In Memoriam: Mad Men: Prof. Stephen Gyimah Was it really like that?
Flying theTricolour inCalgary
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THE MAGAZINE OF QUEEN’S UNIVERSITY, KINGSTON, ONTARIO ISSUE 3, 2012 WWW.ALUMNIREVIEW.QUEENSU.CA
nding region surrou e wonderful day in found in th and a full ights to be lciano, Siena, diamo! he many del gia, Montepu Tuscany! An Explore t sisi, Peru simplicity of Enjoy visits to As uty and Cortona. enses in the bea ulge your s Florence. Ind
hear? Bob and I are headed to Did you nt will Tuscany next September!om the We Classics heard thatdepartme Fabio Colivicchi fr turer from Queen’s so we signed up right away. be the lec Why don’t you join us? It’ll be a fabulousTalk to youtour! soon! Margaret
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CONTENTS
ISSUE #3, 2012 VOLUME 86, NUMBER 3 SERVING THE QUEEN’S COMMUNITY SINCE 1927
COVER STORY 2 EDITOR’S NOTEBOOK 18 FLYING THE TRICOLOUR IN CALGARY 3 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR 6 FROM THE DESK OF THE PRINCIPAL 9 I N MEMORIAM Prof. Stephen Gyimah CAMPUS SCENES IRC Director Paul Juniper and his colleagues this year are celebrating 75 years of industrial relations studies at Queen’s. Queen’s marKeting & communications 11 The IRC celebrates a proud heritage 12 The doctor is out 17 For the love of art: Prof. Emeritus
miKe o’connor Gus Shurvell Calgary, fast emerging as one of Canada’s most dynamic, vibrant, and 13 Q U I D N O V I ? prosperous cities, is also home to thousands of Queen’s alumni. 15 EUREKA Coincidence? Definitely not! By Gwendolyn Richards 30 AT THE BRANCHES 32 QUAA PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE FEATURE REPORT 34 ALUMNI AWARD FOR 26 CONGRATULATIONS EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING ... NOW WHAT? Prof. James Fraser In an increasingly 37 UNFORGETTABLE QUEEN’S competitive job market, CHARACTERS a growing number of Ralfe Clench, BA’58, MSc’60 university grads in Canada are opting to 39 KEEPING IN TOUCH add hands-on, job- SOME ALUMNI SPOTLIGHTS focused credentials 45 Hugh Johnson, Mus’84, Ed’85 to their résumés. It’s 46 Andrew Love, Artsci’88, MPL’93, MDiv’09 all about job skills. 47 Maggie Sutherland, Artsci’85, Ed’91 By Sara Beck, 48 Peng-Sang Cau, Com’94, Richard Artsci’95 Zakrzewski, Sc’93, Ken Nicholson, Sc’92, and Martin Smith, Sc’94 56 ALUMNI BOOKSTAND 49 Greg Frankson, Artsci’97 Ed’99 Chronic Condition, a new book by 50 Nicki Bridgland, Com’95 veteran political journalist Jeff 51 Paul Dewar, Ed’94 Simpson, Arts’71, LLD’05, tackles the 53 Karim Damji, EMBA’05
hot-button subject of health care reform. Kimberley HiscocKs illustration & Design 55 GRACE’S GRADS 60 ALUMNI BULLETIN BOARD PLUS a newsletter insert for chemistry grads. and don’t forget to check out the Review’s homepage on the Queen’s news centre web site for special features, 61 FACULTY OF ARTS AND SCIENCE photos, and other news. www.alumnireview.queensu.ca. NEWSLETTER 68 “AND ONE MORE THING .. .“ Mad Men: “Was it really like that?”
COVER PHOTO young calgary alumni PHoto by miKe o’connor
EDITOR’S NOTEBOOK
VOLUME 86, NO. 3, 2012 Exciting times in the [email protected] www.alumnireview.queensu.ca
EDITOR Stampede City Ken Cuthbertson, Artsci’74, Law’83 E D ITO R EMERITA o, I’m not reporting on July’s 100th man of the National Bank of Greece and Catherine Perkins, Arts’58 Nanniversary of “the Greatest teaches in the Economics Department at KEEPING IN TOUCH EDITOR Outdoor Show on Earth”. Year-round, the University of Athens, was eminently Andrea Gunn, MPA’07 ART DIRECTOR Calgary is the hub of Canada’s booming qualified to meet the biggest challenge of Larry Harris, Queen’s Marketing oil-and-gas industries, having emerged his career. Unfortunately, when the pres- and Communications as one of the country’s most dynamic, sures and expectations affected Vassilis’s STAFF CONTRIBUTORS prosperous, and vibrant cities – to health, he fell ill and had to resign before Christina Archibald Liz Gorman, Sc’97 paraphrase Prime Minister Stephen beginning his new job. In a recent email ASSOCIATE EDITORS Harper. Given Queen’s excellence in to the Review, he reported, “I am better Lindy Mechefske training top-notch engineers, geologists, now and recuperating.” He was quick to Heather Grace Stewart, Artsci’95 business grads, and other specialists in add, “I hope that I can help my country PROOFREADER high-demand sectors, it comes as no from another post.” He doubtless will do Peggy Shanks ADVERTISING COORDINATOR surprise to learn that Calgary is home so, and from afar we wish him a speedy Peter Gillespie, Artsci’01 to more than 4,200 Queen’s alumni – recovery and good luck in his future Phone: 613.533.6000 ext. 75464 the city’s largest contingent from any endeavours. Email: [email protected] out-of-province university. And, of EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD Sara Beck, Artsci’93; Mary Luz Mejia, Artsci’93; course, where there are Queen’s grads, CONGRATULATIONS. It’s always nice to see Marissa Nelson, Artsci’99; Richard Powers, there’s bound to be Tricolour spirit. the members of the Review editorial fam- Artsci/PHE’78, MBA’83, Law’86; Bruce Sellery, This translates into Calgary giving rise ily excelling, and no one has worked Com’93; Sean Silcoff, Com’92. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, to one of the biggest and most active of the harder to achieve success than Associate MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS Queen’s University Alumni Association’s Editor Heather Grace Stewart, Artsci’,(. Helena Debnam worldwide network of 48 Branches in 18 The Pointe Claire-based writer-photogra- THE QUEEN’S ALUMNI REVIEW countries. Under a long succession pher-poet has been a Review contributor (circ. 123,000), published quarterly by the Department of Marketing and Communications, of past executives and current president for 17 years, and over that time she has Office of Advancement, is a member of the Jeremy Mosher, Artsci’&+, the Branch also authored numerous freelance articles, Council for the Advancement and Support of organizes a wide range of events, which two non-fiction books for young adults, Education. Subscriptions free to alumni, $25 cdn/year for others. Opinions expressed in the appeal to alumni of all interests and ages. an illustrated volume of children’s poems, Review are not necessarily those of Queen’s What’s happening in Calgary is such a and three critically acclaimed books of University or of the QUAA. good news story that we asked Calgary adult verse – the ISSN # 0843-8048 Herald journalist Gwendolyn Richards to latest of which is 2011-2013 QUEEN’S UNIVERSITY ALUMNI ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT check it out and to introduce Review read- Carry on Dancing Jess Joss, Artsci’96 ers to some of the remarkable grads who (Winter Goose THE MISSION OF THE QUAA live and work in Calgary. You can read her Publishing). To “To reach out and foster a lifelong association with Queen’s, to engage our members in the report – which is accompanied by some promote the life and work of the University, and to serve splendid photos taken by Mike O’Connor, book, Heather the alumni community in all its diversity.” Sc’)+, PhD’*), DSc’,' – beginning on p.18. recently com- CANADA POST PUBLICATIONS pleted a five-city MAIL PERMIT #41089017 Postage paid at Kingston, ON GET WELL SOON. Greece has been much reading tour with Return undeliverable Canadian and in the news of late, but for all the wrong stops in Pointe other addresses to the Review offices. reasons. The country’s ongoing economic Jennifer gibson Claire, Montreal, Queen’s University woes have sent repeated shock waves Heather reading at Kanata, Toronto, 99 University Avenue one of the stops Kingston, ON K7L 3N6 through the European and global and Kingston – Phone: 613.533.2060 financial sectors. So it was in on her recent where among or 1.800.267.7837 readings tour. (toll-free in Canada and U.S.) hopes of turning Greece’s economy those who were Fax: 613.533.6828
around that newly elected Prime there to greet her was a fan of Heather’s TO UPDATE YOUR ADDRESS Minister Antonis Samaras appointed poetry from Daventry, England, who was [email protected] Queen’s-trained economist Vassilis T. holidaying in the Boston area and drove Rapanos, PhD’+', as the country’s more than 300 miles to Kingston to at- Finance Minister. Vassilis, a 65-year-old tend Heather’s reading and to meet her. native of the island of Kos who’s chair- (Now how awesome is that?!) –K.C.
2 issue 3, 2012 • Queen’s alumni review
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
AHEAD OF THEIR TIME? youth revolution ties displayed by the applicant; extracur- Re “In the shadow of his smile” and a flowering of ricular achievements or community activi- issue #3-2012, P. 16 liberal thinking. ties; and academic competence, including It seemed obvious capacity for independent thought. Addi- t was a particular pleasure, though no to us that a more tionally, we recommended consideration Igreat surprise, to read that Bruce socially sensitive should be given to financial stress, the Alexander, Com’60, LLD’11, is now apply- admissions policy quality of a personal statement by the ap- ing his many talents to mentoring a small was required than plicant, and special consideration for ap- group of socially conscious young per- the one by which plicants of aboriginal background. sons in the art and science of changing bernarD clarK Ontario students I do not know about the fine-tuning the world for the better. I presume they in bruce alexander [for example] were of admissions since 1972. What I do know turn will mentor another set ad infinitum. admitted based solely on satisfactory is that our suggested “scale of weights” I had the pleasure of working with completion of a set of grade 13 subjects. received scant attention from the aca- Bruce 40 years ago when he chaired an ad As applications increased in number, the demic leadership at Queen’s. In fact, the hoc committee of the University Council admission cut-off mark was jacked up status quo remained in place for some that was charged with studying Queen’s and up with no end in sight. Thus, in- time. It was not well known that Principal admission policy and making recommen- creasing numbers of deserving prospects John Deutsch told me that he would not dations to the Senate. In addition to my- were turned away. We agreed that other have been admitted to Queen’s under the self, the committee members were Bruce criteria should be given due considera- admission policy of 1973. Alexander, Com’60, LLD’11; Donald Keen- tion, along with marks. Peter H. Hennessy, arts’48 leyside, Arts’54, Meds’56; Eric Jorgensen, Out of our travails came a set of recom- Kingston, on BSc’49; George Carson, Meds’68; Stuart mendations the key one of which was “a Peter Hennessy is a retired Education Robb, BSc’36; George Leech (University scale of weights” whereby the minimum professor who served as longtime Registrar Registrar) and Ida Smith (Secretary). academic requirement (marks) would be of the Faculty of Education. One of the We did our work in the context of the supplemented by special talents and abili- changes to admissions policy in this period was the practice of giving preference to children of alumni when two students were of equal merit. The question about a stu- dent’s alumni ties was dropped from appli- cation forms, along with questions about religion. – Ed.
COMPLAINTS ABOUT TURBINES AND OUR COVERAGE Re “Queen’s Flag flies over Wolfe Island” issue #2-2012, P. 3 hen I read the promo for offshore Wwind turbines highlighting the ac- complishments of two Queen’s engineer- ing grads, I was reminded once again how limited is the technical “education” of engineers. As a recent Wolfe Island resident and retired university scientist I have spent five years attempting to point out the science- based ecological, economic and health risks of industrial scale wind turbines. The truth is that Wolfe Island’s 86 turbines, de- veloped by Ian Baines, Sc’74, were erected in one of the worst places in Ontario for slicing into 20 million or so migrating birds twice a year and are now a constant source of mortality for resident wildlife.
www.alumnireview.Queensu.ca 3
Society needs more than wind-veloc- Engineers confirm my calculations. and exceptional example of what is good ity data before projects like this proceed. For Queen’s to glorify or acknowledge about Queen’s University. Wind energy may be very profitable to windmills as a source of viable power is rutH J.e. Jones, mPa’89 developers (when subsidized by taxpay- about as justifiable as awarding Karla toronto, on ers), but the cumulative effects of up- Homolka a degree. Support of this form wards of 1,000 monster turbines pro- of corruption by Queen’s is unacceptable. s an active member of QDU some 50 years ago, I was pleased to read in posed on- and off-shore in eastern Lake r. J. braDsHaw, arts’58 A Ontario make them costly to energy meaforD, on the last issue that debating at Queen’s re- mains dynamic and popular. consumers, nearby residents, and docu- The University does not sanction or en- One memorable resolution I recall de- mented millions of birds that fly across dorse the activities of those alumni who bating around 1960 was “Resolved that Lake Ontario. The Lake is a natural re- submit news and photos to the Review’s women should be kept barefoot, pregnant source for all of us, and it should be ‘Keeping in Touch’ pages. Such personal and in the kitchen.” I had the bad luck to off-limits to damaging industrialization. notes are presented for informational be defending this proposition and, even By the way ... the Review Editor need purposes only. – Ed. not have apologized about “data” as singu- worse, to find myself up against a witty and dramatic opponent in Whipple lar. It is accepted both ways by The New “EXTRAS” NOT NEEDED AT MAC Steinkrauss, BA’64 – who appeared for York Times and the Oxford English Dic- Re Letter “Music for football fans’ the debate wearing a large pillow, feigning tionary. ears” pregnancy. She demolished our feeble ar- Dr. barrie gilbert, arts’62 issue #2-2012, P. 3 wolfe islanD, on guments with a skill that she later demon- uch, Scott [Whitley, Artsci’80, strated as a senior civil servant in Ontario. henever I visit Queen’s, wind OLaw’83]! As both a Mac and a Sadly, Whipple died three years ago, but W turbines covering the horizon are Queen’s grad, I can attest to the fine she was one of many students who honed what I first see. The sight is like a 100- football and sundry entertainments at their oratorical chops in the Queen’s De- square- mile clear-cut or strip mine. both Queen’s and McMaster. bating Union. But never mind the abominable view. There are many reasons to “travel stewart gooDings, arts’62 Even I, a dumb geologist, am able to down the road” for both, not the least of victoria, bc determine the extreme cost of this so- which was McMaster’s outstanding per- called green power: three, up to four, formance this past year. Mac doesn’t need OLD CAN BE NEW AGAIN times the cost of regular power. Recent (or probably want) kilted trombone play- Re “The trouble with e-archives” studies from the Ontario Professional ers – I know the Queen’s Bands don’t issue #2-2012, P. 14 wear kilts just to get people in the stands, fter reading Wayne Grady’s article [even though] I welcomed them at every Aon e-archives and the problem with Gaels game I attended, and I attended all replacement parts, I wondered: Have you of them while at Queen’s. thought of alerting those alumni who cHarles flaHerty, law’84 might own old computer equipment and Hamilton, on who would be more than happy to see it in use again? DEBATERS “EXTRAORDINARY” moragH strouD, arts‘50 AND “ENERGETIC” buffalo, ny Re “Be it resolved that ....” issue #2-2012, P.57 Queen’s Archivist Paul Banfield, NJ’HE, replies: “Thank you to Moragh Stroud for aving had the privilege of observing her suggestion. We have thought of can- Hthe Queen’s Debating Union (QDU) vassing alumni for outdated equipment to participate in two tournaments against assist us in our work. However, at present, competing teams from Canada and the severe space constraints preclude us from U.S. in the past couple of years, I applaud pursuing this initiative. Once necessary the Review for focusing on this extraordi- funding has been secured, allowing for an nary group within the Queen’s community. expansion of the Archives physical space, bernarD clarK The intellectual and physical energy re- we’d welcome alumni donations of used the 86-turbine wolfe island wind facility, quired for these debating events is signifi- computer equipment. For now, we’re only a controversial development that began cant – and I sincerely applaud every mem- accepting equipment for which we have a generating power in mid-2009, is ber of the QDU for their ongoing successes pressing need. We welcome specific queries canada’s second-largest, measured by in national and international competitions. by phone at FBD-EDD-CDGH, or by e-mail at megawatts (197.8). The QDU provides us with a positive [email protected].” – Ed.
4 issue 3, 2012 • Queen’s alumni review
“RAQETEERS” ON THE MARCH he Retirees Association of Queen’s T(RAQ), seemingly a mere mewling baby, is 10 years old. Its anniversary – and the number of Review readers among its members – invite a look at its short past and its prospects for the future. RAQ grew indirectly out the Univer- sity’s 2000 fundraising campaign. Joyce Queen’s marKeting anD communications Zakos, longtime member of the Princi- pal’s executive staff, and I had been re- What does RAQ do? We’re not a union, ing strongly on special tasks not particu- cruited to help with extracting golden but rather a social haven. Nevertheless, larly related to the institution as a whole. ducats from former Queen’s staff and there is an important committee that mon- Queen’s, like most other such North profs. To our dismay, we discovered that itors Queen’s pension plan and facilitates American institutions, is becoming corpo- while many retirees were willing to con- retirees being heard and consulted. Except ratized; the sense of academic fellowship tribute, there were many others who ex- for the lunch accompanying our annual and of belonging to a joint, shared educa- pressed disgruntlement with the Univer- general meeting, most activities do not in- tional adventure is attenuating. sity and felt alienated from their former volve the whole membership but sub- Efforts are being made to reverse the departments, schools, or faculties. groups with specific interests. Participants falling RAQ membership. As with any or- Joyce, Principal Emeritus Ron Watts, sign up in response to announcements ganization dependent on volunteers, the LLD’84, and I bearded then-V-P (Ad- made in the triannual PJO News, in occa- future depends on the imagination, com- vancement) George Hood, Artsci’78, sional mailed notices and on RAQ’s web mitment, and energy of its members. MPA’81, to suggest that some sort of asso- site www.queensu.ca/retirees/index.html Those qualities, along with current initia- ciation be formed, distinct from, but sup- In partnership with the administra- tives to encourage membership, should ported by, the University, to foster and tion, RAQ assists the University in various augur well for the future of RAQ as it maintain ties between Queen’s and its for- programs, including the coaching of can- heads into its second decade mer employees. From the very beginning didates who are up for prestigious awards JoHn meisel, llD’96 we resolved to include academic, adminis- or supervising thesis boards. An oral his- Professor EmERitus (Political stuDies) Kingston, on trative, and support staff. tory project involving members and the George helped us get things started. University Archives is providing informa- The letter writer, a self-described “long-time While the University did not put up any tion for the next volume of Queen’s his- and notorious PJOeteer,” was PJO’s found- money, it provided space for a part-time tory now being written by Carleton Uni- ing president. He was succeeded by Joyce secretary, a computer and a telephone, versity Prof. Emeritus Duncan McDowall, Zakos, Arlene Aish, and George Brandie, and helped in other ways. The impetus Arts’72, MA’74. faculty and staff alternating.) – Ed. B for devising an independent fellowship of So far, RAQ has not produced the former Queen’s faculty and staff bubbled usual organizational cook book, but give up from below. it time. Except for the early vision of a re- PRO CON These were some of the key RAQ ani- tirement home on or near campus, RAQ mators in 2002: Joyce Zakos, Alison has more than met its goals and plays a The Québec student strike (Mackintosh) Morgan, Com’61 (Univer- useful role in the lives of many former thousands of university and college stu- sity Secretariat and Economics); the late staff and faculty and administration. Nev- dents in Québec are staging the longest Dr. Stuart Vandewater (Medicine); Pat ertheless, a cloud may be approaching. strike of its kind in canadian history. Bogstad, Arts’55 (Registrar’s Office); the While we’re very much alive and kick- the protests are raising some funda- late Bill Wright, BA’53, IR’54 (Personnel ing, the membership is declining despite mental questions about post-secondary Services); the late Alan Green, BA’57 (Eco- the rising number of retirees – not by education in Québec – and in canada. nomics); Dave Bonham (V-P Resources much, but nevertheless steadily. Efforts visit the Review web site to read opin- and Law); Joy Hoselton (Senate Office); are being made to reverse the trend, ions on both sides of this controversial the late Dan Soberman, LLD’08 (Law), though this may not be easy to accom- issue as new grad Holly Tousignant, John Gordon (Business), Peter Dorn plish. One suspected cause for this situa- Artsci’12, and third-year student (Graphic Design), and others. tion is that the nature of the University Savoula Stylianou, Artsci’14, sound off The annual membership fee was $15 community is undergoing subtle change. about the conflict. then have your say. ($20 for couples). It has now risen to $20 What was once a strongly collegial, co- TELL US WHO YOU THINK IS RIGHT. and $30, which includes our membership hesive community is changing into a more www.alumnireview.queensu.ca in the College and University Retirees As- impersonal grouping of individuals focus- sociation of Canada (CURAC).
www.alumnireview.Queensu.ca 5
FROM THE DESK OF THE PRINCIPAL
Building on a tradition of change Dramatic changes are in store as Queen’s strives to claim its place among the world’s elite post-secondary educational institutions.
BY PRINCIPAL DANIEL WOOLF
n the University’s 171-year past, we have Canada-wide purview. the period from the early Iseen two prior major inflection points, This satisfied both the 1950s to about 1974. or “junctures” that have fundamentally al- need to broaden the Uni- Queen’s tripled in size dur- tered the shape and direction of Queen’s. versity’s reach and ambi- ing the tenures of Princi- At both points, a combination of internal tion, and the national need pals Mackintosh, Corry, factors and external circumstances trig- for a school of leadership, and Deutsch, added a gered and then facilitated dramatic change. initiative, and achievement, strong stable of graduate On both occasions the University was pre- which could draw young programs and became a re- pared to depart from its past in order to se- men and women from search institution as well as cure its future. coast to coast and prepare an educator of undergrad- The first of these junctures occurred in them for a higher social uates. the last two decades of the 19th century, purpose. The Queen’s tra- As in Grant’s time, this when Principal George Monro Grant, hav- dition of producing lead- change was driven both by
ing seen the role that a national educa- ing public servants for the Queen’s marKeting anD communications a sense of what needed to tional institution could play in the building country and its provinces be done to maintain of a young country, turned a small liberal matured through the 20th century, but it Queen’s place as a leading institution of arts and divinity college into a compre- was conceived in Grant’s time. higher learning, but also by external fac- hensive undergraduate university with a The second juncture occurred during tors including a post-war Baby Boom, an
2012·2013
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6 issue 3, 2012 • Queen’s alumni review
F
imperative to diversify Canada’s economy, brought us to this juncture. Our challenge of Queen’s students and alumni, as well as the country’s positioning of itself as a mid- now is to preserve those aspects that are es- its faculty and staff, encapsulates the three dle power and a peacekeeper, and the need sential to the Queen’s of the past and pres- central traits this University seeks to con- to increase scholarly research and innova- ent – a reputation for quality, a history of tinue to foster in all those who are part of tion. And, as with the changes of the first producing outstanding graduates at all lev- the Queen’s community: an unwavering juncture, this transition, too, took time to els, and an institutional commitment to pursuit of excellence, the ability to think mature and entailed a commitment of the turning academic knowledge into public and act independently and imaginatively, entire university to a re-imagination of our action – while seizing the opportunity to and a determination to improve the world. mission. reinvent the University yet again for the As we embark this autumn on both a Queen’s progress toward research excel- world of the 21st century. major capital campaign and on the imple- lence in particular has continued largely Among those things that we should mentation of Senate’s Academic Plan, we unabated, in part owing to a massive infu- reasonably regard as essential, the student will likely change many elements of our ap- sion of federal research funding during the experience is at the core of Queen’s identity proach to teaching and learning. We must last 15 years, and in part owing to the superb and reputation. It is the latter in particular be open to significant change, as our pred- quality of faculty hired in the past three that continues to attract extraordinary ecessors were. However, we must also take decades and the graduate students and post- young minds to our campuses. The quality care to preserve and enhance those things doctoral fellows whom they have trained. of that intake is demonstrable in key indi- that have made Queen’s one of Canada’s A third such juncture is upon us – one cators such as the number of students ad- foremost universities – as we now aspire to that is just as momentous as those earlier mitted from across the country and abroad have Queen’s recognized as being among ones, and one that will determine the Uni- (with an entering average this past year of the world’s best. versity’s destiny and its likelihood of suc- 88 per cent across all faculties). And our cess for decades to come. A unique com- students are more than just very bright: This column is an abridgment of the Princi- bination of economic instability, they are game-changers. pal’s essay “The Third Juncture,” which he re- technological change, and the globaliza- The “Spirit of Initiative,” a phrase that leased in May CABC. To read the full text of the tion of education and knowledge has aptly describes the distinguishing feature essay, please visit http://bit.ly/LJIhHz B
introducing
e ecting change, a ecting lives.
The inaugural issue, Exploring Human Dimensions, pro les various researchers who examine diverse issues, from bullying to end-of-life decision making, Aboriginal healthcare and delivery of municipal services. www.queensu.ca/vpr
www.alumnireview.Queensu.ca 7
THANK YOU TO OUR 2012 SPEAKERS AND SPONSORS GIZMOS AND GADGETS Payam Aghsaee, Richard Ascough, Logan Ashall, Ryley Beddoe, Leon Boegman, Ahmed Boraey, Sarah Bryant, Tim Bryant, Lynda Colgan, Ana da Silva, Leia de Guzman, David Dodge, Brian Frank, Angela Garcia, Kim Garrison, Don Harmsen, Bobbi Kerlin, Samantha King, Warren Mabee, Sidneyeve Matrix, Bob McGraw, Marilyn McHarg, David McTavish, Ryan Mulligan, John O’Neill, Joli Manson, Jake Reaume, Luke Reaume, Richard Reznick, Bob Ross, Carlos Saavedra, Adam Silvester, John Smol, Paul St. John, Andy Take, Niko Troje, Scott Whetstone, Jimmy Wintle COMPUTER-ASSISTED SURGERY
Learn more at alumni.queensu.ca/miniu Contact us at [email protected] Presenting sponsor Mark your calendar for Queen’s MiniU 2013, May -
8 issue 3, 2012 • Queen’s alumni review
I N MEMORIAM
He made the complex seem simple the sudden, unexpected death of stephen gyimah, a brilliant young scholar, has left his family, friends, colleagues, and students with a profound sense of loss.
B Y P R O F . EMERITUS ROBERTA HAMILTON AND PROF. VINCENT SACCO tephen Obeng Gyimah, a brilliant Stephen’s modesty notwithstanding, stu- demographic and development studies ap- Sscholar, an inspirational teacher, a dents expressed their gratitude to him for proaches to social policy questions in kind and generous mentor and friend, and having guided them through difficult con- Canada, in his native Ghana, and in other a devoted husband and cepts and techniques, African nations. This ensured his work father, died suddenly at for his caring nature would be influential across disciplinary his Kingston home on that made them want to boundaries. May 11 following a few come to class, and their In a career that ended far too early, days of feeling unwell. sadness that next year’s Stephen Obeng Gyimah accomplished a He was just 43. The ex- class will no longer ben- great deal. He published dozens of papers pressions of grief and efit from his humility, in influential journals, and he engaged disbelief from all who kindness, and skill. other scholars as a frequent conference knew this vibrant, Stephen used his participant. That he had come to be cheerful, respected, and command of the com- viewed as a leading authority in the study well-loved man give plex technicalities of of Sub-Saharan Africa is clear from the at- some idea of just how quantitative and demo- tention that his work attracted from the ed- much he will be missed. graphic approaches in itors of major journals and from granting
Before coming to monica gyimaH service to his scholar- agencies. In his last year, Stephen’s record Queen’s in 2003 from stephen gyimah (1969-2012) ship – that is, as tools of achievement was remarkable. Alone and the University of West- that allowed him to il- with others, he published 10 scholarly ar- ern Ontario, where he earned his PhD, luminate the problems shared by millions ticles and had seven others at various Stephen told us that his thesis “examined of real-life people. In this respect, his work stages of completion. the usefulness of frailty models within a serves as an exemplar of C. Wright Mills’ A few days before he died Stephen was parametric hazard framework,” and we “sociological imagination.” For Mills, the so- in his office with a few students, and there had no reason to doubt him. It was clear ciologist’s task was to make comprehen- was so much laughter that one of his col- his knowledge of complex methodological sive sense of the links between biography leagues thought about going down the hall approaches to the study of social life was and history, between the lives of individu- to ask for a little peace and quiet. Now that far superior to that of most of his als and the structure of colleague would give any- colleagues. society, and between pri- the expressions of thing to hear those happy His command of matters statistical and vate troubles and public grief and disbelief sounds again. Stephen empirical made him a crucial resource per- issues. This “promise,” as had a great wit and a won- son for students and colleagues alike, and Mills described, is real- from all who knew this derful laugh that came eas- his remarkable generosity in sharing his ized in the scholarship vibrant, cheerful, ily and often. However, knowledge contributed to their projects Stephen has left us. respected, and well- underneath it all loomed a in important ways. In his writing on sub- loved man give some penetrating mind and a This generosity also informed his teach- Saharan Africa, he ad- commitment to under- ing. As Stephen once explained, “It dressed with laser-like idea of just how much standing and addressing dawned on me that most students come to precision such complex he will be missed. injustice and inequity. statistics with genuine fears that can be health and public policy A Memorial Service exacerbated by the abstract manner in issues as HIV/AIDS, malaria, infant mor- will be held on Friday, September 21 at which statistics is taught. My teaching phi- tality, educational attainment, marital dis- 4 pm in McLaughlin Hall, JDUC. losophy centres on making these courses solution, aging, and physical abuse. For practical and interesting by drawing on Stephen, the most important piece of any In writing this memorial, the authors – both examples from everyday life. I also try to puzzle lay in the intersection of culture of whom were Stephen Gyimah’s Sociology dispel psychological barriers by empha- and unequal socio-economic growth and Department colleagues – drew on tributes sizing that all students can be trained to development. from Stephen’s graduate students and from learn statistics, and that there’s no need He appreciated interdisciplinarity, those posted on the James Reid Funeral for a special talent.” drawing upon geographical, sociological, Home’s website at http://bit.ly/NgiUip B
www.alumnireview.Queensu.ca 9
BOARD OF TRUSTEES UPDATE
A new Chair for the Board of Trustees
hen Barbara Palk, Arts’73, trans- and senior vice-president volved with the AMS, the Wferred to Queen’s in the fall of 1970 of TD Bank Group. Arts and Science Under- after first year studies at Western, she had Palk began contribut- graduate Society, and nu- every intention of studying English. How- ing her skills and expert- merous organizing com- ever, things didn’t work out that way. ise to the Board of mittees. “Giving back to “After I took one of Prof. David Dodge’s Trustees Investment Com- the community is part of courses, I was inspired to pursue a degree mittee in the mid-1990s. my psychology, and I’ve in economics. He was such an engaging She was elected to the learned a lot from volun- teacher,” recalls Palk, who officially took Board in 2002 and has teering,” she says. over as Chair of the Board of Trustees on served as Vice-Chair since As a committed alumna, June 1, succeeding Bill Young, Sc’77, who 2010. She has chaired the Barbara Palk isn’t shy about stepped down following 16 years of service, Investment Committee doing some “unofficial
the last six as Chair. In September, Palk and also sat on the Finance suPPlieD PHoto recruiting” for Queen’s. will take a seat next to now-Chancellor and Human Resources new board of trustees “My sister Nancy [Palk, Dodge when she chairs her first Board of committees. chair barbara Palk Artsci’76], who studied Trustees meeting. Being a trustee is just drama at Queen’s, and I “I have some ideas about what I’d like to one of Palk’s volunteer activities. She has talked to her son about Queen’s. We visited accomplish, but I want to hear from worked with a wide variety of organiza- campus and told him about the wonderful Queen’s community members and get tions over the years and received the On- opportunities we enjoyed. I’m not sure how their viewpoints on the issues,” she says. tario Volunteer Award in 2004. She traces much influence we had on his decision to The Toronto resident recently retired as her commitment to community service study here, but he knows we’ve been keen the president of TD Asset Management back to her undergrad days when was in- on Queen’s for a while.” –QNS
Celebrating 75 Years of Industrial Relations at Queen’s 75 yearsy s
Learn. Apply. Transform. Learn to manage and lead in 5 days or less with the help of University IRC, Canada’s leading professional development centre for human resources, labour relations, and organization development. With open enrollment and customized programs, IRC can help you champion change, resolve disputes and align people with purpose.
