Jim led a good and employees decades after the firm of satellite-borne imaging radar principled life driven by strong was sold. Chris shaped the lives of now known as Radarsat. morals and the drive to do many. Stories of his generosity, the right thing. love, misdeeds, and escapades will Alan Patterson, BASc’60 be repeated for years to come. Alan died peacefully on Jon Mulville, BASc’91 Nov. 3, aged 88. Predeceased by Jon died Dec. 13, aged 52. Jon is Donald Frederick his wife, Betty Ann, in 2002, survived by his mother, siblings, Page, BASc’51 Alan is survived by daughters extended family, and many friends. (PhD, Imperial Lesley, Artsci’84 (Tom) and He was predeceased by his father College, London) Janet (Derek); grandchildren and his aunt Betty Mulville, BA’68. Don died Nov. 20 at David, Sc’12 (Katherine), Jon graduated from Queen’s with the age of 91. Don’s Katherine (Dan), Michael, Charlotte, a degree in mathematical and PhD research explored the general and Isabella; and two great- mechanical engineering; he was subject of instability in active grandchildren. Alan’s career as a on the Dean’s List. In 1993, Jon circuits using the newly introduced civil engineer took the family left Ontario for B.C. to go skiing transistor as a practical application. to Toronto, Sudbury, and Sarnia. for a year. He fell in love with the This groundbreaking work led to Alan’s first major project was mountains and decided to make his writing a major chapter for building the Don Valley Parkway B.C. his permanent home. He loved the Handbook of Semiconductor and he retired as city engineer

48 SPRING 2021 in Sarnia. Al enjoyed curling, Paula, Beverley, NSc’91, Richard, skiing, Toastmasters, and became and Gary; extended family; a tai chi instructor later in life. and many friends. Louise studied He was a supporter of community biology at Queen’s, where she organizations and generously met Ching, the love of her life. established a planned gift to She made many lifelong friends benefit the Queen’s University at Queen’s, becoming a proud General Endowment Fund. alumna. Louise went on to get her Master of Speech Pathology Katharine “Katie” and pursue a rewarding career (Gundy) Stewart, BA’50 in this field. Lou loved to travel the Katie died Dec. 3 in Quesnel, world, drink wine and eat great B.C., where she lived for the food at the cottage, walk her dog last few years to be near family. endlessly and exercise regularly, She was predeceased by her but most importantly, she loved From the Archives husband, John Stewart, daughter just spending time with her family. Christine Stewart, BA’73, and 1974 1922 1983 granddaughter Katharine Hay. Philip “Bert” Wild The Rt. Hon. The first Head football She is survived by her daughters BASc’82 Roland Michener appearance coach Doug Meg Stewart and Jennifer Hay Philip died Sept. named ninth of a live bear Hargreaves and grandson David Hay. Katie 21. “Mrs. Chartrand, chancellor of cub as Boo recognized as Queen’s Hoo the bear. Canadian had many fond memories of her Phil’s grade four Interuniversity days at Queen’s with her friends, teacher, had a good Sport Coach of the “Happy 12.” Their friendships eye for the human condition. the Year were forged when they resided She wrote on Phil’s report cards in close quarters in the “Barracks,” as follows: First report: Philip and continued lifelong. Katie does talk too much and enjoys moved to Nelson, B.C., in 1974 distracting other people. Second when you leave your sisters where she lived for more than 40 report: Philip still talks too much. in charge!” Submitted with love years, enjoying time with friends He enjoys having a good time. by Phil’s sisters, Cathy Wild, and family, travels, mountains, “We lost Phil on Sept. 21 very Artsci’79, and Susan Wild, Com’87 music, weaving, Scottish country unexpectedly. It was, however, dancing, and many other pursuits. a miracle that he even survived David Emmons Torrance, PhD’87 graduation from Queen’s. Our David, age 69, passed away Jonathan Henry mother had gathered the clan for peacefully at home on Nov. 8, Tondeur, BASc’72 the occasion from far and wide, 2020, surrounded by his loving Jonathan died including our aunt from England. family. He earned his degrees Oct. 10. Jonathan We had stayed over at a hotel from Washington and Lee is survived by the night before the grand event. University, Brown University, his wife, Thelma; Morning of convocation, however, and his PhD from Queen’s. their children Lisa Elliott, Artsci/ the only one missing was Phil. Kingston held a special place PHE’82, Ed’83, Jonathan, He showed up only moments in his heart for this is where Cory, Michele, and Paul; and 10 before we were to leave for the he learned to sail, started teaching grandchildren, including Sophie ceremony, more than a little history, and met and married Heffernan, NSc’21. Jonathan hung over (gentlemen, you know his beloved Elizabeth. More than came to Queen’s as a mature who you are). We thought Mom anything, teaching was his passion student. His classmates in civil was going to kill him then. Since and he enjoyed his career in engineering affectionally called Phil’s passing, we have learned of the history department of Mount him “Dad.” He worked for the his escapades over the years with Allison University. David will be Ontario Ministry of Transportation his Queen’s classmates, some of NOTE profoundly missed by his mother; Obituaries are and Communication until 1978, which he only narrowly survived. posted online his wife, Elizabeth; his children, when he became County Engineer Apparently, we were lucky to have as we receive Beth, Margaret, Alice, and Charles; for Northumberland until his had him as long as we did. We will them. If you have his brother, Jim Torrance (Cindy); retirement in 1996. all miss him terribly. The coroner memories of these and Jim’s children, Tina and professors and reported he had an enlarged staff members Danny. He will also be lovingly Louise Whiten, BA’91 heart, something that everyone you would remembered by his extended Louise died Dec. 3. She is survived who knew him can vouch for. like to share, family, his nieces and nephews, please email by her husband, Ching Mac, Sc’93; We just didn’t think it would kill us: review his friends, his colleagues, and sons Adam and Jake; siblings him. Phil – this is what happens @queensu.ca his students.

