Positioning for the new economy - Seneca College

Spring 2009 

Work at home • A basketball record • Distinguished alumni 

Positioning 

for the new 

economy 

From mentoring newcomers 

to kick-starting new ventures, 

Seneca is helping 

PLUS, 

What’s in your 

benefits package? 

Karen Fiorucci, 

entrepreneur

National Car Rental Program 

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Contract ID: 3715184 

Online reservation link – https://www.nationalcar.ca/offer/senecacollege(res) 

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Join Emerald Club! Simply click on the following 

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Seneca College Corporate Customer Support: 

Please contact our Account Development Representative Group at 1-866-913-4356, 

ADRCanada@nationalcar.com or contact Danny Murray, Account Manager, National Car Rental 

Canada at murrayd@nationalcar.com.

Spring 2009 

Spring 2009 

contents 

p.32 p.34 

p.18 

Work at home • A basketball record • Distinguished alumni 

Issue 27 

Published by: 

Seneca College Alumni Association 

Office of Resource Development 

1750 Finch Avenue East, Toronto, ON M2J 2X5 

416-491-5050 x2960 

Toll free: 1-888-ALUMNUS 

E-mail: alumni@senecaalumni.ca 

Managing Editor 

Helena Moncrieff 

Advertising 

Corey Long 

416-491-5050 ext. 2655 

corey.long@senecac.on.ca 

Contributing Writers 

Tom Bartsiokas 

Rob Colter, Professor, School of English & Liberal Studies 

David Cochrane, TECC 2006 

Andrea Jegins, CRM 1986, HRA 1997 

Corey Long 

Corinne Falconer, Seneca Retirees Association 

Penny Mamais, Professor, School of English & Liberal Studies 

Andrew McDonald, BADO 2004 

Kathy Mueller, RTV 1998 

Helena Moncrieff 

Ryan Rampaul, BAD 1999 

John Sharpe 

Troy White, BSET student 

John Wright 

Contributing Photographers 

Elaine Brodie 

Matthew Gibson, IDP student 

Stephanie Lake 

Adrien Veczan 

Illustrator 

Patricia Storms, GRA 2000 

Design & Production 

Norm Lourenco, R.G.D., Elly Dowson 

Jennifer Neal 

K9 Design Co. Inc. 

Seneca Alumni magazine, with a print circulation 

of 65,000 and electronic distribution of 30,000, 

is published semi-annually by the Seneca College 

Alumni Association. All material is ©2009 and may 

be reprinted with permission of the editor. Seneca 

alumni receive the magazine free of charge. 

Advertising rates are available from the alumni 

office or on-line at www.senecaalumni.ca. 

Letters, articles, story ideas, photographs and artwork 

are welcome. Please enclose a self-addressed, 

postage paid envelope for return of original material. 

The ideas and opinions expressed by Seneca Alumni 

are those of the contributors and do not necessarily 

reflect those of the Association or College. 

Next submission deadline: June 1, 2009. 

Seneca College respects your privacy. We do not rent, 

sell or trade our mailing lists. Please contact Seneca 

Alumni if you do not wish to receive the magazine in 

the future, or would like to update your mailing address. 

p.12 

p.20 

on the cover 

Karen Fiorucci switched careers with the help of 

Seneca’s Centre for Entrepreneurship 

Cover photo by Stephanie Lake 10 

features & profiles 

Positioning 

for the new 

economy 

From mentoring newcomers 

to kick-starting new ventures, 

Seneca is helping 

Focus on 

Positioning for the new economy 

Seneca Corporation looks to world markets 8 

Mentoring opens doors for new Canadian 12 

Class acts 

Newest distinguished alumni make their marks 

everywhere from classrooms to hotel rooms 

to courtrooms. 

• Winston Stewart 16 

• James Cresswell 16 

• Suzanne Marshall 18 

• Phil Russo 20 

• Dale Peers 22 

• Judy Cameron 23 

Stand tall - how to nominate 25 

Exit interview with Dr. Rick Miner 26 

Giving back 

Get a tax break for sharing 27 

Real time 

RTV grad turns off the mic to help in Indonesia 31 

Scott Farber makes working at home a career path 32 

I’ll drink to that! Gavin MacMillan mixes it up. 34 

New on campus 

David Pecaut adds “honorary Senecan” 36 

to his credentials 

Tip sheets 

Thinking about a job change? Check out your benefits. 38 

In sports 

Natasha Thombs breaks a basketball scoring record 39 

Alumni news 

You have a friend request 45 

PLUS, 

What’s in your 

benefits package? 

Karen Fiorucci, 

entrepreneur

from thepresidents 

A moment of 

reflection in a 

challenging final 

year 

Dr. Rick Miner, 

President, Seneca College 

A 

lthough it is somewhat 

sheltered from the ups and 

downs of the market, Seneca is 

nevertheless affected by the current 

global economic turmoil. 

We have already seen an increase 

in post-secondary education, as 

historically happens during tough 

economic times. Our career training 

offers new hope for those who are 

seeking new careers or want to 

upgrade their skills. The flip side 

of this scenario is that with more 

people out of work and companies 

failing, there is a negative effect on the 

provincial government’s tax revenue. 

And so we could still find ourselves 

with an increased need for our high 

quality programming and services 

with little additional funding 

available. 

This has meant that the last few 

months of my time at Seneca have 

been more challenging than I would 

have expected even a year ago. I am 

fortunate to have a Senior Executive 

Committee that has been very 

proactive and supportive during this 

period. In fact, we have all worked 

diligently to minimize any effect the 

economy would have on our students’ 

education, and I believe we have 

made the right choices in doing so. 

Seneca will do what is needed and it 

will continue as a leader in polytechnic 

education. I can say that with absolute 

confidence because I know all that 

Seneca has accomplished in its more 

than 40-year history. 

And now, as I prepare to retire, I 

hope you will allow me a moment of 

reflection. 

My time at Seneca has been a 

wonderful opportunity to work with 

dedicated and caring individuals who 

believe in post-secondary education 

and its power to change lives. Our 

faculty, staff and administrative 

personnel have helped to make 

the last eight years a truly rich and 

satisfying experience. 

The individual who inherits the 

Seneca presidency will assume a 

position of great responsibility that 

also comes with great rewards. The 

greatest of those are the achievements 

of our students and alumni. We are, 

without a doubt, a reflection of each 

other’s success, and I am, and will 

continue to be, proud of all that 

Seneca students accomplish. 

I want to thank you all for your 

support over the years and wish you 

all the best. 

4 

www.senecaalumni.ca

Embracing 

change and 

celebrating our 

friends 

A 

s the world adjusts to new 

financial realities, so do each of 

us individually. For some, it’s a time to 

switch gears and look at new 

opportunities. For others, it’s “stay the 

course,” but be mindful of what 

resources you have. 

Many have chosen to return to school 

for upgrading, retraining or changing 

fields entirely. Some are looking to open 

doors on their own ventures. 

The certainty of change has become 

even more entrenched in our thinking 

about work. 

In this edition, you’ll see how Seneca 

is looking for new opportunities to 

market its many strengths to the world. 

On page nine, you will read about a few 

of the programs being offered through 

the Workplace Skills Development 

Faculty. We’re connecting newcomers 

to Canada with mentors who can help 

them find their footing. The Centre for 

Entrepreneurship continues to encourage 

and support many participants with 

good ideas and a venturesome spirit. 

It’s also time to celebrate. Read about 

the outstanding graduates who will be 

feted this spring at the Distinguished 

Alumni Awards Dinner. By profession, 

they are an impressive group, including 

professors, an accountant, a hotel 

manager, a justice of the peace and a 

business owner. But they each go beyond 

their job descriptions to teach, volunteer, 

mentor and inspire their colleagues and 

friends. Join us at the May 20th dinner 

and you can start the applause. 

In this edition we also celebrate two 

important Senecans who are retiring after 

many years of service to the College. 

President Rick Miner joined Seneca in 

2001 and has helped put the College on 

the national map. Rick has truly helped 

reshape Seneca with degree programs, 

and he has been a strong voice and 

advocate. Rick has always been a huge 

supporter and believer in Seneca and its 

alumni. We wish him all the best. 

Seneca Alumni’s Executive Director 

Linda Hendy also announced her 

retirement. Although we’ll still have her 

expertise in a consulting role, Linda’s 

tremendous, day-to-day contributions 

as leader of our association will truly be 

missed. She put us in a great position 

with corporate sponsors, affinity 

marketing, a stronger campus presence, 

a terrific golf tournament and an awardwinning 

magazine. 

As we golf, network, enjoy our 

discounts and take advantage of all the 

Association has to offer, we’ll remember 

you Linda. 

Ryan Mitchell, 

President, Seneca Alumni 

1 - 888 - ALUMNUS 5

BOARD OF DIRECTORS, 

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION 

President 

Ryan Mitchell, BBA, IBU 1999, HRM 2000 

Vice President 

Paul Sloggett, MAD 1972 

Directors 

Felisha Ali, ACC 1996 

Sina S. Amiri, MKAC 2006 

Kim Child, HRA 2000 

Andre Chow-Leong, HRM 2005 

Ash Nagre, MKT 2002 

Sandy Naiman, ACM 1971 

Ryan Rampaul, BAD 1999 

Denise Ropp, DNS 1987 RN COHN (c) 

Neil Ta, INB 2001 

Kevin Voll, ADT 1993 

Melissa Wiseman, RSLC 2004, RFMC 2005 

Honorary Director 

Desmond Duke, MET 1992 

EX-OFFICIO 

Past President 

Sergio Carbone, BSc, CET, CVL 1987 

Vice President, Resource Development 

Shirlene Courtis, BA, CFRE 

ALUMNI OFFICE 

Manager, Alumni 

Andrew McDonald, BADO 2004 

Alumni Office Coordinator 

Rafmir Matute 

Alumni Assistant 

Beth Cockburn 

Advertisement 

Answer the call 

Complete Eye Care Service 

“Seven out of 10 Seneca graduates 

got a job related to their program 

within six months after graduation.” 

When you see those ads on the subway that tell you how many 

college graduates have landed jobs in their field, or you check out 

the stats on how well students enjoyed their college experience, 

you’re using Key Performance Indicators (KPI) data. 

KPIs measure student satisfaction, graduation rates, graduate 

satisfaction, graduate employment rates and employer satisfaction. 

While Seneca grads have been happy to participate in their piece 

of the annual survey, you’ve been shy about granting researchers 

permission to contact your employers. 

You needn’t be. 

The survey is absolutely confidential and is not an assessment of 

your work performance. It’s aimed at ensuring Seneca programs 

are relevant to the workplace. 

Seneca needs more information from industry to know that we’re 

really meeting industry’s needs. 

So when you get the call, say yes. 

Hours 

Monday – Thursday, 11:00am to 7pm 

Friday & Saturday, 9am to 1pm 

or email: philip.lui@senecac.on.ca 

6 

www.senecaalumni.ca 

visionclinic.indd 1 

8/23/07 3:26:44 PM

focuson 

Finding new t 

By Helena Moncrieff 

PHOTO BY: STEPHANIE LAKE 

C 

hinese tourism teachers come 

to Toronto to hone their skills, 

Korea needs English language training 

and India is looking for animation programs. 

Each presents a lucrative business 

opportunity for Seneca 

Corporation. 

The world’s sagging economy has 

changed the way many people run their 

personal finances and pushed others to 

find new ways to pay the bills. Ontario’s 

colleges are no exception. 

When the Ontario government 

began nudging colleges and universities 

to become more entrepreneurial and 

creative in finding different revenue 

streams, Seneca brought out the globe. 

The College had already connected 

with countries around the world, offering 

expertise and programming. It saw 

the opportunity to sell that expertise as 

a for-profit entity and formed Seneca 

Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary 

of the College. 

The Corporation has two mandates. 

Internationally, it’s looking at opportunities 

to set up campuses overseas, 

deliver programs and conduct training 

for public and private organizations. 

Domestically, the Corporation will be 

looking at opportunities for the commercialization 

of research. 

Seneca’s Vice President, International 

and Business Development, 

Mohammed Ali Khan (MAK) is also the 

President of Seneca Corporation. He 

says the first focus is international. 

“We looked at seven markets around 

the world, then asked, ‘What are the 

opportunities? What does Seneca have 

that matches?’ ” The result was a tiered 

8 

www.senecaalumni.ca

trade routes 

We always need a pipeline of 

prospects, and in this regard, we would 

welcome leads from alumni. 

list with China, India and Saudia Arabia 

at the top, and South Korea, United 

Arab Emirates and Brazil following close 

behind. 

MAK had his boarding pass ready. 

He arrived at Seneca from Pakistan just 

three years ago but has already been 

abroad several times on College business. 

He travels the world, following up 

on leads, connecting with governments, 

businesses and educational entrepreneurs 

in the market for Seneca’s brand 

of education. The efforts are beginning 

to bear fruit. 

“We’re already delivering corporate 

training to a college in China and training 

Chinese college and university 

teachers in Toronto.” The tourism teachers 

travelled here for several weeks of 

classroom presentations, tourist site visits 

and meetings with some of Canada’s 

business and industry leaders. 

Seneca Corporation outsources to 

Seneca College, which provides the 

professors to train the teachers. But 

the outsourcing doesn’t have to be 

limited to Seneca. “We were recently 

approached by an institution in the 

Middle East looking for an aircraft 

technician program that we don’t 

have,” MAK explains. Instead of walking 

away, Seneca Corp. is looking at 

teaming up with another college that 

has that technical expertise, but not 

the academic programs, to make it 

happen. Everyone wins. 

A similar initiative is underway to 

find private language expertise for 

Chinese software houses. “China has 

trained the workforce but hasn’t provided 

the language skills needed to 

deal with North American IT customers,” 

MAK says. “That includes telephone 

etiquette, e-mail and business 

proposal writing.” 

In Korea, MAK sees huge opportunities 

for English as a Second Language 

training. Replicating Seneca’s highlytouted 

English Language Institute 

would be a natural fit. 

In India, relationships have been 

established in the animation field that 

can be leveraged in other international 

markets in the Asia Pacific region. 

“Sometimes opportunities come our 

way but are not part of our strategic 

plan,” MAK says. “Some will come 

to fruition and some will fall by the 

wayside. We always need a pipeline 

of prospects, and in this regard, we 

would welcome leads from alumni.” 

If you see an opportunity where 

Seneca Corporation can play an 

entrepreneurial role, contact MAK at 

mohammed.khan@senecac.on.ca or at 

416-491-5050 ext. 7006. 

FACULTY OF 

WORKFORCE 

SKILLS 

DEVELOPMENT 

READY TO 

COACH 

Always ahead of the curve, Seneca 

established its new Faculty of 

Workforce Skills Development in the 

summer of 2007. Supporting youth, 

immigrants, and the newly-out-of-work 

seems like an obvious step today. But 

in 2007, there was no recession in 

sight, housing prices were still on the 

rise and employment stats were good. 

Dean Stan Talesnick says the Faculty 

consolidated many programs the 

College had already been running 

and allowed for more emphasis on 

four areas: academic upgrading and 

short-term skills development for 

adults; supports for internationallytrained 

professionals; preparing youth 

for employment; and essential skills 

development. 

Stan says the Faculty’s programs 

have helped thousands of people 

each year. Two of them share their 

stories with us here. 

 

1 - 888 - ALUMNUS 9

focuson 

on 

positioning for 

the new economy 

Healing mind, 

body and spirit 

(with a little business savvy from Seneca) By Corey Long 

aren Fiorucci’s decision to 

K 

start her own business 

was, “a calling from 

inside.” She had enjoyed a 

successful, 14-year career in 

telecommunications but began to feel 

drained and unfulfilled. So Karen took 

the action that changed her life and the 

lives of countless others: She returned 

to school, studied nutrition, discovered 

yoga and meditation and learned how 

to shift and balance energy. 

Karen knew she would need some 

practical guidance to develop her 

vision and turned to Seneca’s Centre 

for Entrepreneurship. The Centre, 

with the support of Employment 

Ontario, helps individuals who have 

been laid off or are looking to start 

their own businesses with resources 

like professional coaching from 

industry experts; skills development; 

business plan assessment; computer 

access; and business-related reference 

material. Fledging entrepreneurs are 

also provided funding support through 

Employment Ontario and ongoing 

counsel once their businesses are up 

and running. 

“The program gives you the time to 

explore every aspect of your business 

to make sure you are setting yourself 

up for success,” said Karen. “And 

what’s great about Seneca is that I 

can go in and ask for assistance or a 

referral, and I know that support is 

there. It’s awesome.” 

“Supporting entrepreneurs as they 

develop their businesses and their 

dreams is not only important for 

each of those individuals, but also 

drives Ontario’s economy,” said Stan 

Talesnick, Dean of Seneca’s Faculty of 

Workforce Skills Development. 

The result of Karen’s vision is 

Ananda Holistic, which includes 

Whisper Wellness—a healing service 

providing clients in the Greater 

Toronto Area with programs in 

nutrition, yoga, energy therapy, 

orthomolecular and energy medicine 

and detoxification. 

The concept of a service dedicated 

to others’ wellness resulted from 

the changes Karen made for herself. 

