The changing face Prof. Daniel Lefebvre: an of modern China inspiration in the classroom newA campus hubof innovation THE MAGAZINE OF QUEEN’S UNIVERSITY, KINGSTON, ONTARIO ISSUE 4, 2013 WWW.ALUMNIREVIEW.QUEENSU.CA 1 difference world Dr. Praveen Jain Canada Research Chair in Power Electronics Dr. Jain is one of the country’s most proli%c researchers and entrepreneurs and has been recognized for his work in creating new energy-e$cient, cost-e#ective and environmentally-friendly power electronic technologies. Congratulation on being named a fellow of the Royal Society of Canada initiative campaign queensu.ca/initiative CONTENTS ISSUE # 4 , 2013 VOLUME 87, NUMBER 4 SERVING THE QUEEN’S COMMUNITY SINCE 1927 ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT 2 EDITOR’S NOTEBOOK 22 MEXICAN LOVE AFFAIR 3 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Family and friends wondered aloud about her decision to settle in Mexico, 8 FROM THE DESK OF but this young grad is happy that she THE PRINCIPAL did so. It’s a move for which her 10 QUID NOVI? Queen’s education prepared her well. News from campus, including By Caroline LeBlanc, In Memoriam , a new Chancellor Artsci’03 is announced, and much more. COVER STORY 17 HOMECOMING’13 UPDATE 24 A NEW CAMPUS HUB 19 ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT OF INNOVATION While Canada is a world leader in many regards, the country has slipped to 13th among 16 peers in o t o h the global rankings of innovative p d E i l nations. The University plans to help r p E p y E u S correct the situation by giving student M E c imaginations room to fly. caroline leBlanc with some “statuesque” a d n a By alec ross Mexican amigos. c Jill Barber, Artsci’02: Sing a song of romance 20 GRACE’S GRADS Socially conscious consulting 30 ALUMNI BOOKSHELF E c n 34 AT THE BRANCHES E i c S d E i 36 QUAA PRESIDENT’S l p p a MESSAGE d n a g KEEPING IN TOUCH n 40 i r E E n i 57 ALUMNI BULLETIN BOARD g n E F o UNFORGETTABLE QUEEN’S y 58 t l u c CHARACTERES a F Dr. Peter Edmund Jones an architect’s depiction of the north face of the planned Queen’s innovation commons. 60 “AND ONE MORE THIN G ...” FEATURE REPORT Let nothing trouble you 28 THE EVER-CHANGING by Anita Jansman, Artsci’06 “MIDDLE KINGDOM” Eight years after his first visit to COVER PHOTO China, Prof. John Smol, PhD’82, one artist’s rendering of the of the world’s foremost environmental union Street façade of the scientists, offers his impressions of Queen’s innovation commons that country’s successes and the Faculty oF EnginEEring and appliEd SciEncE challenges it faces. EDITOR’S NOTEBOOK VOLUME 87, NO. 4, 2013 Bright minds, big ideas [email protected] www.alumnireview.queensu.ca ’ve been at Queen’s for 27 years, long Queen’s helps launch into the world the EDITOR Ienough that former classmates and old young alumni who will be tomorrow’s Ken Cuthbertson, Artsci’74, Law’83 friends now ask, “When are you planning problem solvers and “doers.” These bright EDITOR EMERITA to retire?” The question that’s really being minds will become the dynamic entrepre - Catherine Perkins, Arts’58 posed is – nudge, wink – “How much neurs who’ll drive the economic prosper - KEEPING IN TOUCH (KIT) EDITOR longer will you want to go to work each ity of Canada and the world. Andrea Gunn, MPA ’07 day?” (We live in cynical times.) ART DIRECTOR My stock response is to laugh and Larry Harris, University Marketing point out that I still have a few more years before I can “officially” hang up my edi - ASSOCIATE DESIGNER (KIT) Wilma van Wyngaarden tor’s visor. I then hasten to add that I’ve also got one more daughter to see ADVERTISING COORDINATOR Peter Gillespie, Artsci’01 through university. Those are my “talking Phone: 613.533.6000 ext. 75464 points,” as the folks in suits call ’em. Email: [email protected] What I leave unsaid, unless pressed for THE QUEEN’S ALUMNI REVIEW details, is that I still love my job. And why (circ. 123,000), published quarterly by n o not? I get paid to do meaningful, chal - S University Communications, is a member t r E of the Council for the Advancement and lenging work that I enjoy. What makes B h t u Support of Education. Subscriptions free my days pleasurable, endlessly so, is meet - c n to alumni, $25 cdn /year for others. Opinions E ing and working with so many bright, K expressed in the Review are not necessarily dedicated, intelligent, and creative people THANKS TO ... John Boyko, Ed’)&, those of Queen’s University or of the QUAA . – students, faculty, co-workers, and fellow author of the critically acclaimed book ISSN # 0843-8048 grads. Blood and Courage: How Canada Fought “I nitiative” is the operative word at the American Civil War and Forged a QUEEN’S UNIVERSITY CHIEF COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER Queen’s these days. It inspired the Univer - Nation (Knopf Canada), for being in Michael Fraser sity’s $500-million fundraising campaign, the spotlight at October’s launch of the which began last fall and is ticking along R eview’s 2013-14 “Write Thinking” series. 