Fifth Newsletter for NTCI Class of 1968 50th Anniversary Reunion, Friday May4th and Saturday May 5th, 2018
Easter/ Passover Edition
Just a little over 30 sleeps until the 50th Anniversary Reunion.
The last newsletter resulted in some responses with a few more classmates committing to attending though some people are unable to make it this time. Some classmates also may not have been receiving the newsletter though I suspect they have just not replied back - if you are one of those people please reply or you will get that late night phone call from me. The up to date database showing who is coming and who is not will be found shortly on the web site ( Tab – Attendance) and I have also printed a copy of the Attendee ( and not ) List at the end of this Newsletter for those who can not figure out how to use the database. As well, the database shows the many people not yet found ( tab “People to Find) ( that I did not reprint) . I have updated the database showing the efforts I have made to find people (so you do not have to waste time trying that mode of looking) but it has not been easy finding people as it seems some people who may be found on Facebook, Classmates or LinkedIn do not check their mail at those sites. I now suggest the best way to find people is to use old technology which we all have – the telephone – you know that thing you actually communicate with someone with using your voice and not your fingers. Please try Canada411.ca to find someone not yet found who you would really like to attend the reunion. Last time I found a few people because I reached relatives on the phone with the same last name and they put me in touch with a classmate. The more people we find the more successful the reunion will be. Remember there is a contest for finding the most people (and a separate contest for finding Arnie Isaacs) .I am now in the lead to win to find the most classmates but would be very happy if someone could beat me.
I do not have a large secretarial budget ( and still do work full time ) so please advise if I have made any mistakes in my newsletters or the database.
SATURDAY AFTERNOON AT MARDI and HAIM HIRSHBERG’S 1:30 to 4:30
As reported in the last newsletter we have moved the Saturday afternoon event to Mardi and Haim Hirshberg’s house at 12 Alexander Wood. I will have a map in the next and probably final newsletter for those who are GPS challenged. So drop in at Mardi and Haim's home Saturday afternoon to keep the conversations going. There will be light refreshments (no cost) as we can have some quiet conversations about the good old days and discuss how to save the world today. Their home is located on a small street just outside the northwest boundary of the NTCI school zone between Avenue Road and Bathurst Street (closer to Bathurst) just north of Courtleigh Blvd. At the last reunion we had this event at Doug and Lea Gammage’s house. It was well received and attended and many people went on to supper together. Or afterwards you can take a 3 minute walk to view where I grew up being 147 Hillhurst Blvd. I am disappointed to learn that they have not yet made it into a World Heritage Site or even a Canadian National Historical Site.
If you previously had indicated you were not going but have changed your mind , no problem , just let us know now please .
MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS
No Nobel prizes yet but we have found another writer in the class who has also won some entertainment awards. Check out the bio later in the newsletter of Dave Brady. Bill Humber confirmed that he has not been admitted into any other Hall of Fames.
Review previous newsletters for information about purchasing books David Coombs , Bill Humber and Mr. Broughton have written.
MAYTIME MELODIES TICKETS
Anu Pettai Marley our chief liaison officer with the school advises that anyone interested in tickets should contact Liz Monteith of the music dept. at NT at her email address elizabeth.monteith@tdsb.on.ca . We decided not to try and get a block of tickets as we do not know how many of our class will be attending. My wife and I and some others did attend and enjoy the first half of the show last reunion.
CONTEST WINNERS
We do have a winner of the name the seven people who graduated in our class who lived on Hillhurst Blvd Contest. Congratulations to Janet Toppin Swann (the only entrant) who successfully finally named all seven, being Naomi Siegel, myself, Susan Smith in the west end of the street, Doug Gammage in the middle block and Janet MacDonald Bowler, Marta Filip and Helen Mckee in the east block. Janet , when not playing golf, spent a lot of time playing tackle football on Naomi’s Siegel’s front lawn so easily knew the west enders but had some trouble coming up with the east enders.
As mentioned above I am in the lead to find the most new people but hope to be overtaken. To qualify the person you find does not need to come to the reunion but must provide an email address to be put on the database so I can harass them to come to the reunion or at least write a bio.
COMING FROM OUT OF TOWN ?
Remember as per previous Newsletters we have a special rate at the Best Western down the street from the school at 808 Mount Pleasant Road. They are holding 10 rooms at a special rate of $159 a night for us for the nights of the 4th and the 5th of May. Call 416 487-5101.
If you are coming from outside the GTA, also thought of by those who live there as the center of the universe, could you please advise me so you’ll get special mention in the list of attendees and perhaps win the farthest from the school contest.
OBITUARY
DAVID PEACOCK
After a lengthy illness on February 21, 2008 at Sunnybrook Hospital in his 60th year. Dear brother to Brian Peacock and his wife Jennifer of Mississauga. He will be missed by his nephew Steven and his wife Merrina of Kanata, and his niece Catherine and her partner Michael of Mississauga. David is fondly remembered by Joy Rawlings of Milton.
BIOS, UPDATES
KARYN ALLEN
My years at NTCI were extremely positive. The high standards, learning how to focus, study and define my aspirations – the courage and focus developed – and the beginning of a career in the art world.
