The Dragon Spring 2009 Issue

BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP RUN • VANCOUVER AND THE OLYMPICS

Spring 2009St. George’s School

SaintsLet’s Go

Let’s Go!S P O T L I G H T O N A T H L E T I C SA N D F I T N E S S S F O R L I F E

Dragon_Spring_2009_FINAL:The Dragon - Spring 2009 05/05/09 2:09 PM Page 1

MANAGING EDITORGordon C. Allan

GRAPHIC DESIGNERBruce Elbeblawy

ARCHIVES AND HISTORY EDITORElizabeth Knox

GEORGIANS’ SECTIONSENIOR GEORGIANS’ EDITORBryan R. Ide '99

PRESIDENT OF THE ST. GEORGE’S OLD BOYS’ ASSOCIATIOND. Scott Lamb '79

ADDITIONAL COPY EDITINGSandi Cobb

PHOTOGRAPHERSGordon AllanJonathan BarrettKyla Brown Ben Cooper '95Bruce ElbeblawyRyan EspirituLiam Gru Alistair Palmer '71Bud PatelTanya PetersRowing CanadaSt. George’s School ArchivesDavid Yu

The Dragon is published twice per year, expressly for Georgians, parents, and friends of St. George’s School. It is also distributed to other Canadian independentschools and selected public or private institutions. Comments about any of the articles are always welcome.

Address all correspondence to:Gordon C. Allan – Managing Editor, The DragonSt. George’s School4175 West 29th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V6S 1V1 CANADAPhone: 604.224.1304 Fax: 604.224.7066Email: [email protected]

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Reproduction rights: We encourage you to circulate or copy this materialunmodified for your own private use. You may quote any article or por-tion of article with attribution. Quotation of any article or portion of arti-cle without attribution is prohibited. The Dragon, its contents, or material may not be sold, intact or modified,nor included in any package or product offered for sale.

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DRAGONTHE

DRAGONTHE

Spring 2009St. George’s School

EDITORIAL

3 A Lifestyle Choice by Gordon C. Allan

SCHOOL LIFE

4 The Value of Sport by N.R.L. (Nigel) Toy

6 From the Chair: Future Directions by Rob Cruickshank

7 Letter to the Georgians

8 Building on a Winning Tradition: Interview with Richard Cohee

12 Athletics at the Junior School by Nino Sose

14 It’s all about Effort: Senior School Phys-Ed by Paul Proznick

16 The Championship Run: Senior Basketball by John Vigna

20 Keep your Stick on the Ice: Hockey at Saints by Dwight Hillis

22 Instilling the Love of the Game: Soccer at Saints by Shawn Lawrence

24 The Last 20 Years: Saints Swim Team by Jeannette Nienaber

27 From the Archives: Swimming – The Early Years by Elizabeth Knox

28 The Pursuit of Excellence: Rowing at Saints by Spencer Martin

31 Beijing Olympic Gold Medal Dinner by Herb Evers

32 Rugby at Saints by Bud Patel

34 On Track: Track and Field by Laurier Primeau

36 The Power of Sport: The Games Program by Suzanne Weckend

38 Championship Results Summary by Richard Cohee

39 A Parent’s Perspective by Jonathan Barrett

THE GEORGIANS’ SECTION

40 The New Georgians President: Interview with Scott Lamb '79 by Bryan R. Ide ‘99

42 Hello World! Vancouver and the Olympics: Interview with Taleeb Noormohamed by Bryan R. Ide ‘99

46 The Bowron Lakes Adventure of a Lifetime by Alistair Palmer ’71

50 Capturing Gold: Ben Cooper '95 Interviewed by Bryan R. Ide ‘99

52 Saints’ Notes Compiled by Bryan R. Ide ‘99

59 Year Captains


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a lifestyle choice

The alarm bells have sounded! Childhoodobesity in Canada is on the rise and is quicklybecoming a major public health issue.

In a study by Mark Tremblay, Dean ofKinesiology at the University of Saskatchewan,the incidence of childhood obesity wascompared in Canada, Scotland, England, andSpain. While Tremblay’s findings showed thateach of these countries had comparable ratesin the early 1980s, by the 1990s, childhoodobesity in Canada had doubled, compared tothe other countries.

A study released by the Canadian MedicalAssociation Journal also confirms that since1981, the incidence of overweight boys inCanada has increased from 15 per cent in 1981to 35.4 per cent in 1996. As well, the prevalenceof obesity in boys has tripled, from five per centto 16.6 per cent.

The Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle ResearchInstitute in Ottawa further indicates that morethan half of Canadians aged five to 17 are notactive enough for optimal growth anddevelopment and that issues like poor bonedensity amongst children are on the rise.

A study of the Greater Vancouver area alsoreveals that almost half of children fromKindergarten to Grade 12 are being driven toschool instead of biking or walking.

While the epidemic of childhood obesity grows,many provinces continue to cut spending oneducation and, in particular, physical educationprograms. Luckily, nothing could be further fromthe truth at St. George’s School.

In this edition of The Dragon, you will read ofthe School’s investment in not just qualityphysical education instruction, but in eachboy’s overall fitness development andcommitment to a healthy lifestyle. You will readof a program that provides not only variety incompetitive-based sports, but also depth inphysical activities that engage the non-athlete.

Of course, good school-based athleticsprograms offer more than just fitness andproper nutrition; they teach our young to begood team players, to demonstrate integrity,and to develop a sound value system; theyencourage each student to believe in himselfand to set personal goals. In short, well-rounded athletics programs are instrumentalto preparing young people for life.

from the MANAGING EDITOR

“

“

While the

epidemic of

childhood

obesity grows,

many provinces

continue to cut

spending on

education and,

in particular,

physical

education

programs.

Gordon C. AllanManaging Editor


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the value of spor t

I find in School Sport a purity and infectiousenthusiasm that gives it a life beyond just theevent. Young people come to sport to competewith an energy that inevitably draws theiradult audience in. We have all enjoyedimmense pleasure from seeing our ownchildren or others be involved. We have livedthrough the emotions they invest into it andcome to appreciate our own. It is clear to allthat young people, boys and girls, quickly learnto compete and strive hard to succeed inwhatever activity they are focussed on. It isfrom this that “the playing fields of school”emerged as a true metaphor for all that isvibrant, healthy, and educational in sport. Thetraditions grew from the schools of yesteryearand today we take for granted the powerfulinter-relationship of school games and the learning process.

As an educational leader, I have alwaysunderstood the vital need for children toexpress themselves in play and in competition.I have come to appreciate this strongconnection between the classroom and thesporting arena. I have considered it vital thatevery young person assimilate worthycharacter traits through their endeavoursbeyond the classroom. There are so manyintrinsic values that derive from a team sport or

group activity. As we look to build strongcitizens, we have come to depend heavily onthe reinforcement of the positive elementsthat teamwork produces.

St. George's School today takes enormouspride in the fact it is a top-ranked academicschool, has a world-class Arts and Culturalprogram, and has established itself as probablythe strongest overall school in the realm ofinter-school sports in the province of BC. If this sounds boastful, it is more about usaspiring to provide an enriched experience foreach boy. Their participation is one thing, butaspiring to win is a measure of trying to giveyour best. We believe everybody at St. George'sis instilled with the belief that putting the team first is a worthy objective. It readily buildsself-belief and reinforces that strong sense ofcommunity. For boys, there is an innateallegiance to the group. Some call it “tribal”and it is hugely powerful. Sport has alwayschannelled it in a healthy direction and foreducators it has provided a foundation to builda strong value system.

I could not examine this phenomenon withoutexpressing the sheer joy I have derived fromleading, watching, and following school teams.They have taken me, as the old cliché wouldsay, into the realms of agony and ecstasy. It has

from the HEADMASTER

“

“

The unique

relationship with

the teacher-

coach has given

countless

generations of

boys that special

mentorship that

is so vital in their

developmental

years

Our publication this issue is focussing on

Athletics and Sports in general at the School.

In contemplating some thoughts on this very

broad topic, the realization came to me that I

have witnessed an extraordinary number of

school sporting encounters, in the context of

participant, competitor, teacher, coach,

parent, and Headmaster. I like to think I may

have seen as much as any human!

N.R.L. (Nigel) ToyHeadmaster


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been important as an educator to be there for them inthose moments of triumph and despair; to try to helpthem understand that it is a game first and foremostand, so often, it is the game that is the winner. A typicalschool afternoon at St. George's sees virtually another“school” emerge. Boys swarm to their various after-school activities, which could be a team practice, a clubmeeting, or a drama rehearsal. The commitment andthe engagement are the same and at the forefront isinevitably the teacher-leader-educator, the person sooften entrusted to reinforce the standards,expectations, and values espoused in the forum ofAssembly or the classroom. It’s when these elementsare present that we are on the path to a worthy school.

The unique relationship with the teacher-coach hasgiven countless generations of boys that specialmentorship that is so vital in their developmental yearsas they gain growing insights into the concepts ofteamwork, self-discipline, and responsibility to thevalues of the game and/or the program. These are allpart of the maturation process and, as I often say, it givesthat young person at the end of it the quiet confidencethat is the hallmark of the St. George's Graduate.

Over the past months, it has been a pleasure to witnessmany athletic triumphs, to see individual brilliance andteam passion, and above all that immense loyalty andpride for the school. It was timely that as I wrote thispiece, a Grade 12 student delivered me a letter. This was his opening paragraph – it echoes the verythings we try to instill and inculcate:

“Dear Mr. Toy, As university and scholarship applications have drawnto a close, I was given a chance to reflect on my time atSt. George’s. I realized that I owed a large thank you toboth yourself and St. George's for all that has beenprovided for me as a high school student. I began myeducation at St. George's in the fall of my Grade 7 year,but soon learned that it was more than just a school; itwas a culture, a community, and a brotherhood. Theopportunities that I was exposed to were immense,whether I knew them at the time or not. The supportiveyet challenging classroom environment and learningstyle truly fostered a self-motivational approach toeducation, and taught me to always strive for personalbests. This was combined with a strong competitiveedge that was established in me through sports as achild, and further encouraged through the physicaleducation and games programs at Saints. I havelearned invaluable lessons both in and out of theclassroom that have inspired both hobbies and passions.”

The writer was Ryan Espiritu, co-captain of ourProvincial AAA championship-winning Ski andSnowboard Team, he himself an Individual GoldMedallist in Snowboard in 2008 and 2009 and now amember of the National Training Squad. I know theycould be the words of so many others who embracethe St. George's creed of the all-rounder.

To bring this full circle, it seems fitting to conclude withRyan’s closing paragraph:

“While it may seem like the only thing that I gleanedfrom St. George's is a competitive spirit and a newpassion, I was provided with many opportunities thateventually led to my acceptance at many of my top-choice Universities in the US, but I also learned one ofthe most valuable lessons of my life; I learned how tobecome involved. I did everything I could to meet newpeople and find new interests. I joined clubs and sports,made a lot of new friendships, and found new interests.I began my involvement in community service at St. George’s, and eventually expanded my volunteerwork to help out around the lower mainland, as avolunteer for the Greater Vancouver Foodbank Society. I was able to take advantage of all the opportunitiesoffered, and I became involved, which is the singlegreatest lesson that I have learned from St. George's:get involved, discover something new, and discoveryourself. I must again give acclamation and thanks toyou, for promoting such a strong message to myselfand the rest of the boys; it is a lesson that struck homeand has had a resounding, life-long effect.”

Sine timore aut favore

Ryan Espiritu, co-captain of our Provincial AAAchampionship-winning Ski and Snowboard Team


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future directions

Rob CruickshankChairman

I have, in another publication, provided an updateon our progress with respect to the StrategicPlan. I am pleased to report that we continue toprogress with the “Four Pillars” of the plan andwe currently are working toward having a first“draft” by the end of the academic year. Aftersharing that document and incorporatingfeedback from the various constituencies of theSchool, our goal is to have a working documentby the end of this calendar year.

While we continue to encourage the pillar teamsto be visionary, we have also asked that theydevelop a road map and alternatives that reflectthe current economic realities.

Another factor in the completion of the Plan is, infact, another of the roles of the Board - the hiringand stewarding of the Headmaster.

As you are all aware by now, Nigel announced hisretirement effective June 30, 2010. As a result, weare now in the process of finding the nextHeadmaster of St. George’s School. I will get tothe search, but first wanted to complete myreport on the next Strategic Plan by saying that,while we want to have a working document bythe end of the calendar year, we will not cast thedocument in stone until our new Headmaster hashad a chance to review it and provide their input.

With respect to the search, we have established asub-committee of the Society Board to carry out

the work and selected a firm, Janet Wright andAssociates, to assist them. Currently, we are in theprocess of meeting with the various constituenciesof the School, seeking their input on the Schooltoday, what they might like to see in the School’sfuture, and what attributes they would like to seein the new Headmaster of St. George’s School.

These consultations will be a combination offace-to-face or telephone conversations and email. Colleen Keenan, our search consultant, isconducting sessions and collecting input, whichwill be summarized and provided to the SearchCommittee to assist them in finding and securing our next Headmaster. Parents, Facultyand Staff, and Georgians will have receivedcorrespondence advising them on how toprovide their input. Please take advantage of the opportunities provided.

The current schedule has us in the marketcultivating candidates between mid-May and mid-August. Interviews of candidates willthen be conducted mid-August throughSeptember. This will result in a very short list oftwo to three people who will go through a moreintense interview process with a view to havingour new Headmaster selected by October/November, 2009.

We very much appreciate your input and supportduring this important endeavour and will beproviding updates as the search progresses.

from the CHAIRMAN

“

“

Another factor

in the

completion of

the Plan is, in

fact, another of

the roles of the

Board - the

hiring and

stewarding of

the Head.

In the previous issue of The Dragon,

I explained that, in simple terms, the role of

the Board of Directors is to hire and steward

the Head, to work with the Head and his

Senior Leadership Team to create a Strategic

Plan, and finally, to assist in raising the funds

necessary to complete the Strategic Plan. My

article then went on to address the second

of these three duties: i.e. the Strategic Plan.


www.georgians.ca

Fellow Georgians,

As you may already know, after 13 years, Nigel Toy will be retiring in June 2010 as Headmaster of St. George’s School. As such, St. George’s is embarking on a search for its next Headmaster.

As the St. George’s School Society Board of Directors gets the search underway, its Search Committee is very keen to hear the views of our community – faculty, staff, students, parents, Society and Foundation Board members, the Auxiliary,donors, and the Georgians. The Committee wants our perspectives on the School and its future direction, as well as our input on the qualities and experience we should be seeking in our next Headmaster.

In aid of this, the Society Board has appointed three Georgians to the Search Committee. They will act as liaisons and points of contact with the Georgians. The three Georgian members are:

As well, the Search Committee has engaged the executive search firm Janet Wright and Associates (www.jwasearch.com) that is recognized as a leader in executive searches in the field of education. Ms. Colleen Keenan has been chosen to handle the search. Not only will she be on campus for a number of days, but also she can be reached by phone at (416) 923-3008 or by email at [email protected].

The Search Committee, Colleen Keenan, and the Georgian Board of Directors are committed to keeping the Georgian community informed and engaged and to soliciting as much feedback as possible from the Georgians.

To achieve this goal, we are providing a number of channels of communication, which include:

1) A Town Hall Meeting which was held on Tuesday, April 28, 2009.

2) A webpage at www.headmasterssearch.ca that will provide updates and key contact information and where you can submit your feedback online.

3) An invitation to submit written correspondence to the following address:Headmaster Search c/o Manager of Georgian RelationsSt. George’s School, 4175 West 29th Avenue, Vancouver, British Columbia V6S 1V1 Canada

The consultant, Colleen, will be interested in your thoughts on, but not specifically limited to, the following:

1) What are the major issues, challenges, and opportunities facing St .George’s School today, and what do you think the priorities should be for the new Headmaster?

2) What are your greatest aspirations for Saints over the next five to ten years?

3) What advice do you have for the Search Committee as to the background, experience, credentials, and leadership style we should be seeking in our next Headmaster?

Changes in leadership are critical times for any institution and it will be very helpful to the Search Committee to have your thoughts on this process and how you see the School evolving. We hope that you will take advantage of this wonderful opportunity and that you will be an active member in this process.

Sine timore aut favore,

• Peter R.B. Armstong '72email: [email protected] is a Past President of the Georgians,the Immediate Past Chairman of the St. George’s School Society, and a past parent of the School.

• Dr. Stephen Chung '77email: [email protected] is a current Member of the Society Board and a current parent.

D. Scott Lamb '79President, The Georgians

Peter Armstrong '72Member, Search Committee

Dr. Stephen Chung '77Member, Search Committee

Chris Reynolds '03Member, Search Committee

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• Chris Reynolds '03email:[email protected] provides the perspective of a recent graduate from the School. Chris was Captain of Boarding while he attended Saints.

An open letter...


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SaintsLet’s Go

Let’s Go!S P O T L I G H T O N A T H L E T I C S


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An interview with R i c h a rd Cohee , Director of Athletics/Master-in-Charge of Basketball

When we talk about “Athletics” at St. George’sSchool, what does it include?

