2010 Alumni Magazine - Sault College

SAULT COLLEGE 

AlumniSPRING 2010 

Sault College magazine for alumni and friends 

SPRING 2010 

PROJECT TWENTY ELEVEN 

Grow with us 

KEVIN PARKER 

Aviation grad 

continues to soar 

JENNY ROMANCHUK 

Taking a bite 

out of the web 

comic world 

Sault College Alumni | Spring 2010 1

Table of contents 

At Sault College, we’ve created some exciting new programs 

to help you reach your career goals. That means more than 

80 diplomas, degrees and certificates have been designed 

with you in mind. The following programs are currently being 

developed and will be offered beginning Fall 2010 and Winter 

2011. For more info, check out www.saultcollege.ca and get 

started on a rewarding career in one of these exciting fields 

of study. 

DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY AND IMAGING 

GENERAL ARTS AND SCIENCE – ARTS STREAM 

JOURNALISM – NEW MEDIA 

MECHANICAL ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY 

METAL FABRICATION TECHNICIAN 

PEACE AND CONFLICT STUDIES 

RENEWABLE ENERGY AND GREEN 

CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUES 

VIDEO GAME ART 

WEB ANIMATION & DESIGN 

WELDING TECHNIQUES 

For more information call (705) 759-6700 

OUR SCHOOL 

2 Message from the President 

2 Message from Alumni Relations 

3 Sault College continues to grow for years to come 

The news of this project is the biggest capital announcement in the history of 

Sault College, making this year the most exciting year in the College’s history. 

4 Project 2011: Questions and Answers 

5 New Sault College Logo 

5 Sault College Partners with First Nation Communites 

6 Sault College students are at the cutting edge of the 

renewable energy trend 

With the city of Sault Ste. Marie promoting renewable energy developments and the 

province of Ontario supporting it through the 2009 Green Energy and Economy Act, 

Sault College graduates could become even hotter commodities in the very near future. 

OUR PEOPLE 

8 BScN grads set their sights high 

Among the thousands of applicants vying for McMaster University’s medical program’s 

204 entry positions are friends, cousins, and Sault College BScN (2007) alumni Alicia 

Bronicheski and Norma Bolduc. 

10 Sault College aviation grad continues to soar 

It’s been almost 30 years since Kevin Parker started his career in aviation, but he still 

vividly recalls the first time he took control of an aircraft as a Sault College Aviation 

student. Years later, his expertise has landed him employment in Shanghai, China. 

13 Lawrence Foster returns to Sault College 

Lawrence Foster, world-class adventure racer, brings his love of the outdoors to the 

Adventure Recreation and Parks Technician program at Sault College. 

16 The Zombie Hunters: Taking a bite out of the 

web comic world 

With over 100,000 loyal readers of her web comic “The Zombie Hunters,” Jenny 

Romanchuk is a rising star in the comic industry. Take a trip into the world of zombies! 

18 College student, child soldier 

Follow the journey of Francis Ali, from his days as a child soldier to present day Sault 

College Heavy Truck and Coach graduate. 

20 Top chef creates recipe for success 

What do you get when you combine excellence, talent and passion? 

You get Sarah Birkenhauer, passionate Sault College professor in the Culinary Arts 

and Hospitality program. 

Editor 

Ray Escasa* 

Contributing Editors 

Susan Hunter 

Tessa Pino 

Contributing WriterS 

Susan Hunter 

Liisa McMillan* 

Conor Mihel 

Tessa Pino 

Graphic Design/Art Direction 

Selena Caputo* 

Shawn Richards* 

Photography 

Shawn Richards* 

Randy Wiebe 

Special Thanks 

Sault College Marketing and Promotion Services 

*Sault College Alumnus 

Sault College Alumni Magazine is published by the 

Department of Alumni Relations, in collaboration with 

the Department of Marketing and Promotion Services. 

Comments and story ideas are always welcome. Please 

contact Sault College Alumni Relations, Sault College, 

443 Northern Avenue, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, P6A 

5L3, 705.759.2554, ext 2850, alumni@saultcollege.ca. If 

you have recently moved, please contact us so we can 

correct our mailing database. 

2 Sault College Alumni | Spring 2010 Sault College Alumni | Spring 2010 1

OUR SCHOOL 

Message from the President 

Sault College Alumni: You make us proud. You 

are repairing cars, welding the structures of new 

buildings, flying planes and taking care of those in 

need. You are helping to restore wellness to those 

who are ill, walking through forests to test delicate 

eco-systems teeming with plants and wildlife, and 

empowering others with skills they need to have 

a better life. You are doing all of this and so much 

more. 

In this, our inaugural issue of your alumni 

magazine, we commend you, our grads. Every 

day, we hear great news from employers and 

community partners who have the opportunity 

to work with one of our esteemed alumni. And 

every day, we see our current students here at the 

College working toward the diplomas, degrees and 

certificates that will make a difference in their lives 

and the lives of so many others. 

Being a Sault College alum means more than 

having received a great education. Sure, we’re 

second to none in teaching and learning, but having 

attended the College gives you something even 

more important: a chance to give-back and make 

society a better place because you have learned 

with us. 

As we hear about the stories of our alumni, 

we celebrate each of you who may not appear on 

these pages, but may be reading them. 

Please let us know who you are, where you are, 

and what you’re up to. Because we know that 

whatever that is, it’s making Canada and our world 

a better place. 

Thanks for reading and continuing to contribute 

to the success of your alma mater – the new Sault 

College. 

Dr. Ron Common 

President, Sault College 

Message from Alumni Relations 

It is an exciting time for Sault College and the 

Alumni Relations Department. As we celebrate 

the achievements of our graduates at Convocation 

2010, we are extremely excited to unveil our 

premiere issue of Sault College Alumni magazine. 

Our magazine strives to celebrate the success and 

achievements of our greatest ambassadors, our 

graduates. Join us as we give you an inside look into 

the world of Jenny Romanchuk, a name you will 

want to remember. Jenny, a 2008 Graphic Design 

graduate, is a rising star in the comic industry with 

her work “The Zombie Hunters.” For international 

flavour, we introduce Kevin Parker, a 1980 Aviation 

graduate. Kevin, recently profiled in Wings 

Magazine, tells us how his Sault College diploma 

has taken him overseas to China. 

As you enjoy our magazine, keep in mind that 

your relationship with Sault College does not end 

at graduation. We encourage you to stay connected 

with your alma mater. Let us know your story. Stay 

involved by mentoring or guest speaking. Help 

a student who was once just like you. In closing, 

I would like to offer a sincere “Congratulations” 

to the class of 2010! We are proud of your 

accomplishments. Celebrate your success! 