To learn more call toll-free: 1-888-858-7838 or visit our website: irc.queensu.ca
10 issue 3, 2012 • Queen’s alumni review
CAMPUS SCENE
Celebrating a proud heritage for 75 years, Queen’s has been the national leader in the industrial relations field. that tradition of excellence continues today at the industrial relations centre.
BY ANITA JANSMAN, ARTSCI’06
hen the study of Indus- resources professionals. The 1990s Wtrial Relations started at witnessed changes in business Queen’s in the midst of the Great and industry in an increasingly Depression, Canada’s labour re- globalized economy while the late lations and human resources Bryan M. Downie in his role as management landscape looked IRC director sought to bridge the a lot different than it does today. gap between academia and actual In 1937, organized labour was workplace practice. Under Carol on the march, and there was a Beatty’s directorship, 1996-2005, growing awareness among the IRC was characterized as
unions, business, and govern- rob taylor “Canada’s people management fin- ment bureaucrats that there was IRC negotiation skills facilitator anne grant (centre) worked ishing school.” a need to collect and analyze with a group of participants last fall as they prepared for a The IRC’s current director, data on labour policies and prac- simulation of a negotiation round. Paul Juniper, is building on the tices. The IR Section was a true proud legacy created by his pred- pioneer in that regard, being the first or- Canadian Air Force,” says Reid. “At the IR ecessors and shepherding the IRC ganization of its kind in Canada. Section, I fine-tuned my concentration in as it adapts to the industrial relations land- During the war years, the “IR Section”, business.” scape that is changing at a dizzying pace. as it was then called, gained even greater He was particularly impressed by the Globalization in an electronically con- relevance when it began offering profes- IRC’s first director, James C. Cameron. “He nected world has had huge implications in sional courses to managers in industry had real vision for the IRC and was a good the workplace and in labour relations. For and business. teacher. He made you dig in, made you example, the membership and strength of Seventy-five years later, the Industrial think,” says Reid. manufacturing sector unions are in decline, Relations Section has evolved into the In- Appointed by then-Dean Mackintosh, while unions in the public and service sec- dustrial Relations Centre (IRC) and its Cameron directed the IRC until 1960. tors are growing. Juniper’s goal is to con- pioneering spirit endures. Unique in Under his leadership, Queen’s earned a tinue to offer the same high-quality teach- Canada, the Centre stands tall as a leader national reputation for its scholarship in ing and practitioner-oriented research for in teaching and practice-based research industrial relations and Cameron himself which the IRC has become known and to that helps business and labour leaders re- earned the well-deserved nickname, “Mr. make it as widely accessible as possible. solve disputes, champion change, and Industrial Relations.” “Rather than having students come to align human resources with organizations’ Subsequent directors led the IRC Kingston, we run courses across the country purpose and mission. “We train practi- through an evolution that has seen ex- now, from Victoria to St John’s,” says Juniper. tioners, people in the workplace,” says IRC traordinary change and growth in indus- The IRC now offers four certificates, 14 director Paul Juniper. “It’s skill-based train- trial relations and human resources man- open-enrollment programs, as well as cus- ing that people can take back to their offices agement. Through the 1960s and 1970s, Dr. tomized programs tailored to fit the spe- and immediately apply.” Donald Wood bolstered research activities, cific needs of students. Last year about 800 Frederick Donald Reid, IR’50, one of oversaw the creation of a specialized IR li- professionals took one or more programs. the IRC’s earliest graduates recalls his time brary, organized and held countless con- An archival project that’s underway at the IR Section fondly, noting the practi- ferences and seminars, and established pol- aims to make critical contextual and his- cal training served him well throughout icy-oriented relationships with industry torical information available to IR profes- his 50-year career at Imperial Oil. In 1945, and government. During his tenure, the sionals. The project involves digitizing a one-year diploma course designed to School of Industrial Relations was formed published papers and research documents meet the demand from veterans, saw 29 at Queen’s, offering the Masters of Indus- and making them accessible online. students enrolled, some with university trial Relations (MIR) program. degrees, but most with commissions from Wood’s successor, Prof. Emeritus (Law) The MPK will celebrate GE years of industrial the armed forces. Donald Carter, Arts’63, LLB’66, established relations excellence at Queen’s in October. “I came in with an arts degree from a core, full-time faculty within the IRC to Please visit the Centre’s website at McGill, after having served with the Royal help meet the growing demand for human irc.queensu.ca for more details. B
www.alumnireview.Queensu.ca 11
CAMPUS SCENE
The doctor is out first-year medical students at Queen’s are required to spend a week working in a small-town hospital or rural clinic. the experience can be an eye-opener – for fledgling physicians and patients alike.
BY KALILA STEEN, MEDS’15 ime’s up,” called the exam proctor. pressed with their physicians. The family T“Pencils down.” As I turned in my physicians in small hospitals are faced with exam materials, I felt the total relief of a great breadth of practice. These doctors completing my last final of the year. I are internists, obstetricians, coroners, anes- walked out of the building and saw the thetists, emergency physicians, and more – tired, happy faces of my fellow medical they are true general practitioners. How- school students in the warm summer’s sun; ever, the disadvantage of a rural hospital is I couldn’t help but smile. We had come a the lack of resources. For example, the hos- long way in this first year of medical pitals don’t always have the personnel to school, and we learned more than we employ lab and imaging technicians on thought our heads could hold. Saturday and Sunday nights. In addition, But even though the Queen’s campus complicated cases must naturally be re- was bare and exams were over, the year ferred to larger facilities. wasn’t quite done yet. Each spring, Queen’s In Dryden, I was struck by the unique- sends its first-year medical students across ness of the Aboriginal patient population. Ontario to work in rural family medicine I encountered young men who were clinics. During this time, we were to apply plagued with suicidal ideation because what we’ve seen in our textbooks to real most of their family and friends had al- patients, and get a feel for “small-town liv- ready attempted or died by suicide. I met
ing.” It’s called “Community Week,” and Justin bell a lovely elderly woman who suffered hor- students often cite it as the highlight of spending five weeks immersed in small- ribly because her grandchildren kept steal- the first year of medical school. Armed town living was an eye-opener for Kalila ing the narcotics she needed for relief. I with our stethoscopes, white clerk coats, steen, meds’15, and a classmate. saw intoxicated men who were within and a healthy mix of confidence and fear, inches of death because they were high on we dispersed across the province to work “The town has everything you need here, deodorant, paint thinner, and hairspray. in the clinics for the first time. but don’t forget the city is just down the However, I also got a chance to learn a I was sent to Arnprior, a town of 7,500 highway.” little about Ojibway culture and to see people located about an hour north of However, more important to us than wonderful instances of Aboriginal fami- Ottawa. After a week there, my classmate, the welcome accorded us by the politicians lies helping each other. For example, I met Justin Bell, Meds’15, and I drove 2,000 km and administrators was the reception we an exhausted daughter caught between old to Dryden, just east of the Manitoba bor- received from the townspeople. They wel- traditions and modern living, trying to der, to spend an additional month working comed us into their homes and took us care for countless troubled family mem- in a “summer studentship” at a rural fam- kayaking, fishing, and boating. The people bers while holding down her own job. In ily medicine clinic. wore the pride of their town on their addition, I observed a loving mother The most striking features of these sleeves, and many made a point of asking sternly lecturing her grown son in Ojibway small towns are the warm welcome and if I would move to the area someday to to stop drinking, and helping him get off hospitality. While we were in the Ottawa take over the local practice. Even though I the streets. valley, the hospital CEO and local mayor introduced myself as a medical student, I Spending five weeks working in rural wined and dined us as they showered us was regularly addressed as “doctor,” a for- communities was an eye-opening adven- with reasons to move to their town one eign sound to my ears that caught me off ture for me. I learned about the value of day. “The physicians live a five-minute guard each time. tight-knit communities, saw a variety of walk away from the hospital.” “You’ll never I was completely charmed by these cot- medical practices, and caught a glimpse of believe how inexpensive property is here!” tage-country villages, and even more im- native culture. Perhaps one day I will return even though i introduced myself as a medical student, to these communities, but for now I look forward to returning to Queen’s in the fall i was regularly addressed as “doctor,” a foreign sound to my ears equipped with fresh, hands-on clinical ex- that caught me off guard each time. perience and a brand-new perspective. B
12 issue 3, 2012 • Queen’s alumni review
Q U I D N O V I ? * *BEING A COMPENDIUM OF “WHAT’S NEW” ON CAMPUS
Spring honorary degree recipients the following 9 distinguished individuals received honorary degrees at spring 2012 convocation ceremonies: • SHAWN A-IN-CHUT ATLEO, LLD, First nations activist and the current national chief of the assembly of First nations; • DOUGLAS HARGREAVES, arts’60, LLD, longtime gaels football coach; • JACQUELINE MAXWELL, LLD, artistic director of the shaw Festival; Queen’s Marketing and coMMunications LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON ... • PETER MILLIKEN, arts’68, LLD, retired Principal daniel Woolf took part in spring convocation Liberal MP for kingston and the islands ceremonies that welcomed more than 4,000 new (1988-2011), and the longest serving speaker grads to the Queen’s alumni family. one new of the House of commons (2001-11) in alumnus who had special significance for the canadian history; Principal was his 21-year-old son, samuel, (above left), • LOWELL MURRAY, LLD, former federal a Biology major who was hooded by his mother, cabinet minister in the conservative Jane arscott, artsci’81, Phd’93. government of Brian Mulroney and retired senator; IN MEMORIAM • RAYMOND PRICE, dsc, Professor Emeritus • KING, ALAN, Professor Emeritus, Faculty of (geology); education, died at home in kingston. March 30, • DAVID SINCLAIR, artsci’69, Phd’72, dsc; age 79. world-renowned physicist and sudbury • LAZIER, BEVERLY, founding and longtime neutrino observatory Laboratory researcher;
director of QTV, died april 27, in kingston, age 87. Bernard cLark DAVID STRATAS, Law’84, LLD, jurist and GYIMAH, STEPHEN, associate Professor, • Longtime Gaels’ football coach • judge on the Federal court of appeal; department of sociology, died suddenly May 11 Doug Hargreaves was one of 9 in kingston, age 43. (Please see p. 9 for more • MARY EVELYN TUCKER, DD, noted Yale honorary degree recipients at information.) university scholar of asian religions and spring 2012 convocation religion and ecology. ceremonies. A new model for alumni reunions? the university and the Queen’s university alumni association (QUAA) have begun Gaels 2012 conversations with campus and community partners to identify an alternative model for alumni reunions. football schedule several months ago, Principal daniel Woolf asked the office of advancement to AUGUST 26 – 1 pm, vs. Mcgill work with the QUAA and the rector to initiate dialogue with student leaders, campus SEPTEMBER 3 – 2 pm, vs. York departments, city partners and members of the extended Queen’s community in a SEPTEMBER 8 – 8 pm, at Wilfrid Laurier bid to identify an alternative model for university-sanctioned fall reunions. this work SEPTEMBER 15 – 1 pm, vs Western is underway. SEPTEMBER 22 – 1 pm, at McMaster “i’m confident the current work we’re undertaking will provide a positive oppor- SEPTEMBER 29 – 1 pm, vs. ottawa tunity for alumni, students, and the city to engage with the university and one an- OCTOBER 6 – 7 pm, at Windsor other,” says Woolf. “i know alumni value the fall reunion experience. i also know the OCTOBER 13 – 1 pm, at guelph Queen’s community shares my concerns regarding the safety of our students, OCTOBER 20 – 1 pm, vs. u of t alumni, and city residents, and also concerns about the reputation of Queen’s and the city.” the university will be seeking perspectives when students return in the fall on an alternative model for university-sanctioned alumni reunions. “i’ll need to consider many perspectives before making my decision,” says Woolf. details about progress toward a new university-sanctioned model for alumni re- unions will be communicated as discussions move forward. — QN C
WWW.aLuMnirevieW.Queensu.ca 13
Naming Dedications the board of trustees has approved the following nam- ing dedications in recognition of the generosity of Queen’s alumni and friends of the university:
NIXON FIELD • the dedication of the home team bench in recognition of the pledge from bob Pritchard, sc’64. Queen’s marKeting anD communications ISABEL BADER CENTRE FOR The Kennedy Field Station will be one of three sites where research will be conducted in the RBC-Queen’s THE PERFORMING ARTS University Water Initiative. • a staff room in the isabel Queen’s teams with RBC on watershed research-education bader centre for the Performing arts in over the next decade, Queen’s will be developing one of north america’s best-equipped facilities for recognition of the gift from advanced watershed research and education. thanks to a 10-year, $2-million gift from RBC’s blue water Project, cruickshank construction. which supports organizations involved in watershed protection, Queen’s is installing new water and weather (to monitor progress on monitoring and measuring equipment at the Kennedy field station, a 135-acre property on the salmon river the construction project, donated to the university by russ Kennedy, bsc’41, Dsc’93; on a 2,000-acre tract beside the tay river near please visit Perth; and at the bayview bog, a wetland area that borders amherstview, just west of Kingston. together, the http://bit.ly/PAC2012) three sites will comprise the RBC Queen’s university water initiative. Prof. Kent novakowski (Head of civil engineering), who specializes in NEW MEDICAL BUILDING hydrogeology, says the three sites will allow Queen’s undergrad and graduate • a seminar room in students and pupils from Kingston-area schools to learn first-hand how recognition of the gift from urbanization, industrial development, and agriculture can affect the flow, m. sullivan & son limited.
volume, and quality of water as it moves through a watershed. BRUCE WING, MILLER HALL “we want to understand anthropogenic impacts throughout the water • room 352, bruce wing, cycle,” says novakowski. “that knowledge is essential for certain civil engi- miller Hall, in honour of neers, but it can also help teach important lessons to schoolchildren about ray Price, Prof. Emeritus being responsible stewards of water and the environment.” (geology), in recognition gord nixon, com’79, LLD’03, the CEO of RBC, says those reasons are a big of the pledge from part of why the bank supported Queen’s water initiative. Queen’s marKeting anD communications Prof. Kent Novakowski multiple donors. “it’s important to have deliberate, thoughtful conversations about water, GOODES HALL EXPANSION which is so much a part of our daily lives that we rarely think about it,” he says. “water is one of the most pre- lecture theatre 352 in cious resources on earth, and even in canada, where we’re ‘water-rich’ compared to many countries, we can’t • goodes Hall in the name afford to become complacent. Projects like this help make sure we don’t.” of canadian enterprise what makes the RBC Queen’s water initiative rare, if not unique, is the geology underlying its water- Development in recognition courses – especially along the salmon river. there’s fractured limestone bedrock as well as canadian shield of the pledge from gerald granite, both of which pose dramatically different challenges for watershed researchers. at all sites the soil sutton, bcom’48, and cover is generally thin, which strongly affects groundwater flow and quality. margaret sutton, BA’48 using the instruments – some of which are solar powered and can transmit data wirelessly – civil engi- classroom 303 in neering students, and others from arts & sciences disciplines such as biology, geology, and environmental • recognition of the pledge science, will conduct experiments as part of their coursework, while some will also design and test equipment from James leech, MBA’73 for real-world clients – such as endetec (formerly Pathogen Detection systems), a Kingston-based firm whose sophisticated water-quality testing devices were developed at Queen’s and are now used around the world. SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD novakowski says such industry-student partnerships will be key pieces of the water initiative. HALL “RBC has given us an amazing opportunity to build and grow a first-class program for watershed field • the dedication of the study,” says Prof. geoff Hall (civil engineering), the associate Director of Queen’s water research centre. atrium in recognition of “what we do here will be of interest to researchers and water-related companies around the world.” the pledge from gowling – ALEC ROSS lafleur Henderson B
14 issue 3, 2012 • Queen’s alumni review
Eureka! news of some of the fascinating discoveries being made by Queen’s researchers
Beam me up, Scotty! tures and speech interactions. us- ing the cylindrical display, they can Queen’s researchers invent 3-D video-conferencing pod. wave to peel off layers of tissue, BY KIRSTEEN MACLEOD or in X-ray mode, get closer to see r. roel vertegaal, associate Professor in Human-computer in- deep into muscles, organs, and Dteraction and the Director of the futuristic Queen’s Human me- bone structure. voice commands dia lab, has been making international headlines for his research such as “show heart” will auto- team’s new video-conferencing technology. matically zoom in to show a 3-D media reports have compared teleHuman, a three-dimensional model. (3-D) video-conferencing pod, to the holodeck on star trek. since may, the Queen’s Human “teleHuman is not a hologram, actually,” says vertegaal. “it’s a media lab has had a funky new three-dimensional projector that lets people in different locations home – one created by vertegaal in talk as though they were standing in front of one another.” collaboration with award-winning forget about flat-screen skype: now people will be able to chat new york-based industrial designer simply by standing in front of their respective pods and talking to a Karim rashid. an unexpected oasis Roel Vertegaal life-sized image, which gets “beamed” in real-time when a 3-D pro- of colour and curvy form on the top jector projects it onto a convex mirror and then reflects onto the floor of 1969-vintage, ivy-clad Jeffries Hall, the lab was made possible pod’s wrap-around acrylic screen. through a grant by canada foundation for innovation and the ministry of this pioneering pod is a good reflection of the kind of work the research and innovation of ontario. lab strives to do. “People can be apprehensive about the increasing vertegaal, an advocate of “serious play,” emphasizes that the lab’s use of technology,” vertegaal explains. “our lab aims to make it easy unusual design is meant to spark students’ creative ideas. “computers and interactive using creative industrial design.” will be integrated into architecture in the future, and human interfaces the new pod also has exciting new learning and medical applica- will be seamless. Here, students can experiment with space as a user tions. for example, researchers invented bodiPod, which anatomy interface,” he explains. students use to explore a 3-D model of the human body through ges- the inspirational space fea- in future, computers tures, among other things, a pink will be embedded in sofa, a reef-like blue-and-green everything, and take carpet, curved windows and furni- any shape or form, and ture, cool electronic wallpaper, a museum of apple computers, a people will need ways kitchen and shower for students, to seamlessly interact. and embedded technology: a ceil- ing projector grid; a wall-sized interactive display that users control using in-air gestures; and a translucent wall that disappears when people in adjoining cubicles look at an eye monitor, signaling that they want to talk to one another. vertegaal, who is in his element in this creative playground, has had an impressive career. His first degree was in electronic music at utrecht conservatory in the netherlands. “it was everything from bach sonatas to jazz improv – i loved the multidisciplinary fusion,” he says. then in 1989, when he needed a sampler he couldn’t afford, he decided to make his own. “so i became a kick-ass coder, and that led me from music into to my studies with computers.” He then com- pleted an msc in computer science at bradford university, U.K., and earned a PhD in Human factors at twente university in netherlands.
Some observers have compared Roel Vertegaal’s visionary 3-D, video-conferencing pod to the “holodeck” found aboard the
Queen’s Human meDia lab fictional star trek spacecraft enterprise.
www.alumnireview.Queensu.ca 15
vertegaal, one of the world’s leading specialists in eye Table salt key in treating unsafe communication between humans, and between humans and technology, received the Premier of ontario’s research drinking water excellence award for his work on attentive user interfaces. Queen’s researchers have developed a new process using table salt to make AUIs such as eye-contact sensors make devices more inter- drinking water safer. this is good news for developing countries where 80 per active and responsive to their users. cent of disease is linked to poor water quality and sanitation. these days, however, it’s organic user interfaces that “the need for clean water for drinking, hygiene, and sanitation purposes in vertegaal talks most excitedly about. in future, he says, developing regions is overwhelming,” says brittney Dawney, sc’11, lead author computers will be embedded in everything, and take any of the research. shape or form, and people will need ways to seamlessly the results of the current study suggest simple table salt may be an effec- interact. tive and affordable means of reducing murkiness in water caused by certain How will it work? “we may connect via the body’s motor soils. system – like with a computer’s mouse, which works be- Dawney, a civil engineering grad student who is working with Prof. Joshua cause we can keep concentrating while we use it,” he Pearce (mechanical and materials engineering), discovered adding table salt to speculates. “or if we want to tap into new potential, we’ll murky water causes particles in the water to clump together. after the clumps need to tap into our subconscious. our pre-attentive brain are removed, the water is left in the sun for up to six hours to kill the governs 80 per cent of what we do.” pathogens that cause diarrhea. the initial salt treatment is key to producing so when can we expect to see a star-trek-style safe drinking water, as Pearce notes, “the solar water disinfection (SODIS) tech- holodeck? “teleHuman is still rudimentary, and projecting nology does not work with murky water.” and tracking objects is just the beginning. but holographs if the findings prove effective in the field, the number of people in develop- will be possible within 50 years, he predicts. “if we could ing regions who can access SODIS as a means of supplying clean, safe drinking create a computer experience that’s realistic and physical, water will be greatly increased. for example, we could have a virtual cadaver, a hologram next steps include testing how the process works on different soil types that’s alive, for surgeons to work on.” across africa. – ANNE CRAIG
Colour of robins’ eggs determines The high cost parental care of laziness a male robin will be more diligent in caring for its young if the eggs its mate lays are a Physical inactivity in canada is causing severe prob- brighter shade of blue. lems for both the physical and financial health of Dr. bob montgomerie has been studying robins on and off for 25 years and has a canadians. according to a study done by Prof. ian particular fascination with the bright blue colour of their eggs. to test a theory on the Janssen, msc’98, PhD’02 (Kinesiology and Health purpose of bright egg colouration, montgomerie and msc student Philina english, studies), who is the canada research chair in msc’09, working at the Queen’s university biological station and other sites around Physical activity and obesity, canadian adults’ inac- Kingston, replaced the real eggs in robins’ nests with artificial eggs of different shades tivity costs taxpayers $6.8 of blue. billion per year – 3.8 per Just before the real eggs would have hatched, the researchers replaced the artificial cent of the country’s total eggs with baby robins. health care spending. “we were testing the idea males can use “the proportion of the egg colour as a signal of the quality and population that is inactive health of their mate, and that healthy mates has reached an all-time create better babies,” says montgomerie, high,” says Janssen. “in whose research focuses on sexual selection fact, 85 per cent of cana- and parental care in birds. “sure enough, dian adults do not engage males whose nests contained the brightest in sufficient amounts of blue eggs fed their newly-hatched babies physical activity. these Prof. Ian Janssen twice as much.” high inactivity levels have the blue colour in robin eggs is due to a substantial impact on the development of biliverdin, a pigment deposited on the chronic disease in the population.” eggshell when the female lays the eggs. there of the $6.8 billion in costs, $2.7 billion is attrib- is some evidence that higher biliverdin levels uted to treating coronary artery disease, indicate a healthier female and brighter blue $1.4 billion to type 2 diabetes and $1.1 billion to A male robin will be more diligent in eggs. eggs laid by a healthier female seemed stroke. Janssen used a combination of public caring for its young if the eggs are a to encourage males to take more interest in health and economic approaches to generate brighter shade of blue. their young. –A.C. these figures. B
16 issue 3, 2012 • Queen’s alumni review
CAMPUS SCENE
For the love of art gus shurvell retired from his teaching position in the Department of chemistry back in 1995, but that doesn’t mean he’s no longer in the classroom.
BY LINDY MECHEFSKE
r. H. F.“Gus” Shurvell is role and expertise is in ana- Da volunteer professor. lyzing molecules and elements That’s right – a volunteer. The present in various pieces of Emeritus Professor, who re- art. From old mirrors to an- tired from the Department of cient paper, to antique Chemistry in 1995, is now an bronzes and paintings, adjunct professor in the Art Shurvell helps students to pre- Conservation program. pare samples and to use an in- Shurvell came to Queen’s frared spectrometer for analy- in 1965 and never left. During sis of molecules and an X-ray his 30-year teaching career in fluorescence analyser for the Chemistry Department, he analysis of elements. “Students authored a number of books need to know what elements and more than 200 publica- are present in objects and pig-
tions. He served as editor of linDy mecHefsKe ments before starting conser- Canadian Spectroscopic News shurvell shares a laugh with grad student moya Dumville. vation measures. We uncover and was recognised for his re- lead, copper, chromium, search in the fields of both Infrared and Ra- work that I take pleasure in. I really enjoy nickel, titanium, and mercury and gold, man spectroscopy. He was also the recipi- the students. They’re working on fascinat- amongst others,” he explains. ent of an Arts and Science Undergraduate ing projects and finding internships and Another student drops by the lab. Society Award for Excellence in Teaching, jobs all over the world. It’s a pleasure to Moya Dumville, MAC’12, is finishing up and twice was nominated for the Alma work with them,” he says. “Besides, I don’t her Master’s degree in Art Conservation Mater Society’s Frank Knox Award. want my brain to atrophy,” he adds with a and is leaving for an internship position in After his retirement, Shurvell contin- laugh. the U.S.. Her research concentrated on the ued to supervise graduate students and do There’s no danger of that. Gus Shurvell conservation of old books and paper. She research, but he was interested in new hori- is still very much “a live wire.” He’s still has come to say goodbye to Shurvell. zons. He knew there was a need in the Art publishing, teaching, and has the energy “I couldn’t have completed my degree Conservation program and because he and enthusiasm of a man half his 77 years. without Gus’s help,” she says. “Although had the necessary expertise, he offered up Before we even began to chat, several I’ve studied chemistry, I’m not a scientist. his services. Gratis. students called on Shurvell. He knew every Gus was there while I ran my tests, and he Mounted on the wall of his lab, Shurvell one of them by name, where they come patiently explained the science. If things has a framed copy of his letter from Dean from, and what their research is about. He weren’t working, he was there straight Alistair MacLean, sent on behalf of Princi- introduced them while simultaneously giv- away to help solve the issue. I can’t say pal Daniel Woolf, confirming his fourth ing me a quick chemistry lecture, and ex- enough good things about him. Gus is one contract position as an Adjunct Professor plaining the two main tools he uses with of the people I’m really going to miss when in the Department of Art. The letter rec- his work in Art Conservation. I leave Kingston.” ommending Shurvell for a five-year ap- Besides dispensing advice and encour- This summer Shurvell is taking a bit of pointment states, “This appointment car- agement to his young charges – especially time off work to drive west across Canada ries no remuneration or fringe benefits, pertaining to the scientific aspects of their with his wife Irene, to visit one of their but will enable you to contribute to the Art projects – Shurvell also gives a series of lec- three children, Dave, who lives in B.C. Conservation program in the Department tures on spectroscopy. However, his main Their other children are Andy, a theatre of Art. I am very pleased that you are will- technician, and Joanne, Artsci’84, MA’87, a ing to assist us in this capacity.” Since his re- shurvell is still very much journalist and gallery owner in London, tirement, Shurvell has had four such letters, ‘a live wire.’ He’s still publishing, England. sent on behalf of four different Principals. teaching, and has the energy Says Shurvell, “I’ll celebrate my 78th Shurvell says that contrary to the state- birthday in September, but when I get back ment in his appointment letter, there are and enthusiasm of a man in the lab, and meet the students, it will be fringe benefits. “I’m doing interesting half his 77 years. as if my birthdays have come at once.” B
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COVER STORY Flying theTricolour inCalgary
calgary, fast emerging as one of canada’s most dynamic, vibrant, and prosperous cities, is also home to thousands of Queen’s alumni. coincidence? Definitely not!
BY GWENDOLYN RICHARDS
PHOTOS BY MIKE O’CONNOR, SC’68, PHD’76, DSC’92
18 issue 3, 2012 • Queen’s alumni review
these 10 young members of the Queen’s community in calgary – hey are geologists, lawyers, engineers, and entrepre- like more than 4,000 other alumni in the stampede city – neurs. They hail from the Maritimes, central Canada, the have lots to cheer these days. Pictured are (l-r): prairies, B.C., and small-town Alberta. andre gomez, sc’12; onyi okorafo, msc’09; calgary branch Some are newly retired. Others are well into their working President Jeremy mosher, artsci’08; Job cherian, MBA’12; lives. Still others are recent grads just starting to make names sarah Dougherty, artsci’10; michael smith, sc’12; for themselves and launching their careers. tori D’avella, artsci’12; mahyar esmaeilzadeh, sc’12; But despite disparate ages and areas of expertise, the more choa lee, sc’13; and, richard rodrigues, sc’12. than 4,000 Queen’s alumni who call Calgary home are stitched together by a common history, and a shared experi- ence that spans decades and disciplines. Whether drawn home by the big sky – embroidered on the western side by the jagged Rockies – or lured to this fast-grow- ing city by job prospects, this common thread binds them. The result: a well-connected and active Branch of the Queen’s University Alumni Association (QUAA) that each year holds numerous events where attendees socialize, network, cele- brate their common history, and find ways to give back to the university that gave them so much. “Queen’s grads are the largest alumni group in Calgary from a school outside of Alberta, says Jim Campbell, Ed’76, the manager of Queen’s Western Canada Office – which is located at Perpetual Energy thanks to the generous support of President and CEO Sue Riddell Rose, Sc’86. Calgary, with the second highest number of head offices in the country and as the centre of the energy sector, has plenty of jobs for engineers, business majors, and geologists. “Calgary is the most dynamic city in Canada,” says Michael Casey, Law ’72. And its history is linked to pioneers and exploration. “It’s a city of risk-takers,” says Joe Lougheed, Artsci’88. “Queen’s, from an early time, seems to mold that into its grad- uates.” Small wonder a growing number of Queen’s grads from all parts of Canada are flocking to the city. Other Tricolour alumni here are native westerners who took a risk when they decided to leave home and family to study among the lime- stone buildings of the University’s campus in Kingston. Those first few days and weeks test students’ mettle, while also cultivating lifelong friendships. When the graduates leave for home again, they take with them their connection to the school. “There’s a special attachment when you’re from Queen’s,” says Mike O’Connor, Sc’68, PhD ’76, DSc’92. “It stays with you forever.” And you become part of a family, one that in Calgary continues to thrive and grow. “As soon as you say you’re from Queen’s, a lot of people welcome you with open arms,” says Josephine Tsang, PhD ’06, a former Branch president. They all have their personal reasons for maintaining ties with Queen’s and for supporting the institution where they were educated, came of age, and broadened their horizons. “A lot of people believe in paying it forward,” says Tsang. The Calgary Branch of the QUAA was founded in 1951 by Keith Mitchell, BSc’34. However, it was in sizeable measure
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due to the passion and enthusiasm of his successor, Dr. Ernie Johnson, MD’38, that the Calgary Branch grew from its humble beginnings. When Johnson handed over the reins to Kim Sturgess, Sc’77, in 1981 after almost 30 years at the helm, his efforts on be- half of his alma mater and his own loyalty and philanthropy were commemorated with the creation of an annual award named after him, which honours Queen’s spirit in the west. The Queen’s community in Calgary is thriving. Today, the group organizes everything from pub nights, to cultural and sports outings, to charitable fundraising events, and an annual summer BBQ that Kim Sturgess, a longtime Trustee, has kindly hosted for many years. And here, under the endless western skies, new memories are being added to those that were created during student days at Queen’s. “It wasn’t just a four-year education,” says Sturgess. “It was a life experience.” That point was underscored when the Review spoke recently with some of the alumni in Calgary who are living, working, and helping to make this into one of Canada’s most vibrant, dynamic, for the past 23 years, Kim sturgess, sc’77, has rolled out the and exciting cities. welcome mat – and draped her door with a tricolour flag – as she has hosted the calgary branch’s annual dinner at her home. Tricolour to the core Kim Sturgess, who graduated in Engineering Physics 35 years ago, water management awareness and practices in the province. Any describes herself as “Queen’s down to the underwear.” surplus that arises from the fee-for-service work goes into projects And her enthusiasm for her alma mater is almost palpable. that promote the public good. At the same time, she’s no less passionate about Calgary, the city “Water is our most important resource and we need to get she has called home for decades. smarter about how we manage it,” says Kim. Kim fell in love with Calgary while working here as a summer It was her father, a military pilot, who encouraged her to go to student, and she moved to the city in 1978 to take a job with Queen’s where her uncle, John Sturgess, had done some research Imperial Oil. When the Trudeau government’s controversial at the medical school. national energy program stifled activity in the oil patch in the early Kim was contemplating applying to the U of T, but having 1980’s, Kim headed back east again to earn an MBA at the Uni- grown up in the quiet of PEI, she realized she couldn’t handle the versity of Western Ontario. She was in good company in London; noisy, big city. about 20 per cent of her class had Queen’s degrees. (With such in- Stepping onto the Queen’s campus “was like being home,” she novative and dynamic grad programs now being offered by recalls. “I fell in love with it, and I’ve been there ever since.” Queen’s own School of Business, many teams of Calgary executives Kim has been a Queen’s Trustee and the Board’s Vice-Chair, has are earning an MBA right in city boardrooms, another way the served on the University Council and on two campaign cabinets, ranks of Queen’s alumni in Calgary are growing.) and became Calgary Branch president when she took over from However, eventually Kim felt a tug from her adopted home in Dr. Ernie Johnson, MD’38, in 1981. In June she hosted the Branch’s the west, and the self-described “serial entrepreneur” returned to annual dinner at her house for the 23rd year. Calgary in 1986 and built up and sold a series of companies. After Why does she continue to be involved with Queen’s? The a life-changing accident in 2005 she founded Alberta WaterSMART answer is simple. “Queen’s has been good to me. I want to make – a not-for-profit organization the goal of which is to improve sure the experience continues for others,” she says.