Athletics at St. George’s includes all aspects of sportopportunities ranging from recreational to comp-etitive. We offer a comprehensive Physical EducationProgram, an in-house Recreational Games Program,including such sports as yoga and scuba diving, and acompetitive Varsity Athletics Program where teams viefor BC School Sports ‘AAA’ Provincial Championships.

In what way has the Athletics program changed overthe years at the School?

As the School has grown over the past few years, thedepth and breadth of athletic opportunity has alsoexpanded. We have worked very diligently to create anopportunity within sport for each and every student.We now offer more than 30 recreational sports and 22competitive sports to engage our students. Our Varsityteams have become increasingly competitive and winnumerous Provincial Championships each year. Wenow offer a much more holistic approach to each boy’sathlete development. This includes support fromnutritional science, strength and conditioning,physiotherapy, sports injury classes, hydrotherapy,Athletic Trainers, as well as a first-class fitness facility,spin bike studio, and erg room.

Winning is important, but how you play the game isalso important to inculcate a positive values system

and develop a healthy character. How do you achieve this balance?

St. George’s commands respect throughout theprovince and country. Its reputation is not built solelyon its athletic program. Parents, students, andeducators hold St. George’s in high regard because ofits dedication to an unwavering objective: to give itsstudents the best education possible. Thiscommitment extends beyond the classroom. Ourcoaches are committed to building character beforechampionships and careers.

Many of the staff at St. George’s coach. What are thekey messages you deliver to these mentors?

We are actually very proud that almost all of ourcoaches are also faculty and staff members. This hasbeen one of the keys to our competitive athleticsuccess over the past decade. We have an outstandingarray of coaching expertise within the School in almostevery competitive sport. I find the common traitsamongst our most successful coaches are that they arewell-organized, persistent, and flexible. Great coacheshave well thought-out philosophies of sport, whichinclude positive motivation and an ability to teach and simplify their sport and, at the same time, set firmand commonly shared behavioural expectations. At St. George’s we are blessed to have a great manyoutstanding coaches who truly are the heart of theAthletics program.

Richard is now in his fourth year at the helm of St. George’s Athletics after spending eight years with theVancouver/Memphis Grizzlies. In his time with the Grizzlies, Richard served as Senior Director of Community

Investment and Executive Director of the Grizzlies Foundation. He also served as an Assistant Coach and VideoScout for four seasons. Working daily alongside NBA Hall of Fame legends, Hubie Brown and Jerry West, preparedRichard for his current role as Master-in-Charge of Basketball. Cohee taught at St. George’s in the mid 90s while

serving for thee seasons as Head Coach for the Capilano College men’s basketball program. Richard has alsodeveloped programs for “at-risk” teens for the Attorney General’s Office. Cohee was a standout basketball player

at the University of Regina, where he graduated with an English degree and later went on to play professionalbasketball overseas. Richard is responsible for the strategic planning, promotion, development, and

implementation of the School’s Athletics, Recreation, and Physical Education Program. Cohee and his wife of nine years, Tricia, are the proud parents of son Jaxon (age 7) and daughter Charleigh (age 5).

WinningTRADITION

Building on a


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Step into Wallace Gym, andyou will notice a series ofwhite boards profilingathletes from years gone by.The Wallace Gym HonourBoards, as they are known,date back to the inception ofthe School and were originallydesigned to higlight a coupleof sports. As the School grew,so did these boards.

Today, St. George’s Schooloffers more than 20competitive sports and it hasbecome clear that it isimpossible to continueshowcasing all boys on allteams using an honour boardsystem. It has also beenbrought to our attention thatmany of the existing boardsare incomplete, contain errors,and lack visual context in

terms of profiling team photos andaward-winning athletes.

After much reflection andconsultation, the School has decidedto pursue a plan to create an archivalhonour board system in whichdedicated hallways, team photos,and rosters will be profiled using afunctional yet elegant wall-mounteddisplay system.

In the meantime, the old WallaceGym Honour Boards will berefurbished to their original stateand will include the years 1930(inception) to 2009 but with only theoriginal seven sports being included.

The new Honour Boards in thehallways will highlight all sports, allyears, and will include photos androsters. We also hope to create a'CAPTAINS' Board.

This project is a significantundertaking, but one that we hopewill properly reflect the athleticachievements of our students and Georgians.

For more information, please contact: Richard Cohee, Director of [email protected]

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In your view, how important are rolemodels and which professionalathletes do you feel are positive rolemodels for our youth?

Role models are important in all areasof life. Sport just happens to producesome of the most prominent rolemodels in society. Athletes like TigerWoods, Trevor Linden, Steve Nash, areall outstanding role models, but wehave been able to produce equallyimpressive role models in athletes likeDonovan Tildesley. I would like ourstudents to recognize thesportsmanship, teamwork,perseverance, work ethic, andcommitment to a higher purpose thatis dominant within amateur athletics.St. George’s has produced manystudent-athletes who have gone onto compete at the CIS level and alsorepresent Canada internationally.These are the ideal athletic rolemodels for our students.

One of the criticisms of school-basedcompetitive sports is that many of them are not sports that onewould typically continue aftergraduation. What is the Schooldoing to ensure that its gradsmaintain an interest in athleticactivity once they leave the School?

Our competitive sports programmakes up less than half of our overallsport program. In our PhysicalEducation and Games programs ourstudents are introduced to sportingopportunities that can be adoptedinto a lifelong pursuit of a healthylifestyle. We also offer a wide range ofsport so each student is able topursue his specific sporting interests:from yoga, dance, and fitness trainingto rock climbing, tennis, and golf. Weprovide our students with a myriad ofopportunities and choice.

Not everyone is an athlete at theSchool. How are you engaging non-athletes in a healthy lifestyle?

Our unique Mandatory GamesProgram requires all students toparticipate in sport, whethercompetitive or recreational, for all of

the three terms. This provides anoutstanding opportunity to introduceeach student to the joys of engagingin a physical and active lifestyle and,therefore, most of our students cometo embrace the value of sport as partof their lifestyle.

We continue to read about growingobesity rates in today’s youth. Howdo you address the whole topic ofnutrition with students and staff and what has the School done as a whole to adapt to the students’nutritional needs?

The School has made tremendousstrides to address nutritional needs ofstudents. Our Food Services Team iscontinually assessing the nutritionalcontent and quality of our cafeteriaservice. We have eliminated junk foodfrom our vending machines and havecreated a variety of nutritional andwell-received options at our newSaints Café. We use a wide array ofcommunication methods both within the classroom and around the School to impress the importanceof good nutrition.

What is your vision for Athletics at Saints and where do you see it in five years?

My vision for Athletics at St. George’sis to continue building upon ourathletic reputation as a prominentathletic institution which excels in allrespects provincially and nationally.My aspiration is to achieve Provincialand National success and also tomeet the School’s academic mission.We will continue to build a programthat allows all students to meet orexceed their expectations in everyaspect of their experience. We willalso create greater coaching science,sport science, and technologicalresources for coaches and staff tofurther develop our successfulprograms. This will be accomplishedin an environment which recognizesthe value of diversity and adheres tothe highest standards of integrity,work ethic, teamwork, andsportsmanship.

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Junior

SCHOOL

Athletics at the

BY: NINO SOSE, Head of Athletics, St. George’s Junior School

While budgetary constraints havecaused many schools to reduce theircommitment to elementary-levelathletics, the Athletics Program at theJunior School continues to offerstudents from Grades 1 to 7 one of the most comprehensive athleticcurricula of its kind.

Moreover, it is central to our Schoolphilosophy to provide varying degreesof athletic competitiveness andparticipation, which recognize thephysical, mental, and social changes that boys experience. All students areencouraged to take part, andparticipation in Athletics is not solelybased on ability. We also aim to teach ahealthy way of life and recognition ofthe values and joys of physical activity.

SaintsLet’s Go



In order to introduce the students to asmany athletic activities as possible, we offerthree 12-week seasons in Cross-Country(Grades 3 to 7), Soccer (Grades 5 to 7),Swimming (Grades 3 to 7), Volleyball (Grades6 to 7), Basketball (Grades 5 to 7), Rugby(Grades 6 to 7), Track and Field (Grades 3 to7), and Golf Club (Grades 5 to 7).

Individual sports such as Cross-CountryRunning, Swimming, and Track and Fieldoffer each boy the opportunity to jointraining sessions and competitions. Squadselection for team sports, such as Soccer,Basketball, and Rugby, is based on a numberof factors and not just ability. To addressstudent interest and provide greateropportunities for increased participation, wehave also added second teams to theprogram. On these teams, coaches areencouraged to “play” each team member inas many contests as possible andparticipation in practices during vacationperiods is voluntary.

All teams compete in the local IndependentSchools Elementary Association Leaguewhere standings are maintained and teamchampionships are awarded at the Grade 7level. Teams also attend exhibitiontournaments with other independent and

public schools in the Lower Mainland. Our 7A teams represent the Schoolsuccessfully at the Under-13 CanadianAssociation of Independent Schools’National Championships for Soccer and Basketball.

Our extracurricular line-up is alsocomplemented by a very popularintramural program. To stimulate this “in-house” competition, the student body is divided into four “wings”–Clark, MacDougall, Fell, and Tupper.Intramural competitions amongst thesewings are offered to all students from Grades4 to 7. Also, at various times throughout theyear, intramural basketball and ballhockey leagues are organizedand interested students areplaced on a team, aleague schedule isdrawn up, and gamesare played at morningand lunch breaks.Because of the depthof our AthleticsProgram, our boyslead a very active lifestyle.

All Junior School students are given two fitness tests each year:one early in Term I and one in Term III. Boys are tested on theirability to meet various age-appropriate benchmarks using:

• push-ups• curl-ups• endurance running

The Athletics Department also records each boy’s height andweight. All results are then recorded on a Fitness Profile which issent home to each boy’s parents. These test scores are measuredagainst established standards and each boy is encouraged togauge improvement by comparing his initial test scores with thoseat the end of the year. Parents also participate in the process byhelping their sons to set realistic fitness goals and by encouragingthem to work towards them over the course of the year.

HOW WOULD YOU FARE ON A JUNIOR SCHOOL FITNESS TEST?

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Mike Moon, Chris Johnson, andNino Sose, Junior School Athletics.


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If you walk into a physical education class at St. George’s, youwill see a myriad of students actively engaged in various athleticactivities. A closer look at the appearance of these boys willreveal a variety of body types. Some boys are big and some aresmall. Some are short and some are tall. Side by side, you will seethe strong and the weak. You will recognize those who are fastand those who are slow. You might ask, why is this significant?

EFFORT

SENIOR SCHOOL PHYSICAL EDUCATION:

IT’S ALL ABOUT

BY: PAUL PROZNICK, Head of Physical Education

SaintsLet’s Go



Traditionally, physical education programs haveevaluation schemes to reward outcomes relative tostrength, speed, and skill. However, it has been arguedthat there is a fundamental flaw with this design—the fact that an individual can attain high scores on aperformance-based evaluation, even though hisoverall effort is low. It is therefore possible that some ofour best athletes can perform well but exhibitnegligible growth and development because theyhave not been challenged. Because of geneticpredisposition, an inherent advantage is gained andmany of our boys will have won the race before it haseven begun. Unfortunately, this scenario leads tocomplacency among top high school athletes,especially when society values outcome over process.This raises a number of important questions. What issuccess in physical education? What character traits do you value? How do you motivate the natural athlete alongside the student who struggles with basic motor skills?

The answer to these questions can be summed up inone word: EFFORT. The St. George’s Physical EducationDepartment is very proud of its assessment method inwhich the underlying theme is EFFORT. Adopted andinspired by Bruce E. Brown, motivational speaker andmaster teacher, the goal of our teaching staff is toprovide an opportunity for success for every individualstudent, regardless of physical abilities. We attempt topresent activities in a way that will encourage effort,preparedness, positive attitude, sportsmanship,cooperation, and improvement. Teaching,reinforcement, and evaluation of these traits are ourprimary objectives. We believe that students who workon these areas will make strides with their skills andperformance in their physical education classes.

As a department, we are constantly reflecting on ourprogram and evaluating our methods in an effort todiscover new ways to inspire our students to developa passion for an active and healthy lifestyle. Toreinforce those values, we have introduced manynew activities this year that include Hip Hop Dance,Sport Yoga, Spinning, Boot Camp, and Ergometersessions. In addition, we have placed a strongemphasis on creating a detailed scope andsequence for the overall fitnessprogram within the Grades 8 to10 curricula.

The fitness program goals are:

• To provide a basic orientation of equipment,knowledge, fitness room technique and safety,terminology, and anatomy and to show how eachrelates to fitness components and energy systems.

• To teach a variety of fitness activities in a safe andfun environment that serve to connect theoreticaland practical aspects of the Physical Educationfitness programs with the ongoing challenges of anafter-school games program.

• To improve each student’s fitness and conditioningand, at the same time, develop an appreciation for avariety of fun and engaging activities.

• To allow students to gain further understanding ofnutrition, hydration, heart rate, principles of training,and the effect these factors have on their bodies.

There are many unique aspects of our physicaleducation program and one that stands out is thatstudents are given the opportunity to select their class.As a result of this empowerment, they developconfidence, which can be so fragile in a sportingenvironment, through interaction with others whoshare similar attitudes. The ultimate purpose is to puteach student in a comfortable setting in which he canbe successful.

Finally, I would be remiss if I did not mention the crewwho steer this ship. We are extremely proud of thequality of staff in the Physical Education Department,who on a daily basis exhibit the core values we areteaching our students. Learning by example teacheseffective leadership and we are fortunate that we havea team of individuals who have bought into thisphilosophy and take pride in shaping the lives of ourfine young men.

Paul Proznick, Suzanne Weckend, Amanda Baird, Richard Cohee, and Jonathan Figueroa, Senior School Athletics.

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ChampionshipThe

RunBY: JOHN VIGNA, SAINTS’ ASSISTANT COACH, 2007–2008SENIOR BASKETBALL:

The measure of a championship team is not only defined by wins but by how the coaches andplayers respond to the challenges and adversity they encounter along the way. This certainlyholds true for this year’s 2008–2009 Saints Varsity Basketball Team—BC AAA Champions. The

Varsity Boys’ remarkable championship run encountered obstacle after obstacle, from illnesses toinjuries, only to rise to the challenge each time. The boys played hard, they played smart, and most

importantly they played together. They never stopped believing in themselves or each other.

SaintsLet’s Go



There’s a saying that it’s darkest before the dawn andone of the team’s darkest hours this season was at theLower Mainland Championships where it barelymanaged to secure the last seed to qualify for the BCs.This meant it had to win five games in a row to win,something that had never been done before in thehistory of the tournament. If that wasn’t enough of achallenge, the team was also slotted on what wasarguably the toughest side of the draw. Finally, aswinners of the HSBC Classic in December, they werewell aware that no other team in BC history has alsogone on to win the BCs. In fact, the BC High SchoolBasketball website had a survey that polled viewerswho they thought would win the BCs and St. George’sdid not even make the list.

But their confidence never faltered. They knew theyhad an incredible opportunity before them. Theirjourney began with a 71–47 victory over Fleetwood, astatement game Saints wanted to send to the rest ofthe tournament. The next day, they played VancouverIsland’s number one seed, Dover Bay. Saints playedhard in every possession and never trailed on their wayto a solid 69–55 win to advance to the quarterfinals forthe second year in a row. And for the second year in arow, they faced a big and tough Yale squad, defendingBC Champions. The boys came out firing with a 67–61 win.

For the semi-finals, Saints got the rematch they hadwanted since losing in the final of the Western CanadaInvitational Tournament: the undefeated and numberone seeded South Kamloops. The game was a nail-biter and ultimately went into overtime with the boys

securing a stunning 81–74 victory. This set the stagefor a storybook ending against cross-town rivals,Vancouver College.

It was St. George’s fifth game in five days and after along season that saw them practise 45 times, play 27regular season games, including tournaments againsttop notch teams in the HSBC Classic, Hamilton’srenowned Silver Fox Invitational, San Diego’s Max PrepClassic, Kelowna’s Western Canada Invitational, and theLower Mainland Championships, the Saints had beentested both physically and mentally. They were readyto play Vancouver College.

With the Agrodome packed for the ChampionshipGame, St. George’s played a controlled and efficientstyle of ball leading 19–13 after the first quarter.However, turnovers plagued them in the second andthird as VC led by six to start the fourth quarter. Saints’Josh Robertson played with passion and purpose,providing leadership by example. His deft toucharound the hoop and relentless rebounding providedmuch of the scoring early in the fourth. After VC hit athree-pointer to give them a two-point lead with lessthan two minutes left, Saints’ Frank Liu answered withhis own, a big-time shot that set up an unbelievablyfrenetic final minute of play. VC took the lead onceagain and instead of answering, St. George’s turned theball over. VC ran the clock down and set up VC’s WillCampbell for an open look. But the shot rimmed outand Saints’ Emerson Murray raced down court,dribbling down the clock before making a quick moveon the baseline, pump-faking his defender in the airand then launching a shot that hit nothing but net

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with two and a half seconds left, sending the large St. George’s contingent behind the basket and the restof the Agrodome into pandemonium. VC calledtimeout and had one last chance but Emerson stolethe inbounds pass and the rest is history.