After graduating from NTCI (I recall that I selected my first work of art from Gallery Moos, with Garth Drabinsky, as a gift to NTCI from the class of 1968 and worked on the design of the yearbook), I attended York University, art history. This was the first graduating art history class at York, Faculty of Fine Arts, 1972. I then attended art history classes at the Ecole du Louvre in Paris, which was a privilege.
My professional experience has been in the international art world spanning almost four decades – a curator of contemporary art, specializing in contemporary photography and large-scale sculpture; leader of cultural projects and director of sponsorship, events and capital campaigns; and a collector. My experiences in the international art world have been fascinating and rewarding. The network of colleagues and friends and the experience of living in different countries have been truly remarkable.
I wrote a sponsorship and trade document for the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade. I was one of eight “mentors” who organized the first Women’s Business Trade Initiative for the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade in Washington DC, 1998. There was a follow up Women’s Business Trade Initiative in Toronto, 1999.
I have been a curator of contemporary art in three Canadian museums, starting with the superb Art Gallery of Ontario; and led the visual arts program for the XV Olympic Winter Games, Calgary 1988. I was a Creative Advisor to the Vancouver 2010 Cultural Olympiad.
I have traveled widely in North America, Europe, Australia and Asia, visiting museums, artists’ studios, international art fairs and conferences. I worked on two Christo and Jeanne Claude projects, – Surrounded Islands, Biscayne Bay, Miami, 1982 and Pont Neuf Wrapped, Paris, 1985. I was also involved in Wrapped Reichstag, Berlin, 1971-1995.
I was a Senior Vice President of Arts and Communications - one of the leading sponsorship companies in North America – based in Toronto; Manager, Western Operations, Calgary; and European Consultant, A&C, Brussels. I was affiliated with the firm for over three decades. It was deeply fulfilling. We recently enjoyed an A&C Reunion – remarkable women, all still involved in fascinating projects and outstanding charitable organizations.
My husband Peter was a diplomat with the European Union. We have lived in Brussels on two occasions, the headquarters of the EU, and have been posted to Tokyo and finally Papua New Guinea. Previously, Peter was Deputy Head, European Union Delegation to Canada and Deputy Head, European Union Delegation to Australia.
I studied anthropology at the University of Papua New Guinea with an esteemed French anthropologist, Nicolas Garnier, now curator, Pacific Collections Musée du Quai Branly, Paris. Studying the unique Melanesian culture has been very powerful and fascinating. We visited PNG in March 2018 – very special to experience this extraordinary culture, with all of its layers, once again.
Living in different countries and cultures been an ever evolving, exciting and challenging life experience. Each posting has brought new opportunities, special colleagues and friends from all over the world, and a vital way of looking at the world and our lives.
We now live in Toronto, where I am involved with various artists and organizations. It is very special to be back in Toronto.
My son Jordan graduated from Columbia University in 2009, with a double major in Political Science and Anthropology. He is living and working in Montreal and has been working as the Research Assistant on a major book for two and a half years – to be published in the summer 2018.
I have served as a Board Trustee– Alberta Ballet, the Calgary Philharmonic and Canada Trust Friends of the Environment. I am a Canadian member of ICOM – International Council of Museums, UNESCO, Paris.
Editor’s Note 1: This update in some respects also looks like a C.V., so feel free to hire Karyn.
Editors’ Note 2: I hope Kayrn has forgotten or at least forgiven me for embarrassing her 50 years ago when she took me as a guest to play tennis at “The Toronto Lawn Tennis Club “ in Rosedale. Being from the other side of the Rosedale tracks I did not have proper tennis shoes for their clay courts so was destroying the court until some official took me off and found me proper tennis shoes. I think I was wearing the required all white clothing.
Editor’s Note 3: I won the tennis match!
TOM BLACKMORE
I only attended North Toronto for grade 13 so I’m not sure if anybody will remember me at all. I went there after being thrown out of UCC which was the highlight of my private school career.
I have read with great interest a lot of the other bios and am very impressed by the interesting and far reaching careers many of the graduates have had following their passion in a variety of different fields.
From a career standpoint I too decided to follow my passion (which primarily involved watching TV and making fun of all the commercials )and went into the advertising business. I worked at several large conglomerate agencies for a few years
I then started my own agency (SharpeBlackmore)and ran that for number of years before selling it to a French conglomerate five years ago.
Since then I’ve started two different technology companies which is quite odd in that I’m not particularly technical .....although I was very good with my mother’s old Zenith remote.
I also do some lecturing at Humber and U of T on personally branding and entrepreneurship. That lecture is entitled “From the dark side of the road to the bright side of the moon”...which is indicative of the life of the entrepreneur in most cases
I have been married since 1974 and have two children (Jennifer and Thomas )and two grandchildren and one more on the way in May.
My 10-year-old granddaughter Quinn has her own TV show on YouTube called Sundays with Quinn. It is a cooking show.
You should watch it sometime
I now actually live only one block from the school on Keewatin Ave
How weird is that.
