Alumni Updates 07-08

—James Soutar ’83 recently emailed us from his home in China. “My wife and I did not make it to Montreal for Christmas this year for the very happy reason that we just had a son in November. Instead, our whole family came out here, which was great fun. Our son’s name is Alistair William Eugene Soutar, born November 17, 2007.”

—Harry Gurberg 2005 stopped by the school recently to see Headmaster Mitchell. Harry is working as a manager for Student Works, a student-only painting company that paints over 10,000 homes a summer in Canada, and over 30,000 in the United States. Student Works managers have a history of being hired by a number of major corporations. Harry is one of 150 managers chosen from 5,000 applicants. His crews paint mostly—but not exclusively—in Westmount. After graduating from Selwyn House, Harry went to Marianopolis in commerce, and is now in his first year at McGill in economics.

—Jason Coviensky 2005 has just been accepted into the Kenneth Woods Portfolio Management Program at Concordia University’s John Molson School of Business. Started in 2000, the two-year program brings together an elite group of undergraduate finance students to be trained in investment management. Working closely with top professors in JMSB’s Finance Department, a Client Committee and a group of industry leaders as Mentors, the KWPMP student portfolio managers work with a real-life portfolio which is now worth $1.4 million.

—We received a letter from Peter Hinrichsen, father of Robert Hinrichsen 2006, who is studying at Phillips Exeter Academy. Robert has been accepted at Oxford University to study law at Brazenose College in a four-year international program. This program, to which only 10 per cent of Oxford law students are admitted, will mean that Robert will spend his third year at Paris University studying French law, before returning to Oxford for his final year. Despite his ambition to study law, Robert is presently taking courses in university-level mathematics, and will be taking one in quantum theory next summer. “The excellent education that he received during his 12 years at Selwyn House laid the foundation and engendered the love of learning in Robert on which his further development at Phillips Exeter was built,” Peter writes.

—Selwyn House Board Member Michael Penner ’86 was featured in a December 24 Gazette article on the downturn experienced by Montreal’s clothing manufacturers since the lifting of import quotas. Michael owns and runs Richelieu Legwear, a 75-year-old manufacturing business bought by his father in 1997. In the new millennium, in danger of losing major accounts, the company had to re-invent itself, outsourcing manufacturing overseas and reducing its local workforce. To read the full article, go to http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/story.html?id=ec68ef8a-fe79-4d2a-8404-8bbd09629488

—Mark Belanger ’94 married Leisa Belanger (née Rattray) in beautiful, sunny Maui on Wailea beach at the Four Seasons Hotel, on October 24, 2007. After graduating from Selwyn House in 1994, Mark went on to obtain a Bachelor of Arts (Honors) at Queen’s University and his Juris Doctorate of Law at New England School of Law in Boston, Massachusetts. Mark has been practising law with Roger Ellingson, P.S. in Washington State for over the past four years in the area of civil litigation, family law and criminal defence. As of next year Mark will have obtained his license to practice law in British Columbia and plans to move his practice north of the border to Vancouver. The couple have recently purchased a new home in Vancouver and plan to move into their residence as of April 2008. Two dogs, no kids! See photo.

—Henry Buszard ’90 and fellow artist ARPi, who last year inaugurated Pointe St. Charles’ Espace les Neuf Soeurs with the very successful Banque d’Art, have returned to this newly renovated space with an original exhibition, entitled HERE and NOW (ICI-LA). All artwork will be sold in a silent auction, closing December 9. Espace les Neuf Soeurs is located in a storied former bank structure at 1900 Wellington, corner Ste. Madelaine, in Pointe St. Charles. The exhibition will remain open until December 9. Gallery hours are: Wednesday – Sunday, 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

—Nicolas Papageorgiou ’89 and his wife, Soizic Ressot, are happy to announce the arrival of their son, Thomas, on 29 June 2007. Nicolas presently holds the positions of Associate Professor of Finance at HEC Montreal and Director of Research at Desjardins Global Asset Management.

—Tiff Macklem ’78 has been appointed Associate Deputy Minister of Finance, effective November 1. He will reportedly serve as Canada’s Finance Deputy at the G-7, G-20, and the Financial Stability Forum. Tiff had been serving as Deputy Governor of the Bank of Canada since 2004, having joined the central bank in 1984 and serving in several senior positions, including Assistant Chief of the Research Department, Research Adviser, and Chief of the Research Department. In spite of now having left the Bank of Canada, Tiff is reportedly still seen as a prime candidate to become Governor of the Bank some time in the future. Tiff earned his bachelor’s degree in economics from Queen’s University and a master’s degree and PhD in economics from the University of Western Ontario. See photo.

— Jamie Pitblado ’81 commends the volunteers who put their heads on the chopping block for the third annual Shave to Save to raise money for breast cancer research. “I, too, shaved my head three and one-half years ago in honour of my brother, David ’79, who lost his battle shortly after. As a student of SHS, David made a significant contribution to the school. I am happy to report that my fundraising was in support of BC Children’s Hospital and their cancer program, and that I raised $25,000 in the process.” See photo.

—Damion Stodola ’91 writes: I have exciting news that I wanted to share with you and the Selwyn House community: I got married! My bride is the lovely Amanda Christine Hankes. We were married on September 29th at the Massawippi Union Church in Hatley, QC, followed by a reception at the Ripplecove Inn on the shores of Lake Massawippi. Amanda is a ballet dancer with the New York City Ballet, and, thankfully, the time she had off for the wedding coincided with the fall season in Québec. Although Amanda grew up outside of New York City in Ridgewood, New Jersey, she and her family were extremely keen about having the wedding in the Townships. True to its history of accommodating those from south of the border, the Townships played host to a large number of Yankees who travelled across the border to attend the wedding and enjoy the fall colours, local cuisine and, at the rehearsal dinner, a few sets of Québécois traditional folk music. We're confident many will return to vacation in the future! Amanda and I are still living in Manhattan. Anyway, I hope all is well. I look forward to seeing you at the next SHS New York event, if not sooner.
Best, Damion Stodola ’91. See photo.