St. George’s School won their first Varsity Boys BC AAAChampionship by a final score of 63–62. It was anincredible finish. The boys worked hard all year andthey rose above adversity. They knew their roles andplayed them well. It was a total team effort and theywere deservedly rewarded with the rare opportunityand experience of winning a championship together.

Emerson Murray and Josh Robertson were named FirstTeam All-Stars, while Dillon Hamilton was named tothe Second Team. Emerson also was named MostInspirational Player and Frank Liu was recognized asthe Tournament’s Top Defensive Player. St. George’swas also awarded the Most Inspirational Team Awardfor demonstrated resilience and character.

Saints’ Basketball Program:a Championship Approach

For a St. George’s basketball coach in the early 1980s,scheduling posed one of the biggest challenges of theseason as many opponents saw a match-up againstSaints as non-competitive. In some ways they wereright, for St. George’s was renowned for its prowess onthe rugby pitch with basketball being considered anactivity one would engage in as a means to prepare forthe upcoming rugby season.

Thanks to the dedication and hard work of many, St. George’s now has one of the most competitiveschedules from Grades 7 through to Varsity and hasestablished itself as a basketball powerhouse in BC.Over the past ten years, Saints has seen basketballevolve from a recreational game to one that is bothhighly competitive and one of the most popularamongst their student body.

The basketball program’s guiding philosophy is tobuild a complete program, not just a Varsity team, andin doing so, develop a championship spirit both onand off the court. One of the keys to this philosophy isto ensure that each grade has a strong coach who canhelp develop the talent St. George’s has in both itsJunior and Senior Schools. Nino Sose, who coaches andruns the basketball program at the Junior School, hasprovided opportunities for boys as early as Grade 5 tolearn the fundamentals of the game. He instills a keeninterest and love of the sport. At the Senior School,experienced and enthusiastic coaches (St. George’steachers) Brian Lee, Paul Proznick, Paul Cohee, EdTaylor, Guy DaSilva, Bruce Wilson, Michael Atkinson, Bill Chamberlain, Richard Cohee (Head of Basketball),

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Since 1999, St. George’s Varsity team has participated innine Lower Mainland Championships and eight BC AAAChampionships.

• Champions of the Independent League seven times

• Champions of the Lower Mainland Championships

• Finished 2nd twice (Lower Mainland)

• Finished 3rd twice (Lower Mainland)

• Finished 3rd (BC AAA Championships)

• Finished 5th (BC AAA Championships)

• Champions (BC AAA Championships)

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and several other outside coaches have all contributeda tremendous amount to create a strong foundationupon which the Saints program rests today.

Hand in hand with developing their feeder program,St. George’s also seeks to provide opportunities for theboys to play basketball outside of the season and, indoing so, exposes them to stronger competition. Overthe years, Saints have brought various teams torenowned team camps at Gonzaga University, UCLA,UC Santa Barbara, and the University of Washington.

During the off-season, the Saints Basketball Programcoaching staff uses the Summer at Saints BasketballCamps as an opportunity to augment individual playerskill development. These camps have evolved from twoweekly sessions to five week-long day camps that sellout year after year. These camps are often staffed withuniversity level and national team players who bring ahigh level of expertise and passion to all involved. As St. George’s has become a gathering point for some of the top players in the Lower Mainland,competitive pick-up games are commonplacefollowing these camps.

The guiding philosophy in the basketball program atSt. George’s is to seek opportunities to developcharacter. By being exposed to a wide variety ofchallenging situations on the court and by learningwhat it means to be a member of a team, boys learnmany invaluable lessons in how to face adversity, howto pursue success, and how to grow through bothwinning and losing.

Coach Lee has a sign above his office door that reads,“Believe in yourself!” These are three very simple wordsthat carry the potent message that life presents allkinds of opportunities when faced with challenges.Members of each Saints’ basketball team are exposedto exciting opportunities as they learn to “win big”without becoming “small” in the process. Winning, notjust in the ordinary sense, but winning by simply tryingtheir best; winning by subordinating self-interest for agreater good; winning through the experience ofintense satisfaction and enjoyment. From a historic 20point come-from-behind victory to clinch the leaguechampionship over Vancouver College, to shootinghoops during breaks at school, at lunch, betweenclasses, or right after school, basketball at St. George’shas always been about having fun, enjoying theexciting challenge of being better than the day before. Learning that doing your best is victory in itself and anything less is defeat. These are lessons for life and the true game that a St. George’s boy must face each day.

These demands also bring many benefits and teachmany lessons. In the basketball program at St.George’s, the truest measure of success is in theincreased level of student participation and theiroverall zeal to compete while wearing the schoolcolours. Record numbers of students now engage inoff-season training, attend basketball academies andcamps, and compete on BC Provincial Teams. Throughhard work, dedication, determination, and a love of thegame, the recent glow of victory – St. George’s first BCAAA Championship – is shared by not only the players,but also by every boy who has ever worn a St. George’sbasketball jersey, their families, coaches, alumni, andthe entire School community.

Thanks to the solid foundation laid by our past players,coaches, and supporters alike, the future of basketballat St. George’s School looks very promising. We willalways have an end to journey towards, but it is alwaysthe journey that matters in the end.

This year’s BC AAA Championship is the culminationof a tradition that began more than a decade ago forSaints’ basketball. Hundreds of players have giventheir all on the hardwood at both the Junior andSenior School over the years. Not all were the mostphysically talented blue-chip players when theyarrived at St. George’s but, whether they excelled as adefensive specialist, a great shooter, or ball-handler,a tough rebounder, or an all-round hustle player, theyall shared a deep commitment and passion forplaying basketball day in, day out, to the best of theirabilities. Since 1999, St. George’s has graduated thefollowing young men who have gone on to playcollegiate and professional basketball:

1999: Craig Rollins (University of British Columbia)

2000: Mark Blackman (Queen’s University)Graeme Scott (Bishop’s University)

2002: Cameron McDonald (Bishop’s University, Pro Ball in Spain)Scott MacDonald (Bishop’s University)

2004: Melvyn Mayott (SFU)Sean Anthony (McGill University)Chun-wei Chang (University of Toronto, Pro Ball in Taiwan)

2006: Bol Kong (Douglas College)Alex Murphy (University of British Columbia)Christopher Spencer (UBC-Okanagan)Christopher Mackay (Langara College)

2007: Brent Clancy (Concordia University)

2008: Gurjote Jhaj (University of the Fraser Valley)

2009: Dillon Hamilton (University of Western Ontario)Josh Robertson (University of Western Ontario)Luke Braund (Trinity Western University)

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Stephen Tyler of the notoriously insightful rock band Aerosmith, sang thatsometimes one must face adversity before he can revel in victory, and while Ithough we had learned much in the last two Ross Cups, there proved to be stillin place a vindictive god, smiling only on the goaltender wearing the blackand gold of Prince of Wales, not Les Boys, who suffered their third straightloss in as many years. Les Boys played like champions, yet puck luckwas against us, succumbing 2-1 in the final. It was the thirdtime the two have faced this season, and while it isbelieved that third time's a charm, it was not to be forLes Boys. After battling against not only theiropponents, but also a schedule that saw themneed to win three games on Finals Saturday, itproved to be too much for Les Boys. Theygave it their all and with the goaltenderpulled for an extra attacker, the finalbuzzer blew, and yet again we werebridesmaids.

It was a season for the books. Ateam that had been craftedas Grade Ten's, who afterlosing their first threeregular season gamesthree years ago, hadonly three loses since,winning three straightcity championships, aRidley Tiger ClassicTournament, a CanadaCup Championship in

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WHAT AYEARIT HAS BEEN

VARSITY HOCKEY AT SAINTSBY: DWIGHT HILLIS, SAINTS’ HOCKEY COACH

SaintsLet’s Go


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Montreal, and leaving Matt Sarmento as the school'sall-time leading scorer with 65 points in 51 games. Ithas been fun watching these boys develop into theyoung men that they have become: Myles Sinclair,David Wade, Andrew Talbot, Matt Sarmento, AaronChen, Patrick Hayes, and Ross Yellowlees will be missed.These boys fought hard through the years to build areputation of commitment and graciousness, and theysurpassed all expectations. Winning championships isdifficult, yet developing champions is even more so,and these young men are champions. They set thefoundation for a program that is flourishing, with moregood things lying in wait.

This season saw many firsts for the Varsity; a record 11players who only laced 'em up for St. George's; atournament victory in Montreal in a dramatic final thatsaw us claw back twice before Ross Yellowlees sealedthe victory, with Matt Sarmento being named tourneyMVP; and a third city title defeating PW 5-1 to capturetheir third crown in three years. It was also a season ofdisappointments: David Wade, Matt Goulet, SeanBagan, Braydon Jaw, and Julius Ho all moved on tochase bigger dreams, playing Junior Hockey. Anotherseason that saw us make the provincial finals, whichare played under a different rule set than City's andNational tournaments, resulting in another secondplace finish. Yet as stated earlier, these young men arechampions. And champions breed champions; we arereturning three lines next season with Ross Cupleading scorer Naeem Bardai and work horse AlexChang back. A goaltending duo that one mightconsider calling dynamic, Andrew Watson and DylanMarrello Murray, who combined for an incredible 0.83GAA. The future looks bright. As we have come to say,"We don't rebuild; we reload!"

I have enjoyed this season immensely and amsaddened to see it end. Looking back on theaccomplishments of the Grads, one can see why:

• Andrew Talbot: 4 years Varsity: Provincial Championship Gold, three Silver, Ridley Tiger Challenge Cup Champion; Canada CupChampionship

• Pat Hayes: 2007 Offensive Player of Year and 3 RossCup Final Appearances

• Myles Sinclair: 3 years Varsity: Three ProvincialChampionship Silvers, Ridley Tiger Challenge CupChampion; Canada Cup Championship

• Aaron Chen: 2 years Varsity: Two ProvincialChampionship Silvers, Canada Cup Championship

• David Wade: 3 years Varsity: Two ProvincialChampionship Silvers, Ridley Tiger Challenge CupChampion; Canada Cup Championship

• Matt "Doug" Sarmento: 3 years Varsity: ThreeProvincial Championship Silvers, Ridley TigerChallenge Cup Champion; Canada CupChampionship, All Time School Leading Scorer

• Ross "Dan" Yellowlees: 3 years Varsity: the Captain:Three Provincial Championship Silvers, Ridley TigerChallenge Cup Champion Captain; Canada CupChampionship Captain

Boys thanks for the time we have shared!

I'd like to thank all who lent their support andencouragement; you have no idea what it has meantto us. To the parents, you are our rock, following us toports unknown, lending a hand and sometimes ashoulder; we thank you. To the boys . . . training fornext year starts at the end of term three! As always,keep your stick on the ice.

Grade 10's:Zach YuenBrandon Chan Zach HillhouseLandon WeemersJosh BoyerFelix KleinRobert Neemo

Grade 11'sAlex ChangNaeem Bardai Ross Cup Leading Scorer

Rob RandKevin IsherwoodLiam GrueJosh BrookstoneSpenser GudewillDavid TurnerDylan Marrello-MurrayAndrew Watson

AssistantsJulius HoSean Bagan

Grade 12's:• Aaron Chen2 Ross Cup Final Appearances2008 Canada Cup Champions

• Andrew Talbot2004 Provincial Champions3 Ross Cup Final Appearances2008 Canada Cup Champions2005 Tiger Challenge Champions

• Pat Hayes2007 Offensive Player of Year3 Ross Cup Final Appearances

• David WadeAssistant Captain2 Ross Cup Final Appearances2008 Canada Cup Champions

• Myles SinclairTop DefensemenAssistant Captain3 Ross Cup Final Appearances2008 Canada Cup Champions2005 Tiger Challenge Champions

• Matt "Doug" SarmentoLeading Scorer: 30 pts in 19 games/ 67 points 3 year career-School RecordAssistant Captain3 Ross Cup Final Appearances2008 Canada Cup Champions: MVP2005 Tiger Challenge Champions

• Ross "Dan" YellowleesCaptain3 Ross Cup Final Appearances2008 Canada Cup Champions2005 Tiger Challenge Champions

SAINTS' VARSITY HOCKEY 2008/09: 20 wins-1 loss/ City Champions/ Canada Cup Champions

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In the last 15 years at St. George’s, the “beautiful game” of soccer has taken on a muchhigher profile and when Coach Tony Mercer was asked to reflect on the good old days,his answer was: “Well, they really weren’t that good.” Prior to the 1994 season, soccer

was played in the second term, also known as winter. As Vancouver’s weather inJanuary and February is hardly conducive to the fast-flowing modern game, scenes of

mud-soaked players and balls floating across the lake-size puddles were commonplace.Sometimes snow even prevented the hearty enthusiasts from playing their home andaway epic battles against the Island schools: St Michaels, Shawnigan, and Brentwood.

However, many fine soccer players came through the program back then, includingJohn Catliff '82, who went on to play more than 50 times for Canada, and the superstars

of yore are often seen at the annual Old Boys’ games on Remembrance Day.

SaintsLet’s Go


SOCCER AT SAINTS BY: SHAWN LAWRENCE, SAINTS’ SOCCER COACH


The advent of Spring Rugby for the 1st XV opened upthe fall term for the Senior Soccer Team. Suddenly aseason of perhaps six games became one with high-level competition in the Vancouver City League withsuch west-side powerhouses and local rivals as LordByng, Kitsilano, and Magee. Success in this league ledto the Lower Mainland Tournament and potentially theAAA BC Provincials. Within the first few years, it quicklybecame apparent that Saints belonged at this level. In1995, the 1st XI came third in the Province, narrowlylosing to the eventual champions in the semi-final.Since then we have competed at the Provincials sixmore times and were Lower Mainland Champions in2005. Competition with other BC independent schoolscontinues through the BC Independent SchoolsAssociation Championships and since its resurrectioneight years ago, Saints has walked away victorious five times.

The change in seasons also made it possible to enterthe Canadian Association of Independent SchoolsNational Invitational Soccer Championships, an eventin which the Junior School had competed for manyyears. This is often the highlight of the year as the minitour brings the team together and is the impetus forsuccess back in BC. Always finishing in the top eight,we have made the finals four times and each time theresult was decided by a penalty shoot-out. Losingthree out of four, we did gain the National banner in

2007. Saints hosted the CAIS tournament in 2002 and isabout to do the same this October. This will be awonderful opportunity to watch the team play against20 of the best independent school teams in Canada.

Is there life after Saints’ soccer? Many graduates havegone on to play at the university level and recentgraduate, Brandon Bonifacio '07, has also played forthe U20 Canadian team and is presently playingprofessionally in Holland. There is no doubt that somuch has changed for the better. At the try-outs eachSeptember, more than 60 students regularly competefor the coveted 36 places on the two senior teams. The 2nd XI competes well in tier two of the VancouverSchools’ League against the 1st XIs of other schoolsand won their league in 2008. Soccer is now a highprofile sport and the team’s successes help to set thetone for the school year. But it is the love of the gamethat Coaches Lawrence, Tweedle, and Mercer try toinculcate in the players and if the grads go on to enjoy soccer at any level then the program is anunmitigated success.

Many graduates have gone on to play atthe university level and recent graduateBrandon Bonifacio '07, has also played forthe U20 Canadian team and is presentlyplaying professionally in Holland.

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Instilling theLOVE OF THE GAME

ISA Soccer Champions, September 2007


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On the last 20 years

In the spring of 1990, when I was interviewed for my current position as a senior science teacher at Saints,I was also asked if I could start up a swim team as the School had not had one for a few years and was in

need of a coach. I felt my credentials in aquatics and passion for swimming would bring a lot to anyschool swim team, so I readily agreed to initiate a program. Little did I know that my coaching

commitment would last for 20 years and evolve from managing a mere eight athletes to over 120swimmers today. Nor did I anticipate that it would end with 14 Vancouver Richmond Regional Titles,

nine Provincial Speed Swimming Championships, and eight Provincial Aquatics Banners.

SaintsLet’s Go


Reflections

BY: JEANNETTE M. NIENABER (formerly LUCAS), SAINTS’ SWIMMING COACH

The Saints’ Swim Team


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In the beginning, I knew from previous experience atNorth Delta that it would take several years to build alarge enough team to at least be a contender for aRegional title, let alone a Provincial one. I set up a baseline for the standards of practice that I felt would be astrong foundation upon which to build the team andwhich are still at work in today’s program.

Élite swimmers must be multifaceted and requireflexibility, a strong core, endurance, speed, power, andexcellent technique. However, this alone does notmake a winning combination. One must also developstrong mental focus, confidence, discipline,determination, and the motivation to perseverethrough injury, ill health, and life crises.

