Alumni News and Views - Conestoga College
Alumni News and Views - Conestoga College
Alumni News and Views - Conestoga College
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Connections Connections CONESTOGA COLLEGE ALUMNI MAGAZINE<br />
Volume 17, Issue 2 Winter 2006<br />
“Small business owners must continually be<br />
conscious of the many important relationships<br />
that they cultivate at home, at work, <strong>and</strong> in<br />
the community.”<br />
Denison Print... Not Just A Printing Company
LiveLife<br />
... <strong>and</strong> let us take care of the details<br />
We offer two great insurance plans for <strong>Alumni</strong> Members.<br />
Preferred Service Home-Auto Plan<br />
The Preferred Service Home-Auto Plan<br />
offers special discounts, extra coverages,<br />
<strong>and</strong> valuable benefits.<br />
• 24-hour, everyday service<br />
• Superior claims service<br />
• Online access to your insurance<br />
information<br />
Contact us today for a home or auto<br />
insurance quote.<br />
(Please identify yourself as a Member of the <strong>Alumni</strong> Association of<br />
<strong>Conestoga</strong> <strong>College</strong> <strong>and</strong> provide your Group ID code: CO)<br />
1.800.563.0677 or<br />
www.johnson.ca/conestoga<br />
Due to the existence of Provincial Automobile Insurance Plans, Auto<br />
Insurance <strong>and</strong> Auto Club are not offered in BC, SK, or MB. Only<br />
Home Insurance is available in these provinces. An alternate plan is<br />
available for QC. Call for details.<br />
MEDOC ® Travel Health Insurance Plan<br />
Get the protection you need for as little as<br />
$5* per month!<br />
• Year-round protection while outside your<br />
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• Up to $5,000,000 comprehensive<br />
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• Up to $4,000 Trip Cancellation Insurance<br />
Contact us today for more information.<br />
1.800.461.4597 or<br />
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* premium varies based on age, health status <strong>and</strong> applicable taxes.<br />
MEDOC is a registered trademark of Johnson Inc.<br />
MEDOC is underwritten by Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance<br />
Company of Canada
Table of Contents<br />
Editor’s Notebook<br />
Welcome to the Summer 2005 Edition of Connections . . . 2<br />
<strong>Alumni</strong> Association, Slate of Officers 2005/2006 . . . . . . . . 2<br />
Letters to the Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3<br />
Cover Story<br />
Machelle & Tony Denison - Not Just an Ordinary Couple . . . 3<br />
Grad Profile<br />
Alumnus of Distinction Award Recipients 2005 . . . . . . . . . 5<br />
Paul Siebel... PAC Chair & Donor of Steel Teaching Aid . . . 6<br />
Beyond an Apprenticeship. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7<br />
Heard it Through the Grapevine<br />
Keeping in Touch with Our <strong>Alumni</strong> . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9<br />
Lost Sheep<br />
Too Baaaad We Can’t Find Ewe!. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13<br />
In Memoriam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14<br />
Membership Has Its Benefits - Help Us Stay Up-To-Date. . 15<br />
PAC’s Profile<br />
Paul Kalbfleisch, PAC Chair - Advertising Program . . . . . . 16<br />
Steel Teaching Aid Officially Dedicated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17<br />
Editor: Monica Himmelman*<br />
Creative Director: Valerie Gray*<br />
Contributing Monica Himmelman*<br />
Writers: Sam Egleston*<br />
Lynne Kattenhorn*<br />
John Sawicki*<br />
Ingrid Town<br />
Violet Boutilier<br />
Jason Sonser**<br />
Tom Kalbfleisch**<br />
Jonathan Wolfe<br />
Tracey Jasmine*<br />
Mike Shipley<br />
Brenda Warner<br />
Photos Cover - Rick Kowalczykowski,<br />
icon Photography Inc.<br />
Margie Williams, Kevin Garrett, Beatriu Canet<br />
* <strong>Conestoga</strong> Alumnus or ** <strong>Conestoga</strong> Student<br />
If you are receiving this magazine for your son or daughter, please<br />
have them update their address with the <strong>Alumni</strong> Office. If you<br />
enjoy receiving Connections please let us know.<br />
Connections is published by<br />
Development & <strong>Alumni</strong> Relations Department<br />
<strong>Conestoga</strong> <strong>College</strong><br />
299 Doon Valley Drive, Kitchener, ON N2G 4M4<br />
519-748-5220, ext. 3459 in conjunction with the Promotional<br />
Design <strong>and</strong> Production Department<br />
Reprinting of any article in this publication, needs to be done<br />
with express permission of the editor at 519-748-5220, ext. 3459<br />
Campus Update<br />
Get Out the Hammers! <strong>Conestoga</strong> is Growing Again!. . . . 18<br />
<strong>Conestoga</strong> Program Earns Prestigious Yves L<strong>and</strong>ry Award . . 20<br />
New Direction in Apprenticeship Trades . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21<br />
Ground Broken for New Student Centre . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22<br />
Lauren Weber, Governor General’s Academic Medal Winner 22<br />
Student Life Coordinator Leanne Holl<strong>and</strong> Brown . . . . . . . 23<br />
Woman to Woman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24<br />
Valentine O’Donovan – A Leader in Technology &<br />
Philanthropy 1936-2005 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24<br />
<strong>Alumni</strong> <strong>News</strong> & <strong>Views</strong><br />
Reunions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26<br />
Upcoming Reunions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27<br />
<strong>Alumni</strong> Association Celebrates 15th Anniversary . . . . . . . 28<br />
Tim Kingsbury – A Challenge to <strong>Alumni</strong> . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29<br />
First Annual <strong>Alumni</strong> Golf Tournament . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29<br />
<strong>Conestoga</strong> Students Inc. Looking to the Past . . . . . . . . . . 30<br />
<strong>Alumni</strong> Survive Hurricane Katrina . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31<br />
Privacy of Personal Information Statement . . . . . . . . . . . 31<br />
Materials & Operations Management Program . . . . . . . . . 32<br />
Degree Opportunity for Accounting Grads . . . . . . . . . . . 33<br />
Students Serve Up Pancake Breakfast at Oktoberfest . . . . 34<br />
Susan Hilton:An Update . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35<br />
Mission Statement<br />
“The <strong>Alumni</strong> Association of <strong>Conestoga</strong> <strong>College</strong> is a network<br />
of volunteers committed to an active partnership among<br />
the <strong>Alumni</strong>, the Community, <strong>and</strong> the<br />
<strong>College</strong> in order to create a lifelong interest in<br />
the success of the <strong>College</strong>.”<br />
Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to:<br />
<strong>Conestoga</strong> <strong>College</strong><br />
299 Doon Valley Drive<br />
Kitchener ON N2G 4M4<br />
Before You Recycle<br />
reuse<br />
Please share this publication<br />
with a friend or neighbour.<br />
Connections - winter 2006<br />
1
I would like to take this opportunity<br />
to wish all of you a very happy<br />
holiday season, <strong>and</strong> health <strong>and</strong><br />
prosperity in the coming year.<br />
It has been a busy <strong>and</strong> exciting time<br />
in the Development <strong>and</strong> <strong>Alumni</strong><br />
Services Department these past six<br />
months. The summer seemed to fly<br />
by <strong>and</strong> we had record sales for our<br />
theme park tickets. The fine weather<br />
leant itself to outdoor family activities.<br />
Please make sure you check our<br />
website for the latest additions to our<br />
year-round offers of discounted<br />
tickets.<br />
It has been a season of firsts as well<br />
as celebration for us.<br />
This fall, for the first time I have<br />
2 Connections - winter 2006<br />
Editor’s Notebook<br />
Welcome to the<br />
Winter Edition of Connections.<br />
Monica Himmelman<br />
formally added the Annual Fund to<br />
my portfolio here at <strong>Conestoga</strong>, <strong>and</strong><br />
in that capacity have run the first<br />
fundraising campaign for <strong>Alumni</strong>. A<br />
targeted mailing was sent to the<br />
grads of the 70’s at the end of the<br />
summer, <strong>and</strong> we have received a<br />
very encouraging response. Sincere<br />
thanks to all of you who have<br />
considered investing in <strong>Conestoga</strong>.<br />
If you are interested in joining the<br />
growing numbers of <strong>Alumni</strong> who are<br />
giving back to their alma mater<br />
please see Tim Kingsbury’s article on<br />
pp. 29 <strong>and</strong> also the brochure <strong>and</strong><br />
pledge card that are printed on the<br />
inside back cover.<br />
<strong>Alumni</strong> Steve Roth <strong>and</strong> Neil<br />
Aitcheson of Drayton Entertainment,<br />
invited <strong>Conestoga</strong> to join the<br />
excitement as Drayton opened their<br />
sixth <strong>and</strong> newest theatre — St Jacobs<br />
Country Playhouse — in Waterloo in<br />
October. The debut production was<br />
Disney’s Beauty <strong>and</strong> the Beast <strong>and</strong><br />
Steve, the Director of Operations for<br />
the new theatre, reserved 100 seats<br />
at the November 10th show for<br />
<strong>Conestoga</strong> <strong>Alumni</strong> <strong>and</strong> staff. The<br />
discounted tickets quickly sold out,<br />
<strong>and</strong> a most wonderful, magical<br />
evening was topped off by a<br />
personal backstage tour <strong>and</strong> meeting<br />
some of the cast <strong>and</strong> crew members.<br />
Many thanks to Steve <strong>and</strong> Neil for<br />
making this opportunity available to<br />
us. We hope to repeat this<br />
successful ‘Evening at the Theatre’<br />
often in the years to come. For<br />
more information on Drayton<br />
Entertainment please visit their<br />
website at<br />
www.draytonentertainment.com<br />
The <strong>Alumni</strong> Association of <strong>Conestoga</strong><br />
celebrated its 15th Anniversary this<br />
year <strong>and</strong> culminated the year with<br />
the Annual General Meeting on<br />
November 7th. The meeting was<br />
held in the Guild Room at the Doon<br />
Campus <strong>and</strong> was attended by over<br />
50 people. For more information<br />
about the <strong>Alumni</strong> Association’s<br />
activities <strong>and</strong> services, please refer to<br />
the <strong>Alumni</strong> <strong>News</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Views</strong> section<br />
on pp28. the Association invites<br />
new volunteers to join their fun <strong>and</strong><br />
energetic group.<br />
If you have ideas or suggestions that<br />
you would like us to implement, or<br />
comments regarding <strong>Alumni</strong><br />
initiatives, I urge you to contact me.<br />
We welcome your input, <strong>and</strong><br />
because of our readers interaction<br />
are able to present a magazine with<br />
variety <strong>and</strong> interesting articles. Please<br />
keep letting us know what you’d like<br />
to see.<br />
<strong>Alumni</strong> Association of <strong>Conestoga</strong>, Slate of Officers 2005/2006<br />
President ...............................................Glenn Campbell, 1984 Manufacturing Technician-Wood Products<br />
Past President.......................................Norm. Bertr<strong>and</strong>, 1985 Business Administration-Management Studies<br />
Vice-President.......................................Susan Milton, 2002 Human Resources<br />
Treasurer...............................................Mike Shipley, 1986 Business Administration-Materials Management<br />
Secretary ...............................................Vacant<br />
Member-at-Large ..................................Bob Foster, 1974 Business Administration-Marketing<br />
Member-at-Large ..................................Laurie Lafleur, 2003 Computer/Programmer Analyst (Co-op)<br />
Member-at-Large ..................................Carol Milmine, 1977 Broadcasting-Radio <strong>and</strong> Television<br />
Member-at-Large ..................................Vacant<br />
Member-at-Large ..................................Linda Taylor, 1985 Early Childhood Education<br />
Member-at-Large ..................................Alycia Tedford, 1999 Recreation <strong>and</strong> Leisure Services, 2002 Volunteer Management<br />
Faculty Representative.........................Anne Charles, Professor Liberal <strong>and</strong> Media Studies<br />
Support Representative .......................Vacant<br />
Administrative Representative.............Mary Wright, Manager, Co-op <strong>and</strong> Career Services<br />
CSI Representative ...............................Andrew Mercier, 2nd Yr-Police Foundations<br />
Ex-Officio..............................................Monica Himmelman, <strong>Alumni</strong> Services <strong>and</strong> Annual Fund Officer
Letters to the Editor<br />
George Vezza, Business 1983<br />
Dear <strong>Alumni</strong> Administrator,<br />
I would like to congratulate the<br />
<strong>College</strong> staff for the number one<br />
ranking they recently received.<br />
As a business graduate from 1983, I<br />
am proud of the rating that has<br />
confirmed to me what I already<br />
knew. My experience at <strong>Conestoga</strong><br />
was a positive stage in my life <strong>and</strong><br />
has helped shape my life <strong>and</strong> career.<br />
To all my fellow students that I have<br />
lost touch with, I hope that we one<br />
day meet again to talk <strong>and</strong> laugh<br />
about old times. My life is going<br />
well. I married during my first year<br />
of college <strong>and</strong> am happy to say that<br />
we will celebrate our 25th<br />
anniversary this December. My<br />
beautiful <strong>and</strong> supportive wife<br />
Rachelle has blessed me with three<br />
wonderful children, two sons<br />
(Wesley <strong>and</strong> Justyn) who attend<br />
<strong>Conestoga</strong> <strong>College</strong> in the Business<br />
program <strong>and</strong> Hailey who attends a<br />
private school here in the Dominican<br />
Republic. I have had the pleasure of<br />
working for Nestle, the world’s<br />
largest food <strong>and</strong> beverage company<br />
for the last 21 years. I have spent<br />
the last 9 years living <strong>and</strong> working<br />
abroad at the Vice President level. I<br />
have been privileged to work in<br />
Jamaica, Trinidad <strong>and</strong> now in the<br />
Dominican Republic. My career has<br />
taken me to many exotic locations<br />
<strong>and</strong> has allowed me to continue to<br />
learn. I have completed with honors<br />
an Executive Program in IMD<br />
Switzerl<strong>and</strong>, <strong>and</strong> an Executive<br />
Leadership program at the London<br />
Business School in Engl<strong>and</strong>.<br />
I have never allowed myself to be<br />
ashamed of attending a Canadian<br />
Editor’s Notebook<br />
<strong>College</strong> versus a University. I believe<br />
every <strong>Conestoga</strong> graduate can reach<br />
their desired level both professionally<br />
<strong>and</strong> personally if they believe in<br />
themselves.<br />
I currently head up the Marketing<br />
<strong>and</strong> Communication Department<br />
with a staff of over 50 Br<strong>and</strong><br />
Managers, operating in 27 Countries<br />
from Cuba to Bermuda. This is a<br />
challenging position <strong>and</strong> provides a<br />
high level of job satisfaction.<br />
Thank you <strong>Conestoga</strong> <strong>College</strong> for<br />
helping me reach my potential.<br />
Regards,<br />
George Vezza, Vice President,<br />
Marketing <strong>and</strong> Communications,<br />
Nestlé Region Caribe<br />
Monica,<br />
Have just had a wonderful lunch<br />
break reading the Summer Issue of<br />
Connections. What an informative<br />
publication. It made me wish that<br />
30 odd years ago I would have<br />
followed through with postsecondary<br />
education. Of course, in<br />
1969, the <strong>College</strong> was a few trailers<br />
on a site with no bus service - so I<br />
was doomed from the start.<br />
I was pleased to see that the Cowan<br />
organization has taken a great<br />
interest (my insurance roots of over<br />
25 years). I was definitely<br />
impressed by the number of local<br />
companies taking part in the co-op<br />
programs <strong>and</strong> others that support<br />
financially <strong>and</strong> others still that<br />
supply equipment for the varied<br />
courses. They should be very<br />
proud.<br />
As a citizen of Kitchener I am proud<br />
to call <strong>Conestoga</strong> <strong>College</strong> one of our<br />
little "gems". Keep up the good<br />
work. Of course, #1 is the only place<br />
for "our" <strong>College</strong> to be, isn't it?!!!!<br />
Emilie Brown<br />
RAISE Home Support<br />
Send your cards <strong>and</strong> letters to:<br />
Monica Himmelman<br />
Development & <strong>Alumni</strong> Services<br />
299 Doon Valley Drive, Kitchener, ON N2G 4M4<br />
Email: mhimmelman@conestogac.on.ca<br />
greystone design group inc.<br />
l-r... Ben Eby-1996, Stephanie Eby-1996,<br />
Maria Fejerpataky-2001, Kate V<strong>and</strong>erlaan-<br />
2002, Luang Douangkham-2002, Paul<br />
Zegers-2000, Teresa Cabral-2005, Daewon<br />
Lee-2003, Mirjana Babic-Microcomputer<br />
Software Grad 2000, Peter Koning-2003,<br />
Mario Marin-1998, Nick Rosenburg-Sheridan<br />
Grad 2002, Nader El-Sarraf-Civil Grad 1999<br />
Hi Lynne / Monica,<br />
I've been meaning to contact both of<br />
you for a few weeks now.<br />
I want to offer a belated thank-you,<br />
on behalf of greystone, for the time<br />
spent preparing our recent<br />
Connections article. We are all very<br />
grateful to be featured <strong>and</strong> cannot<br />
thank you both enough. Please pass<br />
on our regards to your Connections<br />
team.<br />
Thanks again,<br />
Ben Eby, President - greystone<br />
1996 Construction Engineering<br />
Technology<br />
Keep those cards<br />
<strong>and</strong> letters coming!<br />
We love to hear<br />
from you.<br />
Monica <strong>and</strong> the<br />
Connections Team<br />
Connections - winter 2006<br />
3
Just as Denison Print’s motto is “Not<br />
Just a Printing Company”, neither<br />
Tony nor Machelle Denison are just<br />
run-of-the-mill citizens of Waterloo<br />
Region. Both of them hold strong<br />
beliefs about the values of<br />
philanthropy <strong>and</strong> contributing to<br />
their community. Those beliefs are<br />
an integral part of what they, <strong>and</strong><br />
their business st<strong>and</strong> for.<br />
Machelle (Huras) <strong>and</strong> Tony met<br />
while students at <strong>Conestoga</strong>, <strong>and</strong><br />
were married the summer they<br />
graduated from the Business<br />
Administration—Marketing Program:<br />
1982. Both found employment in<br />
their field <strong>and</strong> life was good. For<br />
the next five years Tony <strong>and</strong><br />
Machelle continued to gain<br />
experience <strong>and</strong> put money aside,<br />
with the thoughts of moving back to<br />
K-W where both of them were born<br />
<strong>and</strong> raised, <strong>and</strong> starting a family.<br />
That was until Tony <strong>and</strong> his brother<br />
Chris, went on a ski trip to Jackson<br />
Hole, Wyoming, where ideas of<br />
entrepreneurship <strong>and</strong> selfemployment<br />
monopolized their<br />
thoughts <strong>and</strong> conversations, both on<br />
the slopes <strong>and</strong> in the chalet. A<br />
franchise, (no pizza, no hamburgers)<br />
they decided would be their segue<br />
into their new careers. By the time<br />
they returned, all that remained was<br />
to “market” the idea to Machelle,<br />
<strong>and</strong> Chris’s wife, Dale. After the<br />
4 Connections - winter 2006<br />
Cover Story<br />
Machelle <strong>and</strong> Tony Denison - Not Just an<br />
Ordinary Couple<br />
by Monica Himmelman*<br />
The Denison team - Front - l-r, Tony Denison*, Bert Anghad, Debbie Kleinschmidt,<br />
Yvan Gagné, Machelle Denison*, Kathy Martinello*, Ron Beingessner*. Back - l-r, Wayne Munroe*,<br />
Jay Mielke*, Dave Sitler*, Ted Near, Patrick Gagné* ( * - <strong>Conestoga</strong> grads)<br />
brothers’ convincing presentations,<br />
both women agreed to the idea.<br />
In 1987, they opened a print-<strong>and</strong>copy<br />
franchise in Kitchener. A year<br />
<strong>and</strong> a half later, they struck out on<br />
their own—launching an enterprise<br />
that operated for the first three<br />
months from Chris’ garage. Since<br />
then the business has changed <strong>and</strong><br />
grown. Now, 18 years later, Denison<br />
Print is owned by Tony <strong>and</strong> Machelle.<br />
It is a strong, vibrant company<br />
operating out of a 10,000 square-foot<br />
building, which features a 1870’s<br />
renovated two-room schoolhouse in<br />
Breslau, Ontario. There are 12<br />
employees, many of whom are<br />
<strong>Conestoga</strong> grads <strong>and</strong>/or students, <strong>and</strong><br />
a management team led by Machelle<br />
on the Operations side, <strong>and</strong> Tony on<br />
the Marketing <strong>and</strong> Business<br />
Development end. Deb, Dave <strong>and</strong><br />
Yvan, the other members of the<br />
leadership team are just as committed<br />
to the concept of inclusiveness <strong>and</strong><br />
respect of all employees <strong>and</strong><br />
customers as Machelle <strong>and</strong> Tony are.<br />
It is this strong commitment as well as<br />
knowing their customer’s needs <strong>and</strong><br />
expectations, which make Denison so<br />
unique. Over the years, the company<br />
has evolved <strong>and</strong> adapted to industry<br />
changes <strong>and</strong> customer needs.<br />
Denison prides itself on providing<br />
complete solutions to customer needs<br />
in a timely fashion.<br />
Any self-employed small business<br />
owner knows that in order to be<br />
successful, one has to be willing to<br />
pitch in <strong>and</strong> substitute in many of the<br />
roles performed by the employees.<br />
Denison is committed to the cross<br />
training of all employees <strong>and</strong> stresses<br />
the complete value <strong>and</strong> respect of<br />
each employee. They stress the<br />
importance of teamwork <strong>and</strong><br />
encourage staff to set goals for<br />
themselves. Several fun activities <strong>and</strong><br />
events are scheduled on a regular<br />
basis in order to recognize the<br />
employee’s hard work <strong>and</strong> dedication.<br />
The Denisons motivate the staff to<br />
play a big role in the company.<br />
Machelle stresses that successful<br />
small business owners must be able<br />
to incorporate life events such as the<br />
premature birth of a child (their first<br />
child Addie was born 5 weeks<br />
premature, <strong>and</strong> just in time for the<br />
company’s year-end, <strong>and</strong> their son,<br />
Spencer, made his debut 4 weeks<br />
ahead of schedule too!), <strong>and</strong> the dayto-day<br />
operations. Over the 18 years<br />
that Denison Print has been<br />
operating, there have been many<br />
times that family needs <strong>and</strong> business<br />
commitments have had to be finely<br />
tuned in order to meet both. The<br />
balance is very important. Small<br />
business owners must continually be<br />
conscious of the many important<br />
relationships that they cultivate both<br />
at home <strong>and</strong> at work.<br />
The Denisons <strong>and</strong> their company are<br />
very committed to giving back to<br />
their community. As well as<br />
volunteering their time <strong>and</strong><br />
experience to attend various<br />
program related, <strong>and</strong> school related<br />
events <strong>and</strong> panels at <strong>Conestoga</strong>,<br />
Tony is an Alumnus of Leadership<br />
Waterloo Region <strong>and</strong> is actively<br />
