Fall 2006 arts&letters Faculty of Arts Alumni Newsletter passing through middle-earth UW Drama grad is a proud member of the vibrant Canadian theatre community.

BY CHRISTINE WOODS ylan Roberts, BA ’96

Photo: Helen Tansey Drama, dabbled in acting while attending Cameron Roberts was quite skeptical Heights Collegiate in when the call came out for the DKitchener and with the K-W LOTR. How on earth could you Little Theatre, but really found condense three very detailed his calling to the theatre while and rich novels into a single attending Waterloo. Ten years evening at the theatre? How will later, he is catapulted to the the music be woven into the world premiere production of story? What about the battles J.R.R. Tolkien’s classic The and the plethora of races and Lord of the Rings. species involved in the story? Roberts plays the role of “These were all questions that Merry Brandybuck, a young came to mind,” he says. “I hobbit, in the breathtaking looked at who was involved on musical adaptation that has the creative team and quickly been described by the director, became very interested.” Matthew Warchus, as a hybrid Auditions were the first of text, physical theatre, music, indication of the sheer and spectacle never previously magnitude of the production. seen on this scale. “To read the His initial audition with the novel is to experience the events Canadian casting director was of Middle-earth in the mind’s somewhat typical: “The actors eye. Only in the theatre are we were measured to make sure actually plunged into the events they met the maximum height as they happen. The environment for a hobbit, sang, read through surrounds us. We participate. the scene, and that was that,”

Photo: Manuel Harlan We are in Middle-earth,” says he recalls. A few weeks later he Dylan Roberts (Merry) and Owen Sharpe (Pippin) in a scene from LOTR. Warchus. continued on page 4

Ⅲ Alumni Achievement Award Ⅲ Upcoming Events Ⅲ Alumni Life Stories inside this issue… editorial

3 from the dean 11 upcoming arts alumni events Photo: C. Hughes Don’t miss UW’s 50th anniversary! 6 2006 alumni achievement award 12 message from your alumni Lenora Hume receives the 9th and communications officers Faculty of Arts Alumni Achievement Award 13 retiree leaves legacy Welcome to the Fall 2006 edition 8 convocation highlights 14 faculty news of Arts & Letters. Medalists honoured This past year has been an 18 class notes exciting one for the Faculty of 9 arts $ at work Arts. We’ve welcomed a new dean, 22 alumni life stories published our first Arts report, 10 past arts alumni events and started an alumni authors library. In this issue of Arts & Letters, you will discover a diverse range of Waterloo Arts alumni. You will read about one grad’s adventure in Middle-earth; another who has built a 30-year career in the UW DRAMA 2006-2007 entertainment industry; and yet another who has excelled in THE IMPORTANCE UPSTART 07 THE CAUCASIAN human resources. As editor of Arts & Letters, my OF BEING EARNEST A festival of CHALK CIRCLE goal is to keep in touch with you, By Oscar Wilde new plays directed by By Bertolt Brecht our alumni, and find out what’s Directed by UW Drama students Directed by new in your life. It would be great Anne-Marie Donovan February 1-10, 2007 guest director to hear from you. November 15-18, 2006 Studio 180 Alex Fallis Theatre of the Arts Hagey Hall March 15-24, 2007 Happy reading Theatre of the Arts and stay connected!

Christine Woods For more information, visit www.drama.uwaterloo.ca BA ’97 Speech Communication [email protected] BOX OFFICE 519-888-4908 519-888-4567, ext. 32119 TIME 8:00 p.m. TICKET PRICES $12 general public $10 students/seniors

2 arts &letters from the dean – Ken Coates first impressions of a new dean t is an enormous privilege and One of the advantages of Waterloo. The people that make Ipleasure to be contributing being an outsider, I believe, is up this remarkable Faculty are my first missive to the alumni the fact that I see the University truly impressive. We have, as of the Faculty of Arts. As some of Waterloo from a very you well remember, a group of you may know, I joined the different perspective. Before my of talented teachers and University of Waterloo on July 1, job interview in February, I had researchers, support staff 2006, having previously served not been to the UW campus nor dedicated to providing the at universities in Saskatchewan, to Waterloo. But the university highest quality service, and British Columbia, New was well-known to me. This students who bring a wonderful Brunswick, and New Zealand, came, in part, through combination of skill, energy, in both administrative and professional encounters with and intellectual curiosity to teaching positions. I am faculty members from UW, their studies at UW. I have been delighted to be here and which firmly established the terrifically impressed with the consider it a tremendous academic reputation of the quality of the undergraduate honour to be asked to serve as place in my mind. It came, as and graduate programs, the dean of this truly impressive well, from the impressive results uniformly given high marks and internationally renowned in the annual Maclean’s survey, by the top national and Faculty of Arts. The departing which reported statistically international reviewers we bring dean, Robert Kerton, did a what is widely known in the in to assess the curriculum and terrific job of preparing me for Canadian university community student learning experiences. the new post and of ensuring — that UW is the most that the Faculty was in superb innovative and creative shape financially and adminis- institution in the country. I will…no longer wonder how tratively, setting an impressive This general impression is King Street manages to go standard for me to match. certainly well-entrenched across ‘‘ Given that I have been on the country. Many people, when in all four directions… campus only a few short weeks, learning that I had accepted a I was unsure of the first post at UW, commented The list of research grants delighted to be the Dean’’ of message that I should share favourably on the choice and the and major academic Arts and thrilled to be part with you. After all, you folks opportunity. Even if they did not accomplishments continues of the community of alumni spent years at the University of have a particularly firm sense of to grow each year as UW associated with this great Waterloo and know the campus, where Waterloo was located, solidifies its place in the first university. with all its delightful they knew the quality and rank of Canadian universities. When I write to you again eccentricities and great well-deserved reputation of the Perhaps most importantly, next year, I will have three qualities, with far greater depth institution, its faculty, and its these academic successes are academic terms under my and insight than I can offer at alumni. matched by a strong sense belt, will no longer wonder present. I have, these past First impressions are of social commitment and how King Street manages to go weeks, been wandering around important ones for incoming outreach, reflecting a widely in all four directions within a campus, map in hand, trying to students, staff, and faculty, and shared belief that the university few short kilometres, will be identify all of the major even for deans. I am delighted must make a solid and used to driving the 401, and buildings and find my way to to report to you that the continuing contribution to will have absorbed the unique the key administrative offices, impressions gained from afar the broader world. energy, excitement, and the library, recreational and from my initial meetings at You know that the commitment to innovation facilities, and cafeterias. So far, the University of Waterloo have University of Waterloo is a that is so central to Kitchener- I have only been lost a few been more than confirmed remarkable place and a truly Waterloo and the University times! But as I made my way during my first months on impressive university. While of Waterloo. Until then, I wish around the campus, the campus. this was my general impression, you the very best in your community, and the region, I My initial experiences with gained from many years in personal lives and professional have had many opportunities faculty, students, and staff in Canadian post-secondary careers. I hope that 2006-2007 to reflect on how fortunate I the Faculty of Arts confirm education, it is now even more brings many blessings and am to be here. what I had believed about firmly etched in my mind. I am much success. Ⅲ

fall 2006 3 continued from page 1 … passing through middle-earth received a call that the graduate of Waterloo’s received a Dora Mavor Moore tragic characters all find creative team from England Cultural Management Award nomination for the themselves in the same group was in town and wanted to see Specialization, was the acting ensemble. therapy session. “We found a him. “I had three callbacks assistant stage manager for Roberts had planned to free slot at Second City,” says with the creative team, the LOTR production). concentrate on economics and Roberts, “did one show, and including a gruelling physical “Each job brings its own political science while at then we were off. We found fitness test and dance challenges,” says Roberts. Waterloo, but quickly agents, started auditioning, session.” A month later, “That’s how I like it. I like to discovered where his real left Tim Horton’s, and began while in the dressing room explore new things each time I calling lay, switched majors, to work.” McGrinder spent preparing for The Taming of get out on stage or in front of and graduated with a degree three season’s at the Shaw the Shrew, Roberts got the the camera. With LOTR, it was in drama and theatre arts. He festival, Lemke landed a lead good news. (Another UW grad the music and dance elements attributes his success in the role in the TV series, Queen had good news, too. Melanie that were the challenge for me. theatre industry to the broad of Swords, and Roberts did Klodt, BA ’01, who is a I have never done a musical base of knowledge and commercials and theatre experience that he received work. “The crazy thing about during his studies. “Political this business,” explains science, psychology, history, Roberts, “is that there is no literature, all of these are as one career path that The crazy thing about this important to me as any of the guarantees success. Some business is that there is no voice or movement classes,” he people hit it big right out of ‘‘ one career path that says. “I bring all of the the gate and others are never knowledge and experience I able to make a career out of guarantees success. gained at Waterloo into every acting.” audition.” Roberts recalls his early ’’ After graduation, Roberts years at UW where the Drama moved to Toronto with a pack department kept the students before and was looking of UW graduates, including busy, either rehearsing for a Following is a list of some forward to tackling the Mark McGrinder (BA ’94) and show or helping to build sets UW grads who have incredible amount of Anthony Lemke (BA ’94). The for the next one. “The campus successful careers in movement and singing that three started working at Tim population was wonderfully this play contains. It’s been a Horton’s in the Sick Kids supportive,” he says, “and I theatre, film, and TV: very rewarding experience.” Hospital and began hitting loved that the productions Roberts made his first the pavement. At the time, weren’t exclusive to drama Derrick Chua, BA ’89 professional stage appearance McGrinder was writing a one students. Any student in any in Ted Dykstra’s directorial act play based on the idea that program could audition.” Deborah Drakeford, BA ’88 debut, Science Fiction. His a group of Shakespeare’s One of the great strengths Brad Goddard, BA ’01 recent credits also include: The Taming of the Shrew Joel Harris, BA ’94 (ShakespeareWorks); The Tempest and Romeo and Juliet Marvin Hinz, BA ’91 (Resurgence Theatre); Melanie Klodt, BA ’01 Accidental Death of an Anarchist (Globe Theatre); Anthony Lemke, BA ’94 and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare Mark McGrinder, BA ’94 (Abridged) (Waterloo Stage Joey Morin, BA ’96 Theatre). Roberts is also involved in the legendary Samara Nicholds, BA ’96 VideoCabaret. He has portrayed Louis Riel in the Kimwun Perehinec, BA ’95 last two installments of the

Darlene Spencer, BA ’92 Canadian history cycle. Photo: Manuel Harlan VideoCabaret’s Confederation Owen Sharpe (Pippin) and Dylan Roberts (Merry), encounter the Ents of Fangorn in a scene from LOTR.