—Greg Fergus ’86 has been named national director of the Liberal Party of Canada, taking over from Jamie Caroll. The announcement was made October 23 by Party President Marie Poulin. Greg was president of the Young Liberals of Canada, and worked for cabinet ministers Pierre Pettigrew and Jim Peterson. Greg leaves a position with Rx&D, a national association representing the 22,000 employees of Canada’s research-based pharmaceutical companies. See photo.

—Selwyn House was well represented at Montreal’s Notre Dame Basilica on August 25th, 2007 for the wedding of Maria Farella and Vincenzo Guzzo ’86. In attendance from SHS were: Michael Penner ’86 (Member, SHS Board of Directors), Paul Mayer ’74 (President, Old Boys’ Association), David Skinner ’82 (OBA Secretary), Alan Rossy ’79 (OBA Treasurer), Thomas Konigsthal Jr ’74 (Member of the OBA Board), Angelo Guzzo 2015, Vittorio-Emanuele Guzzo 2017, Vito Guzzo 2022, Luca Di Battista 2017, Angelo Rizzolo 2012, Vincent Rizzolo 2017, Juliano Cucciniello 2017, Jessie Caruso 2017, Diego Konigsthal 2023 and Samuel Skinner 2014.

On their honeymoon in Paris, Vince and Maria stayed at the Lancaster Hotel, where their neighbour in the next suite was actor Michael Douglas, in town to attend a film Festival. The Guzzos ended up dining with Douglas at Il Cortile and La Cavallina. As it turns out, the actor is no stranger to Montreal; he owns property in Mont Tremblant.
See photos.

—Eight Old Boys, under the direction of SHS coaches Marty Boyle and Colin Boyle, helped out at the 2007 Selwyn House Summer Basketball Camp. They were: Kevin Boyle ’97 (also an SHS teacher), Vidal Sadaka 2000, Mark Mettler-Warner 2007, Dylan Brophy 2007, Phil “The Thrill” Clark 2005, John Merritt 2004, Mark Sadaka 2006 and Brendan Munzar 2005. About 100 children, aged 5 to 15, enrolled for the camp, which ran from August 13-24. See photo.

— Vince Guzzo’86 and his family recently donated $1.25 million to the Cancer Research Society for the creation of a university chair in environmental cancer. Discussions are underway for the Guzzo Environment-Cancer Research Chair to be established at the Université de Montréal in the near future.

“Business success cannot be achieved without generosity,” said Vince, executive vice-president and CEO of Cinémas Guzzo. “A business should contribute to the wellbeing of the community that supports it and helps it grow and prosper. Because of this—and because my mother and my father are both cancer survivors—the Guzzo family has decided to get financially involved in research to conquer cancer.”


— Former Selwyn House teacher Roger Nincheri writes: “My daughter Tracy and I were in Florence, Italy, looking at the statues in the Loggia dei Lanzi when I heard a voice say, 'Mr. Nincheri, what are doing here?' It was Matthew Adler ’92, who had come to Italy to visit a friend who had just gotten married.

“In September I will be touring the Maritimes, taking photographs of Guido’s churches, as we are doing an exhibit of his works on the campus of Moncton University’s Acadian Museum that runs from September 17 through December. I will probably do a presentation.”

Editor’s Note: Roger’s grandfather, Guido Nincheri, sometimes called Canada’s Michelangelo, was a world-renowned artist whose stained-glass windows and frescoes adorn many churches in Canada and the U.S. See photo.

— Vince Guzzo '86 sent us photos of Martin Charbonneau and his wife, Mimi Laroche, enjoying their day as special guests in the Ferrari box at the 2007 Montreal Grand Prix. The Charbonneaus won the tickets at La Magie de Montreal, the school's fundraiser held last February. Also enjoying their day in the Ferrari box were Vince's sons Vittorio and Angelo.

— Sean Coristine ’96 writes: “I’d just like to announce that my lovely fiancée, Nikola Rozario, and I were married in Sydney, Australia on January 13. Afterwards we went to Thailand for our honeymoon. The wedding day was a lot of fun, and the two of us are looking forward to married life together in Australia as Nikola continues in her position as a life insurance actuary and I start my career as a strategic consultant, after finishing my MBA this June.”

— Matthew Elder ’70 has launched a corporate communications firm, Sensible Communications, specializing in the financial services industry. After 30 years of employment at various media organizations, including the Montreal Gazette, The Financial Post and most recently Morningstar Canada (where he was Vice President, Content), Matthew decided to take advantage of the growing corporate trend toward the outsourcing of communications work. In addition to serving fund companies, banks, insurers and professional firms, Matthew has targeted the transportation, retail/merchandising and hospitality industries.

— Matt Munzar 2000 writes: “I received my Masters of Financial Economics from U of T in December 2006, after a semester on exchange at Université Paris-Dauphine in Paris. I just recently began full-time employment with RBC Capital Markets on the trading floor in Toronto.”

— McGill University philosophy professor Charles Taylor ’46 is taking his show on the road. After being hand-picked by Premier Jean Charest last February to head a commission to study how immigrants are integrated into Quebec society, Charles and his co-chair, University of Quebec historian and sociologist Gérard Bouchard, have concluded the research phase of their project and are embarking on a series of public consultations and “town-hall” style meetings throughout Quebec. The Montreal sessions will take place November 26-30. The Commission’s report is due at the end of March 2008. See photo.