involved with both that organization<br />
<strong>and</strong> the Kitchener-<strong>Conestoga</strong> Rotary<br />
Club. Both he <strong>and</strong> Machelle support<br />
Junior Achievement <strong>and</strong> the<br />
company assists many small nonprofit<br />
groups with advertising,<br />
design <strong>and</strong> printing.<br />
Denison Print received silver (2003)<br />
<strong>and</strong> bronze (2005) ICON Awards for<br />
Excellence in Advertising <strong>and</strong>
Marketing <strong>and</strong> also won a Waterloo-<br />
Wellington Community Philanthropy<br />
Award in 2001. Machelle, a 2005,<br />
Alumnus of Distinction Award<br />
Recipient from <strong>Conestoga</strong>, has a long<br />
<strong>and</strong> strong history of volunteerism.<br />
She has volunteered at just about<br />
every level of the K-W <strong>and</strong> Area<br />
United Way Campaign for the past 12<br />
years <strong>and</strong> has just been named the<br />
Campaign Chair for 2006. Her other<br />
passion is Junior Achievement, where<br />
she is a volunteer instructor, teaching<br />
Marianne Walker<br />
graduated in 1977 from our<br />
Nursing program. She<br />
developed her professional<br />
skills in a variety of<br />
capacities at Cambridge<br />
Memorial Hospital, concentrating<br />
on providing the<br />
best in patient care,<br />
fostering teamwork <strong>and</strong><br />
mentoring other nurses.<br />
She also developed<br />
managerial skills, <strong>and</strong><br />
dedicated herself to further<br />
education. She has earned<br />
a nursing degree from<br />
McMaster University, a<br />
health sciences administration<br />
degree from the<br />
University of Toronto, <strong>and</strong><br />
a professional designation<br />
as a certified health<br />
executive. Her expertise<br />
has led to committee<br />
appointments through the<br />
Ministry of Health <strong>and</strong><br />
Long Term Care. She is a<br />
member of the national<br />
health services accreditation<br />
council <strong>and</strong> an<br />
executive member of the<br />
Canadian <strong>College</strong> of Health<br />
Sciences Executives. Today<br />
she is President <strong>and</strong> CEO<br />
of St. Joseph’s Health Care<br />
Centre in Guelph.<br />
Cover Story<br />
Business Basics to grades 5 & 6<br />
students. Machelle is also a<br />
volunteer with the Business<br />
Education Partnership of Waterloo<br />
Region Speakers Bureau. She makes<br />
presentations in elementary <strong>and</strong><br />
secondary schools throughout the<br />
Region on subjects relating to career<br />
planning <strong>and</strong> entrepreneurialism.<br />
When time permits, Machelle loves to<br />
act in amateur theatre productions<br />
with the Elmira Theatre Company,<br />
<strong>and</strong> every now <strong>and</strong> again Tony has<br />
Bianca Bitsakakis is a<br />
1999 graduate of the<br />
Social Services program.<br />
She has gone on to earn<br />
an undergraduate degree<br />
at Renison <strong>College</strong> <strong>and</strong> a<br />
graduate degree at Wilfrid<br />
Laurier, <strong>and</strong> is now the<br />
program coordinator for<br />
Home Support Services of<br />
the City of Waterloo. She<br />
is also a member of<br />
<strong>Conestoga</strong>’s Social Service<br />
program advisory<br />
committee.<br />
In the community, she is a<br />
longst<strong>and</strong>ing volunteer<br />
<strong>and</strong> leader with the<br />
Elizabeth Fry Society <strong>and</strong><br />
helped develop support<br />
programs for<br />
implementation at the<br />
Gr<strong>and</strong> Valley Institution<br />
for Women, where she is<br />
also active as a volunteer.<br />
Garth Dix is a 1974<br />
graduate of the<br />
Criminology <strong>and</strong> Law<br />
Enforcement program. He<br />
gained a position with the<br />
Brantford Fire Department,<br />
rising to the post of Chief<br />
in 2002. He has been<br />
president of the local<br />
firefighters association,<br />
<strong>and</strong> was a founding<br />
member of <strong>Conestoga</strong>’s<br />
Fire Services program<br />
advisory committee.<br />
His community service<br />
includes the directorship<br />
of Victim Services for<br />
Brantford <strong>and</strong> Brant<br />
County <strong>and</strong> a leadership<br />
role in the annual Heart<br />
<strong>and</strong> Stroke Foundation’s<br />
Big Bike for Stroke<br />
fundraiser.<br />
time to “tickle the ivories” on their<br />
piano at home in Waterloo.<br />
Tony <strong>and</strong> Machelle are “Not Just An<br />
Ordinary Couple”. They are amazing.<br />
They have taken their love for life,<br />
each other, their family <strong>and</strong> their<br />
community, added large doses of<br />
hard work, humour <strong>and</strong> commitment,<br />
<strong>and</strong> they are making a difference.<br />
For more information about Denison<br />
Print, please refer to their website:<br />
www.denison.on.ca, or call them at<br />
519-648-3636.<br />
Alumnus of Distinction Award Recipients 2005<br />
Raymond Ward is a<br />
1988 Law <strong>and</strong> Security<br />
Administration graduate.<br />
For 12 years he was with<br />
the Peel regional Police<br />
Service, during which time<br />
he was active in<br />
researching <strong>and</strong><br />
implementing major<br />
procedural <strong>and</strong> technical<br />
innovations, resulting in a<br />
secondment with the<br />
Ministry of Community<br />
Safety <strong>and</strong> Correctional<br />
Services. He joined the<br />
Waterloo Regional Police<br />
Service in 2002. He is<br />
active in his community of<br />
Ayr through the Knox<br />
Presbyterian Church, the<br />
minor hockey <strong>and</strong> minor<br />
soccer associations, <strong>and</strong><br />
the annual Fresh Ayr<br />
Festival.<br />
The Alumnus of Distinction Award<br />
<strong>Conestoga</strong> has established this award to honour its accomplished graduates. It is our<br />
opportunity to recognize outst<strong>and</strong>ing <strong>Conestoga</strong> Graduates who have achieved substantial career<br />
achievement, made a significant contribution to society/community <strong>and</strong> have achieved<br />
professional or community recognition. Please contact the Development <strong>and</strong> <strong>Alumni</strong> Office for<br />
more information.<br />
Connections - winter 2006<br />
5
Paul Seibel had a vision for steel<br />
fabrication <strong>and</strong> that vision became a<br />
reality when he graduated from the<br />
Civil Engineering Technology<br />
program in 1975. Paul has had a<br />
passion for steel fabrication as far<br />
back as the day he started as a<br />
student at <strong>Conestoga</strong>. It was Paul’s<br />
strong dedication as a student, along<br />
with the superior education he<br />
received at <strong>Conestoga</strong>, that fueled<br />
his desire to succeed.<br />
After graduation in 1975, Paul started<br />
working within the steel fabrication<br />
industry for XDG Ltd. <strong>and</strong> in 1988,<br />
was offered a chance to become part<br />
owner in the business. XDG Ltd. had<br />
separated itself into three sections<br />
which included: general<br />
construction, steel fabrication <strong>and</strong><br />
exporting, but it wasn’t until 2000<br />
that Paul was given the opportunity<br />
to buy the assets of the steel<br />
6 Connections - winter 2006<br />
Grad Profile<br />
Paul Seibel... PAC Chair <strong>and</strong> Donor of Steel<br />
Teaching Aid<br />
by Sam Egleston*<br />
It’s Back<br />
Paul Siebel addresses guests at dedication ceremony<br />
fabrication branch. Since the name<br />
of the branch was still closely suited<br />
to the XDG family, Paul decided to<br />
change the name to ACL Steel Ltd.<br />
The title ACL Steel Ltd. was created<br />
from the names of his three children:<br />
Amy, Craig <strong>and</strong> Lindsay.<br />
The name ACL Steel Ltd. has only<br />
been in circulation for five years but<br />
the roots of the company grow much<br />
deeper <strong>and</strong> longer than that. Paul<br />
has employees that began their<br />
careers with XDG but have made the<br />
journey with him to ACL Steel Ltd.<br />
ACL has employees with over 15<br />
years of experience <strong>and</strong> this is a true<br />
testament to the work environment<br />
provided <strong>and</strong> the dedication of these<br />
employees to the company.<br />
Paul currently sits on the Program<br />
Advisory Committee (PAC) for the<br />
Architectural Construction<br />
Technology Engineering program at<br />
<strong>Conestoga</strong> <strong>and</strong> enjoys the idea of<br />
contributing back to the school that<br />
started his career.<br />
In 2004, Paul approached the school<br />
about the fabrication of a steel<br />
teaching aid, which exhibits all steel<br />
fabrication joints used in today’s<br />
modern <strong>and</strong> growing construction<br />
industry. The <strong>College</strong> agreed that this<br />
would be an excellent opportunity<br />
for students <strong>and</strong> Paul was in contact<br />
with Bernie Melloul (Architectural<br />
Construction Engineering Technology<br />
alumnus <strong>and</strong> President of Melloul-<br />
Blamey Construction). With the help<br />
of both Paul <strong>and</strong> Bernie the steel<br />
teaching aid was constructed <strong>and</strong> on<br />
September 22, 2005 the official<br />
dedication ceremony took place<br />
unveiling the teaching aid. The steel<br />
structure st<strong>and</strong>s over 14ft. tall <strong>and</strong> can<br />
be viewed outside the Woodworking<br />
building of the Doon Campus.<br />
Paul has recently moved his<br />
company to a new Kitchener<br />
location due to upsizing <strong>and</strong> has<br />
over 50 employees, which include<br />
many from the college system. ACL<br />
Steel Ltd. has created steel structural<br />
frames for many places including the<br />
Home Depot, Walmart, the Future<br />
Shop <strong>and</strong> the <strong>Conestoga</strong> <strong>College</strong> “E<br />
wing” addition. Paul’s daughter,<br />
Lindsay, is a recent graduate of the<br />
Public Relations program <strong>and</strong> a<br />
recipient of the “Welcome Home<br />
Award”. The award is offered to<br />
students with parents who are<br />
graduates of <strong>Conestoga</strong>. Paul is<br />
proud of his family connection to<br />
the school <strong>and</strong> is very grateful for<br />
the education he received<br />
throughout his three years at<br />
<strong>Conestoga</strong>. Paul Seibel is another<br />
true example of a <strong>Conestoga</strong><br />
alumnus succeeding in the<br />
workforce <strong>and</strong> contributing back to<br />
the community they cherish.<br />
The Ontario Government has just announced that it will match all donations to endowed student<br />
bursaries in Ontario <strong>College</strong>s. The match is 1 - 1, <strong>and</strong> in some cases maybe 3 - 1! For more details,<br />
please contact Ingrid Town at itown@conestogac.on.ca or Beatriu Canet at bcanet@conestogac.on.ca
In 1980, Steve Tangney completed his<br />
apprenticeship at <strong>Conestoga</strong> as an<br />
Automotive Service Technician. In<br />
September this year, he began<br />
employment as an Education Officer<br />
with the Ministry of Education.<br />
Amazing what can be achieved when<br />
an individual demonstrates an<br />
unwavering commitment to on-going<br />
professional development <strong>and</strong><br />
community service.<br />
Steve is a self-effacing fellow who<br />
has progressed through a myriad of<br />
interesting roles since beginning in a<br />
full-time position as an auto<br />
mechanic. Initially, he worked at<br />
Epoch’s Garage in Kenilworth, next<br />
in Toronto at McBride’s Delivery,<br />
then at Arthur Chrysler Plymouth. As<br />
a licensed tradesperson, Steve<br />
discovered he enjoyed working with<br />
apprentices <strong>and</strong> this led to the next<br />
step in his professional development.<br />
In 1988/89, Steve spent a year at<br />
Althouse Teacher’s <strong>College</strong>, University<br />
of Western Ontario to qualify as a<br />
secondary school technological<br />
studies teacher. In addition to<br />
Journeymen <strong>and</strong> teaching credentials,<br />
Steve now holds a Bachelor of Arts in<br />
Adult Studies from Brock University,<br />
a Diploma of Education in<br />
Technological Education with an<br />
Honours Technological Studies<br />
Specialist designation from the<br />
University of Western Ontario.<br />
Steve discovered he enjoyed working<br />
with apprentices <strong>and</strong> this led to the<br />
next step in his professional<br />
development.<br />
These qualifications are only a few<br />
among the list of the additional<br />
qualifications he has acquired over<br />
the years. As well, Steve is affiliated<br />
with several professional<br />
organizations which support<br />
technological education, co-operative<br />
education, school guidance<br />
counsellors <strong>and</strong> teachers’ professional<br />
development. It is clear that Steve has<br />
demonstrated dedication to lifelong<br />
learning <strong>and</strong> the value of education<br />
that began with his apprenticeship<br />
<strong>and</strong> that has moved full speed ahead<br />
since then.<br />
Upon graduation from teacher’s<br />
Grad Profile<br />
Beyond an Apprenticeship<br />
by Lynne Kattenhorn*<br />
Steve Tangney, 2004 Alumnus of Distinction<br />
Award Recipient<br />
college, Steve’s first position was one<br />
year spent as a secondary school<br />
teacher at Galt Collegiate where he<br />
taught not only Transportation<br />
Technology but Construction<br />
Technology, as well. In 1990, Steve<br />
joined the Waterloo Catholic District<br />
School Board where he spent the<br />
next fifteen years. His first position<br />
was with St. Mary’s High School <strong>and</strong><br />
here he began his involvement with<br />
co-operative education. His<br />
responsibilities included marketing<br />
the program, setting up suitable<br />
workplaces for students in grades<br />
eleven <strong>and</strong> twelve <strong>and</strong> visiting each<br />
student during the course of the coop<br />
work term. Steve enjoyed<br />
witnessing the students’ success in<br />
the workplace <strong>and</strong> this led to<br />
involvement with the Ontario Youth<br />
Apprenticeship Program (OYAP). In<br />
1998, Steve’s role focused on OYAP<br />
activities full-time.<br />
In 2002 Steve took on a new<br />
challenge at the WCDSB, as a<br />
program consultant for Guidance,<br />
Co-operative Education <strong>and</strong><br />
Technological Education. His<br />
enthusiasm was evident as he<br />
described the challenges around<br />
balancing the needs of the guidance,<br />
technology <strong>and</strong> co-op subject areas.<br />
In 2004, the provincial government<br />
allocated 45 million dollars for<br />
equipment renewal in secondary<br />
Technological Education programs.<br />
Steve worked with school program<br />
heads to up-date inventory, devise<br />
equipment st<strong>and</strong>ard lists <strong>and</strong> develop<br />
priorities in the nine subject areas<br />
that include Transportation,<br />
Construction, Communications,<br />
Technological Design, Manufacturing,<br />
Hospitality, Health <strong>and</strong> Personal<br />
Services, Computer Engineering <strong>and</strong><br />
Computer <strong>and</strong> Information Sciences.<br />
Steve quickly realized how important<br />
it is to liaise with all community<br />
partners to help create successful <strong>and</strong><br />
sustainable programs for our<br />
secondary students. The Waterloo<br />
Region is blessed with people <strong>and</strong><br />
organizations willing to assist with<br />
this endeavour <strong>and</strong> <strong>Conestoga</strong> is a<br />
great example of this generosity.<br />
Examples of this support are industry<br />
student awards such as the Toyota<br />
Motor Manufacturing Company –<br />
Motive Power Award of Excellence,<br />
the Linamar Corporation – Precision<br />
<strong>and</strong> Tooling Award of Excellence<br />
<strong>and</strong> the L<strong>and</strong>scape Ontario –<br />
Waterloo Chapter, Horticulture<br />
Technician Scholarship. Another<br />
achievement was the creation of the<br />
Motive Power <strong>and</strong> Precision<br />
Machining Articulation Agreements<br />
with <strong>Conestoga</strong> <strong>and</strong> the Ministry of<br />
Training <strong>College</strong>s <strong>and</strong> Universities.<br />
“I hope I can make a difference by<br />
improving curriculum for students. To<br />
me, the project is about students.”<br />
His current secondment to the<br />
Ministry of Education is to support a<br />
review <strong>and</strong> revision of the<br />
Technological Education 9-12<br />
curriculum. Steve acknowledges this<br />
new role will be a challenge, but he<br />
is pleased with the opportunities<br />
presented. “I hope I can make a<br />
difference by improving curriculum<br />
for students. To me, the project is<br />
about students.” This is the laudable<br />
attitude that Steve has held from the<br />
day he first graduated <strong>and</strong> began his<br />
multi-faceted career.<br />
When asked what he feels is the<br />
highlight of his varied<br />
accomplishments, Steve generously<br />
gives credit to the many colleagues<br />
<strong>and</strong> friends he has worked with over<br />
the years. Working in partnership<br />
with the two Waterloo Regional<br />
school boards, <strong>Conestoga</strong> <strong>College</strong> of<br />
Technology <strong>and</strong> Advanced Learning,<br />
Connections - winter 2006<br />
7
as well as industry partners has<br />
provided a great deal of satisfaction.<br />
Steve is particularly proud of the way<br />
in which these partnerships reflect<br />
our community. A genuine<br />
achievement cited by Steve is the<br />
Community Home-Build program in<br />
which students are employed on-site<br />
in a real world environment building<br />
a home from foundation to<br />
completion. Steve expressed gratitude<br />
to Reid’s Heritage Homes <strong>and</strong><br />
Gr<strong>and</strong>view Homes for enriching this<br />
worthy program as once again it is<br />
the students that benefit.<br />
“...teachers have a moral responsibility<br />
to use multiple teaching strategies that<br />
address the differentiated learning<br />
needs of children, adolescents <strong>and</strong><br />
adults.”<br />
Steve has somehow found time to<br />
participate <strong>and</strong> lead a diverse array of<br />
community committees during his<br />
career in education. While too many<br />
to mention here, a few notable,<br />
recent contributions to his community<br />
include Chairing the Gr<strong>and</strong><br />
Connections - School/<strong>College</strong> /Work<br />
Initiative (2004 – 2005), Co-Chairing<br />
the Waterloo Regional Technological<br />
Skills Competition Steering Committee<br />
(1998 – 2005) <strong>and</strong> Co-Chairing the<br />
Co-terminous Directions Partnership<br />
Committee (2002 – 2005).<br />
In his volunteer role with Skills<br />
Canada Ontario, Steve has supported<br />
both school, regional <strong>and</strong> provincial<br />
competitions. Mentoring students <strong>and</strong><br />
organizing competition logistics with<br />
the school board <strong>and</strong> <strong>Conestoga</strong><br />
where the regional competitions are<br />
held each year are the two most<br />
satisfying aspects of this volunteer<br />
commitment. Steve has every reason<br />
8 Connections - winter 2006<br />
Grad Profile<br />
to be proud of the success of this<br />
program as the Waterloo Regional<br />
Competition involves 400 to 500<br />
students annually <strong>and</strong> is larger than<br />
any provincial competition other than<br />
the Ontario event. Leisa Cronsberry,<br />
Liaison Officer at <strong>Conestoga</strong> <strong>College</strong><br />
has worked closely with Steve to<br />
ensure Regional Skills competition<br />
day runs smoothly. She says her<br />
favourite Steve quote is, “this is the<br />
best one ever.” This statement is<br />
something the team would enjoy a<br />
chuckle over as it is said each <strong>and</strong><br />
every year. It exemplifies the positive<br />
approach Steve consistently takes in<br />
all his undertakings.<br />
Steve is committed to a personal<br />
philosophy of teaching <strong>and</strong> learning<br />
that encompasses basic tenets such<br />
as, “all children, adolescents <strong>and</strong><br />
adults can learn <strong>and</strong> have an equal<br />
right to the best learning opportunity<br />
our society can provide, <strong>and</strong> further<br />
that they have multiple intelligences<br />
<strong>and</strong> learning styles that all are equally<br />
valid”. He believes that teachers must<br />
first underst<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> value their own<br />
intelligences <strong>and</strong> learning style before<br />
they can address these in their<br />
students <strong>and</strong> that teachers have a<br />
moral responsibility to use multiple<br />
teaching strategies that address the<br />
differentiated learning needs of<br />
children, adolescents <strong>and</strong> adults. Very<br />
importantly, Steve recognizes that<br />
“teachers should not teach in<br />
isolation but rather they should<br />
endeavour to work with colleagues<br />
<strong>and</strong> the community in ‘Professional<br />
Learning Teams’ to improve student<br />
learning <strong>and</strong> thus their teaching skills<br />
<strong>and</strong> abilities.”<br />
An apprenticeship program is an<br />
excellent base for anyone, Steve<br />
asserts. “It allowed me a lot of<br />
opportunities <strong>and</strong> it is something I<br />
The <strong>Alumni</strong> Association of <strong>Conestoga</strong> presents the<br />
Welcome Home Award<br />
for students beginning their first year in 2006<br />
In order to be eligible:<br />
• you must be enrolled in a diploma or certificate program<br />
• at least one parent must be an Alumnus of <strong>Conestoga</strong><br />
Awards will be distributed at the Association’s Annual General Meeting in November.<br />
For more information, contact Monica Himmelman at<br />
519-748-5220 ext. 3459 or email mhimmelman@conestogac.on.ca.<br />
could always go back to should I<br />
wish to change directions once<br />
again.” He feels the new melding of<br />
Technician <strong>and</strong> Apprenticeship<br />
programs in the Co-op Diploma<br />
Apprenticeship Program will be an<br />
excellent additional option for young<br />
people interested in entering a trade.<br />
It can be very frustrating for guidance<br />
counselors attempting to help<br />
students <strong>and</strong> their parents gain<br />
entrance into an apprenticeship. This<br />
new program opens doors that didn’t<br />
exist before <strong>and</strong> everyone benefits<br />
when barriers are reduced for our<br />
youth.<br />
On a personal note, Steve <strong>and</strong> his<br />
wife Angela have three daughters,<br />
Andrea, 17, Bayley, 16 <strong>and</strong> Gabriella,<br />
9. All three girls are active in sports<br />
<strong>and</strong> Steve who is very familyoriented,<br />
has enjoyed coaching minor<br />
hockey <strong>and</strong> lacrosse, as they<br />
participate on a myriad of teams. An<br />
avid sports fan himself, Steve enjoys<br />
keeping up with his favourite teams,<br />
as well as participating on both<br />
recreational <strong>and</strong> competitive curling<br />
teams.<br />
“career paths are not always linear”.<br />
He encourages students to follow their<br />
passions...”<br />
If Steve were to offer young people<br />
advice it would be that “career paths<br />
are not always linear”. He<br />
encourages students to follow their<br />
passions, as the most important<br />
factor in success is to like what you<br />
do. All the rest will fall into place.<br />
What is next for this hardworking<br />
<strong>and</strong> accomplished gentleman is hard<br />
to say, but whatever it may be, there<br />
is not doubt it will be done not well,<br />
but very well!