A QUEEN’S VOICE ON THE AIRWAVES
after 16 years in Kingston – including her student years at Queen’s – former Journal editor (1999-2000) Sarah Crosbie, Artsci’01 (left) – who spent the last three years in radio as co-host of the morning show on K-rock, 105.7 FM – has joined the Queen’s community in calgary. sarah has signed on at calgary’s only classic rock station, Q107. sarah and new on-air partner, Jeff brown, are doing the morning show (5-9 am, weekdays). sarah loves the stampede city. “the people here are some of the nicest you’ll ever meet. there’s a special kindness in calgary,” she says. “because so many people have moved from other parts of the country, they understand being the new kid on the block – and the airwaves.” you can contact sarah via twitter @Jeffsarahshow or email:
Q107 [email protected].
20 issue 3, 2012 • Queen’s alumni review
Two Roses in the oil patch Mike Rose, Artsci’79, and Sue Riddell-Rose, Sc’86, are two grads who are at the wellhead of Alberta’s thriving oil and gas industries. Each heads a major company. They share a passion for their work, for geology, and for their shared, though not mutual, expe- riences at Queen’s. While the couple’s paths didn’t overlap until they both worked for Shell in Calgary, their reasons for choosing Queen’s were similar. Mike’s parents advised him that a university experience “away from home” would be good for him. Sue went to the U of Calgary for her first year, but then set her sights on schools elsewhere. Both took geological field studies and today praise the down- to-earth faculty at Queen’s. They studied under some of the same professors.
Mike came to Calgary after graduation, along with “about a bill marsH third of my class,” to work for Shell. sue riddell rose and husband mike rose, key players in alberta’s Later he founded Berkley Petroleum and then formed Duver- booming oil-and-gas sector, are proud members of the Queen’s nay Oil, which he sold in 2008 before starting Tourmaline Oil, alumni community in calgary. they are also generous supporters of which he continues to run today. a variety of worthwhile Queen’s initiatives both on campus and off. Sue left Shell for Paramount. Today, she’s President and CEO of the university’s western office is in space generously provided by Perpetual Energy. Perpetual energy, the company of which sue is President and CEO. “Both of us parlayed our degrees into entrepreneurial ideas. In- novation and entrepreneurial spirit is fostered at Queen’s,” says Sue. The couple joke that off-campus housing in Kingston often has Their training in geological engineering has paid off hand- bad plumbing, and so the ARC affords students a place to get a somely, and it continues to do so. Says Sue, “We both do geology work out and take a shower, too. every day.” Mike agrees. “It makes work fun if you enjoy what you’re Headin’ up “the Greatest Outdoor doing,” he adds. Show on Earth” And both, in turn, give back to Queen’s. A born-and-raised Albertan with an undergraduate degree from Mike has returned to the Queen’s campus in 2009, 2010, and the U of Alberta, Michael Casey, Law’72, saw his law studies as a 2012 to take part in the Oil and Gas Speaker Series, an annual way to further his education while seeing other parts of Canada. careers-oriented event staged by the Department of Chemical With that in mind, all his applications went out of province, and Engineering. he made the move east to Kingston in 1969. The smaller campus and Mike gave Queen’s some of the proceeds from the sales of both excellent reputation of the institution’s law program were draws. his Duvernay and Berkley companies in the form of scholarships, His Queen’s experience did not disappoint him. “It was grants to the Integrated Learning Centre, funding for the geologi- absolutely top-drawer. I’m really just as happy as I can be that I cal field studies program, and the fitness area of the Athletics and went there,” he says. Recreation Centre (ARC). In fact, ARC’s main floor is dedicated to Over the three years he studied in Kingston, Mike developed Duvernay in recognition of Mike and Sue’s generosity to the strong friendships with his law school classmates – many of these University. relationships continue to this day.
calgary lawyer michael casey has the honour of being President and chair of the board of the calgary stampede, which this year celebrated its 100th anniversary.
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After graduation, he landed an articling job at Field Law in Calgary. He’s been there ever since. Mike practises civil litigation, but he also works on dispute resolution. Outside the office, he serves as President and Chair of the board of the Calgary Stampede, which celebrated its centennial in July to national media fanfare. “The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth” has been a part of Mike’s life since he first volunteered in 1975. (His award-winning legal career as a senior partner of Field Law and his history with the Stampede were profiled last year in Queen’s Law Reports.) With 100 years under its shiny belt buckle, this year’s event was extra special for Mike and for other Queen’s alumni in town. When the Queen’s Bands were invited to take part in the Stam- pede’s parade for the first time it brought together Mike’s past and present in one big exhibition that brought a smile to his face.
A little kindness long remembered mike o’connor, a proud Queen’sman, shows the tricolour on the There’s no debating it. The first two years Mike O’Connor, Sc’68, licence plates of his car. mike, retired from a highly successful PhD’76, DSc’92, spent at Queen’s were rough. business career, is a talented amateur photographer. He changed his major after getting some low grades, and then most of the images for the cover story in this issue of the he changed it again. When he suffered through a bout of mononu- Review are his creations, and he was the winner of our cleosis that put him in hospital for two months, he had to drop 2007 snap Judgments Photo contest. classes and pick them up again later. Despite this, “Queen’s never gave up on him,” as he puts it. And child in tow, Mike and Mary sold their house and returned to so he has spent years paying that back. Kingston, moving into the married students’ quarters. Born in Ottawa and raised in nearby Cornwall, Mike first When Mike earned his PhD, he returned to Calgary, where he learned about the Calgary Stampede when his aunt returned from worked as an engineering consultant before starting his own firm a trip out west and brought him a souvenir pennant from the in 1979 with his brother-in-law John Agar, Sc’73, MSc’78, and “Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth.” It took him another 16 years their fellow alumnus Doug King, Sc’70, MSc’75. Their business before he could see it for himself and another 30 after that before proved to be such an environmentally innovative operation that he got involved as a volunteer, but today he sits on the Stampede Queen’s awarded Mike an honorary degree in 1992. However, his Board of Directors. favourite return to campus was in 1998-99 when he and Mary lived Like so many others, Mike says “attending Queen’s changed my in Brockington House for a year and served as the first “mentors life.” He met his late wife, Mary (Agar), BA’67, on the very first day in residence” to engineering students. of school in the fall of 1964. “It was love at first sight for me, but Even today, Mike comes to Queen’s once a year to give an in- it took much longer for Mary to see the light,” Mike recalls with a spirational lecture to first-year students. “The story is simple: yes, laugh. Queen’s can be challenging, but if I can do it, you can too,” he says. Queen’s remained an important part of their lives for the next With that goal in mind, he shares his simple secret for success four decades. Sadly, Mary died in 2004. in life: “Have fun, do good work, and earn a living” – always in that After finishing his undergrad degree, Mike became a geo- order. physicist in the oil and gas industry in Calgary until Queen’s “For me, it’s now ‘have fun, do good work and give back,’” says lured him back to graduate school. With their four-month-old Mike.
A QUEEN’S SALUTE TO A BRIGHT YOUNG MIND
since 2006, the faculty of engineering and applied science (FEAs) has presented a $250 cash prize to a student or team of two who have produced a particularly impressive entry in the calgary youth science fair, an annual event that attracts more than 1,000 entrants in grades 5-12. the prize winners also become eligible for a $1,000 bursary should they come to Queen’s to study in the FEAs. in 2010, lakshmi n. Kallambettu along with a classmate won the prize, and lakshmi will begin his year in chemical engineering this fall. FEAs Associate Dean (Academic) Lynann Clapham, PhD’87, was on hand in april to present the 2012 prize to nicole schmidt, a grade seven student at f.e. osborne Junior High in calgary
gorDon sicK (perhaps a member of the class of sc’21?).
22 issue 3, 2012 • Queen’s alumni review A passion for sustainable solutions four young Queen’s alumni are helping to build a new kind of calgary engineering company.
BY KRISTEN LIPSCOMBE
Queen’smen (l-r) a.J. macDonald, ryan murphy, sean speer, and Patrick leslie
utting together their different training, but complementary visions, in building a full-size solar home on campus. Pfour young calgary alumni have become key talents in an inno- Patrick, a calgarian born-and-bred, grew up beside the oil patch; vative employee-owned niche consulting and engineering company he’s a progressive thinker, just like the three generations of leslies that’s providing an integrated approach to water, waste, and energy before him who called the stampede city home. they include his great management. uncle Jack leslie, mayor of calgary 1965-69 (the first native calgarian the four, who work for integrated sustainability consultants ltd. to hold the job). Jack leslie led the opposition that prevented the (ISCL), have similar perspectives on their respective professions – canadian Pacific railway from laying train tracks through valuable from an emphasis on front-end problem solving to the importance of tracts of land that have become green spaces and parks such as cultivating a positive, passionate work environment. confederation Park and nose Hill. “the key is the culture that you build,” director of projects a.J. Patrick notes that his great uncle was “doing sustainability before macDonald, artsci’05, says of the high standards that ISCL founder and it was cool. He was something of a rogue in his day ... what we’d now president stuart torr, the company’s U.K.-born and -educated founder, describe as a sustainability advocate. it was about making calgary a has instilled in the business that he started in 2010. these are the same better city.” values a.J. has helped to foster since he joined ISCL in early 2011. like mayor leslie, ISCL faces its share of challenges in a competi- “that’s really the only way we’re going to continue to attract top tive, fast-paced industry that has been accused of focusing on the talent,” the 33-year-old ottawa native explains. bottom-line rather than ancillary concerns such as the environment. that top talent already on board includes director of strategic “a key factor to our competitiveness is that we’re a niche con- planning ryan murphy, artsci’04, who signed on last year; director of sulting firm,” ryan says. “we specialize in water, waste and energy technology and innovation Patrick leslie, sc’10, artsci’11, and sean management.” speer, PhD’11, both of whom began work earlier this year. the four sean, 32, another ottawa native, agrees. “our reputation is growing Queen’smen are now a third of ISCL’s 12-person staff. the vibrant em- because we’re creative problem solvers. we focus on conceptualization, ployee-owned business is thriving, as it takes on ever-more innovative and planning, and that’s really where things like sustainability and in- engineering projects and builds its reputation. tegrating different disciplines become vitally important.” it didn’t take long for an awareness of ISCL to ripple through the a typical ISCL project was the work the firm did to help with the calgary’s area’s tricolour alumni network; many Queen’s alumni work design of an innovative and sustainable industrial water supply system in the oil and gas industries. to replace an obsolete river intake that was built in the mid-1980s. “i’ve been volunteering with the QUAA here in calgary for several another was working with students at the high school in nearby years now,” says ryan, a 29-year-old Quispamsis, N.B., native, “and so cochrane to build on-site wind turbines and solar panels, a project that i thought, ‘why doesn’t ISCL sponsor a branch wine-and-cheese?’ so will help boost the town’s future infrastructure and provide technical we did. ” jobs for years to come. that gathering raised the company’s profile and prompted a num- “the next generation knows where the future is,” Patrick leslie says ber of attendees to apply for work, Patrick leslie among them. “we re- of mentoring the young students. ceived some phenomenal résumés from Queen’s alumni,” ryan notes. ryan nods. He, like many fellow Queen’s grads, had his own men- the rest, as they say, is history – or to be more precise, ISCL’s future. tor during his student days in Kingston: Prof. scott lamoureux “it seemed like a natural fit for both sides,” says Patrick. “i was very (geography). impressed with the work integrated sustainability is doing.” ryan observes that Queen’s is “packed full” of bright, passionate like his employer, the 24-year-old stands out. During his student people, faculty as well as students. “i think their passion really comes days at Queen’s, he founded his own company. envirolytics created a from the culture on campus. when you’re there you feel like you can smartphone application that provides custom solutions for home make a difference and have a positive impact on the world,” he says. energy efficiency, and he helped lead the school’s solar design team “that’s what all of us here at ISCL are striving to do.”
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Decades have passed since his own convocation at Queen’s, but the memories of his time on the campus studying for both his undergraduate and masters’ degrees remain vivid. He praises the collegial nature of his alma mater. “We were 11,000 students in those days,” he says, “but it was like big family.” Raised to believe that “going to university” meant going away, Jim knew his post-secondary choices would be outside of Calgary. He ultimately settled on Queen’s for his commerce degree and later his MPA. Between degrees, he travelled and then worked in Montreal at the Institute for Public Policy Research. He was lured back home to Alberta by the crisp winters, endless blue skies, and a job in the Premier’s Office. Hong Kong-born Josephine tsang, the 2010-12 calgary branch Later, he was elected as an MLA, representing his constituents President, landed her first job through her Queen’s ties. for 11 years and three cabinet posts: Minister of Community and now she’s intent on paying forward the kindness by helping Occupational Health, then Education, and finally provincial Treas- other young alumni in the city kickstart their careers. urer. “I’ve had a great career in government,” he says. “it’s my way of giving back,” she says. Jim left politics for the world of business in 1997, when he became the executive vice-president of TransAlta Corporation, a Truly a member of “the Queen’s family” post he held until 2004. He then served as chair of the Calgary A series of chance meetings with Queen’s alumni has shaped the Health Region and for the Western Financial Group. He re-entered career and life of Josephine Tsang, PhD’06. politics briefly in 2006, when he ran for the leadership of the First, there was a co-op term – while she was earning an under- Progressive Conservative party, ultimately losing to Ed Stelmach. grad degree at the U of Calgary – that had her working at the De- In 2007, Jim was awarded the Calgary Branch’s Johnson Award partment of National Defence lab under Dr. Garfield Purdon, Sc’67. – named in honour of Dr. Ernie Johnson, MD’38, a key figure in the In the year she worked for Purdon she came to realize that she history of the QUAA presence in Calgary. wanted to put herself on a path similar to her mentor’s. It was in 2010 that the powers-that-be at the U of Calgary, hav- Her 2001 move to Queen’s was bold, but Josephine – whose par- ing an eye for talent, commitment, and stamina, recruited Jim as ents had sent her from Hong Kong to the small farming commu- the university’s 12th chancellor. Says Jim, “Queen’s will forever be nity of Provost, Alberta when she was 13 – was accustomed to start- in my blood: Frosh Week, the Purple Room at the Douglas Library, ing fresh in a place where she knew no one. Earl Street parties, and the Wolfe Island ferry. I’ll have those Her family, who had settled in Calgary in 1994, drew Josephine happy memories forever. But true confession? I’m a homer now. I back to the city with her PhD. cheer for Calgary’s Dinos.” With no job lined up, she began attending QUAA Calgary Branch events in hopes of making some connections. It was a chance meet- Jim Dinning, a prominent ing with fellow alumnus Mike O’Connor (see above), at a Branch member of the calgary function that prompted Mike to hire Josephine as an environmen- business community and tal scientist. She continued to work for him until late last year when a longtime provincial she took a position with Sanjel Corporation as an Assistant Manager politician, is proud of his of Corporate Technology for the oil and gas company. Queen’s ties. However, Having been helped by Queen’s alumni through her own his loyalties are now studies and at the start of her career, helping others who got their understandably divided; education at the University became important to Josephine. “It’s Jim, who is serving his my way of giving back,” she explains. first term as chancellor Josephine served as Branch president, helping to organize and of the u of calgary, taking part in countless events. Doing so further expanded her net- confesses that he now work of alumni friends and contacts. It has also given her a sense cheers for the Dinosaurs. of the cohesiveness of the Queen’s community in Calgary. “I’d say we’re almost inseparable,” she says.
A Gael among the Dinos This spring, Jim Dinning, Com’74, MPA’77, spent five days at U of Calgary convocations in his role as Chancellor, shaking hands with more than 3,500 graduating students.
24 issue 3, 2012 • Queen’s alumni review
QSB GRADS IN DEMAND IN CALGARY
at a recent event in calgary, the business career centre at Queen’s school of business hosted 37 of alberta’s top employers to showcase QSB’s programs and the high calibre of its commerce, MBA, and other post-graduate alumni. also on the agenda was the announcement of a new partnership with bluera, a leading calgary-based executive search and team transformation firm led by catherine bell, EMBA’02. the partnership gives QSB a visible presence in the city and the opportunity to offer recruiters a local resource to consult for assistance in recruiting QSB grads. catherine’s role also involves advising graduating students on how to tap into alberta’s lucrative market and the QSB network when investigating their career options. – QSB MAGAZINE
Employers interested in more information on how to hire QSB graduates – in Alberta, elsewhere in Canada, or for international postings – can contact [email protected].
University’s Board of Trustees. He was president of the QUAA in 2001-02 and prior to that served as President of the Calgary Branch. He hosts an annual wine and cheese event for Calgary alumni, and he finds himself back in Kingston a couple of times each year. “The Queen’s-Calgary fabric is some- thing I hold dear,” he says. That family connection goes beyond Joe and his brother. Their dad, Peter Lougheed, LLD’96, served as Queen’s chancellor for six years (1996-2002). The former premier, who led Alberta for 14 years (1971-85) is one of
Joe lougheed (left) and his brother stephen, both of whom are Canada’s most respected elder statesmen – a bernarD clarK alberta-born and -bred, threw caution to the wind when they fact that was underscored recently when a former alberta traveled east to study at Queen’s. the two retain strong ties to their survey done by the Institute for Research Premier Peter alma mater and continue to proudly proclaim their tricolour loyalties. and Public Policy hailed him as “Canada’s lougheed, one of best premier of the last 40 years.” canada’s most A family love affair Joe Lougheed says Queen’s asked him respected elder If you ask Joe Lougheed, Artsci’88, why he came to study at and brother Stephen to “work on” their dad statemen, served Queen’s, he will tell you that the answer to that question is simple: about signing on to the chancellor position. as chancellor of he didn’t want to live at home. “That’s the only job I’ve helped him get,” Joe Queen’s for six Growing up in Edmonton, Joe knew he would eventually make says with a laugh. years, 1996-2002. Alberta his permanent residence, but going away to university would be a way to expand his horizons. The author or our cover story, Gwendolyn Richards, is the food B His brother Stephen had graduated from Queen’s in 1977 with writer for the Calgary Herald. – Ed. a Commerce degree (Stephen is now President and CEO of the Edmonton-based organization Alberta Innovates Technology QUEEN’S BANDS GO TO CALGARY Futures) and three of his cousins also received their educations in seventy-seven Queen’s bands Kingston. members who took part in this Strangely enough, it was the London School of Economics – year’s calgary stampede Parade where Joe spent his fourth year of undergrad studies – that provided were given a rousing welcome the groundwork for his involvement in Calgary’s thriving Queen’s by local alumni. in the photo community. While in London, he met fellow alumni at Branch at left are (l-r) chengbo Qian, events and realized it was a great way to network and meet people. com’12, raymond lau, sc’07, After graduating in 1991 with a law degree from Dalhousie, artsci’09 (in his Queen’s tartan another school with a Lougheed family connection (his grandfather cowboy shirt), and taylor lewis, was a 1923 grad, and his grandmother was Halifax-born), Joe racHael glassman, artsci’09 artsci’13. returned to Calgary to article at Fraser Milner Casgrain. He has been THE CALGARY BRANCH OF THE QUAA with the firm ever since and is now a partner. But even though he has made Calgary his home since the early ’90s, part of his heart remains for information or to get involved in the calgary branch of the in Kingston. “I’ve never really left Queen’s,” he confides. QUAA, contact branch President Jeremy mosher, artsci’08, at Connecting the city he calls home with the University that [email protected]. helped shape him has come naturally to him. Joe has served on the
www.alumnireview.Queensu.ca 25
FEATURE
Congratulations… now what? in an increasingly competitive job market, a growing number of university grads in canada are opting to add hands-on, job-focused credentials to their résumés. it’s all about job skills.
BY SARA BECK, ARTSCI’93
raduation is always an exciting time for students. After Gthree, four, or more years in university, there’s a sense of ela- tion as that final term comes to an end and they’ve earned a de- gree. But what comes next? For more and more grads, the answer is just down the road: community college. “College is the new grad school,” says Shannon Hope Gendron, Artsci’10. Gendron completed a degree in Gender Studies and History with a certificate in Gender and Sexual Diversity. She’s now entering her second year of studies in the Be- havioural Science Technology (BST) diploma program at St. Lawrence College in Kingston, where she also serves as a tutor in the College’s Math and Writing Centre. “My family was relieved when I told them I was going to college instead of grad school, she says. “They all know I’m a massive nerd. They knew I was going to stay in school, and they worried about my student debts.” But, she says, the potential paycheque at the end of the diploma “calmed their hearts.” “They used to ask me what I was going to do with a de- gree in Gender Studies and what I was going ‘to be.’ Now I can tell them that I’m going to be a behaviour therapist. It’s a more marketable title than ‘feminist,’ and one they understand,” she adds, laughing as she recalls trying to explain to her Queen’s degree to her grandmother. The paycheque isn’t the only reason Gendron is attending college. She wanted to be a teacher from the time she was two years old. She was about to hit “send” on her application to teacher’s college when she changed her mind and applied to college instead. “My Queen’s degree was about my passion,” she says. “It was about philosophy, politics, and shaping my self-identity. I learned Kimberley HiscocKs illustration & Design critical thinking and un-learned some of my pre-conceived grams don’t require applicants to list university credentials, so notions of myself and society. I became aware globally and many, including Gendron, don’t provide the information. However, personally.” the trend is clear. It also matches the trend across Ontario. In contrast to her degree, Gendron’s college diploma is all According to the Ontario College Application System (OCAS), about logic. “Perhaps it’s the change from a political program to three per cent of applicants to Ontario’s 24 colleges listed having a science-based one,” she says, “But BST is still about teaching and a degree in in 2006. By 2010, the most recent date for which num- still about helping the marginalized.” She sees it as being the ideal bers are available, that percentage had nearly doubled. There are combination of her lifelong dreams, the political convictions she indications that the registrars at the 126 colleges in the other developed at Queen’s, and her deep sense of community. provinces of Canada are seeing a similar trend. So what is driving Gendron is far from alone in her decision to study at a college this change? after completing a degree. It’s a trend that has steadily been in- Lorraine Carter, Artsci’81, MA’83, the Senior Vice-President, creasing. In 2002, just six students who applied to St. Lawrence Academic, at St. Lawrence College says there are many reasons. College declared on their application forms that they had previ- One is the changing nature of the work force. “There was a time ously completed a degree. By 2008, that number had risen to 80, when the job market allowed you to be hired without a specific and by 2011, there were 140. These figures don’t represent the full skill set,” she says, noting her own experience of graduating with complement of students who are also university grads; most pro- her MA and entering the corrections field.
26 issue 3, 2012 • Queen’s alumni review
“If there were specific skills you needed, the organization would Dean, Faculty of Arts at St. Lawrence College and a grad of the train you. Now, the ideal is to have both university and college College’s Child and Youth Worker program. “While university training. I think there’s so much participation in post-secondary provides depth and breadth, college provides skills for front-line education now that employers can afford to be picky.” positions. College grads are instantly employable,” she says. Colleges provide those job-specific skills sets because that’s why This is not to say that anyone at college considers university to they were set up in the first place. Field placements and practical be a waste of time. “At the end of the day, people need jobs. They applications of skills are part of most programs – for example, need to eat. Colleges provide the connections and applied expe- many programs have as many as 10 weeks of placement in an eight- rience to help them do that,” says Carter. “But our culture also val- month academic year – and advisory boards keep colleges up to ues the things university provides”, she says. She mentions critical date on what’s needed in the sectors they serve. thinking skills, organizational skills, and even just the time it “I hear students coming out of university saying ‘I have lots of takes to grow up. (“Who knows what they want to be at 18?” she theory, but no practical experience’,” says Terri McDade, Artsci’86, continueD on Page 28
What’s Next? BY CATHERINE KEATES, DIRECTOR, CAREER SERVICES, AND CHRISTINE FADER, CAREER COUNSELOR
raduating is a huge accomplishment and can be full of excitement…and sometimes, a certain Gamount of trepidation. if you’re a new graduate, here are some top tips from Queen’s career serv- ices designed to help you as you ponder the big question…”what’s next?”
B GET FOCUSED – some graduates say they’ll work “anywhere” at that you’ve maximized the in- “anything”. while being flexible is helpful, being too vague might formation about your degree, actually make your job search more challenging. the reality is especially if your degree is a that you are possibly driven at least somewhat by location major part of your related skills and/or by some ideas about what you would like to do. for the work you’re aiming for. B DEVELOP A LIST OF KEYWORDS (e.g. saskatoon, historical this means highlighting rele- medicine, coordination, and leadership) that you can use when vant courses, marks (if 80 per speaking with people, searching online and networking. even if cent, plus), projects, a thesis, you don’t have a very specific job in mind, mention whatever major essays or assignments, Queen’s marKeting anD communications catherine Keates specifics you can to help other people think about potential em- field work, clinical placements, ployers and resources they could connect you with. anything’s etc. it also might mean re-grouping your experiences so that the better than the neutral statement, “i’m looking for a job.” ones related to your current goals are located higher up in your B GET GOOD AT ARTICULATING SKILLS you gained from your document. degree. many university graduates are somewhat vague, even B NETWORK – the overwhelming majority of work is found not mystified, about the tangible skills gained from their degree(s). through job postings but through “who you know.” you don’t get clear on your areas of knowledge, skill, and interests so that have to know lots of “fancy” people to effectively network and you are ready to communicate these assets in conversations find opportunities. the popularity of professional social with prospective contacts and employers. Don’t have the words networking sites such as linkedin can be immensely helpful for to express what your degree-related skills are? check your old this. Join groups where you’ll meet like-minded professionals. course calendars. what did they say you would learn/know by reading their profiles will help you get information about typi- the end of your courses and program? Pump up the key words. cal roles and organizations around your interests. you can also B BE OPTIMISTIC – recent graduates are often new in their cho- investigate Queen’s alumni branches around the world sen field and sometimes that can feel as if finding opportunities (alumni.queensu.ca) to connect with fellow grads in geographic is a steep hill to climb. regardless of what the economy is do- locations in which you’re searching for work. while not profes- ing, job opportunities continue to exist due to worker career sional “job search coaches,” Queen’s people are often happy to change, illness, maternity leaves, retirements, project work, and share their own career journeys, insights, and networking more. all work is REAL work, whether it’s temporary, contract, in- contacts to help and support new graduates. ternship, volunteer, or “permanent”. staying optimistic can be challenging sometimes when you’re deep in the trenches of job congratulations to all new grads on this huge accomplishment! search but it can be a key factor in helping you stay positively whether you’re feeling excitement or trepidation (or a little of connected with people and prospective opportunities. both), we hope that these tips will help you as you make your way B RE-VISIT YOUR RÉSUMÉ – graduation is a good time to check into your life as a Queen’s graduate. whether your existing resumé needs a major overhaul. check visit the career services website at careers.queensu.ca.