4 arts &letters of Waterloo’s Drama and Speech Communication department is that professors and instructors are very active in the professional community. Roberts has worked on numerous projects with the new and emerging Toronto-based theatre company Studio 180. Professor Joel Greenberg and some Drama grads named the company after Room 180 in UW’s Humanities building where many of the acting courses are taught. Roberts played a number of characters Photo: Manuel Harlan in Studio 180’s first The Fellowship of the Ring assembles in Rivendell in a scene from LOTR. production, the highly- acclaimed Canadian premiere was magnified by a million. It Record Store Campaign, Lays Roberts notes that there is of The Laramie Project. The was a new piece of work. We potato chips with NHL star no right or wrong path to an cast included Waterloo drama struggled with some growing Mark Messier, and Miller Lite. acting career in either theatre alumni spanning 20 years. pains, but the audience His film and television credits or film. “I can tell you what “UW grads are everywhere,” response has been fabulous. include Sue Thomas F.B.Eye, I’ve learned and that is don’t says Roberts. I’m very proud of the work the G-Spot, Blue Murder, Doc, and listen to anyone who says With the Toronto-based company brought to the Death To Smoochy, among they’ve got the answer. We all production of LOTR coming to stage.” others. “I’ve really only wanted have to find our own way, but like any other career you need to bring the best of yourself to You have to find joy and challenge in everything you do everything you do,” he says. “As a great British actor once in this line of work. For me, it’s the only way to stay sane. said, ‘Be prepared, say your ‘‘ Who knows — this month was Tolkien and lines, and don’t bump into the Attenborough, next month might be furniture.’” Ⅲ pizza commercials and catering. Born on the Isle of Anglesey in North Wales, Roberts moved to a close this fall, Roberts is on Roberts recently landed a one thing from’’ my career and Waterloo when he was ten. He to new challenges. “The role in the upcoming film that’s to keep working,” he grew up in the KW area and moved business of live theatre can be Closing the Ring, directed by says. “I enjoy the balance I to Toronto after graduating from quite fickle,” he says. “You can Sir Richard Attenborough. “He have found. I work in theatre, UW. He now lives in Fergus, never tell what the audiences is one of those legendary film, voice-over, commercials, Ontario, with his wife Shari and or the critics are going to directors that is on every and TV. I also love to teach. two-year-old twin boys. gravitate towards. Theatre actor’s ‘Wish I could work for You have to find joy and requires the combined talents them!’ list,” says Roberts. The challenge in everything you do of so many people all coming feature film is set in Belfast in this line of work. For me, The Lord of the Rings was the together on the same project. and North Carolina in 1943 it’s the only way to stay sane. winner of seven Dora Mavor You can just concentrate on and should hit the theatres Who knows — this month was Moore awards and played at the your piece of the puzzle and in spring 2007. Tolkien and Attenborough, Princess of Wales Theatre in contribute as much as Roberts can also be seen in next month might be pizza Toronto. possible to the people around dozens of television ads, commercials and catering.” you. Sometimes all the pieces including Rogers highspeed come together and sometimes internet, Crispy Crunch they don’t. With LOTR, that

fall 2006 5 2006 alumni achievement award

award-winning international film and TV executive wins 9th annual Arts alumni award

enora Hume (BA ’74) is the ninth over to production. Under her guidance, L recipient of the Faculty of Arts Alumni such hits as The Care Bears, Babar, Ewoks Achievement Award. The award recognizes and Droids for Lucas Film, and Beetlejuice Waterloo Arts alumni who have made the animated series for Warner Brothers outstanding contributions to their were produced. In 1989, she received a professional field or in community and Gemini Award for her contribution as public service. supervising producer on Babar, and in Born in Vancouver, Lenora was recently 1990, a Daytime Emmy for Beetlejuice. appointed Executive Vice President of Lenora is an active member of the production and programming with HIT Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television Entertainment in London, England, one of and Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. the world’s leading pre-school children’s She is also a member of the board of entertainment producers and rights owners. directors for Women in Animation (WIA) “In a world and a business where we International, a professional, non-profit have to think globally and produce locally, organization established in 1994 to foster we could not have found a more qualified with Disney, most recently as the Senior the dignity, concerns, and advancement of individual to head up our production and Vice President Worldwide Production, women who are involved in the field of programming group,” says Bruce Steinberg, DisneyToon Studios, where she oversaw animation (for more information on WIA, CEO of HIT. “Lenora brings a wealth of global production of the studio’s movie visit www.womeninanimation.org). In 2006, production experience with her, [and] we releases including Bambi II, Pooh’s Lenora was a judge for Canada’s annual are thrilled she is joining us.” Heffalump Movie, Mickey’s Twice Upon a JUNO Awards. As well, she is a member of 1 Lenora is responsible for building on Christmas, and The Lion King 1 ⁄2. Prior to Founder Committee, a Canadian Studies HIT’s existing slate of classic preschool that, she was Senior Vice President of Program at the University of California entertainment, including Bob the Builder™, Production for Walt Disney Television (UCLA) in Los Angeles. Thomas & Friends™, Barney™, and Animation (1998 to 2003). Lenora says that her husband James Angelina Ballerina™, as well as building “[Lenora] is personable, thoughtful, Leier is looking forward to a few years in new brands through content development graceful under pressure, and the most Europe and hopes to have time to attend and acquisitions. “I am honoured to have ethical executive I have ever met,” says some cooking schools. He is also interested the opportunity to work with some of the Stephen Swofford, Vice President of in perhaps renovating/restoring properties most respected brands in pre-school Editorial and Post Production at while in London. Their son Adam Leier has entertainment,” she says. “HIT has DisneyToon Studios. “The last trait may not completed his BFA at the Tisch School of assembled an amazing executive team and be rare in her native Canada, but I assure Fine Arts at New York University and is together we will continue to grow the you, it is very rare here in Hollywood.” living and working in New York. brands around the world.” In 1976, Lenora started her career To read more about Lenora, see the Lenora has 30 years experience in the with Nelvana Ltd. (Toronto) as a 2004 issue of Arts & Letters online at entertainment industry. She spent 16 years cinematographer, and eventually moved www.arts.uwaterloo.ca/alumni. Ⅲ

we want The Faculty of Arts is seeking nominations for the 2007 Arts Alumni Achievement Award. This award recognizes Waterloo Arts alumni who have made outstanding contributions to their professional field or in community and public service. your Candidates must have a minimum of ten years post graduation from UW to be considered. For more information, nominations! contact Christine Woods at 519-888-4567, ext. 32119, or [email protected]. The nomination deadline is April 30, 2007.

6 arts &letters F ACULTY OF ARTS Arts Co-op Student of the Year Shaneika Bailey (Social Development Studies/Applied Studies Co-op) was named Arts Co-op Student of the Year for 2005. “Shaneika spent a work term with a charitable agency I work everywhere there is an opportunity in Guyana where she was instrumental in acquiring to learn. I’m mobile. I pack up my life every four funding for building renovations, as well as toy and months and head out of the city, out of the province, clothing donations for children. and sometimes out of the country. The quest to aid orphans gave her the opportunity to form

I listen. I watch. I learn. important relationships with Photo courtesy of Co-operative Education & Career Services government officials within the Ministry of Labour, Social I take the experience from each work term to the Security and Human Services, and within the Georgetown Public next and adapt it to fit. Fast. I’m not afraid to try. Hospital Corporation. Shaneika also assisted in a peer education program about HIV/AIDS awareness.” Ⅲ I’m not afraid to speak. I embrace challenge. Taken from UW’s Daily Bulletin, March 17, 2006. I leave something behind everywhere I go that makes things a little different, a little more productive, and maybe even The 10th Annual Art Sale a little better than it was and Silent Auction before I got there. New Location: Modern Languages Building I’m an Arts student. University of Waterloo | 200 University Ave., W. | Waterloo | ON Expect the unexpected. Preview: Tues., Nov. 21st — Thurs., Nov. 23rd | 8:30 am - 4 pm Sale & Silent Auction: Fri., Nov. 24th | 5 - 9 pm Employ. 10th zxc

Ability. IRE A CO-OP H

Co-operative Education at the University of Waterloo 1-877-WAT-COOP • [email protected] www.finearts.uwaterloo.ca/annual.html www.coop.uwaterloo.ca Proceeds from the Silent Auction are for the establishment of the Fine Arts Endowment Fund.

fall 2006 7 convocation highlights

Arts Alumni Gold 2006 Valedictorians Medal

For the first time in UW history, the Faculty of Arts had two spring convocation ceremonies and two valedictorians. Lauren Marie Hall, BA ’06 (Honours Fine Arts – Studio Specialization), presented the valedictory speech to the Arts graduating class in the morning and Paul Francis Lehmann, BA ’06 (Honours Political Science), presented in the Claire Hong, BA ’06 (Four-Year afternoon. General Liberal Studies/ Management Studies Option), was the winner of the Arts Alumni Gold Medal for the highest academic Governor General’s 2006 Distinguished Teacher Awards standing in the Faculty of Arts. Silver Medal The Distinguished Teacher Awards are presented each year at spring convocation “in recognition of a continued record of excellence in teaching at the University of Waterloo.” This year’s recipients were Jim Barnett (School of Governor General’s Accountancy) and Erik Woody (Psychology). Gold Medal