Ray Escasa 

Alumni Relations Officer 

Sault College 

alumni@saultcollege.ca 

Sault College continues to grow 

for years to come 

Sault College president Ron Common 

cannot be contained these days. “If you 

can’t get excited this year, then I don’t 

know if you’ll ever get excited!” gleamed an 

excited Ron Common as he welcomed staff 

to the 2009/2010 school year. Common’s 

first floor office provides a front-row seat to 

the massive transformation that awaits the 

Northern Avenue gateway. The news of this 

project is the biggest capital announcement 

in the history of Sault College, making this 

year the most exciting year in the College’s 

history. 

Appropriately named Project Twenty- 

Eleven – the date in March 2011 when all 

government Knowledge Infrastructurefunded 

projects must be “substantially 

completed”, the three-story glass and steel 

academic wing will be a campus dream for 

years to come. 

The new 75,000 square feet academic 

wing consists of flexible learning spaces 

and a reconfigured gateway main entrance 

to enhance the visibility and image of the 

College. The new complex will support 

teaching and learning activities related to the 

College’s flagship Aviation program; a new 

elegant gateway entrance that will double as 

space to celebrate student achievements and 

work; learning commons on all three floors 

to support student demand; a 120 seat multimedia 

lecture theatre; 19 flexible classrooms 

designed in sizes from 40 to 80 seats to 

accommodate most programs currently in 

place at the college; and a dedicated Justice 

Studies lab with a combat training centre 

and forensic science lab. 

The new modern academic wing will 

benefit all students and will be built to 

accommodate the increasing number of 

students arriving at the College’s doors. Over 

the past winter, the College has experienced 

phenomenal growth in enrolment, most 

impressively; the total registrations for 

the College were up over 23% with a 35% 

increase in first year activity making Sault 

College the fastest growing college in 

the province! “Having explosive growth 

in enrolment makes it easier to address 

infrastructure concerns with government 

officials,” states Common who attributes 

the growth to an increase in adult learners 

through the Second Career program and 

job retraining, an aggressive marketing and 

recruitment campaign in southern, eastern 

and northern Ontario, and expanding 

satellite campuses from Manitoulin Island 

to Thunder Bay and as far south as London 

Ontario. 

To reflect the new building, the College 

is also undergoing a renaissance in terms 

of new programming. Demand continues 

to rise in specialty program areas including 

Renewable Energy, Natural Environment, 

Aviation, Health and Community studies 

and Skilled Trades. This fall, the college 

is expanding its program offerings with 

the introduction of dynamic and highdemand 

academic programs, along with a 

new School of Media and Design. Newly 

introduced program offerings include 

Digital Photography and Imaging, General 

Arts and Science – Arts Stream, Journalism 

– New Media, Mechanical Engineering 

Technology, Metal Fabrication Technician, 

Peace and Conflict Studies, Renewable 

Energy and Green Construction Techniques, 

Video Game Art, Web Animation & Design 

and Welding Techniques. These new 

programs will be located throughout the 

campus and will have access to the modern 

learning environments of the new building. 

Not only will the new building 

provide great curb appeal, it will truly 

be distinguished as a Northern Ontario 

College. Common has been discussing 

sustainable design elements which will have 

a local flavour such as indigenous plants, 

wood roofing, steel cladding and copper, 

the latter having historical significance to 

First Nations people which accounts for 

20% of Sault College students. 

Common is equally excited about the 

$22-million Algoma Public Health project 

that is currently under way on the Sault 

College campus. The project will consolidate 

five community departments into one central 

The official groundbreaking ceremony at Sault College on September 25, 2009. Pictured from 

left to right are Ben Pascuzzi, Mayor John Rowswell, Dr. Ron Common, David Orazietti, John 

Milloy and Tony Martin 


location. Sault College also welcomed the 

addition of a Nurse Practitioner’s clinic last 

fall– the only one approved for funding on a 

College campus in Ontario. 

The future opportunities this partnership 

will open for employees, students and the 

community are endless. The addition of 

the Algoma Public Health building to the 

Sault College campus is a win-win situation 

for public health and education. With 

the Northern Ontario Medical School, 

Sault College’s Collaborative Bachelor of 

Science in nursing program, as well as the 

numerous health related programs Sault 

College offers, the synergies of having the 

Algoma Public Health Unit on campus 

allows for tremendous opportunities for 

students and citizens of Sault Ste. Marie. 

The collaborative aims to create conditions 

whereby young northerners can realize 

futures for themselves in the North while all 

citizens will benefit from greater access to 

health care services. 

The construction does not stop there! 

This fall Sault College received $1,230,000 

to complete its plans of an aviation hangar/ 

repair facility and learning space at the 

current Sault College hangar location. The 

additional hangar will be used for storing 

and maintaining aircrafts and for providing 

ground school instruction to post secondary 

students enrolled in the aviation program. “A 

new hangar is a key element to ensuring our 

aviation program maintains its competitive 

position in the post secondary market,” says 

Common. 

While most College presidents would 

be satisfied with the over $48.4 million in 

capital projects, Common insists this is only 

the beginning. “Phase II consists of tearing 

down the gymnasium and erecting a new 

athletic building and student life centre 

worth a combined $8.5 million.” 

Sault College looks forward to continued 

growth far into the future. Thank you for 

celebrating our achievements with us this 

past year...watch us grow! By Tessa Pino 

Project 2011: 

Questions and Answers 

What is Project 2011? 

Project 2011 is phase 1 of the new campus re-build that consists of a New 

Academic Wing (75,000 gross square feet) with flexible learning spaces 

(modular classroom design to accommodate a variety of program and student 

needs) and a reconfigured gateway main entrance to enhance the visibility and 

image of the College. This project will be near completion by March 2011. 

Where is the money coming from? 

Federal and Provincial investment from The Knowledge Infrastructure Program 

is contributing $16 million towards the $25 million complex. The college 

is using approximately $4.5 million from capital reserves with the rest still 

being secured through NOHFC and FedNor. The city of Sault Ste. Marie has 

contributed $250,000 along with land valued at $400,000. 

Where will the new building be built? 

The New Academic Wing will be built north of the A and E wings. The college 

campus will be realigned with the new wing serving also as the gateway 

entrance to the college. 

How many students will use whatever is built/renovated? 

All students (approximately 2500 by the time the building is completed) will 

benefit from this new complex. The learning commons are expected to attract 

students from all programs. The flexible classrooms have been designed to 

accommodate theory-based activity from all program areas. 

What programs will be housed in the building(s)? 

Specifically, Justice Studies will have some dedicated space in the new building. 

Aviation Technology – Flight will also have a dedicated lecture space. The 

rest of the flexible classrooms (20 in total) will be scheduled for all college 

programs. All programs, however, will benefit from the new flexible learning 

spaces. 

Are there any new programs that will be housed in the building(s)? 

