Montreal Get-Togethersalumni newsMitch Ludington 2005, Sheldon Caplan 1972,Tom Rowan 1976, John Nadeau 1977, andHeadmaster WolfeTom Rowan 1976, Michel Giroux 1972, Jeff Knowles 1981and Allan Sonac 1974Eric Ronsse 2006, Paul Aton 2005, ChloeGascon-Douville 2007Bernie Hallot 1960, Steuart Levell 1954 and Patricia(Gerrie) Ackman 1955Jonathan Cowen 1972, Geoffrey Wagner 1971 and SheldonCaplan 1972François Paradis 1992, Antoine Leger 1992 andCharles Seagram 1992Record of Hood’s pool donation foundIn the last issue of the Red & White, we wrote about the pooland how we were unable to find any record of Ralph Hood’sdonation to the pool.Since publication, we’ve discovered a letter from MontrealTrust dated November 1, 1972 that refers specifically to a chequeFrank Lafleche 1954, Irene Corbiere 1953, AlanMacMillan 1955, Nancy (Pugh) Graham 1954See more photos online:www.stansteadcollege.comJohn Mackay 1952, Irene (Kerr) Corbière1953, Georges Beaubien 1968from Mr. Hood for $400,000 to build a swimming pool andsquash courts.Mr. Hood was apparently introduced to the school by DonaldRoss. What inspired him to donate money for a pool, however, isstill unclear.18
school newsStudent art goes publicLast year was a banner year for <strong>Stanstead</strong> <strong>College</strong> student art, withnew murals installed in the student centre and gym. Not to beoutdone, this year’s students have taken their art out into thecommunity.Under the direction of Art teacher Christian Williams, Grade 12student Jose-Alfonso Alfaro Portillo (seen at left at work) createdthis mural for the wall of the Town of <strong>Stanstead</strong> fire station,located at the bottom of the town hall.Grade 10 student Brittany Sharman, meanwhile, created a fourpanelwork (seen here temporarily on display at Border Fest) thatwill be installed at the <strong>Stanstead</strong> <strong>College</strong> Arena.From flu to visas, Mexican families face headachesFor Mexican parents and students, it’sbeen a tough couple of months. First a fluoutbreak, then unexpected visa requirementshave left families anxious and<strong>Stanstead</strong> <strong>College</strong> trying its best to findsolutions.In late April, the H1N1 flu outbreak inMexico set off fears of a global pandemic.Luckily, <strong>Stanstead</strong> <strong>College</strong>’s spring breakwas in March this year, ending prior to theoutbreak. Consequently there was virtuallyzero risk that our Mexican students hadbeen exposed during their visits home.This also helped to alleviate anxieties oncampus, although many students were concernedabout loved ones.With our students safe, the school wantedto ensure that they remained safe.Initially, the school imposed restrictions onvisitors arriving from Mexico, requiringthem to remain off-campus for a minimumof seven days after their arrival (theassumed incubation period at the time).Less than two weeks later, the school liftedall travel restrictions. This was based onrecommendations by health officials and,by then, the global prevalence and newunderstanding of the virus. Instead, theschool asked students travelling home forthe May break to contact the school if theywere suffering from flu-like symptoms orhad been in contact with anyone who was.Throughout this period, the school,under the guidance of school nurse MilèneBoudreau, encouraged preventive measuresand proper hygiene.To date, the student population hasremained virus-free.Then, in mid-June, the Canadian governmentunexpectedly imposed visa requirementsfor all Mexicans travelling toCanada. The reason for the change wasostensibly to curtail the ever-growing numberof refugee claims from Mexico, themajority of which are ultimately found tobe illegitimate. But it also had the effect of19causing headaches for legitimate travelers,such as students hoping to study at<strong>Stanstead</strong> <strong>College</strong> and parents hoping tobring them here.In response, <strong>Stanstead</strong> <strong>College</strong> communicatedwith Mexican families offeringinformation and support. With theCanadian embassy in Mexico City overwhelmedwith visa requests, <strong>Stanstead</strong><strong>College</strong> assured parents that if they areunable to bring their children to school foropening day, the <strong>College</strong> would pick thestudents up at the airport.In addition, Headmaster Wolfe andDirector of Advancement Dugie Rosstravelled to Mexico City in August, wherethey hosted a reception for new parents,providing them with first-hand reassurancethat all would be well with their children.Regardless of these headaches, at thiswriting <strong>Stanstead</strong> <strong>College</strong> was anticipatingthe arrival of about 25 students fromMexico this academic year.