www.alumnireview.Queensu.ca 27
says.) “The skills that are learned university will certainly inform changes driving more people toward college is the changing and affect the job that someone does.” perception of education. Meaghan (Libbey) Shaver, Artsci’97, knows this very well. “When I went through high school as an academically inclined Shaver finished a degree in Psychology, came to St. Lawrence for student, college was never even mentioned to me,” says Carter, a sen- the BST program, and now co-ordinates the College’s Autism and timent echoed by Shaver. “It’s not surprising,” says Carter. “By def- Behavioural Science program, which requires applicants have either inition, teachers are academically inclined and have gone through a degree or diploma. Says Shaver, “My degree taught me how to university in order to be qualified to teach. It’s a structural bias.” learn and how to research, but I had no idea how to translate that Carter explains that education used to be seen as a ladder: high into a job. I knew I didn’t want to work behind a desk my whole life: school, college, bachelor degree, then grad school. At some point, I wanted to work with people and make a difference in their lives.” you stepped off the ladder and went to work. Or if you were one She notes that one of her mentors, Prof. Emeritus Peter Platenius of the very fortunate, you worked your way up until you could stay (Psychology) recommended that she consider St. Lawrence’s BST at university as a professor. Nowadays, education is seen more as program. So, after a few years working in non-related fields, she fol- a series of pathways. You can go to one then another, or to work, lowed his advice. “I felt so excited and ready for the job market af- then back to school again, without a sense of stepping down or ter finishing my diploma,” she says, adding that having a degree as going backwards. well as a diploma offered her many opportunities for advancement. “Students need to be aware that all the paths exist, and that they She sees the difference in her own students, too. About half shouldn’t pre-emptively cut one off,” Carter says, adding that her come from college, half from university. “The college students are own daughter, Emily Carter, Artsci’12 will be attending college in used to giving presentations, sharing experiences in class, role play- September after completing a three-year BA in art history. ing, and they have an intimate knowledge of children’s develop- McDade notes that like Emily Carter, more that half of all St. ment. On the other hand, university grads are very analytical, Lawrence students don’t come directly from high school. Some research focused, and are good at self-teaching. Both are excellent come from degree programs. Some come to upgrade their skills backgrounds and are equally valuable in an evidence-based field after having worked for a time. Some come to retrain after being such as Behavioural Science, but they are different,” she says. laid off, and others come simply to switch careers. Carter, McDade, and Shaver all agree that one of the biggest Such fast-track programs as the biomedical engineering
DON’T MISS OUT – they’re planned. if you haven’t visited the Review web site, you’re Take your degree to the next level with a Loyalist College post-graduate missing out on interest- certi cate. In less than a year you’ll gain the hands-on, industry-relevant ing and informative experience and competitive edge that employers demand. stores, opinion articles, Loyalist o ers post-graduate programs in: photo essays, and a whole lot more. Human Resources Management - NEW among the content
International Support Worker now posted for your on- georgie binKs Public Relations line reading pleasure: Russell smith B nancy Dorrance, ed’76, remembers don’t just happen don’t Sports and Entertainment Sales and Marketing the glory days of Queen’s summer Sports Journalism school; 3D Video Production B reminiscences and photos of Ralfe Clench, Arts’58, MSc’60; What’s your plan? B toronto writer georgie binks, artsci’75, For information on Loyalist’s post-graduate certi cates – and how they can recounts the battle celebrated enhance your degree – visit journalist-author Russell Smith, loyalistcollege.com/postgrad Artsci’86, MA’88, is fighting against -0:"-*45FYUt55: failing vision; Wallbridge-Loyalist Road, Belleville B Meredith Cotton, Sc’62, on the 50th Careers Great reunion of a remarkable class; and, B much, much more
www.alumnireview.queensu.ca
28 issue 3, 2012 • Queen’s alumni review
program at Durham College in Oshawa, the business, sales, and She notes, for example, that 80 per cent of St. Lawrence grads stay marketing program at Loyalist College in Belleville, software en- within 60 minutes of one of the College’s three campuses. gineering gaming program at Centennial College in Scarborough, “International experiences help them understand how com- and the social service worker, early childhood education, police munities work, and how education can be a way out of poverty. It foundations, human resources, and child and youth worker pro- helps them find their place, and helps them understand how they grams that are available at many colleges, also help drive the trend can be conduits of change.” Then, she says, they return home and toward college. So do degree programs such as St. Lawrence’s four- apply all those skills locally. year Bachelor of Applied Arts in Behavioural Science. Some, like Shannon Gendron, fall in love with the city in In technology, exciting partnerships are opening up like the col- which they attend university. Earning a career-oriented college laborations between Queen’s and St. Lawrence to research solar diploma is one path that can help grads stay put, find gainful em- panels with the goal of optimizing them for winter conditions – as ployment, give back to the community they’ve grown to love. It was reported in the June issue of Canadian Geographic. Colleges seems that more and more young grads are opting for that choice. are also pursuing international opportunities and partnerships. Yet, for all the international opportunities, McDade notes that Sara Beck teaches communications at the Kingston campus of the community is a very important part of why people to college. St. Lawrence College. B
COMMUNITY COLLEGES AT A GLANCE ontario has 24 publicly funded community colleges, 18 in southern ontario and six in northern ontario. there are two types: colleges of applied arts and technology and institutes of technology and advanced learning. all offer an ontario college Diploma (OCD), and a limited number of degree programs of two, three, or four years. some courses of study lead to official certifications in skilled trades that are reg- ulated by professional associations. the institutes offer a limited number of degree programs, either in conjunction with a partner univer- sity or on their own. most ontario community colleges were founded in the late 1960s, after then-minister of education (and later premier), bill Davis, LLD’68, created a post-secondary educational system that was different from that of universities. in the last decade, most ontario colleges have started to offer one or more bachelor programs in an applied area of study. THE JOB YOU love IS CALLING
Get the guidance of industry professionals. Get skills that ara demand. St. La wr ence College has one of the highest jobs r for recent graduates. It’ wher ys our dre eam career comes mes to life CONSIDER OUR PO TTS -GRAD AND F T TRASA CK PROGRAMSGRAMS OITARTSINIMD!SSENISU" MSITU!sSECRUOSE2NAMU(NO MSITU!SECRUOSE2NAMU(NO sECNEIC3LARUOIVAHE" ILO0sSREDROSI$EVITACINUMMO# ECI OIVAHE"sSNOITADNUO& ECNEIC3LARUO 44EE DLIH#sYGOLONHC D 99OO 77OO OHDLIH#YLRA%sREKR 7ECIVRE3LAICO3sNOITACUD%DOO 77OO KR E
DREAM ITIT.. THEN LIVE IT YO [email protected],[email protected], 1-800-461-800-463-07522573-0 YO U Brockville, CvilleockBr Cornwall,worn, all, KingsKingstonontall, FIRSTTFIRST U dream it THEN WWW.STLAWRENCECOLLEGE.CACWRENCEATL.SWWW CAGE.OLLEC THEN YO YO U U LIVE IT
www.alumnireview.Queensu.ca 29
AT THE BRANCHES
NEWS AND NOTES Ottawa River Rafting In June, the Ottawa Young Alumni Com- mittee organized a whitewater rafting trip on the Ottawa River. “We got to raft on rapids ranging from Class 1 to Class 5,” writes Colin McLeod, Artsci’10, who sent in this shot. “Hopefully you can get a sense of our excitement, fear, and elation as we passed through the rapids!” benJamin cabanban Young alumni give back to the Toronto community The Queen’s Young Alumni Committee celebrated National Volunteer Week by partici- pating in a Habitat for Humanity Build Day on Saturday, April 21. Sixteen young alumni braved the cold spring rain early in the morning ready to participate in a perspective- changing experience. Led by Arianna McLaughlin, Artsci’09, and Jacklyn Lewis, Artsci’11, the Queen’s team surpassed their fundraising target and raised $1,845 in sup- port of Habitat Toronto. The three duplexes they worked on are now complete, and the
final home dedication took place in June. courtesy of colin mcleoD, artsci’10
CALENDAR OF UPCOMING EVENTS A LIST OF UPCOMING EVENTS IN CANADA, THE U.S., AND AROUND THE WORLD
CANADA networking opportunities. alumni.queensu.ca/kingston CALGARY OT TAWA AUGUST 21 – “new 2 the Q” helps bring together the incoming class OCTOBER 24 – luncheon meeting of the over 50s group with guest of Queen’s frosh (and parents!) with current students and alumni. speaker Dr. John meisel, Professor Emeritus (Political studies). this event is a great way to welcome new frosh to the Queen’s Dr. meisel will discuss his new book, A Life of Learning and Other community before they head off to Kingston in september. Join Pleasures. copies of the book will be available at the event. alumni us at art central, 100 7th ave SW at 6 pm. RSVP & questions: in the ottawa area who enjoyed Dr. meisel’s lectures while at adrienne bellehumeur, com’03, [email protected] Queen’s may welcome the opportunity to rekindle their memories
SEPTEMBER 13 – the end-of-summer Pub night has been a back- of student days. all Queen’s alumni and guests are welcome to to-school tradition in calgary for years. come and enjoy a few attend. royal ottawa golf club. reception at 11:30 am; lunch at 12:15 drinks with friends and celebrate your Queen’s spirit! all alumni, pm. for more information, email ernie Jury at [email protected] or students, and family are encouraged to join us at the barley mill, marlene Hewitt, arts’62, at [email protected]. tickets, at $38, 201 barclay Parade SW (eau claire) at 5 pm. RSVP & questions: may be purchased directly from marlene. online registration will be andre baribeau, AMBA’06, [email protected] open mid-september at events.queensu.ca/ottawaover50
NOVEMBER 14 – Johnson award reception honouring r. bruce TO RO NTO mcfarlane, artsci/PHE’78, and Dr. Janice Heard, artsci/PHE’80. AUGUST 22 – young alumni Patio series at the screen lounge. our they are being recognized for their lifelong contributions to patio series sees young alumni explore the sun-soaked patios of Queen’s, the alumni association, and the calgary community. local watering holes. register early to reserve your spot in the sun! Details at events.queensu.ca/johnsonaward SEPTEMBER 10 – branch open House. Join us at P.J. o’brien’s (39 HALIFAX colborne st.) and learn about the exciting events the toronto AUGUST 21 – learn the art of blackjack at casino nova scotia, branch has planned for the fall. for more information and to games room. 7-9 pm. no charge; register by email RSVP, email [email protected] [email protected] or call 902-229-3179 before SEPTEMBER 16 – buffalo bills tailgate Party. there’s nothing like a august 17. stadium parking lot that screams “let’s eat and celebrate KINGSTON football!” Queen’s YA are crossing the border in style to take part WATCH THE CALENDAR for our upcoming cha gheill luncheons. in bills mania at ralph wilson stadium. a bus ride, the bills, a these events offer wonderful guest speakers and terrific BBQ and ice cold beer – who says summer has to end?
30 issue 3, 2012 • Queen’s alumni review
Thompson-Okanagan Branch is being honoured for his leadership of, and The Branch celebrated Canada Day at the dedication to, the Branch’s Over 50s Group. Marron River Ranch & Vineyard of Amy- Ernie will receive his award on October 24,
courtesy of icacbr Jo Clark and Colin McFadyen, Sc’71. The fittingly at an Over 50s luncheon. Bangladesh persistent rains couldn’t dampen the en- Calling NZ alumni In July, Queen’s students and alumni in thusiasm of attendees from as far away as Welcome Kevin Wright, Sc’07, Artsci’08, Bangladesh attended a lunch hosted by the Kamloops. More fun events are being our new Branch contact. Kevin will be Queen’s Interprofessional Project on Dis- planned for the fall, as well as a not-to-be- reaching out to area alumni and hopes to ability, Maternal and Child Health. The missed spring event that will mark the bring the Queen’s spirit to New Zealand. project is run by the Queen’s International retirement of founding Branch Co-Presi- Centre for the Advancement of Community dents Kim, Arts’73, and Paul Glen, Sc’74. Thank you, Jennifer A huge thank you to Jennifer Pelley, Based Rehabilitation (ICACBR). Guests Peterborough Branch Artsci’99, our outgoing Ottawa Branch toured the rehabilitation centre in Savar, The Peterborough Branch enjoyed a great President. and met the Queen’s project team. Pictured turnout at its annual Bridge Club dinner here, standing, are Koren Lee, Meredith in June. Branch volunteers mourn the Congratulations, Deb! Tyler and Marcina Bismilla, all Queen’s OT loss of long-time member Ted MacKay, is summer, Deb Shea, Branches Officer students; Rumana Islam, Artsci’08, Djenana BSc’48. Ted passed away last December. with Alumni Relations, celebrates 40 Jalovcic, MPA’99, MSc’08, ICACBR Director, years of working at Queen’s. Deb works Heather Cruden, Artsci’85, MPA’88, (and Ottawa – Grunnan with branch volunteers in St. John’s, Hali- Canadian High Commissioner to Onarach Award fax, Brockville, London, ON, Peterbor- Bangladesh). Seated is Dr. Akbar Ali Khan, The 2012 Grunnan Onarach Award ough, Ottawa, Quinte, Regina, Winnipeg, MA’76, PhD’79. recipient is Ernie Jury, Sc’55, MBA’62. Ernie Peace Country, and all U.S. branches.
SEPTEMBER 18 – Queen’s entertains. young alumni don’t just VANCOUVER socialize, we connect. How do you build a stronger Queen’s SEPTEMBER 19 – Kathleen beaumont Hill award reception. our community in the big city? easy, put YA in canada’s hottest new 2012 award recipient, Don lindsay, sc’80, is being recognized for social club, sPin on King west. his dedication to Queen’s, his distinguished career, and his
SEPTEMBER 22 – art collecting 101 presentation at the Katzman community leadership. events.queens/vancouveraward Kamen gallery. the presentation and follow-up gallery walk along U.S. Queen st. west will be led by christine Platt, artsci’07, owner of ARIZONA art ventures toronto. WINTER 2012 – we’ll hold our 8th annual canadian-american SEPTEMBER 30 – Join YAC in the CIBC run for the cure. Hit the road thanksgiving celebration in november, and a holiday party in in support of breast cancer research in canada’s largest single- December. day volunteer-led fundraising event. we’ll be training together, M O NTH LY – branch get-togethers continue on the first thursday of sharing fundraising ideas, and meeting at the start line on the the month from 6-8 pm at sun up brewhouse (formerly sonora 30th. brewhouse), 322 e. camelback rd. contact mary reed, artsci’84, OCTOBER 18 – rick Powers, artsci/PHE’78, MBA’83, law’86, at [email protected]. alumni.queensu.ca/arizona Professor at the rotman school of business, will give an BOSTO N interactive presentation on the dos and d0n’ts of serving as a TBA – curling is coming back to boston this november! whether director in the not-for-profit sector. He’ll discuss the duty of you've never tried it or are an experienced skip, please join us for directors, liability issues, recruiting, and best practices. a fun evening. families are welcome! watch your inbox or visit OCTOBER 20 – tournament of gaels curling bonspiel. in its first year, our branch website to register. alumni.queensu.ca/boston this sold-out event had 24 teams and more than 140 participants. this year, we’re moving to the royal canadian curling club and INTERNATIONAL looking for more curlers to rock the house. start thinking about G E R MANY friends you want on your team! SEPTEMBER 21-23 – annual meeting in rothenburg-ob-der tauber,
NOVEMBER 17 – the 58th annual John orr award Dinner and Dance the most famous medieval town in southern germany. our host, will be held this year at the fairmont royal york in downtown graham ford, sc’62, has put together a very interesting program toronto. come out to honour this year’s recipient, charles baillie, for our visit, which coincides with grape harvest season. email LLD’00, chancellor Emeritus, for his many contributions to the graham at [email protected] or branch President elke beecken, Queen’s community. queenstoalumni.com/johnorr med’84, at [email protected].
check out photos from past branch events on facebook! www.facebook.com/queensualumni
www.alumnireview.Queensu.ca 31
QUAA PRESIDENT’S COLUMN
The perks of membership being a member of the QUAA – as all alumni are – brings with it a host of valuable benefits and privileges.
BY JESS JOSS, ARTSCI’96 he mission of the Queen’s University deadline for 2012 applications is October this Award is given to a Queen’s graduate TAlumni Association (QUAA), which 31. Learn more at bit.ly/QUAAgrant who has demonstrated the high ideals im- represents you and more than 137,000 Also in October, the QUAA will host its parted by a Queen’s University education other alumni, is “to reach out and foster a annual Alumni Volunteer Summit (AVS) in through significant contribution to one or lifelong association with Queen’s, to en- Kingston, bringing together alumni vol- more of the following: the arts or sciences; gage our members in the life and work of unteers (and prospective volunteers) for public service; leadership in business; in- the University, and to serve the alumni networking, workshops, and lots of fun. dustry or a profession; community, chari- community in all its diversity.” Ever won- Please join us October 12-13. For more de- table, or volunteer work. der how we do this? tails, please visit alumni.queensu.ca/avs This year, we are proud to celebrate First, we welcome our new members. My favourite part of this weekend is the the achievements of Governor General Alumni speakers were at each Convoca- chance to honour some of the extraordi- David Johnston. A 1966 Law graduate, he tion ceremony this spring, connecting with nary members of the Queen’s community began his career that same year as an as- members of the Class of 2012. We also con- at our Alumni Awards Gala. I’d like to con- sistant professor of law at Queen’s. He also nect young grads with the greater Queen’s gratulate all of this year’s award winners: taught at U of T before becoming Dean of network. The August issue of our @Queen’s Law at Western in 1974. In 1979, he was • ALUMNI HUMANITARIAN AWARD – email newsletter outlined some of the pro- named Principal and Vice-Chancellor of Farouk Jiwa, Artsci’98; grams and benefits that QUAA member- McGill. In 1999, he became President and • HERBERT J. HAMILTON AWARD – Mary ship automatically bestows. If you didn’t re- Vice-Chancellor of the University of Wa- Reed, Artsci’84; ceive this email, please update your email terloo. He was also a founding chair of the • ALUMNI AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN address (bit.ly/Queensbio) and stay con- National Round Table on the Environ- TEACHING – James Fraser, Department nected with Queen’s. ment and the Economy. He is the author of Physics, Engineering Physics and Your alumni card has many benefits, or co-author of more than two dozen Astronomy (please see p. 34 for a more including great discounts. We’re always books. His academic specializations are se- information); negotiating new partnerships for our curities regulation, corporation law, and • ONE TO WATCH AWARD – Max Bailey, alumni. Our newest discount is a 12 per information technology law. In 2010, he Sc’11; cent saving on all Via Rail bookings. Now was sworn in as the 28th Governor Gen- • OUTSTANDING STUDENT AWARD – that’s a tangible benefit. Visit the alumni eral of Canada. Jennifer Parker, Artsci’12, Ed’13; card site to see what other benefits we have In other campus news, the QUAA is also • BRANCH MARSHA LAMPMAN AWARD – for you. bit.ly/alumnicard providing input as the University explores Corry Bazley, Com’92; This month, you may see in your mail an new options for alumni • BRANCH RISING application for the Queen’s MasterCard reunions. We are among STAR AWAR D – from MBNA Canada. As one of our affinity the stakeholders – with Zhaodi Culbreath, partners, MBNA donates a portion of the University administra- Sc’08; amount of each qualifying purchase made tion, staff, student lead- • BRANCH EVENT OF with the card back to Queen’s to support stu- ers, and Kingston com- THE YEAR AWARD – dent and alumni programs. And it’s the only munity members – who Regina Branch for credit card I know with Grant Hall on it! are participating in dis- the “Regina Queen’s The QUAA also provides grants and loans cussions on creating a Alumni MiniU”; and, each year to innovative programs that en- new fall reunion model •QSAAVOLUNTEER rich the Queen’s community. Congratula- for Queen’s. I will keep OF DISTINCTION tions to our 2011 Grants and Loans recipi- you posted as these dis- AWARD – Cicely ents: artignite (a community-based arts cussions progress. Johnston, Artsci’12. festival); Arts and Science Undergraduate The QUAA is proud to Society Autism Partnership; Queen’s Project We will also present be working hard for our for International Development; and QTV, the Alumni Achieve- alumni community: wel- the campus student television program. ment Award, the high- coming, supporting, rec-
Do you know of a program that could est honour bestowed by ognizing, and represent- benefit from a QUAA grant or loan? The the QUAA. Every year, ing you. B
32 issue 3, 2012 • Queen’s alumni review 1
presents the ALUMNI VOLUNTEER SUMMIT October -, University Club, Queen’s University
C TAKE AN ACTIVE ROLE IN YOUR ALUMNI ASSOCIATION Join us for a weekend of learning, networking, and celebration at the 3123 Alumni Volunteer Summit. Connect with alumni from QUAA branches around the world. Meet Principal Woolf and get the latest campus news. Enjoy this unique opportunity to grow as a volunteer with a wide range of workshops including volunteer relations, alumni branch development, and event organization.
C "TH ANNUAL ALUMNI AWARDS GALA Help us celebrate remarkable members of the Queen’s community, including our 3123 Alumni Achievement Award recipient, His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, C.C., C.M.M., C.O.M., C.D., Governor General of Canada.
C WINNING WITH ALUMNI SPORT SYMPOSIUM Enjoy an interactive workshop for members of Queen’s athletic booster clubs. All Queen’s sports fans, athletes, coaches, and parents are welcome.
Presenting sponsor For more information and to register for all or part of this weekend, go to alumni.queensu.ca/avs Contact Alumni Relations at [email protected] 624.544.6111 ext. 77814
ALUMNI AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING
A guide, not a gatekeeper Physicist James fraser is taking teacher-student interaction to brave new heights.
BY CHRISTINA ARCHIBALD
or James Fraser, the 2012 winner of thing that characterized his recent sab- “I think teachers often want to create Fthe Alumni Award for Excellence in batical at Harvard University, where he something completely new on their own in Teaching, helping students create a sense of worked with renowned physicist and their classroom. I think that’s great, but I community in the classroom is integral to educator Eric Mazur on also think it’s much better engagement and effective learning. laser physics and teaching Providing leadership if educators can make use “Providing leadership and support that research. and support that of all the resources that are enables students to create their own learn- “There’s so much to out there,” he reflects. enables students to ing community is something I’ve been learn about teaching and Fraser is excited about working towards since I started teaching – so many innovative tech- create their own the advances he has made it’s a principle that permeates every element niques, so this was an in- learning community in many of his classes – of course structure and informs all aspects credible opportunity to sit is really something from adopting a different of my course design,” says Fraser, an Asso- at the back of a classroom classroom environment to i’ve been working ciate Professor in the Department of and observe methods be- switching up how he in- Physics, Engineering Physics & Astronomy. ing put into practice by towards since i teracts with students – but In addition to emailing students prior to people on the frontiers of started teaching. he’s the first to admit that the start of their courses and welcoming teaching research before he feels some of his test- them at the door on the first day, Fraser en- importing them into my own teaching,” ing methods haven’t quite kept pace. courages peer-to-peer instruction during Fraser says. “It was also an experience that “While I don’t want to fall into the trap lectures so his students learn to depend on has encouraged me to contribute to of just trying something new because each other. He also recruits a student advi- physics education literature rather than it’s new, I feel like I’m too reliant on the sory council to provide just being a consumer.” old idea of what an exam looks like,” he him with regular feed- Fraser notes that says. “It’s so important that evaluation back on his teaching. one of the best learning matches the true learning outcomes. The “I want to make sure experiences he’s had as final three-hour exam is such an awkward that students don’t view an educator was the re- artificial thing, and I’m still struggling me or their teaching as- alization of the discon- with it.” sistants as gatekeepers nect that can exist be- From challenges to successes, it’s this to knowledge, but tween teachers and constant learning and experimentation rather that they see us students in terms of that ensures teaching remains a continual as guides and mentors learning style. Elegantly journey of discovery for Fraser. “I feel who are trying to help crafted explanations very proud that I’ve been able to imple- them to create their may benefit academic ment teaching strategies in such a way community and to colleagues, he realized, that it’s helped my students to create grow intellectually,” but a different approach engaging learning environments over says Fraser. “The is often required to ex- which they have a real sense of owner- process of building plain complex concepts ship,” he says. trust and engaging stu- to students who are at a “Teaching can certainly be challenging, dents is one that takes much earlier stage of in- but it’s such great fun and provides an
time, but when we’re all bernarD clarK tellectual understand- ideal balance to independent research. pulling together and Physicist James fraser, the ing and development. Knowing that I’m on the right track in working towards a 2012 winner of the alumni award Fraser also relies on terms of offering my students the mentor- shared goal, it’s just so for excellence in teaching. quick, timely feedback ship and guidance they need is, for me, much fun.” on his teaching one of the most important things that’s re- It’s the enjoyment and sense of fulfill- (through pre-lecture assignments, in-class flected by this teaching award.” ment Fraser gleans from his interactions polling multiple times per class, weekly with undergraduates that encouraged quizzes, and problem sets) to help him en- Prof. James Fraser will receive his award him to follow his postdoctoral fellowship sure that he’s meeting the needs of his stu- at the Alumni Awards Gala on October BD. with an academic career. This balance be- dents and effectively implementing best For more information, please visit tween research and teaching is also some- practices in the classroom. alumni.queensu.ca B
34 issue 3, 2012 • Queen’s alumni review
Display your Queen’s diploma with pride.
Congratulations to the Class of )'()!
Celebrate your achievement and display your diploma with pride.
To see the variety of official Queen’s frames and mats, visit displayitwithqueenspride.ca
Use promo code REVIEW() and save ('. on your online order (offer valid through October *(, )'().) David Chant, Ed’() Proceeds from the sale of diploma frames help support Queen’s alumni initiatives on campus and around the world.
Contact us at (.-''.)+,.,-*, or [email protected]
/-./ QUAA Branch Awards Join us in a community near you this autumn to celebrate the extraordinary achievements of Queen’s alumni and friends.
VANCOUVER TORONTO Kathleen Beaumont Hill Award John Orr Award Wednesday, September @G Saturday, November @E honouring honouring Don Lindsay, Sc’F? Charles Baillie, 994’?? President and 35;, Chancellor Emeritus, Teck Resources Limited Queen’s University LEARN MORE: LEARN MORE: events.queensu.ca/vancouveraward queenstoalumni.com/johnorr
CALGARY OTTAWA Johnson Award Grunnan Onarach Award Wednesday, November @B Wednesday, October AB honouring honouring Dr. Janice Heard, Artsci/<75’F? Ernie Jury, Sc’CC, :21’DA Executive Director, Alumni AHairs, Chair, Alberta Children’s Hospital Ottawa Over C?s Group and R. Bruce McFarlane, Artsci/<75’EF LEARN MORE: ><, Business Development, =:< Energy events.queensu.ca/ottawaover LEARN MORE: events.queensu.ca/johnsonaward
Congratulations to our spring A?@A award winners.
KINGSTON KINGSTON Padre Laverty Award Jim Bennett Achievement Award presented in May to presented in May to Daren Dougall, Artsci’FC, MEd’GE Bhavana Varma Executive Director, President and 35;, Youth Diversion Program United Way serving 86901
REGISTER Queen’s Alumni Relations [email protected] 613.533.2060 x 77903 queensu.ca/alumni
UNFORGETTABLE QUEEN’S CHARACTERS
Truly one of a kind the inimitable, ralfe J. clench, Jr. was a campus legend to 40 years of students.
B Y E D I T O R EMERITA CATHY PERKINS, ARTS’58
hen the Review announced that went with a buffalo coat, never buttoned. Wthe late Ralfe Clench would be His shirts were always white, as the pants first in its series recollecting Queen’s most were always gray and baggy, each item unforgettable characters, readers ex- identical to its predecessor and each as- pressed considerable interest. That was signed a schedule of wear that included oft- not surprising, since the man was so turned collars and much-mended cuffs. widely and affectionately known during Ralfe’s sociable campus perambulations 39 years on campus. had another trademark: plastic shopping Ralfe Johnson Clench, Jr., arrived from bags. Usually they bore Dominion Store Hamilton, ON, as an Arts’58 freshman, logos, were carried by female student math scholarship in hand, then attended helpers worried about his health, and were grad school (MSc’60), and stayed on in stuffed with duplicates of every document two posts that exposed him to virtually handled in his daily work. The executors every student on campus through two very who eventually undertook the mammoth different departments. One was Mathe- job of sorting through Ralfe’s home office matics & Statistics, where he lectured in discovered that his hoarded ‘treasures’ calculus to students with no prior experi- filled some significant archival gaps –
ence and drove some faculty colleagues Queen’s arcHives perhaps his hope all along? batty with his idiosyncratic talk about “the ralfe clench was honorary At his first home (on University Ave.), idiot-proof method” and “your favourite AMS President in 1968-69. he sometimes proctored special exams; cute cuddly little x’s.” the second (at the corner of Frontenac and Ralfe’s other appointment, in 1962, was was born when a class once retaliated by Union Sts.) he turned into a brick bunker. to the Registrar’s Office, where the astute locking the door on him. He lectured Compelled to conserve heat, control light, Jean Royce was his great fan. Before illness through the door while deftly disassem- maximize storage and prevent burglary, forced his 1980 retirement, he’d been Chief bling the lock with the tool kit always on Ralfe boarded up all but one high window Examination Proctor, Convocation Mar- his belt. Along with screwdrivers, staplers and installed elaborate ‘thief traps’ of rope. shall, and masterful time-tabler for both ex- and paperclips, that belt also carried flash- Yet he was no hermit; while outdoors ams and lectures – before computers. lights and key rings that would have her- checking his perimeter, he would lean on His appearance remained virtually un- niated a smaller man. his cane and visit amiably with passersby. changed: the same Oliver Hardy mous- His always-beige, made-to-order over- His calculus students admired him tache, hair clipped high above the ears, felt coat had sturdy inside pockets he used as greatly. Though his part-time status made hat-for-all-seasons, and his identical year- a backup filing system and library, with in- him ineligible for the prestigious Alumni in, year-out wardrobe. Ralfe was tall, even secticides, lock de-icer and crampons Award for Excellence in Teaching, they as a freshman of 18, and rotund when well. added seasonally. Two radios hung around doggedly persisted in nominating him With all his pockets, belt, and both hands his neck on a rope, for weather checks on every year till he retired. full, he was indeed a striking and memo- different stations. He carried several time- Ralfe died at home on August 4, 1993, at rable figure. pieces, preferred the military precision of 58, having requested no funeral or memo- To mark his retirement, a radio call-in the 24-hour clock, and stuck to Eastern rial service. His Whig-Standard obituary show invited anecdotes and tributes. The Standard Time year round. was brief and without reference to his ex- stories from Ralfe’s students, neighbours, He ordered his clothes in batches – wife or historic family. Yet it was some- co-workers and classmates were so many, sometimes, as with underwear and toe- how eloquent – and arguably true: “Bril- so varied, and so colourful that they rated rubbers, by the gross. His pants were cus- liant teacher, a kind and considerate man. … a second show. Ralfe reportedly ate up this tom-made with reinforced canvas pock- Will be fondly remembered by friends and “campus legend” talk. ets and heavy-duty belt loops. His shoes, colleagues both far and near.” Callers spoke of his many eccentrici- too, were specially made for his narrow ties and compulsions, including his pas- and unusually long feet. To save money on For a longer version of this article and more sion for punctuality ... of how students sole repairs, he wore toe-rubbers in all sea- recollections of Ralfe Clench, please visit the coming late to class would find the door sons except deep winter, when he changed Review web site at www.queensu.ca/ locked, and how an oft-told Clench tale to 1940s cleated rubber overshoes. They news/alumnireview. – Ed. B
www.alumnireview.Queensu.ca 37
T R I C O L O U R MEMORIES Summers of yesteryear Thank you for celebrating with us! BY NANCY DORRANCE, ED’76
f you turn the clock back four or five Idecades, campus was a very differnt place in the summer months. Queen’s Summer School – formally opened in 1910, but offering credit courses since 1888 – transformed the campus each July and Au- gust. The majority of students were ele- mentary and high school teachers up- grading their education to improve career prospects. “The whole atmosphere is enthusiastic and thriving, but with a distinctive flavour,” Sc’72 reunion the Review reported in August 1929. “It is pervaded with the seriousness of profes- See more reunion photos at alumni.queensu.ca/SR sional life and with the discipline of do- mesticity. In games it is assiduous and ex- For help with your reunion planning, contact us at pert but without undergraduate abandon, Presenting sponsor [email protected] or 1.800.267.7837 and without becoming ‘collegiate.’ In other words, the Summer School is essentially a Faculty of its own.” In 1934 more than 500 students “from every province in the Dominion” regis- tered for summer courses in arts and sci- ence, physical culture, and fine arts. Out- door classes in painting, introduced that year, proved an attraction for both teachers and Kingston residents. The Summer School Chorus gave a public concert of Bach’s Mass in B Minor and arias from the opera Gioconda, while drama students presented four one-act plays and two po- etry readings. Unlike most of her classmates in the summer of 1943, Bea Corbett, Arts’44, MA’95, was a full-time student. It was wartime, explains Bea – who is now re- tired in Kingston – and she wanted to graduate quickly so she could join the newly minted Women’s Royal Canadian Naval Service (WRENS). “Much as I loved being at Queen’s, there was an added ur- gency to finish,” she says....