“Basically it was a personal journey 

of wellness that created a spark from 

within,” she said. “I was becoming 

more conscious, more aware, 

and through that process, more 

opportunities came to me.” 

She is doing the same for her clients, 

many of whom have just “had it” with 

faulty “quick fix” approaches to health 

and wellness that promise everything, 

but deliver nothing. 

When Karen consults a new client, 

she takes great care to find out how 

the person is feeling physically, 

mentally and emotionally. She suggests 

approaches to help create a “journey 

to wellness.” This usually begins 

with simple changes, like diet, that 

lead to the confidence to work out 

bigger problems, such as negative 

thought patterns, anxiety and spiritual 

emptiness. 

“A lot of people innately know what 

they need or want,” said Karen. “It’s 

just a matter of creating that awareness 

and building their empowerment to 

encourage them to get it done.” 

Karen employs unique approaches 

for each of her clients, taking into 

account their specific characteristics 

and goals. She has earned loyal clients 

who enthusiastically laud her as an 

“enlightened healer,” “nurturing,” 

“gentle,” “compassionate” and 

“inspiring.” Yet Karen is quick to 

deflect praise to her clients. 

“My job is to provide services that are 

convenient and to be there for coaching 

and ongoing support,” she said. “But in 

the end, the work is up to them.” 

How does that work get started? 

According to Karen, you need to “go 

inward.” 

“Look after yourself and really start 

to love and honour yourself first,” 

she said. “You cannot find joy unless 

you balance your physical, mental 

and emotional bodies, and you really 

cannot find harmony unless there is a 

balance of things in your life that really 

fill you up.” 

Learn more about Whisper 

Wellness at www.whisperwellness. 

com. Information about starting 

your own business with the help of 

Employment Ontario and the Centre for 

Entrepreneurship can be found at www. 

senecac.on.ca/community/seb.html 

10 

www.senecaalumni.ca

...what’s great about Seneca 

is that I can go in and ask for 

assistance or a referral, and 

I know that support is there. 

It’s awesome. 


1 - 888 - ALUMNUS 11

12 

www.senecaalumni.ca

focusonon 



Mentoring 

program 

leads to 

family 

reunification 



L 

ife is good for Ali Al-Hamawandy. 

The Iraqi-born engineer has a job 

in his field and a sponsorship application 

underway to bring his wife and children 

to Canada. His world is coming together, 

largely, he says, because of a Seneca 

mentorship program. 

Ali arrived in Canada in 2007 with a 

Masters degree in Hydraulic Engineering 

and 18 years of project and construction 

management experience including time 

in Italy, Spain and the United States. 

But he was missing the key to opening 

doors to employment in this country – 

Canadian experience. 

In his early months here, Ali met a 

man from India who told him there was 

no possible way to get a job within the 

first five years in the country. Ali says his 

acquaintance had been in Canada for six 

years without work in his field and, “I’m 

thinking, there’s something wrong with 

that person.” 

“I’m not the kind of person who 

will sit around. I like a challenge and 

take it from the beginning. I tried to 

figure out what was the most important 

thing – to knock on doors, to have 

Canadian experience, to have a Canadian 

education?” 

Ali enrolled in three college courses 

to get part of that. Once that was on his 

resume, he was invited for interviews, 

but still not hired. 

While volunteering at the YMCA, he 

was told about Seneca’s program with 

The Mentoring Partnership. “I thought it 

was just another ‘how to write a resume’ 

program,” he says and wasn’t interested; 

but the woman at the Y insisted. “I 

began to search and found it was a 

very experienced college, especially in 

engineering.” 

He signed up and was partnered with 

Bill Humber, Executive Director of the 

Revitalization Institute at Seneca. Bill had 

committed to spending one hour a week 

with his new mentee. “The goal of the 

program is not to find employment,” Bill 

stresses. “The goal is to provide an entrée 

and understanding of the Canadian and 

Ontario climate in his field.” 

Ali says Bill certainly did that. 

“He brought me to a conference on 

restoration and introduced me to other 

people. He offered me many trips to visit 

unique structures in Toronto,” including 

the CN Tower, the Royal Ontario 

Museum and a burned-out stretch of 

Queen St. “It gave me an idea about how 

the Canadian construction industry is 

going.” 

In turn, Bill says he and his 

colleagues at the Centre for the Built 

Environment learned a lot from Ali, who 

had worked on the restoration of the 

historic marshlands in Southern Iraq. 

The marshlands had been drained on 

orders from Saddam Hussein. “It was a 

tremendous opportunity for exchange 

between two cultures and to learn about 

what they are doing in their respective 

worlds.” 

Ali’s introduction to Professor Paul 

Donahue, who is also associated with 

SNC-Lavalin, proved the most fruitful. 

Paul introduced Ali to people at the 

engineering firm who were interested in 

his experience and background. 

Within months, Ali was hired as a 

construction supervisor and hydraulic 

model researcher. Despite the predictions 

from his Indian friend, the road from 

unemployed to gainfully employed was 

less than a year. 

He has high praise for Bill. “He is 

a good man, a nice man and helped 

me find people to introduce me and 

explain my experience to them. There 

were not enough words to describe my 

appreciation to Bill and Paul.” 

While the formal commitment is 

over, Bill has stayed in touch and is 

looking forward to the celebration that 

will follow the arrival of Ali’s family. “If 

we played a small part in making that 

happen then it’s a tremendous thing we 

were able to do.” 

If you would like to volunteer as a 

mentor, contact Amy Koning at 416- 

299-6625 or amy.koning@senecac. 

on.ca. 

1 - 888 - ALUMNUS 13

focuson 

on 



The outside perspective 

W 

hen you can’t see the forest for the trees, it’s time to climb one and get a wider view 

of the world. John Wright is Senior Vice President and Managing Director of the 

North American Public Opinion Polling Division for Ipsos. He’s also a Seneca supporter. 

From his vantage point, things don’t look as bad as they seem. 

A year ago, everything in the outside 

world looked pretty good for the future. 

This spring, it couldn’t be more different. 

The US economy has imploded, 

dragging others with it and sending consumer 

confidence into a downward spiral. 

But maybe it’s not as bad as it seems. 

When I was polling during the “bad” 

recession from 1992 to 1994, we determined 

that the key driver of consumer 

confidence and spending was job insecurity 

and anxiety. Then, 36 per cent 

thought they would lose their jobs, 

and people simply didn’t spend until, 

in 1994, they started to see cranes on 

the horizon: symbols of an economic 

revival. 

Today, only 20 per cent are anxious 

about losing their jobs—31 per cent 

in auto- and manufacturing-battered 

Ontario—but only one in 10 everywhere 

else in the country. 

Also, our latest sounding shows that 

roughly the same number—23 per 

cent—are preparing for the worst (again, 

mainly in Ontario) and battening down 

the spending hatches while 76 per cent 

say they are doing just fine and are bargain 

hunting. 

So, in comparison to the last recession, 

this one, so far, is nothing like it. 

And, while there are structural issues 

with the access to credit and bank-loanloss 

write-downs, most Canadians see 

things as business as usual: the hyped 

insights on how bad things are out there 

are much bigger than what they are 

actually experiencing. 

What I’m saying is that if you’re anxious 

about job loss, you’re not alone, but 

the data suggests that a lot of the consumer 

spending slowdown is because of 

noise, not substance. 

But let’s not underestimate the reality 

that while Canada is better off in many 

ways than other countries, we are witnessing 

the biggest re-ordering of the 

global economic markets that we’ve ever 

witnessed. And even here, the consequence 

could well be insecurity for, not 

just current jobs and financial health, 

but what it holds for the future if some 

serious retooling has to be done. 

So you look in the mirror and ask: 

Have I done the right thing? Am I in 

the right place? Am I well positioned 

for the future? 

You’ve been to Seneca, so, in a word, 

yes. 

You have on your resume an institution 

that has always been well ahead of 

the skills and market needs curve. It’s in 

the genetic code of the College. 

Look at the diversity and diversification. 

The international community 

joined you at Seneca because the 

College is world class. It offers choices 

to be equipped and versatile for whatever 

lies ahead. Look at the computer 

access, the inter-related courses and the 

constant additions to the curriculum, 

not just to keep up but also to keep 

ahead of that curve that everyone else 

seems to be chasing. 

The people who had the vision for 

this unique institution have straddled a 

few recessions and built its offerings in 

the “good times” knowing full well that 

when its mettle was tested in challenging 

times, it would deliver. 

INVEST IN YOUR CAREER. 

INVEST IN YOUR FUTURE. 

PROFESSIONAL RESUMÉ DEVELOPMENT by Certified Resumé Strategists. 

CAREER SERVICES 

SPECIAL RATE FOR ALUMNI careerservices.senecac.on.ca 416 491 5050 x6007 

14 

www.senecaalumni.ca

IS A B.S. OR M.B.A. IN YOUR FUTURE? 

Nilesh Shreedhar 

(2006) graduate of Seneca College Human Resource certificate program and 

Centenary College MBA (2008) had the following to say about his experience 

at Centenary College: I enjoyed the program which left me feeling empowered, 

better positioned career-wise, and with a deeper (understanding and) 

appreciation of the business world. I have even considered working towards 

a doctorate in business. 

Hany Boctor 

Seneca College Human Resource graduate 

certificate alumnus (2007) and Centenary 

College MBA(2008) graduate said the 

following about his experience at Centenary 

College: the program was enriched through 

interacting with my colleagues (other 

students) from around the world. Having 

access to professors who were among the 

foremost experts in their fields of study was 

invaluable as was the smaller class size. 

I feel that this program will give me a 

definite competitive advantage. 

Centenary and Seneca form an educational partnership … 

Centenary College has a rich history of providing quality education 

for over 130 years and is U.S. accredited. 

• CENTENARY COLLEGE offers BS and MBA fast-track degree completion 

opportunities for Seneca College graduates. 

• Business diploma graduates (three-year) earn your BS after 36 credits. 

• Business post-graduate certificate graduates earn your MBA in as little 

as 18 additional credits – about 11 months online. 

• Applied Business degree and 36 credits earns you an MBA. 

• Studies available online or in-residence. 

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT: 

MR. RONALD BAYS 

(toll free) 1-877-236-4723 or 

Email: canadianprograms@centenarycollege.edu 

www.centenarycollege.edu

classacts 

DISTINGUISHED 

ALUMNI AN 

INSPIRATION 

You know them by what they do. 

They are your colleagues, neighbours 

and friends. They are the people 

you notice at work. They stand out 

because they work a little harder, go 

further, give a bit more, think beyond. 

What you may not have known is that 

they are also Seneca graduates. We 

unmask them here and introduce the 

2008 Distinguished Alumni Award 

recipients. 

• Winston Stewart, 

Law Enforcement 1992 

• Phil Russo, 

Business Administration 1986 

• Suzanne Marshall, 

Recreation Facilities Management 1983 

• Dale Peers, 

Cosmetic Retail Management 1976 

• Judy Cameron, 

Fashion Merchandising 1974 

• James Cresswell, 

Law Enforcement 1969 

Winston Stewart (Police 

Foundations 1992) was born 

in Jamaica and moved to Canada 

when he was nine. He considers 

attending Seneca College a turning 

point, giving him an entrepreneurial 

business opportunity, autonomy and 

the ability to give back to the community. 

Winston is founder of Wincon- 

Security and Investigative Services 

and the recipient of two prestigious 

awards for entrepreneurship, including 

the Harry Jerome Award. For more 

on Winston see Seneca Alumni 2006, 

Volume 2. 

www.senecaalumni.ca/magazine. 

Order in t 

By David Cochrane, TECC 2006 

R 

ecognition from your peers can 

be the most satisfying of 

rewards, but it can also be the hardest 

to achieve. Great achievements are 

nothing new for Distinguished Alumni 

Award honouree His Worship Justice of 

the Peace James (Jim) Cresswell. 

While Jim was growing up in North 

York, he knew that he could make a 

difference in this world. But he would 

have to work hard to achieve the goals 

he had set for himself. 

“I am very goal-orientated,” he says. 

“And I find that once I achieve one goal, 

it usually leads to the start of another.” 

Although it may seem a little strange, 

Jim’s passion for motorcycles may well 

have helped to create one of the greatest 

ambassadors Seneca College could ever 

have. “When I was in my last year of 

high school I was given an assignment 

to put together an organizational chart 

16 

www.senecaalumni.ca

Justice of the Peace Jim 

Cresswell inspired his daughter 

Erin Cresswell to follow the 

path to Seneca. Both are Law 

Enforcement graduates. 

the court 

of a large organization.” 

Jim grew up near an OPP 

detachment and always liked to 

watch the officers riding around on 

their Harley Davidson motorcycles. “I 

thought doing my assignment about 

the Ontario Provincial Police was a 

great way to get a better look at the 

motorcycles,” Jim says, “but what I 

found most intriguing was that there 

were many interesting areas within the 

PHOTO BY: ELAINE BRODIE 

OPP that employed civilians.” 

In 1969, Jim was a part of the first 

graduating class of the newly-created 

Law Enforcement program at Seneca. 

After graduation, Jim’s first job was in 

the security department at Eastman 

Kodak. Because of corporate espionage, 

Kodak was a very secretive place. “They 

wouldn’t even allow firefighters in the 

building. So we all had to learn fire 

training.” 

Remembering his assignment in high 

school, Jim started looking into jobs 

in government and police services. “I 

noticed that a court clerk was making 

about the same as I was, but there was 

more job security, and it seemed to 

me that working in the court structure 

would be very interesting.” 

He left Eastman Kodak in 1971 and 

took a job as a court clerk. But that was 

only the start. By 1979, Jim became 

a Supervisor of Court Clerks, and in 

1981 he was appointed as a part-time 

Justice of the Peace. 

The post became full-time in 1993. 

Jim says, “being able to process the 

wide variety of cases that come before 

me every day is a great source of 

satisfaction.” 

However, the Distinguished Alumni 

Award is not bestowed for personal 

achievement alone. It is also about 

exemplary community or public 

service. In 2005, Jim received the 

Success in Partnership Certificate for 

on-going commitment and support of 

excellence in post secondary education 

in Ontario and the Volunteer Service 

Award from the province of Ontario. 

Seneca graduates and fellow 

Distinguished Alumni Award winners 

Armand LaBarge (ISPM 86) and 

Rodney Sine (LCD 87) co-nominated 

Jim for his award. The nomination 

said, “Jim has been constantly 

involved and been an overwhelming 

supporter of Seneca Alumni for 

Law Enforcement, as well as having 

been a long-time member of the 

Seneca College Advisory Board…His 

Worship has demonstrated vision and 

leadership among his fellow board 

members in his desire to make the 

Law Enforcement program at Seneca 

one of the best in Ontario.” 

Jim never misses an opportunity to 

highlight the professional excellence 

for which Seneca stands. “I have been 

associated with the College over the 

last 40 years, and whenever I get the 

chance, I promote the College and 

everything it stands for.” 

1 - 888 - ALUMNUS 17

classacts 

Suzanne Marshall: 

Non-stop hospitalityBy Troy White, BSET student 

The concourse thrummed with the sound of people in 

transit. Footsteps echoed across the marbled and tiled 

lobby in rhythm to the lunch hour exchange. 

T 

he Sheraton Parkway Toronto 

North Hotel, Suites and 

Conference Centre, located on Highway 7 

in Richmond Hill, is as many things as its 

name suggests and a spa and a gym and 

restaurant and another gym and a whole 

second hotel. And it is all Distinguished 

Alumni Award recipient Suzanne 

Marshall’s responsibility. 

Suzanne serves as the Parkway’s 

General Manager. She attends every 

department’s pre-shift meeting, knows 

every staff member by name and greets 

nearly every guest. She walks through the 

lobby to her office. 

“Take a deep breath. Count to 500.” 

Suzanne closes her eyes for a moment. 

“Let me do one thing.” She makes a note, 

places a call and discusses a matter with 

an employee through her open door. 

Suzanne (nee Pollock) graduated from 

Seneca’s Recreational Facility Management 

program in 1983. She enrolled due to her 

love of sports, but began working in the 

hotel industry after graduation. Her first 

day on the Parkway’s front desk was 23 

years ago. 

Since that day, Suzanne has worked in 

each of the Hotel’s 16 departments. She 

has grown up with the organization and 

navigates the back corridors of the hotel 

with ease. 

The Parkway holds more than 430 

rooms between its Best Western and 

Sheraton sections and 30,000 square 

feet of convention space spread over 35 

meeting rooms. Suzanne is aware of every 

booking and every stage of each meeting. 

She explains that her business is “all 

about the people.” She points out that the 

hotel staff is what makes the difference 

and keeps the guests returning. “They 

make it happen,” she says of the people 

seated in the offices and moving about the 

halls. “I tell them, ‘just treat people like 

you want to be treated.’ That is the most 

important thing.” 

She moves through the halls, closing 

doors, stopping in the kitchen to discuss 

menu items for upcoming meetings. “I 

think the rosemary is a little too much,” 

she says to the chef. He agrees and 

Suzanne continues through the prep area. 