Carol Kar Long Wong, BA ’06 (Honours Chartered Accountancy Studies – Co-op), was presented President David Johnston congratulates Jim Barnett (left photo) and Erik Woody with the Governor General’s Silver (right photo) on their Distinguished Teacher Awards. Brandon Mitchel Wagar, PhD ’05 Medal at spring convocation. This (Psychology – Behavioural medal is awarded to a student with Neuroscience), MA ’03, was the highest academic standing in an presented with the Governor undergraduate program at UW. The CONGRATULATIONS General’s Gold Medal at the fall Governor General of Canada awards TO OUR NEWEST ARTS ALUMNI 2005 convocation ceremonies. This three medals each year to recognize A total of 1007 undergraduate students and 93 graduate students received medal is awarded to a student with UW’s top three graduates. the highest standing in a master’s degrees at Waterloo’s spring convocation on Thursday, June 15, 2006.

or doctoral program. Convocation Photos: C. Hughes

8 arts &letters arts $ at work

Grad class giving Kapur scholarship recognizes teaching excellence

The Professor Ashok Kapur researching the relationship Scholarship fund has been between two countries that I established to celebrate chose to write a paper on. His Kapur’s retirement after 30 biggest gift to me, however, years of teaching excellence. was in teaching me to always Established by Andrea challenge myself and to not Sparrey (BA ’99 Political shy away from hard work, but Science) and her husband, rather to commit to it and then Amitab Kapur (Ashok’s son), enjoy its results. Over time, I the named scholarship will be learned to appreciate just how awarded to an outstanding valuable the challenges were student entering first year in that he presented both as a the Faculty of Arts, with teacher and as a mentor.” preference to students This endowment was made expressing an interest in possible by a lead gift from Political Science. Andrea and Amitab, plus Grad class challenge committee members Alice Pfeifer and Catherine Schneider Andrea comments: “As a donations from friends and present 2006 pledges to Dean of Arts, Bob Kerton. former student, there were alumni to recognize Ashok times I wish Professor Kapur Kapur’s distinguished career The annual Grad Class Challenge encourages graduating students had taken a more lenient at UW and to encourage to make a contribution to their alma mater. This year’s class pledged $37, 520 toward Arts Entrance Scholarships and new approach to teaching or talented young students to Arts technology and equipment. Grad class committee members grading, so that I didn’t spend pursue their education in Arts Michael Duffy (BA ’06), Kris Thompson, Matt Campbell, Alice long nights in the library at the University of Waterloo. Pfeifer (BA ’06), Catherine Schneider (BA ’06), and Adam Amyotte volunteered their time and energy to coordinate this year’s challenge. Gladys Srivastava graduate award in Arts

The Srivastava family honours through their studies, research, 2006 Arts Alumni Entrance Scholarships the memory of Gladys and career. Thanks to your alumni donations, the Faculty of Arts offered ten new Srivastava — a wife, mother, Born in Scotland on April students Arts Alumni Entrance Scholarships this year. The scholarship and proud alumna — through 4, 1934, Gladys had a varied is valued at up to $3,000 with $2,000 payable in first year and an the creation of the Gladys career and created many ties additional $1,000 payable in second year providing the student achieves Srivastava Endowment. Gladys while at UW. “Gladys earned a Masters in English Srivastava always brought a an overall average of 83 percent. This year’s recipients had admission in 1976 from Waterloo and thoughtful, wide-ranging, cool, averages ranging from 92 percent to 96 percent. worked as a reference librarian and unflappable intellect,” and Arts co-op coordinator. states retired UW professor The Srivastava family have Warren Ober. “She was donated $100,000 towards an invariably well-prepared, and You can make a donation to these or other endowment that will support her eclectic approach and Arts scholarships online at www.arts.uwaterloo.ca. graduate scholarships and outlook more than once opened library internships. The new avenues and brought new For more information on giving to the Faculty of Arts, beneficiaries of this generosity perspectives to her fellow will be talented, deserving students — and to her contact Diane Wiles, development officer, at young students, who like professors.” Gladys passed [email protected] Gladys, will bring new away in Aldergrove, British 519-888-4567, ext. 35450. perspectives to the world Columbia, on January 14, 2005.

fall 2006 9 past arts alumni events

Alumni authors read in Waterloo Our Country’s Good – spring theatre night On October 20, 2005, five English alumni read from their work The cold weather didn’t hold off over 300 alumni from enjoying during a brilliant evening at Starlight Club in Waterloo, hosted by the second annual Arts alumni spring theatre night. UW Drama’s former English major Bernard Kearney, and MC’d by funny man production of Our Country’s Good by Timberlake Wertenbaker was professor Neil Randall. They were joined by special guest, St. both engaging and provocative, with vocal inmates in both the Jerome’s professor and fabulist, Eric McCormack. In attendance lobby and theatre entrance. Join us in March 2007 for the premiere were 120 alumni, current students, and faculty from the main performance of The Caucasian Chalk Circle by Bertolt Brecht. campus English department and St Jerome’s. Carrie Snyder (BA ’97) began the evening with a story from her well-received collection Hair Hat, published by Penguin, followed by Emily Anglin (BA ’03) reading a whimsical tale about meeting Byron in the Montreal Metro. Before a break for socializing, McCormack entertained the gathering with a gruesomely delicious tale from his early collection, Inspecting the Vaults. Melanie Cameron (BA ’96), just back from Winnipeg, where she has published two books of poetry, led the second half, followed by poems from Colin Vincent (BA ’03), freelance technical writer and drummer with the Ottawa punk band The Bandits. Much acclaimed poet, novelist, and University of Toronto professor, George Elliott Clarke (BA ’84), concluded the evening with a lively performance from his latest work, a libretto.

Our Town – theatre night 2005 Alumni, donors, faculty, staff, and retirees enjoyed an evening of theatre along with a few special treats, including a variety of homemade pies. Guests enjoyed a production of Thornton Wilder’s Our Town by UW Drama on Tuesday, November 15, 2005. Watch for your invitation to this year’s production — The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde.

UW Homecoming 2006 Homecoming was held on Saturday, September 30th, with events across campus. New to the Homecoming schedule this year was a “Battle of Waterloo” – Laurier vs. Waterloo – football game, the Environmental Studies Amazing Race, and we welcomed Stephen Lewis as our Homecoming keynote speaker. As well, the Faculty of Arts hosted a Sing-A-Long with Blue from Blue’s Clues™.

Watch for special Homecoming events next year in celebration of UW’s 50th anniversary.

© 2006 Viacom

10 arts &letters upcoming arts alumni events

Cambridge Galleries Cineseries Event – Save the Date! SHOW ME with UW Arts Alumna Cassandra Nicolau All Arts On April 27th, the Arts alumni office partnered with Cambridge Galleries for a special showing of filmmaker and Arts alumna Alumni Event Cassandra Nicolau’s film Show Me. The evening was a great success zc with more than 180 people attending. Plans have been made with Cambridge Galleries to host an annual Arts alumni event. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2007 In celebration of the University of Waterloo’s 50th anniversary, we will be hosting a special all Arts alumni event during Homecoming 2007. Save Saturday, September 29, 2007, on your calendar today.

Visit Bill Poole (Director, Centre for Cultural Management), Lisa Mahoney (BA ’05, Fine www.arts.uwaterloo.ca/alumni Arts/Applied Studies Co-op/Cultural Management Specialization), Cassandra Nicolau for more information on this exciting event. (BA ’90, English/Applied Studies Co-op/Cultural Management Specialization), and Brandi Gillett Woods (Arts Alumni and Communications Officer). Looking forward to seeing everyone back on campus in 2007! The Arab-Israeli Cookbook hit for Studio 180 Studio 180 was proud to produce the Canadian premiere of The Arab-Israeli Cookbook, a documentary theatre piece by British playwright Robin Soans. Cookbook was created as a result of the ARTS ALUMNI THEATRE EVENT author’s visits to Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza, and is an inspiring statement on how people go about their lives amid political and military tensions. The Importance of Faculty of Arts alumni enjoyed a special performance that Being Earnest featured an audience-actor talkback session with guest panellist, Shira Herzog, writer with The Globe and Mail. Studio 180 is the company initiated by Professor Joel Tuesday, November 14, 2006 Greenberg and Drama alumni Derrick Chua, Mark McGrinder, Theatre of the Arts Samara Nicholds, and Kimwun Perehinec. Join us for the premiere performance of Oscar Wilde’s renowned play The Importance of Being Earnest presented by UW Drama and directed by Anne-Marie Donovan.

Watch for you invitation coming in October!

Complimentary tickets from the Dean of Arts for Arts alumni, faculty, staff, and retirees. Limited seating – first come, first served (limit one guest)

For more information, visit www.arts.uwaterloo.ca/alumni. The cast of The Arab-Israeli Cookbook.

fall 2006 11 message from your arts alumni and communications officers

he Arts alumni office has been very busy over the past Communicating with you T year! We hope that you have seen or heard from us a In our alumni survey last year, many of you told us to few times, as well as noticed some of our new initiatives. communicate with you by email. To be able to do this, we need your email addresses. We recently sent out an Off the Shelf: Arts Alumni Authors Library information update request to all of you who gave us an Over the past few months, we’ve started a collection of email address, and the response was fantastic. Over 300 alumni-published books for our “Off the Shelf” library. alumni responded with address changes and updates. Brandi Gillett Woods With the help of fellow alumni, faculty, and staff, we have See our Class Notes section to catch up with all the collected over 40 books from some of our published latest news. alumni. These books are now available for loan from the Now we are asking everyone to join us in our efforts Arts alumni office. To see the list of books in our library, to better communicate with you. Visit our web site to visit www.arts.uwaterloo.ca/alumni. update your contact information, choose how and when If you are a published author, we’d love to add a you want to hear from us, and if you have an email copy of your book to our library. Contact us for more address let us know. That way, we can keep you up to date information. Thank you to all who have donated to date. on the latest news from Waterloo, events happening in Alexandra Lippert your area, and you’ll receive our electronic newsletter — Arts STAT program eArts & Letters each spring. The Faculty of Arts Students Today, Alumni Tomorrow We’re here for you, so stay connected! (STAT) program has been created in partnership with Career Services to encourage students to participate in Brandi Gillett Woods and Alexandra Lippert career planning sessions. This program also provides Arts Alumni and Communications Officers a way for us to connect with young alumni before they 519-888-4567, ext. 37705 leave campus and help with job search and future planning wherever we can. Watch for our next edition of eArts & Letters, at www.arts.uwaterloo.ca/alumni.