I planned the workouts with a broad brush, so thateach session encompassed at least four or more facetsof the skills I was trying to develop. I dovetailed thiswith progressions in building an aerobic base andimproving technique so that the swimmers wouldpeak when the Regional Meet rolled around. I alsowanted to develop an inclusive program that workedwith all types of swimming abilities and experience. In other words, everyone “made the team” and it wasabout helping each swimmer optimize his ownpotential. Over the years we have had many instancesof boys coming to the program in Grade 8 or 9 as non-swimmers and leaving with Provincial Medals by Grade 12.

Three years into the program, I was asked by theheadmaster at that time, Gordon Atkinson, if I wouldconsider training the Little Flower, York House, andCrofton House girls as well. By this time, there wereabout 20 or so boys on the team, we were winningribbons and medals at the meets, and we wereconsistently amongst the top ten in the Province. Withthe addition of girls, our numbers soon doubled. Thecoed training lasted for eight years and was finallyphased out because the boys’ team had reached suchhuge numbers: 80 to 90 swimmers. We felt the poolcould no longer serve both groups simultaneously—let alone the coaches!

As the years passed, other staff members were hired towork with me and I believe it has been an ongoingsynergistic effort that has built the team to its currentlevel. Each person has contributed and worked inconjunction with the others and it has all added to theexcellence of the program. Jeremy Sayers arrived in1994 and brought a wonderful sense of humour,competitive experience as a triathlete, and adisciplined background from the military. Moreover, histalent for photography has resulted in many amazing“action” shots of our swimmers!

David Loutit (1996 to 2001) brought a strongcompetitive background from water polo andlifeguarding. He contributed a dry sense of humourand a strong presence to the program and workedhard to help the boys develop their aerobic base.David eventually took over some of the administrativetasks as head coach and brought in some innovativetraining, such as underwater filming of the boys tohelp with stroke analysis.

As the team continued to grow, we hired an ex-competitive swimmer and experienced coach, MontyCahley, whose intense drive, great sense of humour,and genuine interest in the boys have been a real assetto the development of the team throughout the lastten seasons.

In 2001, Dustin Hersee, an Olympian, was hired to helpwith the coaching, and his charisma, expertise, anddrive helped us finally to achieve our first ProvincialAquatics Title, which we have maintained for eightconsecutive seasons. Dustin has moved seamlessly intothe position as Head Coach and has gradually assumedmy previous responsibilities at the Regional andProvincial levels. We have worked hard together overthe past few seasons to coordinate time trial resultswith entries in order to maintain a winning strategy atthe meets and I have every confidence that he willcontinue to carry the team in an exemplary manner inthe years to come. Most recently, Suzanne Weckendjoined the program and has added her competitiveexperience as a triathlete and keen organizationalskills to the program.

In 2001, Dustin Hersee, an Olympian, washired to help with the coaching, and hischarisma, expertise, and drive helped usfinally to achieve our first ProvincialAquatics Title, which we have maintainedfor eight consecutive seasons.


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On looking back, there are many watermarks I wouldlove to describe but perhaps the most pivotal for me,and the School, was having Donovan Tildesley join theteam. As many know Donovan went on to become amedalist at the Paralympics but it was his fiercedetermination and sense of humour that inspired all of us. At that time, he swam as a regular athlete inthe BCs and later, Morgan Perrin did the same. It marked the beginning of a shift in ProvincialSwimming as other teams started to enter studentswith challenges and today, they are readily embracedin the program.

Twenty years of Saints’ swimmers has made it difficultto remember them all, but a few family names come tomind such as Carline, Hindmarch-Watson, Strelzow,Wong, Hung, Jones, Chua, Roberts, Chu, Jung, Chan,Tildesley, Perrin, and Tsang. In total, over 1,000 boys havebeen part of the program. These boys have all enrichedmy life through their enthusiasm, willingness to work,and the sheer joy of watching them try their best duringcompetitions and see them grow and improve over theseasons. This year’s Grade 8s will soon become the goldmedalists of Grade 12. I look forward to watching thecontinued success of the Saints’ swimmers as I move onto the next chapter of my life.

Jeannette's passion for aquatics has been life long. She could swim before she walked and competedextensively in speed and synchronized swimming until her late teens. She then moved into coaching

synchronized swimming, life-guarding , and professional scuba diving. During her undergraduate years shealso worked as an aquatics and lifesaving instructor. She began her career as a science teacher in 1975 and, as

a natural athlete, coaching volleyball, track and field, and, of course, speed swimming became part of herdedication to teach children. During her first season at North Delta Secondary (1976), her swim team won theFraser Valley Championships and she has continued to hone her coaching skills since then. Early on, she also

became committed to the Provincial Swimming Commission and has served on both the executive andRegional levels for many years. Jeannette was hired by St. George's in 1990 and the rest is history!

Jeannette will be retiring in June. A special Pub Night will be held in her honourat the School on May 21 at 7:00 pm


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In the BeginningWhen the School first opened, the 1933 Georgian magazinementions that a swimming sports day was held at the CrystalPool on Saturday, June 24. The Crystal Pool was a saltwaterpool located not far from the present Vancouver AquaticCentre. By the late 1940s and early 1950s, swimming wasprimarily a Junior School sport, although some Georgiansrecall that by the time a student was in Grade 7, he had tocommit to either rugby or cricket and swimming may nothave been part of the curriculum.

Boys who did swim were transported to the local YMCA atBurrard and Nelson. In those days it did not do to be self-conscious, as the custom was to swim naked. By 1951, theprogram became more formalized and settled at theCanadian Memorial Church Pool, where the Junior Schoolheld its classes and Wing competitions. Wing meets alsocontinued at the Crystal Pool.

In the summer of 1968, Mr. Brangwin, a faculty member,suggested in a department meeting that the boys and staffbuild a swimming pool for the School. A referendum washeld in September of that year and an enthusiastic 87 percent of the boys supported the idea. David Overton wasHead of the Athletics Department at the time.

The project was to be funded in three phases: the first was afour-lane, 25-metre heated pool with provision for a one-metre board; stage two involved adding a roof and walls, andfinally changing rooms for both sexes. The Swimming PoolCommittee was formed with representatives from each ofthe Senior School classes.

Fundraising for the PoolDuring the first year, $35,000 was raised and after awalkathon the following year which raised a further $22,000,the School Governors gave approval for the work on the poolto begin. Ongoing fundraising continued in a variety of ways:Mlle. Sellon published and sold a cookbook of Frenchrecipes, John Dolmage shaved his head, and GordonAtkinson gave an organ recital. There were auctions, paperdrives, bridge nights, a New Year’s Ball, and something calledthe “Swimming Pool Crawl” which raised over $23,000.00. ByNovember of 1969 the first pool was completed and officiallyopened by the Duke of Edinburgh. He came that year topresent the awards that bear his name.

On May 14, 1970 The Vancouver Western News displayed aphotograph of the new pool with the headline “Drive Opensto Cover Swim Pool”. In the meantime, plans were already inplace to rent out the 25-metre pool to raise the remainingfunds needed to put a roof in place. It wasn’t until April ofthat same year, when “the weather warmed up and theheating system was triggered into action” that the first St. George’s School pool became a reality for the boys. It wasnamed the Freddie Germyn Pool, after a donation was madeto the School by Freddie’s mother and stepfather, followingFreddie’s death in a car accident. The Senior SwimmingTrophy also bears his name. By the end of the 1970 academicyear, the School’s yearbook was already boasting that“swimming skill and conditioning has greatly improved afterfive months…”

The BubbleIn the summer of 1971, thanks to a gift of $4,500 from theAuxiliary and additional funds raised, a top was ordered andinstalled in early November. The blue and white “bubble” wasmade in Sweden by Barracuda and put in place by FredBolton Ltd. at a cost of $26,000.00. The “bubble” was held inplace by large bolts on a retaining wall that surrounded thepool and deck area. With the installation of a covered pool,Grades 4 to 11 were finally able to have scheduled class time.

Geof Stancombe looked after the annual raising anddismantling of the roof. At an appropriate time in Term III,Geof, usually assisted by Grade 12 students, would turn offthe air and allow the bubble to deflate. The bolts could thenbe removed and the roof, which by now was floating, pulledacross the pool and folded in, much the same way as a sail.With the start of Term I each year, when it was deemed toocold to swim in the open air, Geof and his gang would re-inflate the “bubble”. It was a clear sign that a new term wasabout to begin.

The swimming program continued to grow until the nextmajor building campaign began in 1984. As the Wallace Gymwas upgraded and a second gymnasium, later to be calledthe Dixon Gym, was built, for a short time, we were without a pool. The decision was taken to build a larger, six-lane pool,the one we enjoy today and which serves as the backdropfor Jeannette Nienaber’s article on the previous pages.

SwimmingThe Early Years

From the Archives:

BY: ELIZABETH KNOX, SCHOOL ARCHIVIST


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ExcellenceThe Pursuit of

R O W I N G A T S A I N T SBY: SPENCER MARTIN, SAINTS’ ROWING COACH

The St. George’s School Rowing Program offers a balance between top academics and high-level athletics which help to develop goal setting, teamwork,

and exceptional time management skills.

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The evolution of rowing at SaintsRowing has a unique history at St. George’s School and its origins can be traced to its founding in 1931.However, it wasn’t until 1986, under the leadership ofDavid Darling, that rowing gained a permanent statusas an athletic pursuit. In 1999, Craig Pond, Women’sHead Coach at the University of British Columbia,became the Head Coach of the Rowing Program at St. George’s School and a working relationship withUBC has evolved ever since. By 2000, the number ofstudents interested in rowing had greatly increased,with up to 50 rowers on the water at any one time.After a number of years with competitive ‘small boat’results at the national level, the program’s success inlarger boats started to rival the results of moreestablished rowing programs.

Success at the Canadian Senior Secondary RowingAssociation Championships in St. Catharines, Ontario is also a testament to the progress of rowing at Saints.In the last three years, the St. George’s Rowing Programhas won seven National Championship events and a total of 11 since 1986. As we strive to reach ourpotential, we can expect ever better competitiveresults over the next few years.

A world-class rowing facility: The John M.S. Lecky Boathouse

An exciting new chapter in the history of rowing at St. George’s began with a move into our new facilitiesin the spring of 2006. Under a partnership agreementbetween St. George’s School, the University of BritishColumbia, and the City of Richmond, the John M.S.

Lecky Boathouse was constructed on the middle armof the Fraser River and became the permanent homeof the St. George’s School Rowing Program.

What it takes to be a rower at St. George’s SchoolRowers at St. George’s School are committed to theiracademics and understand the pursuit of excellence isas important as winning. Rowers are expected toattend all practices, commit to hard work (which isrewarded with success), and understand that the teamis greater than the sum of its parts.

At the Junior A—Grades 11 and 12 level, crewselection (distinct from team selection), is determinedby overall athletic performance. However, selection isnot based on one process, but rather on a combinationof criteria including boat-moving ability,synchronization, technique, winning attitude, ergpower, coach-ability, experience under pressure, beliefin self and ability to add to the crew, athleticsuppleness (ability to respond, focus and switch gears),desire to win, and regatta performance.

Past championship crews have exceeded theseexpectations to achieve program objectives andindividual boys have met or exceeded goals foruniversity acceptance and Junior National Teams byworking through this model.

Rowers at St. George’s School arecommitted to their academics andunderstand the pursuit of excellenceis as important as winning.

The John M.S. Lecky BoathouseHome of the St. George’s Crew


Moving Forward: The St. George’s School Rowing ProgramIn rowing, you are “only as good as your last stroke”,which means if you have a bad stroke, fix it, and if youhave a good stroke, repeat it. The St. George’s SchoolRowing Program is locked onto the constant pursuit ofexcellence and is not content to rest on its pastsuccesses. Our goal is to rank amongst the best inNorth America and the World on a consistent basis.This year, with the support of the School’s admin-istration, the Rowing Program was extremely excitedto engage the services of two GAP students from NewZealand, who headed the Junior C Program (Grade 8).Additionally, we will be introducing two RowingInterns next year to head the Junior C and Junior B(Grades 9 and 10) programs and have already receivedover 20 outstanding résumés, including threeapplications from Georgians. Together, we hope thiswill lay a foundation to achieve our future goals.

OCTOBER:• Head of the Fraser (John M.S. Lecky Boathouse, co-hosted

by SGS and UBC)

• Deep Cove Classic (North Vancouver)

• Head of the Gorge (Victoria BC)

NOVEMBER: • Head of the Lake (Seattle WA)

FEBRUARY: • Western Canada Indoor Rowing Championships and

On-Water Training Camp (hosted by SGS)

• Elk Lake Spring Regatta (Victoria BC)

MARCH: • Spring Break Rowing Camps (rotate between San Diego,

Sacramento, and Vancouver Island)

• Duelling Over A Grand (Victoria BC)

APRIL: • Saints–College Boat Race (Vancouver BC)

• Brentwood International Regatta (Mill Bay BC)

MAY: • Opening Day Regatta—Windermere Cup (Seattle WA)

• Shawnigan Lake School Regatta (Shawnigan Lake BC)

• Delta Deas Scholastic Regatta (Delta BC)

JUNE: • Canadian Senior Secondary Rowing Association

Championships (St. Catharines Ontario)

• Old Boys’ Race—Georgian Crews vs. Current Rowers(John M.S. Lecky Boathouse)

REGATTA SCHEDULE

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The St. George’s School Rowing Program was veryproud to host a dinner on November 14, 2008 withmembers of Canada’s Olympic Gold Medal Eight. The“Beijing Olympic Gold Medal Dinner” was attended by150 rowers and parents and was an inspirationalevening from start to finish.

The goal was to honour the Olympians and to inspirethe St. George’s Rowing Program in the presence ofthe highest possible accomplishment, competing forCanada with the success of Olympic Gold. Not onlywere Gold Medal Olympians Kevin Light (bow), BenRutledge (two seat), Andy Byrnes (three seat), JakeWetzel (four seat), Malcolm Howard (five seat), AdamKreek (seven seat), and Kyle Hamilton (Captain andstroke seat) inspirational for their athleticaccomplishments, but each Olympian carriedthemselves as gentlemen—approachable, intelligent,and perfect role models.

With a wide range of academic successes, includingLaw, Geotechnical Engineering, Masters in MechanicalEngineering, and PhDs in Economics from Harvard,Stanford, Oxford, University of British Columbia, and University of Victoria, the Olympians are shiningexamples of the correlation between rowing andacademic excellence. The St. George’s crew enjoyedexclusive time with the Olympians to ask questionsand gain insights into the type of commitment and dedication required to reach the highest rungs of success.

Great video presentations and speeches contributedto making the dinner a total success. In addition, theevening managed to raise $10,000, which was afantastic start to reaching our goal of $20,000 for thepurchase of two new pair/doubles boats. Specialthanks for the evening go to Spencer Martin, Head ofRowing Operations, Sara Getz, Heather Morris, HeatherSchuetze, and the Rowing Parents’ Committee.

Gold Medal Dinner Beijing Olympic

HELD AT SAINTS BY: HERB EVERS, CHAIR OF ROWING PARENTS’ COMMITTEE

PHOTO COURTESY OF ROWING CANADA


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RUGBYAT SAINTS

In 1934, rugby was introduced by Headmaster, Mr. John Harker, who believed “the sport offered better training for boys than any other; not merely athletic training, but training in courage

and unselfishness...and that it epitomized the cooperation and sacrifices which team games demand."

Since that moment, rugby has been at the cornerstone of the School’s Athletic Program. As we conclude the 76th season of rugby at St. George’s, the sport remains vibrant,

true to Mr. Harker’s wishes, and at the heart of the School.

BY: BUD PATEL, SAINTS’ RUGBY COACH

While mandatory rugby at Saints isnow a distant memory, today, theprogram has grown to include over 250 boys from Grades 6 to12 withnumerous championships and a spate of recent success.

Players and coaches take theirchallenges seriously and the main goalfor everyone is to have a positive andenjoyable experience—win or lose. Thismust be the case. The sport continuesits inclusive nature with boys of allshapes and sizes playing for theirschool at 1st and 2nd XV levels, A and B levels, and heavy and lightlevels. No “cuts” are ever made and allboys will get playing time. Our strength is in our depth.

Touring has always been an integralpart of rugby. For example, the 1956tour to Australia was, we believe, the

first schoolboy tour of its kind in BritishColumbia. Today, an alternating two-year cycle of Junior (Grades 9 and 10)and Senior tours (1st and 2nd XV) takeplace in the UK/Ireland or Australia/New Zealand (see chart on the side).

So strong is our program that anumber of players have earnedrepresentative honours at regional,provincial, and national levels. Playing for one’s country is a mostworthy achievement and we are proud to call them Saints! (see chart on opposite page).

Today, the School embraces the richtradition that was laid down by ourGeorgians and all of us who stewardthe program look forward to “passingthe torch” to the next generation of St. George’s players.