“There is no such thing as a typical 

day for me,” Suzanne says, entering the 

gymnasium. A pipe had been leaking, and 

the building staff members have made the 

repairs. Suzanne checks over their work 

and asks about the location of a second 

set of scaffolding. Nothing escapes her 

notice; the functions of the hotel are her 

second nature. 

Suzanne remembers well her connection 

to Seneca and employs co-op 

students from the College throughout 

the hotel’s various sections. “Anybody 

can reach their potential, if they want it,” 

she says. 

Suzanne had her potential mapped 

out early. “When I started at the front 

desk, the owner walked by one day. I 

went up to him and said, ‘My name is 

Suzanne and I will be running your hotel 

by the time I’m 40.’ He looked like he 

didn’t believe me.” She became General 

Manager just a few months shy of her 

40th birthday. 

See more of Suzanne's work at 

www.sheratonparkway.com. 

18 www.senecaalumni.ca

PHOTOS BY: STEPHANIE LAKE 

1 - 888 - ALUMNUS 

19

classacts 

Phil Russo: 

Where charisma and 

accounting meet 


S 

tephen Harper jokes that he 

never followed his brothers into 

accounting because he didn’t have the 

charisma for it. It always raises a laugh. 

Clearly, the Prime Minister has never 

met Phil Russo. 

Although passionate about numbers, 

Phil is the anti-accountant in image. 

Toss aside all of your stereotypes. 

He’s a consummate volunteer, 

networker and organizer, adding his 

expertise to many charities and asso- 

20 

www.senecaalumni.ca


ciations. In 1996, Phil received the 

Ontario Medal for Good Citizenship. 

Now add Distinguished Alumni to his 

trophy case. 

Phil graduated from Seneca’s 

Business Administration program in 

1986 with high honours. He’s since 

added an alphabet of letters after 

his name including CGA (Certified 

General Accountant), P. Mgr 

(Professional Manager), CAM 

(Certified Administrative Manager), 

FCIM (Chartered Manager), FICIA 

(Fellow: Guild of ICIA), FCAM 

(Fellow: Certified Administrative 

Managers) 

and FIPFM (Fellow: Institute of 

Professional Financial Managers). But 

his calling came from the Guild of 

Industrial, Commercial and 

Institutional Accountants (GICIA). 

Phil attained fellow and life member 

status and served as National President 

of the Guild. 

“When I was a student I got 

involved in meetings,” he says. It gave 

him a taste of what was to come. As 

his career began at a small manufacturing 

company he knew, “I wanted to do 

something beyond working and going 

home.” He popped in to a few meetings 

of the Guild, some dinners, did 

some networking and he was hooked. 

“I started helping set up events and 

“ They say I 

have a sales and 

marketing type 

of personality 

because most 

accountants 

are introverts or 

quiet.” 

fundraising,” he remembers. “It was 

a fun thing to do. I wanted to meet 

people and I liked the continuing education 

facet of it.” 

He added charitable volunteer 

work to his spare hours, participating 

and organizing fundraisers for cancer 

research and other charities. “From 

1991 to 1996, almost every weekend I 

was at some event. I walked, ran, cycled 

and climbed,” he says, noting that, “It’s 

easier to participate than to organize it.” 

In the mid-90s, Phil was working for 

a video duplication firm and enjoying 

all of the perks of the entertainment 

industry – movie screenings, parties, 

meeting celebrities – when a lunch 

with a fellow accountant developed 

into dinners and ultimately marriage 

and two children. That slowed Phil’s 

philanthropic adventures on weekends, 

but not his professional connections. 

He sits on two boards and associations 

and last fall became President of 

the Canadian Institute of Management’s 

Toronto Branch. He is also an active 

member of the CGA Toronto Chapter 

Events Committee. His day job is 

Head of the Accounting and Finance 

Department of the Training Centre of 

the Labourers International Union of 

North America, Local 183. 

You’ll also find Phil at every Seneca 

networking event he can fit in around 

his other good works. “I’m a strong 

supporter of the Alumni Association,” 

he says, recommending others follow 

his lead. “Just show up and meet 

people.” And if you meet Phil, you 

might end up at an accounting meeting 

too. He’s all for promotion of his 

fellow Senecans. 

“When most people meet me and 

get to know me they’re stunned,” he 

says of his outgoing nature. “They say 

I have a sales and marketing type of 

personality because most accountants 

are introverts or quiet.” 

That may have been true but it’s 

changing, and accountants are honing 

their interpersonal skills in greater 

numbers. Phil says industry seminars 

on changes to tax laws, for instance, 

draw about 50 people. But when it’s a 

soft skill like networking on offer, the 

crowd swells to 150. 

You can guess who organizes the 

meetings. 

1 - 888 - ALUMNUS 21

classacts 

For Double Senecans, 

excellence is always 

in fashion 

By Helena Moncrieff with Penny Mamais, PROFESSOR, 

SCHOOL OF ENGLISH & LIBERAL STUDIES 

This year’s Double Senecan recipients of the Distinguished 

Alumni Award are both from the School of Fashion and 

Merchandising. Together they have given more than 40 years 

of service to Seneca and accumulated countless accolades from 

students and colleagues. 

Peers Review 

“Fashion is a reflection of the zeitgeist.” 

D 

ale Peers is explaining why we 

wear clothing and it goes beyond 

an aversion to nakedness. 

“If aliens landed on campus, they 

could tell a lot about our society by what 

we are wearing,” she tells her Psychology 

of Fashion students. Unisex clothing, for 

instance, is a hint at gender balance; the 

iPod skins and cell phones we wear indicate 

a technological society; the similarity 

and differences of our clothing may be 

a clue to both democracy and multiculturalism. 

It’s the same attention to the details 

and a love of history that led Dale 

to take on coordination of Seneca’s 

Fashion Resource Centre, where history 

unfolds in hemlines, pleats and 

buttons. Items from the 10,000-piece 

collection have been displayed at Casa 

Loma and the Toronto Eaton Centre 

and are a valuable tool in Dale’s History 

of Fashion classes. 

Dale is also Program Coordinator of the 

Esthetics and Spa Management program. 

That she loves her job is no secret and 

the devotion that comes from that love is 

what makes her a Distinguished Alumni. 

At 16, Dale had a part-time job at 

Eaton’s cosmetic department. “They 

trained you on the cash register but that 

was it,” she remembers. “I felt like an 

idiot because I didn’t know the difference 

between eye cream, day cream and night 

cream.” 

She headed to Seneca as one of the 

first students in the Cosmetics Retail 

Management program and graduated in 

1976 with a new interest in fragrance 

and history. The Eaton’s job became 

full time, which led Dale to work as a 

beauty advisor for Helena Rubenstein. 

Her approach to sales was a clue to the 

future. “When I helped customers, I was 

teaching them how to feel better about 

themselves. When I became an Account 

Executive, and my customer was the 

cosmetician…I saw myself as providing 

them with the tools they needed to 

improve their business.” 

By 1980, Dale was back at Seneca 

teaching. 


She continues to bridge the professional 

and academic worlds. Dale was 

a founding member of the Canadian 

Cosmetic Careers Association (CCCA) 

and now serves as President. It’s no 

coincidence that the CCCA offers a 

scholarship for Seneca students. Gift 

baskets from Dale’s many industry contacts 

are raffled off at Seneca’s annual 

fashion show to support the School of 

Fashion and Merchandising Alumni 

bursary. 

In addition to boosting life on campus, 

Dale gives Seneca a voice outside 

too. She has made television appearances 

and contributes to several publications 

including the CCCA newsletter, 

22 

www.senecaalumni.ca

Dale Peers 

Costume Society of Ontario, Cosmetics 

Magazine and Seneca Alumni. 

Her colleagues and students recognize 

all that she has done. Dale received 

the CCCA Award of Merit in 1991. A 

year later, she added the Excellence 

Award from the National Institute for 

Staff and Organizational Development 

and Seneca’s Excellence Award for 

Teaching. 

“What I love about teaching is the 

opportunity to encourage students to 

become independent learners. The 

most gratifying thing … is the moment 

when you see the spark in their eye that 

tells you they got it. Who doesn’t love 

that?” 

Judy Cameron gives fashion 

the business 

I 

n the movie The Devil Wears 

Prada, Meryl Streep’s character 

delivers a stinging lesson to her young, 

blue-sweatered editorial assistant about 

the importance of fashion in the world 

economy: 

“…that blue represents millions of 

dollars and countless jobs and so it’s sort 

of comical how you think that you’ve 

made a choice that exempts you from 

the fashion industry when, in fact, you’re 

wearing the sweater that was selected for 

you by the people in this room.” 

As a professor and Program 

Coordinator of Seneca’s Fashion Business 

and Fashion Business Management programs, 

Judy Cameron has taught all the 

things that get that cerulean blue sweater 

to your drawer. 

“There’s so much that goes on [beyond 

the design]: marketing; buying; store 

operations; budgeting; planning,” she 

1 - 888 - ALUMNUS 23

classacts 


Judy Cameron 

says. “We attract students because they 

are interested in fashion but turn them 

into business students.” 

Judy negotiated an academic affiliation 

for the programs with Ryerson’s Bachelor 

of Commerce program, not fashion. 

That business sense is particularly 

important today, the Distinguished 

Alumni Award recipient explains. “The 

industry is becoming much more sophisticated 

and competitive.” Add the current 

economic climate and the market 

becomes even harder. 

After more than 30 years in the fashion 

retail field, Judy has seen a few changes. 

When it became clear that almost all 

apparel manufacturing was headed off 

shore, she listened to the industry and 

adjusted Seneca’s program. “We needed 

to be more into marketing and product 

development.” 

On the recommendation of a friend, 

Judy enrolled as a Fashion Merchandising 

student in the 70s. She thought she wanted 

to get into the working world as soon 

as possible but Seneca turned out to be a 

changing experience. “I loved the connection 

the faculty had with students.” 

Graduating in 1974, Judy began her 

career at Hbc and became a specialist in 

new store openings and training personnel. 

A few years later, she was teaching part 

time at Seneca, and by 1986 she was a 

fixture. She’s taught human resources 

management, human relations, math, 

marketing, organizational behaviour and 

public speaking. 

Her skills would make her a valuable 

professor in any department. “But 

I wouldn’t teach anywhere else,” she 

insists. “I just love my job. It’s a wonderful 

place to be. I get to work with 

students every day and work with wonderful 

professionals and stay connected to 

industry.” 

And she remembers her own professors’ 

efforts to help students find jobs. It 

inspired her to launch an annual career 

night which is now in its 13 th year. “One 

of my longstanding passions is to connect 

industry with students, especially in association 

with careers and employment,” 

she says. 

Judy’s contributions go far beyond the 

classroom. She is on the executive committee 

of the Apparel Affinity Group, a 

national organization of apparel educators 

and administrators. She served on 

Seneca’s Academic Council, was part 

of the Excellence Award for Teaching 

Selection Committee and sat on the 

Faculty Performance Review Committee. 

“One of my favourite quotes is by 

Abraham Lincoln, who said, ‘Whatever 

you are, be a good one.’ For students, 

this means to seriously take on the role 

of the student and embeds an important 

attitude for life.” 

It’s advice that students would be wise 

to heed from someone who is not just “a 

good one,” but one of the best. 

24 

www.senecaalumni.ca


It’s an honour, just to be nominated 

S 

eneca was proud to put forward a fine roster of nominees for the 2008 

Premier’s Awards. The Awards honour the important social and economic contribution 

college graduates make to Ontario and throughout the world. 

Although Seneca did not receive an award this year, our nominees were honoured at 

the February 23rd presentation ceremonies in Toronto. We applaud them again here. 

RECENT GRADUATE 

Azra Rashid, 

JOURNALISM-BROADCAST 2005 

Azra Rashid is an award-winning documentary 

filmmaker whose work focuses 

on social justice. 

Azra began working on her first 

documentary while studying at Seneca: 

Dishonour Defied is about rape and women’s 

legal and social status in Pakistan. 

It received the Silver Remi Award 

for Women’s Issues at the prestigious 

WORLDFEST Houston International 

Film Festival last year. 

Today Azra works as a director and 

producer for OMNI News, South Asian 

edition. Managing a team of four journalists, 

she produces an hour-long news 

show in English that seeks to provide 

international, national and local news 

of importance to South Asians living in 

Alberta. 

STAND TALL 

Let us know about your own or a 

classmate’s career successes as we 

move forward to this year’s Premier’s 

Awards nominations. 

Contact Seneca Alumni at alumni@ 

senecac.on.ca. To speak to us by 

phone, call 416-491-5050 ext. 

2960 or (from outside Toronto) 

1-888-ALUMNUS. 

BUSINESS 

Justin Howe, COMPUTER 

ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY 

(CO-OP) 1999 

Justin Howe moved from being an 

employee of TDCnet Inc. (formerly 

Toronto Data Common Cables), his first 

job after graduating from Seneca, to 

becoming the company’s co-owner in 

2005. Within six months, the company 

grew by close to 30 per cent on the business 

side. Under Justin’s direction, this 

small but highly-diversified expert technology 

firm has focused consistently and 

increasingly on comprehensive service to 

clients as its watchword. Justin presents 

the possibilities, flexibility and capability 

of technology. Highly technically adept, 

he puts people over technology, in terms 

of end users’ needs and goals. 

CREATIVE ARTS AND DESIGN 

Philip Sparks, FASHION ARTS 2003 

Menswear designer Philip Sparks started 

making his own clothes when he was 16 

and was soon filling orders for teachers, 

friends and stores. Fortifying his skill 

with a Seneca Fashion Arts diploma, 

he went on to work with the costume 

departments of the National Ballet of 

Canada, the Canadian Opera Company 

and the Stratford Festival of Canada. 

A year and a half ago, at age 26, he 

created Philip Sparks Menswear. Today 

he has four design collections under his 

belt, and his clothing and accessories 

can be found at 10 retailers in Toronto, 

Montreal and Vancouver. Philip Sparks 

Brand Shoes – a line of signature footwear 

– is available at Town Shoes. 

Although we’ve known him for years, 

Forbes.com recently added Philip as 

the lone Canadian on its list of “Ten 

Undiscovered Designers on the Rise.” 

HEALTH SCIENCES 

Chris Torti, EARLY CHILDHOOD 

EDUCATION 2000 

While working at Ontario Early Years, 

Chris would sing to children accompanied 

by Sharon Lois & Bram or Raffi. 

One day the tape recorder broke, and 

Chris was forced to go solo. The positive 

responses to his singing led him to start 

his own band, Mr. Chris & the Gassy 

Bubbles, and begin writing rock- and 

funk-inspired songs for children. 

Today, he is a teacher with the Ontario 

Foundation for Visually Impaired 

Children, while Mr. Chris & the Gassy 

Bubbles have released their first CD and 

are wowing kids across Ontario with 

their live shows. Hear the Bubbles pop 

and get in touch with Chris at www. 

mrchrisandthegassybubbles.com. 

1 - 888 - ALUMNUS 25

classacts 

acts 

“Rick has truly helped reshape 

Seneca with the degree programs 

and has been a strong voice and 

advocate. He has always been a 

huge supporter and believer in 

Seneca and its alumni.” 

RYAN MITCHELL, 

SENECA ALUMNI PRESIDENT 

“His leadership and wealth of knowledge 

has benefited Senecans past, 

present and future.” 

SERGE CARBONE, 


2005-2007 

Exit interview 

with Dr. Rick Miner 

A 

fter seven years at the helm, Seneca College President Dr. Rick Miner is leaving 

his post for retirement. Corinne Falconer of the Seneca Retirees 

Association (former Chair, School of Marketing and e-Business) caught up with 

President Miner before his departure. 

CF: What especially has surprised and/or 

excited you about Seneca College, its 

students, faculty and staff? 

RM: Loyalty. No matter what sort of function 

I attend, whether 40th year celebrations, 

Seneca Retirees Association, 

Divisional or School events, I am 

struck by just how proud people 

are of this organization. They really 

understand their role in bringing it 

along. Institutional affiliation is not 

something I expected. Faculty and 

staff really understand the role they 

as individuals have played in bringing 

it along. You don’t find this at 

universities, where it is tied to individual 

research grants etc. 

My assumptions were challenged. 

The students were different but also 

they were good. They had energy, 

enthusiasm and commitment. 

CF: How have Seneca College, its programs, 

students, faculty and staff changed in the 

seven years? 

RM: The first thing that comes to mind 

is physical change. There has never 

been a year since I came when building 

and/or renovations haven’t been 

under way, whether at York, King, 

Newnham or Markham. 

Seneca now offers applied degrees. 

Currently, this accounts for five to 

seven per cent of our student enrolment. 

Both the number of applied 

degrees and the enrolment capacity 

will grow. Side benefits include 

students at the College longer. I see 

benefits for our student councils, 

whose members currently cycle in 

and out so much at present it is difficult 

to have continuity. I also see 

additional benefits for our Alumni 

with graduates who feel more part of 

the College. 

Seneca is part of Polytechnics 

Canada…working toward polytechnic 

recognition of students and their 

programs across Canada. 

Seneca’s visibility has increased 

beyond North York, throughout 

“When the College made changes 

that affected the Alumni Association, 

Dr. Miner made sure we were consulted. 

As the Office of Resource 

Development was under consideration, 

he looked to the alumni for 

support. We appreciated that.” 