Ambulance <strong>and</strong><br />
Emergency Care<br />
1991<br />
Marion Taylor married<br />
Robert Gilmar, an OPP<br />
officer, on May 17, 2002.<br />
They have a daughter,<br />
Mariah Taylor Riley Gilmar,<br />
born June 29, 2004.<br />
Marion is a full-time<br />
paramedic with Huron<br />
County <strong>and</strong> works on a<br />
casual basis as a registered<br />
nurse in the emergency<br />
department at University<br />
Hospital, London.<br />
Business<br />
Administration –<br />
Accounting<br />
1991<br />
Jeff Sutton says hello to all<br />
his fellow accounting grads<br />
of 1991. “After two years<br />
in India, I returned to<br />
Kazakhstan in June 2004 to<br />
take up a senior<br />
management position with<br />
a UK-based marine services<br />
company operating in the<br />
Caspian Sea area.”<br />
2004<br />
Lindsay Riggin writes, “I<br />
have recently graduated<br />
from Lakehead University<br />
with a B. Admin., <strong>and</strong> I am<br />
pursuing my CA<br />
designation. Couldn't have<br />
done it without the support<br />
of <strong>Conestoga</strong> <strong>College</strong>!!!!!!”<br />
Business<br />
Administration –<br />
Management Studies<br />
1998<br />
Grape Vine<br />
Heard it Through the Grapevine<br />
Keeping in touch with us will keep you in touch with your classmates! Send us an update <strong>and</strong> it will be included in<br />
the next issue of Connections.<br />
To protect the privacy of our alumni, we do not publish addresses. If you want a message forwarded, we will<br />
forward mail on your behalf. Please call 519-748-5220, ext 3463 or email mwilliams@conestogac.on.ca <strong>and</strong> we will<br />
connect you. Thank-you to all those who have sent in updates. Due to space availability, some messages may be<br />
edited in order to maximize feedback from all <strong>Alumni</strong> Members.<br />
Jeff Pacosz leaves this<br />
message: “Hi to the class<br />
of ’88. Hope everyone is<br />
doing fine! I have changed<br />
careers <strong>and</strong> am now selling<br />
real estate. If anyone needs<br />
help buying or selling a<br />
home, please call. I would<br />
love to hear from you!”<br />
2001<br />
Vicky Oliver (Katsios)<br />
married on October 5, 2003<br />
<strong>and</strong> had a little boy, Robert<br />
Thomas, born on<br />
December 15, 2004.<br />
Do you have an<br />
Announcement for Grapevine?<br />
Contact Development & <strong>Alumni</strong> by<br />
April 30, 2006 for inclusion in your next<br />
issue of Connections.<br />
Business<br />
Administration –<br />
Marketing<br />
1991<br />
From Brian Longmire: “Yup<br />
things are going great for<br />
Darlene <strong>and</strong> I, married 13<br />
years now <strong>and</strong> have three<br />
great kids plus a great<br />
foster daughter. I do enjoy<br />
our visits <strong>and</strong> tubs with<br />
Whiting <strong>and</strong> Jackie. Where<br />
is everyone else???”<br />
2003<br />
Best wishes to Tara Vincar<br />
<strong>and</strong> Tim Campbell, who<br />
were married on October<br />
8th, 2005.<br />
Business<br />
Administration –<br />
Materials Management<br />
1982<br />
Andy <strong>and</strong> Teresa (Weston)<br />
Munro (Early Childhood<br />
Education 1998 & Resource<br />
Teacher Program 1999) are<br />
the proud parents of Bruce<br />
Weston Munro born on July<br />
18,2005. Bruce is the<br />
perfect gift in celebration of<br />
their 22nd anniversary on<br />
Sept 24, 2005. Andy, Teresa<br />
<strong>and</strong> Bruce reside in<br />
Stratford , Ontario. Andy<br />
works at TMMC in<br />
Cambridge <strong>and</strong> Teresa is on<br />
maternity leave from Anne<br />
Hathaway Day Care,<br />
Stratford<br />
1992<br />
Mosetsanagape (Mabe) <strong>and</strong><br />
Modise Koofhethile have<br />
now been married for<br />
seven years. They are<br />
currently living in<br />
Botswana in Southern<br />
Africa, <strong>and</strong> would be<br />
interested to hear from<br />
their ex classmates who<br />
graduated in 1992 at the<br />
Guelph Campus. If you<br />
would like to get in touch<br />
with Mosetsanagape <strong>and</strong><br />
Modise, contact Margie in<br />
<strong>Alumni</strong> Services at<br />
mwilliams@conestogac.on.ca<br />
2001<br />
Stephen <strong>and</strong> Michelle Kauk<br />
are happy to announce<br />
their first wedding<br />
anniversary on October 2,<br />
2005. Stephen would like<br />
to hear from anybody who<br />
he went to college with<br />
<strong>and</strong> can be reached at<br />
stkauk@yahoo.com.<br />
Career Development<br />
Practitioner<br />
2003<br />
Hazel Courtney sent this<br />
message, “I am doing<br />
contract work for the<br />
Working for Work<br />
Employment Office as well<br />
as Business Advisory<br />
Services of Ontario <strong>and</strong> the<br />
Ontario Disability Support<br />
Program. My business<br />
name is Pathways<br />
Consulting Service.”<br />
Connections - winter 2006<br />
9
Civil Engineering<br />
Technology<br />
1985<br />
Andy Telfer sent this<br />
update: “Over the past ten<br />
years I have worked<br />
mainly for non-profits <strong>and</strong><br />
charities.<br />
I volunteer a lot, but most<br />
of my paid work has been<br />
in recycling <strong>and</strong> waste<br />
reduction. A few highlights:<br />
I hosted the Irish<br />
Environmental Protection<br />
Agency in a Best Practices<br />
tour of recycling <strong>and</strong><br />
composting facilities in the<br />
Vancouver Area. The United<br />
Nations Environment<br />
Program's International<br />
Children's Conference on<br />
the Environment hired me<br />
as their Conference<br />
Greening Manager. Recently,<br />
my diploma played a key<br />
factor in my work with<br />
planning the rehabilitation<br />
of a river estuary on<br />
Vancouver Isl<strong>and</strong>. I have<br />
now worked for two L<strong>and</strong><br />
Trusts, agencies that protect<br />
natural special places. My<br />
engineering <strong>and</strong> surveying<br />
background contributed<br />
significantly to my<br />
underst<strong>and</strong>ing of the issues<br />
that many threatened areas<br />
face. In fact, I recently<br />
chaired a stormwater<br />
management planning<br />
committee for the City of<br />
Campbell River. This work<br />
may sound gr<strong>and</strong>iose, but<br />
really I'm a regular guy with<br />
a young family who<br />
happens to have graduated<br />
from <strong>Conestoga</strong> <strong>College</strong>.<br />
Anyone who follows their<br />
heart <strong>and</strong> their dreams can<br />
encounter similar or even<br />
more amazing experiences.<br />
Outside of work <strong>and</strong><br />
volunteerism, I still play<br />
hockey, hike, now<br />
compete in triathlons <strong>and</strong><br />
sing in a local choir.”<br />
10 Connections - winter 2006<br />
Computer<br />
Programmer/Analyst<br />
2004<br />
Congratulations to Medardo<br />
Canada. He married,<br />
bought a house <strong>and</strong> now<br />
he <strong>and</strong> his wife are<br />
expecting their first child.<br />
Construction<br />
Engineering<br />
Technology<br />
1994<br />
Mike Mosdell is attending<br />
the Ontario Institute for<br />
Studies in Education at the<br />
University of Toronto.<br />
Early Childhood<br />
Education<br />
Grape Vine<br />
1977<br />
Lynn Crowder writes, “Life<br />
is good for me. I am<br />
celebrating 25 years of<br />
marriage this year.<br />
Currently, I have my own<br />
counseling practice in<br />
Windsor, working through<br />
an EAP program with<br />
Daimler Chrysler. My<br />
clients are families,<br />
individuals <strong>and</strong> of course,<br />
kids. I finished my play<br />
therapy training a couple of<br />
years ago, <strong>and</strong> moved away<br />
from the bereavement<br />
focus. I had developed the<br />
children's bereavement<br />
program for the Canadian<br />
Mental Health Association<br />
in Windsor, called the Kid's<br />
Griefworks <strong>and</strong> operated<br />
that program for five years.”<br />
Lynda (nee Houle) <strong>and</strong><br />
Mike Roy were married<br />
April 16,2005 in Kitchener<br />
Wedding Chapel. Lynda is<br />
currently working at<br />
Winston Park YMCA in the<br />
Toddler Room. Mike is<br />
employed by Gr<strong>and</strong> River<br />
Transit. They have a<br />
combined family of six <strong>and</strong><br />
one gr<strong>and</strong>child (22<br />
months).<br />
1997<br />
Diana (Crawford) <strong>and</strong><br />
James Ings delivered a<br />
healthy baby girl (Holly<br />
Mary Ann) December 18th<br />
2002.<br />
2000<br />
From Michelle Bishop<br />
(Brown): “I was married in<br />
Aug. 2000 after graduation,<br />
<strong>and</strong> had my son, Kaeden<br />
in Sept. 2001. We also<br />
have a daughter now, Ellia,<br />
who was born Aug. 2003.<br />
I'm running a small home<br />
daycare.”<br />
Kelly Hendry (Firth)<br />
announces, “Tyson Liam<br />
was born May 12, 2005<br />
weighting 8lbs 10oz. I'm<br />
now a mom of two healthy<br />
boys. Wanted to say hi to<br />
the class of 1999. Especially<br />
to Kelly <strong>and</strong> Am<strong>and</strong>a!! Best<br />
wishes to everyone.”<br />
2002<br />
Wendy Cuthbert sent us this<br />
note: “Upon graduating, I<br />
worked in several on-call<br />
positions at local day care<br />
centres. I’ve been working<br />
at Brantwood Centre in<br />
Brantford as a permanent<br />
part-time counselor for the<br />
last 3 years. I work with<br />
adults with physical <strong>and</strong><br />
mental challenges in a<br />
group home setting. I also<br />
work part-time at<br />
Lansdowne Children’s<br />
Centre as a support worker.<br />
I am getting married<br />
January 2006 in Mexico. I<br />
met my fiancé Kirk in my<br />
hometown of Brantford,<br />
where we currently reside.<br />
I’d like to hear what other<br />
graduates of ECE 2002 are<br />
up to these days. A big<br />
“Hi” to Janeth Coll <strong>and</strong><br />
Am<strong>and</strong>a Beacock! I still<br />
think about all of you.<br />
Hope to hear from you<br />
soon!”<br />
2005<br />
Congratulations to Kerri<br />
Wood who writes, “In the<br />
next few months I am<br />
finally going to become an<br />
aunt.”<br />
Early Childhood<br />
Education Resource<br />
Teacher<br />
2000<br />
Best wishes to Carol<br />
Guernsey on her marriage<br />
to Alan Keillor on<br />
September 16, 2005 in<br />
Coburg, Ontario. The<br />
happy couple<br />
honeymooned in Scotl<strong>and</strong><br />
<strong>and</strong> will reside in KW<br />
following their return.<br />
Educational Assistant<br />
1995<br />
Linda Dale (Brown) writes:<br />
“David <strong>and</strong> I were married<br />
in a backyard ceremony on<br />
July 9, 2005 – a second<br />
marriage for both of us.<br />
Among those attending<br />
were our seven children<br />
<strong>and</strong> two gr<strong>and</strong>children.”<br />
General Arts &<br />
Science<br />
1994<br />
From Alicia Henriquez:<br />
“After graduating from<br />
<strong>Conestoga</strong> <strong>College</strong>, I began<br />
my studies at Queen's<br />
University <strong>and</strong> graduated in
1999. I now have a<br />
bachelor's degree in<br />
Nursing Science, <strong>and</strong> am<br />
working as a Public Health<br />
Nurse in the health<br />
department at a the region<br />
of Peel in Mississauga.”<br />
General Business<br />
1992<br />
Debbie (Jones) Anderson<br />
would enjoy talking to<br />
former classmates. Debbie<br />
<strong>and</strong> her husb<strong>and</strong> Chad<br />
(married Feb. 1993) own<br />
<strong>and</strong> operate 4 farms in<br />
Mooretown. They have 3<br />
kids Kaitlynn - 11, Daniel -<br />
9, <strong>and</strong> Kendyl Grace - 6. In<br />
her spare time Debbie<br />
works at the gift store she<br />
owns in Petrolia, Ontario.<br />
You can reach Debbie at<br />
d<strong>and</strong>erso@rivernet.net<br />
2000<br />
Daniela MacDonald<br />
(Valenzuela) married Colin<br />
MacDonald on June 3, 2005.<br />
They have a “beautiful <strong>and</strong><br />
energetic” 3 year old son,<br />
Nicholas. Daniela works in<br />
individual operations at<br />
Sunlife Financial.<br />
Graphic Design<br />
1982<br />
Diane Ransome writes:<br />
“Graphic Technician<br />
Program Grads! Are there<br />
any former classmates that<br />
have made the move to the<br />
west coast? I'd like to look<br />
them up.”<br />
Want to get in touch with<br />
Diane? Just email<br />
mwilliams@conestogac.on.ca<br />
<strong>and</strong> we’ll pass along your<br />
message.<br />
1994<br />
Sally Van Paemel started her<br />
own business 2 years ago.<br />
She recently chaired the<br />
London Y Women of<br />
Excellence Awards, held on<br />
May 3rd. There were 1100<br />
people in attendance <strong>and</strong><br />
over $100,000 was raised.<br />
The proceeds this year go<br />
to the London Y<br />
Community School Program<br />
- which provides<br />
programming that enhances<br />
literacy <strong>and</strong> social skills to<br />
youth <strong>and</strong> their parents in<br />
various London schools.<br />
Human Resources<br />
Management<br />
Grape Vine<br />
2003<br />
Congratulations to Bonnie<br />
Bishop (St. Gelais) who<br />
married Dr. William Bishop<br />
on August 23, 2005 at the<br />
Vinel<strong>and</strong> Estates Winery,<br />
surrounded by family <strong>and</strong><br />
friends. In September,<br />
Bonnie began a new<br />
position at the University<br />
of Waterloo.<br />
Journalism – Print &<br />
Broadcast<br />
“Hi former journalism<br />
students <strong>and</strong> those who<br />
were on Spoke Staff! Yes,<br />
Don Breen, the Writing<br />
Machine is still around, still<br />
writing, but mainly<br />
involved with the<br />
disabled.”<br />
1971<br />
Dave De Jong <strong>and</strong> his wife<br />
Maureen (nee Corcoran,<br />
Legal Secretary, 1970),<br />
celebrated their 35th<br />
anniversary this year with<br />
an open house attended by<br />
some friends from<br />
<strong>Conestoga</strong> days. <strong>Conestoga</strong><br />
grads attending the open<br />
house were Mary Simpson<br />
(Social Services, '71), one of<br />
Maureen's bridesmaids, <strong>and</strong><br />
Janice Horvath (nee Heath,<br />
Social Services '70). Dave<br />
writes, “We still keep in<br />
touch with a number of our<br />
fellow grads on a semiregular<br />
basis, gathering at<br />
each other's homes for<br />
special occasions or meeting<br />
at events such as<br />
Oktoberfest.”<br />
1990<br />
Lisa Shiels-Funston would<br />
like to contact Trina Eder.<br />
If you’re out there Trina<br />
contact the <strong>Alumni</strong> Services<br />
office <strong>and</strong> we’ll make sure<br />
you <strong>and</strong> Lisa get in touch!<br />
Law & Security<br />
Administration<br />
1998<br />
Maureen says hello to her<br />
fellow LASA grads of 1998.<br />
“I’m doing great, living in<br />
Well<strong>and</strong> with my commonlaw<br />
husb<strong>and</strong>, dog <strong>and</strong> two<br />
cats. I now work as a<br />
commercial broker in a<br />
large firm in St. Catharines<br />
after being a 911 operator<br />
for a few years in both<br />
Chatham <strong>and</strong> Niagara. I<br />
hope everyone who was in<br />
my LASA program, along<br />
with anyone who lived in<br />
the Doon residence 96-98<br />
(especially my old<br />
roommate Jessica Paluch)<br />
will call the <strong>Alumni</strong> office<br />
to get my email <strong>and</strong> get<br />
back in touch!”<br />
Legal Secretary<br />
1976<br />
Rosemary Barton (Kornett)<br />
currently lives in Florida<br />
<strong>and</strong> would love to travel<br />
home for a reunion. If<br />
anyone is planning a<br />
reunion please contact the<br />
<strong>Alumni</strong> office, <strong>and</strong> we’ll<br />
put you in touch with<br />
Rosemary.<br />
1979<br />
Maria McDougall<br />
(Carvalho) <strong>and</strong> her<br />
husb<strong>and</strong> R<strong>and</strong>y (Hydraulic<br />
& Pneumatics 1980) were<br />
married in April 1981.<br />
They have two children,<br />
Sarah, 23 <strong>and</strong> Joshua 19.<br />
Nursing<br />
1975<br />
Jane Hamilton Wilson has<br />
recently accepted a faculty<br />
position at <strong>Conestoga</strong><br />
<strong>College</strong>, Doon Campus to<br />
teach in the Collaborative<br />
MacMaster Mohawk<br />
<strong>Conestoga</strong> BScN program.<br />
She has been working as a<br />
Family Educator on an<br />
outpatient team<br />
specializing in early<br />
intervention for psychosis<br />
since completing her MHSc<br />
degree in 1990. Jane is<br />
presently a Ph.D. c<strong>and</strong>idate<br />
in the School of Graduate<br />
Studies at University of<br />
Alberta.<br />
1987<br />
Cheryl Denise Miller<br />
(Bauman) is currently living<br />
in Philippi, West Virginia<br />
where she works as a nurse<br />
at a senior centre. In 2005,<br />
Connections - winter 2006<br />
11
a collection of her poetry, “I<br />
Saw God Dancing”, was<br />
published by DreamSeeker<br />
Books <strong>and</strong> is described as<br />
follows: “The narrative<br />
poetry of Cheryl Denise<br />
gathers together her<br />
Canadian Mennonite roots,<br />
rural life <strong>and</strong> her<br />
attachment to the people<br />
<strong>and</strong> mountains of West<br />
Virginia. Her poetry is rich<br />
in concrete detail <strong>and</strong> many<br />
poems contain a storytelling<br />
quality. Subjects range from<br />
sheep farming to lusts <strong>and</strong><br />
longings, biblical women,<br />
legs, old lovers <strong>and</strong><br />
laundromats. Often<br />
humorous, she penetrates<br />
to the deep current of<br />
human relationship.”<br />
1992<br />
Fran Brunskill writes:<br />
“Hello classmates! I have<br />
moved from Mississauga to<br />
Surrey, BC. For the latest,<br />
visit our website at<br />
www.millenicom.com/john<br />
brunskill”<br />
Police Foundations<br />
2001<br />
Jordana Zona was married<br />
to Cst. Chris McHugh<br />
(graduate of Police<br />
Foundations 2000) on July<br />
17, 2004. They now reside<br />
in Georgetown, where<br />
Chris works for Peel<br />
Regional Police.<br />
Pre-Service Firefighter<br />
2003<br />
A Wedding!! On July 9,<br />
2005, Todd MacDonald <strong>and</strong><br />
Am<strong>and</strong>a Martin (Business<br />
Administration-Accounting<br />
2004) tied the knot! The<br />
MacDonalds are living in<br />
12 Connections - winter 2006<br />
Grape <strong>Views</strong><br />
Barrie, both working, using<br />
the education they received<br />
from <strong>Conestoga</strong>.<br />
Recreation Leadership<br />
1995<br />
From Brad Crawford: Hola<br />
to all of my old classmates<br />
<strong>and</strong> “Lerning Unet<br />
Advysers”! In 2002, my<br />
face almost broke (such a<br />
big smile) when I married<br />
Mari Carmen in Mexico<br />
City. We lived in Mexico<br />
for 2 years before coming<br />
back to Canada. October<br />
26, 2004 became the best<br />
day of our lives when our<br />
son Jeronimo was born.<br />
We have just bought a<br />
house in North Vancouver<br />
<strong>and</strong> are excited about the<br />
arrival of our next child in<br />
January.<br />
On the employment front, I<br />
have finally settled into<br />
Canadian Outdoor<br />
Adventures as the<br />
Operations Manager. Since<br />
graduation, I've been doing<br />
a bit of globetrotting as a<br />
whitewater raft/kayak<br />
professional <strong>and</strong> finally have<br />
decided that it's something<br />
saved for the weekends. If<br />
anyone is coming out to the<br />
west coast make sure you<br />
give us a ring.<br />
Social Services<br />
1998<br />
Andrea Robinson is the<br />
proud gr<strong>and</strong>mother of<br />
Abigail Hannah Robinson<br />
born September 8, 2003.<br />
2000<br />
S<strong>and</strong>ra Murray sends this<br />
note: “Time has flown <strong>and</strong><br />
it seems like yesterday that<br />
we graduated <strong>and</strong> said we<br />
would all stay in touch. I<br />
am still employed at my<br />
final placement though the<br />
name has changed. Darn<br />
that Dick Parker for telling<br />
me I needed to round out<br />
my experiences! It has<br />
been six years since I was<br />
a student at the Perth CAS<br />
<strong>and</strong> looking back...who<br />
knew! I still love my job as<br />
a protection worker. Oh,<br />
btw I have another<br />
gr<strong>and</strong>child to boot! I hope<br />
that my fellow classmates<br />
are doing well also! I miss<br />
our fun times! Email me at<br />
smurrayba@yahoo.ca Take<br />
care all xo”<br />
2004<br />
Shannon Joseph (Kempel)<br />
was married on July 16th,<br />
2005. She writes, “It was a<br />
wedding to remember, we<br />
were supposed to get<br />
married outside but it<br />
rained <strong>and</strong> the power went<br />
out twice, once during my<br />
husb<strong>and</strong>’s vows, then<br />
during mine. Everyone tells<br />
me they will never forget<br />
our wedding.”<br />
Systems Analyst<br />
2003<br />
Mukul Padhya says, “Hello<br />
to Norbert <strong>and</strong> everybody!<br />
Hope all of you are doing<br />
great <strong>and</strong> keep up the<br />
good work. Good luck!”<br />
Welding Engineering<br />
Technician<br />
1994<br />
Mark Connely was married<br />
Feb 14, 2004 to Christina.<br />
“We are expecting a little<br />
bundle of joy in October.<br />
I am currently working<br />
around the corner from the<br />
<strong>College</strong> at Tri County<br />
Welding Supplies.”<br />
Men’s Outdoor <strong>Alumni</strong> Varsity Soccer Team<br />
Calling all Varsity <strong>Alumni</strong>!<br />
Duane Shadd <strong>and</strong> Marlene Ford of the Rec Centre are updating their Varsity team<br />
lists. If you were a member of a Varsity team, please contact us in the <strong>Alumni</strong><br />
Services office to let us know. Email mwilliams@conestogac.on.ca with your name,<br />
address, year <strong>and</strong> program <strong>and</strong> sport. Please let your team members know we’re<br />
looking for them!