1956 Australia1967 Japan1970 Eastern Canada1971 England1974 Britain and France1977 Britain, France, and Spain1979 Britain and France1982 Britain and France1986 Far East—China, Hong Kong, and Japan1990 California1993 Australia and New Zealand1995 Australia1997 Britain2000 Argentina and Chile2002 Australia and New Zealand2003 Junior Tour to England and Wales2004 California2005 Junior Tour to England and Wales2006 Australia and New Zealand2007 Wales and Ireland

O U R T O U R S

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Canada XVChris Barrett '07Andrew Bibby '75Richard Bice '88Mike Chambers '53Ian Cooper '87 Tim Cummings '60Thomas Fraine '63Robbie Greig '72Barry Leigh '72Stanley McKeen '00Patrick Palmer '80Angus Stewart '69Barrie Stubbs '56Conor Trainor '07

Junior RepresentativesBeau Chapman '01 Canada U-21Thomas Cobb '04 Canada U-19 & U-21Ben Grant '05 Canada U-19Benz Henrikson '06 Canada U-17 & U-19Tyler Hotson '03 Canada U-19 & U-21Colin Jarvis '06 Canada U-17Sam Jenkins '02 Canada U-19 & U-21Zahid Jethani Canada U-17Edward Johnston '97 Canada U-19Fabian Leitner '00 Canada U-19James MacDonald '05 Canada U-17Angus McPhail Canada U-17Mike Mackay '04 Canada U-19 & U-21Zandre Nemetz-Sinchein '04 Canada U-19Alex Perrin '07 Canada U-17James Potter '04 Canada U-19 & U-21Dean Solloway Canada U-17Geof Stancombe '62 BC & Canada JuniorsJames Steeves Canada U-17David Stockton '03 Canada U-19 & U-21Marcus Tholin '04 Canada U-19David Turner Canada U-17Ross Yellowlees Canada U-17

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Michael Armstrong '96Andrew Bibby '75Ben Grant '05Robbie Greig '72Patrick Hamilton '82Trevor Hammond '96Patrick Palmer '80David Stockton '03

THE DRAGON FUNDMAINTAINING THE LEGACY OF RUGBY AT SAINTS

The Dragon Fund is a perpetual endowment created for therugby program at St. George’s School. Annual income from thisfund allows the Head of Rugby to do some long-term planningwith the certainty that funding will be available for the keyinitiatives that can significantly enhance the program.

There are two key areas where this additional funding will make ahuge difference to the quality and outcome of the rugby program:

1. EXCELLENCE IN COACHINGThe foundation of our program is built upon outstandingcoaching. One of the ways we can assist our coaches, and ensure abetter experience for the boys, is to provide them with moreprofessional development. Our coaches need to stay abreast of thelatest coaching techniques and methods being used by the topprograms around the world and they also need to have theresources to recognize and inspire those students who make adifference, through the development of a Wall of Honour.

2. OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTSInternational tours have been an integral part of the St. George’srugby experience since 1956. On each tour, approximately 45 boystravel and usually about five of those boys require some financialassistance in order to go with the team. We don’t want anyone leftbehind who deserves to go and that means finding between$15,000 and $20,000 to provide the financial support necessary foreach tour.

Moreover, the quality of the St. George’s rugby program has beensuch that a number of boys over the years have been invited toparticipate in the National Team Program. To encourage and support our boys to reach the next level of their rugbydevelopment, the creation of a Canada Fund will provide financialsupport to players who are invited to attend Provincial andNational Team development programs. The level of support offeredwill be based on the boys’ financial need.

Complete information on the The Dragon Fund and how yoursupport can make a difference to this important program at St. George’s School, is available through:Don Livingston, Chief Advancement Officer at (604) 221-3883 or email: [email protected]


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TRACKBY: LAURIER PRIMEAU, SAINTS’ TRACK & FIELD COACH

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TRACK & FIELD AT ST. GEORGE’S SCHOOL


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A short time ago, anyone who wanted to be on a teamcould simply come out for track and field, get a uniformat the beginning of the season, and receive a pin at theend. Those days are gone and, while we are still amongthe largest participant sports on campus, the last threeyears have seen tryouts introduced in order to managethe continually growing number of student athleteswho want to be members of the team. The track andfield squad attracts two different types of boys: those who have the desire to specialize in track as their main sport and those who understand that the basis for their primary pursuit (soccer, basketball,rugby) is running, jumping, or throwing, and thatdedicating the spring season to this cross training can facilitate dramatic improvements in other areas of physical activity.

The coaching staff at the School has tried to create apractice and competition schedule which gives thestudent body the flexibility to choose practice daysand, at the same time, has the rigidity of a trueprogram. We are no longer a drop-in sport, yet we haveboys on the track and field team, who also represent St.George’s on the rugby pitch, the tennis court, the golfcourse, and the volleyball court, all of which are spring-time activities. This year, we will have members of theFirst Fifteen, who will don the School uniform on the 4x 100 relay team.

In the past, when the BCHS Rugby Championships andthe BCHS Track and Field Championships have beenheld across town from each other (UBC and SwangardStadium, respectively), athletes have raced from one

venue to another in order to participate in twochampionships in a single day. On rare occasions, boyshave won championships in both sports on oneweekend. This philosophy of facilitating multipleinterests and passions has worked well for the trackand field team, having put four BC High SchoolChampionship banners in the rafters of the gym overthe course of the last ten years. We were the first (and,to date, the only), single-gender school to win thecombined girls and boys championship, amassing over100 points with only our boys competing!

Our program continues to produce great athletes and2009 is no exception. Tim Smith is the defending BCHigh School Champion in the 400 metres and this yearhe will attempt the unlikely 400, 800, and 4 x 400 triple.He has committed to UBC for the fall. Matthew Daly-Grafstein is the #1 ranked 110-metre hurdler in theprovince, and will also pole vault and long jump for theSchool. He is undecided between NYU, Cal–Berkley, andthe University of Toronto. Grades 10 and 11 athletes towatch for include Eugene Su (100 metres, 4 x 100),Sebastian Munro (110 hurdles, 400 hurdles, decathlon),and Azar Chatur (3,000 metres, steeplechase).

I was lucky to learn from a great St. George’s coach andteacher, Craig Newell, who was the foundation of thisteam for years. Now, Chris Johnson (endurance), RyanHvidston (pole vault and horizontal jumps), and a hostof coaches from the University of British Columbiatrack and field squad collaborate with me to facilitate ateam-oriented atmosphere within a sport that hasbeen traditionally viewed as an individual pursuit.


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ThePOWEROf

It’s about a lifestyle.

SPORT

For a boy at St. George’s School, a typicalschool day is full and eventful, withinvolvement in classes, clubs, arts, music,homework, and service and charity. But itdoesn’t stop there. Two and a half hours perweek are also spent in activities that caninvolve running, lifting, swimming, skating,jumping, throwing, kicking, riding, climbing,stretching, reaching, cheering, or sweeping.

BY: SUZANNE WECKEND , HEAD OF ATHLETICS

SaintsLet’s Go


THE GAMES PROGRAM AT SAINTS


WELCOME TO THE GAMES PROGRAM ATST. GEORGE’S SCHOOL!The Compulsory Games Program is designed tocomplement each boy’s involvement in the SchoolCommunity, to contribute to his overall sense ofhappiness, and to instill in him a healthy lifestyle,both now and for the future. Each term, boys selectan activity, whether it is competitive or recreational,something at which they already excel or somethingthey have never tried before—the choice is theirs!

Boys who participate in their selected sports oractivities are provided with the tools to develop life-long habits to keep themselves physically andmentally fit. By integrating instruction on diet andnutrition, today’s St. George’s School student is trulylearning the basics of what it means to live a healthylifestyle. Also, by insisting on an involvement in sport,St. George's School is providing another opportunityfor students to learn problem-solving skills, buildnatural curiosity, and develop new interests.

Along with a heavy academic load and the highexpectations of academic success, many studentsbenefit from activities such as yoga, which takes placein a relaxed environment and promotes healthystrategies to deal with stress. Our world is, andcontinues to become, an increasingly complex andpressure-oriented place. Finding positive ways to dealwith life’s business, the better off our boys will be.

Compulsory Sports including activities involving 12 to 50 students teach each participant how to set goals,cooperate, negotiate, and occasionally deal withconflict resolution. Furthermore, they will learn todevelop positive relationships, foster friendships andsupport, and encourage positive emotional health.

Team activities in the Games Program require the boysto work together to achieve a common goal andremove the focus from the individual to the team. Theydevelop their time-management skills by learning tojuggle school, homework, family life, and their after-school activity. Many sporting activities like Swimmingand Track and Field emphasize the importance of this,as success is often measured in seconds.

The Compulsory Games Program makes a majorcontribution to achieving personal goals and St. George’s teaches the importance of prioritizing and planning, while striving to achieve the bestpossible results.

"Skill to do comes of doing." Ralph Waldo Emerson

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By integrating instruction on diet andnutrition, today’s St. George’s Schoolstudent is truly learning the basics ofwhat it means to live a healthy lifestyle.


SENIOR SCHOOL• Aquatics Provincial Champions; ISA Champions• Badminton 2nd Place in League• Basketball Provincial Champions;

HSBC Champions• Cricket TBD• Cross Country

2nd Place at Provincials; ISA Champions• Field Hockey TBD• Golf TBD• Mountain Biking TBD• Rugby Grades 8, 9, and 10 ISA Sevens Champions• Alpine Skiing Provincial Champions• Snowboarding Provincial Champions• Soccer ISA Champions; 2nd Place CAIS• Squash ISA Junior Champions• Tennis TBD• Track & Field TBD• Triathlon TBD• Ultimate TBD• Volleyball 2nd Place in League• Waterpolo 6th Place at Provincials

JUNIOR SCHOOL• Basketball ISEA Champions;

2nd Place CAIS• Cross Country ISEA Champions

(38 years in a row)• Rugby TBD• Soccer 2nd Place ISEA• Swimming ISEA Champions• Track and Field TBD

• Varsity Teams1st XI SoccerVarsity Volleyball2nd XI SoccerCross CountryVarsity SwimmingBadmintonRugby

• Recreational ActivitiesFitnessHockey TrainingMorning Rec.BadmintonVolleyball BasketballRowing TrainingBasketball 3 on 3YogaBall HockeyTennis TrainingFlag FootballLearn to play TennisLearn to play Golf

• Varsity TeamsCricketTennis Field Hockey Track & FieldGolf UltimateRowingVolleyballRugbyTriathlon

• Recreational ActivitiesMountain bikingSnookerFitnessArcherySailingBasketball TrainingSoftballPool KayakingFloor HockeyRec. GamesSpinning Class

• Varsity TeamsBasketball SquashIce HockeyWaterpoloSki / SnowboardingCurling

• Recreational ActivitiesFitnessRowing Training AM BadmintonBasketball OfficialsSoccerCross Country TrainingRec. SnowboardingTrack TrainingSr. Rugby TrainingYogaScubaRock ClimbingTable TennisTouch RugbyTriathlon TrainingSpinning Class

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SaintsLet’s Go

Let’s Go!S P O T L I G H T O N A T H L E T I C SSt.

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TERM TWO / November–March

TERM THREE / March–June


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As the dad of a very sporty Saints’ grad, I spent manyhours beside the sports field and in the gym watchinggames, cheering wildly, and contemplating the Saints’Athletics Program. The high of winning the Grade 10Provincial Basketball Championship and thedevastation of the Grade 12 loss in the RugbyProvincial Championship will never be forgotten. It ismore the day-to-day benefits of my son’s participationon Saints’ teams that I think about most often.

“Being a team player” is a key ingredient for success inlife and what better place to learn than on the Saints’playing field. It is my experience that the discipline,determination, and focus necessary to be successful ata sport develop attitudes and skills which are readilytransferred to studies and eventually to a career.

Saints is blessed with the best coaches a school couldhave. Tough but understanding, they know how toencourage and foster leadership and determination onthe field. These coaches with their amazingcommitment serve as strong role models for our sons.

My son’s coaches, both as role models and ultimatelyas friends, will influence him for the rest of his life.

Parent involvement also plays a key role in the success of the Athletics Program. Parents stand by thefield talking and cheering with other parents, staff, and students. Communication takes place andfriendships develop—all part of how a communitycomes together.

Finally, I took great personal delight in seeing theplaying field as a microcosm of Canadian society.Watching a Saints’ team with students from manyethnic backgrounds playing as a united body with acommon goal is a delight to watch. This mutualsolidarity assists to break down barriers both withinthe School and in the wider community.

I’m hooked, I admit it! I miss the camaraderie of theSaints’ sports community. That’s why I was out at the recent Sevens Rugby Tournament on a beautifulApril day, cheering and chatting with many old and new friends.

aparent’sperspective Sports at St. George’s

BY: JONATHAN BARRETT, SAINTS’ PARENT

Chris Barrett receives theSportsman of the year 2007 Award.


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AN INTERVIEW WITH THE NEW

GEORGIANS PRESIDENT

Interview by: Bryan R. Ide '99

What does it mean to you to be President of theGeorgians?

It is a great honour to be President of the Georgians. Inmy role, I have the opportunity to meet manyGeorgians and, the more Georgians I meet, the more Iam impressed with what a great fraternity of menconstitute our Association. I am not only impressed bythe very successful men in business, the professions,academia, athletics, and the arts, I am also struck by thegreat character they show. I see many things: a love ofSt. George’s School, generous philanthropy, and agenerosity towards and respect for fellow Georgians.

What do you want to achieve as President?

As President I hope to increase our efforts to locate,contact, and engage Georgians with our organizationand the School. To do this, we will continually improvethe many popular events we host locally. We are also inthe process of establishing Georgian chapters in othercities so those who do not live in the Vancouver areacan host similar events to become connected toGeorgians in their area.

Moreover, I want to build the fraternal cohesion of our organization. As I have said many times, we want to strengthen the ties of Georgians to the School andto each other.

Having served on the Georgian Board for a numberof years, what changes over time have you noticed inthe Association?

The Georgians are hosting more and better eventswith increased participation. For example, the AnnualDinner has become a signature event for theAssociation with the creation of the Georgian Awardswhich are presented at the Dinner. This year, we had a full McLean Hall for a great night highlighted by thepresentation of the Lifetime Achievement Award toAlan Brown '54, the Distinguished Georgian Award to Dr. John Spouge '71, and the Young Georgian Award to Dr. Rod French '86. There was a tremendous fraternal feeling in the room that night and warmthand humour filled the celebration of outstandingachievements of these three great Georgians. We are also creating a stronger institution in the Old Boys’ Association.

On November 11, 2008, Scott Lamb '79 was elected as the 40th President of the Georgians. Scott is a lawyer withthe law firm of Richards Buell Sutton LLP in Vancouver and practises in the areas of Intellectual Property Lawand Construction Law. Before being elected to lead the Georgians, he previously served as the Association’s

Vice President. We recently had the opportunity to ask Scott about his role and goals as President.


Central to this have been three things:

1. the preparation of a comprehensive Strategic Plan;

2. revising and updating the Constitution of theorganization; and

3. the creation of the position of Manager of GeorgianRelations to co-ordinate and manage Georgianevents and initiatives.

This has helped us to become more focused and betterorganized.

Where do you want to see the Association in the nextfive to ten years?

The next five to ten years will require furtherstrengthening of the institutional organization so that success does not entirely depend on a fewdedicated individuals. As a result, I will be constantlyon the look-out for enthusiastic Georgians who want to step forward to take on a role as a YearCaptain, a Committee Member, or a member of theBoard of Directors.

It is important that the Georgians become the rocksolid foundation upon which the School can depend in good times and bad.

Under some of your predecessors, the Georgianshave experienced a resurgence. Neil Menzies ’82rebuilt the Association while Alex Tsakumis ’84significantly raised the profile of the Georgians in theSt. George’s community. How will you continue tomomentum and take it to the next level?

In order to take the Georgians to the next level we willneed to execute our Strategic Plan and in particular, wewill need to:

1. build our Year Captain system so that each year ofgraduates has an organization to keep their yearstrongly connected together, to the School, and tothe larger Georgian community;

2. improve our data base of information so we cancommunicate with our Georgians more effectively;

3. create active Georgian Chapters in other cities, suchas Toronto, Calgary, Hong Kong, and elsewhere; and

4. improve and increase participation in our events,such as the Homecoming Rugby Games on May 2nd.

These are exciting times for the School and theAssociation, especially as we begin the search for theSchool’s next headmaster and as we create the nextStrategic Plan. In what way do you think the

Georgians should be consulted on these twoimportant issues?

Alumni are the heart of any great school and theGeorgians are no different. We attended the School, wedonate to the School, we send our sons to the School,and we help the School throughout our lives in amyriad of ways. We also see ourselves as the guardiansof the traditions and values of the School. The strongerthe Georgians are, the stronger the School will be.

As a result, I believe the Georgians should have direct input into the selection of the next headmaster and the development of the next strategic plan. Without the active support of theGeorgians, these two important initiatives of theSchool will not be successful.

In my view, this means that those charged withcarrying out these initiatives should contact Georgiansfrom all eras and backgrounds, maintain regularcommunications with the Georgian Board of Directorson these initiatives, and give the Georgians importantroles on those decision-making bodies.

From the time you were a student at Saints to now asPresident of the Georgians, what are your feelings onhow the School has evolved?