DESMOND DUKE, 


1999-2003 

Canada and internationally. We’re 

better positioned in China than any 

other post-secondary institution in 

Canada, and our involvement in 

India is growing. 

CF: How has this experience changed you? 

RM: It has changed my understanding 

of colleges and polytechnics, particularly 

in relation to Seneca. I have 

a greater appreciation of different 

forms of learning and of student 

attributes not otherwise seen. 

CF: Is there any one accomplishment of 

which you are especially proud? 

RM: There are a number: degree granting; 

differentiated status; applied 

research, but not at the expense of 

delivering core competencies, which, 

I think, was a fear as we moved 

toward degree granting. Rather, 

Seneca provides a holistic approach 

to education. 

And I am always proud of graduations 

where, unlike university 

graduations at which students celebrate 

being done, our graduates 

celebrate their learning and their 

accomplishments. 

CF: In your estimation, what were your 

most important and/or significant contributions 

to Seneca College? 

RM: It really is not up to me to say. I leave 

that to others and the future. 

26 

www.senecaalumni.ca

givingback 

Weather the economic storm 

with compassion and education 

T 

he number one reason for charitable 

giving is a feeling of compassion 

towards people in need. Today, there 

are people in need around every corner, 

locally and globally. 

Over the last few months, we’ve all 

become familiar with the terms of a global 

economic crisis: bailout, downturn, recession, 

layoffs, market crashes, deficit and 

bankruptcy. 

The effects of this situation are substantial. 

For example, the province has 

delayed hiring the 9,000 new nurses and 

50 family health teams that were pledged 

in the March budget. Jobs are being cut 

across all sectors, and Ontario’s small 

businesses are more vulnerable. 

In the midst of this economic instability, 

many laid off workers are returning to 

Seneca to upgrade their skills and re-train 

for new careers. The College is committed 

to adapting quickly to their educational 

requirements. 

However, the costs of post secondary 

education continue to rise. Before, many 

college students could support themselves 

with part-time jobs. Now those 

opportunities are harder to find. Parents 

who were able to help with tuition fees 

are now scrambling to keep afloat due to 

layoffs and cutbacks. 

Because of these hardships we are all 

encountering, charitable giving becomes 

even more critical. 

Investment in education is one of the 

best ways to stimulate a lagging economy. 

Economic prosperity depends heavily on 

a rich supply of well-educated employees. 

Supporting Seneca students brings 

them a step closer to having the skills necessary 

to get Ontario’s economy moving 

in the right direction. We need graduates 

with marketable training in business, 

information technology, health care, hospitality 

and administration to get us back 

on track. 

And they need your help to get there. 

Gifts of cash or stock can be used to 

establish bursaries or scholarships; and 

in-kind contributions, like technological 

equipment, provide access to the tools 

students need to excel in our knowledgebased 

economy. Remember, too, that your 

contributions can be doubled through the 

Ontario Trust for Student Support. Gifts 

of all sizes can help change a student’s life. 

Canada has a very generous and compassionate 

society with the second largest 

charitable sector in the world. According 

to the Canada Survey on Giving, 

Volunteering and Participating, in 2004, 

Canadians gave approximately $9 billion 

to charitable causes. These gifts came 

from more than 22 million donors. 

Why and how Canadians give is a personal 

decision. All giving decisions stem 

from the need to remember a loved one, 

to change a life, to better society, to stop 

injustice, to heal and to educate. There 

are as many reasons to give as there are 

people who do it. 

One reason to give is to offer today’s 

students the support they need to become 

tomorrow’s leaders. That is what you do 

with a gift to Seneca College. 

With our new online donation form, 

you can give directly from your computer. 

Visit www.senecac.on.ca and click on 

“Donate to Seneca” to get started. 

As always, feel free to contact me with 

any questions. Thank you for your continued 

support of Seneca’s students. 

Warm regards, 

Shirlene B. Courtis, CFRE 

Vice President, Resource Development 

Second career. Second chance. 

Seneca helps Ontario’s workers get back on track 

W 

orkers across Canada have felt the 

negative effects of the current 

global financial crisis. 

Analysts predict that Canada will 

have lost 100,000 jobs in the first three 

months of 2009, and that the country’s 

jobless rate will rise from 6.2 to 7.2 per 

cent. 

Ontario is extremely vulnerable to 

layoffs, as it is the focal point of Canada’s 

struggling auto sector and home to jobs 

in the hard-hit forestry, construction, 

tourism and financial services sectors. 

Many workers have had to re-evaluate 

their careers, their skills and themselves. 

Nobody knows that better than 

Seneca student Janice Rennick. A mother 

of five, Janice worked for 15 years as a 

lift-truck driver, but was laid off when 

her employer downsized. She knew she 

had to upgrade her skills to begin a new 

career and support her family. 

Janice approached Employment 

Ontario, where she learned about a 

new government assistance program 

called Second Career. This program now 

1 - 888 - ALUMNUS 27

givingback 

supports Janice’s studies in Seneca’s Law 

Clerk program. 

Eligible Second Career participants 

can receive up to $28,000 to help pay 

for tuition, travel, books and other 

training costs. 

Colleges across Ontario are welcoming 

Second Career students looking to 

obtain skills in some of Ontario’s thriving 

sectors, including natural and applied 

sciences, health care, dental health, 

computer and information systems, food 

services, education and government 

service. 

“We’ve expanded access to Second 

Career so that more Ontarians have the 

opportunities and skills for success and 

can work in well-paying jobs in a period 

of economic uncertainty,” said John 

Milloy, Minister of Training, Colleges and 

Universities. 

Seneca is helping spread the word 

about Second Career across Ontario. 

Premier Dalton McGuinty launched 

the program from the College’s Centre 

for Advanced Technologies, and, in 

December, Seneca hosted a Second 

Career information fair at the Newnham 

Campus. This event was attended by 

more than 300 people, like Janice, 

looking to re-start their careers and their 

lives. 

On hand was Minister Milloy, David 

Zimmer, MPP for Willowdale, as well as 

representatives from Seneca programs, 

admissions, support services, and many 

Second Career agencies throughout 

Toronto and York Region. 

“As a community leader, Seneca has 

the opportunity to connect people with 

the supports and services necessary to 

get them back on the path to success,” 

said Seneca President Dr. Rick Miner. 

“The Second Career Information 

Fair provided valuable guidance to 

individuals who are in need of a positive 

change in their lives.” 

Financial support from Second Career 

starts with a visit to an Employment 

Ontario assessment centre, where 

a counsellor will talk to you about 

your work history, goals, and skill set. 

Gathered at the Second Career information fair hosted at the Newnham Campus are (l to r) Seneca President 

Dr. Rick Miner, Willowdale MPP David Zimmer, Seneca student Janice Rennick, MTCU Minister John Milloy and 

Cindy Hazell, Seneca’s Senior Vice President. 

If Second Career is the right choice 

for you, the counsellor will help you 

prepare a training plan and complete the 

application process. 

Your future career may just lead you 

back to a program at Seneca. 

Donate market shares to Seneca 

and receive a tax break 

S 

upporting Seneca through a 

donation of shares is a very taxeffective 

way to change a student’s life. 

When you donate appreciated 

market shares directly to Seneca, you 

will receive a donation receipt for the 

For more information on how to apply 

to Second Career call 1-800-387-5656 or 

visit www.ontario.ca/secondcareer. You 

can also consult a Seneca Career Change 

Advisor at 416-491-5050 ext. 6690 or 

secondcareer@senecac.on.ca. 

full market value of the shares. Plus, 

you avoid paying capital gains tax on 

the appreciated value. 

Your generosity will help students 

weather this economic downturn and 

save you money come tax time. 

Here’s how you benefit when you donate shares to Seneca: 

Sell shares and 

keep proceeds 

Sell shares and 

donate cash 

Donate 

Shares 

Fair market value (FMV) at time of disposition $1,000 $1,000 $1,000 

Cost base (original cost of shares) $200 $200 $200 

Capital gain $800 $800 $800 

Taxable capital gain on disposition of securities 

(50% if sold; NIL for donated securities) 

$400 $400 $0 

Tax on gain (46% of taxable gain) $184 $184 $0 

Donation to Seneca $0 $1,000 $1,000 

Tax credit for donation (46% of FMV) $0 $464 $464 

Net tax saving* $0 $464 $648 

*Net tax saving represents the capital gain tax if the donor had sold the shares PLUS the tax credit from 

the tax receipt issued by the College for the closing price of the shares on the day they are received in 

the College’s investment account. 

For more information, contact Shirlene B. Courtis, CFRE, Vice President, Resource 

Development, (416) 491-5050 ext.2034 or shirlene.courtis@senecac.on.ca 

28 

www.senecaalumni.ca

Keep them learning. Keep them local. 

S 

eneca is well on its way to 

securing the funds to get 

Markham Campus running at full 

capacity. 

We need your help to finish the 

journey. 

In these trying economic times, 

investment in education becomes even 

more important. Prosperity depends 

heavily on a rich supply of skilled, 

educated employees. Your support of 

Seneca students in Markham will keep 

them learning and keep them local. 

That’s good news for businesses in 

York Region today and tomorrow. 

Give generously and help build 

Markham’s future. Visit www.senecac. 

on.ca and click on “Donate to Seneca” 

to support Leading Through Excellence: 

the Campaign for Markham. 

For more information, contact Shirlene 

Courtis, CFRE, Vice President, Resource 

Development: (416) 491-5050 x2034 

or shirlene.courtis@senecac.on.ca 

Thank you donors 

T 

hank you to Seneca alumni and retirees who, through their financial 

support, contribute to the success of Seneca’s students and help to 

establish an ongoing legacy of excellence at Seneca. (This list denotes 

contributions received between January 1 and December 31, 2008.) 

George Abu 

Valerie Adriaanse 

Christa L. Austin 

Howard Binstock 

Joseph Brookman 

Earla Burke 

Sergio Carbone 

Pauline P. Chan 

Suk T. Choy 

David E. Coates 

Slava A. Corn 

James F. Cresswell 

Cedric Cyr 

Theodore N. Demkiw 

Andrea V. Diplock 

Michael Douglas 

Patricia Draves 

Desmond S. Duke 

Elizabeth Feuerherdt 

Norma Friedlander 

Alison M. Gibson 

Mary J. Gomes 

Jayant W. Gondhalekar 

Anastasia-Nancy Gonos 

Christopher J. Gouveia 

Dick Grannan 

Josephine D. Harlow 

Linda Hendy 

Janet L. Hilts 

John M. Hobson 

Madison L. Hopper 

Trebor R. Hosier 

Anna Kalika 

Armand P. LaBarge 

Shirley Y. Lee 

Rudolph Lewis 

Annmarie L. Lyttle 

Nadia K. Maharaj 

Anthony F. Martyn 

Steve Mattar 

W. Roy McCutcheon 

Andrew J. McDonald 

Frederick C. Miner 

Ryan E. Mitchell 

Jeremy K. Moreau 

Ash Nagre 

Sandy Naiman 

Karim Nanji 

William T. Newnham 

Kori C. Okamura 

Denise Olah 

Stephen E. Quinlan 

Suzanne M. Raheb 

Heather J. Resnick 

William J. Riddell 

Carol A. Ryan 

Sina Safarzadeh-Amiri 

Susan Savoie 

George A. Scott 

Joanne M. Shier 

Esther B. Simon 

Rodney Sine 

Jennifer Singh 

Paul N. Sloggett 

Marvin Southcott 

James Streeter 

Maureen C. Szeto 

Helen F. Szumigaj 

Victor A. Trotman 

Kevin J. Voll 

Melissa T. Wiseman 

Joseph A. Zigrossi 

1 - 888 - ALUMNUS 29

You set the standard in the 

classroom and the workplace. 

Help the next generation of Senecans follow in your footsteps. 

As alumni, no one knows better than 

you the high costs of postsecondary 

education: tuition, books, rent, transportation, 

technology, and the list 

goes on. There is a way to help ease 

the burden. 

Privately-sponsored endowed bursaries 

provide recognition, scholarships 

and hope to hundreds of 

Seneca students each year. 

Your help gives students the chance 

to improve their skills, realize their 

potentials and build a career. 

Double your impact. Remember, 

contributions to Seneca’s endowed 

bursaries are eligible for matching 

support through the Ontario Trust for 

Student Support fund. 

Pay tribute to your past. Support a 

student in your old program, honour 

a retired faculty member or loved one. 

It is entirely up to you how your gift is 

directed. 

Change a student’s life. Support Seneca today. 

To make a donation, contact Seneca’s Office of Resource Development. (416) 491-5050 x6414 or 

resources@senecac.on.ca. Donate online by visiting www.senecac.on.ca and clicking on “Donate to Seneca.” 

Although the costs of postsecondary education are high, the rewards are always higher.

ealtime 

A dispatch from Indonesia 

K 

athy Mueller graduated from 

Seneca’s Radio and Television 

Broadcasting program in 1988. After 20 

years in the broadcast industry, most 

recently as anchor of the 6 o’clock news for 

CTV’s affiliate station in London, Ontario, 

Kathy handed in her microphone and 

headed overseas to Indonesia, where she 

now works for the Canadian Red Cross. 

I’ve been in Banda Aceh, Indonesia 

since September 2008, and what a ride 

it’s been. From earthquakes to giant 

cockroaches, from absolutely jawdropping 

scenery to reminders of the 

tsunami, I have experienced a lot in 

my short time here. 

It was just over four years ago that 

the world watched in stunned horror 

as a 30 meter high wave slammed 

into the west coast of Sumatra, killing 

thousands. Aid poured in, creating the 

largest relief mission the Canadian Red 

Cross had ever embarked upon. 

As the Information and Community 

Outreach delegate for the Canadian 

Red Cross here, I oversee all of the 

internal and external communications 

for the reconstruction program. The 

first time I saw the rows upon rows of 

houses being built for those who had 

survived the tsunami, tears welled up 

in my eyes. I was, and am, so proud to 

be Canadian. This is why hundreds of 

Canadians have, over the years, given 

up their comfy lifestyles, quit their jobs 

and chosen to live thousands of 

kilometers away from their families 

and loved ones: to help restore some 

of the communities hit by the tsunami 

and to see the smiles on moms, dads 

and kids who are now living in these 

multi-coloured homes with the 

distinguishing red roofs. 

I jumped into the humanitarian 

RTV grad Kathy Mueller 

has found a new calling working 

for the Red Cross in Indonesia. 

world, thanks largely to my former 

boss. My news director gave me what 

would turn out to be a life-changing 

opportunity to visit South Sudan 

and document the work being done 

there by people from London. I was 

hooked. I loved being able to help. 

I loved the person I became. I knew 

that my next career move, when the 

time came, would be into the world 

of helping others. It wasn’t an easy 

decision to leave television. I loved it 

and still do. However, this job allows 

me to merge my new passion with 

skills I’ve nurtured over the years in 

broadcasting: skills that were originally 

developed back at Seneca. 

My ten-month contract with the 

Canadian Red Cross expires in July. 

I’ll keep my fingers crossed and hope 

for another contract or come home 

and start looking for work. However 

it turns out, I will be a spiritually 

richer person. 

For more information on the Canadian 

Red Cross Tsunami Reconstruction 

Program, visit www.redcross.ca. 

1 - 888 - ALUMNUS 31

ealtime 

A specialist in 

working at home 

By Tom Bartsiokas 

I 

t’s never easy starting your own 

business. With the economy in 

a recession, it can be downright 

difficult. 

While many aspiring entrepreneurs 

are waiting for this economic storm to 

pass, Scott Farber isn’t putting his idea 

on hold. 

The Seneca alumnus has launched 

Work-At-Home Specialists Ltd – a 

bright new business service that helps 

companies convert traditional call 

centres, also known as contact centres, 

into home-based agent operations. 

“Being in a downturn economy, I’m in 

the right area,” says Scott, a former vicechair 

of Seneca’s Board of Governors 

and a graduate of the Accounting and 

Finance program. “When I approach 

companies with my service, the first 

thing I say is, ‘Would you be interested 

in saving your money.’” 

Recessions have proven to be 

fertile ground in the past for start-up 

companies. 

GE, Hewlett Packard, Microsoft and 

Disney all opened their doors during 

downturns. Even the Apple iPod was 

launched during the dotcom collapse 

of 2001 that knocked the US economy 

sideways. 

Scott is hopeful his new company 

will enjoy similar success – and by all 

accounts it should. 

Today’s technology has made it 

possible to move to home-based agents 

who work from bedrooms and kitchen 

tables across the country. 

The convenience of rolling out of 

bed and into an office without setting 

foot outside the door, Scott says, will 

allow companies to attract and retain 

higher-caliber employees with the 

work-at-home approach. 

“Instead of bringing people in 

to work, you bring the work out 

to them,” he says. “This creates an 

unlimited talent pool available to 

companies and saves them money 

from having to lease office spaces.” 

Before starting his own company, 

Scott worked in the contact centre 

industry for 15 years as an executive 

with a major Canadian financial 

institution. 

32 

www.senecaalumni.ca


Over the course of his career, he 

launched, managed and transformed 

numerous inbound/outbound contact 

centres. 