QUEENSU.CA/ALUMNIREVIEW 49 LEGACY

1924-2020 F.C. Kohli A surprise scholarship led to the revolution of India’s software industry

ndia’s information technology industry is the envy of Asia, post- ing revenues of $190 billion I annually and employing four million people directly and another 10 million indirectly. But were it not for a timely offer of a Queen’s Uni- versity scholarship in 1945, things might have been far different. Faqir Chand Kohli – revered as “the father of the Indian software industry” – was a pioneer, a visionary, a titan of business, a champion of social reform and, arguably the key to all the rest, a graduate of Queen’s University. Mr. Kohli (BSc’48, DSc’07), F.C. to family and friends, died Nov. 26, 2020. He was 96. Celebrated as “the Henry Ford of IT services” for the way he indus- trialized the once-boutique production of software, he has also been lauded for his innovations in adult literacy and water purification. “He firmly believed that the combined power of technology and education could eradicate poverty and enrich India’s enormous human resource,” politician and author Sudheendra Kulkarni wrote in December. Queen’s Faculty of Law and Smith ▲ “That was a huge blow,” Mr. Kohli As the founder and first CEO School of Business, hosted a din- Mr. Kohli told the Indian magazine Seniors was known as of what was to become one of the ner for Mr. Kohli upon his return “the father Today last year. “Driven by the emo- world’s largest IT companies, TCS to Kingston to receive an honorary of the Indian tional trauma of my father’s death (or Tata Consultancy Services, doctorate. Mr. Kohli told him that software and the need to be independent, I which is worth more on the open going to Queen’s “was the pivotal i n d u s t r y.” decided to join the navy.” market than IBM), Mr. Kohli real- moment in his life. It changed the While waiting for his commission, ized early the ways in which com- direction his life was going to go.” he saw a newspaper ad announcing puters and software would trans- In 1945, Mr. Kohli was at a cross- a government scholarship to study form the world. roads. He was in his final year at electrical engineering at Queen’s. His ability to see such possibil- Government College University, He figured it couldn’t hurt to apply. ities was unlocked at Queen’s, he Lahore, in present-day Pakistan, “To my surprise, I was awarded told Adjunct Professor Shai Dubey finishing a BA and BSc, when his the scholarship to study power engi-

in 2007. Mr. Dubey, who teaches at father died. neering at one of Canada’s premier SERVICES CONSULTANCY OF TATA COURTESY PHOTOGRAPHS

