Class Notes for spring 2023
Wondering what your classmates have been up to? Find out who's been promoted, launched a new project, published a book or started a family. Catch up, then submit an update of your own for the next issue.
Estimated reading time: 3 minutes
Leah Carr (BES 1978)
After graduating from Waterloo, I married Mike and settled in Toronto for a year. We moved to Edmonton where I worked in planning for the provincial government. We returned to Toronto a year later and I went back to my Benefits and Policy Administration roles at Manulife. We moved to Fredericton, NB in 1988 where I was a stay-at-home mom to two sons, Alex and Elliott, for four years. My first jobs in NB were at Morneau, Coopers and Lybrand and at the University of New Brunswick in benefits and research administration respectively. In 1999, I joined Cendant as the Human Resources Manager of the contact centre in Fredericton. I obtained my Professional Human Resources designation and was also chosen as one of the corporate Performance Excellence Leaders at Avis (owned by Cendant at the time) for two years. When Cendant closed its operations in Fredericton, I became the Program Manager at the New Brunswick Health Research Foundation, a health research funding agency. During my tenure there I served as CEO for four years. I am retiring in August and moving home to London, ON. Mike too – still married!
Leo DeLoyde (BES 1978)
Leo has served as a planner building Ontario communities for 45 years. He has worked on many large and small urban development, environmental, and transportation projects in Simcoe, Burlington, Ajax, Nipissing District, and Innisfil. Leo resides in North Bay, loves to travel and spends time with his family. During his career, Leo has volunteered with the Bruce Trail Conservancy, the North Bay Indigenous Friendship Centre, Great Lakes clean-up efforts, and the United Way. Leading the construction of the Burlington Performing Arts Centre, contributing to the design and construction of the Joseph Brant Museum expansion, and contributing significantly to the just-opened 30-unit Suswin Village transitional housing development in North Bay were particularly satisfying projects.
Kevin M. Duguay (1981)
Kevin M Duguay was elected to represent Ward 1 on Peterborough’s City Council. He’s led 10 World Town Planning Days in his capacity as a Rotarian (Rotary Club of Peterborough) and as a professional planner! Waterloo students have participated in the Planning Days and the event has encouraged students to attend the School of Planning.
Todd J Pokrywa (BES 1995)
On April 22, 2023, Todd Pokrywa (BES ‘95) was the top fundraiser for the second year in a row at the Hockey Helps the Homeless Bay Street Tournament, held at Scotiabank Pond in Toronto, raising over $10,000. He returned to the boom 97.3 team skating alongside Captain Steve Jones, NHL Alumni Georges Laraque, Christian Hanson and Lou Franceschetti as well as professional musicians Jim Cuddy and Andy Curran and many other music industry professionals.
Jennifer Clipsham (BES 1999)
Jennifer Clipsham was recognized with a Clean50 award, in the Consultants and Enablers category.
Laura Zizzo (BES 2004)
Laura Zizzo is the Co-Founder and CEO of Manifest Climate, the world’s leading climate risk planning solution that’s used by companies globally to identify, manage, and communicate their climate-related financial risks and opportunities. As a climate leader, trained lawyer, and strategic advisor, Laura has over 20 years of experience steering organizations toward a low-carbon and climate-adjusted future. Prior to Manifest Climate, Laura launched Canada’s first climate law firm. She’s also the Co-Founder of the Climate Change Lawyers Network, a member of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature committee on Environmental Law, and serves on the University of Toronto’s Law Alumni Association. Laura is a published author and has been a delegate to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, attending annual COP meetings since 2007.
Truzaar Dordi (BA 2014, MES 2016)
Truzaar Dordi was recognized with a Clean50 Emerging Leaders award.