Lost Sheep<br />
We’ve Lost Connection with Our <strong>Alumni</strong><br />
Help us find our lost alumni! Do you know the whereabouts of any of these lost sheep?<br />
Please ask them to contact the <strong>Alumni</strong> office at 519-748-5220, ext. 3463 or update their<br />
information on the <strong>Alumni</strong> section of our Web site at www.conestogac.on.ca.<br />
Graphic Design<br />
1971 Bruce Coxon<br />
Alan Harvie<br />
1976 Erick Baird<br />
Meriam Clarke<br />
(Bendrihem)<br />
Irene Olsen (Niehus)<br />
1977 Astrida Bohm<br />
Philip Brazeau<br />
Robert Capling<br />
Laura Kocher<br />
Susan Lahosky<br />
Marcia McDougall<br />
Yvonne Schaffer<br />
Frank Schepens<br />
1978 Cameron Bender<br />
William Hartley<br />
Caroline Jarvis<br />
Barbara Pearn<br />
Deborah R<strong>and</strong>all<br />
Cheryl Starr<br />
Elaine Wickie<br />
1979 Christine Wake<br />
Melinda Gurney<br />
Philip White<br />
1981 Kathy Clerk<br />
Christopher Corke<br />
Gwen Gascho<br />
Roger Gremo<br />
Blaine Grouette<br />
Hilrita Hoekstra<br />
Steven Kotan<br />
Monica Liedtke<br />
Brenda MacKenzie<br />
Cindy Mark<br />
Carmela Mason<br />
Joseph McGuinness<br />
Darlene Miller<br />
Rosemary Pagnan<br />
Jennifer Totzke<br />
Gayle Westman<br />
Sahron Zaniewski<br />
1982 Julia Archer<br />
Keith Batey<br />
Barbara Baugart<br />
Melissa Beechey<br />
Peter Bradford<br />
Kenneth Clements<br />
Joseph Dwyer<br />
Julie Falu<br />
Marie Feenstra<br />
Paul Foster<br />
Marion Held<br />
Kimberley Higgins<br />
Diane Hook<br />
Kelly Howden<br />
Richard Jurevicius<br />
Judith McMillan<br />
Paula McNally<br />
Patti O’Rourke<br />
Brian Price<br />
Stephen Price<br />
Ella Purdon<br />
Heather Robertson<br />
1983 Brian Dolinski<br />
Sherri Drew<br />
Sharon Erhardt<br />
Laurel Howald<br />
Doris Kress<br />
Jan McNeill<br />
Nancy Nevala<br />
Laura Schmiedendorf<br />
Carol Simpson<br />
Gerhild Unny<br />
Wendy Zettle<br />
1984 Meena Boyal<br />
Raymonde Brown<br />
Lina Carpino<br />
Karen Lewis<br />
Shelley McGuire<br />
(Plummer)<br />
Patricia Polo<br />
1986 Norma Bissonnette<br />
Susan Breen (Bass)<br />
Shona Bruce<br />
Carolyn Hanna<br />
Nicole Laurin-McCrae<br />
Sharon Rees<br />
Barbara Salzman<br />
Susan Scherrer<br />
Drew Welsh<br />
Pauline Whyte (Hogbin)<br />
Patricia Wray<br />
1987 Mark Bugdale<br />
Tracy Card (Stalkie)<br />
Sheri DeGraaf<br />
Kelly McCracken<br />
(Hofstetter)<br />
Lori Osinga<br />
Lisa Rundle-Tuckey<br />
Darlene Sauder<br />
1988 Sharon Bauman<br />
Wayne Beker<br />
Jerry Benjamins<br />
Jason Boettger<br />
Suzan Diamante<br />
(Manoochehri)<br />
Toni Henhawk<br />
Kevin Morris<br />
Tracy Siefert (Wilson)<br />
Sharon Zehr<br />
1989 Barbara Becker (Good)<br />
Dave Gowman<br />
Scott King<br />
Richard Klaver<br />
Karim Lalani<br />
Dawn McClintock<br />
Lisa Musclo<br />
Cheryl Reibling<br />
Louise Van Hooydonk<br />
Personal Support<br />
Worker<br />
1998 Pauline Carere (Kuepfer)<br />
Anne Everett<br />
Lisa Farrer<br />
Andrea Golz<br />
Brenda Graf (Strittmatter)<br />
Lorenza Guevara (Gaspar)<br />
Shannon Johnson<br />
Marion Kelly<br />
Beatrice Kiduli (Lokonoi)<br />
Tristyn Laderoute<br />
Jacqueline Lartey (Toney)<br />
Nancy Lashbrook<br />
Marie Lenting<br />
David Losey<br />
Joan Murphy (Threndyle)<br />
Danyelle Orton<br />
Diana Ough<br />
Valencia Parker<br />
(McDonald)<br />
Melodie Remus<br />
Kimberley Schlauch<br />
(Stevenson<br />
2000 Elaine Bregman<br />
Jenny Wilts<br />
2001 Hamdiina Gelani<br />
(Mohiddin)<br />
Shannon Gould<br />
(McClenaghan)<br />
Rachel Hammond<br />
Terry Hynes<br />
Kristine Kraehling<br />
Am<strong>and</strong>a Legge<br />
Ruth Marcus (Lascu)<br />
Criselly Moreno-Garcia<br />
Tricia Morlock<br />
Marjorie Patterson<br />
(Smith)<br />
Virginia Shortt<br />
Netsanet Showarkabh<br />
Sherry Smeltzer<br />
Brenda Vesely<br />
Verna Weber<br />
Jeffrey Whittle<br />
2002 Nicole Bedard<br />
Giselle Chase<br />
Danqun Chen<br />
Judith Coulombe<br />
Vanessa Depeazer<br />
Terri-Lynn Gallagher<br />
Mia Harnett<br />
Zeljka Janjic (Krizan)<br />
Donna Labonte (Blewett)<br />
Angie Lam<br />
Sharina MacPherson<br />
(Drake)<br />
Alysa Litt (Droog)<br />
Hakima Moallim<br />
Tammi Redmond<br />
Kerry Robertson (White)<br />
Kary Robinson<br />
Theresa Sherrin<br />
Debra Ward<br />
Pamela Weston (Auld)<br />
Coralee Young<br />
2003 Elizabeth Baldwin<br />
Melanie Barney<br />
Heather Campbell<br />
Corinne Dagenais<br />
Carmel Dietrich<br />
Ann Gerrits<br />
Magorzata Gromek<br />
Melissa Grunert<br />
Judith Henderson<br />
(Whittaker)<br />
Gordana Jovic<br />
Pamela Keating<br />
S<strong>and</strong>ra Nicholas<br />
Katie Nicholson<br />
Brenda Nyveld<br />
Julie Perry<br />
Nadine Peters (Reimer)<br />
Rebecca Schwark<br />
Marie Wilson (North)<br />
Danielle Workman<br />
(Ouellet)<br />
2004 Esther Atemo<br />
Janey Gayman (Wager)<br />
Mary Greulich<br />
Am<strong>and</strong>a Levely<br />
Maryam Naji<br />
Lisa Pavao<br />
Connections - winter 2006<br />
13
Social Services<br />
1970 Jim Armstrong<br />
Loraine Culham (Hamilton)<br />
Denise Gilles (Meyers)<br />
Joan Heard (Davies)<br />
Robert Vanryn<br />
1971 Larry Bloomfield<br />
Kathleen Brubacher<br />
Ruth Ann Campbell (Fuller)<br />
Fidelia Davis<br />
Gordon Schreiber<br />
Mary Simpson<br />
Harry Smith<br />
Paul Smith<br />
John Steinberg<br />
Donna Tonkin (Brewer)<br />
Wayne Travers<br />
Bruce Zinken<br />
1972 Mary Job<br />
Carol Kolohon (Pilgrim)<br />
Andre Lalonde<br />
Harry Milbr<strong>and</strong>t<br />
Gloria Spencer (Shantz)<br />
Grace Stark<br />
1973 Leono Carle-Corbeil<br />
Barbara Erb<br />
Diane Fair<br />
Jane Falconer (Valiee)<br />
Susan Finnie<br />
John Gilbert<br />
Keith Goebel<br />
Irene Gulliver (Reyenga)<br />
Patricia Hogan<br />
Margaret Luck<br />
In Memoriam<br />
14 Connections - winter 2006<br />
Lost Sheep<br />
Deborah Moon<br />
Shirley Morrison<br />
Margareta Ruigrok<br />
Diane Shaver<br />
Helga Tewfik<br />
Catherine Vallee<br />
Lynne Vance (Hart)<br />
1974 Hilde Besser<br />
Catherine Collett<br />
Linda Jacober (Stumpf)<br />
Helga Naguib<br />
Patricia Robinson (McEachern)<br />
Josphine Stark (Marriott)<br />
Mike Weber<br />
1975 Teresa Doyle<br />
Frances Elliott<br />
Mary Fearnall<br />
Lynda Forbes<br />
Gayle Livingston<br />
Carol Mannion<br />
Heather McHugh (Shaw)<br />
Gloria Nafzigar<br />
Heather-Lee Strongitharm<br />
John Thomson<br />
S<strong>and</strong>ra Turner (Palvetzian)<br />
Margaret Yule<br />
Eileen Zarnke<br />
1976 Joan Baigent<br />
Linda Beckman<br />
Maureen Billard (O’Halloran)<br />
Patricia Boshart<br />
Gwendolyn Hout (Cressman)<br />
Faye Janes<br />
Joan Locke<br />
Gloria Nafziger (Kropf)<br />
Valerie Patterson<br />
Lois Schmidt<br />
Barbara Shillinglaw (Penrose)<br />
Wayne Stovell<br />
Charlotte Timmins<br />
Gail Walker<br />
1977 Karen Br<strong>and</strong>on<br />
Annette Campbell<br />
Annette Chan<br />
Helen Croth<br />
Lois Harrison<br />
Daniel Kramer<br />
Sharon Scott<br />
Lynn Shakespeare<br />
Linda Shale<br />
1978 S<strong>and</strong>ra Burgess<br />
Gray Eakins<br />
Ruth Fereiro<br />
Louanne Forwell<br />
Treavor Jones<br />
Cheryl Karr<br />
Nikki Oakley<br />
Linda Prica<br />
Ruth Pletch<br />
Sue Rhem<br />
Violet Waller<br />
1979 Peggy Allen-Winslow<br />
Grace Almeida<br />
Grace Estevan<br />
Joyce Lovett<br />
Gordon MacDonald<br />
Diane Reinhart<br />
Catherine Scherrer<br />
Margaret Turner<br />
In Memoriam information is drawn from a variety of sources including newspaper obituaries <strong>and</strong> personal communications. The brevity of<br />
some entries reflects the limited nature of information received. Due to space constraints, it is not always possible to run full-length obituaries.<br />
Jeremy Atkins – 1997 Computer Programming/Analyst<br />
It is with great sorrow that we announce the sudden passing Jeremy Atkins, on Tuesday, July 26, 2005 in his 31st year. He will be greatly<br />
missed by soul mate, Susan (nee Hardwick); cherished father to Ethan, Connor <strong>and</strong> a precious last gift to be born in December; beloved son<br />
of Paul <strong>and</strong> Elizabeth Atkins. Jeremy was affiliated with the Brantford City Council, the Brantford Heritage Committee, <strong>and</strong> the Brant County<br />
Soccer Preschool Division "B". Jeremy was a Systems Analyst Manager at Economical Insurance Company in Waterloo.<br />
Cheryl Boergers – 1977 Early Childhood Education<br />
Following a lengthy illness, at K-W Health Centre of Gr<strong>and</strong> River Hospital on Sunday, May 29, 2005, age 48 years. Cheryl belonged to St.<br />
Matthew’s Lutheran church <strong>and</strong> had been an Early Childhood Teacher prior to her illness. Beloved wife of Ernest Boergers; loving mother of<br />
Jonathan, Jennifer, Sarah <strong>and</strong> Kathryn.<br />
Judith Weicker (Carter) – 1983 Nursing<br />
After almost a two-year fight against breast cancer, Judy Weicker passed away April 19, 2005. Judy is survived by husb<strong>and</strong> Gerald, children<br />
Kelly Wolfe (Andrew Sabo), Robert Wolfe (Liz), Rebecca Wolfe, Richard Wolfe, Regina Wolfe (D.J. Curtis), Dave Weicker (Tina) <strong>and</strong> Susan<br />
Forgues (Pete). Will be sadly missed by her gr<strong>and</strong>children Destin, Colton, Dakota, Steven, Jessica <strong>and</strong> Kayden <strong>and</strong> her brother John Carter<br />
(Val). <strong>and</strong> their families. Judy was a registered nurse <strong>and</strong> worked at Columbia Forest Long Term Care Facility. She touched a lot of lives with<br />
her love <strong>and</strong> compassion.
Lost Sheep<br />
Membership Has Its Benefits<br />
Ten reasons to keep your address information up-to-date with the Development &<br />
<strong>Alumni</strong> Services Office:<br />
Class Reunions<br />
Free Resumé Critique<br />
Access password to Job Postings<br />
Home, Auto <strong>and</strong> Travel Insurance through<br />
Johnson Insurance Inc.<br />
Discount tickets to theme parks <strong>and</strong> special<br />
events<br />
Help Us Stay Up-To-Date<br />
Name Program Year Graduated<br />
Name while attending <strong>College</strong> Extracurricular Activity i.e. varsity team, student government<br />
Address Apt. No. City<br />
Province Postal Code Telephone No.<br />
Getting married? New job promotion? Special message for a former classmate/teacher?<br />
Let us know what you would like us to share in Connections. Why not send a photo too?<br />
Employer Name: Position Held:<br />
Employer Address: City<br />
Postal Code Telephone No. E-mail Address<br />
I hereby authorize the release of information contained herein or collected from a third party (such as a family member) to the aforementioned. ❒ YES ❒ N0<br />
Signature Date<br />
Free Connections <strong>Alumni</strong> magazine<br />
Access to the Learning Resource Centre<br />
Reduced membership rates at the<br />
<strong>Conestoga</strong> Recreation Centre<br />
MBNA - Canada Bank MasterCard<br />
Rewarding Volunteer Opportunities<br />
Welcome Home Award<br />
As a member of the <strong>Alumni</strong> Association, we want to be sure that you are receiving your copy of Connections. Please help us to keep your records accurate <strong>and</strong> up-to-date. Complete<br />
the information if your status has changed, <strong>and</strong> mail, drop off or fax to:<br />
Development & <strong>Alumni</strong> Relations Office<br />
<strong>Conestoga</strong> <strong>College</strong><br />
299 Doon Valley Drive<br />
Kitchener, Ontario, N2G 4M4<br />
Fax: 519 748-3532<br />
I am willing to have my name <strong>and</strong> phone number given to fellow alumni for the purpose of class reunions, class directories <strong>and</strong> alumni events. ❒ YES ❒ NO<br />
Please indicate any of the information you do not wish printed in alumni publications.<br />
The personal information obtained on this form is used for administrative, fundraising, <strong>and</strong> statistical purposes of the Development & <strong>Alumni</strong> Relations Office, the <strong>College</strong> <strong>and</strong>/or<br />
ministries <strong>and</strong> agencies of the governments of Ontario <strong>and</strong> Canada. This information is collected under the authority of the Ministry of <strong>College</strong>s <strong>and</strong> Universities Act, R.S.O. 1990, c.M.<br />
19 <strong>and</strong> R.R.O. 1990, Regulation 770.<br />
Questions about the collection of this information should be directed to the Development & <strong>Alumni</strong> Relations Office, <strong>Conestoga</strong> <strong>College</strong>,<br />
299 Doon Valley Drive, Kitchener, Ontario, N2G 4M4. Telephone 519-748-5220, ext. 3459.<br />
Connections - winter 2006<br />
15
Paul Kalbfleisch has been a valuable<br />
resource for <strong>Conestoga</strong>’s Advertising<br />
Program practically from the<br />
beginning. An article in<br />
Connections about the new program<br />
prompted Paul to join the<br />
16 Connections - winter 2006<br />
PAC’s<br />
Profile<br />
(PACs Program Advisory Commitees) The Board of Governors appoints Program Advisory Committee members for<br />
degree, diploma, certificate <strong>and</strong> apprenticeship programs. Committees are composed of employers, practitioners <strong>and</strong><br />
recent program graduates.<br />
Paul Kalbfleisch 1980 Graphic Design Grad <strong>and</strong> Member<br />
of the Advertising Program Advisory Committee<br />
Paul Kalbfleisch <strong>and</strong> Christina Simoes.<br />
Christina is from our first graduating class,<br />
2003 <strong>and</strong> now works for RIM. Her title is<br />
Marketing Manager, Customer Programs.<br />
Advertising Program Advisory<br />
Committee. Paul has provided<br />
knowledge <strong>and</strong> expertise to the<br />
program as it grows. Paul has<br />
volunteered as emcee for the annual<br />
advertising gala evenings <strong>and</strong><br />
according to reports was brilliant,<br />
witty <strong>and</strong> charming. He is also<br />
called upon to be a guest speaker<br />
<strong>and</strong> provides information interviews<br />
for the students of the program.<br />
Paul graduated in 1980 from the<br />
Graphic Design program. Since<br />
then he has worked in London <strong>and</strong><br />
Toronto. He became a partner in a<br />
small advertising agency where he<br />
gained experience as an art director,<br />
a creative director <strong>and</strong> account<br />
manager. In his search for a<br />
broader creative challenge, Paul<br />
joined The Mutual Group as a<br />
marketing communications officer,<br />
where he was a key player the<br />
development of the Clarica br<strong>and</strong>.<br />
As a result, Paul worked with global<br />
leading marketing consultants <strong>and</strong><br />
br<strong>and</strong> consultants, including L<strong>and</strong>or<br />
Associates in New York. For the last<br />
4.5 years, Paul has been overseeing<br />
the BlackBerry br<strong>and</strong>. This role has<br />
given him the unique opportunity to<br />
develop marketing ideas with the<br />
world class creative resources such<br />
as Second City photographer Annie<br />
Leibowitz <strong>and</strong> Hollywood film<br />
production companies.<br />
Waterloo Region has grown by leaps<br />
<strong>and</strong> bounds over the 25 years since<br />
Paul graduated from <strong>Conestoga</strong>. He<br />
has proven that global opportunities<br />
are available in our own community,<br />
<strong>and</strong> “you never know how far you<br />
can go.”<br />
Thank you Paul for giving back to<br />
<strong>Conestoga</strong>.<br />
Are you looking for an interesting <strong>and</strong><br />
rewarding volunteer experience?<br />
We Need You!<br />
The <strong>Alumni</strong> Association of <strong>Conestoga</strong> <strong>College</strong> is<br />
looking for enthusiastic volunteers to join its<br />
dedicated team. We need volunteers to help<br />
with committee work, special events <strong>and</strong><br />
organizing off-campus <strong>Alumni</strong> Chapters.<br />
Please contact Monica Himmelman at<br />
519-748-5220, ext. 3459 or e-mail<br />
mhimmelman@conestogac.on.ca for more<br />
information about these exciting opportunities.
PAC’s Profile<br />
Steel Teaching Aid Officially Dedicated<br />
by John Sawicki*<br />
l - r, President John Tibbits, ACL Steel Ltd.<br />
President Paul Seibel <strong>and</strong> CISC Ontario Region<br />
Chair Chris Adach<br />
It's five metres tall, three metres<br />
wide <strong>and</strong> weighs almost a ton -- a<br />
tower of visually arresting steel.<br />
There's nothing quite like it. Is it a<br />
modernist sculpture?<br />
It's better than that. It's a steel<br />
teaching aid, donated by the<br />
Canadian Institute of Steel<br />
Construction (CISC), with the<br />
assistance of a number of local<br />
industries. It will help <strong>Conestoga</strong><br />
Construction, Architecture <strong>and</strong> Civil<br />
Engineering Technology students to<br />
observe <strong>and</strong> learn about all of the<br />
welding processes used in steel-based<br />
construction.<br />
The steel teaching aid is a collection<br />
of structural steel meant to help<br />
students see first-h<strong>and</strong> how a wide<br />
variety of structural steel shapes are<br />
joined to form framework for<br />
buildings, towers, bridges <strong>and</strong> other<br />
structures.<br />
Located adjacent to the<br />
Woodworking Centre of Ontario at<br />
<strong>Conestoga</strong>'s Doon campus in<br />
Kitchener, the impressive structure is<br />
efficient in a number of ways.<br />
Students can actually see the work<br />
<strong>Conestoga</strong> Grads Paul Seibel (left), President of<br />
ACL Steel Ltd & Bernard Melloul, President of<br />
Melloul Blamey Construction Inc.<br />
being discussed. Faculty can<br />
comment on <strong>and</strong> illustrate structural<br />
procedures effectively. The aid is<br />
conveniently in a single, on-campus<br />
location, which reduces the costs<br />
<strong>and</strong> inconvenience associated with<br />
visiting many different job sites<br />
throughout the region.<br />
Industrial participants in the project<br />
included: ACL Steel Ltd.; Albrecht<br />
Bros. Reinforcing Steel Ltd.; Dufferin<br />
Custom Concrete Group; Dymin<br />
Steel Inc.; G. Melo Excavating Ltd.;<br />
the former Sze Straka Engineering,<br />
now part of MTE Consultants Inc.;<br />
Melloul Blamey Construction Inc.<br />
<strong>and</strong> York-Ennis, A Division of Russel<br />
Metals Inc. These firms donated<br />
time, effort <strong>and</strong> materials to bring<br />
the teaching aid to <strong>Conestoga</strong>.<br />
Official dedication of the steel<br />
teaching aid, complete with the<br />
unveiling of a commemorative<br />
plaque, took place on September 22<br />
at the site. Speaking were<br />
<strong>Conestoga</strong> President John Tibbits,<br />
CISC Ontario Region Chair Chris<br />
Adach <strong>and</strong> ACL Steel Ltd. President<br />
Paul Seibel.<br />
"This unique, generous gift is both<br />
distinctive <strong>and</strong> valuable," President<br />
Tibbits said. "We particularly<br />
appreciate the efforts of the many<br />
area businesses that gave time,<br />
energy <strong>and</strong> materials to the project,<br />
which will provide valuable learning<br />
opportunities for our Architecture-<br />
Construction <strong>and</strong> Civil Engineering<br />
Technology students."<br />
Thanks to all of the Program Advisory<br />
members who give so willingly of their<br />
time <strong>and</strong> expertise.<br />
Connections - winter 2006<br />
17
y Ingrid Town<br />
Everyone is talking<br />
about skilled trades<br />
Today’s front page article in the local<br />
newspaper announced an upcoming<br />
need for 1,500 skilled trades workers<br />
in construction from our area for the<br />
refurbishment of the Bruce Nuclear<br />
Power Plant.<br />
Debbie Travis, diva of home décor<br />
television show “Facelift”, <strong>and</strong> the<br />
upcoming show “From the Ground<br />
Up” is scouting for new talent among<br />
young people to encourage them to<br />
consider skilled trades as an<br />
educational <strong>and</strong> career choice.<br />
“Construction can be a very<br />
exciting career <strong>and</strong> we hope that<br />
more students will begin to see<br />
that.”<br />
Martha George, Executive Director of the<br />
Gr<strong>and</strong> Valley Construction Association<br />
Why are skilled trades creating such a<br />
buzz? Quite simply, skilled trades are<br />
rewarding. The feeling of<br />
accomplishment from creating a home,<br />
a hospital, an arena, or a community<br />
centre is a feeling that you will get<br />
every time you see that new building.<br />
Whether your skill is carpentry,<br />
masonry, plumbing, or electrical, you<br />
are making those buildings where<br />
people gather a reality. It’s thanks to<br />
skilled trades workers that our<br />
communities are growing in beauty<br />
<strong>and</strong> in size. And <strong>Conestoga</strong> is<br />
growing in response to the need for<br />
more skilled trade’s workers.<br />
Skilled Trades<br />
Centre of Excellence<br />
<strong>Conestoga</strong> has begun an ambitious $7<br />
million dollar campaign to purchase a<br />
large former high school property in<br />
Waterloo in order to centralize many<br />
of its apprenticeship programs. This<br />
new location at 180 University<br />
Avenue will provide 12 acres, <strong>and</strong><br />
123,000 square feet of space with the<br />
potential to exp<strong>and</strong> to 250,000 square<br />
feet. This move will allow <strong>Conestoga</strong><br />
to grow in Waterloo by at least 58%<br />
18 Connections - winter 2006<br />
Campus Update<br />
Get Out the Hammers!<br />
<strong>Conestoga</strong> is Growing Again!<br />
University Heights, 180 University Avenue, Kitchener<br />
immediately. This campus will give<br />
us the opportunity to effectively <strong>and</strong><br />
efficiently deliver more cost effective<br />
quality programming to help ensure<br />
student success.<br />
John Tibbits, president of <strong>Conestoga</strong><br />
feels strongly about this subject.<br />
“Without question, the skills agenda is<br />
one of the most important issues<br />
facing Canadian society, because it<br />
ties together higher education,<br />
economic competitiveness <strong>and</strong><br />
prosperity, <strong>and</strong> personal opportunity.<br />
<strong>Conestoga</strong> is committed to moving the<br />
skills agenda forward, <strong>and</strong> initiatives<br />
such as the acquisition of the<br />
University Heights property allow us<br />
to create new, innovative pathways to<br />
skills education, for the benefit of our<br />
students <strong>and</strong> our community."<br />
Martha George, Executive Director of<br />
the Gr<strong>and</strong> Valley Construction<br />
Association agrees wholeheartedly.<br />
“We are fully in support of this<br />
initiative because it will help provide<br />
skilled workers in the future for an<br />
industry that desperately needs them.<br />
This move by <strong>Conestoga</strong> really fosters<br />
the construction industry which is<br />
rapidly becoming a career of choice<br />
<strong>and</strong> is growing in complexity.”<br />
Most owners of construction companies<br />
got their start by mastering a skilled<br />
trade. And yet, we have trouble<br />
attracting young people to these trades.<br />
In fact, many high school students<br />
who feel uninterested or unprepared<br />
for university drop out of school<br />
because they just don’t know about<br />
the exciting opportunities in skilled<br />
trades. <strong>Conestoga</strong> is a college that<br />
prides itself on connecting life <strong>and</strong><br />
learning, <strong>and</strong> is dedicated to tackling<br />
the issue of growing drop out rates.<br />
“For the sake of our futures, <strong>and</strong><br />
for the economy, we must<br />
smarten up <strong>and</strong> start putting<br />
resources where they are really<br />
needed – the trades.”<br />
Sheila Sutherl<strong>and</strong>, <strong>Conestoga</strong> student.<br />
<strong>Conestoga</strong> student Sheila Sutherl<strong>and</strong>,<br />
whose letter to the editor was chosen<br />
as the letter of the day by the K-W<br />
Record on October 3, 2005 had this<br />
to say about Trades education:<br />
“There are jobs where you can make a<br />
very good dollar using your brains <strong>and</strong><br />
h<strong>and</strong>s, strategically figuring out<br />
problems <strong>and</strong> making things work.<br />
There are so many jobs in the trades<br />
that are simply being ignored because<br />
the trades are still seen as dirty, lowclass<br />
jobs. It’s up to society to change<br />
that opinion. Trades are for the bright,<br />
for the hard workers, <strong>and</strong> for those<br />
who want to make a difference.”<br />
And our community partners are<br />
doing just that. As of today, donors<br />
have already pledged a very<br />
generous $1.3 million to exp<strong>and</strong><br />
skilled trades in our region.