You won’t believe what you’re missing … …and you won’t know unless we have your email address!

Email is an easy, efficient and environmentally-friendly way to: • share UW successes • invite you to alumni events and reunions • contact former classmates • keep you connected to UW Win a 42" plasma screen TV! Update your email address and not only will you stay connected to UW, but you can also win great monthly prizes including a chance to win a 42" plasma screen TV.

Enter your email address at http://alumni.uwaterloo.ca/email

Stay connected and stay in the loop!

OFFICE OF ALUMNI AFFAIRS We respect your privacy and communication preferences. To learn more please go to http://alumni.uwaterloo.ca/privacy.

12 arts &letters retiree leaves legacy

hen Isobel Mackay arrived on the University of Waterloo basic skills required to pursue university studies, created a non- campus in 1963, she had no idea that she would leave credit course in 1984 entitled Preparing for University: We’ll Show W behind a legacy. After numerous job titles (her final one You How, which was designed to help mature students make the being academic counsellor for distance education and mature transition to academic studies after being away for a number of students) and three decades working on the second floor of years. And for the math anxious in the Faculty of Arts, she created the Modern Languages building, another non-credit course entitled she took early retirement in 2005. Preparing For Statistics. Upon her retirement, Issy was Testimonials from grads like honoured for her many years of service Cathy Davey (BA ’05), speak to with the establishment of the Isobel Issy’s commitment and dedication: Mackay Upper Year Scholarships. These “Thanks so much, Isobel. Your awards are presented each year to We’ll Show You How seminar made undergraduate students in a degree an incredible impact on my life. program in the Faculty of Arts who have And thank you for all of your been away from formal education for support and encouragement to a number of years, and who have mature students working their achieved a high academic standing. The way toward a degree.” scholarships, as well as bursaries, are As these students went on funded by an endowment that was to jobs, faculties of education, created many years ago by Issy. Under graduate study, or other successful her stewardship and with generous futures, Issy cheered them on support of friends of the Mature and reported on their Student Services office, the endowment achievements in her monthly had reached the $95,000 mark by the newsletter. In one of her last time she retired. mature student newsletters, According to Issy, however, her Issy wrote: “I’ve had the honour greatest legacy is the Mature Student of watching their academic Services office. In the early 80s, when progress, their self-discovery, older students were returning to the their confidence grow, and their classroom in large numbers, she was sheer joy of learning. Could I Issy Mackay celebrating with one of her students, Colleen Craig rewarded for her advocacy work on have been given greater rewards (BA ’05 History), at her graduation in October 2005. Colleen is a their behalf with her own office than this?” graduate of UW’s Distance Education program. devoted entirely to what she fondly Issy has been given other likes to describe as “a very untidy honours including a KW bunch of students,” meaning those with backgrounds, needs, Oktoberfest Woman of the Year Award in 1982, and an appointment and concerns very different from those of the regular students. as chair of KW Community Resources for Women in 1980. Issy’s other legacies included a long list of innovations Born in England and a University of Manchester graduate, designed for students who spent very little time on campus: a she came to Waterloo in 1963, six years after the University of library of taped lectures on academic skills, a newsletter which Waterloo began, as a graduate student in biology, and “almost focussed on how students can navigate the university immediately” was hired as a special lecturer to teach vertebrate bureaucracy, expanded day care services, and local networks for zoology. She spent a year doing fish research in the River Thames distance education students. Hundreds, maybe thousands, of at Britain’s University of Reading, then returned to UW as a students have been steered into and through their UW studies research assistant in the Faculty of Science. But it was her work with her help, guidance, and initiatives. as Assistant Dean of Women, starting in 1969, which inspired her She was passionate about looking after the needs of “mature” to devote the rest of her career in academe to mature students. students — a group made up mainly of women enrolled in the Issy lives in Waterloo with her husband Don Mackay, retired Faculty of Arts, who came to UW when they were older than professor of chemistry at UW, and runs a free B&B for sons traditional students, and mostly without the usual academic Duncan and Iain whenever they come to visit. She enjoys her credentials. Issy, driven to ensure that these students had the beautiful English gardens and meeting with friends, old and new. Ⅲ

Adapted from UW’s Daily Bulletin, June 14, 2005.

fall 2006 13 faculty news recognizing our outstanding faculty — pride in excellence

faculty awards and accolades new faculty

Jim Barnett (Accountancy) has been is the only graduate level program The Faculty of Arts hired 18 new faculty members over the past year with appointed Director of the School of in Canada devoted to training more to join in the coming months, including: Accountancy as of August 1, 2006. researchers in techniques for Jim has been an integral member of survey research. Ramesh Thakur, Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations and the School since 1990 and was Senior Vice Rector of the United Nations University, Tokyo, will join the Director of the Master of Taxation Mariela Gutiérrez (Spanish and Latin Department of Political Science in early 2007. Professor Thakur is a program since its inception in 1997. American Studies) is the recipient pre-eminent international scholar and expert in the fields of international of a University of Waterloo Award relations theory, nuclear disarmament, and global governance. (Accountancy) was for Excellence in Research. The Phelim Boyle Janice Aurini will join Sociology in July 2007, following a year of post- awarded the title University award includes a $1,500 grant for doctoral research at Harvard. Janice received her PhD from McMaster, Professor at the June 2006 research and will be presented to where she conducted research on private tutoring franchises such as convocation ceremonies. University Gutiérrez at the fall convocation Kumon and Sylvan. Professor is the university’s highest ceremonies. academic honour and recognizes exceptional scholarly achievement Barry McClinchey (Sociology) won and international pre-eminence. the 2005-2006 award for Arts Boyle was also named Financial Professor of the Year. UW Gallery welcomes new director Engineer of the Year by the Andrew Hunter has joined the University of Waterloo Galleries as the new International Association of Financial Christine Wiedman (Accountancy) director/curator. He replaces Carol Podedworny who has gone on to the Engineers, only the second Canadian was awarded her FCA from the McMaster University Art Gallery. Andrew has all kinds of new and exciting to receive this prestigious award. Institute of Chartered Accountants plans for the galleries, so watch our web site for upcoming events. of Ontario in recognition of her William Chesney (Drama and Speech significant contributions to Communication) received the teaching, research, the profession, Special Jury Award of the Kitchener- and the community. Waterloo Arts Awards for his leadership involvement in eyeGO to Anne Zeller (Anthropology) has the Arts. eyeGO is an innovative been appointed the latest president Waterloo region initiative that of the Society for Visual encourages high school students to Anthropology. A division of the attend local arts performances and American Anthropological cultural events for $5. Association, this large international organization focusses on the visual John Goyder (Sociology), along aspects of Anthropological research with Steve Brown (WLU) and Guil including ethnographic film, dance, Martinelli (MA ’05 Sociology), won use of photographs, and a wide the Chris Commins Award for best variety of other visual media. Zeller paper in 2005 in the Canadian is widely known for her primate Journal of Marketing Research. research and has a vast collection of Martinelli is the first graduate of primate images available on the Accountancy students join living-learning the Sociology Specialization in web, as well as having over sixty community Survey Methodology for Master’s North American institutions using students. Waterloo’s specialization her research videos. Some first year students entering the School of Accountancy this fall will be experiencing a new initiative from Waterloo’s Housing and Residences. The Living-Learning Community will see students immersed in academics, campus life, and career-related programs. Peer leaders from upper-year classes will guide students through the program and provide a link to many activities across campus. For more information, visit the Housing and Residences web site at www.housing.uwaterloo.ca/live_learn.

14 arts &letters New home for Digital Arts Communication New graduate program in Public Issues Specialization Anthropology As of July 1, 2006, the Digital Arts Communication Specialization is now The Anthropology department is pleased to announce a new graduate housed in the Department of Drama and Speech Communication. This move program in Public Issues Anthropology. This new joint program with the also brings well-known professors David Goodwin and Glenn Stillar into the University of Guelph will examine the importance of evolution, differing department. cultural values, and varying concepts of basic policies such as land claims, As part of Honours Arts and Business Co-op, the Specialization in Digital artifacts, and ideas. The unique program will combine four subdisciplines of Arts Communication provides students with the knowledge and skills required anthropology to offer students a broad spectrum of research. The first to design communication for an increasingly digital world. students will begin the program in fall 2007. An expert in interaction design, visual communication, and digital branding, Goodwin has consulted on issues relating to interaction design methodology, digital marketing strategy, and brand experience design for international companies, and has published on designing with digital images. The Victor J. Matthews Classics collection He is the director of the Digital Arts Communication Specialization. The Classical Studies department recently received a substantial part of the Glenn Stillar is well known for his work on discourse analysis and classical library of Professor Victor Matthews (1941-2004) of the University rhetoric. His research focus is semiotics of multi-modality in design, of Guelph, through the generous donation of Mrs. Irene Matthews. The linguistics, contemporary rhetorical theory, stylistics, and social semiotics, collection, which specializes in Greek history, poetry, and sport, comprises and his publications include a book on Analyzing Everyday Texts which over 1,000 books and 500 journal issues. Mrs. Matthews also donated a outlines a systematic and comprehensive theory of the discoursal, social, number of volumes to the Dana Porter library. A specialist in Greek epic and rhetorical consequences of everyday texts. Stillar is the director of poetry, Victor Matthews published two scholarly books and more than 30 the Canadian Centre for Cultural Innovation (CCCI). academic articles. His interest in ancient sport reflected his passion for competitive distance running.