He got the idea for Work-At-Home 

Specialists last year after working as 

a consultant for a well-known travel 

company that wanted to learn more 

about transferring its operations to a 

home-based agent model. 

Scott spent five months researching 

best practices and speaking to industry 

experts. 

With the information he gathered, 

he wrote a step-by-step manual on 

how to implement work-at-home 

agents and the many benefits to be 

gained for companies that make the 

switch. 

Work-At-Home Specialists was 

officially launched in January and 

since then Scott has been meeting with 

potential clients who are interested 

in what his company can do for their 

bottom lines. 

None have signed on yet, but it’s 

only a matter of time. 

Whether his business succeeds or 

fails, at this very moment, Scott says he 

loves what he is doing. 

“This is something I’ve been wanting 

to do for a long time. I’m excited about 

it and I feel the best is still to come.” 

1 - 888 - ALUMNUS 33

ealtime 

Bartender 

with Flair 

By Rob Colter, 

PROFESSOR, SCHOOL OF ENGLISH 

& LIBERAL STUDIES 

34 

www.senecaalumni.ca


F 

ind a job you love and you’ll never 

have to work a day in your life,” 

the saying goes, and Gavin MacMillan will 

drink to that. The 1997 Business 

Administration (Management) grad’s perfect 

mix of bartending flair and business 

insight has made him one of the most 

influential trainers and consultants in the 

industry. 

A guy with a ton of ambition and a 

lifestyle that included skateboarding, 

snowboarding and wakeboarding, he 

approached the business of bartending 

with the same level of energy and creativity. 

“I was always pushing the envelope 

to go faster, jump higher, or do a bigger 

trick than the next guy,” he recalls. “When 

I started bartending it was a natural fit for 

me to learn innovative ways of moving 

behind the bar.” 

One way was to add entertainment in 

the form of flair—acrobatic moves that 

involve flipping, flinging, and arm-rolling 

a bottle and cocktail shaker in complex 

routines that climax in a seemingly 

impossible pour. 

Following graduation, Gavin perfected 

his moves in Cairns, Australia, then combined 

bartending with corporate training 

for TGIFriday in Melbourne and the UK, 

while competing internationally. 

When he returned to Canada, he 

set his vision in motion by founding 

Movers’n’Shakers, Canada’s largest team of 

flair bartenders. 

“We send bartenders out to 1,000 

events a year,” Gavin explains, “everything 

from backyard BBQ’s to parties and celebrations 

of 5,000 guests. Flair bartending 

is always very well received.” 

If you want to see why, check out a few 

of his 50 instructional videos. Lithe, fit, 

and youthful, Gavin performs with the 

confidence and ease of an athlete. 

Always on the lookout for business 

synergies, in 2007 he co-founded 

BartenderOne, whose certified instructors 

deliver an intensive program that includes 

flair bartending and hospitality education. 

Top graduates are offered positions with 

Movers’n’Shakers. 

His latest innovation is a portable 

titanium bar (www.evolutionmobilebar. 

com), designed for home party use, that 

fits in a suitcase. It’s a far cry from the 

amateur’s folding table and ice-bucket, 

Gavin points out. 

In addition to service, Gavin offers 

advice to more than 20,000 subscribers 

to Food Service News through his monthly 

column, “Raising the Bar.” He shares his 

expertise on mixology, revenue enhancement 

and future industry trends. Gavin 

is also the co-author of Maran’s Illustrated 

Bartending and has been a speaker at 

Seneca events. 

In a world suddenly truly global and 

prone to terrifying economic swings, 

Gavin believes he has created a business 

for the times. 

“Normally, in the months leading up 

to Christmas party season, we book 

on average 10 to 15 new clients each 

week for special events,” he says. “This 

year [November 2008] we’ve booked 

74 events in the last 14 days. My thinking 

is that the economic downturn has 

resulted in a big boost for home-based 

partying.” 

For 2009, he has plans to expand the 

BartenderOne mobile school east and 

west into major Canadian cities and in 

2010 to the eastern seaboard of the US. 

Does he have a favourite cocktail? 

“A Frangelico Sour,” he replies without 

hesitation. “It was invented by one of the 

city’s best mixologists, Rob Montgomery, a 

graduate of our program.” 

I asked Rob to make me one. The 

flavours were exquisite. This is the art of 

mixology at its best, and we can thank 

Gavin MacMillan for raising the bar. 

You’ll find the recipe at www.bartenderone.com. 

1 - 888 - ALUMNUS 35

newon campus 

David Pecaut awarded 

honorary degree 

Toronto booster David Pecaut was presented 

with an honorary Bachelor of 

Applied Studies degree at convocation 

ceremonies held October 20. 

David is Senior Partner in the Toronto 

office of the Boston Consulting Group 

but known publicly for his dedicated volunteerism 

in support of Toronto and its 

many communities. 

He is the voluntary chair of the Toronto 

City Summit Alliance (TCSA), a diverse 

coalition of civic leaders whose mission 

is to accelerate social and economic 

development in the Toronto region. 

Through the TCSA, David has helped to 

mobilize the Toronto Region Immigrant 

Employment Council; the Toronto 

Region Research Alliance; the Strong 

Neighbourhoods Task Force; the Task 

Force on Modernizing Income Security 

for Working Age Adults; Luminato, the 

Toronto Festival of Arts and Creativity; 

and Greening Greater Toronto. 

David has taken his passion for the 

community and Canada to the national 

level, founding and co-chairing the 

Canadian E-Business Roundtable; cofounding 

Career Edge, the national 

youth internship program; serving on 

the Prime Minister’s External Advisory 

Committee on Cities and Communities; 

Co-Chairing the Conference Board 

Roundtable on Commercialization; 

and serving on the boards of Canada 

Basketball, the United Way of Greater 

Toronto and Pathways to Education. 

“At Seneca we are committed to 

providing an education that transforms 

lives and produces graduates that are 

engaged in their communities today and 

shaping our world for tomorrow,” said 

Seneca President Dr. Rick Miner. “David 

Pecaut exemplifies this kind of commitment 

in his work to grow a socially 

responsible, productive and financially 

innovative Toronto.” 

Three cheers Five Senecans were bestowed with an Excellence 

in Seneca Award during a January 23 ceremony at the Newnham Campus. The 

awards recognize Seneca students, employees and board/committee volunteers 

who have made an outstanding contribution to the advancement of the College 

in the areas of service, leadership, collaboration and innovation. 

This year’s recipients are: 

• Student Leadership Award 

Peter Agaliotis, Court and Tribunal 

Administration Program 

• Collaboration Award 

Laurel Schollen, Dean, Faculty of 

Applied Science and Engineering 

Technology 

• Committee Volunteer Award 

Lynn Caruso, Professor and 

Co-ordinator School of Early 

Childhood Education 

• Distinguished Service Award: 

Support Staff 

Sharon Stibbard, Registration Advisor 

Registration 

• Distinguished Service Award: 

Administration 

Paula Ferreira Gouveia, Former Chair 

School of English and Liberal Studies 

36 

www.senecaalumni.ca

Seneca 

Ontario’s 

only 

provider of 

mortgage 

broker 

education 

Seneca College has been chosen by 

the Financial Services Commission 

of Ontario as the only provider of 

education for people wanting to 

become a licensed mortgage broker 

in the province. 

The College’s program will satisfy 

the educational requirements for a 

mortgage broker license under the 

new Mortgage Brokerages, Lenders 

and Administrators Act. 

Students of Seneca’s Mortgage 

Broker Program are learning to 

perform the skills required to 

supervise mortgage agents and 

carry out the responsibilities of 

a principal broker. The program 

provides a combination of theory 

and practical applications to 

ensure successful participants are 

able to meet the high professional 

standards of both the mortgage 

brokerage industry and the 

regulator. 

“Seneca has provided education 

to Mortgage Brokers in Ontario 

over the past decade,” said Susan 

Horne, chair in Seneca’s Faculty 

of Continuing Education and 

Training. “We are pleased we can 

continue to provide leadership to 

this industry.” 

The Seneca Way 

The roadway that enters Seneca’s Markham Campus has been renamed The 

Seneca Way. A new road sign was unveiled October 16 in the atrium of the 

Markham Campus by Julian Irani, Student Ambassador; Cindy Hazell, Senior 

Vice-President; Frank Scarpitti, Markham Mayor and Anastasia Tchernykh, 

Student Ambassador. 

ECE green conference bears fruit 

More than 200 delegates from as far away as British Columbia attended the 

Growing Up Healthy and Green conference at Markham Campus in October. 

Hosted by Seneca’s School of Early Childhood Education (ECE), working closely 

with the Canadian Partnership for Children’s Health and the Environment, the 

focus was on children’s health in early learning settings. 

Frontline staff, managers and inspectors from public health, child care, the 

Ministry of Children and Youth Services and ECE college faculty were brought 

up to date on the latest research on environmental health risks to our young 

children. 

Follow up includes adding the new research findings to the ECE curriculum, 

environmental audits and changes to Seneca’s child care centres (lab schools), 

and recommendations to the Ministry for improved requirements to protect the 

health of children while in child care. 

The conference is seen as the beginning of discussions in the child care sector 

to improve environmental practices. 

1 - 888 - ALUMNUS 37

tip sheets 

Death by podium, no more 

P 

ublic speaking is one of those things that rates right 

up there with death on most people’s list of fears. 

But the ability to speak in front of a crowd of 10 or 10,000 

can be effortless, if you employ the right techniques: 

• First, be aware that the butterflies won’t go away. You will 

always feel a bit of anxiety, but you can learn to focus on the 

task at hand. Picture a professional athlete being agitated by 

every heckler in the stands. At some point, he learns to focus 

on winning and lets the hecklers heckle. To improve, you 

will have to do this with your butterflies. Let them flutter! 

• What is the big secret to becoming a better speaker? 

Practise! Why are you so skilled at walking? You’ve had 

years of practice. It didn’t start that way. You fell many 

times, but you kept going. 

• Consider that public speaking brings confidence. Mastery 

of a room of 10 is easily translated to a room of one. Think 

of your next job interview or selling your idea in front of 

a panel of customers. The ability to present is just public 

speaking in disguise. 

If you want to improve your performance or need help 

getting started, take action. Toastmasters International (www. 

toastmasters.org) is a non-profit organization with chapters 

worldwide where you can practise on a regular basis. It 

is structured to help you improve, but flexible enough to 

accommodate your own pace. You won’t be perfect at first, but 

that is the beauty of it. Neither was anyone else. 

Put yourself out there. Remember that on the other side 

of fear is opportunity! 

Ryan Rampaul (Business Administration 1999) 

is a Seneca Alumni Board member and, as 

President of his company’s Toastmaster’s Club, 

practises speaking a lot. 

ILLUSTRATIONS BY PATRICIA STORMS (GRA 2000) 

Before you change jobs, 

check out the benefits. It’s 

not just about money. 

W 

e go to work and we get paid but is that really 

it? Money for your time and expertise is the 

obvious benefit of your job, yet your employer may 

provide additional incentives. 

GROUP BENEFITS – What kind of coverage does 

your group plan provide and are your spouse and 

dependants included? Can you purchase additional 

benefits, such as optional life insurance, or can you 

opt out if you have coverage through a spouse or 

significant other? 

PENSION PLAN – Do you have an opportunity to 

join a company pension plan? If so, is it company 

paid or can you elect to contribute your own earnings 

into the plan? Does your employer match any of your 

contributions? 

38 

www.senecaalumni.ca

insports 

A GROUP REGISTERED 

RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN 

– Is it possible to contribute 

to a Group RRSP through a 

payroll deduction option? 

Does your employer match 

your contributions or pay the 

administrative and service charges 

associated with the plan? 

EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE 

PROGRAM – Many employers 

provide the services of a 

consulting firm to help with workrelated, 

marital, or family stress; 

financial and legal concerns; or 

drug and alcohol issues, often at 

little or no cost to you. 

EDUCATIONAL 

RE-IMBURSEMENT 

PROGRAM – Will your employer 

reimburse you for taking 

company-approved work-related 

programs, courses or seminars? 

Is the cost of books and supplies 

covered? 

WELLNESS PROGRAM – You 

may be able to take advantage of 

health-related seminars, on-site 

fitness classes or subsidized gym 

memberships as part of a wellness 

program. 

Make the most of all that your 

employer has to offer. You may 

discover a variety of added 

benefits that could increase your 

financial security, improve your 

overall health and contribute 

to your continued professional 

development. 

Andrea Jegins, B.Comm., CHRP 

(Business Administration/Human 

Resources Administration 1997), is 

a Human Resources Generalist with 

AXA Insurance (Canada). 

Natasha Thombs breaks 

basketball record 

S 

eneca’s Natasha Thombs made 

history in January becoming the 

Ontario Colleges Athletic Association 

(OCAA) All-Time Leading Scorer in 

Women’s Basketball. 

By the end of the season, Natasha 

had reached 1,178 points. Another 

Senecan, Melinda Coker, had held the 

record for the past 25 years with 1,115 

points. Making this feat even more 

remarkable is the fact that Natasha is 

in her fifth and final season with the 

Sting, while Melinda set the mark over 

six seasons. 

Natasha also set the record for most 

points in a single game at 54. 

A Creative Advertising student 

OCAA CAREER SCORING LEADERS SEASONS POINTS 

1. Natasha Thombs Seneca 03-07/08-09 1,178 

2. Melinda Coker Seneca/Mohawk 75-78/82-85 1,115 

3. Bonnie Slaughter Durham 00-04 (4) 866 

4. Julie Goedhuis Durham 93-95/96-97 816 

5. Leslie Dalcin Seneca/GBC 77-80 (3) 792 

PHOTO BY: ADRIEN VECZAN 

and graduate from the Visual 

Merchandising Arts program, Natasha 

has been and continues to be a solid 

student. On the court, she has led 

Seneca to two OCAA Championships 

and an OCAA Silver medal. 

Individually she has earned just about 

every award the OCAA and Seneca 

have to offer a student-athlete: OCAA 

Player of the Year; CCAA All-Canadian; 

OCAA Championship MVP; OCAA 

Scoring Champion; Seneca Athlete of 

the Year; and the list goes on. 

Seneca’s long-time success in 

Women’s Basketball has seen athletes 

hold three of the top five spots on the 

OCAA’s all-time scoring list. 

1 - 888 - ALUMNUS 39

insports 

Injured Seneca gymnast supported through fundraiser 

T 

aylor Lindsay-Noel’s aspirations 

to represent Canada in artistic 

gymnastics were interrupted last summer 

after a training accident in the 

Seneca Sport Centre. A grade 10 student, 

Taylor’s neck injury requires substantial 

rehabilitation. 

On November 27, 2008, a silent 

auction was held to raise funds to 

support the cost of Taylor’s rehabilitation. 

Staff and students in the Sports 

and Recreation department worked 

to provide auction items that would 

peak the interests of the Seneca community. 

Many companies, businesses, 

individuals and Seneca Departments 

contributed items. Donations were 

very generous, and more than $12,000 

was raised for Taylor’s rehabilitation 

expenses. 

Taylor and her mother Rowena 

Lindsay extend their personal thanks 

for the fantastic support shown by the 

donors who supported this event. 

Organizers offered a special thank 

you to the Seneca Alumni Association 

and former Seneca Alumni Executive 

Director Linda Hendy for their most 

generous auction donations. Some of 

the highest bid items were as a result 

of alumni support. 

Thanks also go to all the Senecans 

and the greater community for participating 

in the silent auction and their 

support of this event. 

Donations can still be made directly 

to Taylor’s Trust Fund at CIBC 

bank account number 

(07312) 77-59185. 

Slava Corn: still 

influential 

F 

or the second time, Slava Corn, 

Manager for Seneca’s Sports and 

Recreation department, has been named 

one of the Top 20 Most Influential 

Women in Sport and Physical Activity. 

The honour comes from the 

Canadian Association for the 

Advancement of Women and Sports 

and Physical Activity (CAAWS). 

Slava is Vice-President of the 

International Gymnastics Federation 

and a long-time board member of 

Gymnastics Canada. Her work at 

Seneca has included programs that train 

athletes in gymnastics and figure skating 

for competition at a world class level. 

40 

www.senecaalumni.ca

King Artisan centre 

@ seneca 

CoMInG thIS SuMMEr 

5-Day Artisan Workshops 

New topics every week for the month of July, 

Monday to Friday, 9 am to 4 pm. Choose any 

workshops below and enjoy your summer! 

| T o p i c s | 

• Stained Glass 

• Instrumental Ensemble 

• Photography 

• Welding for Art — Creative Metal Works 

• Painting 

• Floral Design 

For more information, please contact 

Al Woodward at 416-491-5050, ext. 7284 

or at Al.Woodward@senecac.on.ca or visit 

senecac.on.ca/parttime/program/kingartisan 

Accommodations available

their future 

your bequest 

ESTABLISH A LEGACY OF LEARNING 

Contact Seneca’s Office of Resource 

Development to make a lasting gift that 

will change a student’s life. 

Shirlene Courtis, 

CFRE, Vice President, 

Resource Development 

shirlene.courtis@senecac.on.ca 

416.491.5050 x2034

alumninews 

The right medicine 

S 

eneca alumna Meghan Ciliberti has put her artistic design skills towards 

HIV/AIDS awareness. 