The School has moved forward on its trajectory from the time I was a student in the late 1970s. The academic standing of the School has grown and will continue to do so into the future. Programs have expanded to create an enriched and diverse environment. Consequently, our students regularly gain admittance to many famous universities and institutions.

Also, the athletics programs have improved and placeSaints at the top in the Province. We had great rugbyteams in my day but we now have great teams innearly every sport you can imagine. A great example isthe AAA Basketball team which recently won theProvincial Championships. As my fellow GeorgianDirector Bruce Jackson '78 has said, "in our day wedidn't win too many basketball games, we were reallythe rugby team in tank tops".

The School sits now as the best School in the Provinceand is considered among the very best in Canada. Itruly believe that it is poised to become one of thegreat boys’ schools in the world. Its path has been setlong ago and has been led by a succession ofdedicated headmasters, teachers, parents, and, of course, Georgians.

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W RLD!Hello

VA N C O U V E R A N D T H E O LY M P I C S


It’s clear, in the deadline driven universe of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games, that when it comes towork, Taleeb Noormohamed '94 is all business. As Director, Corporate Strategy and Partner Relations for

the Vancouver Organizing Committee (VANOC) for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, Taleebis responsible for VANOC’s overall relationships and negotiations with all its government partners and foraddressing key issues ranging from strategic planning and security negotiations to tax remission and theOlympic Truce at the UN. He is also responsible for VANOC’s Canada’s Games strategy and has negotiated

agreements to bring each of Canada’s provinces and territories into the Vancouver 2010 family.

He has been very active on the Board of Directors of a number of organizations including Covenant HouseVancouver, the Leukemia Research Fund of Canada, and the West Vancouver Community Centre. Before

joining VANOC, Taleeb worked as a senior adviser to the Privy Council Office and later as Executive Directorof the Air India Flight 182 Bombing Review and Inquiry. In 2007, he received the Governor General’s Caring

Canadian Award from Governor General Michaëlle Jean.

We keep hearing about the Olympic spirit. What exactly is this Olympic spirit and what does itmean to you?

First, I think it’s important to remember that we are theorganizing committee for the Olympic and theParalympic Games. Two distinct sets of activities, butreally one big celebration of excellence for us all. Withthat in mind, I think this spirit is, fundamentally, thebelief and the attitude that we will act ethically,creatively, and collaboratively in our desire to be thebest that we can be and to help others achieve theirown success. I think it’s really the ideal that we will, as aresult of these games, inspire Canadians and, indeed,everyone who comes into contact with these games toachieve things that they never could have imaginedthey could achieve. That’s what the Olympic andParalympic Games are all about: pushing us all toachieve our own greatness, whatever that means toeach of us, as we overcome our own personalchallenges, whatever they might be.

The Olympics are much more than just competitivesports. Can you talk about the issues surroundingsustainability, the environment, partnerships withFirst Nations and other communities, social inclusion,and responsibility?

I am convinced that these games, perhaps more thanany games in history, will leave a legacy that willfundamentally alter how we see one another, how werelate to our First Nations, how we act in a mannerwhich respects our environment, how we deal with thechallenges that our fellow citizens face, and how wedare ourselves to do things that require us to reachoutside our own limitations. If one looks at thepartnership with the Four Host First Nations as anexample, what one finds, is a dual partnership. Bycreating opportunities for our First Nations to showcasetheir cultural assets and their skills, we have made richerthe story we tell the world and added a level ofcreativity and inspiration to how we at VANOC do ourbusiness, whether it’s our Look of the Games ordelivering critical parts of our operations.

On the environment, we have taken unprecedentedsteps to protect habitats, to design our venues in anecologically responsible and sustainable manner, to use,for example, pine-beetle wood in the construction ofvenues, and to limit the waste that we generate, fromconstruction sites to how much we print. For us socialinclusion has not just been about a theoreticaldiscussion of the problems that some of our fellowcitizens face with homelessness and addiction. Rather, it

LOGOS USED WITH PERMISSION


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Taleeb Noormohamed '94, holding Quatchi, one of the Olympic mascots.


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has meant creating tangible ways for us to improve thelives of others while giving them an opportunity to helpstage these games.

Our partnership with Rona to build a fabrication shop inthe Downtown Eastside has not only provided skillstraining to a significant number of individuals, it has alsoallowed those skills to be used to produce itemsessential for the delivery of the games. This training andexperience is a legacy that will last long after the Gamescome and go.

These games are as much Vancouver’s games as theyare Canada’s games. How are you engaging the rest ofCanada to celebrate the games in Vancouver?

One of the most challenging and rewarding parts of myresponsibilities at VANOC is to help fulfill our mandateand commitment that these are Canada’s Games. To thatend, I have spent much of my time ensuring that everysingle Province and Territory is a partner in these gamesand that their citizens benefit from these games beinghere in Canada.

We want the world to come here and see what ourcountry’s rich diversity of culture, of economic strength,of opportunity across sectors is all about, and the bestway for this to occur is for each Province and Territory towork with us to help tell their story. At the same time,these Games are a wonderful way to inspire people tolead healthy and active lives. By working with schools,governments and communities across the country, ourhope is to inspire people to live their own Olympic andParalympic moment. I really do believe that this ishappening, whether it’s the woman wearing aVancouver 2010 pin with incredible pride at the coffeeshop in downtown Charlottetown or the hundreds ofkids who come out to meet our mascots in farawayplaces like St. John’s and Inuvik, every one of theseindividuals is touched by these games and theirconviction that they, as Canadians, own a piece of thesegames in their heart and mind.

Who do you see as the key stakeholders and what arethe challenges in managing these various groups?

Really, our stakeholders are the athletes, the IOC and IPC,our sponsors and governments, and of course allCanadians. When you speak of challenges, VANOC hastaken an approach that has meant we aren’t managingthese groups, as you say. Quite the opposite! Because wesee our partners, regardless of whether they are acommercial or non-commercial entity, as partners, theyhelp us to solve problems, they work with us andunderstand what we can and can’t do. I think this is verymuch driven by the fact that we can speak frankly andcandidly with one another about where we see thingsgoing and how we need to work together to ensure thesuccess of the games. For us, this is one of the most

important parts of our job. We constantly communicatewith our stakeholders so that we can be ahead ofproblems and proactive in ensuring our collectivesuccess and satisfaction.

Success in this context is not just about operationalsuccess, it is also about ensuring that we help to returnvalue to the investment that our sponsors’ partners andothers have made; it’s about providing our athletes withthe best venues and the best support for their success;it’s about building a team of people who believe in oneanother and what they do. Above all else, it’s about notonly knowing we left things a little better than we foundthem, but that everyone who has invested a part ofthem in this, feels as though they were part of a legacywhich will last as a real marker of what we can achievewhen we work together. That’s success for us!

There has been a lot of press coverage recently aboutthe cost overruns for the Olympics, whether it is theOlympic Village or security needed during the games.Is it really still worth bringing the Olympics toVancouver?

Unquestionably yes! At a time when the whole world islooking desperately for ways to improve the mood ofcitizens, to create opportunity, and to stimulate localand regional economies and create ‘brand awareness’for cities and countries, we have the gift of the Olympicand Paralympic Games. Not only am I talking aboutdirect spending here before and during the Games, butalso the opportunity our city and country will have toshow the world what we’re all about. Whether it’s howwe delivered venues on time and on budget, ininnovative, creative and cost effective ways, or what agreat place Canada is to visit and to do business.

It’s also been a great way for us to improveinfrastructure that will bring business, tourism, and tradeto BC for years to come: the RAV line to the airportwhich, as someone who has travelled to every provinceand territory at least twice in the last couple of years Ican tell you will be an asset to travelers: the Sea to Skyhighway: or the opportunities that the new ConventionCentre presents. All of this will be showcased during theGames to leaders, journalists, tourists, and executivesfrom around the world.

I haven’t even mentioned what this has meant for theimprovement for social housing or the intangiblebenefits of a newly inspired population. So I’d ask you,given all this, where would we be if we didn’t have theGames? We are privileged to have this opportunity andit’s up to all of us to realize its potential value. I thinkPremier Floyd Roland of the Northwest Territories put itbest when asked a similar question: “How can you notsupport the Games? Not to take advantage of this kindof opportunity shows a real lack of leadership”. He and


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his colleagues across the country are already seeing thevalue and benefit of these games, not just to Vancouver,but to the whole country, as a real beacon of hope andinspiration for Canada.

It is probably no exaggeration to say that you areliving and breathing the Olympics every day. Can youshare with your fellow Georgians your experience ofworking at VANOC? Can you give us an insider’s lookinto VANOC and what have you learned from thisexperience?

I’m not sure I can do it justice but let me try. Imaginebeing under a microscope 24 hours a day, seven days aweek, knowing that every deadline is non- negotiable,and that no matter what you do, the show begins onFebruary 12, 2010. The clock is always running. It’s anexhilarating experience because you’re racing againstthe clock with some of the most intelligent people you’llever meet from around the world. Some have workedmany games but, for others, these are the only gamesthey know. Everyone is working as a team towards onegoal. Our people, from our volunteers to our Board, andeveryone in between, all of us know how to pulltogether and trust each other to deliver.

There are few things in the world that push you to be ascreative, as nimble, as intellectually agile and physicallyresilient as working at VANOC. Recognizing one’s ownlimitations and how to challenge them in order to puton the Games, one must check one’s ego at the door.The only road to success is when the entire team learnsthat they are not alone: there’s an entire country pullingand that when the team feels itself to be out of gas, itwill either see someone excited about the Games ontelevision, or one of Canada’s athletes competing onone of our venues, and all of the members realize justhow lucky they are, as a team, to be part of this.

Can you describe what your role with VANOC is?

As Director of Corporate Strategy and Partner Relations,I’m responsible for a few key pieces of our business:raising our non-commercial revenue through ourpartnerships with Provinces and Territories,communities, and municipalities; managing our overallrelationship with the Federal and ProvincialGovernments, Vancouver, Whistler and our Venue Cities;providing strategic advice to other parts of VANOC onhow to work with our Senior Governments; sharingresponsibility for managing GovernmentCommunications, and ensuring that we deliver servicesto our Domestic Dignitaries and Special Guests duringour Games. I also share responsibility for helping todeliver the Olympic Truce Resolution at the UnitedNations and developing a meaningful legacy projectinternationally that is inspired by this resolution.

I’m passionate about what I have the privilege of doing,because every day, I have the chance to feel as though I’ma part of something that is bringing Canada andCanadians a little closer together around something inwhich they all believe and about which they all feel good.

As part of the hope that all Canadians will contributeto the Olympics, what are you doing personally?

I do believe that I have the best job in the company,without question, because I have had the opportunity towork with every province, territory, our federalgovernment, and all our local municipal partners to findways to inspire Canadians from every corner of ourcountry to be part of the Games. Whether supporting theTorch Relay as it crisscrosses Canada, the CulturalOlympiad, our athletes through the Own the PodiumCampaign, or signing up to be volunteers, Canadians arestepping up. I personally help to create avenues forpeople to participate by showing them what they can doand how they can join in. As I’ve travelled across Canada,I cannot express to you how great it feels to know thatwherever we are, in whatever part of Canada we wake upin, because of these Games, we’re always at home, andaround people who see our success as their own.


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The Bowron Lakes Adventure of a Lifetime!BY: ALISTAIR PALMER '71

Georgians, camaraderie, and life-long friendships have early beginnings. Back in the spring of1969 when I was in Grade 10 at Saints, three of my classmates and I headed out to Long Beach,Tofino in a Volkswagen Beetle. That was before the area became a National Park and whenthere was only an old logging road to get there! Now fast forward to July 2008, 39 years later!Two of these buddies and I gathered at the Bowron Lakes Lodge, along with our children, tonavigate what is ranked by Outdoor Magazine, as one of the top ten canoe trips in the world.


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“The Bowron Lake Provincial Park is a magnificentwilderness situated in the Cariboo Mountain Ranges ofcentral British Columbia. The park covers an area ofapproximately 121,600 hectares and, within itsboundaries, is a circuit of eleven lakes connected byportages and rivers. This roughly rectangular watersystem forms a completely enclosed 116 km wildernesscanoe circuit that is unique to our planet. No othercanoe circuit combines the beautiful rivers, spectacularmountain scenery, placid lakes, and varied wildlife of theBowron Lake route.” *

Ross Waters '71, his son, Braeden '98 (age 28) anddaughter Brittany (age 25), Tom Jennings '71, and hisdaughter Chloe (age 14), my own two sons Hayden (age16) and Torsten (age 14), and I had reserved our grouppasses six months earlier and we were well prepared forthe adventure of a lifetime. Early the next morning wewent to the Park Ranger’s Registration Centre to receiveour orientation. Little did we realize just how amazingand awe-inspiring this trip was going to be and that alleight of us would bond as one larger family.

I first heard about the Bowron Lakes from a well-knownoutdoor photographer, guide outfitter, and author, Chris

Harris, whom I had met in 1998 at Echo Valley Ranch &Spa near Clinton, BC. He planted this canoe trip seed inmy head. A small irony is that Chris was one of theoriginators of the Outdoor Trek Program offered atPrince of Wales High School, after which the Grade 10 St. George’s Discovery Program was loosely modelled.Coincidently, Hayden had just finished the DiscoveryProgram a month before we started out.

Our journey began with the longest portage of 2.4 kmfrom the Registration Centre to Kibbee Lake. Forportaging, we had strap-on wheels and convenientlyloaded most of our supplies into the canoes. Theweather had been overcast but the sun streamed downon us for our first launch. Within five minutes, weencountered a mother moose and her calf crossing theshallow reed-filled lake right in front of us! This was trulyawesome and proved to be our good trip omen and wasonly one of many shared bonding moments throughoutour expedition.

As it turned out, we had every “group” campsite toourselves for the whole trip and they were all great. They had level and well-drained tent-pad areas, plentyof firewood, outhouses, and metal bear-proof lockers.


They were well protected by trees but always with aview over the lakes.

The first night saw us camp on Indianpoint Lake, thesecond of the series. The next day, after some eveningshowers, the sun beamed down again as we canoed towhere the lake narrowed and became very shallow.Guided by orange markers, we weaved our way throughthe tall reeds until we came upon a tiny lake withanother awesome sight. A very large male moose with aspectacular rack was wading around in shoulder-deepwaters. We maneuvered ourselves as close as possiblewithout invading what appeared to be his earlymorning ritual. Every time he raised his head fromfeeding on the underwater reeds, the water glided likeliquid silver down his rack, separating at each antlerpoint like mini-waterfalls draining back into the lake.Feeling blessed, we watched in awe for over 20 minutes.

That night we camped near Wolverine Bay on Lake Isaac,the longest lake in the circuit (almost 70 km). Theshoreline was mostly rocky and the icy cold water wascrystal clear. The lake was sandwiched between tworows of mountains and the surface became choppy inthe afternoons as the wind tunnelled down its longnarrow funnel-like shape.

Day three had us commencing upon a very lengthycanoe journey to just past the middle of Isaac Lake. Ourcampsite had the best vantage point and we could lookeither north to our left or south to our right. We had asoft sandy brown beach and despite the lake’s chillywaters, the kids went swimming and learned the art ofcanoedel-bobbing!

Before dinner, ominous dark clouds had formed at thenorthern end of the lake and there was echoing thunderand lightning flashes quickening in tempo. As this stormheaded towards us, the lake whipped up into three-footwaves and the wind began screaming all around,bending trees and scattering leaves about us. Then therain, mixed with hail, suddenly pounded down upon us,as we huddled under our group tarp.

There were more lighting bolts and the rolling roar ofthunder rumbled on down the length of the lakeechoing off the large granite-walled slopes into thesouthern valleys. It became dark very fast but just as

quickly the wind died down and the sky lightened witha golden hue of the setting sun. The lake grew calmerand the rain suddenly stopped. Looking south, thestorm continued its journey and we celebrated our closeencounter with nature’s fury with a welcome proteindinner and juice packs.

The next day within half an hour of heading out, itbegan to pelt down with rain. Canoeing with ponchos,rain gear, and tarps, we clung to the rocky shoreline alltoo mindful of the on-coming squalls and the churningwaves that could swamp us. On either side weretowering mountains with their avalanche chutesscarring the dense green slopes, where we had hoped tospot grizzlies. Apparently these were their favouritevegetation spots for grazing on wild berries.

At the end of Isaac Lake we came to the Chute. Thiscamp area had a nice concrete-slabbed cooking hutwith a fireplace, peaked roof, and solid picnic tables.Dangling from the rafters were miniature carved canoepaddles with names and dates of the adventurers whohad come before us. We contemplated whether or notto ride the Chute (a short stretch of white-water rapidsrecommended for experienced canoeists only) orportage our way to McLeary Lake.

Tom, Ross, and Braeden were the most experienced and skilled canoeists amongst us. I gained myconfidence knowing that Hayden had acquired hiswhite-water ticket and had canoed the Stikine Riveronly weeks before. Several of us tested the Chutesection with no supplies aboard and managed the thrilland its endorphin-laced adrenalin rush. Then the raincame. Torrential rain! But, we were lucky, we had shelter.We hung up our wet equipment and cooked our dinner.Then we got out the crib board and played into theevening using candles and lanterns.