Drama and Speech Communication Spanish students visit Holguin, Cuba professors creating e-book Students from Waterloo’s Spanish and Latin American Studies and the Jill Tomasson Goodwin, David Goodwin, and Glenn Stillar are working on an University of Western Ontario participated in an exchange program at the electronic book entitled “Digital Design: A Rhetoric of Multimedia.” The Universidad de Holguín. The students enjoyed a day at the Gibara Beach as e-book will focus on the theory and practice of designing multimedia texts, part of their activities. images, sound, and video, and will contain, among other interactive links, “born digital” materials created by the authors. The planned publication date is August 2007 and will be published by Parlor Press, an academic e-book publisher linked to such institutes as The Future of the Book, as well as the MacArthur and the Carnegie Mellon Foundations.

Students enjoy first Drama exchange For the first time in its history, eighteen students and faculty members of the Department of Drama and Speech Communication, in conjunction with students of the University of Toronto’s undergraduate Drama program, participated in an international exchange with the Theaterakademie Vorpommern, one of the most unique theatre training institutes in Germany. Graduating students from Germany arrived in April and staged performances of Carlo Goldoni’s comic masterpiece The Servant of Two Masters in both Toronto and Waterloo. Waterloo students then travelled to the scenic town of Zinnowitz on the Baltic coast to perform Timberlake Wertenbaker’s play Our Country’s Good.

fall 2006 15 faculty news

Classics alumna wins Desmond Conacher Independent Studies students share AIDS Scholarship experiences Jessica Higgins (BA ’06 Classical Three Independent Studies students shared their recent experiences in Africa Studies) has been awarded the at seminars held last term. Jane Karago Odongo, who emigrated from Kenya prestigious Desmond Conacher several years ago, relayed the overall situation in the continent where 1,000 Scholarship. This award, the only one people, mostly women, die each day from AIDS. In Odongo’s home country of sponsored by the Classical Kenya, one third of children have lost one parent to the disease and one in Association of Canada, is granted nine has lost both parents. Odongo shared how offers of medicine and annually to the student who has informative posters to combat the disease are hindered by high costs and demonstrated outstanding academic difficulties in transportation for many patients. She also shared how women achievement, professional promise, are not in the position to negotiate safe sex with their husband or partner, and preparation for graduate studies. but it is women who must take care of the sick and orphaned. The scholarship commemorates Ruth Plett spent two months in Sudan and Kenya volunteering at AIDS Desmond Conacher, formerly clinics and interviewing clients for her university studies. Plett researched Honorary President of the Classical the effects that caring for patients with HIV/AIDS has on the women involved. Association and professor of Classics Bracha Shapiro worked in a clinic in Kenya during the winter term and at the University of Toronto, where learned that although there are many posters about how to combat AIDS, Jessica is pursuing an MA degree. We many people do not understand what they mean — for example, how do you are proud of Jessica’s achievement, explain “Say No” to a kindergarten class? Shapiro was also surprised by how which shows that Waterloo graduates few clients visited the clinic and how funding was wasted. are among the best in the country. First students arrive for Computing and Share your Sociology memories Financial Management program 2006 marks the 40th anniversary of the first admission of graduate students The first class of the Bachelor of Computing and Financial Management to the Sociology department. Over the years there have been many changes, program will arrive on campus this fall. This joint program with the Faculty of in particular the past few years saw many retirements and a re-building Mathematics is a new initiative under the leadership of Professor Duane phase for the department. This past term Rick Helmes-Hayes began Kennedy from the School of Accountancy and Peter Forsythe from the David compiling a history of Waterloo’s Sociology program. Sociology grads are Cheriton School of Computer Science. invited to share their stories and memories of the department with Rick at [email protected]. Confucius Institute comes to Waterloo Silversides welcomes award-winning Renison College was recently selected as a site for the second Confucius Institute in Canada. The Confucius Institute (CI) is a non-profit organization playwright and mathematician dedicated to the promotion and development of Chinese language, culture, Eminent mathematician and multiple Dora Award winner, Dr. John Mighton studies, and business. Its mission is to facilitate engagement with China in was this year’s speaker for the Silversides Theatre Artist series held in the UW ways that strengthen the understanding, opportunities, and bonds between Bookstore on October 4th. individuals, enterprises, communities, and institutions in Canada, the Mighton is a two-time Governor General Award winner for playwriting, People’s Republic of China, and the global Chinese diaspora. The Institute most recently for his work Half Life in 2005. He is also the founder of Junior is a joint venture between the Office of the Chinese Language Council Undiscovered Math Prodigies (JUMP) which provides free tutoring to International (“Hanban” - Ministry of Education, Beijing), Renison elementary-level math students from disadvantaged families. The JUMP College, UW, and Nanjing University, one of the highest rated research program has spread across Canada and is establishing chapters in other universities in China. countries as well. Mighton is also the author of The Myth of Ability and the Jump at Home workbooks.

16 arts &letters 1957-2007 faculty retirements University of Waterloo’s 50th Anniversary

The Faculty of Arts wishes to express its It’s going to be exciting around campus next year sincerest gratitude for the many years of contribution by the following recent faculty as the university celebrates its 50th anniversary. retirees: Founded in 1957, the University of Waterloo has grown Phelim Boyle, School of Accountancy from a small school in Waterloo to the country’s leading Art Green, Fine Arts comprehensive institution in just a short fifty years. Ashok Kapur, Political Science To celebrate there will be a number of events throughout Alister Mason, School of Accountancy 2007 on campus and around the world. Robert Ryan, French Studies James Van Evra, Philosophy Watch the 50th anniversary web site, www.uwaterloo.ca/50th for celebration information.

founder of Arts Computing Office is remembered

BY PHILIP HILLYER SMITH III Professor Smith received his PhD in Slavic Linguistics from the University of etired Faculty of Arts professor Pennsylvania in 1959, and worked for IBM Philip (Phil) Hillyer Smith, Jr., on early computer-translation projects. He Rdied unexpectedly in his sleep on then was a pioneer in creating a computer- June 11, 2006. He was in his 80th year. generated concordance of Beowulf while at Professor Smith taught computing and New York University, before emigrating to linguistics at the University of Waterloo Waterloo in 1969. While at the University of from 1969 to 1989. During that period, he Waterloo, his principal research focussed also founded the Arts Computing Office, on creating concordances of the Anglo- whose mission is to provide computing Saxon Poetic Records, all Virginia Woolf’s resources and support for those in the novels, and Freud’s works in both German Anita Hillyer Smith, and his only humanities and social sciences. and English. He studied and taught grandchild, Katherine Elisabeth Hillyer Born in the United States, he served in overseas in Brazil, Germany, Peru, Smith, of Oak Hill, Virginia. the US Navy in World War II, and graduated Colombia, and the Czech Republic, and was When Professor Smith died, he and Liz from Harvard University in 1947. After his the recipient of two Fulbright grants and a were in Chapel Hill, where they had spent undergraduate work, he continued his Smith-Mundt grant. winters since he retired from the University education, travelling to Prague to study He is survived by Elisabeth (Liz) Papas of Waterloo in 1989, and they were selling Czech. He fell in love with the city, the Smith, his wife of nearly 53 years; his their house and returning permanently to language, and the Czech people, and he daughter Dorothea (Thea) Elisabeth Smith their John Street home in Waterloo. He will visited the country many times over the and her spouse Sheldon Wein, of Halifax, be sorely missed by his immediate family, a next six decades, especially after the fall of Nova Scotia; his daughter Jennifer Louise circle of more distant relatives, and a wide Communism. Smith, of Toronto, Ontario; and his son range of friends around the world. Ⅲ Philip Hillyer Smith III, his daughter-in-law

fall 2006 17 class notes look for more class notes for Arts & Letters 2006 at www.arts.uwaterloo.ca/alumni.