For 2010, the college will be launching 10 new programs. These programs will 

be located throughout the campus and will have access to the flexible learning 

environments. The programs include: Digital Photography and Imaging, 

General Arts and Science – Arts Stream, Journalism – New Media, Mechanical 

Engineering Technology, Metal Fabrication Technician, Peace and Conflict 

Studies, Renewable Energy and Green Construction Techniques, Video Game 

Art, Web Animation & Design and Welding Techniques.. 

How will this benefit the community at large? Will it provide employment? 

Attract more people to come/stay? 

The community will have access to this new building. The elegant lobby and 

adjacent 120 seat multi-media lecture theatre can serve for many functions 

that require this type of size and purpose. 

OUR SCHOOL 

New 

Sault 

College 

Logo 

Sault College Partners with First Nation Communites 

Agreements between Sault College and two First Nation communities 

were recently signed at ceremonies held at Enji Maawnjiding (Native 

Centre) at Sault College. 

A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) outlining the terms 

of affiliation between Batchewana First Nation and Sault College 

was officially signed on November 19th. 

The terms of the agreement outline specific education, research 

and/or integration projects that both parties will collaborate on in 

the future. Sault College and Batchewana First Nation will establish 

a common agenda to work together to create an environment that 

supports Anishinaabek cross-cultural awareness for all students and 

staff attending the institution. 

“Batchewana First Nation has inherent rights and responsibilities 

in relation to their worldview, the land and its people,” says Chief 

Dean Sayers, Batchewana First Nation. “As First Nation people, we 

share a strong cultural identity based on a deep understanding of who 

we are with a clear sense of continuity with cultural roots. We are very 

excited to be sharing our knowledge with Sault College,” says Sayers. 

“Working collaboratively will provide an opportunity for Sault 

College and Batchewana First Nation to come together as partners 

to actively engage in the transformative change of post secondary 

education,” states College President Dr. Ron Common. “Sault College 

has taken our place as a leader in providing a learning environment 

that seeks, promotes and cultivates inter-cultural sharing and 

inclusion. Today we take a significant step forward in that process.” 

The second Memorandum of Undertanding (MOU) became 

official April 28th, 2010 between Sault College and the Métis Nation of 

Ontario. It was signed by Gary Lipinski, President of the Métis Nation 

of Ontario (MNO) and Dr. Ron Common. It will help to address 

the unique labour needs of Métis people in Ontario by increasing 

participation in and access to Sault College programs and services. 

“Sault College is the seventh post secondary institution in the 

province to recognize and address the unique needs of Métis and 

to agree to work in partnership with the MNO to ensure that 

programming offered at the College addresses those unique needs,” 

Métis Nation of Ontario President Gary Lipinski said. 

“Sault College continues to be an education destination for Native 

Sault College recently unveiled a newly enhanced logo. The logo, inspired by an 

earlier version of the college logo has the shapes representing the Great Lakes 

redrawn and refined. The result is a contemporary emblem that is reflective of the 

Sault College tradition with basic elements of the College’s visual identity. As the 

college seeks to expand and grow, the logo has been refreshed to reflect a new 

phase in our organization’s development. 

The shape of the emblem represents the three Great Lakes which 

come together at a centre point to indicate the college’s central 

location. The blue and green colour scheme symbolizes water and 

land to emphasize the college’s environmental focus. The logo will be 

phased in over a two-year period by the year 2011 to reduce waste 

and costs, and to promote an eco-concious approach to branding. 

students from around the province. We are a leader in identifying 

Native Education as a key priority for the institution. Today’s 

MOU will help to ensure that Sault College continues to develop 

relationships and work in partnership with all Aboriginal peoples in 

the province to better their skills and improve their participation in 

Ontario’s labour market and economy.” Dr. Common said. 

Sault College and the MNO aim to establish an ongoing working 

relationship, as part of a bilateral process that allows for the 

identification of potential opportunities and partnerships to address 

the unique labour market needs of Métis people in the province. 

Dr. Ron Common with Chief Dean Sayers 


OUR SCHOOL 

Sault College students 

are at the cutting edge 

of the renewable energy trend 

Colin Kirkwood knew he was onto something when he 

looked at Sault Ste. Marie’s emerging status as Canada’s 

“green” energy capital and decided to make Sault College 

a key player in renewable energy technology training. 

In 2005, Kirkwood, the dean of the School of Natural 

Environment, Technology and Skilled Trades, saw the 

opportunity to enhance the college’s natural environment 

and electrical and mechanical technology programs with 

real-world training in the renewable power production. 

Three years later, the college invested in a wind 

turbine of its own and partnered with energy sector 

giant Brookfield Renewable Power to create a modern 

lab for studying the mechanics of wind turbines and 

hydroelectric generators. Now, Sault College is the 

top choice in Ontario for students looking to be at 

the cutting edge of one of the world’s fastest-growing 

industrial sectors. 

Demand for so-called “green” energy has increased 

as the environmental consequences of extracting and 

burning carbon-based energy sources like coal, oil and 

gas become better known. Unlike these “dirtier” fuels, 

water, wind and solar radiation do not produce climate 

change-inducing greenhouse gases. Like the name 

implies, renewable energy is produced from sources of 

electrical power that cannot be depleted. Renewables are 

also cheaper and safer than nuclear power production. 

Currently, about 25 percent of Ontario’s power comes 

from renewable sources. In one of the most ambitious 

green energy schemes in North America, the provincial 

government has committed to doubling this figure by 

the year 2025, a promise that has ignited the sector’s 

explosive growth. 

At the forefront in the push for renewable power is 

the city of Sault Ste. Marie, where economic development 

officials pegged the green energy sector as the way of the 

future well before Ontario made its commitment to the 

industry. In 2006, Brookfield completed the 126-turbine 

Prince Wind Farm on the city’s outskirts, which is 

capable of supplying enough energy to power 40,000 

homes and remains the largest wind power development 

in Canada. Sault College’s natural environment students 

assisted with ecological monitoring prior to and after the 

completion of the Prince project. Based on this success 

and the city’s support of future developments, Kirkwood 

knew the time was right to get Sault College’s wellestablished 

electrical and mechanical trades programs 

up to speed with green energy technology. 

In 2008, a wind turbine was erected on the school’s 

campus, its three blades sweeping 20 metres of airspace 

and generating enough electricity to power up to 10 

homes with clean, renewable energy; the same year, the 

new Brookfield Renewable Power Training Centre was 

developed to give students hands-on access to the nuts 

and bolts of renewable energy technology. “It simply built 

on our strengths as a college,” says Kirkwood. “It made 

sense to have a wind turbine on campus to facilitate the 

training process and partnering with Brookfield was a 

way to make sure graduates had the skills needed by a 

leader in renewable energy.” 