To continue reading Nancy’s article and to view archival photos of summer schools of yesteryear, please visit the Review web site at www.alumnirecview.queensu.ca B
38 issue 3, 2012 • Queen’s alumni review KEEPING IN TOUCH
THE COLOURS OF AUTUMN As summer turns to fall, it’s almost time to don your favourite Queen’s scarf. In this 1971 photo, students on their way to a football game wear the tricolour with pride. Recognize anyone? Let us know at [email protected]
News from classmates and friends Elizabeth II, To 1959 and one from • SEND NOTES TO: HONOURS the Queen’s [email protected] DAVID SANBORN SCOTT , Sc’59, MSc’63 University • UPDATE ADDRESS: (PhD Northwestern, Hon. DSc’07, Western), Alumni [email protected] received his second honorary doctorate in Association. June. This one came from the University of Here, Ken is • PHONE: Victoria where David is Professor Emeritus seen at his 1-800-267-7837 ext. 33280 of mechanical engineering. David joined party with UVic’s faculty in 1989 and founded the univer- his daughter • ONLINE EDITION: sity’s Institute for Integrated Energy Systems, Martha www.alumnireview.queensu.ca serving as its director for nearly a decade. (Heath) Stauch, Arts’69, granddaughter Kathy Stauch, Unless otherwise indicated, dates in He is also Vice-President of the International Artsci’98, Ed’99, and friends Scott Morley, these notes refer to 2012. Association for Hydrogen Energy. David is “president for life” of his Queen’s engineering Com’62, Law’66, and Carole Klipa, Arts’69, class and remains in touch with many of his Ed’70. After graduation from Queen’s in 1934, classmates. Ken began working in the mailroom at Chrysler Canada in Windsor, ON. After KeepINg IN toUch Notes FAMILY NEWS a break to serve in the Navy 1939-45, he Queen’s Alumni Review returned to Chrysler, worked his way up, KENNETH DAVID HEATH , Com’34, and retired from the company in 1976 as Queen’s University celebrated his 100th birthday with family and Director of Sales. Ken lives now in the Amica 99 University Avenue friends in April. In honour of the occasion, of Windsor Retirement Residence and can be Kingston, oN K7L 3N6 Ken received letters of congratulations from contacted at [email protected]. two Queens: one from Her Majesty Queen
www.ALUmNIRevIew.QUeeNsU.cA 39 ALUMNI NOTES – TO 1959
N O T E S career with the Scarborough Board of Educa- friends and travelling the world. His friends tion. In 1968, he joined the provincial office and family remember his warm heart and his WILLIAM “BILL” GRAY , Com’40, who of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ eagerness to help others. celebrated his 95th birthday on July 4, chatted Federation as Assistant Secretary. In 1971, he with a member of our alumni communica- T. JAMES BRENNAN , BA’59, a retired became Executive Assistant, Collective Bar- tions team recently about some of his Queen’s North York teacher, died May 1, 2011, in gaining. He retired in 1988. Jim was a scholar memories. Bill came to Queen’s from Mani- Scarborough, ON. He is survived by his wife and a gentleman. He loved fine scotch, good toba in 1938 for the final two years of his Michele, four sons, and extended family. books, hats, summers in Maine, and Winnie commerce studies. The first time he arrived in the Pooh. AVRON COHEN , BA’44, died March 15 in Ontario, it was by a unique mode of transport: Montreal, aged 89. Beloved husband of Shirley cattle car. Bill and a friend had taken on the A. ALLAN BEVERIDGE , (Rind) for 62 years. Proud father of three and job of representatives for the cattle shipper in BA’49, died March 6 in grandfather of three. In his youth, Avron order to get a free trip to Toronto. They trav- Kitchener, ON, aged 92. worked summers for the Canada Steamship elled across Manitoba and Ontario for three Predeceased by his wife Lines, through which he met Shirley. He days with the cattle, sleeping on straw mat- Ann (Nichols) in 1991. Dear stayed friends with his Queen’s and CSL tresses in an old-fashioned sleeper, before father of Cynthia and Ian buddies all his life. He and Shirley devoted arriving in downtown Toronto. Bill recollects (Carole), proud grandfather many years to sustaining the Montreal Alumni arriving in Kingston feeling overwhelmed, but of Alexandra, Loucia, Kate and Tess (Queen’s Branch. An optician, Avron charmed the remembers everyone treating him kindly. He class of 2015), and great-grandfather of Char- clients at B.I. Cohen with his funny stories found a place in a rooming house and ate all lotte. While at Queen’s, Allan was president until he retired at the age of 83. He had been his meals in the Students’ Union. “Everyone of the Arts Society and was honoured by the Vice-President of the Ordre des Opticiens was poor, no one had money, or bought beer AMS with membership in the Tricolor Society. d’Ordonnances and a professor at the school or had a car!” he recollects. Bill took many of Ann was Assistant Secretary-Treasurer of the of opticians in Montreal. Contributions in his classes in Grant Hall, along with classmates AMS for 1948-49. After graduation, Allan led Avron’s memory may be made to Queen’s like John Matheson, Arts’40. Bill liked his a military life as a Lt. Commander in the RCN University online at www.givetoqueens.ca. professors very much; two of them – W.A. until 1963. During his naval career, he gradu- Mackintosh and John J. Deutsch – went on ated from the NATO Defence College in Paris J E S S E C O V E , BA’51, died March 19, 2011, to become principals of the University. Bill and was later seconded to the Privy Council in Vancouver. He was 91. Survived by his wife revisited Queen’s for his 60th and 65th class Office in Ottawa. He was the Director of Hellen, two sons, and four grandchildren. reunions and would love to hear from any Extension (correspondence studies) at the Following his service with the RCAF and RAF other Arts and Commerce’40 graduates. Please University of Waterloo until 1972, when he in World War II as a Radar Technician, Jesse email a member of the alumni communica- took a job at the University of Victoria’s exten- came to Queen’s. After graduation, he worked tions team at [email protected] if you’d like sion department. He retired in 1984. He and his way across Canada, eventually settling in to connect with Bill. Ann returned to Waterloo, ON, in 1990. Allan Vancouver. After working as a surveyor with was a voracious reader and enjoyed his eclectic the Departments of Highways and Fisheries, JOHN STRAITON , Arts’44, sent a recent music collection. His quick wit and positive at the age of 39 he enrolled in the UBC School update about the events in his life over the past attitude were present throughout his long and of Law, receiving his LLB in 1963. He opened decade. John, who turns 90 this summer, had remarkable life. up his law office in 1964. Jesse had a sharp a long career in advertising and then consult- sense of humour and a huge love for life, ing. (You can read an article by John on page 68 ERNEST “ERNIE” making him a welcome addition to any social of this issue.) An artist and cartoonist even in BIMM , BA’36, BSc’38, died gathering where his repertoire of verse was as his Queen’s days, John painted 25 portraits Jan. 26 in Renfrew, ON, aged admired as his noted skill on the dance floor. of Oakville’s historic homes in 2006 as a 97. Survived by Betty, his fundraising project for the Oakville Symphony wife of 67 years; children ROBERT FREDERICK COWIE , BSc ’51, Orchestra. John had a difficult time with his Margaret (Pedro Villamizar), died Dec. 7, 2011, in Belleville, ON, aged 81. health in 2010 – a hospital stay and a stroke. Brian, Sc’70, MBA’73, and Al- Predeceased by his sister Marion (Cowie) He’s now back at his retirement home and ison, NSc’74 (John Collins, Meds’76); grand- Heather, BA’47, Bob is survived by his wife learning once again to walk, talk, and eat. He children Enver and Paul Villamizar, Jordan and Mary; sons Ian (Jan), Ross (Cory), and daugh- hopes to resume painting soon. Meanwhile, Juni Bimm, Chris, Heidi, and Russell Collins, ters Pat Lusink, Artsci’83 (John, Artsci’84) John’s happy to hear from any classmates and Artsci’07, Com’09; and great-grandchildren and Sue Crawley, Com’89 (Dave, Com’89); can be reached at [email protected]. Hayley, Aidan and Zoya. Following graduation 11 grandchildren, including Karina Lusink in electrical engineering, Ernie worked with (BFA’10); and four great-grandchildren. Born DEATHS Ontario Hydro in Toronto before answering in Sault Ste. Marie, ON, Bob attended univer- H.J. “JIM” BETHUNE , the call to serve his country as a captain in the sity on a scholarship. He often regaled his BA’58, died Jan. 12 in Canadian Army Signals Corps. After the war, family with stories and songs of life at Queen’s. Oshawa, ON. He is survived Ernie married and moved back to his home Bob joined the Armed Forces and retired as a by his beloved wife Diane. town of Eganville, ON, where he took over and Major in 1985 after a robust career that took While at Queen’s, Jim was managed the family’s retail food business for 35 him and his family to many locations across a member of the Arts Soci- years. He was a very active community leader Canada and Europe. His life revolved around ety Executive (1954-56). He and recognized as a force in the economic his family, his love of words, and his tremen- co-hosted a weekly radio show on CFRC, Bits development of the town. He also served two dous skills as a handyman and woodworker. terms as president of the Retail Merchants and Pieces, with his friend Joe Devine, BA’57. ANGUS MICHAEL CURRY , BCom’48, Association of Canada. After retirement, Ernie Jim was also active in the Queen’s Drama died March 16 in Toronto. Survived by his wife and Betty moved to nearby Renfrew and Guild; his favourite role was as Shylock in Janie Hersenhoren, children Angus, Christine, enjoyed many years spending time with their “Doc” Angus’s production of e Merchant of and Robin, and extended family. Predeceased grandchildren, socializing with new and old Venice. Aer Queen’s, Jim began his teaching by his first wife, Barbara. Michael was a flight
40 IssUe 3, 2012 • QUeeN’s ALUmNI RevIew ALUMNI NOTES – TO 1959
instructor for the RCAF during WWII. He PhD in biology from Yale; Canadian Power Squadron and the Canadian enjoyed a long career in the investment busi- as a faculty member, he rose Warplane Heritage Museum. Jim and Irene ness, and served a term as Chairman of the to the level of tenured full married Dec. 26, 1953, to get the married TSX. Michael was a lifelong volunteer. professor. He also worked income tax deduction for the whole year, Whether it was teaching Sunday school as for the Canadian govern- which was allowed at that time. This became a young father, delivering books to hospital ment, both at the federal and a big part of the down payment on a new patients, or serving breakfast to the homeless provincial levels. He retired house. The family lived in Lindsay except for in downtown Toronto, Michael gave freely as Director of the National Resources Institute a period in the 1960s when Jim was Plant and generously of his time and talent. at the University of Manitoba. Engineer at a new Union Carbide plant in Maple, ON, and in the 1980s, when Irene and MARGARET ANN (MAXWELL) JOHN ALEXANDER MACDONALD , Jim built a home in Woodville, ON, after Jim’s HENDERSON , BNSc’53, died May 4 in BSc’53, died June 25, 2011, in Burradoo, retirement. Following his wishes, his body has Ottawa, following a 31-year battle with cancer. Australia. He is survived by Heather, his wife been donated to the Queen’s Medical School. She is survived by husband David, children of 53 years. John had a successful career in Elizabeth Mainprize, Artsci’78, Meds’82, Joan Australia, including many years as Managing HELEN EMILY (McCAFFREY) RAMIN , Reichner, Janet Nadeau, PHE’80, Ed’81, and Director of a Swedish company specializing BCom’44, died in Kingston on May 20. Prede- Ruth Henderson, Artsci’88, MBA’89, and in the manufacture of fine wines. He always ceased by her husband Bob. Survived by chil- seven grandchildren: Andrew, David, Jen- spoke highly of his days at Queen’s, where he dren Jeff, Jane, and Charlie, five grandsons, nifer, Ashley, Marc, Marjorie and Aaron. Sister studied electrical engineering. and one great-grandson. After graduation of Barbara (Maxwell) Davidson, Arts’49; their from Queen’s, Emily travelled in Europe, then JAMES WILLIAM PFAFF , BSc’50, died father was Thomas P. Maxwell, BA 1913. worked for IBM, first in Winnipeg, and then May 14 at home in Lindsay, ON, with his wife Margaret was a devoted wife, loving mother, in Toronto, where she met Bob. They were Irene by his side. Proud father of Douglas compassionate nurse, visionary teacher, gifted married in 1952 and moved to the Windsor (Susan), Gordon (Lina), and Janice, Com’83. artisan and gardener. area, where they lived until Bob’s retirement Jim started his engineering career at Robert in 1982. There, Emily was an active member WALTER ROBERT HENSON , BA’47, Bell Industries in Seaforth, ON, and moved of the University Women’s Club, All Saints’ died April 12 in Winnipeg. Husband of to Lindsay in 1953 as a Project Engineer with Anglican Church, the United Way, and the Pauline (Earl), Arts’49, who misses him very Visking Limited (later with Union Carbide YM/YWCA, where she served on the Board of much. Much loved by his three children and and Viskase). He retired as Plant Manager of Directors, including a term as President. Emily four grandchildren. Walt received his MSc and Viskase in 1987. He was a life member of the You Can
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played piano and was an active golfer, tennis at Queen’s, he spent his summers surveying studies at Queen’s to enlist with the 14th Field player and bridge player. She enjoyed outdoor in the Arctic – dropped off by plane from Regiment of the Royal Canadian Artillery. activities including skiing, hiking and sailing. Churchill, MB, and canoeing back to Yellow - He was among the first wave of Canadian She also enjoyed reading and was instrumental knife, NWT. Hal enjoyed a distinguished soldiers to land on Juno Beach on D-Day, June in making books available in the communities career as a world-renowned mineralogist for 6, 1944. Post-war, Garth returned to Queen’s where she lived. She was avidly interested in more than 35 years. He held posts at the to finish his commerce degree. He became a world affairs. Geological Survey of Canada and at Energy, real estate appraiser in Toronto. He was also Mines & Resources Canada, and at one time the founder of the Juno Beach Centre Associa- THOMAS GRANT RUST , BSc’42, OC, died was deputy curator of the country’s national tion, which saw the creation of the celebrated May 6 in Vancouver. Survived by his wife Hope mineralogical collection. Some of his happiest and now much-visited Juno Beach Centre in and extended family. Tom served as a captain moments were spent trading rocks with other Normandy. The Centre honours the war effort in the Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps, 1942- countries and assaying out in the field. In made by Canadians in Europe. For this work, 45. After the war, he entered the forest indus- 1982, a radioactive, complex silicate mineral Garth was awarded the Meritorious Service try, in which he worked for the balance of his discovered at Mont-St-Hilaire, QC, was named Cross and was made a member of the French career. He was highly regarded by his peers in Steacyite in honour of Hal. He was also, from Legion of Honour. the industry. He was a constant advocate for a young age, a talented magician, and his worker safety in the woods and in pulp and sleight-of-hand work delighted children every- paper mills. Tom served on the boards of a where he travelled. In his memory, donations number of business and community organiza- 1960s may be made to the Harold R. Steacy Bursary tions. He was inducted as a Member of the HONOURS at Queen’s, c/o Office of Advancement, 99 Order of Canada in 1988 in recognition of his University Ave., Kingston, K7L 3N6. JOHN M. BONN , Meds’67, professional and community work. Law’90, has been appointed an WILLIAM TAYLOR , MD’51, died May 5 DONALD WILLIAM SMELLIE , BSc’50 Honorary Colonel by members in Guelph, ON, aged 84. Survived by his (PhD, Australian National University), died of RCAF 424 Transport and beloved wife Ann, daughters Cathy (Dennis June 4, 2011, in Vancouver. He leaves his Rescue (Tiger) Squadron, Taves) and Jane, Sc’88, MBA’92 (Chris Roper, sisters, Mary Smellie, Arts’48, and Ruth which is based in his home- MBA’93), and grandchildren Mitchell and Thompson, Arts’55, niece Paula Thompson, town of Trenton, ON. John has been a practis- Sammie Roper. Predeceased by his daughter and two great-nephews. Don had a most ing physician there for more than 40 years. In Judy, MBA’86. Prior to starting up a general/ interesting and diverse series of careers, distin- 1990, he earned a law degree and since then he internal medicine practice in Guelph in 1968, guishing himself in all of them. His academic has provided health law services to clients and Bill worked at Sunnybrook Hospital in discipline was geophysics; he worked initially law firms seeking assistance in professional Toronto, Kingston General Hospital, the for a number of companies before setting up regulatory matters and medical malpractice Spence Clinic in Fort William, ON (now practice as a consultant. He became involved litigation. He’s also involved in teaching as an Thunder Bay) and the Homewood Sanitarium in instrument development and theoretical adjunct professor in the Department of Family in Guelph. After a successful 45-year career in work on methods of interpretation as well as Medicine at Queen’s and will continue to set medicine, he retired in 1996. Bill remained a the actual interpretation of geophysical field aside time to complete arrangements for the proud Queen’sman all his life. surveys. Don worked in Canada, the U.S., 45th reunion of his Meds’67 class this fall. and Australia, and went on assignment for the G A R T H W E B B , BCom’47, died May 8 in DAVID DODGE , Arts’65, LLD’02, received United Nations in Egypt, Ethiopia, and Kenya. Burlington, ON, aged 93. Predeceased by his the 2012 Couchiching Award for Public Policy He was a keen sportsman, participating in father, Roland Webb, BA 1929, and his first Leadership. David is Chancellor of Queen’s running, swimming, soccer, and mountain- wife, Camilla (Cunningham), BA’44. Survived and former Governor of the Bank of Canada. climbing. He was also involved in the military, by his partner and best friend, Lise Cooper, The award honours the accomplishments of first with the COTC at Queen’s and later as a and extended family. Garth interrupted his a Canadian who has demonstrated leadership captain in the Duke of Connaught Rifles of BC. He was a member of the BC and Ontario Associations of Professional Engineers and, SPOTLIGHT in 1968, was elected a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. A royal salute After attending the Vancouver School of The- ology, Don returned to Ottawa, where he was James Raffan, Artsci’77, ed’78, med’83, ordained a deacon for the Anglican diocese. phD’92, led a special canadian contingent Later in life, he was ordained a priest in the in the thames Diamond Jubilee pageant in Old Catholic Church and served a congrega- honour of her majesty Queen elizabeth II. tion in Surrey, BC. With the onset of ill health, James was the gouvernail of the canada one he was forced to resign his pastoral duties, canoe, crewed by members of the canadian and he became a member of the Benedictine canoe museum and the w. garfield weston Community of Saint Michael in Vancouver. Foundation. canada one was the only canoe
among more than 1000 vessels (from 50 photo by mARco veNzeLAAR HAROLD ROBERT “HAL” STEACY , commonwealth countries) participating in the river pageant. the 26-foot canoe is a replica BSc’46, died April 7 in Ottawa. Predeceased of an 18th century canoe used in the canadian commercial fur trade. James and his crew by Mary, his wife of 59 years. Beloved father donned traditional voyageur outfits for their expedition on the thames. Queen elizabeth and of Anne and Peter, grandfather of two, friend prince philip were joined by members of the Royal family and London prime minister boris and mentor to many. The last of his boisterous Johnson to watch the spectacle, which broke the world record for largest river parade. James generation of the Steacy family, Hal was is the executive Director of the canadian canoe museum in peterborough. you can read more predeceased by his three brothers and two about his Jubilee canoe trip at canoemuseum.wordpress.com. sisters. While studying geological engineering
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and daring in public policy that has had a time in North America he completed the came to as Director of Queen’s Institute of proven positive impact on Canada. Advanced Management Program at Harvard Intergovernmental Relations. Sean holds a University. He was the hub of a wide circle of fellowship with Queen’s School of Policy DAVID SCOTT , Sc’59, MSc’63. See Honours, friends and family and was a leader in the Studies and is currently a visiting fellow at To ’59. Toronto Jewish community, most recently Ryerson’s Centre for Urban Energy. serving as President of the Adath Israel Con- J O B N E W S KIN KEE PANG , Arts’70, recently was gregation. He is remembered for his infectious awarded the Silver Bauhinia Star by the Gov- PETER JEWETT , Arts’69, has been laugh, for his ability to bring people together, ernment of Hong Kong, in recognition of his appointed Vice Chair of the Accounting and for his unfettered energy and enthusiasm. Standards Oversight Council, an organization distinguished and dedicated service in the established in 2000 to oversee and provide BRIAN M. TODD , Judiciary. Kin Kee, a Judge of the Court of input to the activities of the Accounting BA/BPHE’63, MEd ’75, died First Instance of the High Court, has served in Standards Board. Peter is a corporate lawyer at home in Brighton, ON, on the Judiciary for more than 27 years. He is also and chair of Torys Corporate and Capital Nov. 3, 2011. He is survived President of the QUAA Hong Kong Branch. by Gail (Mewhiney), Arts’62, Markets Practice in Toronto. DAVID WILSON , MA’77, PhD’83, has been PHE’63, his wife of 49 years, awarded the 2012 Canadian Political History and their children: Sandra, N O T E S Prize for his book Thomas D’Arcy McGee, Sc’86, Sarah, Artsci’91, Ed’93, and William, Volume 2: The Extreme Moderate, 1857-1868. LIONEL LAWRENCE , Arts’62, long-retired Artsci’93. Brian began his career as a teacher David is Professor of history at U of T. Dean of Fine Arts at York University, is seri- at KCVI in Kingston. In 1972, he became ously ill with metastasizing cancer in Aus- Principal of ENSS in Brighton, ON. In 1983, J O B N E W S tralia, where he has spent most of the past he became Superintendent of the Northumber - decade helping his partner Kate run an land Durham School Board office and WILLIAM CUNNINGHAM , Meds’76, is Outback school for Aboriginal students, occa- remained in this role until his retirement in retiring from his general practice in Belleville sionally ‘escaping’ to visit his daughters and 1995. He then became a community advocate. and taking up a part-time consultancy posi- grandchildren in the Maritimes. He had hoped He served as a member of Trenval and tion with a nurse practitioner-led clinic that to continue his travels down the Pacific Coast Northumberland Community Futures Devel- opened in Belleville in 2010. from Alaska to the foot of his native South opment Corporations and the local Board of BRIAN HUDSON , Sc’73, is the new Vice- America via his 25-year-old VW Beetle, writ- Health for several years. He was named ing as he went. Lionel, who’s been flown ‘out’ President, Mineral Development, at Athabasca Brighton Citizen of the Year in 2009. He led the Minerals Inc. in Edmonton, AB. for palliative care on Australia’s Gold Coast, establishment of the Brighton Health Services would be heartened to have old classmates and Centre and was its Board Chair for 10 years. P A U L L U C A S , Artsci’72, has been appointed Drama Guild friends write to say goodbye and Brian was a founding member and enthusiastic Special Assistant to the Dean of Health Sci- share a memory or two. [email protected] fundraiser for a new track and sports field for ences at Queen’s. Paul recently retired from JUDITH MONTGOMERY , Arts’67, retired his community. His big regret was not being GlaxoSmithKline Inc., where he had served in May 2011 after a varied career as a high able to see the groundbreaking for this project, as the company’s CEO since 2000, and prior school English teacher (1967-70), program- which became a reality this year. Brian, a proud to that as CEO of Glaxo Canada since 1994. mer-analyst (1970-76), business systems member of the 1961 Golden Gaels, was thrilled He has also served as a Trustee of Queen’s. analyst (1976-81), project manager (1981-83), to attend last year’s Football Legacy Weekend THOMAS MACDONALD , Arts’72, department director (1983-87), and self- at Queen’s, where he reunited with his team- has been appointed as Canadian Ambas- employed corporate trainer, instructional mates, the Yates Cup Champions of 1961. sador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with designer and writer (1988-2011). Judith was concurrent accreditation to the Republic of widowed in 2005, and has two stepdaughters Yemen and the Kingdom of Bahrain. and three grandchildren. After 40 years in 1970s Toronto, with a two-year sojourn in the south HONOURS N O T E S of France (1993-95), she has recently moved GURURAJ “DESH” DESHPANDE , to Ennismore, ON, outside of Peterborough, M I K E C A S E Y , Law’72, has won the 2012 PhD’79, was one of three entrepreneur- to start a new life with her high school Distinguished Service to the Community ial leaders honoured by Babson College and boyfriend, who found her on Facebook. Judith Award from the Law Society of Alberta and inducted into its entrepreneurship “hall of can be reached by email at judanmh@sympa- the CBA-Alberta. The award recognizes his fame” in April. Desh is the co-founder of tico.ca or [email protected]. 35-plus years of volunteerism in the City of Calgary. As current Chairman of the Calgary Massachusetts-based internet equipment man- DEATHS Stampede, Mike was also instrumental in ufacturer Sycamore Networks, the Deshpande bringing the Queen’s Bands to Calgary for the Centre for Technological Innovation at MIT, HERBERT “HERB” 100th Calgary Stampede Parade in July.(See and the Deshpande Foundation. NOEL BEILES , BSc’62 also this issue’s cover story on Queen’s alumni DAVID , Sc’77, MSc’79, and CAROLYN (Mathematics), died May 26 community in Calgary.) in Toronto. Survived by his HUBBLE , Rehab’79, have relocated from wife Pam, children David SEAN CONWAY , MA’77, received an Regina, SK, to Halifax, NS, to be closer to and Simona, and beloved honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Wilfrid family and take on new work opportunities. Laurier University in June. Sean is a public granddaughter Helen. BETT, PHE’72, and DREW LEVERETTE , Predeceased by his son Michael. After attain- policy advisor with Gowlings Energy Group Arts’72, came back to campus in May to ing his Fellowship in the Society of Actuaries, in Toronto. He was Acting Vice-Principal reunite with 1972 classmates. It’s obvious to Herb advanced to the position of Senior Vice (Advancement) of Queen’s during 2009 and passers-by that both Bett and Drew are proud President of Crown Life Insurance, eventually concurrently (2006-10) was special adviser for Queen’s alumni. Here they are by Bett’s car, managing the entire U.K. division. During his external relations to the Principal, a post he with its PHE72 licence plate. Drew’s plate
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reads in Bangkok. Just a Mexico, in which her father, William H. Gray, ARTS72. matter of days after Com’40, Arts’41, is leading an Oil Thigh. Back Drew got the photo was taken, row: Barb Gray, Artsci’77, Sarah Black, the Queen’s she gave birth to a Com’04, Jeffrey Bigelow, Artsci’08, Tom Wells, graphic baby boy. All are Com’89, Lynn Hierlihy, Artsci’89, PhD’93, licence active in the develop- Meds’94, dad William Gray, and Ian Gray, plate ment activities of the Artsci’79. Middle row: Jennifer Sexton, program Baha’i community. Artsci’89, Holly Henning-Wood, Artsci’89, started Queen’s visitors to Thailand and Laos are Laura MacNiven, Artsci’05, Ed’06, and the back in 1996, aer learning that the Ontario welcome to get in touch with Tim or Diana. bride, Cari (groom John is in the front of the Ministry of Transportation had started offer- They have a lovely house overlooking the photo). Cari and John split their time between ing special issue graphic plates to groups, Mekong River and a guest room! timschaffter@ Toronto and Santa Monica, CA. including universities. (e plates are still mail.com or diana.schaffter@ gmail.com available through bit.ly/alumniplate) DEATHS
RATAN LAL AGRAWAL , MSc’72, died Jan. 7 in Oakville, ON, aged 72. Beloved husband of Mira for 38 years. Cherished father of Anjali (Kevin) and Amisha and devoted baba of Romik, Avin, and Arya. Before his retirement seven years ago, Ratan worked for Wood- bridge Foam Corp. as Health, Safety, and MARY WILSON MILLER , Artsci/PHE’75, Environmental Manager. In this capacity, he HEIDI (CASSANO) PLINTE , Mus’83, sent in this photo and note about a group of was responsible for safety and environmental Ed’87, was married last August. Her name has classmates who gathered in Las Vegas in standards in car plants in Canada, the U.S., changed to Heidi Schumacher. She lives with March for four days of fun, friendship and Mexico, Brazil, and Germany. her husband Wayne and two daughters in laughter to celebrate their 60th birthdays. WILLARD T. HOLTZ , Guelph, ON, working for the Wellington Mary writes, “The ladies plan to meet at BSc’75, died Feb. 11 in Catholic District School Board. Homecoming 2015 for their 40-year reunion Ottawa. He is survived by and will begin planning for their 65th birthday his wife, Pegi (Carlson) HONOURS bash. To all female classmates…Don’t miss out Holtz, Artsci’75, their chil- PETER GUTELIUS , Artsci’87, and LESLIE on the 2017 adventure!” L-R: Mary Wilson dren Jonathon, Sc’03, Erin, O’DONOGHUE , Law’88, have been selected (Waterloo), Ruth Reynolds (Vancouver), Jane and Stephen, and grandson for the Canadian General Counsel Awards, a Peterson (Ottawa), Jane Hochu (Regina), Ayden. Willard worked as a geophysicist with national program designed to recognize excel- Joanne Ronan (Ottawa), and Pat Johnson Geoterrex Ltd. in Canada, the U.S., and Aus- lence in the In-House Counsel community. (Newmarket). tralia for 14 years before moving to Natural Peter is Senior Counsel Law at RBC Insurance Resources Canada, where he was a senior J I M P A R K S , Law’71, has begun serving as in Mississauga, ON, and Leslie is the Executive policy analyst. He played and coached soccer the inaugural Chair of Queen’s University’s Vice President of Operations at Agrium in and hockey for many years and was an avid newly formed Gift Planning Advisory Com- Calgary. mittee, an operational committee created to outdoorsman. His love of life and family, ready provide guidance and support to VP (Advance- wit, and clear thinking were well known. DOUGLAS MIEHM , Artsci’89, of RBC Capital Markets, and PETER RHAMEY , ment) Tom Harris in this fundraising area. BRIAN M. TODD , MEd’75. See 1960s Sc’84, of BMO Capital Markets, have both Deaths. KATHY SCALES , Artsci’78, retired on April been identified as among the top stock pickers 30. Kathy worked for Pacific 66/Petro-Canada/ BRUCE WORMALD , LLB’73, died Jan. 18 and estimators in the Canadian banking sector Suncor during her career as an exploration in St. Catharines, ON. Survived by his wife Pat by StarMine. Both Douglas and Peter are geologist until 2001, and recently as a Climate and two children. Bruce was a member of the based in Toronto. & Energy Policy Advisor in the Sustainability Ontario Bar Association and a senior partner MELODY TORCOLACCI , Artsci/PHE’85, Group. Kathy is looking forward to being able at the law firm of Lancaster, Brooks, and MA’98, an adjunct instructor with Queen’s to travel a bit more with her husband Wishart, Welch. He served on the Board of Trustees School of Kinesiology and Health Studies, has spend more time with her sons Michael and at Brock University, as well as the Ethics Com- been inducted into the Kingston and District Curtis, and lower her handicap on the golf mittee for the St. Catharines General Hospital. Sports Hall of Fame. Melody won six national course. Bruce was an avid hockey player and was shot put titles between 1985 and 1991. She has involved with the Oldtimers’ Hockey Associa- DIANA (ROYAL) , Artsci’79, and husband been involved in athletics and coaching at tion. He was also active in the Niagara Slo- TIM SCHAFFTER , Com’79 (on left) met Queen’s for 33 years, including 23 years as Pitch Association. NICOLE SABET , Artsci’05, Ed’06, and the head coach of track and field. her husband Aaron Schmidt (on right) in Bangkok, Thailand, at an April gathering J O B N E W S of the Baha’i community. Diana and Tim 1980s A Z A D B O N N I , Meds’86, currently recently moved from Kyrgyzstan to Laos PDR, COMMITMENTS where Diana has been doing consultancies in Professor of neurobiology at Harvard C A R I G R A Y , Artsci’88, writes that she got Early Childhood Education and Tim is head Medical School, will be the next head of the married in January to John Canning and was of the UNICEF Office. Nicole teaches science Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology expecting her first baby (“at 44!”) early in May. at the Ruamrudee International School at Washington University School of Medicine She included a photo from the wedding in in St. Louis, Missouri.