After 20 years in the military, James Pickett, BA ’84 ’69 Paul MacDonald, BA ’69 Geography, has ’81 John Heung, BA ’81 Economics, writes to us History/Political Science, has just retired to accept a travelled extensively around the world, including from Hong Kong where he was recently recruited by a position as director of the North-East Florida Region Europe, China, Indonesia, Australia, and Scandinavia. leading building material of the School of Continuing Education for Saint Leo As a gay activist while living in London, England, he supply company to promote University. helped organize the first gay and lesbian political sanitary wares in the southern [email protected] action on Parliament Hill in Ottawa in 1971. He was also part of China. John tells us a founding member of the editorial collective for the that his eldest daughter was Body Politic, Canada’s first gay liberation journal, just admitted to university ’87 Nancy Bradley, BA ’87 English, continues published in 1971. Paul currently works for Bay Bloor and plans to major in English her pursuit for higher education. In May 2005, she Radio in Toronto. In 1979, he founded the Mirage and education. graduated from Atlantic Baptist University with a Loudspeaker product line. [email protected] BEd and is currently an instructor in the business [email protected] department of New Brunswick Community College. Nancy has recently been accepted into Mount Saint ’82 Patricia Anderson, BA ’82 English, informs us Vincent’s Master of Education program in educational ’72 Leslie McKanday, BA ’72 Psychology, works as that she is showing some of her canvas-printed photos psychology with a focus on teaching students who are a mortgage administrator with the Effort Trust Company at a local cheese fine foods shop. For details, blind/visually impaired. in Hamilton. “I have come full circle back to the see www.patanderson.net. financial sector after many years in the manufacturing [email protected] After finishing her Waterloo degree, Stephanie Fysh and service sectors,” says Leslie. “Been married and (Moskal), BA ’87 English, completed her PhD at the separated, no kids, but am the proud roommate of a Since graduation, Jeff Soltysiak, BA ’82 English/Co-op, University of Toronto in eighteenth-century English five-year-old Maine coon cat who rules with a furry paw.” has been employed at CTV Southwestern Ontario “with a heavy dose of theory,” published a scholarly [email protected] (formerly CKCO-TV). “I did my last co-op work term book, and had three children. She is now a downtown- there,” he says, “and was hired full-time three days Toronto-based freelance editor and proofreader to book after convocation.” Jeff started as a writer and then publishers, co-coordinator of Ryerson University’s ’76 Vancouver artist, Barb Wood, BA ’76 Fine Arts, assignment editor and has been the news producer Publishing Certificate program, and a director of the runs her own company, Barb Wood Graphics Ltd. since 2004. “A career highlight was originating and Book and Periodical Council. “I’m also ‘coming out’ this “Please see www.barbwoodgraphics.com to see what a being the first producer of Good Morning Canada, CTV’s year,” says Stephanie, “as an architectural and artistic good backing from the University of Waterloo has led weekend morning show,” he writes. In 1982, Jeff photographer.” This past spring marked her first show, a to!” she writes. married Cheryl Kehn, BA ’81 English, who teaches for group exhibit (Urban Optics) at the Gladstone Hotel, [email protected] the Waterloo Region District Catholic School Board. “We part of the CONTACT Toronto Photography Festival. have three kids,” he says, “and our oldest is continuing [email protected] the tradition, studying English at St. Jerome’s ’77 Charles Nienkirchen, MA ’77 History, PhD ’85 University.” Jeff tells us that his area of expertise is After 12 years with Sun Life Financial (including three History, is a professor of Christian History and grilling. “I have five grills, a smoker, and a turkey deep and a half years in Toronto and eight and a half years in Spirituality at the Alliance University College/Nazarene fryer, and I have been asked to be a judge at the Wellesley, Massachusetts), Keith Moore, BA ’87 History, University College in Calgary. On May 16, 2006, he Canadian Open BBQ Championships in Barrie again MA ’91 History, left the company in 2003 and spent two received the Award of Distinction from the Alberta this year.” years doing freelance consulting and writing, teaching, Government, Ministry of Advanced Education, for The [email protected] and working part-time. In the fall of 2005, he decided Internationalization of the Teaching and Learning to return to full-time work, taking an “excellent” Practice. “This was given for my educational travel position with Textron Inc. (a large multi-industry study program entitled “Down Ancient Paths” which has ’84 Last fall, Cheryl Guerin, BA ’84 Sociology, conglomerate best known for owning Cessna, Bell been operating for 10 years,” says Charles. “[It] was an went to Ireland where she “toured, golfed, and drank Helicopter, and several industrial businesses, such as open competition for all the faculties of Alberta’s beer.” She writes: “It’s a beautiful country to visit, and E-Z-GO and Jacobsen) in the corporate headquarters universities, colleges, and institutes, and ten awards the people are wonderful. While in Dublin we stayed at in Providence, Rhode Island. “I’m directing manager were granted in all.” He adds: “My years at UW were the Trinity College, which is right in the centre of all the of communications across the company, to all our original inspiration for the program.” action and the rates were really reasonable. While businesses and all managers around the globe,” says [email protected] visiting the rest of Ireland we stayed in B&B’s, which are Keith. “It’s a great position, very challenging as there’s plentiful and everywhere. My fav places were Kinsale, so much to learn about the company, its products, and Glengarriff in West Cork (the whole West Cork area is its processes. Greetings to all who remember me from ’80 Paul Tacon, BA ’80 Anthropology/Psychology, breathtaking), the Cliffs of Moher, Newgrange and my years at UW, especially working at Fed Hall and writes to us from Australia where he is a professor and Knowth, and of course, Dublin (I believe U2 wrote the being a don in V2.” research leader in Griffith University’s School of Arts. song “Where the Streets Have No Name” as a tribute to [email protected] Paul tells us that he developed and leads a new research Dublin, their hometown).” Cheryl also tells us that her program called The Human Question. For more brother Jeff Guerin (BMath ’91) and his wife are proud information, visit www.griffith.edu.au/school/art/. of their little girl Caitlin who was born in 2004. [email protected] [email protected]

18 arts &letters Dynamics in Canada” was released in 2006 and is ’88 Shayla Goldstein (Gunter), BA ’88 Sociology, available at STATSCAN web site. ’93 Peter Misiaszek, MA ’93 Political Science, is keeps busy as a new mom, and publications manager, [email protected] the director of stewardship development with the editor, and freelance writer of her own company, Shayla Anglican Diocese of Toronto. Peter and his wife Ginette “Gee” Enterprises. She writes: “The newest happening Ron Leonard, PhD ’91 Philosophy, published his doctoral Miron are the parents of three wonderful kids – Alex in my life is the birth of my son, Matthew Jeremy thesis, The Transcendental Philosophy of Franklin (5), Sarah (3), and Catherine (3 months). (Matti), who was born in October 2005, the day before Merrell-Wolff, (Albany: State University of New York [email protected] my 39th birthday!” Shayla and her husband Jack Press, 1999). He also edited (with a forward) the last celebrated their 3rd wedding anniversary in April 2006, half of Wolff’s philosophical Robert Vanderheyden, BA ’93 Social Development and are currently looking for a house in which to raise treatise, and published it Studies, has had quite a journey since his days at Matti and any future siblings. “Self-employment as Transformations in Waterloo. He writes: “[After graduation], I looked for means no maternity leave,” she says, “so I’m juggling Consciousness (SUNY Press, employment in the social services, but found that I was new mom-hood and producing 12 publications a year 1995). Since 1992, he has been better off returning to my career as an electrician. for a variety of associations. Challenging, for sure, but teaching (primarily reasoning Though my studies at Waterloo did not lead to also rewarding. Thank goodness for grandmas who and critical thinking) in the employment in social services as I had hoped, it has been babysit! Hello to all my former W2 mates! I welcome Department of Philosophy at very helpful to me in my daily contacts with people people to stay in touch by email.” UNLV, Las Vegas, and for the whether that be at work or in volunteer activities. My [email protected] past year has been director of studies in Social Development Studies at Renison College the Franklin Merrell-Wolff were very beneficial to me, as I came to an acceptance of After graduating and spending three months travelling Fellowship, Inc. For more my being gay. That is a journey where one can learn very Europe, Illona Haus, BA ’88 Fine Arts, returned to information, visit www.merrell-wolff.org. much. I met a wonderful person, Ian McKay, who is a Waterloo and to UW for employment. She worked for [email protected] professor of Canadian History at Queen’s University. I nine years on campus, the bulk of those as the have lived in Kingston since December 2003, and enjoy it undergraduate secretary in the English department. She here even though it is a long way from southwestern and left UW in 1997 to move to Baltimore, Maryland, and ’92 Jeffrey Epstein, BA ’92, Political midwestern Ontario where I lived for most of my life. We has supported herself with her writing ever since. Science/Applied Studies Co-op, reports to us from live in a wonderful old heritage home close to Kingston’s Although she has since returned to Waterloo, her Vancouver where he is a product marketing manager downtown. I keep myself busy with work in the electrical psychological thrillers/police procedural novels are still with Sophos. Jeffrey and his wife Susan Silos have a trade and with renovations in our home.” set in Baltimore and have been received with six-month-old son Alexander Lev. [email protected] outstanding reviews. She is currently working on her [email protected] third book in the Kay Delaney series, published through Pocket Books/Simon & Schuster in NYC. Blue Valor was Paul Nethercott, BA ’92 Chartered Accountancy, works as ’94 As soon as she graduated, Kelleigh Johnson released in February 2006, and Blue Mercy (the first a chartered accountant with Nethercott & Company in (Wing), BA ’94 French/Applied Studies Co-op, accepted Kay Delaney novel, released May 2005) was nominated Toronto. He and his wife Lisa have three daughters, a proofreader’s position with maranGraphics, a small for the prestigious Arthur Ellis awards here in Canada. “I Montana (7), Emma (3), Molly (6 months), and one book publisher based in Mississauga. Over the past 12 would love to hear from fellow students, as well as the son Cameron (5). years, she has worked her way up the ranks and is now graduates of the English programs,” says Illona. [email protected] a writer with the same company. “Loving it!” says [email protected] Kelleigh. “I married my husband Mark in 2000, and After stints in Toronto, Ottawa, and Paris, France, Lisa we are proud parents of two wonderful kids – Emily (4) Sansom, BA ’92, French/Applied Studies Co-op, is now and Brandon (1).” ’90 Tara Casagrande (Lassel), BA ’90 Economics, living in Kingston, Ontario, with her husband James [email protected] lives in Alexandria, Virginia, just outside Washington, Fraser (BSc ’94), and their two sons, Adrien (4) and Xan DC. Tara and her husband Jerry have two children Baker (2). Lisa works for Export Development Canada as an Christine McKenna, BA ’94 (6) and Riley (4), and are adopting a third child from organizational effectiveness advisor. She is also English/Speech Communication Korea. “Loving our chaotic life,” she says, “and transitioning her career to Kingston, so she is working Minor, has been appointed practicing photography and playing a little volleyball with the Queen’s School of Business doing team director of public relations at when I can.” facilitation, as well as some small consulting and The Fairmont Hotel, Dubai. [email protected] writing on the side. Lisa invites friends and classmates Christine has had 10 years of to drop her a virtual line. experience in PR and her career [email protected] has included roles with Toronto Maple Leaf Sports ’91 Sri Kanagarajah, BA ’91 Economics, has been and Entertainment and Canada’s music TV brand, married for over 12 years and has a daughter (4) and a Doug White, BA ’92 History, is currently the senior vice MuchMusic. More recently, she was director of son (1). He moved from Toronto to Ottawa in 2000, and president of North American Compendiums in Waterloo. communications at War Child, Canada, a non- has worked for Statistics Canada since graduation. Sri He travels all over North America developing new governmental organization that works closely with has managed surveys (including Survey of Suppliers of products for the company. “I am still writing music,” he the Canadian music industry to provide humanitarian Business Financing) and administrative data projects says. Check out www.sequentialvibe.com. assistance to children affected by war. such as the Longitudinal Employment Analysis Program [email protected] [email protected] (LEAP). He has also written a few publications and papers, the most recent publication titled “Business