Outside the B-Wing lab, a series of murals and 

interactive displays outside chronicle Sault Ste. Marie’s 

rise as a green energy hub. The city has a long history as an 

energy leader—from the late 1800s when hydroelectric 

development on the St. Mary’s River powered the area’s 

first industries (and remains a key source of electricity 

today) to the Prince Wind Farm. Inside the training 

centre, the next generation of electrical and mechanical 

tradespersons learn the skills to maintain and install 

new, green technology—with the support of one of the 

local energy sector’s biggest employers. 

According to Jim Deluzio, Brookfield’s general 

manager of Sault Ste. Marie operations, Sault College 

graduates are already playing a lead role in the future of 

energy production. “We’ve had a long history of success 

with Sault College graduates,” says Deluzio. “They are 

valuable employees from the day they arrive. We saw this 

partnership as a way to further enhance that training to 

include some specifics to power generation.” 

With the city of Sault Ste. Marie promoting renewable 

energy developments and the province of Ontario 

supporting it through the 2009 Green Energy and 

Economy Act, Sault College graduates could become 

even hotter commodities in the very near future. The 

construction of a new 60-megawatt solar power farm— 

the largest such development in Canada—is in the works 

for Sault Ste. Marie, as are plans for co-generation, biofuel 

and waste-to-energy installations. Ontario’s Ministry of 

Energy and Infrastructure predicts the creation 50,000 

new jobs in the renewable energy sector by 2012. 

Kirkwood says the college is continuing to expand its 

natural environment and trades programs to 

include green energy components to reflect 

the field’s growing demand for trained 

employees. Besides making mechanical and 

electrical skills a high priority, the Natural 

Environment Technology program now 

includes courses in choosing the appropriate 

sites for renewable energy developments, 

minimizing the environmental impacts of 

installations and conducting pre- and postconstruction 

ecological monitoring. 

Meanwhile, Kirkwood describes Sault 

College’s new one-year Renewable Energy 

and Green Construction Techniques 

program, set to launch in the fall of 2010, 

as “a gateway to the industry.” The program 

“could be a focus-oriented, ‘top-up’ course 

for graduates of mechanical programs, 

or a starting point for people looking for 

an introduction to installing residential 

and light commercial renewable energy 

technology,” says Kirkwood. 

So far, Sault College is the only postsecondary 

institution in Ontario to 

capitalize on the booming energy sector. 

Needless to say, employers like Deluzio are 

taking note. “We’re seeing a lot of growth in 

all sectors of our business,” he says. “There’s 

no question we’re 

going to need more 

qualified graduates.” 

By Conor Mihell 


OUR PEOPLE 

BScN grads set their sights high 

McMaster University’s Michael G. 

DeGroote School of Medicine 

Maclean’s magazine consistently rates McMaster 

University’s Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine as 

one of the best in the country, even naming it Canada’s 

most innovative “medical doctoral” university eight out 

of 11 years. 

In recent years, the school’s applications have doubled 

that of other Canadian universities, with more than 

4,500 applicants vying for the medical program’s 204 

entry positions. And among that small percentage of 

applicants who are ultimately successful in their pursuit 

of medical school are friends, cousins, and Sault College 

BScN (2007) alumni Alicia Bronicheski and Norma 

Bolduc, who are in their first and final year, respectively, 

of the three-year program. 

After spending her last semester of the Sault 

College nursing program in Hamilton at the McMaster 

University Medical Centre, Bronicheski made the move 

a permanent one by accepting a job in the emergency 

department after graduation. It was there that 

Bronicheski says an interest in pursuing a further career 

in medicine was ignited. She then applied 

to both McMaster’s School of Medicine and 

the Master of Nursing program, wanting to 

have “two plans” since both programs are 

highly competitive, and was pleased to later 

discover she’d been accepted into both. 

“Working in the emergency department, 

I was able to see a wide variety of health 

issues, from broken bones, mental health, 

heart attacks and resuscitations,” says 

Bronicheski. “I worked closely with 

emergency physicians, as well as other 

specialists. The environment really sparked 

my interest in medicine as a career.” 

While Bronicheski’s interest in medicine 

grew out of her experiences as an emergency 

room nurse, progressing to medical school 

was something Bolduc had thought about 

since childhood. She chose Sault College’s 

nursing program as an undergraduate degree 

for her interest in health promotion, and the 

role of the nurse as a patient advocate. 

“As a young girl, I had always thought 

about becoming a doctor,” says Bolduc. “My 

passion for medicine grew as I progressed 

through the nursing program and I was 

exposed to the role and scope of practice of 

the physician.” 

The Michael G. DeGroote School of 

Medicine, a school known for its innovative 

approach to problem-based education, 

also focuses on small-group learning, an 

approach not unfamiliar to graduates of 

Sault College. Currently, Bronicheski is 

studying at the new regional campus of the 

school (St. Catharines-Niagara), where she 

is one of only 19 students. 

Both alumni agree that studying at a small 

campus such as Sault College helped prepare 

them for the rigorous demands of medical 

school, in both its hands-on approach to 

learning and small classroom setting. 

“All the professors of the nursing program, 

as well as the support staff, had a collective 

impact on my success in the BScN program,” 

says Bolduc. “They all collaborate together 

to ensure your post-secondary experience 

is one of a kind and genuinely support you 

in order to succeed. This is really what sets 

Sault College apart, the open-door policy of 

the professors. Whether it be to lend career 

support, clarification on an assignment, or to 

“My passion for 

medicine grew 

as I progressed 

through the nursing 

program and I was 

exposed to the 

role and scope 

of practice of the 

physician.” 

guide you through the trials and tribulations 

of life, they were always there for you. They 

make you feel welcomed and supported, like 

an extended family.” 

“The nursing program at Sault College 

prepared me,” says Bronicheski, “for the 

workforce as well as further education 

by providing me with a solid base of 

knowledge in health and patient care, as 

well as skills to build upon, such as working 

in a team, leadership and technical skills. 

Early exposure to patients helps to build 

experience, skills and confidence. Early 

exposure to patients is key.” 

McMaster medical school students have 

the opportunity to learn in a variety of 

clinical situations, with placements in more 

than 60 Ontario communities, including 

rural and northern Ontario. While 

Bronicheski, in the midst of her first year, 

is still undecided on what area of medicine 

she’ll focus on after her three-year tenure at 

McMaster, Bolduc plans on returning to her 

roots in Sault Ste. Marie. 

“After graduation I will be returning 

home to complete my residency training 

in family medicine through the Northern 

Ontario School of Medicine,” she says. “The 

residency program is two years in length 

and will be completed primarily in Sault 

Ste. Marie and in other northern Ontario 

communities. The program will provide 

me with a skill set to practice as a family 

physician in the north.” 

One of the country’s most sought-after 

medical school programs doesn’t earn the 

title without demanding much from its 

future doctors. Both Bronicheski and Bolduc 

have had to learn to find a balance between 

work, school and their personal lives; not 

an easy feat considering the program runs 

continuously over three years, offering 

students only three weeks of time off per 

year. Still, the Sault College alumni share a 

similar philosophy when it comes to finding 

that balance. 

