Category Archives: Alumni News

Stories about NT graduates.

Alumni In The News – Paul Raff (’86)

The Paul Raff Studio, headed by architect and NT alumnus Paul Raff, has won a prestigious 2018 CODAworx Award for the artwork “Atmospheric Lens”–an architectural feature at the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre subway station.

Commissioned by the TTC for the Toronto-York Subway Extension as part of an official mandate to recognize the importance of the user’s experience in the new infrastructure, this public artwork is being recognized as successfully integrating art into interior, architectural, or public spaces.

This award is one of many that Paul and the Paul Raff Studio have received. In 2001, he became the youngest ever recipient of the Ontario Association of Architects’ Allied Arts Award for lifetime achievement and in 2009 was awarded the Allied Arts Medal by the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada. Congratulations Paul!!

https://res.cloudinary.com/codaworx/image/upload/w_780,h_550,c_fill/v1400510474/project/5b1074b6476f5-vaughan-metropolitan-station-3.jpg

NTCI: A School In Demand…

This time of year, the office staff of NTCI is busy collecting applications from potential future NTCI Alumni–grade 8 students who would like to spend their next four years at North Toronto. This is nothing new as each year hundreds of applications are received from students out of the North Toronto catchment area.

While students who are “in-district” (i.e. within the catchment area boundaries), are able to simply select North Toronto, those “out-of-district” must apply, even if they are just across the street from an in-district student. To date, the out-of-district applicants from NT’s feeder schools (Deer Park, Glenview and Hodgson) or those with siblings at NTCI have automatically been accepted; the remaining applications are at the mercy of a lottery for placement.

It is ironic that in 2003, when the old NT building was being considered for demolition, the TDSB considered NTCI as a good candidate for rebuilding as it was on the TTC line and would allow out-of-district students, specifically those from the former North York, to attend easily. At that time, it was the norm that over two thirds of the school population came from out-of-district, having won their place at NTCI through the lottery process. In 2009, there were 600 applications for 270 places.

Today, the tables have turned. As more condos are built in the area, the school’s population is more and more in-district. Last year about 500 applications were received for only 200 places; this year will be similar. But unlike the past, fewer and fewer places are available for the lottery.

The TDSB plays it safe and erects signs around new developments saying that moving into the new building does not guarantee that students will be able to attend a local school. So far this has not been the case, but with NT’s enrolment increasing each year, there may soon be a lottery for even feeder school students!

More on the Ostrander Trophy

Many thanks to the alumni who contacted the Foundation with information pertaining to the Ostrander family, and their likely relationship to the trophy. ((Link to the original post)

Toronto historian and former Foundation member Mike Filey (’61) shared his thoughts on the origin of the trophy:

L.V. Ostrander (b.1889) started his single store jewellery business circa 1914. Over the years the chain expanded to 18 stores, one of which I remember being on Yonge St. not far from our school. The founder sold the business to his younger brothers in 1942, a group that included Kenneth. The latter served Ward 9 (that included the North Toronto community) from 1955 -1966. Did Kenneth attend NTCI? Did any of the Ostrander crew? Was the trophy donated in memory of their mother? The search continues….

Other alumni wrote about Ostrander’s involvement in community activities, including the business sponsoring a baseball team at Oriole Park. Mike Tzekas (’69) wrote that he played with that team. From other alumni, we learned that family members lived in North Toronto’s school district with both Jackie (’62) and Bill Ostrander (‘68) attending NTCI.

Given the connection between the Ostranders, particularly Kenneth, and the community of North Toronto, we are confident that the trophy is connected to the family who established Ostrander’s Jewellers. However, we are still unsure as to which member of the Ostrander family donated the trophy and why it supported young women in athletics. If you are able to add to what we now know, please contact Ron Wakelin, Chair of the North Toronto Foundation: rwakelin@utschools.ca.

Charity Week: An NT Tradition!

For NT alumni, it’s hard to think about our days at North Toronto without conjuring up memories of Red and Grey Day, Maytime Melodies or receiving the latest copy of Graffiti in homeroom. The same is true for Charity Week, an annual tradition at North Toronto that continues to be a hallmark of NT’s student initiatives.  