The 2005 Radio Broadcasting grad is now in her third year of the Bachelor of 

Design-Advertising program at the Ontario College of Art and Design. She was 

one of three students whose artwork was chosen for the Canadian Foundation for 

AIDS Research (CANFAR) “Have a Heart” campaign posters. 

“I feel that when one wants to educate youth about abstinence, safer sex and 

AIDS prevention, it’s best to not to sugar coat the message,” Meghan explains, 

describing her poster of a hand full of medication. “I wanted my poster to be as 

honest as possible and present a realistic look at life with AIDS.” 

She drew on the skills learned in copywriting classes at Seneca to quickly 

determine the tone and message needed for the campaign. 

Her poster was sent to 1,500 schools across Canada for display in February. 

Complete your bachelor’s degree with Davenport University Online 

Seneca College and Davenport University have developed 

a partnership that allows you to transfer credits towards a 

bachelor’s or master’s degree. 

Due to generous transfer credits, many Seneca graduates 

with a 3-year diploma can complete a bachelor’s degree 

with just 10 Davenport classes (30 credit hours). 

Benefits to an online degree from Davenport University: 

> NO VISAS Earn your degree completely online. 

> 24/7 AVAILABILITY Take classes any time, work 

around scheduled commitments. 

> AFFORDABLE Scholarships are available, as well as 

partnership tuition rates. 

Contact us at: 

www.davenport.edu/seneca 

1.800.203.5323 email: partnerships@davenport.edu 

A partnership with Davenport University for students, employees, and alumni of Seneca College. 

1 - 888 - ALUMNUS 43

alumninews 

New board members bring new skills 

Four more Senecans have stepped up to offer their time and skills to the Seneca Alumni 

board. Each will play a role in coordinating events and providing the many services and 

benefits available to all Seneca graduates. 

Kim Child 

Kim graduated in 2000 from the 

Human Resources Management program. 

After completing her Seneca 

diploma, she attained her Certified 

Employee Benefits Specialist (CEBS) 

designation through Dalhousie 

University. Taking life-long learning 

to heart, Kim has also earned a Long 

Term Care Professional (LTCP) designation 

provided through America’s 

Health Insurance Plans; she is a 

Licensed Insurance Advisor; and 

earned a Direct Marketing Certificate 

through the Canadian Marketing 

Association. 

Kim is the Manager, Marketing and 

Account Management at Manulife 

Financial, but also works as a continuing 

education professor for CEBS 

courses at George Brown College. 

Kim has been involved in many 

Seneca Alumni events over the past 

few years and was the keynote speaker 

at the February 2008 Leaders Engaged 

in Advocacy Program event. 

Neil Ta 

Neil graduated from Seneca’s International 

Business program in 2001. After completing 

his Seneca diploma, Neil went on to 

Ryerson University where he was awarded 

a Bachelor of Commerce degree in 2003. 

Following university, he was chosen to 

participate in a Department of Foreign 

Affairs and International Trade internship 

in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, where 

he spent six months working for the 

Canadian Chamber of Commerce. 

Today, Neil is employed as the 

Marketing Manager for CCAB/BPA 

Worldwide. 

Neil has also been an active board 

member of the Ryerson University 

Business Alumni Association since 2006. 

Neil reconnected with Seneca in 2007 

volunteering with the Alumni Association. 

In August 2008, he sat on the Board’s bylaw 

review subcommittee. 

Andre Chow-Leong 

Andre graduated from Seneca’s Human 

Resource Management post graduate 

program in 2005. Prior to completing 

his studies at Seneca, Andre completed 

his Bachelor of Arts degree at 

the University of Toronto. He spent the 

next three years working for Loblaw 

Companies in various positions, most 

recently as a pricing and promotions 

manager. 

Today, Andre is employed as 

the Grocery Merchandising Manager for 

Sobeys Inc. 

Felisha Ali 

Felisha moved to Canada from Trinidad 

in 1994 when she began the Accounting 

diploma program at Seneca. While 

still a student, she was Vice President 

and then President of the Seneca West 

Indian Association. 

Felisha graduated from the Accounting 

program in 1996 and, with high honours, 

from the Adult Education-Staff 

Training and Development program in 

2003. 

Currently, Felisha is the Publications 

and Communications Officer at Seneca’s 

Office of the Registrar. She has worked 

for the College for 14 years in a variety 

of positions. 

Felisha has been a part-time instructor 

for the Computer Specializations 

Department in the Faculty of 

Continuing Education since 2000. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

44 

www.senecaalumni.ca

REV_ucw0902010_Seneca College Mag_half page_runs Feb.pdf 2/9/2009 12:28:54 PM 

A tip of the hat to 

Nate Simpson 

V 

olunteers from 

various areas of 

the fire protection 

industry, including 

manufacturers, service 

providers, fire 

prevention officers, 

consultants and 

insurance 

representatives, make 

up Seneca’s Fire 

Protection Engineering 

Technology Advisory Committee. 

These volunteers generously donate their time to 

provide valuable information to the Fire Protection 

programs regarding program content, organization 

and identifying what learning skills are valuable to 

the industry once students graduate. Many of the 

volunteers are previous graduates of the Fire Protection 

Engineering Technician or Technology courses. 

Nate Simpson, C.E.T., is one of those graduates 

and has chaired the advisory council for more than 

12 years. He has played a key role in maintaining the 

advisory council and providing valuable leadership to 

the group. Nate is stepping down as chair due to his 

many other commitments. His dedicated service and 

professionalism will be missed. 

About face 

W 

ith more than 500 Seneca-related groups, 

Facebook has a lot to say about those heady 

days of college. 

More than 8,000 people from around the world are 

connected through Seneca groups related to class years, 

programs, silly college antics and sports. 

Some are looking to stay in touch; others are newlyaccepted 

students working on making friends before the 

first day of school. 

Join us on the ‘Seneca Alumni’ association group. If 

you need help, contact Andrew John McDonald, Seneca’s 

Manager, Alumni on Facebook or at andrew.mcdonald@ 

senecac.on.ca. He’s looking for more friends. 

C 

M 

Y 

CM 

MY 

CY 

CMY 

K 

1 - 888 - ALUMNUS 45

REDEFINING 

DESIGN 09 

APRIL 15, 2009 

Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre 

6 Garamond Court, Toronto (Don Mills Road & Wynford Drive) 

OUR ANNUAL 

GALA EVENT 

FEATURING 

• The Garment Collection Runway Presentation of the 

2009 Fashion Arts (Design) Program Graduates. 

• Portfolio Exhibit and Design Presentation of the 

2009 Visual Merchandising Arts (Display) Program Graduates. 

• Floral Exhibit and Installation by the 

2009 Floral Design Program Graduates. 

6:30 PM 

Press & Industry Runway Presentation 

9:00 PM 

Gala ‘General Public’ Runway Presentation 

TICKETS $20/PERSON 

Purchase tickets by calling the Fashion Hotline 

416.491.5050 x6400 

For more information: 

Brian.Wickens@senecac.on.ca 

416.491.5050 x6552

Career and job fairs 

comingevents 

• Part-time Job Fair 

September 17, 2009 

10 am - 2 pm 

Newnham Campus 

Cost to Employers: $250 (includes 

GST, parking, refreshments and student 

ambassador assistance) 

The Part-time Job Fair is ideal for 

employers with part-time and seasonal 

job opportunities suitable for college 

students. Newnham Campus is home to 

approximately 10,000 full-time students 

in business- and engineering-related 

disciplines, however students from all 

Seneca programs are invited to attend 

this Job Fair. 

For more information contact: 

Victoria Warbuck, Career Services 

Coordinator 

416-491-5050 ext. 5007 

victoria.warbuck@senecac.on.ca 

• Professional Associations 

Expo – Newnham Campus 

October 7, 2009 

10 am - 2 pm 

Newnham Campus 




The Professional Associations Expo 

allows Seneca students to gain valuable 

information on the wide variety of 

associations and professional designations 

available in their industries and 

discover the benefits of becoming members. 

Newnham Campus is home to 


in business- and engineering-related 

disciplines. 


Mary Fracassa, Career Services 

Coordinator 

416-491-5050 ext.6465 

Mary.Fracassa@senecac.on.ca 

• Professional Associations 

Expo – King Campus 

October 2009 (Date TBA) 

10 am - 2 pm 

King Campus 




The Professional Associations Expo 

allows Seneca students to gain valuable 

information on the wide variety 

of associations and professional designations 

available in their industries 

and discover the benefits of becoming 

members. King Campus is home to 


in applied arts-, health sciences- and 

business-related disciplines. 


Victoria Warbuck, Career Services 

Coordinator 

416-491-5050 ext. 5007 

victoria.warbuck@senecac.on.ca 

SENECA 

RETIREES 

ASSOCIATION 

NOTICE OF 

ANNUAL 

GENERAL 

MEETING 

Tuesday, May 26, 2009 

Seneca College - Markham Campus 

1 pm Registration - Lecture Theatre 

2 pm Annual General Meeting 

3 pm Reception - Markham Atrium 

For details check the SRA website: 

www.senecac.on.ca/retirees/ 

OPEN 

SATURDAY, APRIL 4, 2009 

11:00 AM – 2:30 PM 

Meet Seneca faculty, staff and students 

Attend program information sessions 

Learn about campus life and more 

Discover why Seneca is the best choice for your future 

yourfuture.senecacollege.ca 

1 - 888 - ALUMNUS 47

comingevents 

• Focus on Bio-Chem 

Careers - Career Day 

November 2009 (Date TBA) 

10 am to 2 pm 

Seneca@York 

$100 (includes GST, parking, refreshments 

and student ambassador assistance) 

The Career Day will provide 

companies the opportunity to meet 

highly-skilled students and graduates 

from our renowned School of 

Biological Sciences and Applied 

Chemistry. This event is designed 

to be an intimate day to share your 

expert advice with our students about 

your company’s products and/or services, 

potential career opportunities 

and tips for success. 


Tracy Rogers, Career Services 

Coordinator 

416-491-5050 ext. 3124 

Tracy.Rogers@senecac.on.ca 

Theatre Shows and Sports Tickets 

New shows for you to enjoy! 

Anne of Green Gables 

$75 pp* 

Thursday, May 28, 2009 at 7:30 pm 

Elgin Theatre, 189 Yonge St., Toronto 

This family classic relives the poignant 

and funny story of Anne 

Shirley, the spunky, redheaded 

orphan, who comes to Prince Edward 

Island hoping to find a happy home. 

Charlottetown Festival’s perennial 

favorite Anne of Green Gables - The 

Musical is Canada’s longest-running 

musical seen by more than 3 million 

people worldwide. Freckle-faced 

Anne arrives at the Bright River 

Railway Station full of hope for a 

new life at the home of brother and 

sister Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert. 

She is devastated when she discovers 

the elderly couple was expecting a 

boy and ecstatic when they decide to 

keep her! 

With her fiery temper, passion 

for melodrama and romance, and 

penchant for misadventures, Anne 

brings laughter, love and more than 

a little consternation to the village of 

Avonlea. 

Based on the novel Anne of Green 

Gables, by Lucy Maud Montgomery, 

this story is loved by millions around 

the world and in 2008 is celebrating 

the centenary of its original publication. 

The Sound of Music 

$80 or $100 pp* 

Thursday, May 7, 2009 at 7:30 pm 

Princess of Wales Theatre 

300 King St. W, Toronto 

Andrew Lloyd Webber, David Ian 

and David Mirvish present the North 

American premiere of the lavish, 

new, hit London production of The 

Sound of Music, with music by Oscar 

Hammerstein II, lyrics by Richard 

Rodgers and book by Howard 

Lindsay and Russell Crouse. 

This timeless family classic is overseen 

in Canada by director Jeremy 

Sims, choreographer Arlene Philips 

and designer Robert Jones – all of 

whom won raves from the London 

critics for their superb work on the 

West End production. 

*See order details online at: www. 

senecaalumni.ca/show 

Note: Net proceeds from ticket sales fund 

the Seneca Student Development Grant, 

which helps students attend learning activities 

outside the classroom. 

These activities include conferences, workshops 

and volunteer projects. 

Sports Tickets 

Keep your eye on the Seneca Alumni 

website - www.senecaalumni.ca/ 

sports. We have ongoing ticket discount 

offerings throughout the year 

for the Raptors, Marlies, Blue Jays, 

Rogers Cup Tennis and more. 

48

grapevine 

1980 

Carol Mark (Nursing 1980) had a 

career across the globe. She worked on 

building the first hospice on Pine Ridge 

Reservation in South Dakota, assisted in 

surgery for the Mayans in Mexico, and 

is now working with NATO on a 

girls’ library in Afghanistan. 

Still nursing, Carol also owns 

an art gallery in Toronto. ACA 

Gallery’s mission is to showcase art 

by established and emerging artists. 

A percentage of gallery sales is 

donated to humanitarian grassroots 

organizations locally and worldwide. 

www.acagallery.com 

1985 

Debbie Chong (Nursing 1985) 

worked for temporary agencies in 

many different fields for several years 

before settling down to a full-time 

position at Wellesley Hospital in 

Toronto. She gained experience in 

peritoneal dialysis and worked on the 

nephrology and hematology unit there, 

soon becoming the senior staff nurse. 

In 1992, Debbie and her family 

moved to Florida, and she began 

working in a Labour and Delivery unit 

in 1993. Debbie became an American 

Citizen in 2007. 

Debbie can be contacted at 

sixchongs@earthlink.net. 

1987 

Denise Ropp (Nursing 1987) has worked 

in many areas of healthcare during her 

20-year career. Over the past several years, 

she has focused on occupational health 

with hospital and corporate clients. She 

recently became the Vice President of 

Operations and International Recruitment 

for Synergy Employment Services which 

helps foreign-trained nurses to join the 

Canadian workforce. 

Denise has been actively involved on 

the Seneca Alumni Association Board 

since 2005 and continues to serve from 

her new residence in Saskatchewan. She 

can be reached at drhealthsolutions@ 

gmail.com. 

1988 

Andrew Crow (Biological Technology 

1988) has had a full and rewarding 

career in his chosen field for the past 

20 years, most recently working as 

a senior research assistant and lab 

manager for Canadian Blood Services, 

studying and devising new therapies 

to treat autoimmune diseases. For this 

work, Andrew was awarded the Ontario 

Premier’s Award in 2006. 

The Andrew R. Crow Achievement 

Award was established for students 

enrolled in Biological Sciences & 

Applied Chemistry advanced diploma 

programs. Available now, the Award 

goes to students with financial need 

who demonstrate above-average 

dedication to their education. 

Andrew stays active at Seneca as 

a tribute speaker and as an alumni 

mentor. He is married to Dr. Min 

Rui-Crow. They have two children, 

Alexander (4) and Abigail (16 months). 

1989 

Jill Turner Goericke (Library and 

Information Technician 1989) works as 

a library technician at the York Region 

District School Board, alongside 34 

other technicians, many of whom have 

graduated from Seneca’s LIT program. 

Jill is an advocate for LIT graduates. 

The technicians are responsible for 

monitoring an automated catalogue, 

maintaining print and non-print 

material and providing reference 

service to students and staff at the high 

school level. 

1995 

Jill Edmondson (Biochemical 

Laboratory Technician 1995) 

graduated from Seneca, then 

completed her BA at York University, 

majoring in history. She went on to 

become an English professor, teaching 

at Seneca for one semester. She is 

working on her Master of Arts in 

Cultural Studies through Athabasca 

University. 

Putting her skills into practice, Jill’s 

first mystery novel Blood and Groom is 

expected to be published this fall by 

Dundurn Press. 

1998 

Ying Ong (Biological Research 

Technology 1998) has added a 

second boy to her family. He is 

named Tyler. While juggling childcare 

duties, she has put her financial 

planning business on hold, but is 

continuing with her greeting card 

business SendOutCards. Check out the 

program through the Seneca Alumni 

affinity partnerships. SendOutCards 

is a tremendous help for relationship 

management and family contacts. 

Reach Ying at ying@sendoutcards.com. 

1999 

Adrian Bita (Accounting and Finance 

1999) has worked in financial services 

in a variety of sectors and positions from 

junior accountant to financial controller. 

STAY IN TOUCH 

Keep us up to date on your contact information. 

Update your personal profile online at 


or e-mail alumni@senecac.on.ca 

1 - 888 - ALUMNUS 49

grapevine 

Adrian has chosen to focus on media, 

advertising and consulting. He is the 

owner of Bita Group Consulting and 

works as financial controller for High 

Tech Communications Inc. in Toronto. 

While balancing a full workload, 

Adrian is completing his Honours 

Bachelor of Commerce degree through 

Laurentian University and is two exams 

away from obtaining his Certified 

General Accountant (CGA) designation. 

THE CLASS OF 2028 + 

Emilie Corine Ruel was born to Sasha 

Ruel (Wilson) (CLT 2003) and Mario 

Ruel on November 4, 2008. Her parents 

say, “From a hope in our hearts, blip 

on the monitor, eventful pregnancy, 

through the sleepless nights, to your 

very first smile, first word, first step, you 

have taught us true unconditional love. 