“No matter how busy your life may be, 

it is important to take time to have fun,” 

Bolduc says. “It is also important to have a 

strong, supportive network of friends and 

family to keep you grounded when times 

are stressful.” 

By Liisa McMillan 

Norma Bolduc and Alicia 

Bronicheski, 2007 BScN 

graduates and future doctors 


OUR PEOPLE 

Sault College aviation grad 

continues to soar 

It’s been almost 30 years since Kevin Parker started his 

career in aviation, but he still vividly recalls the first time 

he took control of an aircraft as a Sault College aviation 

student. 

“There truly are few words to describe the feeling 

you have once you are airborne and realize you’re all 

alone and it’s up to you to get on the ground safely,” says 

Parker. “It’s a mix of fear, pride and amazement.” 

As an Instructional System Design (ISD) professional, 

Parker sees how the program’s curriculum was sound 

and relevant in teaching students the knowledge and 

skills necessary to succeed in the industry. The College’s 

aviation program is known as an intense one, and Parker 

credits professors Bernie McComisky and Bill Govett for 

encouraging him and providing 

the incentive to succeed 

throughout his studies. 

“The key ingredient that the 

course had was a tremendous 

depth in its teaching staff,” says 

Parker. “All of the full-time staff 

had many years experience 

in the military and had flown 

numerous aircraft. They became 

role models for me when I 

became an instructor and I still 

remember certain things they 

said and did which help me with 

students today.” 

After graduating in 1980, Parker soon realized that 

flying jobs were hard to come by for a recent graduate 

with few flying hours. This lack of opportunity prompted 

him to research his options with the military, where he 

then spent the next seven years flying the CP140 Aurora 

aircraft, calling the experience “the best decision I ever 

made in flying.” 

“What I learned there gave me the foundation I 

needed to build the rest of my career.” 

And what a career it’s been. After leaving the military 

Parker opened his own business (Aircrew Training 

Systems Ltd.), and then moved on to a contract for CAE 

and Alteon (a Boeing training company) in Montreal. 

But after the tragic events of September 11, 2001, the 

aviation industry showed signs of trouble, and finding a 

secure job became a priority for Parker. It was at this time 

that CAE approached him with the opportunity to start a 

new position as production test pilot on Airbus aircraft. 

He accepted, and within a year was promoted to director 

“What I learned 

there gave me 

the foundation I 

needed to build the 

rest of my career.” 

of flight training and standards, Americas and Asia. 

“One of my responsibilities was to be part of the 

team negotiating the start-up of a joint venture with 

China Southern Airlines, the largest airline in China,” 

says Parker. “This joint venture involved the operation of 

their training center in Zhuhai. After negotiations were 

complete we began hiring staff to fill key positions, and 

my boss came to me and asked if I would be interested 

in taking the position of director of flight training at 

the centre. After a long discussion with my family we 

decided to accept the offer and our adventure in China 

began.” 

That adventure began nearly 10 years ago with his 

wife, Jan, and two children (now grown), Jennifer 

and Christopher. After 

leaving Zhuhai five years after 

arriving, Parker moved on to 

a position with Commercial 

Aircraft Corporation of China 

(COMAC) in Shanghai, his 

current employer. 

As assistant chief designer, 

Parker is responsible for 

supporting all aircraft programs 

in issues related to manmachine 

interface, particularly 

involving the cockpit. While this 

particular role keeps him out of 

the pilot’s seat, his “second role” 

as acting chief pilot does allow him to log flying hours 

and continue to do what he loves best. 

“The two roles complement each other,” says Parker. 

“Right now I’m flying the A320 with Chengdu airlines 

until the ARJ21 completes its type certification next year. 

Once we get certification I’ll be logging a lot of hours 

instructing and delivering aircraft.” 

Designated by the Chinese government as a “foreign 

expert,” Parker was the first person hired by COMAC 

under a plan designed to help expand China’s industrial 

base. This plan includes the hiring of 1,000 experts 

from foreign countries to work in various industries 

throughout the county. As COMAC is a high priority for 

the Chinese government, Parker has been introduced to 

President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao, as well as 

other ministers and government officials. 

Wings Magazine, a Canadian publication, featured 

an article on Parker and his accomplishments in their 

March/April 2010 issue. 


Kevin Parker, Assistant Chief Designer and 

Chief Pilot, Commercial Aircraft Corporation 

of China 


OUR PEOPLE 

Lawrence Foster 

returns to Sault College 

with a world of experience 

in outdoor adventure 

By Conor Mihell 

What’s the outdoor adventure capital of 

Canada? Most people would list Canmore, 

Alberta, Whistler, British Columbia or 

Gatineau, Quebec. But ask Lawrence Foster, 

a Sault College grad and one of Canada’s top 

outdoor adventure athletes, and he’ll say the 

lakes, rivers, forests and Canadian Shield 

hills that surround the city of Sault Ste. 

Marie make it one of the top communities 

in the country for outdoor activities. “Great 

outdoor recreation opportunities are so 

close at hand,” says Foster. “Single-track 

mountain biking, cross-country skiing and 

hiking trails are easily accessible from the 

city centre. The other obvious highlight is 

Lake Superior Provincial Park—it’s a huge 

piece of land with no motorized vehicles, 

which has preserved the integrity of its 

natural environment.” 

Foster is the newest faculty member 

in Sault College’s School of Natural 

Environment and Outdoor Studies and is 

responsible for instructing courses in the 

increasingly popular two-year Adventure 

Recreation and Parks Technician program. 

Given his wide-ranging experience and 

long list of credentials, Foster was a natural 

fit to make Sault College a leader in outdoor 

recreation. His job is to groom the next 

generation of adventure athletes, naturalists, 

eco- and adventure-tourism entrepreneurs 

and park managers. 

Foster was born and raised in Sault 

Ste. Marie, and took to outdoor activities 

like mountain biking, rock climbing and 

kayaking from an early age. Shortly after he 

completed a Sault College Law and Security 

diploma in 1995, Foster was hired to teach 

a rock-climbing course at the Sault College. 

This first experience as a college instructor 

reshaped Foster’s career path. “I knew right 

away that this was where I wanted to end 

up,” he says. “Teaching at Sault College 

became a career goal for me.” 

But first, Foster’s career as a worldclass 

adventure racer took him to some of 


the planet’s greatest wilderness areas and 

ecotourism hotspots. He competed in the 

Eco Challenge series of multi-day trekking, 

mountain biking and kayaking races in 

places like the jungles of Borneo in Southeast 

Asia. Foster’s four-person race team won 

the prestigious North American Eco 

Challenge championships twice, including 

the 2003 event, which was hosted by Sault 

Ste. Marie. At the same time, he designed 

and organized shorter adventure races for 

recreational enthusiasts in various locations 

across Canada, taught outdoor skills like 

navigation for Frontier Adventure Racing, 

and filmed races 

for the Discovery 

Channel. He was 

also a member of 

the Canadian Forces 

for 12 years, and 

captain of the ropes 

rescue team for 

the volunteer Sault 

Search and Rescue. 