50 SPRING 2021 “He said that what and plastics. The job wouldn’t keep operating systems for computers his interest long. Based on his work at home and abroad. Mr. Kohli Queen’s allowed at Queen’s, he won a scholarship to intuited early that western coun- him to do was the Massachusetts Institute of Tech- tries would not have the capacity nology and earned a master’s degree to produce all the software that the to think critically. in electrical engineering in 1950. burgeoning industry required. For the first time Meanwhile, his homeland was in Mr. Kohli and his team “believed turmoil. British India had begun they were not building a mere busi- in his life, he had a headlong rush toward indepen- ness but a new industry for India,” an opportunity dence, resulting in its division in Subramaniam Ramadorai wrote in 1947 into two states, the domin- his history of Tata Consultancy Ser- to question.” ions of Hindu-dominated India vices, “and that was a dream worth and Muslim-dominated Pakistan. working towards.” Millions of religious refugees were To realize his dream and produce displaced in the violence that the talent TCS needed, Mr. Kohli accompanied partition. Mr. Kohli’s promoted the new Indian Insti- own family had to flee Peshawar for tutes of Technology, created by India and start over. With an offer the country’s first prime minister, of work from the Tata Group, which Jawaharlal Nehru. Mr. Kohli not institutions,” Mr. Kohli recalled. operated steel and power plants in only found teaching staff for the “The navy agreed to release me India, he returned home in 1951. new institutes, he taught some of from their employment, and I set Working for the Tata Hydro- the courses himself. out for Canada in 1946.” Electric Power Supply Company, as He continued as CEO of TCS for Mr. Dubey, who himself immi- it was then called, Mr. Kohli oversaw nearly 30 years, laying the ground- grated to Canada from India with systems operations for power distri- work for the success of both the his family in 1967, can imagine bution. In 1968, Tata Hydro-Electric company and the industry. the culture shock Mr. Kohli faced. became one of the first companies “Millions who join the Indian Within Queen’s much smaller post- in the world to use a computer to F.C. Kohli was information technology sector every war student population, “he was a control the power grid. the CEO of TCS year should celebrate F.C. Kohli, really visible minority,” says Mr. Within two years, Mr. Kohli and for nearly 30 because had it not been for him, the Dubey. “The culture was different; Tata Group chairman J.R.D. Tata, years, building sector would not have reached where success for the the food was different.” convinced of the transformative company and it is today,” said Queen’s alumnus But more importantly for Mr. nature of computing, created Tata the industry he Kevin Goheen (BSc’79), in nominat- Kohli, the educational approach Consultancy Services to produce was shaping. ing Mr. Kohli for one of the Faculty of was different, says Mr. Dubey. “The ▼ Engineering and Applied Science’s education that he got [at Queen’s] 125th Anniversary Engineering actually helped him to see the world Awards in 2018. in a different way.” And had it not been for Queen’s, In India, at the time, education where, he told Mr. Dubey, he learned emphasized rote learning, Mr. Kohli “a way to see the world in a different told Mr. Dubey. “He said that what way, a way not to see the world as it [Queen’s] allowed him to do was to has always been,” his restless mind think critically. For the first time in might never have been unleashed. his life, he had an opportunity to Even into his 90s and long retired question. And that was what led to from TCS, Mr. Kohli was still a lot of the other things that hap- actively pursuing improvements in pened [in his life].” water purification systems, literacy, It was a turning point. Software and adult education in India. for digital “computing machines” Mr. Kulkarni, in a memorial to was little more than theoretical at Mr. Kohli, recalls him saying, “Our the time, but by choosing to con- industry has benefited, but India tinue in electrical engineering, Mr. has not benefited much from our Kohli set out on the path that would industry. We have to do more, a lot lead to his future innovations. more, for India.” His BSc from Queen’s earned him Faqir Chand Kohli put himself in a job with Canadian General Elec- a position to do just that, thanks to tric (now GE Canada), which was his savvy, his determination – and a focused at the time primarily on serendipitous Queen’s scholarship. the manufacture of small appliances —By Tony Atherton

QUEENSU.CA/ALUMNIREVIEW 51 CREATED AT QUEEN’S

The technology the Axis Mapper uses was developed in the Mining Systems Laboratory at Queen’s University (co-founder Shelby Yee, S c’16 p i c t u r e d).

shoot camera for structural geo - logical mapping. With sensors to collect data about the features of a rock face, the unit can orient itself relative to the surface it is scanning. So it works underground, where GPS doesn’t. The RockMass co-founders were named to the 2021 Forbes 30 under 30 list in the manufacturing and industry category, which celebrates dynamic young entrepreneurs. And the company’s roots are at Queen’s University. The technology the Axis Mapper uses was developed in the Mining Systems Laboratory, and Ms. Yee learned of it during a Queen’s Inno- vation Centre networking event at the Grad Club, just off campus. As a geological engineering graduate, she immediately understood its potential. “During my undergrad, I did a lot of manual structural mapping – with a pen, paper, and a compass. You always feel like you need five sets of hands and 10 times as much time,” says Ms. Yee. “The Axis Mapper does it with the push of a button.” In collaboration with the mining systems laboratory, Mr. Gubasta and Ms. Yee began to explore the When mine tunnels collapse, they can commercialization opportunity. Below trap dozens of people underground. The Queen’s Innovation Centre This can often be prevented by rein- Summer Initiative helped them the surface forcing tunnels, but if structural bring it to fruition. weaknesses go unnoticed, the con- “They surrounded us with people Queen’s alumni named to sequences can be catastrophic. who were trying to start a business That’s where Matt Gubasta and provided a network of expe - Forbes 30 Under 30 list (Artsci’17) and Shelby Yee (Sc’16) rienced entrepreneurs,” say the for trailblazing work with come in. Their company, Rock - co-founders. technology developed during Mass Technologies, helps mining “We learned that people want to their university years. companies better assess the risk help. When you reach out to some- through a data collection unit one for their expertise, they usually called the Axis Mapper. try to make time. That lesson has

They compare it to a point-and- served us well.”—Ty Burke OF ROCKMASS TECHNOLOGIES COURTESY PHOTOGRAPH

52 SPRING 2021 20_121878

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