reflections DURHAM COLLEGE ALUMNI MAGAZINE AD GRAD FINDS HER TRUE VOICE THIS DIAMOND IS FOREVER FALL 2012 | VOL. 77 MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT, DURHAM COLLEGE I am truly pleased to one-of-a-kind facility that will welcome As alumni, you are all important report that this has approximately 900 students when members of the Durham College family. been another very complete. Your contribution will help us Family takes pride in the accomplishments successful year for bring the dreams of a new generation of of its members and takes care to support Durham College, with students to life. each member. I look forward to seeing record enrolments Some dreams have already come true your support for the growth, success and and continued for our alumni, as we look forward to the continuation of the community-minded expansion of our upcoming Premier’s Awards Gala in reputation of the Durham College family. programs and November, where we will celebrate the facilities that will successes of our four Alumni of Distinction Sincerely, enhance career opportunities for our recipients Jim Cook, Kellie Garrett, Jennifer growing Alumni family. The expansion of Iacob and Dan Quinn. our facilities includes the new $20 million As you read through this issue of Centre for Food that will house culinary, Reflections, I believe you will be as proud Don Lovisa hospitality, tourism, agriculture and of our growing alumni family as I am. horticulture programs. From small business owners like Kristina President, Durham College As president of Durham College, I’m Pantaleo and Ron Hooper, to artists and asking for your support in helping us reach musicians such as Ryan Howe and Wade our $5 million fundraising goal for the Woodward, our graduates continue to use 36,000-square-foot centre. Please see the skills they developed at Durham pages 14 to 15 for details on the Get College to find success and their place Involved event the college held for this in the world. MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT, ALUMNI ASSOCIATION The hot weather and October is once again upon us and even What about you? Our doors are always sunshine of this past now preparations are underway to open, so drop by and say hello, or send us summer seems like a welcome another group of graduates into a message and let us know how you’re distant memory now our growing alumni family – one that is doing. You are an important part of the that we’re busy with now more than 60,000 members strong. Durham College family and we look another academic year. For more than 40 years our graduates forward to sharing your successes, big I hope you enjoyed the have made us proud with their or small, personal or professional. warm rays of the sun accomplishments in their chosen careers, as much as I did. their personal successes and the impact Cheers, The academic year they have made in their communities. As kicked off with Orientation Week and you read this edition of Reflections, you this year for the first time, Alumni Board will learn about several former students, members handed out ice cream bars possibly people you went to school with, to first-year students at the street party. who have taken their college education Lillian Jacoby Students enjoyed their treats, and and have set and achieved professional Legal Administration, class of 1976 who knows, this may be the start of a and personal goals by working hard and President, Durham College Alumni Association new tradition. following their dreams. 2 REFLECTIONS | FALL 2012 FALL 2012 CONTENTS 4 This Diamond is Forever 6 Mad Mos Take the Lead 8 The World is His Canvas 9 Finding Her True Voice 10 Nursing Abroad 11 Directing His Way to Success 12 Home Schooling 13 Novel Hits Home 14 Celebrity chef Jamie Kennedy gets involved in new Centre for Food 16 Taking the MMA World by Storm 17 Banding Together 18 Dear John…I’ll take the Job 19 More than Two Men and A Truck 20 Just Cruisin’ 21 Student by Day – Mommy Blogger by Night 22 Durham College’s Next Top Model 26 Training: the Key to Success 27 Alumni Updates HAVE A NIGHT OUT ON US! Please update your email at [email protected] for an opportunity to win a $100 Keg gift card. REFLECTIONS ABOUT THIS ISSUE REFLECTIONS IS WRITTEN AND EDITED BY DURHAM COLLEGE PUBLIC RELATIONS STUDENTS PUBLISHED BY THE PUBLISHER: DONNA MCFARLANE PUBLICATION AGREEMENT NO. 40064655 DURHAM COLLEGE ALUMNI OFFICE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: GINNY COLLING RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN 2000 SIMCOE STREET EDITORS: AMANDA BOYLE & VICTORIA ALLIN ADDRESSES TO: OSHAWA, ONTARIO L1H 7K4 DURHAM COLLEGE T: 905.721.3035 COPY