The next day before heading out, a young Germancouple arrived and we encouraged and advised themon ‘shooting’ the Chute rapids. They were grateful andthe young man photographed us as we headed out oneby one slicing through the rapids and bobbling downthe white water known as the “Roller Coaster”. It was atotal thrill and I was glad we had risen to the challengepresented by this stretch. It all happened so fast andwithin two minutes we were well down the river andhad to pull out to avoid the Cascades Waterfall, a drop of about eleven metres. We portaged the rest of the way to McLeary Lake.

This was the beginning of a very lazy drifting paddle.Moving water can be so quiet yet all powerful. It was likea slow overflow from one lake to the next beforebecoming a river. Once again, we encountered a moosein a very shallow marsh land flats. The terrain waslevelling out into a widening valley with magnificentsnow-capped mountains far off in the distance.

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What kept us from succumbing to the monotony of theconstant paddling was not just the dramatic change inscenery but that we alternated the groupings in thecanoes with every outing. This allowed us to get to knowone another, bond, and integrate. The generation gapwas narrowed. We made group decisions and took turnsleading off in our respective canoes: one big family on ajourney of adventure and discovery. We canoed alongside by side telling stories, jokes, riddles, singing songs.We were a floating family of fun and laughter.

Cariboo River was one of my favourite sections. As wemeandered along past river sand banks and canal-likeopenings through tall reeds, we saw beaver lodges anddams, chewed sticks and muddy trails, with tracksleading up and over small marsh humps. The air was dryand a pleasant soft breeze warmed us as we glideddown the river. Nature just kept presenting itself as wedrifted faster. The sounds of the alder trees rustled withthe occasional breeze and the shallow waters rushedover pebbled spots, bubbling and popping over andaround tree snags. Marsh birds chirped. It was all aboutbeing in the moment and inhaling life!

We entered Lanezi Lake, which then merged into Sandy Lake and then we had another slow moving drain towards Unna Lake. This was a very isolated lake in an atmosphere of alpine-like meadows. It was veryshallow with darkened waters and sheltered from thewind. It reflected the mountains and tall trees like ablackened mirror.

Had we continued beyond our turn-off point, we mighthave been headed for certain disaster as the 24-metreCariboo Falls lay only a short distance away. Thepounding spray rising up was like a cool steam bath.Instead, we opted to hike to an astonishing view of athunderous display of raw force. We heard the roar longbefore we emerged from the alpine forest. The power ofnature can take so many forms and yet it can be somellow too. We camped the night at picturesque UnnaLake. The early morning steam arose from this glass-likesurface creating an eerie and ethereal atmosphere. Thedistant landscape mesmerized me with its constantlyshifting appearance.

The next set of lakes included Babcock Lake, to whichwe started out with a short portage from a rangerstation. The temperature was rising and the black flieswere out. We were only too happy to get back on thewater and paddle around near to the high floating reedsthat acted as a shoreline. The mountains appeared so faraway and it felt more like a flood valley. It was an idealplace to catch glimpses of moose, bear, or deer. Except

for the peaceful symphony of sounds from the everpresent marsh birds, it was all so quiet. The lappingwater against our canoes took on a rhythmic cadence aswe plowed through the mirrored waters. With everystroke, the beads of water dripped off my paddledisrupting the shimmering smooth reflections of thewhite puffed clouds and pale blue skies high above us.

Again, we encountered a female moose beforeportaging to Skoi Lake. The portages were shorter and easier. Within the hour, we leap-frogged on toSpectacle Lakes. Near the middle, we ran aground on an inviting sandbar, which forced us out of ourcanoes in order to drag them to the other side. I wantedto go for a swim but the younger generation wassuffering from “get home-itis”. Talk of hamburgersand milk shakes and creature comforts gave way to a determination to return home. Instead of spending one more night, the majority decided they wanted tohead for home base. I was despondent. I didn’t want this spectacular journey to end.

We dug in and paddled hard and up beyond Swan Lakeinto a maze of smooth canals weaving through moremarshland at the south end of Bowron Lake. Once intothe clear, we were faced with a stiff breeze. Throughsheer determination, like seasoned warriors, we defiedthe prevailing winds and clawed our way back to ourhome base at the Bowron Lakes Lodge.

We savoured our victory burgers, fries, shakes, andcelebratory beer before driving all the way to Tom’s placenear 100-Mile House, where we curled up in our sleepingbags on soft mattresses inside a warm house. The odysseywas over but my outlook on life was forever changed.

I felt united with this band of adventurers. We had allshared that deep feeling of being at one with natureand the universe. I’m sure everyone was abuzz with themarvel of the grandeur and beauty of this amazingjourney, experiencing a reverence for our planet earthand its place within the universe.

Four months later, Ingo Schmiegel, a Germanphotographer emailed and directed us to his website todownload photographs of us breaking through theChute and tackling the Roller Coaster. A total strangerhad become our friend and had captured and sharedour moments of truth, triumph, and spirit of adventure.

* Chris Harris has guided the Bowron Lakes over 100 timesand has written an invaluable hand-sized guidebook withmaps, diagrams, and helpful instructions, which of coursewe used in our preparation: “The Bowron Lakes – A Guideto Paddling British Columbia’s Wilderness Canoe Circuit”.Chris has also published a hard-bound pictorial coffee-table sized book entitled: “The Bowron Lakes – BritishColumbia’s Wilderness Canoe Circuit”. If you’re consideringtaking this trip, I would advise you to get them both! Hiswebsite is: www.chrisharris.com


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CAPTURING GOLD

Ben Cooper '95 is Manager of the Men’s National Teams Video at Hockey Canada. He was recently at theWorld Junior Hockey Championships in Ottawa, where he served as video coach for Team Canada. Workingunder Pat Quinn and the rest of the coaching staff, he helped Team Canada capture its fifth straight WorldJunior Championships. This month, he will be working in the same role under Team Canada GeneralManager Steve Yzerman at the Men’s World Championships in Switzerland as well as for the Men’sCanadian Olympic team in 2010.

The Dragon had the chance to sit down with Ben to ask him about his experience at Hockey Canada.

BEN COOPER '95


What was it like winning the World Junior HockeyChampionships? What was it like in the building?

It was an unforgettable experience from start to finish and was surreal and extremely rewarding to be part of it. Long hours of hard work went into it and after we won, the noise of Scotiabank Place was louder than in any arena in which I’ve ever been.Standing on the blue line, singing the anthem, andwatching our flag being raised is a feeling I will neverforget as long as I live.

To what do you attribute the success of the Juniorprogram, culminating in their fifth straight gold?

There are a lot of factors. Canada has an extremelydeep pool of talented hockey players from which tochoose and that is a testament to all the coaches andminor hockey programs in Canada who have helpedwith their development. We only had four returningplayers from the previous year yet we had numerous17- and 18-year olds who stepped right in andproduced. I was amazed at their maturity and skilllevel. They all had great character and, as a result, cametogether as a team, which is so important in thesetournaments. Our players also had an enormous desireto win. They were literally willing to do whatever it tookand that became their sole focus throughout thetournament. We had players who had been first-lineplayers all their lives, who were now on our fourth lineaccepting whatever role was asked of them.

No other country can match our physical style of playand it certainly intimidated other teams. A great dealof work went into this by the coaches and all theHockey Canada staff. Not one single detail had beenoverlooked. Everything from nutrition, team meetings,

meal times, practice times, which players roomedtogether, who sat next to whom in the dressing rooms, transportation, team building events, technical and motivational videos meant for months of detailed preparation.

The Hockey Canada Management does a great job ofputting everything together so the coaches can justfocus on coaching. We also had Steve Yzerman, MarkMessier, and Dale Hawerchuk speak to the team abouttheir experiences representing Canada. I can say,without a doubt, we were the most prepared team inthat tournament.

How does the coaching staff at Hockey Canadainspire the players to bring out the best in them?

Each player was given a role to fulfill. Pat Quinn said tothe team: “You know the saying there is no ‘I’ in team?Well that’s bull…it starts with I”. What he meant was:each player had to be accountable; they had to playtheir role on the team to the best of their abilities sothat collectively the team would be better as a whole.The coaches were almost never satisfied. They werefair, yet they were constantly pushing the players to bebetter. During one of the intermissions againstGermany, I think we were up something like 4–0, Pat Quinn came in to the dressing room and he wasn’ttoo happy. We were making little mistakes that didn’tmean anything against Germany but, against Russia orSweden, it might cost us the gold medal.

Can you explain to our readers what exactly you do as a video coach?

I am an extension of the coaching staff. I help get the team prepared through the use of video. Leadingup to selection camp, I might breakdown video of


players from our long list in order to determine whichplayers might be invited to selection camp. Inparticular, I prepare video of the NCAA players,unknown by the coaches. We also scouted, throughvideo, CHL players from the CHL/Russia Challengegames for selection camp.

Throughout the tournament, I would be constantlybreaking down video of our play and all the otherteams in the tournament. Every day, I’d prepare videofor our team meetings. Some of it would show ourplay, both negatives and positives, and some of itwould show our opposition and the type of systemsthey would use. During the games I would be in thecoaches’ office, sitting in front of multiple monitorsand a computer, on radio with one of our assistantcoaches in the press box, and another assistant coachon the bench. I would break down the game on acomputer in real-time using a hockey editing software.I would mark about 25 different aspects of playthroughout the game as it happened. I could thenimmediately relay certain things to the coaches onradio or show it to them during the intermissions. Iwould also prepare motivational videos as well ascommemorative videos for the team. Our softwareallows us to pull up very specific things to show in aninstant. It’s a sophisticated program used to prepare us as a team.

How important has video become in preparing teamsfor competition?

It’s critical. Every team in the NHL now has a videocoach and almost every team in the CHL has one aswell. Even most Tier 2 Junior A teams have someonewho makes the video. Nowadays if you don’t use videoyou’re at a huge disadvantage. Having said that, thereare some head coaches out there who use a ton ofvideo and some who use very little but they all use itto some extent.

What in your opinion makes a good coach?

There are many good coaches and many factors thatgo into the making of a good coach. At the élite level,I’ve noticed that some of the best head coaches don’tover-coach. They let the players play. They put a systemin place, they get the team to buy into that system,they give a role to each player, motivate and pushthem to work hard, and then let their skill take over.They’ll make little adjustments here and there asneeded but they don’t turn the players into robots bydetailing out every possible situation. The game is toofast for players to have to think about every situationduring the game, they just need to instinctively readand react.

Besides work, what role does sport play in your life?In your personal life, how do you incorporate sportinto a healthy lifestyle?

When I’m not travelling I still play hockey twice a week.The Hockey Canada office is located inside a rink so wehold some decent games every Thursday at lunch. Inaddition, I also play rugby for the Calgary CanucksRugby Club.

What was the process you went through to reach thispoint in your career?

Prior to moving to Calgary, I lived in Toronto for sevenyears. It was there I got my start as video coach for theToronto Marlies of the American Hockey League. TheMarlies are the farm team for the Maple Leafs. I did thatfor several years, working with current NHL HeadCoach Paul Maurice and also former NHL Head CoachGreg Gilbert. I learned a great deal working with them,developed my video skills, worked hard, and built up agood reputation. From there an opportunity came upwith Hockey Canada. I had interviewed for the sameposition I now have two years prior and didn’t get it.When the guy they eventually hired at that timemoved on to become video coach for the FloridaPanthers, I interviewed again and this time got the job.

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1951

• In his long art career Bill McLuckie, a Vancouverpainter, has produced a large number of paintings inwatercolour and oils and his works are included innumerous art collections, both corporate and private.He has also been sought after to do manyCommissions. To view a number of Bill’s works, youcan visit his website at www.billmcluckie.com.

1957

• Chris Harker, not surprisingly, went into the familybusiness – though in the public sphere. Havingtaught and administered in schools in severalcountries for 35 years, he retired and, with his wifeCatriona, established a safari company. Since 2001they have organized and escorted safaris to Tanzania(www.chriscatsafaris.ca) several times a year. Inaddition, they volunteer for a Canadian-based NGOknown as CHES that provides secondary education togirls in the Hanang district of Tanzania. Chris hasrecently published a book, White Necklace, whichdescribes contemporary life for young adults and thework that he and Catriona do in this very poor thirdworld nation. Anyone wishing more information oneither safaris or CHES is encouraged to contact Chrisat [email protected].

• Derek Sidenius and his wife Naiwei Bai, co-foundersof Wan-Da Tour Company of Victoria, are offeringtours to all parts of China, Tibet and Southeast Asia.Their office is located in Victoria (1.888.369.2632).They offer a five percent discount on all tours for St. George’s students, Georgians, and their families.

• Dr. Jon O. Strom retired from 45 years of dentalpractice. He spent five years with the Royal CanadianDental Corps and 40 years in dental practice in WestVancouver. He is presently volunteering as a crosscountry timing official at Whistler Olympic Park inCallaghan Valley for the 2010 Olympic andParalympic Games.

1961

• Thomas J. Sadler of Lakewood, Washington, accededto the position of Chair of the National Association ofState Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) for 2008–2009during NASBA’s 101st Annual Meeting in Boston,Massachusetts. NASBA is the largest regulatoryoganization in the world. Over 650,000 CertifiedPublic Accountants are regulated by NASBAmembers in the U.S. and worldwide. As Tom shareswith us, his accomplishment is not so bad for anAmerican whom Mr. Roxburgh wanted to send downthe road on many occasions and whom the late Mr. Parker-Jervis '35 thought was un-teachable!

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Chris and his son, Robb.


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1966

• Dave Denholm wrote in to share all the excitingnews about his family. After 30 years as an ordainedpastoral minister with the United Church of Canada,David has put that behind him and, as of January 1,2009, he started Holms-Den Enterprises - HomeImprovements and Home Renovations in and around Stettler, AB where he has been living foralmost 22 years.His partner of 34 years, Patricia Lansdell-Denholmcontinues to intrigue and please the folks of CentralAlberta and beyond with her pottery, Pottery byPatricia. Dave’s son, Murray, age 29, is to be married toLori in Leduc, AB on June 20, 2009. His daughter, Lisa,age 26, is finishing her degree in Education and ismoving to, where else but, Vancouver, BC.

1971

• John Dolmage writes that he has completed alifelong dream of converting a work boat to a yacht. Ithas been a seven-year project which is now completeand can be seen on his and his wife’s (Lee) website atwww.capeross.com.

1972

• Michael Moore (performing name Michael Waters) iscoming out with his next CD. To learn more aboutMichael’s music or to download some sample songs,you can visit his website at www.ladybirdmusic.com.

1975

• Andrew Bibby became President and CEO ofGrosvenor Americas at the beginning of 2009 and isnow working in San Francisco. He is responsible forthe U.S. and Canadian operations of Grosvenor, theinternational property development, investment andfund management group. Although Andrew is in SanFrancisco, his son, Oliver, remains in Grade 8 at Saints.

• The Canadian Library Association has just published abook by Guy Robertson entitled Unofficial Wisdom.

1976

• Geoff Wheelwright has been living and working inthe U.S. since 2006. He works in Redmond,Washington at Microsoft and manages parts of the“TechNet” website for information technologyprofessionals on the Microsoft.com website.

1977

• As Chairman and Manager of the PhilippineInfrastructure Development Fund, ChristopherHarriman is currently active in advising thePhilippine President and Cabinet to advance theirnation’s building efforts to further their nationalprosperity initiatives. He writes that he has been fortunate to have been asteward of new enterprise, at the apex of the birth offour of our world’s newer nations as a strategic andspecial business development and political advisor tofour international leaders: the Prime Minister ofBrunei, the President of Namibia, the Prime Ministerof Thailand and the President of Kazakhstan. Outsideof his leadership advisory role, this will be the eighthcountry with which he will have been an integral partof re-birth and or economic revitalization.

1978

• Dr. W. Gordon Kruberg continues to engineer histiny Linux computers that are the size of a stick ofgum. In 2003, Gordon started Gumstix in the garageof his Portola Valley, California home, near StanfordUniversity, which he shares with his wife, Nancy, andtheir four daughters. He has built the growingcompany by taking on many roles, including bothCEO and lead hardware architect. Fellow GeorgianDon Anderson ’77 brings these technical productsto market and Gumstix now has customers in morethan 40 countries around the world. This is their thirdcompany together over the past eight years, eventhough Don, with his wife, Barbara, and their twosons, resides and works in Vancouver, BC.

1980

• Justin Rigsby is currently the Chair of the Board of Directors of the BC Chamber of Commerce. As partof that role, he is the BC representative on the Boardof the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. The BCChamber of Commerce is the “Voice of BC Business”representing over 32,000 businesses and over 125Chambers of Commerce from across BC.

1982

• Scott Nicoll has been appointed Chair of the Board ofKwantlen Polytechnic University.