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IAN BURCHETT , Artsci’82, has been RENÉ THIBAULT , Sc’89, is now President all-star crew appointed Consul General in the Hong and CEO Western Canada for the Lafarge of Canadian Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR), Group. René lives in Calgary. singers. The People’s Republic of China, with concurrent duo recently DAVID STRATTON , Artsci’85, is now Vice- accreditation as Consul General in the Macao performed a President of Sales at Quickmobile in Vancouver. SAR. sold-out show CHRIS WHITAKER , Artsci’82, is President at the prestigious NORMAN FARRELL , Law’86, has and CEO of Humber College in Toronto. Joe’s Pub at the been appointed Prosecutor of the UN- Previously, he was President and CEO of St. Public Theatre in Manhattan that received supported Special Tribunal for Lebanon in its Lawrence College – Kingston, Brockville and rave reviews in the New Yorker. The brothers continuing investigation of the Beirut bomb- Cornwall, ON. were finalists for the 2010 and 2011 Fred Ebb ing in 2005 that killed former Lebanese Prime Award for Musical Theatre Songwriting and Minister Rafic Hariri and 22 others. N O T E S won first place in the Jazz category of the 2010 TOM GREAVES , Artsci’82, is now ANNETTE (SAULNIER) BERGERON , USA Songwriting Competition for their song Executive Director of CyArk, a non- Sc’87, is President-Elect of APEO (Association The Angels’ Share. Don was honoured with a profit company in Oakland, CA. CyArk of Professional Engineers Ontario). She 2009 Emmy for outstanding theme song for documents heritage sites using 3D imaging currently works for the AMS at Queen’s as co-writing the theme to the animated Cartoon technologies, including laser scanning, lidar its General Manager. She encourages fellow Network television show, 6teen. Their debut and high resolution photography. To date, engineers to contact her regarding their pro- recording, Toronto Sings the Breithaupt CyArk has digitally preserved more than 70 fessional affiliations at [email protected]. Brothers Songbook, was released in 2010. sites on five continents, ranging from Pompeii JAMES HUGHES , Com’87, is now President to Ti’kal to Mount Rushmore. Tom says CyArk Next year, award-winning songwriting team of the Graham Boeckh Foundation in Montreal, is expanding by developing local chapters the Breithaupt Brothers, DON , Artsci’83, and the principal focus of which is to improve the around the globe and wants to reach out to JEFF BREITHAUPT, Artsci’86, will release lives of those suffering from mental illness. fellow alumni to become involved. “Our an album of their songs interpreted by an model is founded in our entrepreneurial roots,” he says. “We get started with a team HONOURS of angel investors who are committed to digi- tally preserving a specific site or a collection Instrumental to education of sites organized around a theme. We’ve launched this in Mexico, Scotland, and several having the opportunity to walk the red carpet and mingle with American states; now we’re looking for social music stars at the 2012 Juno Awards was a once-in-a-lifetime entrepreneurs in Canada to help us digitally experience for high school music teacher Hugh Johnston, preserve Canada’s remarkable heritage. We mus’84, ed’85, and his family. need volunteers who are passionate about As the winner of the 2012 musicounts teacher of the year preserving their heritage and who are also Award, hugh enjoyed an all-expenses-paid trip to the Juno connected to resources that can support our Awards and brought home a solid crystal statuette, a personal data collection and follow-on dissemination cheque for $10,000, and $10,000 for his music program at efforts.” [email protected]. Regiopolis-Notre Dame catholic high school in Kingston
(known locally as “Regi”) – money that he plans to use for photo by mIKe weAveR WILLIAM HARVEY , Sc’82, is now some big-ticket items like timpani. hugh Johnston (left) with the CFO of Walter Energy Inc., a pro- “I’m truly honoured,” says hugh, adding that he accepted singer-songwriter ducer of metallurgical coal based in Alabama. the award on behalf of all teachers who strive to bring a love Johnny Reid of music to their students. “the financial award that this brings RUTH HENDERSON , Artsci’87, MBA’89, and her to our school is very significant and will have a lasting impact on the quality of the music pro- partners recently launched gram by providing instruments and resources that will be enjoyed for generations to come.” Whiteboard Consulting, a he credits the success of Regi’s music program to both the enthusiasm of his students and Toronto-based B2B firm. to his prior experience in establishing successful music programs at three other schools in While specializing in process bathurst, Nb, and brockville and oshawa, oN, before arriving back in Kingston to teach 14 improvement and design, the company offers years ago. “many of the students haven’t had much exposure to music education in elemen- expertise in data analysis, strategic planning tary school, so it’s very new and exciting for them,” he explains. “It’s also a class where they and design, organizational design, and project literally get to ‘play’ and have fun. they’re engaged the whole time they’re in class.” management. whiteboardconsulting.ca one of hugh’s favourite things about teaching music is working with students who are in the early stages of learning to read music or to play an instrument and who can enjoy the I A N L E A C H , Law’86, a partner with Lerners satisfaction of improving quickly in a short period of time. he’s appreciative of the way in LLP, has been appointed to Ontario’s Superior which music can bring students together to work on a shared goal and the increased self- Court of Justice, Southwest Region, and will be esteem that they can gain from learning new skills. chambered in London, ON. the rich music education hugh offers his students is an experience that remains with many of them long after graduation and, for some, reveals a passion or talent that they CLAIRE LESAGE , Artsci’88, has returned to Queen’s as Manager, Employer and Partner choose to pursue following high school. hugh counts music teachers, pop singers, and Relations, with Career Services. With more musicologists among his former students who’ve gone on to enjoy work in the music than 15 years of experience in employment industry, having started their careers in the music room at Regi. – CHRISTINA ARCHIBALD services, Claire is leading campus recruitment programs and services to connect students and Regi’s music program recently welcomed another Queen’s grad, Justine (Thompson) Lord, recruiting organizations. claire.lesage@ Mus’08, Ed’09, as a second music teacher. queensu.ca.
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James, a lawyer by training, previously served CAROLYNE KAUSER-ABBOTT , at Queen’s and went on to do her MSc and as Deputy Minister of New Brunswick’s Artsci’85, writes to say she just cannot get PhD in epidemiology at U of T. Today, she Department of Social Development. enough of France. She and her husband have is Senior Epidemiologist for the Ontario returned for the second summer in a row. Last Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care in JANE JOHNSTON , Artsci/PHE’88, moved time they stayed 13 months. This time she has Toronto. Elizabeth writes, “Sadly, my best from teaching to real estate in 2006 and joined launched an audio guided walking tour of friend and beloved husband Barry Rael died Pemberton Holmes on Vancouver Island. Jane beautiful Aix-en-Provence. in 1996. It was as good a death as it could be; is a top-selling realtor and has won a number edibleheritage.com. he died peacefully in my arms. I know he of awards for her work. She continues to be would be proud that I went on to complete my interested in education and is an Ambassador B O B R I P L E Y , MBA’88, has retired as doctorate and to work in Ontario’s health/ to Pearson College, a United World College Deputy CAO/CFO of the City of Orillia, ON. health promotion ministries since 1999 as where she and her husband, Chris Blondeau, Bob began working for the city in 1999 as City senior epidemiologist. I sometimes refer to were house parents and campus residents. Treasurer. myself as “your friendly neighbourhood epi- They’ve finally moved off campus to their DOUGLAS McCUTCHEON , Com’87, has demiologist,” and am pleased and privileged own home in pastoral Metchosin, and Chris retired as Head of Healthcare in Europe, the to be working in an area that aligns with my remains the Director of Operations at the Middle East, Africa and Asia-Pacific for UBS passion to improve the health of Ontarians. College. They have two kids, Morgan and AG, a global wealth and asset management would be happy to hear from other Queen’s Catriona. Anyone visiting Victoria, BC, is company. Douglas lives in North York, ON. folks who remember me or share this passion.” welcome to contact Jane at BriarHillGroup@ [email protected] gmail.com ELIZABETH (STEVENS) RAEL , Artsci’89, built upon her studies in life sciences L O R I T U R I K , MPA’85, has been appointed to the Governing Council of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research for a three-year SPOTLIGHT term. Lori is Executive Director of the Ivey International Centre for Health Innovation in Building bridges London, ON. when United church minister Andrew Love, Artsci’88, mpL’93, mDiv’09, enrolled in Queen’s theological college in his late 30s, he was finally answering a call that he become aware of during his undergraduate years. “I’ve been active in my church all my life, so when I had this sense of a calling to ministry during my first time ‘round at Queen’s, I chatted with (Queen’s chaplain) brian yealland and explored the idea. but I wasn’t quite ready,” says Andrew. After completing his bA in politics and a master’s degree in Urban planning, Andrew spent most of his 20s working on
community health and social housing projects. these experi- coURtesy oF ANDRew Love ences allowed him to advance his understanding of social welfare but ultimately left him feeling unfulfilled. After nearly a decade in planning, he moved into the technology sector and enjoyed several years flying all around the world in a public STEVE WELLS , Artsci/PHE’83, sent us relations role, but still he had the feeling that something was missing from his life. this photo of himself and a group of friends, In 2001, having thoroughly explored several alternative career avenues, he finally felt ready including comedian Jerry Seinfeld, at a to respond to his spiritual calling. During the time he studied for his mDiv at Queen’s, he fundraising gala for the Toronto East General commuted from ottawa a couple of days a week and also worked as a student minister in Hospital in April. Seinfeld was the headliner four different churches east of ottawa – an internship experience he describes as “a fascinat- for the event, titled “Laughter is the best medi- ing way to learn.” cine.” The event also served as the launch for Andrew was ordained as a United church minister in 2009 and found the transition from a new audiobook by DR. GEORDIE FALLIS , congregation member to congregation leader relatively seamless. “having held leadership Arts’73, a longtime friend of Steve’s and an positions in other fields helped, and I found I was able to bring a lot of life experience and organizer of the star-studded gala. Geordie’s an emphasis on community involvement to my new role,” he says. book, From Testicles to Timbuktu, chronicles his passion for social justice and equality is clear in the concerns he recently raised about some of his memorable and humourous expe- a United church report on the Israel-palestine conflict that recommends a boycott on Israeli riences during his medical career. Steve writes, products made in settlements in the west bank. having spent time talking with palestinians “Geordie and I spent many Friday evenings on the west bank, Andrew is well aware of the very difficult reality they face, but he nonethe- pulling his material together while performing less feels there’s been little effort by the United church to hear both voices. ‘quality checks’ on numerous brands of beer.” “the report contains some constructive comments, but, in my view, these are over - The audiobook is dedicated to Steve. Front shadowed by three or four elements that are really counterproductive,” he explains. “I’m row: Sarah Fallis, Artsci’14, Jerry Seinfeld, concerned that we’re eroding our commitment to build bridges with the Jewish community.” and Steve Wells, Artsci/PHE’ 83. Middle row: the church’s emphasis, he believes, should be on supporting efforts at reconciliation and Geordie Fallis, Arts’73, Kevin Fallis, Becky endorsing constructive peace initiatives that are coming from the people themselves – peace Fallis, Dr. Bev Orser, Meds’81, and Lois Fallis. efforts built on common ground rather than the wedges that divide them. Back row: Alsie Jones. “whatever we can do to stay in dialogue is a good thing,” he says. “It’s important to recognize that christians, Jews, and muslims all share the same Abrahamic root, and we must DEATHS constantly work to build bridges rather than fueling conflict. In my own little way, that’s what I’m trying to do.” –C.A. ELIZABETH CHRISTO , BCom’84, died April 19 in Simcoe, ON, aged 52. Elizabeth
46 IssUe 3, 2012 • QUeeN’s ALUmNI RevIew
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT – ‘80s
The naked truth about Maggie Sutherland Her painting of a nude Prime minister stephen Harper may have touched off a lively national uproar about “the nature of art,” but this Kingston artist still wonders what all the fuss was about.
BY CHRISTINA ARCHIBALD
hen Maggie Sutherland, Artsci’85, ing which both of her WEd’91, was taking politics courses parents passed away, at Queen’s in the early 1980s, she had no Maggie decided to put idea that some 20 years later she’d be work- some of her inheri- ing as a professional artist or that she’d tance towards pursu- win national notoriety for painting a nude ing her dreams when portrait of Stephen Harper. she enrolled in a two- “People’s reactions have been really in- year MFA course in fig- teresting and very polarized,” she says. urative art at the New “The general hullabaloo around the paint- York Academy of Art. ing took me by surprise, but it’s reinforced “It was tough being KiNGstON WhiG-stANDARD the idea that I’m able to create something away from Gary for so that speaks to people, and that’s been very long, and New York is
affirming.” an intense place to elliot ferguson/ It was when Maggie was approaching live,” Maggie reflects. Kingston artist maggie sutherland’s controversial nude portrait the end of her studies at Queen’s that she en- “But it was gratifying of PM stephen Harper, a recreation of manet’s 1863 painting rolled in an art class at St. Lawrence College. to be in such a large Olympia, was hailed as the People’s choice award winner at the From that point on art – figure drawing community of artists. Kingston arts council’s 2012 Juried art salon and was purchased and portraiture especially – came to play an No matter what you by an anonymous buyer for $5,000. increasingly important part in her life. were interested in, you Following graduation, Maggie and hus- could find other people who shared that.” tionally. Some Kingstonians thought the band Gary Greer, Artsci’80, whom she’d For Maggie, the appeal of portraiture, as nude portrait shouldn’t be on display in a met through work at CFRC, relocated to a viewer, is feeling like she knows a little bit library room that also hosted children’s New Brunswick where Gary took a job as about the experience of the person in the events. Others saw the portrait as disre- the campus radio station manager at Mount painting. In her own work, she feels like a spectful of the Prime Minister. Allison University. Maggie started on a writer telling a story. “I want a little slice of “Some people think it’s great, and some “bumpy road of self-discovery through art,” life to come through. I’m not a fan of the are scandalized by what they perceive as taking courses at Mount Allison while Gary idealized portrait. I want to show warts the sexual nature of the painting, but as worked on campus and com- and all: a bit of life, maybe someone who has studied anatomy for so pleted his BEd. i’d say the general even a bit of the struggle.” long, nudity in art to me isn’t as loaded as it In 1988, the couple moved reaction to the It was this revealing seems to be for some people,” says Maggie. to Hong Kong to teach for picture says more approach to portraiture “I’d say the general reaction to the pic- two years. Returning to combined with a post-femi- ture says more about our culture and our Kingston, Gary went to work about our culture nist perspective that led her reactions to nudity than anything else.” with the Limestone School and our reactions to create Emperor Haute Despite her feeling that it’s gratifying to Board, while Maggie contin- to nudity than Couture, the Harper portrait know that people still notice art and that it ued to explore life drawing anything else. she did for a juried compe- can provoke discussion, Maggie doesn’t and returned to Queen’s for tition and that hung in the have any more portraits of recognizable her BEd, though teaching was not to be the Kingston Public Library. The work was in- public figures planned. Instead she’s back calling she ultimately chose. spired by the fairy tale “The Emperor’s in her studio, putting the furore of recent “I realised that while I’d taught happily in New Clothes,” Maggie’s own jadedness months behind her, and working on a se- Hong Kong and enjoyed the experience of about North American politics, and a lack ries of new paintings for a new show in being a more mature student at teacher’s col- of dissent and representation by women in Toronto in the fall. lege, my introverted nature meant I was re- the Harper cabinet at that time. “It’s time to move on – I’ve got work to ally more suited to being an artist,” she says. The painting, intended as political do,” she says. “It’s going to be a busy After a difficult six-month period dur- satire, caused waves locally and then na- summer!” B
www.alumnireview.Queensu.ca 47 ALUMNI NOTES – ‘90s
worked at the Multi Service Centre and ROB FULFORD , MARNIE NIEMI HOOD , Michael Bossy Group in Tillsonburg, ON. Artsci’93, and wife Mus’92, and husband Eric She is survived by her son Carl and three Christine welcomed welcomed Grace Gale, born brothers. Caroline Sophia on Feb. Dec. 15, 2011, in Toronto. A 11 in Toronto. sister for Leslee, Madeline, and Liam and a niece for Shannon HEATHER (NICHOLSON) , Niemi, PHE ‘95, Ed’96. The Hoods can be 1990s Artsci’99, Ed’04, and ERIC reached at [email protected]. BIRTHS HARPELL , Sc’95, welcomed ROBIN (FONGER) , Artsci’99, and Trevor Nicholas on Oct. 9, JOHN MacLAREN , Artsci’98. See Births CHRISTOPHER BEVERIDGE , Artsci’96, 2011, in Ottawa. Trevor 2000s. becomes part of a big Queen’s welcomed Massey Edwin Brookes on July 16, M E G A N clan on both sides. He is the fifth grandson for 2011. Massey adores his big sister, Emma PICKERING , Carol (Brown), Arts’64, and John Nicholson, Louise Ord. The family lives with their Artsci’94, and Sc’64; the third grandson for Barbara (Carr- “northern” dogs, Czar and Keizer, in Thunder Volodymyr Harris), Arts’66, and Tim Harpell, Sc’69; a Bay, ON. Duszara wel- nephew for David Nicholson, Sc’92, Lynn comed Teodor NADIA (COLELLA) Nicholson, Artsci’93, David Harpell, Sc’93, Mychajlo FITZGERALD , Artsci’99, Lisa Headrick Harpell, Sc’00, and Greg Duszara, born and Mike welcomed Harpell, Artsci’01; and a great-grandson for in Montreal on Michaela (Mika) Hope Marie the late Howard Morton Brown, BCom’27, Oct. 2, 2011. on Jan. 22 in Barrie, ON. and the late Mary (Pyke) Carr-Harris, Arts’37. Older brother Kiel is adjusting well to life with a new little TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS brother, and grandparents Jane (Stanyar), NSc’66, and Richard Pickering, as well as Nina Innovation and invention Maksymiw-Duszara and Walter Duszara, are thrilled to be adding to their brood of grand- transformix engineering, a Kingston-based automation products children. company, has come a long way since its establishment in 1995 by Peng-Sang Cau, com’94, Richard Zakrzewski, sc’93, Ken Ella Marie was Nicholson, sc’92, and Martin Smith, sc’94. Now, 16 years later, born April 15 the company employs more than 80 people – several of whom to MAXWELL are Queen’s alumni – and has satellite offices in brazil and SAEGERT , chicago. Artsci’99, and “we’d all left Kingston to go on to other things after gradua- Christina. tion, but we were looking for a way to come back,” says peng. A sister for Thomas Maxwell, niece for
photo by sUzy LAmoNt FoR KeDco “we spoke to a representative from KeDco (Kingston economic Kimberly (Saegert) Darlington, Com’93, and peng-sang cau, ceo of Development corporation) who made the city sound very attrac- Ken Darlington, Sc’94, and granddaughter for transformix engineering tive for our business – and for us it’s been a real boon being Peter Frederick MacLean Saegert, Sc’63. located here. Not only do our visiting international clients see us ERIC TREMBLAY , as this innovative organization, but also one that’s based in a great historical city.” Artsci’91, Artsci’01, and Erin these days, peng – transformix’s president and ceo – spends about a quarter of her time Merry welcomed Sebastien abroad meeting with potential clients and existing clients. In the last 2 1/2 years, transformix on Oct. 19 in Kingston. A has doubled in size and revenue, and for peng, a busy schedule is part and parcel of that brother for Maxime, now 4. expansion. Ken, a mechanical engineer and tranformix’s Director of Automation, notes that these days K A R E N L I U , Sc’98, Andy the bulk of the company’s work is international, and the number of industries and countries Wong, and big brother An- they are involved in continues to increase, with 90 percent of their new projects coming from derson are delighted to an- referrals. nounce the arrival of Karsten this strong reputation is one that transformix established early on. the company’s initial Wong on Apr. 7 in Ottawa. successes came about because of the bold moves the partners were willing to make in order to take market share away from established companies – saying yes to projects that other HONOURS companies shied away from. MATTHEW AKMAN , MA’91 (Macquarie “As the new kid on the block, innovation was the only edge we could offer,” Ken explains. Capital Markets, Toronto), CHRISTOS “many of the pivotal moments for the company have come about through the creation of DOULIS , Artsci’95 (Stonecap Securities, systems that are technologically unique in the world and, in some cases, represent the birth Toronto), S E R A K I M , Com’98 (GMP Securi- of entirely new industries.” ties, Toronto), PETER MacDONALD , For a company that has so many Queen’s alumni employees, it’s not surprising that trans- MBA’97 (Toronto), CHERILYN RAD- formix has retained close ties with the University. both engineering and commerce students BOURNE , Com’96 (TD Newcrest, Toronto), regularly take plant tours. this year, the company began taking part in Queen’s Undergraduate MARIO SARIC , Com’99 (Scotia Capital, Internship program, where second- or third-year engineering undergraduates can apply for a Toronto), have all been identified by StarMine 12-to-16-month internship, allowing them to gain invaluable experience in the real world of as being among the top stock pickers and esti- mechanical and electrical engineering. mators in the Canadian banking sector. “For engineers who are into designing and building something from nothing,” says peng, “we’re the perfect world.” – CHRISTINA ARCHIBALD JOE BRADFORD , Law’94 (Vice-President, China National Offshore Oil Corp. Canada
48 IssUe 3, 2012 • QUeeN’s ALUmNI RevIew ALUMNI NOTES – ‘90s
CREATIVE MINDS Active voice For former Ams president Greg Frankson, Artsci’97, ed’99, the discrimination and mental health. For inspiration, he also draws process of realizing his dream job as a creative services consultant on his teaching experience and on his government work in diversity, and spoken word artist has been a grad- employment equity, and aboriginal issues. ual one. In 2001, greg left his job teach- Life at the helm of cytopoetics is both busy and stimulating. As ing high school math in Quebec and the current co-chair of the spoken word canada National youth slam moved to ottawa to pursue analyst work committee, greg is part of the group behind a new annual festival with the federal government. It was while called “youthcanslam” to be held each August in toronto, starting in he was settling into city life that he dis- 2013. greg is also recognized as one of the best spoken word artists covered “spoken word,” which he de- n the country and recently won the championship runner-up place in scribes as “an art form based on poetry this year’s canadian Individual poetry slam. An average week can see that is performed aloud from memory.” him travelling between major North American cities on cytopoetics by 2004, he was performing regularly business – conducting radio interviews, staging school performances, under the stage name of Ritallin, and performing in arts festivals, and participating in diversity and mental
in 2007 he launched his now booming JAy LoLLI photogRAphy health training events. greg was also a finalist on cbc’s Canada’s creative services consultancy, cytopoetics. greg Frankson Smartest Person contest in march. “spoken word is a way for me to per- over the course of the next year, greg will be transitioning out of form my words without being tied to the basic conventions of popular his government role in order to focus on making cytopoetics into a music,” explains greg, who performed hip-hop during his time at high fully functioning consultancy, training additional artists so that the school and at Queen’s. “sometimes in music people want you to try group can be involved in more industries and social causes and reach to write what will sell as opposed to what you really want to talk more people. about. spoken word gives me the freedom to talk about issues I really “offering creative services through cytopoetics allows me to have care about.” a direct impact on causes that are important to me,” greg says. “I those issues are both meaningful and diverse, with the majority wake up every single day passionately excited about what I’m doing.” of greg’s performances and advocacy focusing on youth, anti- cytopoetics.ca – C.A.
Inc., Calgary), JONAH DAVIDS , Artsci’96 (Vice-President, Just Energy Group Ltd., Toronto), and DAVID PATHE , Artsci’92 (President/CEO, Sherritt International Corp., Toronto), were selected as finalists for the Canadian General Counsel Awards, a national program designed to recognize excellence in the In-House Counsel community.
ANDREW CRAIG , Artsci’93, Professor of biochemistry in Queen’s Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, was the 2011 recipient of the Canadian Cancer Society Young Investigator Award. This award came “Thanks to Queen’s with $1,000 for the recipient and $20,000 for annual donors, his research. Dr. Craig’s research is focused I thrived in an on the regulation of cancer cells. environment full GREG SKOTNICKI , of opportunity both MBA’97, is President of inside and beyond Manderley Turf Products, the classroom. which was named one of You have showed Canada’s 50 Best Managed me that just as one Companies for 2011. Greg received the company’s student can make Thank award at a gala event in Toronto in March. a di erence, one The award is sponsored by Deloitte, CIBC, the donor can make National Post, and Queen’s School of Business. You! a di erence.” Jaimie Lynn, ANDREW DUFFY , MSc’90, PhD’95, has Class of 2012 been awarded Boston University’s highest teaching award, the Metcalf Cup and Prize for www.givetoqueens.ca Excellence in Teaching. Andrew joined the BU faculty in 1995 as Director of the Physics Lec- ture Demonstration Facility and is one of only QUEEN’S ANNUAL APPEAL four master lecturers in the College of Arts
www.ALUmNIRevIew.QUeeNsU.cA 49 ALUMNI NOTES – ‘90s
and Sciences. A nationally recognized advo- J O B N E W S E L L E N F R Y , EMBA’99, Ottawa, is the cate for developing creative new ways to teach National Capital Commission Ombudsman. DAVID BOONE , NMBA’99, is the new V-P, physics, he is currently principal investigator She is a mediator, arbitrator, and adjudicator Strategic Projects, with The Economical Insur- on a National Science Foundation-funded with ADR Chambers Banking Ombuds Office. ance Group. David is based in Waterloo, ON. project to recruit and train future teachers CHRISTOPHER GOODRIDGE , Artsci’98, to meet national U.S. needs. KAROLINE (AL KOURA) BOURDEAU , has been appointed President of Torstar Digi- Artsci’96, Artsci’98, Law’08, has opened up a MATTHEW PIERCE , Sc’95, MSc’98, tal. Since joining Torstar in 2004 he has held mediation practice. Insightful Mediation helps a geotechnical engineer with Itasca the roles of Director of Corporate Develop- clients reach agreements through mediation Consulting Group in Minnesota, will receive ment, Managing Director of Mergers & and facilitation. Karoline’s specialties include the prestigious Manuel Rocha Medal for 2013 Acquisitions and Partnerships, and V-P & employee retention issues and partnership from the International Society for Rock CFO. Prior to joining Torstar, he practised agreements. While based in Kingston, Mechanics (ISRM) at the ISRM Symposium corporate law at Blake, Cassels & Graydon Karoline works with clients across Canada. in Poland in September. Matthew gets a LLP in Toronto. [email protected] bronze medal and cash prize for his doctoral JOSEPH HAMILTON , MSc’91, is now the thesis, “A Model for Gravity Flow of D O N D U V A L , Artsci’99, has been appointed CEO of Toronto-based Malbex Resources Inc. Fragmented Rock in Block Caving Mines.” CEO of Sudbury’s Northern Centre for He is also President of PICKAX International Matthew consults on complex geotechnical Advanced Technology (NORCAT). He also Corp., a private consulting company. design projects all around the world. serves as an adjunct professor in the Univer- sity of Toronto’s Faculty of Engineering. RICHARD IRVINE , Sc’90, is now the COO of Gold Resource Corporation in Colorado Springs, CO. SPOTLIGHT MARK KEATING , Com’95, is the Vice- Recess for adults President Marketing at Prinova in Toronto. Prinova provides a communication software, Nicki Bridgland, com’95, has made a career out of having fun. Messagepoint, for print mail marketing. she’s the founder of the ottawa sport and social club (ossc), which bills itself as being “Recess for Adults.” the club provides co-ed J. EDWARD KIDD , ConEd’94, has been sports leagues in everything from soccer to inner-tube water polo. appointed Headmaster of Ridley College in Nicki admits to having somewhat ulterior motives in founding the St. Catharines, ON. Ed is currently Principal ossc. “I had played in similar leagues when I lived in san Francisco of the high school at Shanghai American and toronto,” she says. “It was a great chance to reconnect with ex- School in Shanghai, China. With an enrolment of more than 3,200 – primarily expat students isting friends and make new ones. when I moved to ottawa in 2003, photo coURtesy oF NIcKI bRIDgLAND there were no fun, multi-sport, co-ed adult recreational leagues, so from more than 40 countries – the school is I decided to start one up.” China’s largest and oldest international school. beyond just wanting to have fun, Nicki had the professional expertise and personal experi- AARON MARTIN , Artsci’94, emailed to ence to make the new project a business success. “growing up, I worked a lot in outdoor say: “I’m currently an executive producer recreation,” she explains. “I earned my commerce degree at Queen’s, and that certainly and writer on CTV/NBC’s new medical helped develop my business acumen. After graduating, I worked for the Royal bank of drama, Saving Hope. Prior to that I spent four canada, william m. mercer consulting, and peoplesoft in california. that gave me corporate years as an executive producer/showrunner experience.” and writer on CBC’s drama Being Erica – and Despite all her enthusiasm, Nicki faced many challenges in getting ossc started. people even acted in the series finale (putting all that warned her there would be a lack of facilities for a new sports league in ottawa. some Queen’s Drama experience to, unfortunately, thought co-ed recreational sports geared towards adults would never work. she has proved mediocre use).” the skeptics wrong. “In our first season, we had 350 members. today, we have more than 8,000 members playing in ottawa weekly, four seasons a year,” she says. RICK PARSONS , Artsci’94, is now Princi- Nicki also founded and launched sport and social clubs in Kingston, halifax, moncton, pal of the Sterling Hall School, an independent victoria, and London as a licensee. outside of canada, she has expanded to boulder, day school for boys in Toronto. Previously, colorado, and Lausanne, switzerland. Rick was Vice-Principal of the University of since the sport and social club’s expansion, her role within the organization has changed. Toronto Schools (UTS). His wife Sarah, “In the beginning, I had to be very hands-on. Now there are 14 full-time staff and a general Artsci’93, is Associate Professor of Canadian manager who takes care of the day-to-day operations. I now have time to explore new Art History at York. markets and grow the business. It is always a thrill to expand to a new city. there are different GEORGE PLATANITIS , Sc’97, works as challenges every time.” a Reliability/Safety Engineer at Honeywell with the success of the sport and social club, Nicki has made sure to give back to her Aerospace in Mississauga. community. one cause particularly close to her heart is the Jennie James Depression Research Fund. “I met Jennie [James, bA’90] in my final year of high school. At Queen’s, we were room- MICHAEL SPENCE , Artsci’90, is Director mates in victoria hall. sadly, Jennie lost her life to suicide several years ago. her father and of Sales at Sysmex Canada, an international family have established a special fund in her honour [through the Royal ottawa Foundation healthcare technology company with Cana- for mental health] to support leading-edge depression research. the ossc has been proud dian headquarters in Toronto. to contribute to that fund.” JOANNA WILSON , Artsci’92, is Vice-Presi- Although Nicki has taken a step back from her business, she remains passionate about its dent of National Public Relations in Toronto. mission and future. “I really do believe the clubs make their communities a better place to Joanna leads the Healthcare Communications live,” she says. “we give people that opportunity to connect with each other and have fun. practice at the firm. that’s the best job and life satisfaction I could have.” – STEPHEN JOHNSON
50 IssUe 3, 2012 • QUeeN’s ALUmNI RevIew
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT – ’90s
A grassroots politician Paul Dewar, ed’94, always wanted to be a teacher, but having emerged as one of the leading lights of the resurgent federal NDP, there are a few lessons that he hopes to teach his party.