EDITORS: NICOLE AIR, MAGGIE DARLING, 2000 SIMCOE STREET NORTH F: 905.721.3134 LAUREN HARRISON, LARISSA KAMAKARIS, OSHAWA, ONTARIO E: [email protected] KIERA LAVIOLETTE, MICHELLE LEE, SHAE L1H 7K4 MCCALLUM, BRITTNEY MONGEON, AMBER CIRCULATION: 40,000 E: [email protected] MULDER, KRISTINE NIEUWENDYK, JASMINE REID, STEPH SLAPTSIS, STEPH THOMS, AMY WWW.DURHAMCOLLEGE.CA/ALUMNI TURKOVICH, MORGAN CADENHEAD WWW.DURHAMCOLLEGE.CA REFLECTIONS | FALL 2012 3 S R E L L E W E J S ’ R E P O O H F O Y S E T R U O C O T O H P Graduate Ron Hooper (bottom le) kneels next to his mother Lillian and brother Dan (bottom right) during the 65th anniversary celebrations at Hooper’s Jewellers in downtown Bowmanville. Also pictured are additional members of the Hooper family, Ron’s daughter Carrie (top le), his sisters Nancy Hooper and Kathy Brayley (middle), wife Joan, and sister-in-law Cathy Gingell. THIS DIAMOND IS FOREVER by Lauren Harrison ANYONE FROM BOWMANVILLE WOULD RECOGNIZE HOOPER’S learned about the business, developed an understanding of its Jewellers, a family-owned business in the heart of downtown that operations and waited on customers. recently celebrated its 65th anniversary. Many would also Hooper’s involvement in the jewelry industry also led him to recognize 1969 Business Marketing program graduate Ron work as a director on the Jewelers Vigilance Committee, an Hooper, not only because he owns the store in partnership with advisory committee for the industry monitoring the ethics of the his brother Dan, but also because he is a local councillor. jewelry trade, as well as supporting their crime prevention Although the location of Hooper’s Jewellers has changed a program. He is also former president of the Canadian Jewelry number of times over the years, the key to success behind the Buying Group. company is the name. Originally started by Ron’s father more than Along with being recognized as a true family-based business, six decades ago, the business is now run by a good portion of the Hooper’s Jewellers is known as a company that gives back to the family, with Ron and his brother at the forefront, and the rest of community. Over the last 10 years, Hooper’s has supported the the family close behind. local hospital by donating approximately $15,000 through their “Both my brother and I were exposed [to the jewelry business] Christmas Angel Campaign, which raises money through the sale all our lives. The whole family was,” Hooper said. “I have a brother of crystal angel ornaments. They also support their local branch of who is a watchmaker, and my sisters worked in the business, as Big Brothers and Big Sisters and other community organizations. well as my mother — so you could call it a real family business.” “Being a part of the community, you want to give back,” said His first exposure to the business that would eventually become Hooper. “They have supported us all these years, so I think it’s his and his brother’s was working there on Friday nights and very important to give something back to them. Maybe that’s why weekends through high school. Under his father’s tutelage, he I’m so involved with life in Clarington.” 4 REFLECTIONS | FALL 2012 N O T G N I R A L C F O Y T I L A P I C I N U M E H In addition to co-owning a T F O business, Ron Hooper is a Y S E municipal councillor in Clarington. T R U Despite the time commitment O C O involved, Hooper finds it an T O H extremely rewarding experience. P Aside from his involvement with the jewelry business, Hooper is their respective communities. Honoured with the Award of also a municipal councillor for Ward 2 in Clarington. He was drawn Distinction the year his father passed away, Hooper dedicated the into local politics after sitting as chair of the Bowmanville Historic award to his father’s memory. Downtown Business Improvement Area for more than 10 years, as Today he focuses mainly on his duties as councillor, entrusting well as through the advice of individuals in the political field. the operation of the store to Carrie, his youngest daughter, who “I enjoy it for the most part, but there have been some attended the Durham College Police Foundations program, and his controversial issues,” he explains. “Though I do respect everyone’s brother Dan. Though Hooper is still one of the store’s owners, he is opinions, at the end of the day, it all comes down to a vote — you there on an as-needed basis as council takes up much of his time. put your hand up, or you don’t. And in some way, you are shaping Right now he’s looking to the future and what will be next for his your municipality, and I find this very interesting and rewarding.” father’s cherished business.