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1986

• Since early 2007, Derek K. Miller has been on leavefrom his job as Communications Manager forVancouver’s Navarik Corp. because of ongoing cancertreatment. The good news is that he’s still around, stillhanging out with his wife Airdrie (née Hislop) anddaughters, Marina and Lauren. He is still postingupdates to his long-running blog atwww.penmachine.com. He turns 40 this summer, andwill be glad to.

1987

• Mark Redcliffe opened Jordan Capital Markets Inc.on October 9, 2008, of which he is currently Presidentand CEO. Jordan is the first new IIROC registeredInvestment Dealer in BC in the past 10 years. As Markstates, timing is everything!

1988

• Peter Bell has taken a year off from his job as legalcounsel with the Department of Justice to deploy toKosovo with the Canadian Forces. He is now aLieutenant-Colonel in Pristina working as the Policyand Plans Advisor for the NATO Military-CivilianAdvisory Division that is setting up the new KosovoSecurity Force. His wife and four daughters are takingadvantage of his absence by travelling the world.

1989

• Boris Bong has recently been promoted toManaging Director at Squadron Capital, a fund of Asiaprivate equity funds, based in Hong Kong.

• Chris Taylor is an award-winning journalist in NewYork City.

1991

• Paul Carpenter is married with three children and isliving in Old Greenwich, CT.

1993

• Scott MacKenzie is a litigation lawyer at BoughtonLaw Corporation in Vancouver and his wife, Sarah, is Director of Sales and Events at Culinary Capers Catering.

1997

• Neil Chantler and Louisa Morris will be married onAugust 29, 2009. Neil also made a career move thisyear, transferring to the law firm Fiorillo Glavin &Gordon where he is practising labour andemployment law.

• Joseph Ng writes that since leaving Saints, he haslived in over eight cities and completed his four yearsof work in China at a manufacturing joint venture. Hehas since moved on to finish his MBA from theDarden School of Business, University of Virginia, andhas worked as a management consultant in Toronto.After traveling for 80% of the time with the BostonConsulting Group, he has now moved to the Bay Areato work in corporate strategy for a software company.

1999

• Jonathan Cooper has been promoted to Marketingand Franchise Director for Macdonald Realty Group.

• Andrew Gardiner moved to Beijing China in April of2008. Andrew hopes to improve his knack for theChinese tongue. He hopes his time in China will allowhim to seek further opportunities as a tri-lingualCanadian working overseas (he is also fluent inFrench from his studies at St. George’s).

• Colin George graduated from NYU School of Law lastyear and is now working at the Manhattan offices ofKirkland & Ellis LLP, a law firm.

2000

• Pasha Khamneipur writes that after a decade in theU.S. and away from Vancouver, he has obtained hisMBA at INSEAD in Fontainebleau, France andSingapore. He has recently moved to London, UK towork for consulting firm McKinsey & Company. Hewelcomes fellow Georgians in London to gettogether for a drink and reminisce about woodworking class with “Daddy” Stancombe '62 or“Fridays” with Mr. Bauman.

2001

• Warren Miles-Pickup was recently interviewed by the Vancouver Sun. In the article, he was providingadvice on how investors can get some security giventhe volatile financial markets. He recommended sellingsome of the portfolio and moving into income-producing securities, including high-yield corporatebonds, real-estate investment trusts, mortgages andpreferred and dividend-paying shares.

2002

• Adam Braverman graduated from RyersonUniversity in 2006 with a BFA (Honours) in FilmProduction. He currently works in the film industry inVancouver as a camera assistant.


2004

• Adam Goldenberg graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Harvard University with a Bachelor of Arts inSocial Studies magna cum laude in June 2008. Herecently joined the Office of the Leader of theOpposition in Ottawa.

• Spenser Rocky is graduating this month with aBachelor of Commerce from UBC. Over the past year,he has enjoyed serving as President of the CommerceUndergraduate Society. Spenser was honoured to benamed the Most Outstanding Male in his graduatingclass. He is excited to start a career this fall in theToronto office of the Boston Consulting Group. Hewrites that in the meantime, he will travel Europe andhopefully Africa, but don’t tell Mom!

• Zach Wittenberg has graduated with an HonoursBachelor of Arts in Geography/Urban LandDevelopment from the University of Western Ontario.

2005

• Russell Street writes that several Georgianscompeted for Canada and won gold at the WorldUltimate Championships held last summer at UBC. Inthe Mixed Division were Brendan Wong '00, TylerHislop '01, Mark Leduc '03, Russell Street '05, andScott Hislop '06. In the Open Division was MarcRoberts '95. The following Georgians were on theCanadian Junior Boys Team that won silver: Andy Siy '08, Martin Jim '08, Myles Sinclair, andTim Tsang.

• Ole Tietz and fellow Georgian Elias Hammer '06rowed in the German Long Distance Pair Trial.

BIRTHS

• Chris Taylor '89 and his wife, Line Jean-Louis, theirsecond son, Julien Taylor, on December 11, 2008.

• Faculty member Michael Atkinson and his wife, Eun-jung, their first child, a son, Charlie Kim-Atkinson, onDecember 31, 2008.

• Christian Johannsen '99 and his wife, Nicole, theirfirst child, a son, Tyler Bradley Johannsen, on January9, 2009.

• Kenneth Li '95 and his wife, Ivy, their first child, adaughter, Chelsea Li, on February 2009.

• Doug Wagner '75, a granddaughter, Ayma Wagner,on February 26, 2009.

• Scott MacKenzie '93 and his wife, Sarah, their firstchild, a son, William Roderick MacKenzie on April 10,2009.

• Braeden Waters '98 and his wife, Norna, their firstchild, a daughter, Devyn Reeves Waters, on April 17,2009. Devyn is the first grandchild for Ross ’71 andLouise Waters and first niece for Adam Jolly ’02.

saints’notes

Charlie Kim-Atkinson

Ole and Elias.

Christian holding Tyler Bradley Johannsen

William Roderick MacKenzie


PASSINGS

• Geoffrey P. Plant-Richmond '72on May 15, 2008 at Toronto, ON.

• Edward S. Paschall '55 on May 24, 2008, at Cardiff, California.

• Douglas A. Moore '35on July 18, 2008 at Kelowna, BC.

• John G.H. Nitti '70 on July19, 2008 at Coquitlam, BC.

• Michael Blaire Pellatt '70on August 6, 2008 at Victoria, BC.

• David W.Abbott ’66on August 31, 2008 at Vancouver, BC.

• Charles M. Cree '47 on September14, 2008 at Austin, Texas.

• Gordon A. Iversen '53 on November 9, 2008 at New Westminster, BC.

• Chris Caple '71 on November 14, 2008 at Victoria, BC.

• Richard F. Gosse '41 on November 18, 2008 at Vancouver, BC.

• Gormeillia (Corrie) Johnson on December 9, 2008at Surrey, BC. Mrs. Johnson was the Grade 1 teacherfrom 1956 until her retirement in 1969.

• Justin W. Brown '01 on January 17, 2009 at Vancouver, BC.

• Bill Hamer '54 on January 27, 2009 at Kelowna, BC.

• L. Gordon Thorlaksson '56 on January 30, 2009 at Vancouver, BC.

• William A. DuMoulin '51, father of Philip Du Moulin'84, on February 1, 2009 at Vancouver, BC.

• Nenad B.L. Katalinic '79 on February 21, 2009 at Vancouver, BC.

• Antony St.V. Parker-Jervis '35 on Novemeber 17,2008 at Vancouver, BC. “PJ” was a long-time facultymember, brother of Noel '36, half-brother of ChrisHarker '57, and father of Nicholas '61 and Leigh '66.

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On Sunday, March 1, 2009, a number of Georgianscelebrated the rich & wonderful life of GordonThorlaksson ’56.

His last few years have been spent on BowenIsland, at Tungstell Bay, where he followed hisdreams and enjoyed the beautiful surroundingsthat Island living gave him in plenty.

His many friends of the Island made everyonewelcome in every way, and gave real reason forbecoming an Islander.

Horace Harrison ’54 recounted the Saints side ofhis life, supported by Derek Simpkins ’54, BarrieStubbs ’56, Phil Ramage ’56 & his wife, and BarryMadden ’59. Horace gave a great collage of eventsof those years that most had no trouble imaginingGordon in each scenario.

He excelled in sports and was on the AustralianRugby Team, the offshoot of which, Gordon keptthat group together by organizing many Hy’slunches for the teammates.

He broke and held many Track and Field recordsthat seemed they would never be equaled.

GORDON THORLAKSSON '56

CHARLES CREE '47

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Charles Cree '47 passed away on September 14, 2008. Heand his brother, James, went to Glenlyon-Norfolk School inOak Bay, Victoria and then to St. George’s School whiletheir father was a commander in the Royal Canadian Navyand was based in Vancouver, Victoria, Esquimalt, andPrince Rupert.

When his father left the Navy in 1944, due to ill health,Charles and the rest of his family moved to Albuquerque,New Mexico. His father later received an offer to be theBritish vice-consul in Houston, Texas. Charles graduatedfrom the local high school, age 15, in 1947.

Charles then attended Rice University for a year afterwhich he joined the U.S. Navy for two years and fought inthe Korean War. He was a Corpsman 3rd Class when hewas discharged in 1952. He then returned to Rice tocomplete his education while the rest of his family movedto California.

While attending Rice, he would meet his future wife,Carolyn. They were married on June 6, 1959 at TrinityEpiscopal Church in Houston, Texas. They would havecelebrated their 50th wedding anniversary this year. Theyhave three grown children, Graeme, twins John andDianne, and three grandchildren.

Charles joined IBM in 1960. After 36 years as a seniorprogram and software architect, he retired from thecompany in 1996. He had many patents credited to himselfand his colleagues while working at IBM. Many of the thingsused today in computers Charles helped to create.

Charles and his family lived in many interesting places,including twice in Germany, while Charles was with IBM.The family was fortunate to be able to return to Texas forCharles’ work. The family made a special trip to Vancouverto visit St. George’s School. Charles was so happy that hecould show the School to his wife. It was a wonderful timeand Carolyn hopes that one day she and her daughter willbe able to visit Saints again!

Carolyn Cree


MARRIAGES

• Kenneth Li '95 to Ivy Chen in August 2005.

• Adam Braverman '02 to his high school sweetheartErin Winberg on July 6, 2008.

• Bruce Symons '80 to Melissa Nicole Van Der Meer onAugust 8, 2008 in Calgary, AB. Bruce’s best man washis son Jon Robert Symons.

• Alan Clarke '72 to Sonia F. Mansalapus on September21, 2008 in Gasan on the island of Marinduque in thePhilippines.

• Doug Tennant '85 to Susy Baranszky-Job on August23, 2008 at Gunn Lake, BC. In their wedding partywere their proud children Krista, Erin, Olivia, Nick, andMikylo. Wedding pictures can be seen on theirwebsite www.thebeachbirdhouse.com.

CORRECTION

The editors of The Dragon would like to make somecorrections to the article, “The Castle,” which appearedin the Spring 2008 edition. Thank you to Airlie Ogilvy,President of the Alumnae Association of the SacredHeart, for clarifying a number of points.

The statue, now replaced by the statue of St. George,was not that of Mary, the Mother of Christ, but rather ofthe Sacred Heart of Jesus for whom the order wasnamed. This Sacred Heart Statue can be seen at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Burnaby, BC dedicatedto the memory of the Religious of the Sacred Heart whotaught so many students from the time of the Order’sarrival in Vancouver on February 12, 1911 until theschool’s closure on June 30, 1979.

The school’s closure was not due to declining numbersof students, but rather the declining number of nuns.Quoting Airlie Ogilvy, “With fewer religious available forrunning the school, it was with deep sadness that theSociety had to close the school in 1979, which, indeed,at the time was thriving.”

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Adam and Erin

Bruce and Melissa

Alan and Sonia

saints’notesDragon_Spring_2009_FINAL:The Dragon - Spring 2009 05/05/09 2:13 PM Page 57

GEORGIAN EVENTS IN PHOTOS

The Archives needs your help

When the Fraser Valley flooded in 1948 were you amember of "A" Squadron (St. George’s) BCRegiment Cadets? we would like to gather storiesof your time spent helping the farmers in the FraserValley rescue stranded and marooned livestock. It is our understanding that the School transportedbetween 40 and 50 boys every day for about aweek to help valley residents.

Elizabeth S. KnoxArchivist and HistorianSt. George’s SchoolT: (604) 221-1363E: [email protected]

1) California Georgians’ Evening at the home of Gordon Kruberg '78.

2) Georgians Careers Day: Rod French '86 speaks to the boys as Bruce Jackson '78 and Michael Skene '85 look on.

3) Annual Georgians’ Dinner: Class of '71

4) Annual Dinner: Chris Carpenter '85 (l) and Stephen O’Keefe (r)

5) Annual Dinner, from l to r: Faculty member Daryl Wakeham, Al Marler '70, Georgian Lifetime Achievement Award winner AlanBrown '54, Geof Stancombe '62, and Michael Stanger '96.

6) Annual Dinner, from l to r: Steve Millen '70, David Rolfe '49, Jake Kerr '61, and Alex Tsakumis '84

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yearcaptainsWhat is a Year Captain?

A Year Captain is the designated contact person for his respective Class and serves as theprimary link between his Class and the Association.

What does a Year Captain do?The overall responsibility of a Year Captain is to ensure that every Georgian from his

Class is connected with the Association and the School. A Year Captain plays a role in:

• spreading word about upcoming events,• keeping in touch with members of his Class,

• acting as a point of contact and information source, and• helping to locate lost Georgians from his Class.

LIST OF CURRENT YEAR CAPTAINS

YEAR NAME PHONE EMAIL

1962 Ward McMahon 604 643 7447 [email protected]

1970 Al Marler 604 802 8445 [email protected] Pocock 604 828 5197 [email protected]

1978 Paul Mitchell-Banks 604 761 2853 [email protected] Jackson 604 761 8580 [email protected]

1979 Scott Lamb 604 661 9227 [email protected]

1980 Stephen Jackson 604 661 0742 [email protected]

1981 Simon Jaques 604 662 1800 [email protected]

1982 Neil Menzies 604 731 1100 [email protected]

1983 Brian Grant Duff 604 684 4613 [email protected]

1984 Ryan French 604 844 5373 [email protected]

1985 Stephen O’Keefe 604 264 4653 [email protected]

1986 Gavin Reynolds 604 661 0809 [email protected]

1987 Dirk Laudan 604 640 4154 [email protected]

1988 Rodan Gopaul-Singh 604 418 5721 [email protected]

1989 Geordie Hungerford 604 736 8500 [email protected]

1993 Travis Dowle 604 687 3707 [email protected]

1995 Curtis Fairclough 310 600 2502 [email protected]

1996 Michael Armstrong 604 659 8006 [email protected] Shum 778 998 0909 [email protected]

1999 Bryan Ide 604 221 3885 [email protected]

2000 Matt Ilich 604 640 0533 [email protected]

2001 Tristan Sawtell 604 482 2515 [email protected]

2002 Gavin Dew 604 417 6339 [email protected] Meng 416 779 8345 [email protected]

2004 James Potter 604 605 1123 [email protected]

2007 Daniel Chan 802 377 7877 [email protected]

The success of the Georgians depends on those who have devoted their time and energy. One important set of volunteers is our group of Year Captains.

1963 1971 1990 20031964 1972 1991 20051965 1973 1992 20061966 1974 1994 20081967 1975 19971968 1976 19981969 1977 2002

WE NEED YEAR CAPTAINS!We are looking for Georgians to step forward to be Year Captains for the following years:

If you would like to be a Year Captain, please contact Prentice Durbin '89, the Year Captain Co-ordinator, by phone at (604) 631-4986 or by e-mail at: [email protected].


3851 West 29th Avenue, Vancouver BC V6S 1T6 Canada

SOLD OUT!

WAITLIST A

VAILABLE

Contact Ms. Y

ing Binuya-Barros:

nbinuya@stgeorg

es.bc.ca 604.224.1304

St. George’s SchoolRETURN ALL UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO:

40580507

GALA CONTACTS:FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TICKETS:Ms. Ying Binuya-Barros: 604.224.1304 | [email protected]

GEORGIANS:Bryan R. Ide '99: 604.221.3885 | [email protected]

PAST PARENTS:Leslie Scragg: 604.264.7525 | [email protected] MacKay-Dunn: 604.731.2332 | [email protected] Lin Hsia: 604.272.6567 | [email protected]

Gala Website: www.itsasaintsworld.ca

Be a part of the first St. George’s School Gala

FAIRMONT HOTEL VANCOUVERFriday, October 2, 2009

This Gala will be a once in a lifetimecelebration for Georgians, past parents,current parents, new parents, and staff.

Proceeds from the Gala will go towards the St. George’s School Endowment, the primary goal of which is to providescholarships and bursaries to make the St. George’s world accessible to deserving boys.

It will be a fabulous evening of dining anddancing at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver.

It’s going to be a magical evening and THE EVENT OF THE YEAR!

I T ’ S A S A I N T S W O R L D

T H E G A L A


Documents

The Dragon Spring 2009 Issue