Start young!<br />
So how do we let our young people<br />
know the value of skilled trades<br />
today? <strong>Conestoga</strong> faculty members<br />
spent a great deal of time examining<br />
how other regions <strong>and</strong> provinces<br />
tackle this issue <strong>and</strong> came across an<br />
innovative project that was piloted in<br />
the Ottawa region. Mike<br />
McClements, AVP of <strong>Conestoga</strong>’s<br />
School of Engineering <strong>and</strong><br />
Information Technology, Trades <strong>and</strong><br />
Apprenticeships, was very pleased<br />
with what they discovered. “We<br />
studied the Ottawa program closely,<br />
<strong>and</strong> saw the success that takes place<br />
when youth are introduced to skilled<br />
trades at an earlier age.” <strong>Conestoga</strong><br />
is now moving ahead on an exciting<br />
initiative with the Waterloo Region<br />
District School Board to create a<br />
system whereby construction trades<br />
are introduced to students while<br />
they are in secondary school by our<br />
instructors at our facilities.<br />
This exciting new campus in<br />
Waterloo will be a hub where<br />
<strong>Conestoga</strong> will be able to work at<br />
reducing youth unemployment, <strong>and</strong><br />
encouraging young people to enter<br />
rewarding careers in skilled trades.<br />
What Else is Cooking in<br />
Waterloo?<br />
These exciting plans for the campus<br />
on University Avenue include another<br />
centre of excellence - in Hospitality.<br />
Currently housed in the 435 King<br />
location, our existing Food <strong>and</strong><br />
Beverage <strong>and</strong> Culinary Arts<br />
programming will be able to exp<strong>and</strong><br />
to offer new programs aimed at<br />
meeting the needs of the food <strong>and</strong><br />
beverage industry. As the Waterloo<br />
Region continues to grow, the<br />
requirement for fine dining <strong>and</strong> locally<br />
representative cuisine is also growing.<br />
The need for graduates in culinary arts<br />
<strong>and</strong> food <strong>and</strong> beverage services is<br />
continuous, <strong>and</strong> yet <strong>Conestoga</strong> has<br />
been unable to offer exp<strong>and</strong>ed<br />
programming in these areas due to<br />
space <strong>and</strong> equipment limitations.<br />
By raising sufficient funds, we will be<br />
able to offer more diploma programs,<br />
<strong>and</strong> accommodate up to three times<br />
as many students in programs such as<br />
Culinary Management, <strong>and</strong> Chef<br />
Training. Again, this type of<br />
Campus Update<br />
<strong>Conestoga</strong> is Growing Again - continued<br />
programming will help us keep youth<br />
in education, <strong>and</strong> keep interested<br />
students in our community.<br />
Just the Facts<br />
The existing programs that will be<br />
re-located to the new Waterloo<br />
campus include all of the residential<br />
Apprenticeship Programs such as<br />
Cabinet Maker, Carpenter General,<br />
Electrician – Construction <strong>and</strong><br />
Maintenance, Plumber, as well as all<br />
the related continuing education<br />
programs <strong>and</strong> related applications<br />
for those trades. Once we are able<br />
to move these residential<br />
construction programs to University<br />
Heights, we could eventually add<br />
courses in areas such as drywall,<br />
sheet metal, framing <strong>and</strong> masonry.<br />
All Hospitality programming,<br />
including Chef Training, Food <strong>and</strong><br />
Beverage Management, Bartending,<br />
<strong>and</strong> eventual apprenticeships in<br />
hospitality will move to this campus<br />
as well.<br />
A new opportunity with a co-op<br />
component that <strong>Conestoga</strong> has<br />
developed this year is a joint<br />
apprenticeship/ diploma program.<br />
This Co-op aspect enables applicants<br />
to overcome the main barrier to<br />
gaining an apprenticeship, which is to<br />
secure employment before applying.<br />
<strong>Conestoga</strong> is the 4th largest training<br />
delivery agent in the college system,<br />
<strong>and</strong> our apprenticeship programs<br />
have grown by 65% over the last<br />
years. This has been the fastest<br />
growing area at <strong>Conestoga</strong>, <strong>and</strong> we<br />
have developed four new<br />
apprenticeship programs, as well as<br />
developed articulation agreements<br />
with several school boards. <strong>Conestoga</strong><br />
offers five certificate programs, 14<br />
apprenticeship programs, <strong>and</strong> five<br />
diploma programs in the School of<br />
Trades <strong>and</strong> Apprenticeships. Last year,<br />
we had approximately 2,500 students<br />
enrolled in that school.<br />
The Government of Ontario has<br />
made a commitment to increase the<br />
number of new entries to<br />
apprenticeships by 26,000 by the<br />
year 2006/07 to meet industry’s<br />
need. They are also committed to<br />
providing $50 million to assist<br />
colleges with the renewal of the<br />
apprenticeship system – but these<br />
funds are often only made available<br />
as matching funds for donations<br />
made by industry partners,<br />
individuals, or foundations.<br />
With the Ontario Government’s<br />
commitment to exp<strong>and</strong> the trades in<br />
Ontario, the Waterloo Region must<br />
respond by encouraging an<br />
investment in space <strong>and</strong> resources for<br />
that training to take place. In order<br />
to benefit from potential government<br />
investment, <strong>and</strong> from the resulting<br />
increase in skilled trades capacity,<br />
capability <strong>and</strong> prosperity, along with<br />
<strong>Conestoga</strong> wants to offer three routes of entry for<br />
skilled trades training:<br />
1. Traditional – a formal agreement between the apprentice, the employer <strong>and</strong> the<br />
Ontario government whereby the apprentice spends 10% in school training <strong>and</strong><br />
90% on the job training to finish an apprenticeship in 2 – 5 years<br />
2. In conjunction with the school board – a program geared to students who have<br />
an interest in trades <strong>and</strong> are seeking state-of-the art training where they will<br />
integrate into the workforce while still in the secondary school system.<br />
3. Apprenticeship/diploma route – an avenue whereby students can obtain a<br />
diploma <strong>and</strong> on the job training towards an apprenticeship without having to<br />
gain employment first.<br />
Connections - winter 2006<br />
19
The Women in Skilled Trades (WIST)<br />
pre-apprenticeship program of<br />
<strong>Conestoga</strong> has been named one of<br />
five winners of an academic<br />
excellence <strong>and</strong> innovation award<br />
from the Yves L<strong>and</strong>ry Foundation.<br />
The <strong>Conestoga</strong> award is $5,000 <strong>and</strong><br />
was presented in Toronto on October<br />
20 at the Foundation's sixth annual<br />
STARS Technological Education<br />
Awards Gala, held at the Westin<br />
Harbour Castle.<br />
The WIST program, which has<br />
operated at <strong>Conestoga</strong> since 2001 at<br />
the Doon (Kitchener) <strong>and</strong> Guelph<br />
campuses, has been named by the<br />
Foundation as an outst<strong>and</strong>ing technical<br />
co-operative education program.<br />
Funded by the Ontario Women's<br />
Directorate through the Ministry of<br />
Training, <strong>College</strong>s <strong>and</strong> Universities,<br />
WIST aims to address the shortage of<br />
skilled workers in the manufacturing<br />
<strong>and</strong> construction sectors by offering<br />
opportunities to unemployed or<br />
underemployed low-income women,<br />
who are unable to pursue options in<br />
the skilled trades because of a lack<br />
of math skills, computer literacy <strong>and</strong><br />
h<strong>and</strong>s-on experience involving<br />
technical equipment.<br />
WIST initiatives are consistent with<br />
the higher profile being assigned<br />
apprenticeship education by the<br />
provincial government in recognition<br />
of the value skilled apprentices bring<br />
20 Connections - winter 2006<br />
Campus Update<br />
<strong>Conestoga</strong> is Growing Again - continued<br />
the reduction of unemployment, we<br />
must respond by creating more<br />
opportunities <strong>and</strong> more innovative<br />
solutions to train our apprentices. If<br />
<strong>Conestoga</strong> is unable to do so,<br />
Ontario funding will be directed to<br />
other institutions that can, we will<br />
continue to face youth<br />
unemployment. If we cannot meet<br />
this challenge, our young people<br />
who are interested in skilled trades<br />
will leave the community to find the<br />
opportunities they are seeking<br />
elsewhere.<br />
<strong>Conestoga</strong> Program Earns<br />
Prestigious Yves L<strong>and</strong>ry Award<br />
by John Sawicki*<br />
As 80% of our graduates tend to<br />
stay here in the Waterloo Region,<br />
we feel strongly that we must offer<br />
our students the best possible<br />
education <strong>and</strong> training to encourage<br />
them to stay in our region, <strong>and</strong> to<br />
keep our local industry partners<br />
supplied with top-notch skilledtrades<br />
workers.<br />
With enough support from<br />
community leaders, alumni <strong>and</strong><br />
friends, we hope to move into<br />
University Heights in time to offer<br />
programming by September 2006.<br />
Linda Hasenfratz, CEO, Linamar Corporation<br />
& President John Tibbits<br />
to the workplace <strong>and</strong> the economy<br />
as a whole.<br />
<strong>Conestoga</strong>'s WIST participation has<br />
been in the areas of carpentry,<br />
millwright, <strong>and</strong> precision machining<br />
<strong>and</strong> tooling. Almost one-fifth of the<br />
WIST participants in Ontario have<br />
been at <strong>Conestoga</strong>, more than 50<br />
women have successfully completed<br />
studies <strong>and</strong> workplace-related<br />
practical experience, <strong>and</strong> of these,<br />
almost all are employed in industry,<br />
many as registered apprentices.<br />
Success has been due to the cooperation<br />
of community<br />
organizations, employers, unions,<br />
government agencies <strong>and</strong> the<br />
<strong>College</strong>. Local assistance agencies<br />
have promoted the program in<br />
Waterloo Region <strong>and</strong> in Wellington<br />
<strong>and</strong> Oxford counties. District school<br />
boards have also assisted. Individual<br />
companies <strong>and</strong> sectoral associations<br />
If you would like to support this<br />
exciting new initiative in skilled<br />
trades, please use the pledge form<br />
on the inside cover of the magazine<br />
<strong>and</strong> mark Skilled Trades Expansion<br />
under “other”. Special note – every<br />
gift up to $500,000 will be matched<br />
2 -1 by one of our donors. We will<br />
update you on this donor <strong>and</strong><br />
others in our next issue of<br />
Connections. Every dollar counts!<br />
For more information, please<br />
contact Ingrid Town at 519-748-<br />
5220 ext. 3490 or<br />
itown@conestogac.on.ca.<br />
have been active in seeking <strong>and</strong><br />
offering work placements to students<br />
<strong>and</strong> graduates, as have a number of<br />
union locals.<br />
WIST continued this fall, with the<br />
start of another carpentry program at<br />
<strong>Conestoga</strong>'s campus in Guelph.<br />
The other four organizations to be<br />
recognized at the October 20 STARS<br />
gala are the University of Waterloo,<br />
the University of Windsor, Northern<br />
<strong>College</strong> of Applied Arts <strong>and</strong><br />
Technology, <strong>and</strong> the York Region<br />
District School Board.<br />
The Yves L<strong>and</strong>ry Foundation,<br />
established in 1998, is based on the<br />
vision, principles <strong>and</strong> hopes of the<br />
late Yves L<strong>and</strong>ry, Chairman, President<br />
<strong>and</strong> CEO of Chrysler Canada Ltd.<br />
from 1990 to 1998. The Foundation<br />
provides the opportunity for<br />
business, education <strong>and</strong> government<br />
to collectively be part of the solution<br />
to advance technological education<br />
<strong>and</strong> skills training in order to resolve<br />
the skilled labour shortages facing<br />
Canadian industries. The STARS<br />
event provides the platform both to<br />
honour those working in alignment<br />
with the Foundation's mission <strong>and</strong> to<br />
promote awareness of excellence in<br />
the effort to reduce current <strong>and</strong><br />
future skills shortages.<br />
The website for the Foundation is:<br />
www.yl<strong>and</strong>ryfund.org.
After only one year of in-school<br />
academics, Sarah Wallace <strong>and</strong><br />
Steven Richmond are working as<br />
General Machinist Co-op<br />
Apprentices for a dynamic<br />
international company, Engle<br />
Canada Inc. When we met them<br />
in the bright, clean <strong>and</strong> friendly<br />
atmosphere of Engel’s machine<br />
shop, they were concentrating on<br />
drilling <strong>and</strong> tapping using lathes<br />
<strong>and</strong> mills. John Beliski, the<br />
Machinist/ Apprentice Coordinator,<br />
acknowledges that even though<br />
they only started working early in<br />
September 2005, they are already<br />
part of the team; they are being<br />
trained <strong>and</strong> are meeting the<br />
challenge.<br />
Both Sarah <strong>and</strong> Steven have agrarian<br />
roots which exposed them to<br />
working with h<strong>and</strong> tools <strong>and</strong><br />
automated equipment from a young<br />
age. Sarah was mentored in high<br />
school by the shop teacher <strong>and</strong><br />
became a peer-helper, which makes<br />
her feel comfortable around<br />
machines. She finds the work<br />
interesting <strong>and</strong> new every day.<br />
Steven also realizes how lucky he is<br />
to have found an apprentice<br />
position. He feels it has a lot of<br />
advantages because he likes to work<br />
with his h<strong>and</strong>s <strong>and</strong> is not hesitant to<br />
try anything new.<br />
Through the School of Trades <strong>and</strong><br />
Apprenticeship, <strong>Conestoga</strong> is<br />
entering the second phase of a pilot<br />
program which provides the upfront<br />
academic skills for<br />
apprenticeships before students first<br />
reach the shop floor. The unique<br />
Mechanical Technician Co-op<br />
Diploma Apprenticeship is in its<br />
second year, with a full enrolment of<br />
82 students. Students are available in<br />
options of Tool <strong>and</strong> Die/Tool Maker,<br />
General Machinist, Machine Tool<br />
Builder Integrator <strong>and</strong> Industrial<br />
Mechanic Millwright.<br />
Funded under a Ministry of Training,<br />
<strong>College</strong>s <strong>and</strong> Universities initiative,<br />
this is one of a select number of<br />
programs intended to produce<br />
graduates with both certified<br />
apprenticeship skills <strong>and</strong> full college<br />
technical diplomas. Already<br />
sponsored by a consortium of local<br />
Campus Update<br />
A New Direction in Apprenticeship Trades<br />
by Voilet Boutilier<br />
Sarah Wallace, John Beliski, Steven Richmond<br />
industries, students are seeking<br />
employment in Ontario for their<br />
work term. The program includes<br />
1.5 years of study with two periods<br />
at <strong>Conestoga</strong> <strong>and</strong> a fully-paid 52week<br />
co-op work term in industry.<br />
There are also many benefits to the<br />
employer community. Employers<br />
may be eligible for the up to $5,000<br />
Apprenticeship Training Tax Credit,<br />
per student apprentice in the 52week<br />
work term. Employers have<br />
the opportunity to evaluate co-op<br />
students as potential full-time<br />
employees, thus reducing<br />
recruitment costs. Employing co-op<br />
students may be a means to satisfy<br />
cyclical, short-term or project needs.<br />
Employers can also establish <strong>and</strong><br />
enhance their profile on-campus<br />
among students <strong>and</strong> faculty<br />
For information on how to hire a<br />
co-op student from this program<br />
contact Sonja Roy-Smith in the<br />
Co-op office at<br />
sroy-smith@conestogac.on.ca<br />
Juergen Winkler, Manufacturing<br />
Manager at Engel said, “We need<br />
experienced journeymen, <strong>and</strong> they<br />
are not just walking through our<br />
door. We originally interviewed for<br />
the apprentice positions from<br />
outside the college <strong>and</strong> the<br />
respondents seemed to have the<br />
view this was ‘for fun.’ It was clear<br />
after these interviews that the better<br />
choice was to work with <strong>Conestoga</strong>.<br />
The students coming from the<br />
apprenticeship training program<br />
possess a huge difference in<br />
skills.” Engel interviewed five<br />
c<strong>and</strong>idates from the Mechanical<br />
Technician Co-op Diploma<br />
Apprenticeship program <strong>and</strong><br />
“all were great.” “Having the<br />
students first go to school for<br />
one year is the way to go,”<br />
Winkler said.<br />
John Beliski, the Machinist/<br />
Apprentice Coordinator, said he<br />
was “Really impressed from the<br />
first day. The co-op students<br />
did not come in green. They<br />
made my job easier. Sarah was<br />
using a CNC machine on day<br />
one.” John also said he was<br />
impressed with their strong<br />
work ethic.<br />
The plan is for both Sarah <strong>and</strong> Steven<br />
to eventually be responsible for all<br />
service <strong>and</strong> re-work modifications<br />
which are frequently a rush. The<br />
company plans to purchase new<br />
machines <strong>and</strong> rotate the co-op<br />
apprentices though assembly <strong>and</strong><br />
CNC programming to see the whole<br />
spectrum of manufacturing at Engel in<br />
order to get a feeling for future<br />
opportunities.<br />
Company Profile<br />
Engel is a worldwide company, with<br />
its North American headquarters in<br />
Guelph. The Guelph location involves<br />
production of injection molding<br />
machines with clamping forces up to<br />
500 US tons, <strong>and</strong> automation<br />
equipment for the plastics industry.<br />
This location employs 365 people.<br />
For more than half a century Engel<br />
has been meeting every molding<br />
challenge with expertise in injection<br />
machine molding technology, in<br />
machine control, <strong>and</strong> in automation<br />
<strong>and</strong> in process technology.<br />
Add to this their fully integrated<br />
robots <strong>and</strong> automation systems, along<br />
with applications technology - such as<br />
long glass fibre, multi-color molding,<br />
expansion injection molding or<br />
watermelt - to name a few - <strong>and</strong><br />
Engel's status of single source<br />
supplier <strong>and</strong> integrator for the<br />
complete injection molding industry<br />
can be easily understood.<br />
Connections - winter 2006<br />
21
22 Connections - winter 2006<br />
Campus Update<br />
Ground Broken<br />
for New Student Centre at <strong>Conestoga</strong><br />
<strong>Conestoga</strong> president, John Tibbits <strong>and</strong><br />
CSI president, Justin Falconer<br />
Construction is set to begin<br />
on the new Student Centre at<br />
<strong>Conestoga</strong>. The project is scheduled<br />
for completion in the fall of 2006. To<br />
mark the occasion, <strong>Conestoga</strong><br />
President John Tibbits <strong>and</strong> <strong>Conestoga</strong><br />
Students Inc. (CSI) President Justin<br />
Falconer officiated at a groundbreaking<br />
ceremony attended by<br />
students <strong>and</strong> <strong>Conestoga</strong> officials on<br />
Monday, October 24.<br />
President Tibbits remarked,<br />
"I congratulate CSI for having the<br />
vision <strong>and</strong> making the commitment to<br />
this centre, which will raise the<br />
quality of experience for our students.<br />
We want the highest possible success<br />
rates for our students, so quality of<br />
experience is very important in<br />
attracting <strong>and</strong> retaining the best<br />
possible students for <strong>Conestoga</strong>."<br />
CSI President Falconer said, "I want<br />
to thank the students of this <strong>College</strong><br />
for their trust <strong>and</strong> financial support."<br />
He added that the student association<br />
shares the <strong>College</strong>'s goal of attracting,<br />
retaining <strong>and</strong> graduating more<br />
students. He further stated, "Whether<br />
they are new students, returning<br />
students or returning alumni who are<br />
furthering their academic certification,<br />
this new space will offer unparalleled<br />
opportunity for students to succeed.<br />
It will house the important <strong>and</strong><br />
necessary services that students<br />
expect <strong>and</strong> enjoy."<br />
The $6.5-million project will be<br />
student-financed in large part, <strong>and</strong><br />
will entail renovation of 16,000 sq. ft.<br />
of the existing Doon campus main<br />
building, plus construction of 31,000<br />
Congratulations to Lauren Weber,<br />
(2005 Electronics Eng. Technology-<br />
Telecommunications Systems) cowinner<br />
with Christopher Kuntz of<br />
the Governor General’s Academic<br />
Medal. Lauren entered <strong>Conestoga</strong> in<br />
the fall of 2001 following his<br />
graduation from Kitchener-Waterloo<br />
Collegiate <strong>and</strong> Vocational Institute,<br />
<strong>and</strong> proceeded directly through the<br />
Electronics Engineering Technology -<br />
Telecommunication Systems<br />
program. He participated in the cooperative<br />
education stream of the<br />
program, spending his off-campus<br />
co-op terms employed at Research<br />
In Motion (RIM), the internationally<br />
sq. ft. of new space.<br />
When completed, the Student Centre<br />
will feature not only amenities such<br />
as a bistro, student lounge, study<br />
rooms, games room, broadcast booth<br />
for CJIQ-FM <strong>and</strong> retail space, but will<br />
also include direct access to a<br />
number of important student<br />
services: counseling, student<br />
advisement, health services, disability<br />
services, a testing centre, an adaptive<br />
technology lab, computer stations<br />
<strong>and</strong> student government offices, as<br />
well as meeting space for student<br />
clubs <strong>and</strong> associations.<br />
Lauren Weber<br />
Governor General’s Academic Medal Winner<br />
by John Sawicki*<br />
known firm based in Waterloo. That<br />
experience has led to a position with<br />
RIM in the compliance area, which is<br />
responsible for ensuring that RIM’s<br />
products meet all technical st<strong>and</strong>ards<br />
<strong>and</strong> specifications for the Canadian<br />
<strong>and</strong> global markets. His overall<br />
academic average at <strong>Conestoga</strong> was<br />
95.47 per cent.<br />
This bronze medallion is<br />
commissioned by the Office of the<br />
Governor General of Canada. It<br />
goes to the graduating student with<br />
the highest overall academic grade<br />
average for all courses in a diplomalevel<br />
program.