BY MEAGAN FITZPATRICK, ARTSCI’02
aul Dewar headed for the classroom for good in 2005, Dewar successfully these days, he says, “I think federal politics Pafter leaving Queen’s with his BEd sought the nomination, with his wife Julia’s need a good injection of grassroots, local degree, but a decade later he left teaching encouragement, and won the seat in the politics.” and embarked on a new career path – one January 2006 election. As he toured Canada in the course of that recently led him on a quest to become While he misses teaching, he says he his leadership campaign, Dewar says he Canada’s first New Democrat (NDP) prime thoroughly enjoys his work as an MP. was shown more than ever that MPs need minister. “What I love is the engagement with to have a closer connection to people in Following Jack Layton’s death last people,” he says. their communities. Too often people don’t August 22, Dewar, the MP for Ottawa Centre, One of the many lessons his late view the federal government as a force for spent six months campaigning for his party’s mother taught him is that wielding power positive change, he says. Dewar is intent on leadership. Had he won, Dewar would have can be a good or a bad thing. What’s key is doing what he can to change that. been leader of the Official Opposi- “We ... I, need to be seized with tion and running for prime minister this engagement of Canadians in in the next election. political affairs to show them why However, in late March, New it matters,” he says. Democrats chose Tom Mulcair in- A strong sense of community stead, and so Dewar returned to is one of the things Dewar appreci- his MP duties and to his role as ated about Queen’s. He recalls that the party’s foreign affairs critic. his professors were connected to During a chat in his Parlia- their discipline and to the Kingston ment Hill office – where he community. Dewar followed their offered his visitor coffee in a lead, immersing himself in both Queen’s mug – the 49-year-old town and gown. He enjoyed jog- reflected on his political career, so ging along the shore of Lake On- far, and his time in Kingston. tario and volunteering with Open Even though he grew up in the Book, a literacy program for youth. nation’s capital, studied politics for Dewar also has fond memories of a his undergrad degree at Carleton, practice-teaching stint he did on and had an activist mother (Mar- nearby Amherst Island.
ion Dewar) who was mayor of meagan fitZPatricK There is special connection Ottawa and briefly an MP, the interestingly, Paul Dewar’s shadow cabinet post now among the students, the staff and younger Dewar didn’t always en- puts him opposite a Queen’s contemporary, the community at Queen’s, he says. vision a life for himself in politics. foreign affairs minister John baird, artsci’92. “That’s something that I hope is He loved teaching and being en- never lost.” gaged in public service through volunteer how you use it to mobilize people to assert Dewar is still reflecting on the lessons work on environmental campaigns and their power to make change. he learned in his leadership bid, what went other issues he’s passionate about. “For me, that’s what politics is about – right and what didn’t. Would he ever run In 2004, when an opportunity arose to organizing and connecting with people again, if the opportunity came up? He run for the NDP nomination in Ottawa and coming together with ideas and push- doesn’t rule it out. However, the NDP isn’t Centre, Dewar took it. Unfortunately, he ing them,” he says. due for another leadership review any time wasn’t the only one eager to claim the nom- Real change comes out of communi- soon, and that’s just fine with Dewar, who’s ination; the party’s former leader, Ed ties, ”from the grassroots,” in his view, and focused on his party winning a majority in Broadbent, LLD’09, had decided to make a that’s the kind of politics that excites him. the next election. political comeback. So wouldn’t he be better suited to munici- To do that, he says the NDP must en- Not surprisingly, Broadbent won the pal politics? gage with ordinary Canadians to build nomination. However, Dewar didn’t have No, Dewar insists, Parliament Hill is the their trust and show them that the party is to wait long for another shot. When Broad- right fit for him. Though it’s foreign affairs ready to govern. “If we earn that trust, we bent retired from the House of Commons that keep him on his feet in question period can be the government,” says Dewar. B
www.alumnireview.Queensu.ca 51 ALUMNI NOTES – ‘00s
N O T E S Wynne Alexandra on Nov. 18, 2011, J O H N B O N N , Meds’67, Law’90. See 1960s in Toronto. Proud Notes. Queen’s alumni J E F F K O P A S , Artsci’98, writes that he’s ex- relations include cited that his first feature film, An Insignificant “Papa” Bryan Harvey, showed in theatres across Canada in Callaghan, late 2011 and is now available on iTunes. Meds’72, uncle aninsignificantharvey.com. Bradley Callaghan, Artsci/PHE’04, cousin Lauren (Callaghan) Brantford and is the President of the Academy CHRISTOPHER McCREERY , MA’99, Hopkins, NSc’10, and great-aunties Carol of Nurse Practitioners Association (ANPA). PhD’03, has been appointed to the Board of (Callaghan) Timmings, NSc’80, MEd’95, and Trustees of the Canadian Museum of Civiliza- FIONA SCHULTE , Lynda Callaghan, Ed’86. Ashley writes, tion and Canadian War Museum. The author Artsci’01, and husband Jeff “Despite all best efforts, the tricolour has of 14 books, he is a recognized authority on Biernaskie are pleased to already slipped into Wynne’s wardrobe and Canadian honours and decorations. His latest announce the birth of nursery decor... What can we say? The colours book, Commemorative Medals of the Queen’s Emery Karin Biernaskie, just seem to suit her!” Reign in Canada, 1952-2012, has been featured born Jan. 8 in Calgary. on The Globe and Mail’s bestseller list. A M Y Z U B E R ANNA (PETRYSHYN) MEEHAN , Artsci’01, and MALCOLM STRA- DEATHS Ed’02, and PHILIP MEE- CHAN , both Sc’08, HAN , Artsci’01, welcomed OSCAR WOLFMAN , BEd’92, died Nov. 21, welcomed William Stella Marie, born Jan. 17 2011 in Toronto, aged 55. He is survived by his Matthew Charles. The fam- in Singapore. Big brother George was spot on partner Robert Monro, his parents, sister, and ily lives in Etobicoke, ON. extended family. Oscar began his life as a about baby’s gender the entire time, predicting dancer; he choreographed for the Dora he’d be welcoming a little sister. Amy and Phil MICHELLE (COOK) , Wasserman Yiddish Theatre in Montreal and are currently in their seventh year working at Artsci’02, and MIKE led a folk-dance troupe. He later became a international schools in Singapore as a teacher THORPE , Artsci’03, wel- teacher. He began working with photography and counsellor respectively. comed Mia Ellen this past October in Toronto. Mia is in 2004 and received critical acclaim for his PAULA LUCAS PLATT , the first great-granddaughter artistic work, which explored Jewish Artsci’02, and J O R Y P L A T T , for Douglas Hanna, Sc’44. Doug is hoping Mia religious and cultural themes and representa- Sc’02, welcomed their first child, will wear a purpled Queen’s jacket one day! tions of masculinity and sexuality. Ryla Linda Margaret, on June 21, 2011. Ryla enjoys spending time JESSICA (LYNK) , with her extended Queen’s fam- Artsci’06, and DAVID 2000s ily members: grandparents Linda (Schock), WOELLER , Artsci’06, BIRTHS Artsci’78, and Paul Lucas, Artsci’72, uncle welcomed Noah Michael on Chad Lucas, Artsci’06, great-aunt Marion Dec. 20, 2011, in Ottawa. S A R A H C U M - (Schock) Draper, Artsci’74, great-uncle Glenn Noah’s proud Queen’s family MINGS , BFA’01, Lucas, Com’75, uncle Kipp Horton, Sc’95, and includes grandparents Susan (Butler), Arts’73, and ROBERT aunts Kim Lucas, Artsci’08, and Kelly Lucas, Ed’75, and Michael Woeller, Artsci’75, TRUSZKOWSKI, Artsci’10. Jory is a Finance Director at Pepsico MBA’78, and aunts Erin (Woeller) Inkster, BFA’00, welcomed Foods. Paula is in marketing at GlaxoSmith - Artsci’01, Ed’02, and Katie (Woeller) Ward, Grace Kathleen Kline. They live in Etobicoke, ON. Sc’02. Jessica and David met in Ban Righ cafe- into the world on April 3, giving Ella (6) and teria in 2002 and were married in June 2010. Otis (3) a new little sister to attend to. Sarah HAYLEY (SMITH) continues to keep very busy at home, and POST , MA’02, and TARA (PEARSON) , Robert has been granted tenure and promo- husband Isaac welcomed NSc’07, and WILLIAM tion to Associate Professor in the Department daughter Edwina Catherine WOODS , Com’06, who of Visual Arts at the University of Regina. The on Jan. 6. The family resides were married in the Truszkowski family can be reached by email: in Alexandria, VA. Dominican Republic in 2010, welcomed Laurel [email protected]. LAURIE (SHAW) , Olivia on May 4. The family lives in the small Artsci’01, and MARK VALÉRIE (BERTRAND) , community of Vars, east of Ottawa. Sc’01, and R O N D I E R , ROGERS , Sc’01, are Sc’01, MSc’02, welcomed proud to announce COMMITMENTS Élizabeth Gabrielle into their the birth of Chelsea lives on March 9 in Calgary. Elizabeth on Aug. 10, At the time of writing, her outfit was already 2011, in Ottawa; a sister picked out for her first Stampede! for Rachel, 4.
KALEY (MacDONALD) GREEN , ERIN (AMOS) , Artsci’04, and CHRISTO- Artsci’01, and husband Steven welcomed PHER SAVARD , NSc’03, welcomed Callum Clara Elizabeth on Nov. 14, 2011, in Toronto. Christopher on Sept. 24, 2011, at home in Ancaster, ON. He is loved by his big brothers ASHLEY (CALLAGHAN) , Artsci’02, and Campbell and Graham and big sister Molly. MELISSA ASSALY , Artsci’00, and Cory JOHN MacLAREN , Artsci’98, welcomed Chris is working as a Nurse Practitioner in Krelove were married July 23, 2011, in
52 IssUe 3, 2012 • QUeeN’s ALUmNI RevIew ALUMNI NOTES – ‘00s
Hawkesbury, ON. Queen’s friends Stacey HEALTH MATTERS Geoghegan, Sc’01, Sabrina Andrachuk, Sc’01, and Maggie McGuire, Artsci’01, were in A clear vision for Africa attendance. this February, University of Alberta HONOURS professor of ophthalmology Karim Damji, embA’05, was selected as one R O B G A R D E N , Com’04, Artsci’05, Ed’06, is the youngest-ever recipient of the Mackenzie of canada’s new rising stars in global Bowell Award for Educator of the Year, given health by grand challenges canada and by the Hastings and Prince Edward County awarded $100,000 to further develop an School Board. Rob is a math and business east Africa-based telehealth program to teacher at Prince Edward Collegiate Institute prevent and treat blindness in people in Prince Edward County, ON. with glaucoma. A large part of the success of his CLAIRE HOUSTON , Law’07, a doctoral unique ‘teleglaucoma’ program, Karim candidate at Harvard Law School, has been says, can be attributed to the knowledge named a recipient of the Julius B. Richmond and skills he learned from his Queen’s coURtesy oF KARIm DAmJI Fellowship from the Center on the Developing embA. Although he had been engaged in international work since the mid 1990s, he realized Child at Harvard. She receives a grant totaling prior to enrolling in the embA program that the only way he could have a lasting impact on $10,000 from the Center to fund independent the devastation caused by glaucoma and irreversible blindness in the developing world was to research during the 2012-13 academic year. create a self-sustaining system where local eye specialists could be trained and retained in Claire is the first student from Harvard Law their own environment and be able to detect and treat glaucoma at earlier stages. School to be awarded this honour. After relocating to Alberta following the completion of his embA, Karim worked with colleagues around the world to develop and successfully implement a unique fellowship JOEL JACKSON , Sc’00, of BMO Capital Markets in Toronto, has been identified as training program that allows African physicians to be accepted as subspecialists at the among the top stock pickers and estimators Universities of ottawa and Alberta. in the Canadian banking sector by StarMine. “It was mainly thanks to the embA that I was able to think through the complex issues of capacity building and retention of sub-specialists,” explains Karim. so far eye specialists T A N I A J O H N , Artsci’07, from Kenya’s Aga Khan University hospital, the University of Nairobi, and ethiopia’s Addis has won the 2012 Rising Star Ababa University have received glaucoma subspecialist training and this year the program Award from the Canadian has accepted two fellows from ethiopia and another from Libya. to date, these trained sub- Council for the Advancement specialists have all stayed in their home environments, diagnosing and managing glaucoma of Education (CCAE). Tania with consultancy support from Karim and his glaucoma colleagues at the University of Alberta. joined Wilfrid Laurier Univer- Karim says that the $100,000 from grand challenges canada will go a long way in further sity in 2008 and was named Associate Director developing the ‘teleglaucoma’ program in Kenya and ethiopia – buying the necessary of Annual Giving last year. Previously, Tania equipment and training technicians who travel out to underserviced areas and take the 3D was an Annual Giving Officer at Queen’s. eye images that are sent back to the subspecialist for diagnosis. If the program proves to be effective, Karim will be eligible for an additional $1m grant from grand challenges canada SHANNON PUDDISTER , Sc’00, Law’07, has won a Lexpert Zenith Award for Philan- next year. thropy by an Individual Lawyer. The award “my ultimate goal is to see people in sub-saharan Africa and east Africa take full owner- recognizes his work with Kulemela Canada, ship for their own eye care programs, run them sustainably to an international standard, which he founded in 2009 to address the and develop a regional and globally connected network with centres of excellence,” he says. lack of technical knowledge in developing For more information about grand challenges canada, visit www.grandchallenges.ca countries. to view Karim’s proposal video, visit http://vimeo.com/35894630
J O B N E W S ANDREW LAWRENCE , Artsci’03, is now with the right lawyers. Shane is also a com- KAROLINE (AL KOURA) BOURDEAU , Law’08. See 1990s Job News. Assistant Vice-President Commercial Risk at mercial litigation lawyer based in Vancouver. ACE Canada Communications, a division of SARAH KRIGER , Artsci’07, successfully JANE FLOWER , NMBA’01, has joined DDB the global property and insurance company defended her doctoral dissertation at U of T Canada, a marketing communications agency, ACE Group with a Canadian office in Toronto. as group account director at the company’s Ed- in May. Sarah appeared in the Alumni Review monton office. MICHAEL VLADESCU , EMBA’00, has of August 2008, in an article about her under- been appointed COO at Wi-LAN Inc., an graduate experience at Queen’s and her combi- JASON HYNES , Sc’01, has been appointed intellectual property licensing company with nation of interests – her major being in drama Vice-President, Corporate Development, at headquarters in Ottawa. and her minor in math. Her dissertation is Sabina Gold & Silver, a Canadian precious about the technologies used by performers metals company. Jason is based in Vancouver. N O T E S and conjurors to create staged illusions in the theatres of Victorian London. KATE KITTNER , Artsci’04, has joined the M A R K B O R E R , Law’00, has been appointed Queen’s University Athletics and Recreation to the Toronto Licensing Tribunal for a four- CHRISTOPHER McCREERY , MA’99, team in the newly created position of Coordi- year term. Mark is an executive recruiter for PhD’03. See 1990s Notes. nator, Marketing and Communications. Kate lawyers. He runs his own firm called Silver has spent the past five years providing market- Ladder Consulting. AMY REITSMA , Mus’04, has been accepted ing and communications services for two into Britain’s world-famous Bristol Old Vic SHANE COBLIN , Law’01, is the co-founder Theatre School. Kingston-based businesses. of Legal Linkup, a website that matches people
www.ALUmNIRevIew.QUeeNsU.cA 53 ALUMNI NOTES – ‘10s
NICOLE SABET , Artsci’05, Ed’06. See 1970s A L M A M A T E R MEMORIES Notes. When Political reunion JOSEPHINE members of political studies class of 2002 TSANG , held a reunion in may on campus. Leif malling, PhD’06, ran her Jay Armitage, Lanny cardow, patrick Kennedy, first half- Katrina burgess, briar wells, blair stransky, marathon in Adam Daifallah, cathy worden, eric sherkin, Calgary in April, chris carson, tania haas, and Kirsten twidale she was cheered stayed in residence for old time’s sake, and on by her friends from the Calgary Branch. frequented some of their old Kingston haunts, including the grizzly grill and Alfie’s. Joining them at their celebration at the grad club 2010s were professors J.A.w. gunn, Kim Nossal, COMMITMENTS Jonathan Rose, grant Amyot, and Janet hiebert. ELENA CHRISTOPOULOS , Leif malling writes, “many of our classmates
Artsci’10, writes, “In 2008 a fantastic work in canadian and global public affairs. we photo by mIcheLLe LeAN work opportunity brought me to Los Angeles. credit our Queen’s experience for building our knowledge of politics and grounding us in a Little did I know that I would meet my future great tradition of contributing to canadian political life.” At their reunion, the group launched husband, Richard Brand, an architect based the class of 2002 political studies speakers series fund. out of Los Angeles. Together we put up the first wind turbine in LA County. As environ- Canadian College Draft. Giovanni is the 8th T I M R A Y , MBA’11, is the founder of Food- mental issues are near and dear to our hearts, Queen’s player to be drafted into the league Scrooge, a group-buying website for groceries, we eloped on Earth Day (April 22) and were in the last five years. the first of its kind in North America. Tim married in a vineyard in Napa.” Elena also won a $150K interest-free loan through the recently became President of the Green Cham- HEATHER LENNON , Artsci’10, has started Queen’s School of Business (PELA CFDC ber of Commerce, based in San Francisco. a new job as Channel PR Manager for technol- Business Plan Competition), made a $125K ogy company AMD (Advanced Micro Devices). OANA GAVRI- deal on CBC-TV’s The Dragon’s Den, and then She divides her time between Toronto and LAS , MBA’10, sold his company to WagJag, the largest group- Austin, TX. married Daniel buying website based in Canada. Tim now Labes on May 12 CRAIG MacTAVISH , NMBA’11, has joined heads up WagJag Canada. in Ottawa. In the Edmonton Oilers as Vice-President of At Spring Convo- attendance were hockey operations. This is a return to the cation, M A R C O four MBA’10 Oilers for Craig; he was the team’s head coach, SANFILIPPO , friends: Aastha 2008-2009. Most recently, he was head coach Artsci’12, was (Singh) and of the Chicago Wolves. Craig was profiled in hooded by his Paresh Chari, issue #1-2012 of the Review. uncle Tony San- Chris Yang, and ROBIN SCHOCK , MEd’11, is now a learn- filippo, Artsci’76, Leila Bocksch. ing specialist in an inaugural program at Meds’81 (and As- In September, the Kingston’s St. Lawrence College. The program, sociate Dean of Undergraduate Medical Edu- couple will celebrate with a religious ceremony called Community Integration through Co- cation at Queen’s.) Marco is now one of eight among family and friends in their home coun- operative Education (CICE), will help students members of the Sanfilippo family with try of Romania, followed by a Hawaiian with developmental disabilities, intellectual Queen’s degrees. honey moon. They are excited to be living disabilities, acquired brain injury, or other the Canadian dream and currently reside in The Queen’s Dragons team, composed prima- learning challenges take college courses in Ottawa, where Oana is a Commercial Techno - rily of Queen’s medical students, showed off their program of interest. logy Banker with RBC and Daniel is a Systems their enthusiasm – and muscles – at the Verification Engineer with BTI Systems. M A T T Z I L L I , Artsci’12, is now Queen’s Toronto International Dragon Boat Race Athletics and Recreation’s full-time graphic Festival in June. The Dragons broke their own HONOURS designer. Matt, a former member of the varsity team record in the 500 m race, clocking in at cheerleading squad, has worked with A&R 2:14:13. They finished in fourth place in the KATIE MATTHEWS , Artsci’11, has been honoured as an OUA Woman of Influence. over the past year, leading a number of the University B Finals and sixth place in the Katie rose from an unheralded walk-on department’s design projects in a variety of Premier Open E Finals. freshman voted most improved player on communication media. he volleyball team to a three-time Canadian NOTES Interuniversity Sport academic all-star and three-time Ontario all-star during her four- JOHN PAUL DE SILVA , MBA’10, has year career at Queen’s. founded Social Focus Consulting. The Tor- onto-based firm uses a business approach to J O B N E W S help smaller non-profits run more efficiently. He would like to hear from those interested GIOVANNI APRILE , Artsci/PHE’12, was selected in the 3rd round, 16th overall, by the in achieving greater social impact. JohnPaul@ Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the May CFL SocialFocusConsulting.ca
54 IssUe 3, 2012 • QUeeN’s ALUmNI RevIew
GRACE’S GRADS
Henna crowns of beauty and life a unique service offered by FRANCES DARWIN, ARTSCI’07, is creating beautiful one-of-a-kind body artworks for cancer patients and others who experience radical hair loss.
BY HEATHER GRACE STEWART, ARTSCI ’95
“ e want to empower you. We want That, coupled with the power non-profit organization. Wto help you feel beautiful, and give of her henna crown, made “I don’t feel comfortable you the confidence to be a walking work of her feel unstoppable.” charging a cancer patient for art.” Sadly, Schubert has died. this, but I was initially told This is the mission statement for a However, thanks to her story, that a for-profit social busi- company called Henna Heals, a team of Henna Heals was born in ness was the way to go, be- professional henna artists founded by early 2011. Since then, it has cause funding for non-profits Toronto-based photographer Frances received widespread media and charities is drying up Darwin, Artsci’07. However, this initia- attention. “I scrolled down quickly in our Canadian tive is unique for the emotional benefits it the main page of the UK’s economy. provides. Daily Mail [May 25, 2012], “However, now that we’re When cancer patients lose their hair and there was an article on frances Darwin trying to work with hospitals due to chemotherapy, the artists of Henna Henna Heals, in between ar- that are non-profits, it has Heals apply beautiful designs, “henna ticles on Kim Kardashian and P. Diddy!” become clear that we may also have to be- crowns,” to their smooth pates. The natu- says Frances. “I thought, ‘Wow, this idea is come a non-profit company.” rally sourced henna dye drawings are really spreading! So many people are going In the meantime, Frances has started intricate, one-of-a-kind, completely safe, to learn about henna crowns now, and the Henna Helps Fund as a way to subsi- and temporary. The artworks are so awe- that’s all I’ve ever wanted.’” dize the $100 cost of a henna crown for any inspiring that they draw admiring looks The henna crown is a recent innovation, patient who wants one, but can’t afford it. and spark in-depth conversations. so Frances could only find three artists in all She hopes to make henna crowns avail- Frances’ company also creates henna of Canada who had done one before she able in hospitals, convenient places for pa- crowns for people who are suffering from contacted them. “Recently, though, people tients who are undergoing chemo. She’s alopecia and for high school students and have been contacting me from around the also hoping to partner with more schools teachers who have shaved their heads to world, saying, ‘I just thought of doing this, that participate in Cuts for Cancer, and to benefit Cuts for Cancer. and here you are doing it!’ It’s a wonderful help out at local special events. Raised in Southeast Asia, Frances shift in consciousness.” Henna Heals continues to make con- learned about henna as girl, but she only Henna Heals is currently a for-profit so- nections with trusted henna artists around discovered henna crowns when she was cial purpose business, but Frances is seek- the world. Says Frances, “If someone out- living in San Francisco, working as a ing legal counsel about turning it into a side of Toronto contacts me and wants a maternity photographer. She and the henna crown, we now have 80 non-affili- world-renowned henna artist Darcy ated artists who have been recommended Vasudev talked about providing henna to me through the close-knit professional designs for pregnant women’s bellies. henna artist community, so we can rec- The concept for Henna Heals was de- ommend an artist to them.” veloped when Vasudev told Frances about Frances was thrilled when that Samar- breast cancer patient Tara Schubert, who itan article received 10,000 online hits, but was sporting a henna crown. When she’s not done promoting the concept of Frances went to photograph her, Tara com- henna crowns just yet. She’s using her film- mented, “I’ve never felt this beautiful, even making skills to capture the henna before I had cancer.” crown application process for pa- As Frances recently told an inter- tients willing to share their stories, viewer for Samaritan magazine, “I and some of the videos may be viewed couldn’t believe it. My taking Tara’s pho- on the Henna Heals Facebook Page: tograph made her feel more desirable. www.facebook.com/hennaheals.
beautiful henna crowns lift the spirits of You can visit Henna Heals online at cancer sufferers and others who experience http://hennaheals.ca and follow Frances on radical hair loss. Twitter @hennaheals. B
frances Darwin PHotograPHy www.alumnireview.Queensu.ca 55
ALUMNI BOOKSTAND
A bold solution for an ailing healthcare system a new book by veteran political journalist Jeffrey simpson stirs controversy when he tackles the hot-button subject of how to reform canada’s healthcare system.
BY HUGH WINSOR, ARTS’61
ealthcare spending in Canada, an aging population that’s hitting the sys- What’s the disease? A lot of the things we Hwhich eats up more than $200 bil- tem with expensive, increased demands were trying were not adequate,” he says. lion in public and private money each year, as the tax base diminishes – an unsustain- Simpson decided to write this book to is the country’s biggest public spending able situation unless Canada undertakes a clarify his own thinking, and to prompt a concern. It has been referred to as “the policy revolution. wider awareness and dialogue. third rail of Canadian politics.” Concerns “Traditional medicare, as we define it, He started with prodigious research – about it top public opinion polls, and while which is doctors and hospitals, has to be every commission and study undertaken praise, prescriptions, and palliatives are shaken out because it isn’t delivering the since Tommy Douglas sowed the early bandied about in most election campaigns, value for money by any international stan- seeds in the 1950s in Saskatchewan, fol- the reality is that any politician or health- dard that I could find,” says Simpson. “So lowed by interviews with many of the prin- care official who tries to change the system I say let’s be bold and get rid of shibboleths cipal healthcare players in the country, and or even have a candid debate on it, risks and ideology. Let’s do things that work.” hands-on observation, following around being electrocuted. Simpson has written thousands of Dr. Jeff Turnbull, Meds’78, chief of staff at Such concerns don’t inhibit Jeffrey columns and magazine articles (many of the Ottawa Hospital complex and the 2010- Simpson, Arts’71, LLD’05, The Globe and them about healthcare) as well as seven 11 president of the Canadian Medical Mail’s veteran national affairs columnist. previous books – including Discipline of Association. His new book, Chronic Condition, Why Power, which won the 1980 Governor Gen- Not to be overly influenced by the hot- Canada’s Health-Care System Needs to be eral’s award for non-fiction. So why this shots in one of the country’s largest teach- Dragged into the CBst Century (Allen Lane, book at this time? ing institutions, however, Simpson also $32), probes, prods, and prognosticates One might speculate that at age 63 spent time in the emergency department without fear or favour. Simpson approached this latest effort as his of the 80-bed South Shore Regional Hos- Simpson, a dedicated policy wonk, has magnum opus, a twilight pital in Bridgewater, NS. produced the facts, insights, and analysis crie de coeur to wake up traditional medicare, What he has written needed to fuel a debate on how to ensure politicians, healthcare as we define it, which is arguably the most com- the future of the Canadian healthcare sys- professionals, administra- prehensive tour d’horizon tem we need but don’t have because people tors, and the Canadian is doctors and of the Canadian health- are either unaware or unwilling to examine public. But that’s not hospitals, has to be care system available. the necessary trade-offs and alternatives. Simpson. He’s much more shaken out because it Canadians frequently He is particularly incensed that politicians prosaic about his ap- isn’t delivering the boast they have the and bureaucrats alike seem afraid to be proach. “I had been un- world’s best healthcare honest, having “hoodwinked people into happy for many years value for money by system. It’s not true, but believing future costs can somehow be about what I thought was any international people believe it is be- paid for without affecting other govern- the lack of intelligent standard i could find. cause they are only look- ment services or tax increases.” discussion by political ing south, comparing the Simpson has an explanation for a vari- people and others about the whole health- Canadian healthcare system to the one in ety of concerns: long waiting lists; failure care phenomenon,” he explains. the United States. to meet deadlines for treating priority con- It was apparent to him when he talked Simpson points out that when com- ditions; high drug prices; over-capacity privately with many senior officials, espe- pared to healthcare outcomes to such and stressed hospitals; highly paid but cially those from the provinces, that their European nations as France, Germany, the under-utilized surgeons; and expensive, top concern was how to reduce the curve U.K., Sweden, Denmark, and Norway, how- under-utilized operating rooms. of rising healthcare costs. In the process, ever, we are only in the middle of the pack. He finds much good in the Canadian Simpson recognized things that he had We do have some of the world’s highest- healthcare system, but says it must be im- not sufficiently thought through to his paid doctors, with an average gross income proved and adapted to the freight train of own satisfaction. “What’s the treatment? a year of $390,000, and our specialists are
56 issue 3, 2012 • Queen’s alumni review
Surgical wait times would be dramatically reduced if surgeons had opportunities and were given incentives to use the many operating rooms that now sit vacant for as many as 16 hours of the day. His basket of proposals would shake up the three prin- cipal components of Canada’s system – doctors and nurses, hospitals, and phar- maceuticals – to make the system more competitive, efficient, and patient-friendly (“Make the money follow the patient, not the providers”) while restraining the cost curve. Many surgical procedures could be done in specialized clinics outside of hos- pitals while as many as 90 per cent of the patients who clog emergency departments could be treated elsewhere. Of pharmaceuticals, he says, “We have the worst of every world; we’ve got the highest drug prices, the lowest average in- vestments in pharmaceutical research, high generic prices, and a patchwork of programs for seniors.”
Penguin (canaDa) Perhaps Simpson’s most innovative pro- in his new book, Jeffrey simpson makes a case for reforming canada’s troubled posal calls for the creation of an insurance healthcare system, but cautions there’s no “silver bullet” cure. program to pay for seniors’ drugs, one modeled on the Canada Pension Plan the third-highest-paid in Organization for silver bullet. “To every complicated prob- (maybe combined with it) as a precursor Economic Cooperation and Development lem there’s a simple solution that’s almost al- to comprehensive pharmacare. Like the countries. Canadian drug prices range ways wrong. There’s no one thing you can CPP, people would pay “a social-return between 10 and 30 per cent above those in do that will make the system better,” he says. contribution” during their earning years in Australia, France, Germany, the U.K., Swe- But he describes with fact-studded clar- the knowledge they will eventually get a den, and the Netherlands. Canada’s ratio of ity the strengths and weaknesses and a re- benefit. It is sellable, he argues, because at investment in pharmaceutical research to a lentless upward cost curve that is starving least 85 per cent of the population will percentage of drug sales is the lowest in the other programs, especially education. need prescription drugs by the time they OECD, second only to Italy and dropping. The simple solution – more money – are 65, and a universal insurance program We also have some of the longest wait times without fundamental changes has been would pay for them. for medical treatment and hospital beds shown not to work. The $41-billion in- It would also be a way to get the federal among the advanced western countries. crease in federal transfer payments to the government back into the healthcare sys- Simpson has had personal experience provinces begun by then-Prime Minister tem, create a common national formula, with wait times in Ontario. Unwilling to Paul Martin in 2004 was supposed to fix and increase the bargaining power to wait several months for an MRI at an medicare for a generation. Instead, it has lower drug prices. Ottawa hospital, he went across the river become “the biggest lost public policy bet Simpson concludes that Canada’s to Quebec, wrote a cheque at a private of this generation.” healthcare system is not in crisis, per se, clinic, and had the results in 48 hours. Simpson starts from the premise that but rather it’s afflicted with debilitating However, Simpson also hastens to point we must continue our common payer sys- chronic conditions. There are means of out that there are strengths to the Canadian tem of so-called “free” healthcare, which, lessening some of medicare’s chronic con- healthcare system. They include talented, like the railway in the 19th century, has be- ditions. “We can do so,” he says, “if we dedicated doctors, nurses, and related come the icon that ties the country to- have the courage to talk about them, to healthcare providers; challenged adminis- gether and defines Canadians. banish foolish fears of sliding into a U.S. trators doing their best in difficult cir- That doesn’t mean he feels we can’t model, and to understand that there are cumstances; and world-leading researchers have more private delivery of government- two options that will ensure the deepening offering new treatments. paid service and more competition within of chronic conditions: to do nothing or to He does not claim to have found the hospitals utilizing activity-based funding. spend more doing the same things.” B
www.alumnireview.Queensu.ca 57 1 30/3/11 4:41 PM
NEW ON THE BOOKSHELF
JEAN RAE BAXTER, ed’71, have exhausted all Pareto improvements password-protected for instructors, are has written the third book possible, they have attained a state of Pareto available at www.cambridge.org/roussel. in her historical fiction tril- efficiency. filip notes that he “wrote the SHEILA STEWART, artsci’82, ogy for young adults set book with a great deal of help and inspira- ed’85, has written her sec- during the american revo- tion from Prof. Dan usher (economics), and ond collection of poems, lutionary war. in Freedom the book is a culmination of things he taught the shape of a throat Bound (ronsdale Press, me at Queen’s 30 years ago.” filip is Profes- (signature editions, $14.95), $11.95), the scene shifts to south carolina sor of economics at École nationale d’admin- a body of work that trans- and the focus turns to the black loyalists as istration publique in Quebec and a senior ports the reader along High the fighting ends and the evacuation of fellow with the fraser institute. Park trails and toronto subways and cafés. charleston draws near. BRYAN PEARSON, artsci’86, sheila’s work has been recognized by nu- SUSAN CROSSMAN, MBA’88, is the author of the merous literary awards including the gritlit artsci’82, has written shades Loyalty Leap: turning Cus- Poetry competition, scarborough arts of teale (manor House, tomer information into Cus- council, Pottersfield Portfolio short Poem $19.95), a novel that traces tomer intimacy (Penguin, competition, Dan sullivan memorial Prize, one woman’s journey $30). the book shows busi- and the ray burrell award for Poetry. through marriage to enlight- ness owners how to build MARK WEISBERG, Emeritus enment, eventually coming consumer loyalty while addressing privacy Professor, faculty of law, is to a more mature understanding of life, love, concerns. bryan provides a snapshot of con- the co-author, with Jean Koh and her own self-worth. susan is a toronto- sumer attitudes about privacy and the use Peters (yale law school), of based freelance writer whose newsletter, of personal information for marketing and A teacher’s Reflection Book: speeches, and press materials appear on business purposes. bryan is President and Exercises, stories, invitations the online pages of numerous national and CEO of loyaltyone inc. He lives in toronto. A (carolina academic Press, international organizations, and whose cre- ALICE PETERSEN, PhD’99, $30). in university teachers’ hectic lives, find- ative non-fiction appears, occasionally, in has published her first col- ing space to reflect, renew, and recommit the facts and arguments section of the lection of short stories, All can seem impossible. However, the authors Globe and mail. the Voices Cry (biblioasis believe regular reflection is critical. the book MATTHEW HENDLEY, Press, $15.95). these 16 builds on their experience facilitating retreats artsci’89, has written Organ- stories begin in canada and leading teaching and learning work- ized Patriotism and the and work their way across shops, supporting and promoting teachers’ Crucible of War: Popular the Pacific, via tahiti, to self-directed development. two years ago, imperialism in Britain, 1914- new Zealand. alice was the 2009 winner of Prof. weisberg received the chancellor 1932 (mcgill-Queen’s univer- the richard adams award, offered by the charles a. baillie award for his contributions sity Press, $95). using the writers’ federation of new brunswick. Her to the quality of student learning at Queen’s. examples of three organizations of the time, stories, published in Geist, the Fiddlehead, GRACE LI XIU WOO, he examines how the stresses of the great Room, and takahe, have variously been arts’70, has published war radically shaped popular patriotism and shortlisted for the Journey Prize, the writers’ Ghost Dancing with Colo- imperialism. the author is associate Profes- union of canada competition, the cbc nialism: Decolonization and sor in the History Department at SUNY literary awards, and the metcalf rooke indigenous Rights at the oneonta. [We misspelled matthew’s sur- award. alice lives in montreal with her supreme Court of Canada name in the last issue, and apologize for husband and two daughters. (UBC Press, $34.95), which this error.] www.biblioasis.com/alice-petersen explores the reasons on-going tensions be- FILIP PALDA, artsci’83, MARC ROUSSEL, artsci’88, tween the original nations and canada are MA’84, (PhD, chicago) has who teaches chemistry at so difficult to resolve. this book, designed written Pareto’s Republic the u of lethbridge, has for both the generalist and specialist reader, and the New science of written A Life scientist’s is an unprecedented critique of supreme Peace (cooper wolfling, Guide to Physical Chemistry court of canada reasoning that suggests $19.95). this work argues (cambridge university that our problems are not just about shar- that economics is the sci- Press, $60.95). the textbook ing land and resources. Ghost Dancing ence of peace and prosperity, and these twin demonstrates how the tools of physical provides a uniquely canadian perspective goals of every society are based on Pareto chemistry can be used to illuminate biologi- on legal history. efficiency. the Pareto principle states that dis- cal questions. it also explains key principles agreements over the use of a property (phys- and their relevance to life science students, ical or intellectual) can be resolved in ways using straightforward and relevant mathe- for more alumni book news that no one is made worse off and at least matical tools. fully worked solutions and an- please visit the Review’s homepage at one person is made better off. once people swers to the end-of-term review problems, alumnireview.queensu.ca B
58 issue 3, 2012 • Queen’s alumni review 4:41 PM
® Coca-Cola Ltd., used under license. © 1986 Panda symbol WWF-World Wide Fund For Nature (also known as World Wildlife Fund) ® “WWF” is a WWF Registered Trademark We’re working hard to drive environmental change.