Thank you.” 

IN MEMORIUM 

Christopher Bassett died November 

24, 2008 at 35. 

Chris was a successful and devoted 

student at Seneca. He graduated from 

the Law Enforcement program in 1994, 

General Business in 1996 and a year 

later, from Business Administration, all 

with high honours. During his years of 

hard work, he was also very involved 

with the Student Activity Council at King 

Campus. 

Chris’s accomplishments did not 

go unrecognized. He left Seneca in 

1997 after winning the Student Life 

Achievement Scholarship twice (1994, 

1997). He was also the recipient of the 

Community Service Scholarship (1994), 

the David Somerville Memorial Award 

(1995/1996), the W.T. Newnham Award 

(1997), the Seneca Cup (1997) and was 

also the Valedictorian for his graduating 

class in 1997. 

Chris moved to Calgary to pursue his 

lifelong dream and in 2001, he became a 

Calgary Police Service Constable. 

He leaves his wife Kirsty, parents 

David and Gloria, and his sister Jennifer. 

2001 

After graduation, Maria Hagithomas 

(Early Childhood Education 2001) 

began working as an education 

assistant in the special education 

department at a Toronto-area 

secondary school. In 2006, Maria 

started her family and began working 

with her brothers on a new state-ofthe-art 

play centre. Funnelz offers 

active play environments for children 

aged 1-12. It opened in Scarborough 

in November 2008 (www.funnelz.ca). 

Maria resides in Toronto with her 

husband and two-year-old daughter and 

can be reached at maria@funnelz.ca. 

2002 

Allison Partington (Business Computer 

Systems 2002) completed her Bachelor 

of Commerce degree in Information 

Technology Management through 

Ryerson University and worked as a software 

training and systems analyst for four 

years before travelling through Australasia. 

Since September 2008, Allison has 

been working in the Infrastructure 

Technology Services Department of the 

Ontario Government. 

Julia Silvestri (Marketing 

Administration 2002) works as a 

production assistant in the Development 

Department of the Yonge Street 

Mission. The Mission is a not-for-profit 

organization that reaches out to meet 

the needs of people living in poverty in 

Toronto. 

After graduation, Julia spent a year 

teaching English in Italy, caring for her 

grandmother and traveling. 

Julia has begun 

the process of 

starting her 

own marketing 

consulting 

company. 

2003 

Courtney Derick (Law Clerk Diploma 

2003) began working in mortgage 

enforcement and then moved on to 

commercial real estate. She now runs 

a very busy practice that specializes in 

family law, child protection and Office 

of the Children’s Lawyer work. 

Courtney has been a field placement 

employer for the Law Clerk program at 

Seneca since 2006. 

Courtney is excited to announce that 

she is planning to marry in October 2009. 

2004 

Jason Lewis (Court and Tribunal Agent 

2004) graduated with high honours, 

receiving 

the SLPA 

and Stephen 

A. Quinlan 

Scholarships. 

Shortly after 

graduation, Jason 

began his own 

paralegal practice 

Pointsaver Help 

Legal Services Professional Corporation 

(www.pointsaver.ca). 

Jason has stayed connected to Seneca 

through career preparation days and as 

a part-time instructor in the School of 

Legal and Public Administration. 

2005 

Rory Winegarden (Computer 

Programmer & Analysis 2005) specialized 

in object oriented application 

programming at Seneca. He’s put his 

diploma to good use working for Grohe 

Canada in the IT department. Most 

recently, he’s been working on NET 

application development for itControlsuite. 

Two fellow Seneca graduates work 

with Rory. 

50 

www.senecaalumni.ca

Rory is proud to announce that 

over the past two-and-a-half years, he 

has lost 90 pounds through diet and 

exercise. 

2008 

Paola Zuluaga 

(International 

Business 2008) began 

working as a sales 

executive (commodity 

trading) in November 

2008 for a metal 

trading company in Mississauga. 

Paola holds an International Trade 

Diploma through the Forum for 

International Trade and Training, 

and is working on her Certified 

International Trade Professional 

designation. Paola can be reached at 

paolazulu@hotmail.com. 

2009 

Nikki Dionne (Biotechnology 

Technologist 2009) demonstrates the 

value of a Seneca diploma. Within 

three weeks of completing her final 

semester exams (and graduating with 

honours), she began working for 

Diebel Laboratory in Brampton as a 

micro lab technician. 

Nikki moved to Seneca from the 

University of Western Ontario and says 

that this was the best decision she has 

ever made. 

FAMILY MATTERS 

The Hobson Family 

Leigh Hobson is a long-time Senecan. 

She graduated from a Seneca secretarial 

program in the 70s then was hired by the 

College to work at Sheppard Campus. Within 

two years she had moved to Newnham 

Campus working in a series of support and 

administrative positions. At the same time, 

she completed the Business Administration 

program, graduating in 1990. Leigh 

became a member of the Seneca Retirees 

Association (SRA) in 2001 and has continued 

to be involved in the affairs of the SRA, 

serving as Vice-President in 2007/2008. 

Leigh’s husband David Hobson is a graduate 

of Seneca’s Electronics Technical Skills 

program. 

Leigh and David have instilled the value 

of a Seneca College education in their children, 

as well. Their daughters Shannon and 

Kelly are also Seneca Alumni. 

Shannon graduated from Visual 

Merchandising Arts in 1997. Kelly completed 

Nursing (diploma stream) in 2004. 

Leigh and David’s Grandson James at 17 

is considering joining one of Seneca’s broadcasting 

programs. 

OUTSMART 

THE ECONOMY. 

HiRE TOp STUdENTS fROM THE SCHOOl 

Of ACCOUNTiNg & fiNANCiAl SERviCES. 

Our grads are jOb REAdY SpECiAliSTS in 

accounting, payroll, financial planning, financial 

services management, insurance, real property 

administration, regulatory compliance and more. 

in addition, we have qualified, enthusiastic 

degree and diploma students available for 

CO-Op wORk plACEMENTS. 

TO lEARN MORE, CONTACT 

Sheilagh Stephenson 

416.491.5050 x2795 

Sheilagh.Stephenson@senecac.on.ca 

Naomi Herman 

416.491.5050 x6864 

Naomi.Herman@senecac.on.ca 

www.senecac.on.ca 

1 - 888 - ALUMNUS 51

grapevine 

52 

NOW IN PRINT 

Add another title to illustrator Patricia 

Storms’ (Graphic Design 2000) portfolio. 

Written by Barbara Todd and published 

by Kids Can Press, Edward and 

the Eureka Lucky Wish Company hit the 

bookstores in February. Patricia provides 

the images to the story of Edward, 

who realizes that getting the ultimate 

wish turns out to be much trickier than 

he ever imagined. It takes a few wishes 

gone bizarrely 

wrong – bog 

bubblers, 

pirates and 

pelicans?! – 

before Edward 

figures out 

just how to 

get his wish. 

Brent Garell (Human Resource 

Management, Post-Diploma 1994) 

is the author of a newly published 

cookbook called The Cook-a-Palooza 

Experience: Cooking That’ll Move, 

Groove & Inspire You! After 11 successful 

years working in human resources, 

Brent decided to follow a new direction 

and write a cookbook that combines 

two of his biggest passions: cooking 

and music. Brent has been interviewed 

on radio and TV about his fun, healthy 

and approachable style of cooking, and 

he received an endorsement from Chef 

Michael Olson of the Niagara Culinary 

Institute. Brent lives in Oakville with his 

wife and two children. Contact Brent 

and try recipes from his book at 

www.cookapalooza.com. 

Where’s William? 

We’ve lost touch with William Dykie, Law Enforcement, 1999. Unfortunately, he’s not 

the only one. If you know the whereabouts of William or anyone on this list, let us know 

how to contact them at alumni@senecaalumni.ca 

Business 

Administration 

(Management) 

(BADG) 

1997 

Allan Chersey 

1998 

M. Gilham 

Jeremy Heinze 

Elizabeth Skelhorn 

1999 

Galit Felik 

Josee Lelievre 

Lan Truong 

2000 

Lookman Adegbola 

Philip Bachli 

Scott Brown 

Tammy Earl 

Charina Gano 

Ka Ho 

Kim Michelle Hunte 

Lydia Koduah 

Krista Muhr 

Tom Ngo 

Rajvinder Sekhon 

Nadir Sheikh 

Sian Simpson 

Yung Tsai 

Daryl Tuttle 

2001 

Kimberly Adams 

Carlos Argudo 

Christopher 

Berwick 

Rubena Borg 

Alevtina Borissova 

Robert Cochrane 

Hong-Dong Fei 

Philippe Gaudet 

Suzanne Harrington 

Colin Laverty 

Alex Liu 

Lesley Sturridge 

Marianne Succi 

Christopher Watt 

Yiyuan Zhang 

2002 

Nilen Asghedom 

Hema Babulal 

Man Fu 

Antoinette Laws 

Shukri Musse 

Giuseppe Nardi 

Dharani 

Renganathan 

Atefe Shabani 

Mareika Simpson 

Nashema Smith 

2003 

Justin Anderson 

Mike Liongco 

Annalisa Parente 

Ji-Ren Qian 

Nalini Ramgobind 

2004 

Kikey Da Silva 

Steve Georgiou 

Kendra James 

Nathan Wolters 

Pui Yu 

Wei Zhou 

2005 

Jerame Benedicto 

Spyridon Broumas 

Dmitry Chebotarevskiy 

Gregory O’Brien 

Jorden Oszoli 

Jason Telegdi 

Heidi Utting 

2006 

Allan C. Chen 

Marko Perlic 

Ali Zamiri 

2007 

Maria Barcenas 

Beeta Sadeghi 

Fashion 

Merchandising- 

Retail 

Merchandising 

Option (FAS) 

1995 

Wai Kwok 

Annette Lau 

Sharri-Ann Lavigne 

Robin Rupert 

Hana Song 

Lam Sung 

Ling Tjia 

1996 

Carol Hsin-Hui Lin 

Christine Song 

1997 

Tammy Abernethy 

Tun-Ya Chen 

Anna Ortino 

Sylvie Roussel 

Pavanpreet Singh 

Daniela Tiano 

1998 

Jahye Lee 

Irene Li 

Kirsten Ostler 

Joanna Sung 

2000 

Anicka Knaggs 

Ellis Lay 

Kanako Nakagawa 

Anne Octaviano 

Ami Robinson 

Lindsay Rosart 

2001 

Clare Broomfield 

Siu Leung 

Paula Parsons 

2003 

Jennifer Synnott 

2004 

Julie Green 

2005 

Ashley Anna Mckay 

Christine Pereira 

Law Enforcement 

(LAW) 

1998 

Jennifer Agyei 

Jason Barber 

Dennis Barton 

Michael Bastianello 

Kristin Blanchard 

Audrey-Jane Boone 

York Campbell 

Bradley Cutler 

Jeffrey Dale 

Sarah Davis 

Nicole De Carolis 

Debbie Dimitriadis 

David Dorosz 

Nathan Ferguson 

Paul Findley 

Ann Gervais 

Deen Godfrey 

Lee-Anne Guerin 

Gerrard Hanlon 

Ian Hazell 

Crystal Kellard 

Steven Loschiavo 

Hoda Mansour 

Martin Marczuk 

Jodie Martin 

Shaun Maxwell 

Thomas Morgan 

Jackie Morley 

Sophia Nelson 

Don Pannunzio 

Jennifer Parr 

Carlos Rivera 

Jackie Schaffer 

Apollo Semella 

Alexander Shefler 

Caren Singh 

Sheri Stil 

Michael Suzana 

Raluca Taparlea 

Kathy Taylor 

Michelle Telfeyan 

Todd Tiller 

Jorge Tomicic 

Nick Verruno 

Jaye Wesley 

1999 

Dwayne Bailey 

Paul Beaton 

Danielle Beaulieu 

Sharon Cairns 

Karen Chamberlain 

Fraser Chewins 

William Dykie 

Melinda Finn 

Monica Freitas 

Martin Grenda 

Malinda Hardie 

Julie Jackson 

Nicole John-Baptiste 

Eren Joudrey 

George Kvasha 

Nadia Lachapelle 

Mark Locke 

David Moon 

Jean-Paul Nadeau 

Cristiana Nicoara 

Barbara Parker 

Massimo Porretta 

www.senecaalumni.ca

18055_TUA_4C_E 11/14/05 2:56 PM Page 1 

JOB DESC.: Contact mag ad 

DOCKET: 18055 

CLIENT: national car 

SUPPLIER: 

TRIM: 8" x 10.625" 

TYPE PAGE: 

BLEED: 8.5" x 11.13" 

SCREEN: 

Insertion Dates: 

PUB.: Trent University Alumni 

COLOUR: 4C 

DATE: Nov/05 

AD NUMBER: 18055_TUA_4C_E 

Searching for your next position? 

Seneca College and Seneca Alumni have 

partnered with Adecco Canada to give 

you more options for career development. 

Registered Seneca students or graduates are 

eligible for a free Xpert ® assessment. 

Xpert ® is a global, fully-integrated, 

proprietary skills online assessment 

application. It permits testing of a candidate’s 

skills, motivation, attitude and work 

environment preferences. Adecco’s Xpert ® 

Skills Proficiency Evaluation System is 

comprised of three distinct parts, Xpert ® “Can 

Do”, “Will Do” and “Will Fit.” Get a better 

understanding of yourself as you start your 

next position search. 

Register at www.adecco.ca or call Adecco 

nationally at 1-866-646-3322. 

Looking for a new 

or used vehicle? 

Visit cars4u.com today. Build your personal 

profile ONLINE for the vehicle you want and 

let cars4u be your personal shopper. 

Exclusive benefits developed for Seneca 

Alumni. Check the website for current offers. 

Serving your needs coast to coast in Canada. 

www.cars4u.com/landing/seneca.asp 

1-877-6cars4u (1-877-622-7748) 

In Toronto, please call 416-385-8055. 

AFFINITY PARTNERS 

Alumni is for life 

Graduating DKT./PROJ: 18055 UNIVERSITY is just ALUMNI the AD start of your education. As part of the Seneca Alumni 

Association’s DATE: NOV/05 ITEM: continued BROCHURE support, we enter into partnerships and use our 

FLAT: 8.5" X 10.625" FOLDED: 

bargaining power to bring you special offers on products and services. Affinity 

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partners FINISHING: contribute financially to the Association in a number of ways. Those 

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are constantly sourcing new opportunities for you. 

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CANADA'S e DEALER 

alumnibenefits 

The competition can get you from point A to B. 

Seneca College Affinity 

MasterCard 

Earn Aeroplan Every time you Miles use a Seneca or AIR College MILES Reward to www.manulife.com/seneca. 

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MasterCard, a financial contribution is made For more information about your exclusive 

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Bursary Fund. MBNA Canada offers you the 

nationalcar.ca Seneca College Platinum Plus ® or Preferred 

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Apply today. Call 1-800-416-6345 or go to 

www.senecaalumni.ca [Benefits and Services] 

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Johnson Inc. Home-Auto 

Insurance 

Seneca College Alumni Association has 

a Preferred Service home-auto insurance 

program with Johnson Inc. 

For a free quote, contact Johnson Inc. tollfree 

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(Group ID Code: SM) or visit www.johnson. 

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Johnson Inc. -- Medoc ® Travel 

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Get the protection you need for as little as 

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Year-round protection while travelling 

outside your province of residence or Canada 

For more information or to access an 

application form, contact 1-800-461-4597 or 

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Johnson Inc. MEDOC is underwritten by Royal & Sun 

Alliance Insurance Company of Canada and administered 

by Johnson Inc. Johnson Inc. has common ownership 

with Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance Company of Canada. 

Underwritten by The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company (Manulife Financial) 

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Now you can take advantage of specially 

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National Car and Truck Rental 

National Car and Truck Rental will offer 

discounts in Canada and the US as well as 

complimentary enrolment in the Emerald 

Club program ($50 US value). Emerald Club 

membership provides services and perks 

designed to get you in, out and on your way 

faster than ever before. You can earn your 

choice of Free Rental Days or Frequent Flyer 

Miles and get upgraded to elite membership 

levels when you rent with National more 

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expect a 5% discount off most rates and oneway 

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1 - 888 - ALUMNUS 53

SucceSS SeminarS 

We want to make your learning experience at Seneca a real success. These three-hour informal seminars are designed to 

enhance your personal, professional and student life, while enabling you to meet with other students in a relaxed setting. 

To register, go to www.senecac.on.ca/parttime or call 416-493-4144. There is a $10 non-refundable material fee for these 

seminars. You must be a registered Continuing Education student or Seneca Alumnus to participate. These seminars are 

primarily paid for through funding provided by the part-time student administrative fee. 

We cannot accommodate children in the classroom. 

monday SerieS 

Teambuilding 

Sem069 

Although we all work in teams, quite often our teams are operating 

well below their potential. This seminar has two goals: to enhance the 

students’ understanding of how effective teams work together, also to 

help the student develop implementable and customized strategies to 

improve the performance of their own teams. 

newnham campus 

Mon, Jun 8, 7–10 pm, FQ 

Public Speaking 

Sem054 

Public Speaking is one of the most fearful of life’s tasks for adults. This 

seminar is action packed from start to finish. You will learn to expand 

your natural talents in a group setting in the form of an audience. Topics 

include: audience analysis, visual aids, fear demolition and speech 

preparation. 