Leanne Holl<strong>and</strong> Brown is a name<br />
students, staff <strong>and</strong> faculty at <strong>Conestoga</strong><br />
will soon come to recognize.<br />
Holl<strong>and</strong> Brown is the new student<br />
life coordinator at the <strong>College</strong>. She<br />
said her position with the school is<br />
mainly about enriching the student<br />
life experience.<br />
“One element of this position<br />
includes centralized communication<br />
around all of the wonderful things<br />
that are happening at the <strong>College</strong>:<br />
student success <strong>and</strong> achievement,<br />
opportunities for students to get<br />
involved <strong>and</strong> meet other students <strong>and</strong><br />
workshops <strong>and</strong> presentations that are<br />
helping students to achieve academic<br />
success” Holl<strong>and</strong> Brown said.<br />
One of the projects Holl<strong>and</strong> Brown is<br />
currently working on is maintaining<br />
the new Student Life website, called<br />
CONNEX. Connex was designed to<br />
connect students to activities,<br />
initiatives <strong>and</strong> opportunities taking<br />
place at <strong>Conestoga</strong> that will affect<br />
student life.<br />
“We’re hoping that students will get<br />
into the habit of checking CONNEX<br />
regularly” Holl<strong>and</strong> Brown said.<br />
“Every Monday, there will be new<br />
information in the news <strong>and</strong> updates<br />
section of the site.”<br />
“Everyone has been really receptive<br />
<strong>and</strong> really excited about Connex <strong>and</strong><br />
I think it’s going to benefit the<br />
students tremendously,” Holl<strong>and</strong><br />
Brown said.<br />
A link to the Connex site can be<br />
found in the Current Students section<br />
of the <strong>College</strong>’s website.<br />
Carol Gregory, Director of Student<br />
Development at <strong>Conestoga</strong>, said one<br />
of Holl<strong>and</strong> Brown’s m<strong>and</strong>ates is to<br />
develop the overall plan for student<br />
life at the <strong>College</strong>.<br />
“Within that, she would be working<br />
on developing student leadership<br />
opportunities,” Gregory said. “We<br />
think it’s important, to encourage<br />
students throughout the various<br />
<strong>College</strong> campuses to develop into<br />
student leaders.”<br />
Gregory said Holl<strong>and</strong> Brown is going<br />
to help the student life experience<br />
Campus Update<br />
Student Life Coordinator<br />
Leanne Holl<strong>and</strong> Brown<br />
Jason Sonser**<br />
tremendously. “Leanne is very<br />
passionate about student life <strong>and</strong><br />
she’s got the breadth <strong>and</strong> depth of<br />
experience.”<br />
Holl<strong>and</strong> Brown said another aspect<br />
of her position as Student Life Coordinator<br />
is creating <strong>and</strong> providing<br />
student leadership opportunities.<br />
“(That) translates into opportunities<br />
for engagement <strong>and</strong> involvement at<br />
the <strong>College</strong>. Student leadership<br />
initiatives provide students with<br />
opportunities to learn, grow <strong>and</strong> gain<br />
life skills that will benefit them<br />
immensely down the road”. I’ve only<br />
been here a short time <strong>and</strong> already<br />
I’ve learned there are so many<br />
fantastic things happening at the<br />
<strong>College</strong> in the area of student<br />
accomplishments <strong>and</strong> student success<br />
– there are many committed <strong>and</strong><br />
wonderful students here,” she said.<br />
Holl<strong>and</strong> Brown said, as in any<br />
institution, communication about<br />
events can be difficult sometimes.<br />
“I’m really hoping a lot of that<br />
information will come through<br />
CONNEX so we can share, with the<br />
<strong>College</strong> community, all of the great<br />
things that are happening with staff,<br />
faculty <strong>and</strong> students.”<br />
Holl<strong>and</strong> Brown thinks it is a great<br />
time to be at <strong>Conestoga</strong> because<br />
there is a lot of change <strong>and</strong> transition<br />
happening. “It’s a terrific time to be<br />
starting when people are very openminded<br />
to new ideas <strong>and</strong> excited<br />
about new initiatives.”<br />
Holl<strong>and</strong> Brown said for a lot of<br />
people, student life was never a term<br />
that was really part of their own<br />
educational experience. “I think<br />
student life has become an important<br />
element of the post-secondary<br />
education experience” she said.<br />
“Student life is about creating a<br />
positive <strong>and</strong> engaging experience<br />
that encompasses the out-of-theclassroom<br />
experience. Student life is<br />
about supporting academic success<br />
while providing opportunities to get<br />
involved in meaningful ways, learn<br />
about yourself <strong>and</strong> taking advantage<br />
of opportunities that lead to personal<br />
growth <strong>and</strong> development”.<br />
“That means opportunities for<br />
engagement with students, staff <strong>and</strong><br />
faculty, as well as opportunities for<br />
involvement,” she said. “I also think<br />
a significant piece of it is creating<br />
opportunities for developing life<br />
skills that are valued by employees<br />
<strong>and</strong> give students an advantage over<br />
other students.”<br />
Holl<strong>and</strong> Brown said people seem<br />
genuinely excited about having her<br />
at the <strong>College</strong>. “I have had the most<br />
warm, welcome reception here that<br />
I’ve ever had,” she said. “Everyone<br />
has been so helpful <strong>and</strong> so friendly.”<br />
Gregory said she is thrilled about<br />
having Holl<strong>and</strong> Brown as the student<br />
life co-ordinator. “We needed<br />
someone with her focus. She’s the<br />
right person to do it. She’s passionate<br />
about it <strong>and</strong> she’s got some<br />
tremendous ideas. I don’t think we<br />
could have asked for a better person.”<br />
Holl<strong>and</strong> Brown graduated in 2000<br />
from the University of Waterloo from<br />
the Waterloo/Brock Concurrent<br />
Education Program with a Bachelor of<br />
Education degree in French Teaching<br />
Specialization. However, she never<br />
taught French after graduation. She<br />
worked as a Residence Life<br />
Coordinator at Wilfrid Laurier<br />
University for three years, then spent<br />
a year in Engl<strong>and</strong> teaching English.<br />
Most recently, Holl<strong>and</strong> Brown<br />
worked as Residence Life<br />
Coordinator at the University of<br />
Waterloo for a year.<br />
Connections - winter 2006<br />
23
24 Connections - winter 2006<br />
Campus Update<br />
Woman to Woman: Presentation Provides<br />
Women with Useful Advice<br />
by Tom Kalbfleisch**<br />
Female students in the technology<br />
<strong>and</strong> trades programs at the <strong>College</strong><br />
who attended a Women in<br />
Technology <strong>and</strong> Trades (W.I.T.T)<br />
presentation received excellent<br />
advice from other women who have<br />
successfully met the challenges of<br />
the workplace.<br />
About 36 students attended the<br />
hour-long presentation held on Sept.<br />
28 <strong>and</strong> in addition to receiving great<br />
advice, they got to meet other<br />
female students in their program<br />
<strong>and</strong> ask the presenters questions.<br />
The guest speakers, who each gave<br />
five-minute presentations about their<br />
life as a female in the world of<br />
technology <strong>and</strong> trades, included<br />
Nicole LeClair, a Welding<br />
Technology graduate, Pam Bunker,<br />
l-r Jodi Norris, Nicole LeClair, Pam Bunker,<br />
Philomena Bonis<br />
an Architecture-Construction<br />
Engineering Technology graduate,<br />
Jodi Norris, a Civil Engineering<br />
graduate, <strong>and</strong> Philomena Bonis, a<br />
teacher <strong>and</strong> aspiring astronaut.<br />
“My goal is to see the earth with my<br />
own eyes,” said Bonis, a Grade 7-8<br />
teacher at Queensmount Public<br />
School in Kitchener. “It doesn’t<br />
matter what I have to do to get<br />
there, but that is my goal.”<br />
Bonis applied to NASA for a job as a<br />
space education specialist, her<br />
application was accepted but<br />
because she’s not an American<br />
ctizen she did not get the job.<br />
“It’s one of many things on my list<br />
of accomplishments,” said Bonis. “I<br />
was still very pleased to at least<br />
have my application accepted.”<br />
The event was organized by Julia<br />
Biedermann, the Chair of<br />
Engineering <strong>and</strong> Information<br />
Technology. Other organizers<br />
included Shawna Bernard, a<br />
member of Student Services <strong>and</strong><br />
Jane Carr, a professor in technology.<br />
Valentine O’Donovan – A Leader in<br />
Technology <strong>and</strong> Philanthropy 1936-2005<br />
<strong>Conestoga</strong> President John Tibbits,<br />
staff, faculty <strong>and</strong> students were<br />
saddened by the passing of<br />
community leader Val O’Donovan last<br />
year. "Val O'Donovan was notable for<br />
his vision, enthusiasm <strong>and</strong> dedication<br />
to excellence” said Tibbits recently<br />
when asked about Mr. O’Donovan.<br />
“He believed that Canada had a major<br />
role to play in the world, both<br />
economically <strong>and</strong> in the advancement<br />
of knowledge. The success <strong>and</strong><br />
leadership of COM DEV in the field<br />
of satellite system technology owes<br />
much to Val <strong>and</strong> the team he built<br />
when he moved his business from<br />
Montreal to Cambridge.”<br />
Valentine O’Donovan was born in<br />
Irel<strong>and</strong> in 1936. In 1953 he went to<br />
work for Pye Ltd. in Cambridge,<br />
Engl<strong>and</strong> as an engineering apprentice.<br />
Using a company funded part-time<br />
day release program he studied<br />
engineering at the Cambridge <strong>College</strong><br />
of Arts <strong>and</strong> Technology. He graduated<br />
in 1959 <strong>and</strong> joined the staff of Pye<br />
Telecommunications as a professional<br />
engineer. In 1962 he invented a new<br />
type of microwave multiplexer <strong>and</strong><br />
his paper describing it, “Microwave<br />
Branching Systems”, was published in<br />
the Journal of the Institution of<br />
Electronic <strong>and</strong> Radio Engineers. It<br />
was awarded the Leslie McMichael<br />
Premium for the best paper published<br />
in the Journal on the topic of Radio<br />
Communications in 1963.<br />
That same year, he immigrated to<br />
Canada <strong>and</strong> joined the<br />
Communications Division of RCA in<br />
Montreal, where he participated in<br />
the engineering development of the<br />
first generation of satellite earth<br />
stations. These had antennas more<br />
than 100 feet in diameter <strong>and</strong><br />
communicated with the very first<br />
“Early Bird” geo-synchronous<br />
satellites. In 1969, he transferred to<br />
the Space Systems Division <strong>and</strong> led<br />
the team developing the technology<br />
required for advanced microwave<br />
payloads for Communications<br />
Satellites. In 1971, he became the<br />
manager of the Satellite Transponder<br />
Department which was responsible<br />
for designing the payloads used in<br />
the Canada/USA Communications<br />
Technology Satellite (Hermes) <strong>and</strong> the<br />
first USA Domestic Satellites (RCA<br />
Satcom). A few years later, he coauthored<br />
a book entitled “Microwave<br />
Filters for Communications Systems”.<br />
In 1974, Mr. O’Donovan left RCA to<br />
become President <strong>and</strong> Chief<br />
Executive Officer of COM DEV, a<br />
new start-up company that eventually<br />
settled in Cambridge, Ontario. He<br />
took the company from a fledgling<br />
operation, to a globally recognized<br />
leader in its industry. Ten years later,<br />
COM DEV was the first gold medal<br />
winner in the category of<br />
“Technology Innovation” when the<br />
Canada Awards of Excellence were<br />
inaugurated. In May 1990, he became<br />
Chairman of the Board <strong>and</strong> Chief<br />
Executive Officer. In June 1999, he<br />
stepped down from the role of CEO<br />
while retaining the position of<br />
Chairman of the Board. In 2004, Mr.<br />
O’Donovan resigned from his duties<br />
as Chairman of the Board <strong>and</strong><br />
Director of the Company he founded<br />
over 30 years ago.<br />
Today, COM DEV is the largest<br />
Canadian-based designer <strong>and</strong>
manufacturer of space hardware<br />
subsystems, with facilities in Canada,<br />
the United Kingdom <strong>and</strong> China. The<br />
Company manufactures advanced<br />
products <strong>and</strong> subsystems that are sold<br />
to major satellite prime contractors for<br />
use in communications, space<br />
science, remote sensing <strong>and</strong> military<br />
satellites.<br />
In 1992, Mr. O’Donovan was the<br />
winner of the Institution of Electrical<br />
<strong>and</strong> Electronic Engineers’<br />
McNaughton Gold Medal, which bore<br />
the citation: “for sustained leadership<br />
in the development of space<br />
technology <strong>and</strong> for transforming a<br />
fledgling company into a significant<br />
international player in the field of<br />
satellite communications”. One year<br />
later, he received the Laurier<br />
Outst<strong>and</strong>ing Business Leader from<br />
Wilfrid Laurier University <strong>and</strong> in 1995<br />
the University of Waterloo awarded<br />
him the Degree of Doctor of<br />
Engineering (Honoris Causa). In May<br />
of 1997, he became the 7th<br />
Chancellor of the University of<br />
Waterloo, <strong>and</strong> served as Chancellor<br />
from 1997-2003. In 2001, Mr.<br />
O’Donovan became the second<br />
recipient of the Canadian John<br />
Herbert Chapman Award of<br />
Excellence, in recognition for those<br />
Canadians who have made an<br />
exceptional contribution to the<br />
Canadian Space Program. In 2003,<br />
he became a member of the Order of<br />
Canada for his vision <strong>and</strong> leadership<br />
in the space science <strong>and</strong> technology<br />
sectors.<br />
Mr. O’Donovan helped facilitate the<br />
move of the University of Waterloo’s<br />
School of Architecture, he <strong>and</strong> his<br />
wife Sheila contributed $3 million<br />
towards the school’s move to<br />
Cambridge. The O’Donovan family<br />
have also been most generous<br />
benefactors to that university in other<br />
ways, including the creation of<br />
endowed research chairs, one in the<br />
Faculty of Arts, another in the Faculty<br />
of Engineering (the O'Donovan Chair<br />
in Engineering), <strong>and</strong> have donated a<br />
number of rare Canadian historical<br />
volumes to the UW Library.<br />
In July 2000, Sheila <strong>and</strong> Val<br />
O’Donovan offered a founding gift to<br />
begin the process of establishing a<br />
charitable foundation to establish a<br />
Campus Update<br />
Valentine O’Donovan – continued<br />
hospice. The Lissard House is<br />
committed to helping people who are<br />
dying of cancer, live the life<br />
remaining to them as fully as<br />
possible, <strong>and</strong> to easing the challenges<br />
facing their loved ones. It is the only<br />
freest<strong>and</strong>ing hospice serving people<br />
in the Waterloo Region.<br />
<strong>Conestoga</strong> has also been the recipient<br />
of Mr. O’Donovan’s generosity.<br />
Through COM DEV, the <strong>College</strong> has<br />
benefited from countless gifts of<br />
technology, learning resources, <strong>and</strong><br />
equipment over the years. COM DEV<br />
has also given over $56,000 in<br />
support of student awards <strong>and</strong><br />
almost $200,000 in support of the<br />
School of Engineering <strong>and</strong><br />
Information Technology, Trades <strong>and</strong><br />
Apprenticeships. COM DEV has<br />
also recently established two<br />
scholarships for students in our new<br />
Integrated Telecommunication <strong>and</strong><br />
Computer Technologies <strong>and</strong><br />
Integrated Advanced Manufacturing<br />
Technologies applied degree<br />
programs, as well as a special new<br />
award for co-op students who are<br />
working at COM DEV <strong>and</strong> who are<br />
enrolled in the Electronics<br />
Engineering Technology Program.<br />
A number of COM DEV’s employees<br />
give of their time to contribute<br />
meaningfully on Program Advisory<br />
Committees, helping the <strong>College</strong><br />
ensure that the curriculum is up-todate<br />
<strong>and</strong> current with advances in<br />
technology.<br />
John Tibbits notes that our<br />
partnership with COM DEV has not<br />
diminished over the years, but that<br />
in fact it continues to grow <strong>and</strong><br />
flourish: “<strong>Conestoga</strong> is very pleased<br />
to have a strong partnership with<br />
COM DEV, a two-way relationship<br />
that sees COM DEV support our<br />
activities <strong>and</strong> participate in a variety<br />
of <strong>Conestoga</strong> boards <strong>and</strong><br />
committees, as well as provide our<br />
co-op students <strong>and</strong> graduates with<br />
valuable learning <strong>and</strong> employment<br />
opportunities."<br />
Since 2001, COM DEV’s CEO John<br />
Keating has been a member of the<br />
<strong>Conestoga</strong> Board of Governors,<br />
where he infuses each meeting with<br />
his trademark enthusiasm <strong>and</strong><br />
passion for education at <strong>Conestoga</strong>.<br />
Survived by his loving wife Sheila,<br />
his three children Simon, Stephen,<br />
<strong>and</strong> Chris, <strong>and</strong> seven gr<strong>and</strong>children,<br />
Mr. O’Donovan will be missed not<br />
only for his remarkable impression<br />
on the worlds of technology <strong>and</strong><br />
learning, but also by the community<br />
where he <strong>and</strong> his family have made<br />
such a meaningful impact.<br />
The <strong>Conestoga</strong> community wishes to<br />
recognize <strong>and</strong> thank Mrs.<br />
O’Donovan <strong>and</strong> COM DEV who<br />
continue to nourish the<br />
entrepreneurial spirit of business,<br />
technology, <strong>and</strong> of giving back to<br />
the educational community. Their<br />
endeavours continue to enable us to<br />
enrich our students’ learning<br />
experience through their generosity<br />
<strong>and</strong> commitment.<br />
Connections - winter 2006<br />
25
Reunions<br />
1974 & 1975 Recreation<br />
Leadership<br />
This was our second annual reunion<br />
<strong>and</strong> we have rededicated ourselves<br />
to doing it all over again next year<br />
on the 2nd Sunday in August (which<br />
makes the next one August 13, 2006),<br />
at Sage's Campground in Cambridge.<br />
Despite the rain, attendance was<br />
great.<br />
The following grads attended: Gerry<br />
Currie, Glenda Boughner, Ron Sage,<br />
Jane (Querin) Curtis, Toby Goodwin,<br />
Eleanor (Bibbey) Mille, Lorie<br />
(Seymour) Wild, Judy (Bannon)<br />
Buck, Brian Wilson, Bert (Liz)<br />
Callaghan, Bob Ballantyne <strong>and</strong> Denis<br />
Kuhl. Spouses attended as well,<br />
much to the delight of the group.<br />
We enjoyed a lovely day, the rain<br />
for the most part held off. The<br />
reunion was held in the covered<br />
pavilion area of the campground<br />
<strong>and</strong> much to our surprise, no more<br />
"port a potties". Ron Sage had<br />
recently installed two “real”<br />
bathrooms, with running water <strong>and</strong><br />
toilets that flushed! So we were a<br />
happy crew! Toby brought a year<br />
book, so we all reviewed this <strong>and</strong><br />
laughed, lots of talking <strong>and</strong> eating<br />
<strong>and</strong> had a few rounds of Bocci ball.<br />
Thanks to Jane <strong>and</strong> Ed Curtis, our<br />
photographers.<br />
back: Gerry Currie <strong>and</strong> Lorie Wild<br />
middle Bert Callaghan, Eleanor Mille,<br />
Brian Wilson, Jane Curtis <strong>and</strong> Ron Sage<br />
front Toby Goodwin, Bob Ballantyne,<br />
Denis Kuhl, <strong>and</strong> Judy Buck An<br />
26 Connections - winter 2006<br />
<strong>Alumni</strong> <strong>News</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Views</strong><br />
These three couples were together<br />
in college, all from the class of '75.<br />
Eleanor <strong>and</strong> Brian Mille celebrated<br />
their 30th anniversary last year. Lorie<br />
<strong>and</strong> Bob Wild <strong>and</strong> Brian <strong>and</strong> Cathy<br />
Wilson each celebrate 30 years this<br />
year. A fitting celebration for the<br />
class of '75's 30th year reunion.<br />
1987 Business Administration<br />
– Management Studies<br />
The reunion was on August 27th at<br />
one of the grads' farm in Acton. We<br />
had about 10 families (approx 35<br />
people) in attendance. Though it<br />
was a rainy day, the children still<br />
had fun getting to know each other<br />
as the parents allowed them to play<br />
soccer, tag <strong>and</strong> swim. Thanks to the<br />
mothers who brought changes of<br />
clothes so the kids were warmed!!!.<br />
We had a camp fire later that night,<br />
once things dried up a bit, roasting<br />
marshmallows <strong>and</strong> hot dogs, <strong>and</strong><br />
continued with our story telling. It<br />
was a potluck dinner affair <strong>and</strong> we<br />
had enough food to feed twice as<br />
many families.<br />
Everyone had a good time<br />
reminiscing about our college years<br />
plus getting caught up on all our<br />
current lives, jobs, children <strong>and</strong> the<br />
families extracurricular activities.<br />
1985 Nursing – Doon<br />
On September 24, 2005, the Nursing<br />
class of 1985 held a successful<br />
reunion at the Black Shop Restaurant<br />
in Cambridge. There were 29<br />
people in attendance <strong>and</strong> we hope<br />
to get together again in five years.<br />
Invitation<br />
Attention Graduates of Criminology & Law Enforcement, Law & Security<br />
Administration <strong>and</strong> Police Foundations programs…<br />
Don Douglas is retiring from <strong>Conestoga</strong> after 36 years! You are invited to the<br />
celebration to be held Tuesday May 2, 2006 4 – 7 pm<br />
For more information please contact Heather Bortolussi at<br />
hbortolussi@conestogac.on.ca or Harry Stavrou at hstavrou@conestogac.on.ca
Upcoming Reunions<br />
Business Administration – Materials<br />
Management - All Years<br />
Mike Shipley <strong>and</strong> Mark Morrison, both 1986 graduates of<br />
the Materials Management Program are planning a Cross-<br />
Generational Reunion of ALL Grads from the program.<br />
The Reunion will take place in the fall of 2006 <strong>and</strong> they<br />
are looking for volunteers to help organize the event.<br />
Anyone interested in helping out can contact Mark<br />
Morrison at mark.morrison@sympatico.ca or 519-823-0383<br />
or mwilliams@conestogac.on.ca We look forward to<br />
hearing from you. (For more information on the reunion<br />
<strong>and</strong> organization of the Materials Management <strong>Alumni</strong><br />
Chapter, please see page 32)<br />
1996 Early Childhood Education<br />
Shauna Dietrich (Psenak) is planning a 10 year reunion<br />
for fellow classmates. If you would like to get to gether<br />
on May 6, 2006 for dinner <strong>and</strong> a social, please contact<br />
her at psenakshauna@hotmail.com. Once she gets a<br />
number of responses, she can make reservations in<br />
Kitchener at a casual restaurant <strong>and</strong> give out further<br />
information. If you need other contact information for<br />
Shauna, please call Margie in the Development & <strong>Alumni</strong><br />
Relations office.<br />
1986 Nursing – Doon<br />
Make plans now to attend a 20 Year Reunion on May 12<br />
& 13, 2006. Events include an opening wine & cheese<br />