Charity Week has certainly changed over the years, but the purpose remains the same. Students choose a charity that they feel passionate about, and often, something that is relevant to the times. Two years ago, students chose Shine Bright, an organization supporting youth struggling with mental health issues, and most recently selected Forests Ontario, an environmental non-profit with a mission to make forests greener and healthier. The students then raise money for the charity through various fundraising events within a dedicated time frame: this year’s Charity Week was the fourth week of January.  

Some of us may recall past Charity Week fundraising events such as the teacher dunk tank, the “lip-sync”, or, the semi-formal at the St. Lawrence Market. However, today’s students have other events including a multi-cultural luncheon hosted by the Classics department, a raffle, and “home form booths” selling everything from pizza to “o-grams” (e.g. sing-o-grams, kiss-o-grams) and services. Not surprisingly, the student service auction no longer exists, likely a sign of these more politically correct times! Regardless, it is wonderful that Charity Week is still very much a part of the North Toronto experience.

Are You a Whiz with Words?

If you are – and have editing experience – the North Toronto Foundation, the voice of NTCI’s alumni needs your help! We are in need of an alumnus interested in joining the Board’s Communications Team to take on the responsibility of being our editor. Formal training as a copy editor is preferred as responsibilities include ensuring clarity and consistency in all print materials including:

  • letters
  • brochures
  • articles for the Foundation’s  website
  • content for the annual newsletter

The Board meets at NTCI six to eight times during the school year on a Monday or Wednesday evening from 7:00 to 9:00 pm. From time to time, the Communications Team may meet informally before a regularly scheduled meeting. For more information and/or to express your interest in this opportunity, please contact Ron Wakelin, Chair of the North Toronto Foundation: rwakelin@utschools.ca.

 No passion in the world is equal to the passion to alter someone else’s draft.
– H.G. Wells

A good, let alone a great editor is an obsessive autocrat with a will of iron, who rewrites and rewrites, cuts and slashes, until every piece is exactly the way he thinks it should have been done.
Peter Drucker (1909-2005)

We Have Trophies!

As an important part of the school’s legacy, North Toronto C.I. is fortunate to have a large collection of trophies, plaques and awards. Many of these artifacts, recognizing the varied achievements of NT students, are found in the school’s Archives Room. In a recent visit to NT, Nancy Baines, the Foundation’s archivist and a member of NT’s staff from 1969 to 2000, identified some of the significant trophies in the collection:

  • Ostrander Trophy for Proficiency and Leadership in Athletics (girls) – awarded from 1939 to 75;
  • J.M. Greene Music Company Trophy for Citizenship, Scholarship and Music –awarded from 1947 to 1978;
  • The Sifton Trophy for School Citizenship – awarded from 1939 to the present;
  • The Kerr Trophy for Student Leadership – awarded from 1928 to the present 2018 (awarded for 90 years!).

She also pointed out some of the lesser known trophies in the collection:

  • Hill, Ford and Kaethler Trophy for Leadership and Co-operation in Grade 11 and 12 Music – awarded circa 1967
  • The North Toronto Trophy for Junior Oratory  – awarded from 1957 to 1962.
  • NTCI Juvenile Sports Champion Trophy – awarded from 1957 to 1978;
  • The Seaforth Cup Interscholastic Sports Competition – awarded in 1958;
  • TS Harbord Invitational Jr. Basketball Tournament – awarded from1960 to 1996.

There are many fascinating stories behind these awards and of the students who were honoured to receive them. Throughout this year watch for articles featuring a closer look at NT’s trophies and their recipients.

North Toronto CI Commemorates Remembrance Day

Remembrance Day, originally known as Armistice Day,  commemorates the end of the First World War on November 11, 1918. While the original reason for the event took place 100 years ago, its observance has taken on new meaning with each armed conflict involving Canadian soldiers – most recently Afghanistan. While most alumni will recall an assembly or other observation of this special day during their years at NT, in recent years Remembrance Day has become even more profound for NT students.

This year’s assembly on Friday, November 9 was held twice in order to accommodate the school’s population. It began with a song video, Pittance of Time, featuring the ghosts of former soldiers visible only to those willing to partake in a moment of silence in the modern setting of a convenience store. The emotional pull of this piece set the atmosphere for the rest of the event. A bagpiper led a procession of NT veterans into the auditorium. Spanning several generations and representing different conflicts, each veteran was introduced by a student volunteer. A slide show followed featuring photographs of NT grads who lost their lives in World Wars I and II. The young faces in the images looked like many of the students in the auditorium.