Foster and his 

family settled in 

Sault Ste. Marie 

when he was hired 

to teach outdoor 

education at a local 

high school. (Foster 

also holds a Bachelor of Science degree in 

geology from Lake Superior State University 

and a Bachelor of Education degree from 

Nipissing University.) All the while, he kept 

active in the outdoor industry, organizing the 

annual High School Adventure Challenge, 

an adventure race for teams of postsecondary 

students from across Ontario, 

and working in the outdoor television 

industry with the likes of Les Stroud, the 

star of the popular Outdoor Life Network 

(OLN) show Survivorman. More recently, 

Foster has played key route planning and 

videography roles in the hit reality television 

series Mantracker on OLN. 

In 2009, Foster jumped on the 

opportunity to become a full-time faculty 

member at Sault College. Brian Punch, the 

chairperson of the college’s School of Natural 

Environment and 

“I knew right away 

that this was where 

I wanted to end up. 

Teaching at Sault 

College became a 

career goal for me.” 

Outdoor Skills, says 

Foster is an ideal 

fit. “Lawrence has 

been on the cutting 

edge of adventure 

recreation for 

over 15 years,” 

says Punch. “He 

has proven that 

he knows and 

understands the 

industry. He also 

brings years of 

teaching experience 

with him to the 

college with 

qualifications to teach all ages from children 

to adults, and specialist certificates in 

physical education and coaching credentials 

in many disciplines such as mountain biking 

and cross-country skiing.” 

The Adventure Recreation and Parks 

Technician program combines sciencebased 

training in the principles of 

environmental management with hands-on 

outdoor skills and knowledge of the eco- and 

adventure-tourism industry. “Sault College 

graduates leave the program not only with 

an appreciation of outdoor recreation but 

also the tools for conservation and running 

their own business,” says Foster. “They enter 

the work world with new ideas and a fresh 

perspective of how to meld recreation and 

conservation.” 

The program’s biggest upshot, Foster 

maintains, is the fact that it exposes students 

to some of Canada’s finest environments for 

outdoor adventure. Sault College is centrally 

located among a number of provincial 

and national parks, giving students the 

opportunity to interact with park managers 

and natural heritage interpreters. The open 

waters of Lake Superior and Lake Huron 

offer exceptional sea kayaking, while the 

semi-mountainous terrain of the Algoma 

Highlands provides options for rock- and 

ice-climbing, mountain biking, skiing 

and wilderness canoe-tripping. “We have 

endless potential here,” says Foster. “You 

couldn’t pick a better place to run this kind 

of program.” 

Most importantly, Foster’s students need 

not look far for inspiration. “Lawrence 

offers a great example of what is available 

for Adventure Recreation students,” says 

Punch. “He’s proven that the opportunities 

are only bound by your imagination.” 

CHECK OUT HUNDREDS OF EXCITING 

CONTINUING EDUCATION courses 

Learning never ends. You can continue 

the learning adventure with us by updating 

your professional credentials, earning a 

certificate or expanding your personal 

horizons in a way you have not yet imagined. 

Check out our learning opportunities at 

www.saultcollege.ca/cecourseguide or come 

in to pick up one of our course guides which is 

published three times a year! 

Sault College. 

It’s time to get inspired. 


OUR PEOPLE 

The Zombie Hunters: 

Taking a bite out of the web comic world 

Be sure to visit: 

www.thezombiehunters.com 

www.blackmothdesign.com 

(Romanchuk’s portfolio site) 

On a remote island years after an epidemic wiped out 

the majority of the World’s population, the undead still 

wander. Some zombies, like Crawlers, wander aimlessly, 

sluggishly, looking to feed off the flesh and blood of the 

living. Others, like Berserker zombies, are sadistic in 

nature, ultimately killing their prey only after brutally 

beating them and taking great pleasure in doing so. 

Berserkers are rare, extremely fast and undeniably the 

zombie you least want on your trail. 

But whether the zombie is a Mercy, Basilisk, Spitter, 

Hunter, Howler, or the above doesn’t matter to The 

Zombie Hunters; all that matters is that they get a chance 

to kill them every once in awhile. 

While the above is purely fiction for the many avid 

readers of the increasingly popular The Zombie Hunters 

web comic, it’s very much a reality for its creator Jenny 

Romanchuk. 

Romanchuk, a 2008 Sault College Graphic Design 

graduate, created the web comic as a teenager, never 

fully intending for it to go anywhere, and certainly not 

expecting it to reach the heights of popularity that it has 

over the last few years. 

“TZH started after I graduated high-school as a 

hobby project of mine,” says Romanchuk. “I didn’t 

realize its potential until the second to third year of 

college, when it started to become really popular. I went 

to a convention and I was surprised that people actually 

knew who I was and had read the comic. It just really 

exploded from there.” 

And when Romanchuk says it “exploded,” that’s no 

exaggeration. The web comic, which she updates every 

Monday, attracts nearly 100,000 readers each month, 

and boasts 500,000 “unique hits” per month. Each strip, 

which Romanchuk hand sketches before transferring 

digitally, takes anywhere from seven to eight hours. 

Since the site was redesigned in 2006, Romanchuk hasn’t 

missed a weekly update, not wanting to disappoint the 

web comic’s loyal fan base. 

“When doing a comic of this kind it’s always best to 

stick to a solid update schedule,” says Romanchuk. “You 

wouldn’t believe how frustrated people can get (myself 

included) when you are reading a comic and they 

never stick to a schedule or just never update. It’s very 

unprofessional, and a huge faux pas in the web comic 

community.” 

The comic, now in the midst of chapter nine and 

nearing almost 300 pages, follows the lives of a tight-knit 

group called The Zombie Hunters. Those still alive after 

the undead outbreak were divided into two categories: 

the infected, who carry a dormant strain of the virus 

in their system until death, at which time the infection 

is then activated and the person becomes one of seven 

different types of zombies (a “zombie class” system 

which Romanchuk also created), and the uninfected, 

those that emerged from the epidemic unscathed. The 

Zombie Hunters are of the former; part of the infected 

population that is marked and segregated from the 

rest of the inhabitants on the island, and who cannot 

be infected again. The Zombie Hunters bravely choose 

to venture out into dangerous offshore “wastelands” to 

recover valuable salvage. 

Among the uninfected are the Red Halos, a quasimilitary 

group who govern and protect the local 

population. And among the Red Halos is Captain Jasper 

Reyes, a sometimes-cruel guy with dashing good looks 

who manages to be both a thorn in your side and the guy 

who’ll have your back when you need him. And, he just 

happens to be Romanchuk’s favourite character. 