Although I was only at the school for one year I really enjoyed it and was very impressed by the quality of the teaching (especially Ms. Vail who taught us all about Leonard Cohen) and how hard-working and smart all the other students were
It actually helped me refocus my own ambitions a bit as I was going nowhere in the private school system...as well as my love of words and writing
Thanks for somehow finding me and reaching out
I have read with great interest a lot of the other bios and am very impressed by the interesting and far reaching careers many of the graduates have had following their passion in a variety of different fields.
From a career standpoint I too decided to follow my passion (which primarily involved watching TV and making fun of all the commercials )and went into the advertising business. I worked at several large conglomerate agencies for a few years
I then started my own agency (SharpeBlackmore)and ran that for number of years before selling it to a French conglomerate five years ago.
Since then I’ve started two different technology companies which is quite odd in that I’m not particularly technical .....although I was very good with my mother’s old Zenith remote.
I also do some lecturing at Humber and U of T on personally branding and entrepreneurship. That lecture is entitled “From the dark side of the road to the bright side of the moon”...which is indicative of the life of the entrepreneur in most cases
I have been married since 1974 and have two children (Jennifer and Thomas )and two grandchildren and one more on the way in May.
My 10-year-old granddaughter Quinn has her own TV show on YouTube called Sundays with Quinn. It is a cooking show.
You should watch it sometime
I now actually live only one block from the school on Keewatin Ave
How weird is that.
Although I was only at the school for one year I really enjoyed it and was very impressed by the quality of the teaching (especially Ms. Vail who taught us all about Leonard Cohen) and how hard-working and smart all the other students were
It actually helped me refocus my own ambitions a bit as I was going nowhere in the private school system...as well as my love of words and writing
Thanks for somehow finding me and reaching out
DAVID BRADY
From the jacket cober of one of his books: One Man Overcomes Challenges, Teaches Others to Do the Same
Award-winning film and television writer, producer, director and university lecturer David Brady enlightens audiences on how to overcome severe adversity, find peace of mind and real success in his three books, Survival: Transforming Childhood Trauma, Success: Reflections on Money, Sex and Power – How to Use Them, Not Abuse Them or Lose Them and last, Serenity: Aging With Dignity, Living With Grace.
David Brady began his work life in the financial services industry and then returned to college, then university. He began his writing, producing and directing career in film and television in February of 1979 while he was a graduate student in Communications at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, British Columbia. In addition to his undergraduate and graduate work at Simon Fraser, David also holds an MFA in Screenwriting from York University.
David was a partner in Mercury Pictures and President of Gateways Studios in Vancouver during the 1980s, as well founder & president of Deer Park Communications, and one of the founding partners of Red Apple Entertainment in Toronto.
Initially operating out of Vancouver, David then went on to spend eight years producing movies out of Los Angeles and New York. He executive produced and produced four successful feature films, The Grey Fox, Till Death Do Us Part, Dixie Lanes and was one of the executive producers of You Wish with Alan Sacks for The Disney Channel. During this period, the companies he was associated with were nominated for an Academy Award, earned two Golden Globe Nominations (Best Foreign Picture and Best Actor, The Grey Fox), seven Genie Awards, and international recognition for their artistic and commercial successes. He was won numerous international awards since then for his television productions.
David works between his long time residences in Toronto and Vancouver BC. His extensive producing career spans feature films to television series - both dramatic and documentary. David has written, produced and directed roughly one hundred and thirty, half-hours of scripted comedy/dramas, and over 60 award-winning primetime documentary/docudrama television episodes, with a host of domestic and international broadcasters.
David taught on the faculty of Motion Picture Arts at Capilano University in Vancouver and was previously on the faculties of York University and Ryerson University, receiving the CESAR Teaching Award. Most recently David’s Aging With Dignity, Living With Grace won the Silver, Reader’s Favorite Awards in the USA. Sample Videos:.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qE6gxQuzTX82:30 for Business, Sales and Marketing
JOAN DEWHURST
I (Joan speaking ) regret I will be unable to attend in May as I unfortunately sustained another fractured femur in August just past. That Is both of them having had internal fixation now and I am still having physio etc etc. Plus there are a few more orthopaedic issues which may or may not be Post Polio Syndrome, which both my brother and I had in 1952. I a m not sure I would even be able to get health insurance to cover my trip at this rate!
I will visit again some time in the future - after all, I need to get some mileage out of my nice new shiny Canadian passport that your PM decreed all ex pats must have to enter the country, even though we don’t reside there any longer. Now I have the privilege of flying into Canada on that passport and returning home on my British one. I am blessed, am I not?
FRED FRUITMAN
I ( Laurie speaking ) had a good conversation with Fred just the other day. Unfortunately he will not be in Toronto for the reunion. He and his family will be leaving their hardship posting in London England at the end of the year after being there for ten years. They will be heading back to another hardship posting in New York City where Fred and his wife own a large condo apartment in fashionable lower Manhattan which I visited them at about 12 years ago. Robert De Niro owned a restaurant across the street from their condo at which my wife and I had a nice meal. Fred invites all his NTCI classmates to come stay with him instead of paying $500 a night on a hotel room in New York City (actually he did not say that but I am sure he is thinking it. J )
ATTENDEE ( and not) LIST TO APRIL 1, 2018
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