fall 2006 19 class notes

psychology has helped me tremendously in my role as director position with the Marine Museum of the ’95 Kelly Bourassa, BA ’95 German/Applied an information architect today. I am applying many of Great Lakes (for more information visit, Studies Co-op, has been named co-recipient of the first the lessons learned while at UW in helping to resolve www.marmuseum.ca/). annual Lloyd Houlden Research Fellowship awarded by issues of usability and findability.” [email protected] the Canadian Insolvency Foundation. She is currently [email protected] completing a LLM degree at Osgood Hall Law School at After graduation, Kari Mathers, BA ’97 Anthropology, York University. From November 2002 to October 2004, Joanne Verstege (Monk), BA ’96 Social Development worked for a few years with the City of Waterloo before Kelly was an advisor to the Standing Senate Committee Studies/French, and her partner are blending their moving to Ottawa. After a year there she decided to go on Banking, Trade, and Commerce. She practiced at families (his two girls and her two boys) and moving back to school to pursue veterinary medicine and got Burnet, Duckworth & Palmer in Calgary during January into a new house. “Dave and I met while working her diploma in veterinary technology. During her 2001 to June 2002, after having earned her LLB at the together on the board of Women’s House, a shelter for correspondence program, she made the move west to University of Western Ontario in 1998. abused women in Kincardine,” she says, “and things are Vancouver and then north to Whitehorse, where she is going very well.” Joanne is just finishing her fourth year currently settled. In the fall of 2005, she joined a group Cathy Tang, BA ’95 Economics, has been an economics, of teaching and reports that she is happy to be in one called CAAT (Canadian Animal Assistance Team) and was math, and business teacher for seven years. After UW, school, after working at two schools in the past three dispatched to New Orleans to aid in the rescue and care she took a year off to work and travel in Asia. She lived years. Dave is area manager for Home Hardware. “My of animals displaced by Hurricane Katrina. She is in the UK for five years and Colombia for two years. boys are now five and almost eight-years-old and currently working as a veterinary technician in “I’ve been really lucky to have travelled extensively and Dave’s girls are 12 and 15,” she adds. “Everyone is Whitehorse, where she lives with her husband John work at the same time,” she says. “I am presently living excited to get settled into the century home and Miller and their pets. and teaching in Cairo, but I am moving to Kuala Lumpur anxious to make it our own space.” in September to teach at a British International School. I am still single, but planning to get married in the next ’98 Heidi Vanstone, BA ’98 French/Applied Studies year. Got to get a move on if I want to have a team of ’97 Juliana Billing (McKergow), BA ’97 Speech Co-op, is pleased to announce the birth of her kids! Hope you are all well.” Communication, and her husband Lindsey Billing daughter, Sarah Evelyn, on January 7, 2006. [email protected] (BASc ’99), are [email protected] ecstatic to announce the birth of their ’96 After UW, Fannie Dimitriadis, BA ’96 History, beautiful baby girl, ’00 After graduation, Linda Brubacher, BA ‘00 Fine attended law school. Following the call to the bar, she Katherine Ruth, on Arts, became involved in the arts community through began working for the Ontario Government as legal Thursday, February 9, volunteering and sitting on the boards of the Waterloo counsel to the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. 2006. Big brother Community Arts Centre and the Kitchener Waterloo In 2005, she completed a LLM program that focussed on Taylor Charles (22 Society of Artists (KWSA), where she has been the health law and co-authored a book with two colleagues months), welcomes president for the past three years; KWSA is celebrating entitled Guide to the Ontario Personal Health his sister warmly and its 75th year of operations. “Our membership has grown Information Protection Act (Irwin Law, 2005). graciously. Juliana is from about 40 members to a current high of 118!” says [email protected] taking a break from Linda. You can check out the web site to see current her career in gerontology to be a full-time mother. members’ work at www.kwsa.ca. Linda has also been After graduation, Jeff Parks, BA ’96 Psychology, spent [email protected] painting a lot and has recently been selected to present the first five years working with clients with acquired her work at the Amsterdam Whitney Art Gallery in New brain injuries and young offenders. He then went back Elizabeth Blake, BA ’97 History, completed most of her York. She is a founding member of the Kissing Bridge to school for a post-graduate degree in information degree as a mature student, through correspondence. Trail Studio Tour in Elmira, now in it’s fourth year, and technology at ITI. After working with a small publishing “Most faculty and some students will remember me as takes place every autumn in the last weekend of company in the creation of Corel’s web and computer- (Elizabeth) Ann Gonneau,” she says. In 1998, Elizabeth October. “Hope to see you there,” she adds. based training system, as well as co-authoring a ended a six-year relationship with Cumberland Village, [email protected] Microsoft certified training program (teaching adult a living history site in Cumberland, Ontario (now part of learning theory, communication, planning, motivation, the National Capital region), and headed off to Seoul, Steven Kleinknecht, BA ’00 Sociology/Applied Studies and training delivery), he took on contract work within South Korea, to teach English in private schools. “While Co-op/Legal Studies & Criminology Option, has the Federal Government. His last employment was with there, I met my now husband, Gordon Blake,” says completed his MA in Sociology at McMaster University. Export Development Canada where he helped to create Elizabeth. “Gord hales from Thunder Bay and was He did a qualitative study on the computer hacker the strategic vision for their Enterprise Portal solution. teaching in Seoul, as well, albeit at a different school.” subculture for his thesis. Steven is now in the third year Last year, he decided to start his own consulting In February 2000, they were married in Ottawa and of his PhD program in Sociology at McMaster. He is company around information architecture. “I have had returned to Seoul to teach together. At the conclusion currently researching social change among the Old great success and am enjoying the benefits of being an of their contract, they returned to Canada for an Order Mennonite community, and holds a Social entrepreneur, including going to Sydney, Australia, in extended stay. Elizabeth acquired a position as Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) the fall for a conference about information operations manager at Fanshawe Pioneer Village in Canada Graduate Scholarship. Steven resides in architecture,” says Jeff. “My experiences at Waterloo London, and Gord worked with the Diocese of London Waterloo with his wife of nearly two years. were incredible! From playing on the men’s varsity on their World Youth Day celebrations and with the [email protected] volleyball team for two seasons, to friends made, Ontario Lung Association. In March of this year, they all were very positive experiences! My degree in moved to Kingston when she assumed the executive

20 arts &letters Tanya Sirois, MA ’00 English, is a communications and a basic web page at http://karaoke-mike.blogspot.com marketing advisor for an international print and ’03 Jennifer Bates, and he publishes photos at communications company. “In October 2005, I gave BA ’03 Psychology, will www.flickr.com/photos/kansai. “I’m looking forward birth to our first child – a beautiful daughter named join thousands of other to upcoming reunions whenever I have a chance to Amelia,” says Tanya. “Currently, I am on maternity leave dedicated women and make it back to Canada,” he says. and loving every minute!” men at the Phoenix, [email protected] [email protected] Arizona Breast Cancer 3-Day walk (November Kate McGartland, BA ’05 History/English, tells us that Kim Sunseth, PhD ’00 Psychology, works as a 3-5). The 60-mile walk she has had an eventful summer. “I bought my first car, psychologist with Fitzpatrick & Associates in Cambridge, will raise money to support the Susan G. Komen Breast prepared for teachers college, and married the love of Ontario. She has two children, Madison (born 2001) and Cancer Foundation and the National Philantropic Trust my life. I met Sean Kinsella in our first year at Waterloo Jack (born 2004), a new old house (built in the 1800’s), Breast Cancer Fund. “This will be my second year (2001) in Shakespeare class with Professor John North. and tries to stay in touch with classmates as much as participating in this event,” she says. Jennifer is We dated and were engaged in August 2003 (the night she can. honouring two special women in her life: her Grandma before the big blackout!). We had a wonderful wedding [email protected] Pat who died from lung cancer five years ago, and her and are loving newlywed life! I have just completed the mother who passed away from cancer in 2004. course and practicum components of teachers college [email protected] and am returning to UW to complete the internship ’01 In November 2005, Jude Billard, BA ’01 Social component. I will be working in residence life, another Development Studies, BSW ’02, relocated to the Yukon, passion of mine! I hope to either get a teaching at a period when the days were getting shorter and ’04 “I embarked on an adventure of a lifetime,” position or a residence life coordinator position this colder. “I was driving to and from work in the dark for says Melissa Soward, BA ’04 Psychology. “I have spent summer. I have fond memories of Waterloo, many regular business hours,” she says. “Now the daylight is the last year backpacking around Australia, visited surrounding my two years as a don. I met so many great closing in on 18 hours a day and will keep moving every state, and even travelled through the outback people and learned so much about life, I will never towards 23 hours of daylight by June...sleep mask in three times. The highlight of my trip, however, was forget my four short years at UW!” order! My daughter Amber (19) just moved up to spend working for Steve and Terri Irwin (The Crocodile Hunter) [email protected] the summer with me and has found work locally at an at the Australia Zoo. I spent a month there, learning all organic farm, and we intend on exploring the north this about the native animals, teaching the public about Emily Phillips, BA ’05 French Teaching Specialization, summer while she’s here. Canoeing, kayaking, hiking, them, and even participating in the daily shows...I have spent six months travelling around Australia and New and camping are on our agenda. Working in the north experienced so much in just a year,” she says. “I am Zealand. She has now moved to Calgary to be with her has been challenging for many reasons. The population back at home in Canada, although I’m not sure for how boyfriend and to teach Grade 7 with the Calgary Board I work with is very different, and drug and alcohol long. I have the travel bug now and am currently of Education. abuse are very prominent compared to my previous looking for ways to incorporate travel into my career.” [email protected] agency, unfortunately. I am truly enjoying the north [email protected] though, and expect to spend a few years in the land of Heather Vitkuske, BA ’05 Psychology/Applied Studies (Editor’s Note: Condolences to the Irwin family on the midnight sun!” Co-op, is currently employed as an ESL teacher in Steve’s tragic passing in 2006.) [email protected] Namyangju City in South Korea, teaching Grades 1 to 6. “I have been busy sight-seeing and absorbing the After continuing education in a post graduate program Jennifer Brown (Diebold), BA ’01 Classical Studies, is in culture!” she says. at Humber College, Jason Stanley, BA ’04, was invited to the midst of pursuing her love of writing poetry, and [email protected] do an internship with John Milloy, the MPP for she has been recently published. She wrote a children’s Kitchener Centre. “After my great experience working book entitled Lost and Found, and Found Again, for her for Mr. Milloy, I was fortunate enough to land a job two-year-old daughter. Says Jennifer, “If you don’t find working for the Minister of Research and Innovation, me writing, then you can find me with my husband of In Memoriam Dalton McGuinty!” he says. “Things couldn’t be better, six years, playing with our very busy toddler.” To find The Faculty of Arts expresses deepest sympathy and I owe it all to my political interests that were out more about Jennifer’s book, visit to the family and friends of the following rejuvenated at the University of Waterloo!” www.brownandbrown.ca. graduates who have passed away: [email protected] “Well, it took a while, but I finally got the career I Kenneth Laidlaw, BA ’71 Political Science worked so hard for,” says Susan Hatt, BA ’01 Legal Michael Connolly, BA ’05 Fine Arts, is currently Mark Muellejans, BA ’96 Political Science/ Studies and Criminology Option. “I became a police ’05 working as a coordinator for international relations for Canadian Studies officer with Halton Regional Police in August 2005. It the Mitoyo City government in Japan. “Having a great took a lot of hard work, but I finally achieved my goal of time doing interpretation for foreign visitors, handling becoming a constable,” she says. “It has been a very sister-city relations, and doing presentations on challenging job so far, but I would not change it one bit. various cultures for the local community,” writes It just proves that no matter what, if you work hard and Michael. “I will be trying to cook and sell Jamaican food give it all you have, you can achieve anything.” at an upcoming festival. After that, I generally spend [email protected] my weekends mountain climbing around some of the beautiful coastal mountain ranges nearby.” Michael has