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BULLETIN BOARD
Celebrating two decades taged. Every dollar raised will be matched surrounding Muslim religiosity. She pro- of QFR by a contribution of three dollars from the poses a new model of imagining Muslim The 20th annual edition of the Queen’s Canadian International Development identity in the West that includes educat- Feminist Review (OLP) is now available. Agency (CIDA). For more info or to regis- ing people about Islamic texts, institutions, The OLP began in 1992 and became an of- ter, please visit http://bit.ly/MiHAoj and the history of questions about inte- gration and belonging. ficial publication in its second year under At the Agnes the AMS’s Social Issues Commission, in The 2012 recipient of the Jean Royce Etherington Fellowship is Lindsay Kobayashi, Artsci’10. 1993. OLP is an important and visible fo- Art Centre rum for feminist artistic expression. “QFR Her goal is to become a professor at a is a safe space for dangerous ideas,” says The following passing exhibitions are now Canadian university where she could lead Co-Editor-in-Chief, Rachel Lallouz, who on display at the Agnes Etherington Art research on social equity in cancer pre- adds that beginning in September the QFR Centre (AEAC): vention. This year’s recipient of the Alfred Bader will be accepting feminist-oriented art- B Draw Every Day: Practice and Study Fellowship in Memory of Jean Royce is Zo- work and writing. Contributions from in European Works on Paper, to ology student Julie Lee-Yaw, Artsci’03, a both within and outside the Queen’s com- October 7; PhD candidate at UBC. Julie’s research munity are welcomed. All submissions are B Tobit: Miracles and Morals, to April 21, looks at the variety of causes of animal subject to peer review. 2013; species’ geographical range limits – where B Less: Historical Features and R. Robert Queen’s School of English they are able to live and why – in order to Fraser Galleries, September 22 to is celebrating 70 years predict and address potential impacts of February 24, 2013; climate change on biodiversity. Over the past 70 years, Queen’s School of B David Rokeby: The Giver of Names, Learn more about the fellowships English has welcomed thousands of do- Sept. 22 to January 27, 2013; for Queen’s alumnae at http://bit.ly/ mestic and international students seeking B Erin Shirreff: Available Light, alumnae2012. to learn English as a second language. As September 22 to January 27, 2013. we prepare for our 70th anniversary cele- – SIERRA MEGAS, ARTSCI’13 For more information on these and other brations, we’re hoping to reconnect with The spirit of former instructors, administrators, socio- exhibitions and for AEAC news, please visit cultural monitors, and students. If you www.aeac.ca. Ross Kilpatrick were part of the QSoE team, please send us lives on Scholarship winners Following the death of an email to [email protected] or con- announced nect with us through our website Prof. Emeritus Ross Kil- (www.queensu.ca/qsoe). We look forward Four Queen’s alumnae are continuing their patrick (Classics) on to celebrating our growth and success to- graduate-level research thanks to three fel- Feb. 24, his widow, Sue, gether with you at our Open House on lowships that honour influential women of wanted to pass along October 4. Queen’s past. Ross’s academic robes This year’s Marty Memorial Scholarship and mortarboard to someone graduating Calling all Edmonton-area recipients, Nabiha Islam, Artsci’10, and this spring from Yale, Ross’s alma mater. alumni Safiah Chowdhury, Artsci’12 (who was The young scholar who received the para- Rain or shine, on Sept. 16, in Edmonton’s AMS president, 2010-11), will join a legacy phernalia, Jessica McCutcheon (above), Victoria Park (and in Ottawa’s Vincent of recipients going back to 1937. Nabiha, wore it to her commencement in May. Massey Park), there will be a family-ori- who studied Life Sciences at Queen’s, is “I was honored and very grateful to Sue ented five-km walk in support of a project now pursuing a medical degree. The Kilpatrick and her family for presenting to help pregnant women and newborn ba- Marty Fellowship will aid her in her work me with this generous gift,” she told the Re- bies survive in Pakur, a poor remote area examining infants born with life-threat- view. She also reports that it rained on her of India with one of the world’s highest lev- ening hemoglobin disorders at a children’s commencement ceremony, and as she and els of maternal and infant mortality. Gail hospital in Dhaka, Bangladesh. She is also her fellow graduates put up their umbrellas, Taylor, NMBA’11, one of the event organiz- organizing the building of a medical clinic Jessica yelled “Testudo!” – which means ers, explains that five km is about the dis- in partnership with the Hope Foundation “tortoise” in Latin and refers to an ancient tance many mothers in Pakur must walk to for Women and Children of Bangladesh. battle formation in which combatants over- reach a health center. The walk and the Safiah Chowdhury’s research looks at lapped their shields like a giant tortoise larger project is being driven by Health- the state of multiculturalism in a post-9/11 shell. Says Jessica, “My Classics and An- Bridge, www.healthbridge.ca, an Ottawa- world. She is particularly interested in the cient History colleagues laughed heartily at based NGO that works with developing representation of Muslim people and the this. As you can see in the photo, my gown country partners to improve health and ways state-centered models of social pro- looks a bit rumpled as a result of my hitch- health services for the greatly disadvan- gramming have failed to respond to issues ing it up and out of the rain.” B
60 issue 3, 2012 • Queen’s alumni review
AARTSCI SPECIAL NEWS SUPPLEMENT PRODUCED BY THE FACULTY OF ARTS AND SCIENCE news ARTSCINEWS OF SPECIAL INTEREST TO ARTS AND SCIENCE GRADUATES ISSUE 16
MESSAGE FROM “blended learning”. Among other aims we are trying to THE DEAN increase the opportunities for contact between students and instructors throughout a student’s program. or several years the The current edition of ARTSCI allows you to share in the F expressed mission of the excitement of exploring new ways of enhancing the learning Faculty of Arts and Science experience. Many alumni who have benefitted from the has been “integrating learning they experienced at Queen’s are helping to support excellence in research with these initiatives and we are deeply grateful for this generosity. exceptional teaching to Those of you who are considering a gift to Queen’s might like promote an innovative and to consider joining with your former classmates in the support effective undergraduate and of these initiatives, which have a direct impact on the quality graduate education in the of student learning for future generations. context of a high-quality, Should you wish to make a donation, please contact Beth research-intensive institution.” McCarthy, Director of Development of Arts & Science, at As we continually strive to [email protected] or make an online donation through
BERNARD CLARK improve the learning https://www.givetoqueens.ca. environment, this theme is echoed in one of our goals for the current advancement campaign: to support innovative teaching and scholarly communities. While providing our students with the best teaching and Alistair W. MacLean learning environment is not a new aim for us, a number of influences have provided added impetus in recent years. One Dean, Faculty of Arts and Science factor is the rapid growth in new learning technologies and communications opportunities. Another is the increasingly challenging financial environment and the concomitant growth in student numbers and decline in the complement of faculty members, which has led to a steadily increasing HOMEWORK FIRST! student / faculty ratio. While for many years students in departments such as (PHYS-104) Biology, Psychology and Sociology have been used to large classes, particularly at the first-year level, students in many PEER INSTRUCTION other departments are now facing a similar situation. While large classes do not necessarily mean a poor learning 2012 ALUMNI AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN environment, they do raise special issues, particularly in TEACHING – JAMES FRASER terms of allowing for face-to-face contact with professors and teaching assistants. At the same time, we are also working to hen discussing how to better engage students in enhance the opportunity for experiential learning among Wthe classroom, faculty often mention the fact that there students at all levels, regardless of class size. is no time to do this when all the course content must be A growing number of faculty members are considering covered. In the Faculty of Arts and Science, there are a new ways of enhancing the learning experience, in many number of innovative teachers who are making the time by cases by the use of the new technologies and providing opportunities for students to engage with each communications opportunities. These new approaches can other as they make connections with the material being be adapted to many different learning environments, not only taught. One such professor is Dr. James Fraser (Physics), the those involving large classes. It is important to understand winner of a number of teaching awards including the 2012 that this approach is not a mechanisation of learning that Alumni Award for Excellence in Teaching. In his research, isolates the instructor from contact with the student. It Fraser focuses on ultrafast processes but in his teaching, he requires a sophisticated understanding of the advantages and slows things right down in order to engage students in the disadvantages of new techniques and skill and experience in process of their own learning through Peer Instruction (PI). their application. Nor is it a case of applying the same Dr. Denise Stockely, Associate Director of Queen’s Teaching solution in each case: every situation requires an appropriate & Learning Centre, asked Fraser about the PI approach and synthesis of the most relevant techniques, hence the term how it works. continued on page 2
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Peer Instruction continued from page 1
WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO ADOPT A PEER INSTRUCTION (PI) they need to know; almost all my time is spent saying “I see APPROACH IN YOUR PHYSICS CLASS? you are having this problem. Let’s explore it together so you can figure it out.” Education researchers have shown the PI approach to teaching achieves two to three times the learning gains WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO OTHERS INTERESTED IN compared to traditional lecturing. More importantly, I LEARNING MORE OR ADOPTING THIS APPROACH? found that no matter how polished I tried to make lectures, there was something lacking. Colleagues extolled the virtues As with all “novel” approaches, implementation is key. of true active learning. PI allows you to do this, without any Eric Mazur (Harvard) has some very practical suggestions specialized classroom or equipment. on how to implement PI so I suggest spending a few hours reading up on his approach, which arose from more than a CAN YOU DESCRIBE WHAT PI LOOKS LIKE IN YOUR COURSE? decade of effort and testing. Secondly, if possible, pre- and post-test students with a standardized conceptual test so you Students come to class ready to learn. I help them get ready can measure learning gains. This will allow you to improve by giving them reading assignments due the night before the approach over time and compare your teaching to other two-thirds of the lectures, and getting their feedback about courses. Since PI is unusual, I suggest spending at least half what content they found challenging. To help them see the a lecture in the first week explaining it to students, showing importance of the pre-lecture stage, I make sure there are some results from the literature, and getting them on side. many incentives for them to take it seriously. Yes, it counts They need to be part of the process for it to work well. for some marks, but I think the other incentives are more Regularly show them the results. (“Before peer discussion, important. Some of them receive direct feedback by email less than half of you had the right answer and now 80% of from me or a teaching assistant addressing their questions you got it right. Let’s try to figure out the problem that 20% BEFORE lecture. In class, we only discuss the parts they of you are having with this...”) found challenging; they will sometimes see their own The common reaction from instructors is that PI will take comments/questions up on the screen so they know they too much time to implement. This depends on the are directly controlling the classroom. Finally, we explore implementation. To get some hard data, for Fall 2012, I time their problems through good questions that they answer logged every minute that I spent actively working on my (individually), and then discuss in small groups. This first-year physics course (using time tracking software on my happens five to ten times per class. If you walked into the smartphone). The amount of time I spent (from emailing the lecture hall at this time, you would probably be pretty bookstore the textbook order, to entering in final marks) is confused. Everyone seems to be doing something different. consistent with a standard workload (40% of my Some are gesticulating at the board, others are huddled over responsibilities are to teach 3 courses). I expect that next a hastily sketched drawing, Some are quietly trying to get year it will be easier though time savings will likely be their thoughts in order. Finally, you will spot me, usually near invested in a new effort, namely improved exam testing. the back, listening to some students who have very different Finally, if an instructor is interested, they should see PI viewpoints and don’t know how to reconcile them. Having in action. Attend a workshop on PI or come to my first-year many incentives encourages students to come to class ready Physics course (no physics background necessary!). I have to learn, so we can spend precious class time overcoming had visits from faculty members from across the faculties misconceptions and assimilating the concepts. After peer and I always appreciate their take on what they observed. instruction, students get a chance to answer the question again. Almost always, the percent “correct” increases www.queensu.ca/ctl/resources/videos/mazur.html compared to pre-peer interaction. If not, or if the correct right is still too low, I can mini-lecture on the topic or drop back to an easier question to find out what the problem is. PI requires you to respond to the very real needs of your students in the moment.
HOW HAS THIS APPROACH CHANGED THE WAY YOU THINK ABOUT TEACHING AND/OR THE WAY YOUR STUDENTS LEARN?
What is the most important role I can play for my students to help them achieve learning and succeed? With PI, the course content is defined by the readings. This sounds very simple but, as the teacher, it is liberating and allows me to play a more effective role than that of a traditional lecturer. I do not have to spend lecture time defining the course content and transmitting it to them; I can spend my time with the students on the misconceptions and problems they are having. I spend very little time telling them all the things
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JUMP STARTING CREATIVITY
TEAM-BASED LEARNING
WHERE MAGIC HAPPENS WHERE THE IDEAS OF THE INDIVIDUAL SPARK COMPUTING & THE CREATIVE ARTS THE IDEAS OF THE GROUP (COCA-201*) CONTEMPORARY CULTURAL PERFORMANCE IN PRACTICE (IDIS-410*) “ erious play” – a Steve Jobs term – best describes what Shappens in Professor Roel Vertegaal’s (Computing) erging training, knowledge and expertise – that is what second-year Computing & the Creative Arts class. There is Mtakes place in the team-taught course Contemporary nothing traditional about this course, including its Cultural Performance in Practice. Since, increasingly, the arts composition – an eclectic group of students from computing, are multi-purpose and multi-produced, four teachers from engineering and the arts who must work together to build a the fine and performing arts use creative collaboration as a product that is both exciting and relevant. The three-hour learning tool to show students how the professional world of class takes most students way out of their comfort zone art directing works. The diverse class of art, drama, film, where there is no memorization and no textbooks to fall music and stage & screen students soon discovers that there back on, just a programming tool. But, that is the whole point are no right or wrong ways of making art. according to Vertegaal who believes that learning if not used “It’s a unique course,” says Professor Dorit Naaman goes away. His teaching philosophy of “do, reflect and apply” (Film & Media), “as it is structured around a multi-media in iterative cycles increases his students’ learning capacity production with audio, film, plastic and performance while maximizing their creative freedom. interwoven around a theme. Students are asked to produce At first students find brainstorming in their “real world work outside of their concentration and beyond their work groups” difficult but the exercise is about managing the comfort zone.” The goal of the course is to encourage task together, explains Vertegaal. His task as the teacher is to students to merge their expertise with peers from other facilitate the ideation process, providing quick and direct disciplines to discover the creative benefits that emerge feedback and ensuring that students do not go down a blind through cross-fertilization in the realm of the arts. alley. He believes his method of teaching is effective as the task-setting exercise encourages self sufficiency, often opening students’ eyes to what they already know. After students’ initial adaptation, enthusiasm sets in as they start hacking through their ideas, inventing and improvising until prototypes emerge.
COCA-201* showed me that you don’t need to be a renaissance
person if you’re on the renaissance team. Working with people
from different backgrounds who have different skill sets
allowed me to do things I never dreamed I would do; things I
never dreamed anyone could do. That class showed me what is
possible, and what is possible is MAGIC.
ANDREA NESBITT, 4TH YEAR BFA In IDIS-410*, we were pushed out of our comfort zone and
encouraged to discover the individual tests, trials, struggles and
rewards that come from working with the different skills of fine
arts, music, film and theatre students. The course is uniquely tailored every year to offer a new, challenging project for students to
complete in small groups. We are given the opportunity to gain
experience brainstorming, organizing and producing work with artists with a different focus.
AMY BAJURNY, 4TH YEAR STAGE & SCREEN
ONSIDE DONORS Alice Poole, Artsci’42, recently established the Poole Family Interactive Creative Arts Fund, which will support a unique
Andrea Nesbitt’s team built a prototype that would have a relaxing and calming learning environment in which students from the fine and performing arts will work together on problem-based projects effect when interfaced. Professor Selim Akl, Director, School of Computing, is seen immersed in “The Hum”, a naturalistic world of cat tails that provides using the Studio Theatre, Rehearsal Hall and Arts & Media Lab technological feedback. at the new Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing Arts.
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LIVE IT. LEARN IT. EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING (HIST-396)
t is one thing to learn in a history classroom about the Iviolence perpetrated by both sides in the Spanish Civil War. It is another thing to stand on the steps of the Church of Santa Maria del Pi in Barcelona, watching on an iPad some old film footage of that very church in flames in 1936, and then to walk a few blocks onward to the Plaza of Sant Felip Neri, where the Church walls are pockmarked by shrapnel from bombs dropped by the Italian air force in 1938. This is the kind of “experiential learning” that the new Spring and Summer classes offered by Queen’s Blyth Worldwide promise, and while things do not always work- exactly as planned, when they do there is nothing quite like it. HIST 396, Spain and Spanish America 1492-1992, explored how Spain’s identity as a nation was shaped by her colonial empire and transformed by its loss in 1898. One of the class’s themes was memory: why nations decide to officially remember some things and to eradicate the memory of others. For one assign- ment, students had to find a statue, or plaque, or street name, or holiday, and explain when and why the govern ment of the time chose to commemorate that particular person or event. While this could be an intriguing exercise in a Canadian history class taught on campus, imagine how much more fascinating it is in a country where statues have been destroyed by mobs in political riots, where streets and plazas have been renamed several times over depending on the regime in power, where historical controversies inform current political debates. Teaching a course in a country like Spain brings home the point that history is not just about the past; it is about how the past lives in the present.
DR. DAVID PARKER DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY
he Queen’s Blyth Worldwide International Studies Kalla Tonusburman (far left) at one of her favourite classes on memory and moving forward at the fountain at Montjuic Hill in Barcelona. TProgram, newly- launched in 2012, enables students from any university to take Queen’s University undergraduate courses Lessons were not taught through just typical historical buildings at a variety of exotic destinations around the world. The but infrastructures that had interesting and memorable stories that Program offers courses spanning the arts, humanities, social connected to the historical concepts we were learning in class. sciences, and sciences. Courses are carefully selected to take Professor Parker made almost all of the educational components advantage of the unique natural, historical, and cultural features interactive through movies, with knowledgeable tour guides and in each country to enhance student learning and understanding. museum tours. Our class was small, which added to the amazing In 2013, the Queen s-Blyth Worldwide pro gram will take place quality and dynamic of the course. Many times you didn’t even in France, Italy, Spain,’ Greece, Costa Rica, Australia, Tanzania, realize you were being taught, as the information melded so India, China, and the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan. well with everyday activities, and was much easier to enjoy “Students in the program will not only have an unmatched and retain rather than sitting in a classroom or learning international experience but will also benefit from the strong through textbooks. emphasis on experiential learning through a combination of Overall I feel that I learnt more through this course and its exceptional instructors passionate about teaching and customized interactive nature, not only about Spain’s history, but about its field studies in a truly supportive learning environment.” culture and everyday living and for this I am very thrilled and grateful. DR. JIM LEE ASSOCIATE DEAN HINTERNATIONALI AND KALLA TONUSBURMAN ACADEMIC DIRECTOR, QUEEN'SGBLYTH WORLDWIDE 3RDGYEAR POLITICS & GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT STUDIES WWW. QUEENSBLYTHWORLDWIDE. CA/ COURSECALENDAR
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A RTSCI NEWS
A SIX-TOOL APPROACH TO 1ST-YEAR SOCIOLOGY BLENDED LEARNING
ask my students every year, “What is a five tool baseball week’s themes, and stimulate a different learning modality I player?” At least a few students always know: a player who to reinforce student learning. hits for average, hits with power, has a great glove, cannon The fifth tool has developed over the past five years. for an arm, and is fast on the base paths. A five tool player Originally they were simply small group tutorials but they is the best ball player you can have. I then point out that my have progressed each year into more structured activity introduction to sociology course is even better – it has six groups where more than course material is reviewed and tools to help students learn about what is, for many, a new studied in a small group setting. The activity groups now discipline – sociology – and to instill in them a new frame involve a number of “hands on” skill building activities – of mind with which they can engage the world – the some are related to course material while others focus on sociological imagination. library, research, writing, and oral presentation skills. The first tool is the course texts, two of which I have Finally, there is the course website – Moodle. The Moodle developed and written over the past decade explicitly for the site contains the Reading/Activity/Study Guide, PowerPoint, introduction to sociology at Queen’s while the third provides and iMovies for the week. In addition it provides students a unique, up-to-date overview of sociology that draws upon with links to suggested readings and other material and the discipline’s leading researchers around the world. The media sources that will supplement the week’s readings. texts create an explicitly Queen’s introduction to sociology Some things never change – a five tool player is still the in two ways. First, we are privileged to teach a special type best you can find. But teaching and learning has moved of student at Queen’s – students who thrive on intellectual well beyond the traditional lecture hall. Each year, the challenge – so the course texts contain challenging material introduction to sociology at Queen’s blends traditional and ideas. Second, for those who continue on in sociology, material and teaching practices with PowerPoint the course prepares them for the core courses they will presentations, unique audio-visual essays, active learning encounter in second and third year as well as introducing the experiences, and selected resources from the Internet to broad array of topics that faculty in the Department study. stimulate all of our students’ learning modalities and More than 800 students took SOCY-122 last year – so introduce them to sociology as fully and comprehensively as the “Reading/Activity/Study Guide” is the second tool, possible. More important, each year those different tools are which serves as a one-on-one tutorial between me and each refined and expanded to help students learn more and better student as the guide leads them through the week’s readings. prepare them for the world they will encounter all too soon The guide indicates the required, supplementary, and as Queen’s graduates. additional readings; details the learning objectives for the week; suggests how to approach the material – how to DR. ROB BEAMISH, ARTSCI’77 DEPARTMENT OF SOCIOLOGY AND sequence and integrate the different readings and how much SCHOOL OF KINESIOLOGY & HEALTH STUDIES
to tackle at one time; the guide indicates what is background, where to slow down and concentrate, and provides questions to guide student reading; finally, review questions
at the end help students synthesize and consolidate the material. The lectures have changed over the years and will change further for 2012-13. I cover the main themes in each week’s readings, presenting the information in a different modality for students who are particularly strong auditory learners. I have tried to keep the lectures interactive but that is difficult in a very large lecture hall. Beginning this September, rather than meeting with students in a 450 seat lecture hall, I’ll meet fewer students – up to 135 – in smaller lecture rooms that will allow us to engage in more dialogue as we explore key themes from the week’s material. The lectures are supplemented with the course’s fourth tool – PowerPoint presentations and various “audio-visual essays” – iMovies that I have produced solely for the purpose of illustrating a particular concept or theme or to create a particular mood to provoke deeper engagement with the material students have read. The iMovies take time to
produce but the use of images, music, and oratory bring material to life, create an emotional engagement with the
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A RTSCI NEWS
ONLINE COURSES Professor Carolyn Smart The university that helped pioneer distance-learning in Canada in the last century can step up again in the present day to help provide (English) education for those who have previously been denied it, despite nline creative writing classes, such as Creative ability, through financial, social or personal circumstance. OWriting 1 (CWRI-295), mean that students have DR. DANIEL WOOLF, ARTSCI’80 access from anywhere, and scheduling conflicts are easily PRINCIPAL AND VICEGCHANCELLOR overcome. Shy students unwilling to speak in class feel freer to communicate fully in writing. either blackboard nor paper is required when the Most undergraduate creative writing programs do Nstudent learns online. In the past, when the student not focus as heavily on the workshop format as Professor and teacher were separated by time and space, paper-based Carolyn Smart (English) has chosen to do in CWRI-295. correspondence course notes and readings were all that Professor Smart is in the enviable position of choosing was required. No more envelopes and stamps. Now, the the students through portfolio submission, ensuring connec tion between the student and teacher requires only a competitive, high quality student sample. The large a connection to the Internet. With correspondence courses class is divided into several small groups who share being replaced with 21st century online courses, the Internet and comment on one another’s work. Smart encourages has become the distance educator’s primary teaching honesty, thoughtfulness, and constructive criticism, instrument. and actively discourages petty or unkind commentary. Queen’s Continuing and Distance Studies (CDS) has seen Thereafter, the group workshopping (plus five individual student demand for educational opportunities beyond the assignments sent to the professor throughout the term) physical classroom increase over the last few years as more produces more highly polished work in various forms: students have access to the Internet. Current students are a continuous development of craft. Smart reports that looking for flexibility and options and non-traditional she has rarely been disappointed by the outcome, and students are looking for accessibility. In order to keep on top year after year the students tell her how much they have of the “virtual” wave, CDS recently expanded its online enjoyed and learned from the process, not only about course offerings. Forty courses from Calculus and Organic their own literary possibilities, but about the potential Chemistry to Abnormal Psychology and World Religions are for creative growth through candid peer criticism. about to be rolled out in the near future. In online courses, teachers maximize the potential of digital media to stimulate interest and convey content in an Professor Mark Hostetler active and engaging way. And, deep learning occurs despite the distance between the student and teacher. Course (Global Development Studies) designers in CDS ensure that this happens. They personalize n the online version of Canada and the “Third World” the educational experience as much as possible through (DEVS-100), tutorials are replaced with asynchronous opportunities for teacher feedback and input, as well as I (self-paced) discussion forums. For students who take group work with classmates through real-time technology. the time to fully engage in the forums, this format This brings some of the Faculty’s best-in-class teachers into provides a better opportunity to think through and the homes of students in Kingston and around the world. formulate their own contributions to the discussion and to reflect on their classmates’ contributions in a more thorough and meaningful way. Dr. Mark Hostetler (Global Development Studies) thinks, for certain personality types especially, the opportunity to think through their contributions more thoroughly is more comfortable and it often leads to more sophisticated and informed discussion.
ARTSCI NEWS Editor Sue Bedell, Artsci‘88 Senior Assistant to the Dean Faculty of Arts and Science 613.533.2448 [email protected]
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“AND ONE MORE THING.. .”
John straiton, arts’44, a veteran of more than 50 years in the canadian advertising industry, casts a critical eye on the phenomenally popular AMC television series mad men and answers the question ... Was it really like that?
began working at Young & Rubi- where the glasses were like bird baths, Icam in Toronto in 1946, two years and I remember martinis being after I graduated from Queen’s. I was served at a backstage “business visit” 24 when I was hired as a copywriter in at the Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts the agency’s Toronto office. I made a show, which ran on CBS. career in the industry until 1990, I recently had a visit from a when I tapered off into consulting be- J. Walter Thompson research man fore retiring for good in 2000. My and a retired agency president both formative years in advertising were of whom are ardent fans of Mad Men. during the same ones in which the Their main comment about the show popular AMC TV series Mad Men is when I asked them was, “With all set: the ’50s & ’60s. And I sometimes that booze, how did they get any traveled to New York and the Madi- work done?” son Avenue head offices of Young & As for the sex on Mad Men ... I had Rubicam and later Ogilvy & Mather, little opportunity to observe that first- two of the agencies the series is sup- hand, but I do know the show gets it
posedly modeled after. franK ocKenfels/amc right in the love scenes. Women wore People ask me, “Was it really like Don Draper (Jon Hamm), third from right, and the garter belts. And a female friend that ... all that drinking, smoking, principal cast of the hit AMC series mad men. observed that brassieres really were and sex?” is Draper the image of ad man John straiton, arts’44? pointier then than they are now. Yes, much of it was. What the series Similarly, most ad agencies of the misses is the cheerful atmosphere, the hors- To refresh my memory as I wrote this ’60s weren’t big. They’d largely grown up ing-around, and the variety of the creative piece, I reviewed some segments on DVD. from a single person (always male) or a people. (My daughter says the Don Draper I’m pretty much housebound in Oakville partnership such as Batten, Barton, Durstin character reminds her of me. That kind of these days, and judging by the reaction of & Osborn, a.k.a. BBDO – whose name Jack turned me against the series the caregivers who watched Benny said sounded like a barrel rolling in the beginning.) Did the people i with me, others agree the down stairs. The creators of Mad Men worked for and show is gripping and enter- There’s little suggestion in the series of have gone to great pains to with drink as taining. However, one of my the amazing men who built the big agen- recreate the look and feel of much as Don young caregivers, new to this cies – legendary characters such as the 1960s. Much has been country, was outraged by Raymond Rubicam. He was a creative ge- made of the series’ accurate Draper and his the amount of smoking in nius who wrote some iconic ads and also recreation of the ’60s look, associates? if so, Mad Men. “They shouldn’t be created an agency that was a model for clothing fashions, hair styles, i wasn’t aware allowed to show this on tele- the industry. Then there was the legendary and office décor. The show’s of it ... vision to Canadian children,” (m)ad man David Ogilvy, who advised his writers certainly got the salary she said. clients, “The consumer is not a moron. figures right; a young copywriter earned Did people really smoke that much? She’s your wife!” Still another of the in- about $70 a week. (I was making $35 a week Yes. I was a “moderate” two-packs-a-day dustry legends was Leo Burnet whose when I got married in 1947.) man. Chicago-based agency gave us Tony the The critical accolades for the show are Did the people I worked for and with Tiger and the Jolly Green Giant. mostly deserved, though there do seem to drink as much as Don Draper and his as- As a result of buyouts, mergers, and be more white shirts and ties on the show sociates? If so, I wasn’t aware of it, but then globalization, many of today’s big ad agen- than I remember in our offices. And the I was just “a kid from Kapuskasing.” I do cies have operations that are as wide-rang- Mad Men cast seem pretty “grown up” and know that I drank so much at times that ing as the multinational corporations that serious when I compare them to the ad friends sometimes had to caution me to go are their clients. The advertising industry men I knew. easy. I recall going to two-martini lunches definitely has changed. B
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