reception on Friday night <strong>and</strong> on Saturday, breakfast <strong>and</strong><br />
shopping in St. Jacobs, followed by a college tour <strong>and</strong><br />
dinner at Golf’s Restaurant in the evening. Call Margie in<br />
the Development & <strong>Alumni</strong> Relations office or Cheryl<br />
Rook at 519-576-2049.<br />
Lost Sheep<br />
S<strong>and</strong>ra Abud<br />
Kim Aelan (Filsinger)<br />
Karen Findling<br />
(Gingrich)<br />
Charlene Fletcher<br />
Charles Hogan<br />
Airi Koivula<br />
Diane Lewis<br />
Patricia McNeice<br />
Florence McPhee<br />
Laura Moore<br />
1986 Secretarial Arts – Executive<br />
<strong>Alumni</strong> <strong>News</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Views</strong><br />
Are you planning a reunion? We can assist you with the details, including mailing of your reunion information, <strong>and</strong><br />
booking of on-campus facilities. Get on board <strong>and</strong> start planning a reunion for your class. For more information,<br />
contact the Development & <strong>Alumni</strong> Relations Department 519-748-5220, ext. 3463 or email alumni@conestogac.on.ca.<br />
Louise Peitsch<br />
Evelyn Priddle<br />
Iris Rawlings (Splett)<br />
Jacqueline Wigboldus-<br />
Brower<br />
Attention 1986 grads of the Executive Secretarial<br />
Program! Mark your Calendars Now for Saturday,<br />
September 30th, 2006<br />
Leave your spouse at home <strong>and</strong> join us in Kitchener-<br />
Waterloo for an evening of fun, recollection <strong>and</strong> laughter.<br />
Location <strong>and</strong> time to be determined once we see how<br />
many of you can make it.<br />
RSVP by March 1, 2006 to nancyb@hotmail.com or<br />
svancleef@rim.com<br />
alumni@conestogac.on.ca<br />
Lost Sheep<br />
Edith Baer<br />
Tracey Beninger<br />
Lisa Brotzel<br />
Judy Cockburn<br />
Joanne Deleary<br />
Carol Dunn<br />
Marlene Exel (Van der<br />
Leeuw)<br />
Kathryn Guignion<br />
Laurie Hamel<br />
Corrie Hart<br />
1991 Business Administration - Accounting<br />
Book June 10, 2006 for a 15 year reunion! Please<br />
contact Mark at mjolley@craworld.com for more<br />
information.<br />
Lost Sheep<br />
Wayne Bell<br />
Mark Brown<br />
Joanna Craig<br />
Brenda Evans<br />
Janet Gehl<br />
1976 Nursing- Stratford<br />
Plans are underway for a reunion in Fall 2006! If you<br />
would like to help organize the event, please contact<br />
Joyce Jackson (Garner) at jjacksonrnbscn@yahoo.ca or<br />
call the <strong>Alumni</strong> office.<br />
Lost Sheep<br />
Wendy Boniface<br />
Janis Demmerling<br />
Lisa Evans<br />
Valentina Galachiuk<br />
Brenda Halloran<br />
1996 Nursing – Stratford<br />
It’ll be 10 years since graduation – let’s get together to<br />
plan a reunion! Please call Margie in the <strong>Alumni</strong> office<br />
for more information.<br />
Lost Sheep<br />
Lisa Boudreault (Baker)<br />
Eva Dyck<br />
Kimberley Greer (Nickel)<br />
1987 Business Admin. – Management Studies<br />
Plans are underway for a 20th Reunion in 2007. If you<br />
are interested in more information, please contact Carole<br />
Patterson (VanPaemel), at pattersonhome@rogers.com.<br />
Lost Sheep<br />
Tahani Aburaneh<br />
Gerald Adam<br />
Terry Becker<br />
John Bezruki<br />
John Binder<br />
S<strong>and</strong>ra Case<br />
Ken Colquhoun<br />
Michele Hart<br />
Joanne Heipel<br />
Gabriela Hembruch<br />
Allison Lackner<br />
Sherry Lawson (Wall)<br />
Nadia Massarotto<br />
Donna McCabe<br />
Carole Neu<br />
Teresa Nowak<br />
Gloria Piron<br />
Gabriela Pizziola<br />
Lynn Pomeroy<br />
Kathleen Hutchinson<br />
(Preissler)<br />
Shelley Kitchen<br />
Robert McOuatt<br />
Dorothy Schnittker<br />
Tracey Stone (Redwood)<br />
Marylyn Jenkins<br />
Gail Livingston<br />
Donna MacDonald<br />
Donna McKenzie<br />
Carrie McQueen<br />
(Burrell)<br />
Bobbi McGregor (Plater)<br />
Isis Melville (Manning)<br />
Jacqueline Ropp<br />
Karrie Taylor<br />
Elizabeth Dieterle<br />
Donna Dunnett<br />
(Davison)<br />
Michael Hartman<br />
Steve Hoffard<br />
David Krzewski<br />
Nancy Leonhardt (Nairn)<br />
Blaine McEwan<br />
Joe McGrath<br />
Teresa Postma<br />
Veronica Power<br />
Sharon Prior<br />
Laurie Ramseyer<br />
Talmadge Reid<br />
Tamara Reynolds<br />
Denise Schell<br />
Susan Schoch<br />
Anita Singh<br />
Angela Skinn<br />
Dimolkia Vacalopoulos<br />
Pamela Wood<br />
Christine Vettor (Shaver)<br />
Wassana Vongsa<br />
Petra Wiens<br />
June Wilson<br />
Dawn Zettel<br />
S<strong>and</strong>y Ostrom<br />
Esther Park<br />
Paula Rosser (Dietrich)<br />
Theresa Thachuk<br />
(Cushing)<br />
Marlene Zehr<br />
Judith Zehr<br />
Matthew Middleton<br />
Robert Morris<br />
Spencer Murray<br />
Victoria Scott<br />
Joanne Sims<br />
Lorraine Stillaway<br />
Cindy Weber<br />
Linda Worsnop (Dienst)<br />
Connections - winter 2006<br />
27
November 7th, 2005 was the date of<br />
the <strong>Alumni</strong> Association of <strong>Conestoga</strong>’s<br />
15th Annual General Meeting. The<br />
event was held in the Guild Room at<br />
the Doon Campus, <strong>and</strong> was attended<br />
by over 50 people. The out-going<br />
President, Brett Tucker welcomed the<br />
guests <strong>and</strong> <strong>Conestoga</strong> President, Dr.<br />
John Tibbits was the key-note<br />
speaker. He outlined his vision of<br />
the future for <strong>Conestoga</strong>, <strong>and</strong> thanked<br />
the <strong>Alumni</strong> Association for all of their<br />
28 Connections - winter 2006<br />
<strong>Alumni</strong> <strong>News</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Views</strong><br />
<strong>Alumni</strong> Association of <strong>Conestoga</strong><br />
Celebrates 15th Anniversary<br />
l-r Linda Taylor, Alycia Tedford,<br />
Monica Himmelman & Mike Shipley<br />
Sponsorship of <strong>Conestoga</strong><br />
alumni soccer teams for the Annual<br />
In-Door Soccer Tournament, hosted<br />
each year by <strong>Conestoga</strong> Athletics, <strong>and</strong><br />
organized by Alumnus Marlene Ford<br />
Sponsorship of both the<br />
Classic Golf Tournament, <strong>and</strong> the 1st<br />
Annual <strong>Alumni</strong> Varsity Golf<br />
Tournament.<br />
Organizing events such as the<br />
SWAK (Sealed with <strong>Alumni</strong> Kisses)<br />
Day Carnation Sales (Feb. 14th each<br />
year), <strong>and</strong> the <strong>Alumni</strong> Annual<br />
Skating Party.<br />
Supporting <strong>Conestoga</strong>’s<br />
Annual Fund <strong>and</strong> creating an<br />
<strong>Alumni</strong> Association Entrance<br />
Scholarship.<br />
support over the past 15 years. There<br />
were several past-presidents in<br />
attendance <strong>and</strong> Dr. Tibbits recognized<br />
their leadership contribution.<br />
Mike Shipley, Treasurer presented the<br />
Annual Financial Report which was<br />
approved by the voting members in<br />
attendance, <strong>and</strong> Norm Bertr<strong>and</strong>, Past-<br />
President presented the Nominating<br />
Committee’s report <strong>and</strong> the Slate of<br />
Officers for the coming year.<br />
Darren Desmarais, Consultant with<br />
Johnson Inc. presented the Annual<br />
Affinity Partnership report <strong>and</strong> gave an<br />
up-date on the current trends <strong>and</strong><br />
products available in the home <strong>and</strong><br />
automobile insurance industry. He<br />
then presented the Association with<br />
the largest affinity-partnership cheque<br />
in the Association’s history--$25,481.90.<br />
The last item on the agenda was the<br />
presentation of the Welcome Home<br />
Awards. This year there were 13<br />
<strong>Alumni</strong> Association Gives Back<br />
Sponsoring six awards for<br />
graduating students from various<br />
program areas, <strong>and</strong> sponsoring the<br />
<strong>Conestoga</strong> team in the Ontario<br />
<strong>College</strong> Marketing Competition.<br />
Purchasing 50 signs which are<br />
used at various <strong>Conestoga</strong> events<br />
such as Tech@Work <strong>and</strong> on-campus<br />
Job Fairs.<br />
Purchasing a life-size<br />
mannequin, known as R<strong>and</strong>y, for<br />
use in the Police Foundations, Pre-<br />
Service Firefighters, <strong>and</strong> Law <strong>and</strong><br />
Security Administration Programs.<br />
The purchase of a designated<br />
printer for the Registrar’s Office to<br />
produce official records <strong>and</strong><br />
documents (cost-shared with CSI).<br />
recipients of this award which has<br />
been presented annually for the past<br />
three years. Brett <strong>and</strong> Mike<br />
presented each eligible, first-year<br />
student with a cheque for $250 <strong>and</strong> a<br />
gift for their parent.<br />
Monica Himmelman, <strong>Alumni</strong> Services<br />
<strong>and</strong> Annual Fund Officer, presented<br />
Brett Tucker, with a gift of<br />
appreciation from <strong>Conestoga</strong>,<br />
recognizing Brett’s significant<br />
contributions to the Association <strong>and</strong><br />
to <strong>Conestoga</strong>.<br />
After the adjournment of the formal<br />
part of the meeting the Board<br />
members <strong>and</strong> guests enjoyed a social<br />
time with refreshments <strong>and</strong> a powerpoint<br />
presentation which highlighted<br />
the activities of the Association over<br />
the past year. Special thanks to Anne<br />
Charles, Faculty Representative to the<br />
Board, <strong>and</strong> Margie Williams <strong>Alumni</strong><br />
<strong>and</strong> Annual Fund Assistant, for<br />
creating this wonderful presentation.<br />
Over the past year the <strong>Alumni</strong> Association of <strong>Conestoga</strong> has invested in <strong>Conestoga</strong> <strong>and</strong> the community in the<br />
following ways:<br />
Promotional items such as<br />
pens <strong>and</strong> magnets, cards <strong>and</strong><br />
letterhead, used to promote <strong>and</strong><br />
raise the profile of the Association<br />
<strong>and</strong> <strong>Conestoga</strong> <strong>College</strong><br />
Board Development: Strategic<br />
Planning Day, attendance at<br />
provincial conferences, (CCA. <strong>and</strong><br />
Opening Doors) <strong>and</strong> Volunteer<br />
Recognition Evening.<br />
Donations to the Kelly Family-<br />
Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund, <strong>and</strong><br />
Student Services emergency fund.<br />
Sponsoring the <strong>Alumni</strong><br />
Association of <strong>Conestoga</strong>’s Welcome<br />
Home Award.
<strong>Conestoga</strong> Needs Long-<br />
Term, Stable Funding<br />
In order to continue to provide the<br />
quality education <strong>and</strong> equip our<br />
graduating students with the skills<br />
that they need, Tim Kingsbury, 1982<br />
Business Administration—Materials<br />
<strong>and</strong> Operational Management<br />
graduate, <strong>and</strong> 2005 Alumnus of<br />
Distinction Award Recipient invites<br />
you to join him in pledging financial<br />
support to <strong>Conestoga</strong>.<br />
Tim has committed an annual<br />
donation of $100/year over the next<br />
twenty years. This generous gift will<br />
provide an on-going, long-term<br />
financial resource which will help<br />
<strong>Conestoga</strong> provide the same high<br />
quality education that he received,<br />
for the next generations of students.<br />
Tim's message to you is this: "If<br />
every graduate made this type of<br />
Affinity Partnership Johnson Inc. Platinum<br />
Sponsors<br />
On Sunday September 25, the first<br />
annual <strong>Conestoga</strong> <strong>Alumni</strong> Athletic<br />
Golf Tournament was held at<br />
Beaverdale golf course. It was a<br />
great day of golf <strong>and</strong> fun times with<br />
40 golfers hitting the links. Over<br />
$1000 was raised at this inaugural<br />
event.<br />
A special thanks goes to our<br />
sponsors: Johnson Inc, <strong>Conestoga</strong><br />
Residence & Conference Centre,<br />
<strong>Conestoga</strong> Students Incorporated<br />
<strong>and</strong> the <strong>Alumni</strong> Association.<br />
Additionally, we'd like to extend a<br />
thank you to everyone who helped<br />
with the tournament, we couldn't<br />
have done it without you!<br />
<strong>Alumni</strong> <strong>News</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Views</strong><br />
Tim Kingsbury – A Challenge to <strong>Alumni</strong>!<br />
pledge, <strong>Conestoga</strong> would be able to<br />
count on $4.5 million a year for the<br />
next twenty years from it's <strong>Alumni</strong>.<br />
With this type of stable funding<br />
<strong>Conestoga</strong> would be able to plan for<br />
the future <strong>and</strong> continue to provide<br />
the up-to-date technology <strong>and</strong> tools<br />
for our students, so that they are<br />
well equipped for tomorrow’s<br />
workplace.”<br />
Tim is also committed to attending<br />
any class reunions, workshops or<br />
networking opportunities to<br />
encourage <strong>and</strong> promote <strong>Alumni</strong><br />
Giving Back. He will make an<br />
additional donation to <strong>Conestoga</strong> for<br />
every donation pledged. Please<br />
consider Tim’s invitation <strong>and</strong> join the<br />
growing number of <strong>Conestoga</strong> grads<br />
who are giving back to their school.<br />
For more information on how to<br />
become part of the Donor Family at<br />
<strong>Conestoga</strong>, please see the inside<br />
First Annual<br />
<strong>Conestoga</strong> <strong>Alumni</strong> Athletic Golf Tournament<br />
<strong>Alumni</strong> Association Foursome<br />
l-r Harlyn Milmine, Sara Marie Thompson,<br />
Andrew Mercier & Mike Shipley<br />
Hockey sticks on the putting green?!<br />
Tim Kingsbury, 2005 Alumnus of Distinction<br />
back cover of this magazine, or<br />
contact Monica Himmelman at<br />
519-748-5220 ext. 3459, or by email:<br />
mhimmelman@conestogac.on.ca<br />
Results:<br />
Putting Contest.......................Glenn Menard,<br />
Larry Himmelman<br />
Lady’s Longest Drive ..................Cathy Taylor<br />
Men’s Longest Drive.................Jason Stolper<br />
Lady’s Closest to the Pin.........Lindsay Seibel<br />
Men’s Closest to the Pin ......Larry Himmelman<br />
Top 4 ...........................................Jon Olinski<br />
Mike Harris<br />
Shawn Scott<br />
Brad Whiteford<br />
Connections - winter 2006<br />
29
CSI invites all <strong>Conestoga</strong> alumni to<br />
share their involvement in various<br />
student associations at <strong>Conestoga</strong><br />
<strong>College</strong>. CSI would also appreciate if<br />
you can help with filling in the<br />
missing spaces of the past executive<br />
from the student association.<br />
Over the past few months,<br />
<strong>Conestoga</strong> Students Inc. (CSI) has<br />
been researching its past-executive<br />
members dating all the way back to<br />
it’s beginning as the Doon Student<br />
Association (DSA). To date, CSI has<br />
been able to discover its past<br />
Presidents <strong>and</strong> past Vice-Presidents<br />
dating back to the mid-1970s. CSI<br />
30 Connections - winter 2006<br />
<strong>Alumni</strong> <strong>News</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Views</strong><br />
<strong>Conestoga</strong> Students Inc. (CSI)<br />
Looking to the Past<br />
by Jonathan Wolfe<br />
0has also discovered its first<br />
president Neil Aitchison <strong>and</strong> its first<br />
vice-president Andrew Dysart in<br />
1968.<br />
To get to where we are today, CSI<br />
had to dig deep into the archives,<br />
looking at past issues of the “Spoke”<br />
newspaper dating back to the 1970s<br />
<strong>and</strong> reading through the past<br />
agreements with the college along<br />
with past DSA/CSI corporate<br />
documents, with dust included.<br />
Along with researching the DSA past<br />
executive, CSI has come across its<br />
past with the Waterloo Student<br />
Association, Guelph Student<br />
CSI Executive<br />
Year of Term President Vice-President(s)<br />
Association <strong>and</strong> the Stratford Nurses<br />
Association.<br />
CSI is looking to take all information<br />
collected <strong>and</strong> build historical<br />
archives. By building the archives,<br />
CSI plans to learn more about the<br />
past, while the organization looks<br />
ahead to the future. CSI will<br />
construct a wall plaque to<br />
commemorate the efforts of past<br />
student leaders.<br />
Send your stories <strong>and</strong> information<br />
about the past to Jonathan Wolf,<br />
Director at <strong>Conestoga</strong> Students Inc.<br />
at 748-5131 ext. 22 or<br />
jwolf@conestogac.on.ca.<br />
2005-2006 Justin Falconer Leanne Bird<br />
2004-2005 Justin Falconer Scott Ingram-Cotton<br />
2003-2004 Justin Falconer Carie Laycock Ethan Miller<br />
2002-2003 Jon Olinski Justin Falconer Jay Mielke Jeff Stemmler<br />
2001-2002 Jon Olinski Jody Andruszkiewicz Ginny Hawkrigg Jaime Taylor<br />
2000-2001 Phil LeBeau/Brad Whiteford Mike Harris Brad Whiteford Jon Olinski<br />
1999-2000 Ellen Menage Mike Harris Jenn Hussey Steve Coleman<br />
1998-1999 Kristin Murphy Gerry Cleaves Jenn Hussey<br />
1997-1998 Chris Kroeker Gerry Cleaves Johanna Stevens<br />
1996-1997 April-Dawn Blackwell Beverly Cutone Krista Ogg<br />
1995-1996 Dawn Mittleholtz April-Dawn Blackwell<br />
1994-1995 Sabina Kampf Jackie Allin<br />
1993-1994 Ron Lehman/Geoff Pearson/Sabina Kampf Geoff Pearson Jennifer Kurt<br />
1992-1993 Todd Sutherl<strong>and</strong> Steve Tremblay Mark Weicker<br />
1991-1992 Jeffery Nold Anita Arnold Jamie Slater<br />
1990-1991 John Lassel Liz Hermle<br />
1989-1990 John Lassel Marjorie Hewitt<br />
1988-1989 Bryon Shantz Christine Wettlaufer<br />
1987-1988 Paul Colussi Tony Karais<br />
1986-1987 Bruce Hunking Paul Colussi<br />
1985-1986 Brian Schmidt Eian Campbell<br />
1984-1985 Dan R<strong>and</strong>all Rich Tryon<br />
1983-1984 Jacqueline Matthews Norm Bertr<strong>and</strong><br />
1982-1983 R<strong>and</strong>y Hutchings Jacqueline Matthews<br />
1981-1982 Dan Ryans Kevin Nosalik<br />
1980-1981 Glen Seibel Rob Reale<br />
1979-1980 Dana Culp Val Saturno<br />
1978-1979 Dana Culp Gerry Daly<br />
1977-1978 Howard Elliot/Dana Culp Val Saturno<br />
1976-1977 Al L<strong>and</strong>ry Scott Heal<br />
1975-1976 Jane Mitchell Jeff Paleczny<br />
1974-1975<br />
1973-1974<br />
1972-1973 Al Pyra<br />
1971-1972<br />
1970-1971 Peter V<strong>and</strong>eweg John Elliot<br />
1969-1970 Neil Aitchison<br />
1968-1969 Neil Aitchison Andrew Dysart<br />
1967-1968
Tracy <strong>and</strong> Sean Jasmins, fellow<br />
graduates <strong>and</strong> close friends of Mike<br />
<strong>and</strong> Suzanne Kelly sent us the<br />
following messages:<br />
September 9th 2005<br />
“Mike <strong>and</strong> Suzanne (Malette) Kelly<br />
(Broadcasting, Radio <strong>and</strong> Television<br />
Program grads in 1991 <strong>and</strong> 1992<br />
respectively), have been living out<br />
their dreams in Biloxi Mississippi for<br />
the past five years. Suzanne, who<br />
grew up in Kitchener, is the <strong>News</strong><br />
Director <strong>and</strong> morning Radio<br />
<strong>News</strong>caster for Triad Broadcasting in<br />
Biloxi, <strong>and</strong> Mike, who originally hails<br />
from Seaforth, is the Director of<br />
Broadcasting <strong>and</strong> Media Relations<br />
<strong>and</strong> the “Voice” of the Mississippi<br />
Seawolves (East Coast Hockey<br />
League). In January of this year they<br />
proudly welcomed their first child,<br />
Gregory<br />
Following the hurricane evacuation<br />
<strong>Alumni</strong> <strong>News</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Views</strong><br />
<strong>Alumni</strong> Survive Hurricane Katrina<br />
by Tracey Jasmine*<br />
<strong>Conestoga</strong> <strong>College</strong> is committed to<br />
protecting the privacy of your<br />
personal information. Information,<br />
such as your address, telephone<br />
number <strong>and</strong> work information, is<br />
collected <strong>and</strong> used under the<br />
authority of the Ontario <strong>College</strong>s of<br />
Applied Arts <strong>and</strong> Technology Act,<br />
R.S.O. 2002 <strong>and</strong> its regulations. It is<br />
disclosed to <strong>Conestoga</strong> employees<br />
only as appropriate, <strong>and</strong> is restricted<br />
to volunteers who act on behalf of<br />
<strong>Conestoga</strong> <strong>and</strong> underst<strong>and</strong> the<br />
privacy policy <strong>and</strong> confidentiality<br />
expectations.<br />
When you, as a student, graduate,<br />
parent of a graduate or friend of<br />
<strong>Conestoga</strong>, provide personal<br />
information to the school through<br />
formal channels (e.g., forms) <strong>and</strong>/or<br />
informal channels (e.g.,<br />
conversations), record of that<br />
information may be kept on file.<br />
<strong>Conestoga</strong> may draw upon this<br />
information to advance its goals of<br />
notice, the Kelly’s packed what they<br />
could in fifteen minutes <strong>and</strong> drove<br />
four hours to Pensacola, Florida to<br />
stay with friends <strong>and</strong> wait out the<br />
storm as Hurricane Katrina ravaged<br />
the Gulf Coast. Thankfully they are<br />
all safe, but their lives have been<br />
forever changed by this devastating<br />
event.”<br />
November 1st, 2005<br />
We last spoke to Mike <strong>and</strong> Suzanne a<br />
couple of weeks ago. Here is their<br />
message.<br />
“Dear Friends,<br />
We want to thank you for your<br />
support <strong>and</strong> prayers.<br />
It’s been a touchy few weeks since<br />
Hurricane Katrina hit the Mississippi<br />
Gulf Coast area on August 29th.<br />
After fleeing to safety for 12 days to<br />
friends in Pensacola Florida, we<br />
returned to Biloxi.The water is<br />
contaminated, but it’s a liveable<br />
situation.We have been unable to<br />
locate some of our friends in the<br />
area that stayed during the storm.<br />
More than 5,000 structures in Biloxi<br />
alone were demolished.The area<br />
looks like a war zone with military<br />
helicopters <strong>and</strong> trucks helping in the<br />
search <strong>and</strong> recovery.We are counting<br />
our blessings.<br />
The Mississippi Sea Wolves hockey<br />
team suspended operations for this<br />
upcoming season. Mike has accepted<br />
an offer to remain with the team to<br />
work in the community <strong>and</strong> help in<br />
the healing process. He’ll be back on<br />
the air calling games in October<br />
2006. Suzanne was hired back as the<br />
morning news anchor <strong>and</strong> director<br />
despite considerable damage to the<br />
radio station” (they are currently<br />
broadcasting from makeshift studios<br />
in a trailer).<br />
Privacy of Personal Information Statement<br />
excellence in education <strong>and</strong> cocurricular<br />
activities, efficient<br />
administration, active alumni<br />
relations <strong>and</strong> successful fundraising<br />
towards school priorities <strong>and</strong><br />
objectives. To further these goals,<br />
<strong>and</strong> to help us better celebrate the<br />
achievements <strong>and</strong> sometimes mourn<br />
losses within the <strong>Conestoga</strong><br />
community, the school may also<br />
keep on file publicly available<br />
information (e.g., newspaper<br />
clippings).<br />
Personal information attained by<br />
<strong>Conestoga</strong> is, under no<br />
circumstances, rented, sold or given<br />
to any organization outside of the<br />
<strong>Conestoga</strong> community. Rather, this<br />
information is used strictly within<br />
<strong>Conestoga</strong> to improve our<br />
communications, to strengthen our<br />
school community <strong>and</strong> to better<br />
engage parents, students, alumni,<br />
donors, friends <strong>and</strong> volunteers as<br />
participants in the <strong>Conestoga</strong> family.<br />
For further information on our<br />
commitment to protecting your<br />
privacy, please contact Charlene I.<br />
Cloutier, Executive Assistant to the<br />