fall 2006 21 alumni life stories Where are they now? An interview with Christine Woods.

Hann mines for talent Ingrid Hann, BA ’76

ngrid Hann graduated from the University of Waterloo in 1976 with a BA in human relations and counselling studies. She is an accomplished senior Iexecutive whose interests, expertise, and management contribution focus on the areas of human resources and administration, and in delivering organizational and community services excellence. She is a member of the Human Resources Professionals Association of Ontario (HRPAO). Ingrid started her career with Denison Mines in Elliot Lake, Ontario (1976 - 1985), and then spent three years with Denison Potacan Mining Ltd. in Sussex, New Brunswick. After 12 years in the mining industry, she turned her focus to other areas, working with Enersource Mississauga; Compass Food Services, Toronto; Spar Aerospace Ltd., Mississauga; and Sodexho Marriott MS Canada Ltd., Burlington. She recently accepted the position of vice president of human resources with Ingrid feeling nostalgic in her 1976 sweatshirt. De Beers Canada Inc. in Toronto. As the world’s leading diamond mining company, De Beers produces over 40 percent of the world’s supply of global gem diamonds. In Canada, three new mines are being developed. With transition from exploration to production, Ingrid assists the organization in converting large capital projects into viable, sustainable, and profitable mines. Born in Stuttgart, Germany, she spent most of her childhood there. After spending some formative years in Canada, she returned to Germany for family reasons. Canada left such a vivid impression on her that she returned in 1969 at the age of 18 and became a proud Canadian on April 10, 1975. Her long-term goal is to become fluent in the French language. Arts & Letters communicated with Ingrid, who now lives in Oakville, to discuss her career in human resources and her University of Waterloo experiences both as an employee and a student.

What is your most memorable experience Were you involved in any student 1975. It was a wonderful experience. as an undergraduate student at UW? organizations or extra-curricular activities While involved with the Germanic and Slavic In 1973, I was initially admitted to UW on on campus? department, I remember two professors vividly: probation, as I had not completed any Canadian Because I had come from Germany, I was very one was a very elegant and eloquent lady, Gisela high school education. This was a period of high involved with events hosted by the Germanic and Brude-Firnau, who is now retired; the other, a anxiety with many struggles throughout the first Slavic department, including fundraising. We put most dynamic individual, Heidi Richter (Strack), semester. My most memorable experience was on plays for the students studying the German who has since passed away. Professor Pat Rowe of when I was officially accepted to full-time language, hosted educational forums, and the Psychology department, who was very well- student status. It was an honour for me to be able administered Student Exchange Programs with known on campus, also made an impact on me. to complete my education at UW, and I was and German universities. We were exposed to visiting will forever be, appreciative of such a wonderful professors and helped with the adaptation of the How did your degree impact your career opportunity, without which I would not be where I Canadian culture and environment. I particularly path? am today. recall when Professor Meixner from the University My degree was a prerequisite to building my of Mannheim joined UW for a one year period. human resources career. While working as a Subsequently, I was invited to visit him at the secretary at Westinghouse Canada in Hamilton, University of Mannheim, which I accepted in my outstanding boss, Irene Watson, who was the

22 arts &letters personnel manager, recommended that I pursue a Prior to coming to UW as a student, you What are some of your interests outside degree. One day I asked her what I needed to do were a UW employee. Tell us about that. of work? in order to obtain a position like hers. She I had applied to UW after completing a Business I have a passion and high level of interest in immediately responded that a degree was College Diploma with Lougheed College in photography. After years of shooting with a film essential. UW had the most closely associated Kitchener. There I learned how to type in English, SLR, I just switched to digital. I enjoy nature program for this purpose at that time, and my as the German keyboard is different. I also photography the most, although I am persuaded research showed that human relations and learned Pitman shorthand and took other to do weddings for friends and family. It is an counselling studies was a program which would business subjects. In the spring of 1970, I applied enjoyable hobby and serves as a release from the lend itself very well to the facets and challenges to UW’s Germanic and Slavic department. While demands of work. Some of my photos have been of human resources. there was no opportunity in that department, I published in various magazines, which I find was offered a secretarial position in the Finance particularly rewarding. Tell us about your new position with department. After six to eight months, I was De Beers. promoted to work as a secretary for Vera Leavoy, On August 1, 2006, I started my new position with a former research grants officer, who has since I decided De Beers Canada Inc. The company has been in an retired. I held the position from 1971 to 1972. to be brave exploration phase in Canada for many years and is I have fond memories of Vera’s and my time “ now mandated to transition into producing together and must say she helped to and venture forth operations. I accepted the position of vice “Canadianize” me. As much as I wanted to be as a probationary president of human resources for the primary Canadian, she reminded me of some peculiar student at the reason of being able to impact this critical phase. “German” habits which I exhibited. Initially while All facets of human resources will be put to the at work at UW, I addressed everyone in a formal famous UW! test. manner (for example, by their last name). It took The opportunity came about through an me a long time to call her Vera and not Miss ’’ Do you have any advice or insight to share executive search firm inquiring about my level of Leavoy! Vera and I have remained friends, and we with graduating students, especially those interest in returning to the mining industry and chuckle about that today. planning a career in the human resources addressing an exciting Canadian human resources From UW, I moved to Westinghouse in opportunity at their most senior level. I was Hamilton and worked there from 1972 to 1973. field? Find a job you love and you will never have to contacted on the strength of my sound reputation [And] in 1973, I decided to be brave and venture work another day in your life! And if it is in HR, as a HR professional and my proven track record forth as a probationary student at the famous UW! with various industries, inclusive of mining. I was do the profession proud! HR is an exciting field. It is demanding and requires not only strong interviewed by the incoming CEO and President, What is one of your most memorable technical know-how, but also good judgment, Jim Gowans, as well as HR associates from experiences in your career? discretion, and flexibility. HR is the voice and London, England, and Johannesburg, South In the past, I had served as a governor on the conscience of the organization. Ⅲ Africa. While it was difficult to leave my former Sheridan College Board, and in 1999, the College employer, Sodexho Marriott in Burlington, where I invited me as a convocation speaker for the had been for the past five years, after lengthy graduating business class. It was very deliberations with De Beers I accepted. memorable, but just slightly intimidating, as I I very much look forward to the exciting had to follow the previous speaker who was none challenge which lies ahead and am extremely other than William Shatner! How do you beat pleased and proud to be able to play such an that? Well, I did, as some students and my important part. My goal is to contribute to the parents told me following my speech. successes of De Beers and to further enhance my Also, I am proud to say that I have met my HR knowledge and profession. I love this heroine, Maggie Thatcher, former Prime Minister profession and am pleased to be able to put it to of England. As well, I have met one of my great use in the years to come. favourite comedians, Steve Martin.

fall 2006 23 send us an update …

and we’ll send you a sticker!

Yes, I want to stay connected to UW! PLEASE PRINT The Faculty of Arts and your Name ...... former classmates want to know

Graduation Year ...... what’s new with you. Complete this form or visit our web site UW Degree(s) and Program(s)...... at www.arts.uwaterloo.ca to Address ...... update your profile and we’ll ...... Phone ...... send you a UW ARTS GRAD! sticker. This popular sticker has Email ...... a transparent backing and is Job Title ...... Employer ...... perfect for vehicle windows. Display it with pride!

What’s new in your life? ...... We welcome photos to include ...... in the Class Notes and business

...... cards for our display boards.

......

......

......

......

......

......

...... Arts & Letters is the alumni newsletter of the Faculty of Arts. It is published annually and Please ✓ here if you would like the following to appear in the Class Notes: mailed free of charge to alumni, faculty, and friends of the Faculty of Arts for whom we ● news (including employer) ● photo ● email ● phone number have accurate addresses. Editors Christine Woods Send to: Tobi Day-Hamilton Arts & Letters Contributors Ken Coates, Dean of Arts Arts Faculty department Co-op and Arts Special Programs chairs & staff University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1 Design UW Graphics Phone: 519-888-4567, ext. 32119 Fax: 519-746-3956 Email: [email protected] Printing Colour Innovations Circulation 32,000

RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO Publications Mail Registration Number 40065122 Arts & Letters is published by the Faculty of Arts University of Waterloo Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1