“I always love antagonists, so my favourite character 

has to be Jasper,” says Romanchuk. “He makes the rest of 

the characters lives a living hell. I really like the conflict 

he brings to the story and I love to write and draw that.” 

While Jasper is a character derived solely from 

Romanchuk’s imagination, some of the other characters 

actually got their start in reality. Romanchuk’s reality. 

“My friends and I always wanted to do a slice of life 

comic where we all starred and it was about our daily 

lives,” she says. Though the idea never came to fruition, 

Romanchuk kept the idea in the back of her mind, and 

when she eventually decided to create a full-length 

comic, her main characters were already in place. 

“As the story progressed, the characters in the comic 

spawned a life of their own, and now the only things 

that the characters in the comic share with their real life 

counterparts are their first and last names, and that the 

characters look a little like us.” 

As for her own comic self, Romanchuk insists the two 

share nothing in common. 

“I don’t even picture her as me anymore. My alter ego 

really spun a life of her own,” she says, describing Jenny, 

captain of The Zombie Hunters, as “mean, tomboyish, 

hot-headed, and rude.” 

When Romanchuk isn’t busy sketching the next comic 

strip, she’s tending to the website’s forum, answering 

e-mails, writing, drawing, thumbnailing out future strips, 

and preparing the soon-to-be released The Zombie 

Hunter book one, which will chronicle the 

group from chapters one through four. Her 

husband, Greg, manages the business end of 

things from their home in the States, where 

Romanchuk plans on moving once her 

immigration visa has cleared. 

As for her time at Sault College, she 

cites influential teachers Frank Salituri and 

Terry Hill as “cool guys who had to put up 

with my mildly crazy antics over the years,” 

and credits Hill for providing her with the 

incentive to bring The Zombie Hunters to 

life in the form of a business venture. 

And her advice for 

other designers? 

“There is no such thing as talent,” says 

Romanchuk. “Talent gets you nowhere; 

hard work and dedication are the keys that 

will take you far. I wasn’t born knowing how 

to tell stories, draw, or design things. I’m 

not a unicorn. What I do isn’t magical, or 

special. I worked really hard at it, practiced 

and I put my dreams in motion. Never give 

up, and don’t fear success.” 



OUR PEOPLE 

College student, child soldier 

There comes a point in every writer’s career when one 

realizes the impossibility of finding the right words to 

adequately summarize or honour a life that is being lived 

without trivializing it. That moment arrived for me when I 

met and sat down with an unforgettable second-year Sault 

College Heavy Truck and Coach student, Francis Ali. 

So before I even begin, let me share these words 

with you in my efforts to describe this young man and 

his journey thus far – realizing that even they, do not 

do him or his family’s story justice: immense courage, 

unbelievable hardship, intense fear, abiding love, sheer 

panic, resounding hope, quiet 

desperation, incredible strength, 

phenomenal sorrow, continual 

compassion, unfailing resilience, 

uncanny brilliance, unending 

wisdom, and most of all, 

goodness – absolute goodness. 

As the eleventh of 12 children 

in his family being raised in the 

country of Sudan, and from 

the Bongo tribe, Francis was 

abducted while on his way to 

school at the age of 14 to be 

trained as a child soldier in 

the militia. It was especially 

dangerous to be a young boy at 

that time because that meant that 

you could be caught and forced 

to fight – to do and see things that no human being – let 

alone, child, should ever bear witness to. 

Carrying a heavy AK-47 on his back, being beaten, 

and spending hours standing upright in a jail cell without 

food or water, it would be 15 long months before Francis’ 

family would know of his whereabouts. By the time 

he was kidnapped and forced to fight, Francis, along 

with his family and most other Sudanese villagers and 

farmers living in the southern half of the country, had 

already been running for most of their lives in an effort 

to stay alive. 

When a country is torn apart by war, lives get 

interrupted and innocent lives are terrorized – both by 

witnessing the violent death of others around you as well 

as by the desperate efforts to avoid your own demise and 

that of those you love. 

Recalls Francis, now 27, reflecting back on scenes 

from his childhood, “When I was 8 or 9 years old, I was 

going with my mother to get vegetables for us to eat from 

the field when we began being shot at from two different 

directions. We were caught in the cross-fire. My mom 

“You just ran for 

your life in an 

instant and hoped 

that you’d find your 

loved ones again 

when you finally 

stopped running.” 

pushed me to the ground in front of her and covered my 

body with hers to shield me from the bullets. She told 

me to begin crawling towards our house for cover, which 

we did. We got my little sister, Christina, and we all ran 

to a river, where we lay motionless for two days and 

nights with only our noses out of the water to breathe 

so we couldn’t be found.” “I remember that the air was 

thick with mosquitoes,” recalls Francis about that night, 

“and in the water, there were snakes and frogs moving all 

around us. I also remember that I had no shirt on.” 

That same week, another incident marked Francis’ 

childhood when his brother 

was caught by a group of young 

soldiers. “They were all laughing 

and betting on who would get 

to kill him. His life was spared 

only when one of them looked 

more closely at his face and 

recognized him as my dad’s 

son, who was their teacher,” 

says Francis. “The young man 

then dropped his gun,” he adds, 

reflecting on the close call that 

could have ended so much more 

tragically. 

Francis’ father was an English 

professor who travelled around 

the country of Sudan working 

in the field of education until 

his murder 15 years ago. “It was not safe to be seen as 

intelligent and educated,” states Francis, “as that was a 

threat to those who wanted power. So many were killed 

who were smart – my father being one of them.” 

His mother raised Francis and his other eleven 

siblings on her own while her husband worked away, 

continually moving them around the country with her 

in an effort to stay alive. “You could take nothing with 

you when you ran,” says Francis. “You just ran for your 

life in an instant and hoped that you’d find your loved 

ones again when you finally stopped running.” 

They did find one another, with every one of his siblings 

having survived the turmoil, devastation, and close calls. 

They are now scattered around the globe, with all of them 

having graduated from either college or university. “Both 

of my parents knew that education was the answer and 

encouraged us to go to school and continue to learn,” 

recalls Francis. “They instilled that in us.” 

While studying in Windsor, Ontario, Francis met 

Ashley Torrance from Sault Ste. Marie. “There’s a smaller 

town where you can learn English,” suggested Ashley, 

after hearing shouts from other Canadians 

in southern Ontario that Francis should, 

“Go back to his own country,” upon hearing 

his accent. Francis agreed to travel further 

north, and the Torrance family has become 

like a host family to him. 

It was here that Francis learned English 

as a Second Language as he worked in 

construction and upgraded his skills at Holy 

Angels with the support of the Torrance 

family. “I consider him to be my child,” 

says Shelva Torrance, Ashley’s mother, of 

Francis. “I will always consider him to be a 

part of our family. He’s so special to us.” 