Vice-President, Finance <strong>and</strong><br />
Corporate Performance at 519-748-<br />
5220 ext. 3233. If you would prefer<br />
not to have your personal<br />
information retained, or if you have<br />
concerns about our privacy policy,<br />
please notify Monica Himmelman or<br />
Margie Williams, in the Development<br />
<strong>and</strong> <strong>Alumni</strong> Relations Department.<br />
Connections - winter 2006<br />
31
The Materials <strong>and</strong> Operations<br />
Management program is designed to<br />
provide the grad with the skills <strong>and</strong><br />
knowledge required for employment<br />
in the highly specialized <strong>and</strong><br />
exp<strong>and</strong>ing fields of production <strong>and</strong><br />
inventory control, purchasing, traffic,<br />
logistics <strong>and</strong> value analysis. The<br />
Materials <strong>and</strong> Operations Management<br />
diploma is internationally recognized<br />
by three professional associations the<br />
Purchasing Management Association<br />
of Canada (PMAC), the Educational<br />
Society for Resource Management<br />
(APICS) <strong>and</strong> the International<br />
Materials Management Society (IMMS).<br />
By having the Materials <strong>and</strong><br />
Operations Management Diploma,<br />
grads are eligible for advanced<br />
st<strong>and</strong>ing at the following institutions:<br />
Northwood University, Michigan <strong>and</strong><br />
Athabasca University, Alberta.<br />
Since 1975, the Materials <strong>and</strong><br />
Operations Management program has<br />
had 31 graduating classes with over<br />
1039 grads. The <strong>Alumni</strong> Association<br />
of <strong>Conestoga</strong> is encouraging all<br />
alumni from all programs to start<br />
forming chapters. Back in April, Mark<br />
Morrison, Tim Kingsbury, <strong>and</strong> Mike<br />
Shipley began organizing the Materials<br />
Management <strong>Alumni</strong> Chapter. We are<br />
hoping to organize a Cross<br />
Generational Reunion in<br />
October/November 2006, depending<br />
on the completion of the new Student<br />
Centre at the Doon Campus. The<br />
chapter is in the introductory stages<br />
<strong>and</strong> over the next year or so it will<br />
become a very important resource for<br />
grads <strong>and</strong> current students of the<br />
program. The following employers<br />
have supported the development of<br />
the Materials Management <strong>Alumni</strong><br />
Chapter: AirBoss Rubber<br />
Compounding, Lear Canada, McNeil<br />
Consumer Healthcare, <strong>and</strong> Linamar.<br />
The following are some<br />
insights from Materials<br />
Management Grads.<br />
32 Connections - winter 2006<br />
<strong>Alumni</strong> <strong>News</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Views</strong><br />
Materials <strong>and</strong> Operations Management Cross-<br />
Generational Reunion<br />
by Mike Shipley<br />
Company Profiles<br />
AirBoss Rubber Compounding<br />
The Kitchener facility is the largest<br />
single independent capacity for<br />
custom rubber mixing in North<br />
America.<br />
Lear Canada<br />
Lear is ranked No. 127 on the<br />
2005 Fortune 500 list <strong>and</strong> named<br />
the “Most Admired Company” in<br />
the motor vehicle parts sector by<br />
Fortune for the past three years.<br />
Lear is one of the leading<br />
automotive suppliers in electronic<br />
<strong>and</strong> electrical products.<br />
McNeil Consumer Healthcare<br />
McNeil Consumer Healthcare is<br />
part of Johnson & Johnson Inc.<br />
The Guelph facility opened in<br />
1980 <strong>and</strong> produces Tylenol <strong>and</strong><br />
other over the counter<br />
medications.<br />
Linamar Corporation<br />
Linamar has come a long way in<br />
its 38 year history. It has grown<br />
from a small operation to a $1.8<br />
billion company. Linamar is a<br />
global manufacturer <strong>and</strong> supplier<br />
of leading edge solutions to the<br />
automotive industry <strong>and</strong> beyond.<br />
The firm is comprised of 32<br />
facilities, 20 of which are located<br />
in Guelph.<br />
Lynn McLaughlin, 1998 Grad<br />
Inventory Control Supervisor, Elmira<br />
Pet Products<br />
I remember back four years ago to<br />
the first time as an Inventory Control<br />
Supervisor being asked not only to<br />
take part in my first physical<br />
inventory, but to organize, lead <strong>and</strong><br />
oversee this inventory count. As<br />
well as having the responsibility of<br />
training all counters, I had to ensure<br />
that the count was accurate to within<br />
3%. At work, I was cool <strong>and</strong><br />
collected... appearing very confident<br />
<strong>and</strong> as sure of my role as I could<br />
muster. It had been almost four<br />
years since I had studied all that<br />
should be covered to suitably<br />
perform a physical inventory... was I<br />
really going to be able to do this?<br />
Would I perform in the manner that<br />
this company expected? Back in my<br />
office, my mind never stopped<br />
spinning, trying to remember all of<br />
the steps that must be performed<br />
<strong>and</strong> each function that needed to be<br />
completed prior to starting <strong>and</strong><br />
exacting a clean <strong>and</strong> accurate<br />
inventory count. I needed to ensure<br />
not only that all steps were covered,<br />
but that they were completed in the<br />
proper sequence. What did the<br />
counters need to know? What did<br />
an inventory tag need to look like?<br />
How was I to run the QAD system<br />
that this company was using <strong>and</strong><br />
reconcile the inventory count? Was<br />
the training that I received going to<br />
be enough? Am I going to neglect to<br />
carry out some key instruction - will<br />
I have the entire work force<br />
snickering at my incompetent, feeble<br />
attempts at running the show? Well,<br />
I had no need to worry; the<br />
inventory went off with great<br />
satisfaction. I was praised by my<br />
superiors <strong>and</strong> gained the admiration<br />
of fellow workers <strong>and</strong> subordinates.<br />
It wasn't that the inventory went off<br />
without a hitch, but it was completed<br />
accurately, in a timely fashion, <strong>and</strong><br />
all problems resolved to satisfaction.<br />
The Materials Management program<br />
<strong>and</strong> all that I had learned at<br />
<strong>Conestoga</strong> <strong>College</strong> came back to me<br />
<strong>and</strong> served me well.<br />
I am now approaching yet another<br />
physical inventory. I have performed<br />
physical inventories for Heinz, Del<br />
Monte, DLM Foods <strong>and</strong> now Elmira<br />
Pet Products <strong>and</strong> I no longer lose any<br />
sleep. I know that this inventory will<br />
be performed well <strong>and</strong> it will<br />
reconcile without a great deal of<br />
issues. Auditors will come in,<br />
scrutinize everything <strong>and</strong> go home<br />
happy. The new owners of Elmira<br />
Pet Products will feel confident that<br />
they are buying material that is<br />
accurately reflected in the books.<br />
Thanks in part to the training that I<br />
received in the Materials Management<br />
program at <strong>Conestoga</strong>.
Shawn Casemore, 1995 Grad<br />
Since choosing the Materials<br />
Management Diploma Program, I<br />
have had the opportunity to work in<br />
all areas of the Materials<br />
Management field. Of the positions<br />
I have held, I have had the<br />
opportunity to work as a Senior<br />
Production Planner, Senior Master<br />
Scheduler, Materials Supervisor,<br />
Senior Buyer <strong>and</strong> am currently the<br />
Materials Manager for a small but<br />
growing company in the Owen<br />
Sound area. The benefits that this<br />
program has offered me are two<br />
fold. Firstly, it has offered a variety<br />
of career options due to the broad<br />
range of subjects that are covered<br />
throughout the program. Secondly,<br />
there is a growing recognition in the<br />
work world of the benefits that<br />
Materials Management grads can<br />
offer, from improved utilization of<br />
freight to increased contributions to<br />
the bottom line. This increased<br />
recognition along with a vast<br />
knowledge of production related<br />
fields offers a great deal of flexibility<br />
for any graduate’s career, something<br />
which is key in today's environment.<br />
<strong>Alumni</strong> <strong>News</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Views</strong><br />
Materials <strong>and</strong> Operations Management continued<br />
Business Administration –<br />
Accounting graduates have the<br />
opportunity to earn a degree from<br />
the Southern Alberta Institute of<br />
Technology (SAIT) through study at<br />
the Doon Campus under the<br />
tutelage of <strong>Conestoga</strong> instructors.<br />
To earn a Bachelor of Applied<br />
Business Administration with a major<br />
in Accounting <strong>and</strong> Information<br />
Technology, a graduate must first<br />
complete <strong>Conestoga</strong>’s post-diploma<br />
certificate, Accounting <strong>and</strong><br />
Information Technology (AIT), <strong>and</strong><br />
then apply to CGA Ontario <strong>and</strong> SAIT<br />
to complete two four-month directed<br />
field study courses, which can be<br />
accomplished from any accounting or<br />
IT job location. The AIT certificate is<br />
Doug Willms 1982 Grad<br />
• All the courses seemed very<br />
practical <strong>and</strong> useful at the time I<br />
studied them.<br />
• The teachers in the program were<br />
all experienced out in the field.<br />
They'd all worked for various<br />
companies that used the MM<br />
position/function in their<br />
organization(s).<br />
• I liked the fact that we also got<br />
immediate recognition status (at<br />
graduation) in the PMAC <strong>and</strong> CAPICs<br />
associations.<br />
• The MM program also gave grads<br />
the option of branching out into a<br />
specialized areas of Materials<br />
Management - e.g. Industrial<br />
Engineering, Quality Control,<br />
Purchasing Manager or Comptroller<br />
a ten-month program if completed on<br />
a full-time basis, but it is possible to<br />
stretch it out by applying as a parttime<br />
or continuing education student.<br />
Graduates of the AIT program may<br />
use their certificate to apply for<br />
transfer credits with CGA Ontario.<br />
To become a Certified General<br />
Accountant after the SAIT degree,<br />
Tim Kingsbury - 1982<br />
Graduate<br />
Materials Management was, in terms<br />
of a career, the greatest thing that<br />
ever happened to me. I graduated<br />
high school in the late 70's, with<br />
turmoil in the job market place, when<br />
a plain university degree no longer<br />
guaranteed you a good job. I l<strong>and</strong>ed<br />
in Materials Management <strong>and</strong> had no<br />
idea how valuable my education was<br />
until I graduated. My peer group was<br />
MBA's <strong>and</strong> within the first couple of<br />
years of graduation, it became<br />
obvious that my education gave me a<br />
competitive advantage over my them.<br />
As I rose rapidly through the ranks at<br />
Canada's largest company, my<br />
education was a key factor for my<br />
success. Ten years into the work<br />
force, I realized that my education in<br />
Materials Management was an<br />
absolute bargain, in terms of time<br />
spent to take the course <strong>and</strong> the<br />
money it cost at the time. Over the<br />
past 20 years, I have consistently out<br />
performed my peer group, <strong>and</strong> made<br />
incomes relevant to Harvard <strong>and</strong> Yale<br />
graduates, whose education took 5-7<br />
years <strong>and</strong> several hundred thous<strong>and</strong><br />
dollars. Without any doubt, Materials<br />
Management was the foundation for<br />
that success.<br />
Degree Opportunity for Business Administration –<br />
Accounting Grads<br />
by Brenda Warner Southern Alberta Institute of Technology - Bachelor of Applied<br />
Business Administration<br />
For information:<br />
Brenda Warner: 519-748-5220 ext 3818 or warner@conestogac.on.ca OR<br />
Frank Mensink: 519-748-5220 ext 3245 or fmensink@conestogac.on.ca<br />
http://www.conestogac.on.ca/jsp/programs/schoolbusiness/acctinfotech.jsp<br />
To register for full-time or part-time: www.ocas.on.ca (<strong>College</strong> code is CONS, program code is<br />
1109, campus code is 12)<br />
To register for continuing education:<br />
http://www.conestogac.on.ca/jsp/cecatf/how2regprograms.pdf<br />
two CGA courses with their exams<br />
would remain plus practical<br />
experience at the senior level.<br />
For admission requirements, dates<br />
<strong>and</strong> locations of upcoming<br />
information sessions or other<br />
information, visit the website or<br />
contact one of the people listed in<br />
the information box above.<br />
Connections - winter 2006<br />
33
34 Connections - winter 2006<br />
<strong>Alumni</strong> <strong>News</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Views</strong><br />
Students prepare<br />
to serve lunch in<br />
our Waterloo<br />
Campus dining<br />
room<br />
<strong>Conestoga</strong> students serve up a pancake breakfast at Oktoberfest<br />
Above: Current Chef Philippe Saraiva with retired Chef<br />
Peter Bassin. It was Peter’s idea to have his students<br />
cook a pancake breakfast at the annual Oktoberfest<br />
Community Breakfast 20 years ago.<br />
This year <strong>Conestoga</strong> students mixed 1,600 pounds of<br />
pancake batter to make 20,000 pancakes <strong>and</strong> cooked<br />
nearly 40,000 sausages for the Kitchener/Waterloo<br />
community.<br />
Joe Pavia, 1989 BRT grad <strong>and</strong> <strong>Conestoga</strong> President, John Tibbits at<br />
Oktoberfest Community Breakfast
<strong>Alumni</strong> <strong>News</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Views</strong><br />
l-r: Monica Himmelman, Alycia Tedford <strong>and</strong> Mike Shipley, front: R<strong>and</strong>y<br />
The <strong>Alumni</strong> Association purchased a life-size mannequin,<br />
known as R<strong>and</strong>y, for use in the Police Foundations,<br />
Pre-Service Firefighters, <strong>and</strong> Law <strong>and</strong> Security<br />
Administration Programs.<br />
Susan Hilton: An Update<br />
We featured an article on Susan Hilton in our Winter, 2000 edition of<br />
Connections. At that time she had recently celebrated her first anniversary<br />
with her new heart. Susan had been diagnosed with hypertrophic<br />
cardiomyopathy, a disease that had claimed the lives of her gr<strong>and</strong>mother, her<br />
uncle <strong>and</strong> her 17 year-old brother Scott. In 1998, Susan received a heart<br />
transplant.<br />
What has Susan been doing since her new lease on life began? It took some<br />
time for Susan to get her “l<strong>and</strong> legs” after having been so ill for such a long<br />
time, but once she got her stride, there was<br />
no holding this determined young woman<br />
back. As her body adjusted, Susan decided<br />
to take her Mother’s advice to go back to<br />
school. As a result of medication that Susan<br />
will have to take for the rest of her life, some<br />
areas of nursing are no longer an option for<br />
her. Therefore, the opportunity to take<br />
certification courses in Leadership <strong>and</strong><br />
Susan Hilton - now<br />
Management at St. Mary’s General Hospital<br />
through McMaster University, seemed a logical<br />
step. One step lead to another, <strong>and</strong> Susan applied for the Bachelor of Science<br />
Nursing Program, from which she graduated in June of 2005, Magna Cum Laude, <strong>and</strong><br />
on the Dean’s Honour List.<br />
This fall Susan became a part-time faculty member here at <strong>Conestoga</strong>, teaching in the<br />
Practical Nursing Program. What’s in the future for this inspirational woman? “I’d<br />
love to get my Master’s of Science degree, <strong>and</strong> become full-time faculty at Conetoga.<br />
To teach here full-time would be a dream come true”.<br />
Susan’s 1st Birthday with her new<br />
heart - Connections, Winter 2000<br />
Planning a Reunion?<br />
The Development <strong>and</strong> <strong>Alumni</strong> Relations office would be happy to<br />
assist you with planning the details. We offer:<br />
✔ class lists & grad tracking ✔ publish your article & pictures in<br />
✔ print & mail your invitations free Connections<br />
✔ advertise your reunion in<br />
Connections<br />
✔ assistance with planning your<br />
reunion<br />
✔ we will act as contact for RSVP<br />
information<br />
✔ we will help arrange location &<br />
guest speakers<br />
✔ door prizes & h<strong>and</strong>outs<br />
plus any other details that would make<br />
your reunion the event of the year.<br />
Call 519-748-5220, ext. 3463<br />
Connections - winter 2006<br />
35
36 Connections - winter 2006<br />
<strong>Alumni</strong> <strong>News</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Views</strong><br />
Annual <strong>Alumni</strong><br />
Winterfest<br />
Sunday, February 5<br />
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm<br />
<strong>Conestoga</strong> Rec Centre<br />
• Free Skating<br />
• Games for the Kids<br />
• Prizes<br />
RSVP 519-748-5220, ext. 3463 or<br />
mwilliams@conestogac.on.ca<br />
Don’t forget the <strong>Alumni</strong> Indoor Soccer<br />
Tournament: February 4 & 5<br />
8:00 am - 8:00 pm, <strong>Conestoga</strong> Rec Centre<br />
Ski<br />
Chicopee<br />
Four Hour Lift<br />
Ticket $20<br />
for tickets call<br />
<strong>Alumni</strong> Services<br />
Ontario Science Centre<br />
Combo Ticket<br />
Science Centre & Omnimax Film<br />
Child 4-12 yrs $8<br />
Youth 13-17 yrs $11<br />
Adult 18-64 yrs $15<br />
Dates to Remember<br />
Job Fair ........................................................ Feb. 1<br />
<strong>Alumni</strong> Soccer Tournament........................... Feb. 4 & 5<br />
<strong>Alumni</strong> Association Annual Winterfest ........... Feb. 5<br />
SWAK (Sealed With <strong>Alumni</strong> Kisses) Day ........ Feb. 14<br />
ECE Conference............................................ Mar. 24 & 25<br />
Broadcasting Awards Banquet ...................... April 5<br />
<strong>Conestoga</strong> Classic ........................................ May 31<br />
Convocation.................................................. June 14 & 15<br />
For more information, please check our website or call<br />
the <strong>Alumni</strong> Office at 519-748-5220 ext. 3463<br />
Galaxy Cinema<br />
Cineplex Odeon<br />
Good Any Time Movie Pass<br />
Adults $7.50<br />
Children 13 & under $5<br />
Job Fair<br />
Wednesday,<br />
February 1, 2006<br />
10:00 am - 3:30 pm<br />
RIM Park<br />
The largest Job Fair in Canada<br />
<strong>Conestoga</strong> <strong>College</strong><br />
University of Guelph<br />
University of Waterloo<br />
Wilfrid Laurier University<br />
www.partners4employment.ca<br />
For ticket information contact<br />
Margie Williams at 519-748-5220, ext. 3463<br />
Payment of cash & cheque only<br />
www.conestogac.on.ca
How can I invest in the Annual Fund?<br />
Complete the attached pledge form <strong>and</strong> return it to Development <strong>and</strong> <strong>Alumni</strong> Relations in the<br />
Student/Client Services Building, Doon campus. Payment can be made by cheque, credit card or<br />
payroll deduction (<strong>Conestoga</strong> employees only).<br />
Please return your pledge card to:<br />
<strong>Conestoga</strong> <strong>College</strong> Annual Fund<br />
Development <strong>and</strong> <strong>Alumni</strong> Relations<br />
299 Doon Valley Drive<br />
Kitchener, ON N2G 4M4<br />
Charitable Registration Number: 10696 6799 RR0001<br />
If you have questions, please contact Monica Himmelman at 519-748-5220, ext. 3459, or email<br />
annualfund@conestogac.on.ca.<br />
Yes! I want to give<br />
❒ $50 ❒ $100 ❒ $250 ❒ $500 ❒ $1000 ❒ $2500 Other: $ ______<br />
Name _________________________________________________________________________<br />
Address _______________________________________________________________________<br />
City ________________________________Prov. ____________Postal Code________<br />
Phone_______________________________E-mail________________________________<br />
❒ Cheque (payable to <strong>Conestoga</strong> <strong>College</strong>) ❒ Visa ❒ MasterCard ❒ American Express<br />
❒ Payroll deduction (<strong>Conestoga</strong> employees only)<br />
Please deduct this amount from my pay in 12 installments.<br />
Credit Card Expiry Date: Month Year<br />
Credit Card<br />
Number<br />
Cardholder’s<br />
Name<br />
Did you know that every year <strong>Conestoga</strong> graduates more than 3,500 new professionals in the fields of Technology, Business,<br />
Health Sciences, Community Services, Trades <strong>and</strong> Apprenticeships <strong>and</strong> Communications?<br />
<strong>Conestoga</strong> has a tradition of striving for excellence <strong>and</strong> relevance. For seven straight years it has been rated the overall #1<br />
public college in Ontario. Giving to the Annual Fund will allow us to continue to respond to the changing economic environment<br />
<strong>and</strong> provide the educational opportunities our community needs to grow <strong>and</strong> thrive.<br />
Gifts from alumni, parents, employees <strong>and</strong> friends, allow <strong>Conestoga</strong> to develop innovative programs, purchase state-of-theart<br />
equipment, attract skilled <strong>and</strong> experienced faculty <strong>and</strong> staff, <strong>and</strong> provide students with tools for success.<br />
Your investment will help us move forward in meeting the needs of the community.<br />
Help plan for the future<br />
by investing in the Annual Fund!<br />
First Name Surname<br />
Cardholder’s Signature ____________________________________________<br />
“I have amazing memories of, <strong>and</strong> a real<br />
attachment to <strong>Conestoga</strong>. For the first time<br />
in my academic career, I was embraced by a<br />
system that encouraged me to fulfill my<br />
potential. I give back so future students will<br />
have the same opportunities I had.”<br />
Neil Aitchison, Class of 1970<br />
Broadcasting - Radio <strong>and</strong> Television<br />
I would like to invest in:<br />
❒ Highest Priority Needs ❒ Campus Expansions ❒ Learning Resource Centre<br />
❒ Technology Infrastructure ❒ Degree Programs ❒ Student Awards<br />
❒ Other _____________________________________________________________<br />
Did you graduate from <strong>Conestoga</strong>? If yes - Year___________________________________<br />
Name at time of Graduation ________________________________________________<br />
Is this a joint gift with your Spouse? ❒ Yes ❒ No<br />
Did your spouse graduate from <strong>Conestoga</strong>? If yes - Year_____________________________<br />
Name at time of Graduation ________________________________________________<br />
Recognition of Your Gift<br />
❒ I would like to be recognized for my investment via the Annual Donor Report, <strong>and</strong> would like<br />
my name to be listed as<br />
________________________________________________<br />
❒ I prefer to remain anonymous.<br />
The personal information obtained on this form is used for administrative, fundraising, <strong>and</strong> statistical purposes<br />
by the department of Development <strong>and</strong> <strong>Alumni</strong> Relations, the <strong>College</strong> <strong>and</strong>/or ministries <strong>and</strong> agencies of the governments<br />
of Ontario <strong>and</strong> Canada. This information is collected <strong>and</strong> used under the authority of the Ontario<br />
<strong>College</strong>s of Applied Arts <strong>and</strong> Technology Act, R.S.O. 2002, <strong>and</strong> regulations thereunder.<br />
(Three electronics students’ photo courtesy of The Record.)
Happy Holidays<br />
from all of us at Development & <strong>Alumni</strong> Services