Taking advantage of change 

Sem027 

The pace of change today can be overwhelming, in both our career 

and personal life. Your ability to deal with change can result either in 

disillusionment and burnout or optimism and success. This seminar 

explains the concepts of change and how you can identify the 

opportunities change presents to create the future you want. Participants 

will gain awareness of their own perceptions, learn how to break 

through barriers and take action for a positive change. 



dealing with Stress 

Sem004 

Stress is an inevitable aspect of life. A variety of self-control techniques 

to deal with stress are demonstrated. 


Mon, Jul 27, 7–10 pm, FQ 

SaTurday SerieS 

are you Prepared for your interview 

Sem014 

Learn how to sell yourself to employers confidently by using 

successful interview techniques. An overview of verbal and non-verbal 

communication skills will compliment role-play for an interactive 

session. Group discussions about behavioural and one on one interviews 

will prepare you to present yourself with excellence at every interview. 


Sat, Apr 25, 9:30 am–12:30 pm, FQ 

dealing with difficult People 

Sem053 

If you deal with people who demonstrate the kinds of difficult behaviour 

that make working and living effectively almost impossible, then 

this workshop is for you. You’ll learn how perceptions, attitudes, and 

behaviours impact the way you interact with others. 


Sat, Jun 6, 9:30 am–12:30 pm, FA 

creative Thinking 

Sem052 

Where does creativity come from? What constitutes creativity? This 

seminar will provide you with opportunities to enhance your creative 

thinking skills. You will identify what constitutes creativity, understand 

the common mental traps that block your creative thinking, and learn 

strategies and techniques to expand your lateral thinking. 


Sat, Jun 27, 9:30 am–12:30 pm, FA 

True colours 

Sem024 

True Colours recognizes that the need for success differs in each of 

us. The colour symbols used in our program are synonymous with the 

need for self-confidence, pride, respect, worthiness and esteem. These 

characteristics are the catalysts for successful behaviour. During this 

seminar, you learn to identify friends’, parents’ and most importantly, 

your own true colour. 


Sat, Jul 11, 9:30 am–12:30 pm, FA 

Time management 

Sem001 

This workshop teaches you how to set goals and establish priorities 

using six easy Time Management Principles. Learn to manage your time 

and work flow more effectively to improve productivity on the job while 

planning for the “quality time” in your life. This workshop provides 

participants with an immediate take home time management system. 


Sat, Jul 18, 9:30 am–12:30 pm, FA


ResearchByNet [ See ad on page 44] 

Have your opinions heard while supporting 

your Alumni Association. 

NetPanel and Seneca College Alumni 

Association have joined forces to provide 

Seneca alumni with this unique opportunity. 

Join NetPanel and Seneca Alumni Association 

will receive a financial donation for your participation 

in survey research studies. It’s that easy! 

NetPanel is ResearchByNet’s online panel 

of Canadian consumers. Panelists participate 

in short surveys on a wide range of topics that 

help leading North American companies develop 

new products and services. This is where 

your voice can be heard. It’s fun, easy and safe. 

As a NetPanel member you earn NetPoints 

for every survey you complete. NetPoints can 

be converted to cash or donated to Seneca 

Alumni. It’s an easy, hassle free way of helping 

out even more! 

To learn more or to register for NetPanel, go 

to: http://senecaalumni.researchbynet.com. 

Safebridge Financial Group 

VERICO Safebridge Mortgage Solutions 

PRE-APPROVALS – PURCHASES 

- REFINANCES – RENEWALS - 

CONSOLIDATIONS 

Call us today to access more than 30 

different lenders (TD, Scotiabank, CIBC 

Firstline, ING, etc.) and some of the most 

competitive WHOLESALE interest rates in the 

country. FREE 30 minute consultation and 

FREE appraisal when you fund a mortgage 

through our office ($500 Value). In addition, 

Safebridge Financial Group will donate to 

Seneca Alumni a bursary of up to 10%. 

Seneca Alumni and Seneca College 

employees are invited to take advantage 

of our Mortgage Tracking Program. Our 

proprietary software will alert you when the 

right opportunity to refinance your mortgage 

arises. It will also remind you of an upcoming 

renewal date at least four months in advance. 

Register your principal property and any of 

your investment properties on our website or 

by calling our offices. 

mortgages@safebridgefinancial.com 

www.SafebridgeFinancial.com 

416-466-5858 

SendOutCards 

Are you tired of sending or receiving e-mail 

cards but want the convenience of sending 

your cards from your computer? 

Are you an account manager, real estate 

or insurance agent or business owner who 

wants that extra mileage of having your name 

in front of your prospect or client periodically 

in a variety of ways? 

Do you have a group of friends and relatives 

to whom you want to send personal cards, 

notes, updates by mail, rather than email? 

Take a look at this product. Call Seneca 

alumna Ying Ong and ask for your free 

demonstration at 1-888-332-6624 (toll 

free) or go to www.sendoutcards.com/ 

senecaalumni and click on Watch Our DVD to 

find out what SendOutCards is all about. 

Note: This is a network marketing program 

managed for Seneca Alumni by Ying Ong. Revenue 

generated supports Seneca Alumni operations. 

Features outstanding new Niagara Peninsula 

VQA wines from Legends Estate Winery, 

located on the shores of Lake Ontario in 

Beamsville. We encourage you to display your 

pride in Seneca and to begin your Alumni 

Wine collection today. 

From the winery to your home or to send 

as a gift, call 1-866-415-9463 or 

visit: www.senecaalumni.ca/benefits/ 

affinity%20partners/signatureWine.php 

Seneca Suites-Seneca 

College Residence 

& Conference Centre 

Newnham Campus The Newnham Campus 

is located on Hwy. 404 at Finch Avenue 

East, just minutes from all of Toronto’s 

various attractions. It has a fully-serviced 

conference area and a combined capacity of 

400 guests. Many other lounges and meeting 

rooms are also available throughout 15 

storeys that overlook Canada’s largest city. 

King Campus The King Campus is located 

just north of Toronto in King Township, 

near Aurora and Newmarket. The Campus, 

situated on the former Eaton Estate, is 

surrounded by acres of beautiful countryside. 

Enjoy an air-conditioned suite featuring 

two private bedrooms with oversized double 

beds, cable television, free local phone calls, 

high-speed Internet, a three-piece bathroom 

and a kitchenette, complete with fridge 

and microwave. Other services include 

great full-service daily housekeeping and a 

complimentary continental breakfast. 

For more information and reservations, 

visit www.residenceconferencecentre.com or 

call 1-877-2-ALUMNI (877-225-8664). 

“We create the comforts of home by 

providing great service and the best overall 

value in accommodations to all our guests.” 

RESIDENCE ACCOMMODATION 

ALUMNI TRAVEL PLAN – 

SUMMER 2009 

Please note that Seneca College has 

issued an RFP for the management and 

operation of the Seneca Residences. 

This RFP is due to be completed by 

June 2009. However, until completed 

we are unable to confirm a summer 

accommodation rate offer at other college 

residences across Canada or Seneca 

residences. Please check the Seneca 

Alumni website www.senecaalumni.ca to 

stay up to date on this program and other 

promotions available to you. 

OFF-CAMPUS DISCOUNTS 

Amsdell 

Amsdell is a major campus-wide PC system 

provider to Seneca College. Seneca Alumni 

exclusive offer: save up to 30% off your 

personalized PC by calling 1-877-AMSDELL 

(267-3355) or 905-881-3020 or emailing: 

general@amsdell.com. 

1 - 888 - ALUMNUS 55


CAA Central Ontario 

CAA Central Ontario (Club 282) covers the 

City of Toronto, north to Barrie and Orillia, 

parts of Sault Ste. Marie, east to Oshawa (as 

well as clubs in Peterborough, Kingston and 

Belleville), west to Mississauga, Brampton 

and Windsor. Seneca alumni living in the 

Central Ontario Club 282 area are entitled 

to enjoy the special Group Membership Rate 

that the Seneca Alumni Association has established. 

Find out more about CAA services on 

the Central Ontario Chapter website at www. 

central.on.caa.ca or call the Seneca Alumni 

office 416-491-5050 ext 2960 for your CAA 

group application form. 

Canada’s Wonderland 

Canada’s Wonderland is home to the most 

exhilarating collection of rides and roller coasters 

in all of Canada. The park will be open for 

the season starting May 3, 2009. Catch the 

Victoria Weekend fireworks display Sunday 

May 17 (weather permitting) at approximately 

10 pm. For more information on this season’s 

entertainment, call 905-832-7000, or consult 

the website at www.canadaswonderland.com. 

Special discount ticket prices are arranged for 

Seneca Alumni and are available mid-May 

from the Newnham Campus Cash Office - 

1750 Finch Avenue East, Toronto. 

SoftMoc 

SoftMoc is a retailer of well-known brands of 

quality comfort footwear. 

We are pleased to invite Seneca alumni and 

accompanying family members to save 15% 

on purchases at SoftMoc. 

The 15% discount is valid on regular and 

sale-priced merchandise and cannot be combined 

with any other discount coupon offer 

or event. The discount is valid at all SoftMoc 

retail store locations across Canada and online 

at: www.softmoc.com. The discount is not 

valid at our Warehouse Sale Outlet. 

To obtain your discount in store, present 

your Seneca Alumni membership card and 

quote the SoftMoc Corporate Club Code 

Number 777000012501. To obtain the discount 

online, enter the code number in the 

box titled “Coupon Code or Club Card” after 

you have made your selection. This number is 

56 

valid until November 30, 2009 at which time 

another number will be provided. 

If you have any questions regarding 

this offer, please contact Keith Robertson, 

Corporate Sales Manager, SoftMoc Inc. at: 

keith@softmoc.com. 

Toronto Board of Trade 

Seneca College graduates are eligible for 

discounted individual memberships with 

The Toronto Board of Trade. 

Thanks to an agreement between the 

Toronto Board of Trade and the Seneca 

College Alumni Association, all Seneca 

alumni receive $100 off the individual 

membership rate of $395 per year. Set-up 

fee $35 (one-time) plus GST applies. 

The Toronto Board of Trade membership 

gives you the opportunity to expand your 

network of potential clients, vendors, 

employees or employers. More than 100 

events are held annually, including monthly 

networking events, career and personal 

development seminars, and leadership 

Bookstores 

In appreciation of our alumni, the Seneca 

bookstores offer a 10% discount on all 

clothing and insignia items at our three 

locations at the Newnham, York and King 

Campuses. Bring your alumni card and check 

out the possibilities. Don’t have time for 

personal shopping? Try our online shopping 

experience at https://www.senecac.on.ca/ 

estore. 

Note: No discounts available for online shopping. 

Child care 

ECE Lab School Child Care – King and 

Newnham campuses. Please call June at 

Newnham Campus, (416) 491-5050, ext. 

4710 or Pam at King Campus, (905) 833- 

3333 ext. 5063. 

Seneca Summer Camps@Newnham – 

Check availability, programs and register 

online at http://www.senecac.on.ca/home/ 

kidstuff/camp/ 

Seneca King Day Camp Outdoor 

Adventures http://www.kingdaycamp.com/ 

ON-CAMPUS DISCOUNTS 

speakers’ series. Please note that the 

Scarborough, Etobicoke and North York 

Chambers of Commerce are now divisions 

of The Toronto Board of Trade. 

The Toronto Board of Trade membership 

offers access to the World Trade Centre 

Association network of 276 locations 

worldwide, giving you an opportunity to 

expand your business internationally. You 

also receive discounts on car rentals, home 

and auto insurance, Petro Canada gas and 

human resource services, to name a few. 

As a member, you can rent meeting rooms 

or bring your client or business associates 

to lunch at our downtown centre dining 

room. 

For more information or a tour of 

the downtown centre, to complete an 

application, or for further assistance, 

contact Gifford Rabess, Membership Sales 

Representative, at 416-862-4521 or email 

grabess@bot.com. 

Website: www.bot.com 

www.wtctoronto.com 

Fitness Centre 

(Newnham Campus Only) 

Since 1989, Seneca’s 6,000-square-foot Fitness 

Centre has offered programs to answer your 

fitness needs and the professionals to help 

you achieve your personal best. The Fitness 

Centre is fully equipped with Stairmaster 

stairclimbers, Trotter treadmills, Spinnaker 

recumbent and upright bikes, Lifecycle and 

Monarch bikes, Concept II rowers, a full array 

of Polaris weight machines, Smith machines, 

pulleys, a squat rack and free weights. Located 

at Newnham Campus on the lower level of the 

Sports Centre (room 1619), the Fitness Centre 

is open 7 days a week, 7 am to 9 pm Monday 

to Friday, and 10 am to 4 pm Saturday and 

Sunday. A special rate has been negotiated for 

Alumni members. For additional information, 

contact the Fitness Centre at 416-491-5050 

ext. 2976 or stop in and see us. 

Seneca Libraries Alumni 

Access 

Seneca Libraries are located at the King, 

Markham, Newnham and Seneca@York 

Campuses. Seneca Alumni with valid Alumni 

www.senecaalumni.ca

Association membership cards have access 

to and borrowing privileges for library 

collections at each campus. Our collections 

include a wide variety of print, electronic 

and multimedia resources, including books, 

magazines, journals, videos and DVDs, slides 

and audiovisual equipment. To use the library 

services and to activate borrowing privileges, 

alumni must show their alumni cards and 

one other piece of identification with name 

and current address. 

Don’t have your alumni card yet? Call 

the Alumni Office at 416-491-5050 ext. 

2960. For hours and more information 

visit http://library.senecacollege.ca. 

Vision Clinic [see ad page 6] 

Hours: Monday to Thursday 11 am to 7 

pm; Friday and Saturday 9 am to 1 pm. 

To book an appointment, call 416-491- 

5050 ext. 2773 or email: philip.lui@senecac. 

on.ca. 

Special Offer: 

Starting a business? Need a website? Check 

this out. 

As part of Seneca College’s Webmaster 

Content Site Design program, students are 

asked to design and develop a website for 

a business, client, or project at no charge. 

The site is reviewed by an instructor 

and forms part of the student’s course 

evaluation. 

Students are responsible for contacting 

the client, understanding the business 

requirements for the website, developing a 

plan and then implementing the design. 

• The client supplies: 

• business information; 

• website objective; 

• examples of preferred sites; 

• logos; and 

• all content. 

Given the limitations of time and students, 

clients should ensure that the scope of the 

website is not too ambitious. For example, 

websites that require e-commerce transactions, 

large volumes of information or specialized 

authoring tools should be avoided. 

If you are interested in adding your 

business to our potential client list, contact 

Tisha Scott at Seneca College: 416-491- 

5050 ext. 7281 or tisha.scott@senecac. 

on.ca. 

STAY IN TOUCH 

Keep us up to date on your contact 

information. Update your personal 

profile online at 


or e-mail alumni@senecac.on.ca 

DISCOVER 

OUR TALENT 

SENECA GRADS ARE HIGHLY QUALIFIED, JOB READY 

AND EAGER TO CONTRIBUTE TO YOUR ORGANIZATION. 

HIRE A STUDENT TODAY. 

ACCESS SENECA’S DYNAMIC EMPLOYER RESOURCE – CAREER SERVICES. 

Job Postings 

Resume Collection 

Professional Resume Development 

Guest Speaking 

Mentoring 

Job Fairs 

On-Campus Recruitment 

Co-operative Education 

Customized Recruitment Campaigns 

International Opportunities for Students 

CAREER SERVICES 

careerservices.senecac.on.ca 

senecacareerlink.com 

416 491 5050 x6007 

1 - 888 - ALUMNUS 57

sceneon campus 

What do you see 

on campus? 

Is it the steam rising off the first cup 

of coffee in the morning? The midday 

light in the parking lot? Students 

running towards a bus in the rain? 

Show us your “Scene on Campus" in 

a photograph and we’ll share it here. 

Contact alumni@senecaalumni.ca for 

details. 

Financial aid is a big part of a lot of 

students’ college experience — dealing 

with when cheques come in and 

the endless paper work. The staff at 

Seneca’s Financial Aid office makes 

the experience pleasant, treating 

everyone on an individual basis, 

always with a kind smile. The relaxed 

body language of the student at 

the counter captured that. The right 

combination of aperture and shutter 

speed captured the light. 

Matthew Gibson, 

2nd year, Independent Digital 

Photography student

Alumni 

Term life insurAnce 

The need for life insurance is one of life’s most important lessons. 

Whatever life brings, make sure the people who count on you will be well taken care of. 

With your Alumni Term Life Insurance plan, you may give your loved ones the financial 

security to continue living the life you dreamed of for them, no matter what. 

Call us at 1 888 913-6333 

or e-mail am_service@manulife.com 

What will life teach you? 

manulife.com/senecamag 

Underwritten by The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company 

You may also contact Anthony Colangelo, CGA, your Manulife Financial representative, at (905) 479-9880 or e-mail a.colangelo@rogers.com.

Positioning for the new economy - Seneca College

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