Addresses were given by two NT grads currently in active service: Captain John Stevens (’83) and Lieutenant Colonel Michael Clarry (’82). A second slide show outlined Canada’s involvement in peacekeeping missions around the world. Music was provided by the Symphonic Band, and Choir. To draw the assembly to a close, there was a reading of “In Flanders Fields,” the playing of The Last Post, a minute of silence, and Reveille.

This outline does not do justice to the organization behind the event nor to its impact. After the assembly, a reception, supported by monies from the Foundation, was held for the special guests, staff and organizers. During this, it became clear how much the assembly reflected the students who produced it, and how deeply they were invested in its meaning. We need not worry that today’s students “don’t get it”. They do – and at NT they created a powerful reflection of this important day.

NTCI’s Second Annual Homecoming: October 11-13, 2018

All NT Alumni are invited to attend to this year’s Annual Homecoming. Be sure to mark your calendars and check out the schedule of events.

Thursday, October 11th: NTCI’s Red and Grey Day followed by Pub Night

  • 1:00–4:00 pm
    • attend Red and Grey Day’s afternoon sporting events
    • light refreshments served in the second floor Staff Room—a great vantage point to watch the Senior Boys’ football game on the field and peruse archival items on display
  • 5:00 pm onwards
    • following the football game, head to the Granite Brewery, 245 Eglinton Ave. East at Mount Pleasant for a Pub Night. You don’t have to have been athlete attend!!

Friday, October 12th: Show and Share, School Tours and Class Pub Nights

  • 1:00–3:00 pm
    • join us in the second floor Staff Room; bring your NT mementos and NT archivist Nancy Baines will show you ours as she shares some of the amazing treasures found in the NT archives!
  • 3:15 pm
    • NT Buddies lead tours around the “new” school; tours leave from the second floor Staff Room.
  • Evening
    • this is an opportunity to organize a get together for your year!
    • years with significant anniversaries in 2018 are especially encouraged to plan something; i.e. 1948, 1963, 1973, 1978, 1983, 1993, 1998, 2003
    • 1968, 2008 and 2013 have already had reunions this spring/summer!
    • check the list of Class Reps to see if anything is planned for your year; if not, start something!
    • Planning an event? Let us know and we’ll post it here!
  • List of Get Togethers To Date:
    • Girls of the 50s Luncheon – Thursday October11th: Cucina di Paisano, 865 York Mills Rd; contact: Joan (Morrison) Grosse at mgrs.@sympatico.ca or Carol Kaltenbock at 416-755-3915 by October 4th
    • Class of ‘82 55th Birthday Party – Friday October 12th, 7:00-10:00 pm: Prohibition Gastrohouse, 696 Queen St East; contact: lisa-ian@rogers.com
    • Class of ’88 30th Anniversary Party Saturday October 13th, 8:00 pm: 487 Oriole Pkwy contact Hilary Newman at hilarynewman@sympatico.ca

Saturday, October 13th: NTCI’s All Years Mix & Mingle 7:00-10:00pm

  • NOTE: venue changed from NTCI to Prohibition Gastrohouse, Midtown 40 Eglinton Ave. East
    • to reserve your spot for the “mix and mingle”:
    • call 416-406-2669 ext. 2 by October 6th; be sure to mention you are with the NTCI group.
  • OR
    • reserve online at www.myprohibition.com; be sure to reserve the Midtown location and note you are with the NTCI group in the comments.

The Class of 2013’s Five Year Reunion

The Class of 2013 is delighted to announce that their Five Year Reunion, held this past August, was a successful and enjoyable event! With 65 tickets sold, the venue proved to be a great choice. The organizers were able to decorate the room with helium-filled balloons, control their own music and project a “remember when” slideshow on a wall. In keeping with their nostalgic NT theme, food included an Uber food delivery of 200 chicken nuggets and 50 small fries from McDonald’s! This was an interesting accompaniment to the event’s signature drink of vodka-cranberry – aptly named “The Roehampton”.

All those who attended enjoyed the opportunity to reconnect and catch-up. Although they don’t know what lies ahead, rumor has it they are already looking forward to their Ten Year Reunion in 2023! The North Toronto Foundation is also very grateful to the organizers for their very generous donation of $475, the proceeds from the event.