Now enrolled at Sault College, Francis is 

looking forward to graduating this spring 

and going out into the world, doing what 

he loves best: working hard, giving back to 

the country that gave him his freedom – 

Canada, singing, and sharing his message of 

hope. He is also wishing to see his mother, 

who he worries about as she still lives in 

Francis Ali, always positive 

and always smiling 

Sudan with his youngest sister, after 13 years 

apart from him. “I’d love to look out and see 

her in the audience watching me cross the 

stage at convocation after all we have been 

through,” says Francis. 

“Each of our students has a unique story 

and journey that leads them to the College,” 

reflects President Dr. Ron Common, upon 

hearing about Francis. “We are so glad that 

Francis’s powerful story and courageous 

journey led him here.” By Susan Hunter 


OUR PEOPLE 

Top chef creates recipe for success 

What do you get when you combine excellence, talent, and passion? 

You get Sarah Birkenhauer – recent top 30 under 30 winner with the 

Ontario Hostelry Institute – an award given to the top thirty men 

and women in the hospitality and food service industry, Premier’s 

Award nominee, and passionate Sault College professor in the 

Culinary Arts and Hospitality program. 

An American originally from Lapeer, Michigan, Birkenhauer 

came to a crossroads career-wise not long ago. She was studying 

nursing at Lake Superior State University when she met up with 

some Sault College students. “They were friendly and approachable, 

so I thought the College might be a good place to study,” recalls 

Sarah. A previous attempt studying cuisine at a Culinary Arts 

school in New York on the recommendation of Wolfgang Puck left 

Sarah feeling homesick, but a College with a great reputation only 

five hours from her hometown sounded like the perfect choice. 

So Birkenhauer called the College. “I spoke with Professor Glen 

Dahl, Coordinator of the program, and as we talked, I knew the 

program and the school was for me,” states Sarah. “I didn’t realize 

before that moment that channelling 

my love of food and cooking into being 

a chef could actually be a full-time, 

profitable profession.” 

Several years later, and with a total 

of 11 years of experience behind her, 

Birkenhauer has successfully launched 

and made a significant impact with 

her culinary career. She has been 

the executive chef of three top local 

restaurants, working collaboratively 

with others to develop strong brands, 

kitchen lay-outs, and menus. “It is 

incredibly rewarding to share with 

others who are as passionate about food 

and the business as I am,” Birkenhauer 

says of the experience. 

A provincial and inter-provincial 

certified red seal cook, Sarah now 

teaches others about her love for the 

art of cooking, covering a variety of 

classes for students that include culinary 

techniques, cuisine à la carte and kitchen 

management. Recently, she helped host 

the College’s successful third annual 

“Show of Class” culinary competition 

for several local and area high schools. 

“The hands-on experience at Sault 

College has been invaluable to my 

career. Without it, I am doubtful that I 

would be as confident in my skills, and 

as motivated to master my craft as I am 

Chef Sarah Birkenhauer, 

Sault College Professor and current 

Premier’s Award nominee 

now,” states Birkenhauer. 

But her work extends far beyond the College’s professional 

kitchens. “Sault College breeds a culture of social responsibility, 

and one that encourages giving back to one’s community,” says 

Birkenhauer. Keeping this in mind, Birkenhauer gives of her time to 

strengthen the work of local agencies and organizations. 

For instance, she prepares a hot meal when she can for the clients 

of a local women’s centre and also participates in the organization and 

supervision of an initiative where women are responsible for menu 

planning, shopping, and preparing large quantities of food that are 

divided among the participants, and in doing so, teaching life skills. 

“It enriches my life to give back in this way,” states Birkenhauer. 

Birkenhauer also supports the local art gallery, the Art Gallery of 

Algoma, by preparing delicious food for its annual gala so funds can 

be raised that keep admission costs low, helping make art accessible 

to everyone. “Sarah’s creations add so much to our events,” says a 

grateful Dr. Curtis Collins, Director of the Art Gallery. 

Even children get to enjoy the fruits of Sarah’s labour as she 

donates time to various public schools 

by cooking students’ Thanksgiving 

and Christmas lunches to make sure 

everyone gets the opportunity to share 

and enjoy a hot meal with others. 

But to do this, Sarah had to overcome 

what was once an all-encompassing fear 

for her. “Four years ago, if you told me 

I’d be up speaking in front of others, I 

would have told you there’s no way,” 

says Birkenhauer, shaking her head with 

a smile. “But all that’s changed now. I 

now realize the power of connection 

that speaking and listening to others 

makes. Effective communication can do 

so much.” 

“We’re so very proud of Sarah,” says 

Dean Rick Wing of Birkenhauer. “She 

exudes excellence in the business and 

embraces every opportunity to grow 

and learn, helping others do the same.” 

Sometimes, it seems, all it takes 

to make a beautiful life is the perfect 

combination of the right ingredients – 

like courage, hard work, passion, and 

care – the time and energy to mix them 

together in just the right way, and the 

willingness to serve someone other than 

yourself. 

It’s a recipe that apparently works for 

Chef Birkenhauer every time. 

By Susan Hunter 

Varsity Home Games 2010-2011 

Oct. 16, 17 Alumni Weekend (contact us for details) 

Basketball 

Volleyball 

Oct. 23 

Conestoga @ 8 pm 

Oct. 24 

Conestoga @ 12 pm 

Oct. 30 Mohawk @ 2 pm Mohawk @ 12 pm 

Oct. 31 Niagara @ 2 pm Niagara @ 12 pm 

Nov. 5 Redeemer @ 6 pm Redeemer @ 8 pm 

Nov. 20 Fanshawe @ 2 pm Fanshawe @ 12 pm 

Dec. 4 Algoma @ 6 pm Canadore @ 8 pm 

Dec. 5 

Nipissing @ 12 pm 

Jan. 29 Sheridan @ 6 pm Sheridan @ 8 pm 

Jan. 30 Humber @ 2pm Humber @ 12 pm 

Feb. 5 St. Clair @ 2 pm St. Clair @ 12 pm 

Feb. 6 Lambton @ 2 pm Lambton @ 12 pm 

alumni, visit us on the web: www.saultcollege.ca/services/athletics 


REMEMBER WHEN? 

Okay, so maybe time has flown since you were 

a student here. Isn’t it amazing how your 

College days sometimes seem like yesterday? 

Relive the adventure by staying connected to 

us. Our alumni department has everything 

you need to stay informed and be a part of 

our exciting future. Plus, you can help your 

alma mater become even greater. From 

classroom presentations to mentoring, you 

can help a student who was once just like 

you... just a few days or decades later! 

22 Sault College Alumni | Spring 2010 

Sault College alumni. 

Stay connected.

2010 Alumni Magazine - Sault College

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