2011-2013 QUEEN’S UNIVERSITY ALUMNI ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT nicely with about $369 million raised – Sponsored by the Queen’s University Jess Joss, Artsci’96 thank you, very much (bit.ly/Cdl MNXM ). MasterCard program and local sponsors As we assembled stories for this issue of Le Chien Noir Bistro and Delta Water - THE MISSION OF THE QUAA “To reach out and foster a lifelong association the Review , “initiative” also emerged as front Hotel, the series brings outstanding with Queen’s, to engage our members in the our editorial theme. We didn’t plan it that alumni authors to campus and introduces life and work of the University, and to serve way; it’s just how things worked out. them and their works to students, faculty, the alumni community in all its diversity.” Queen’s is a vibrant, diverse commu - and local alumni. In the photo above, CANADA POST PUBLICATIONS nity whose members study, ask bold ques - Boyko is shown signing a copy of his MAIL PERMIT #41089017 tions, dare to dream big, and more often book for Barbara Yates, Ed’96. Postage paid at Kingston, ON than not, get things done. In this milieu, Humourist Iain Reid, Artsci’&', was Return undeliverable Canadian and other addresses to the Review offices. “initiative” isn’t just a word in a diction - the featured author at our Nov. 20 event. Queen’s University ary; it’s a guiding principle, a kind of un - Iain read from his book The Truth About 99 University Avenue spoken mantra. Sound like Advancement- Luck: What I Learned On My Road Trip Kingston, ON K7L 3N6 speak? Perhaps, but it’s true. With Grandma (House of Anansi) and Phone: 613.533.2060 If you don’t believe it, you can decide then discussed his writing with series em - or 1.800.267.7837 for yourself when you read our cover story cee Carolyn Smart, the creative writing (toll-free in Canada and U.S. ) Fax: 613.533.6828 for this issue (p. 24). It describes the details instructor in the English Department. of the planning that’s underway for the TO UPDATE YOUR ADDRESS [email protected] splendid new building that will be the hub BELATED HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ... Prof. of creative entrepreneurship on campus. Emeritus (Political Studies) John Meisel, Queen’s Innovation Commons, is a ,,+ ’*( , who celebrated his 90th birthday $45-million project, yet in my mind it on October 23. John, though retired, still would be a deal even at double the cost. relishes being consulted on the topics of I’m in awe of the kind of creative thinking the day when he walks on campus or in that will take place in this new facility as the downtown. – K.C . 2 iSSuE 4, 2013 • QuEEn’S aluMni rEviEw LETTERS TO THE EDITOR R eview in all the many years I’ve been I always look forward to receiving the receiving it and reading it. Review ; simply reading about Queen’s and The article on the Lees, the now- various activities there makes me feel that deceased Chinese couple who operated a I’m back on campus. laundry business near the University for david E. grant, artS’64 almost half a century, was also very stimu - ottawa, on lating. When one realizes just how many sacrifices that couple had to make every NOT THIS READER’S TYPE? day essentially to raise 16 children and he explosion of content in the Review have all of them go to Queen’s is mind Tis leading the magazine down a slip - boggling. Some immigrants to this coun - pery slope. try put me – basically a person who is 100 My enjoyment of reading the Review is per cent career-oriented – to shame. Of not what it used to be. Both the font and course, Canada has always been a country AN ENJOYABLE ISSUE font sizes are making it quite difficult to built largely by immigrants, and those of iSSuE #3-2013 do a casual read. Specifically, reading the us who were fortunate enough to have R eview in bed is a chore. It’s only possible he summer 2013 issue of the Review is been born here should always treat the to read it sitting up and with very good Tthe best I’ve read in all of my many bulk of these newcomers with tremen - illumination.