Class Notes

EDWARD MILO JOHNSON (BES ‘72) says: After graduating I attended the University of Windsor Faculty of Education. I then taught for 32 years with The Greater Essex County Public School Board. In retirement I am now a Genealogist, Author, and presenter of Black History. I am a member of The Artists of Colour, Windsor Ontario. Latest book, New Canaan: Freedom-Land.

BARBARA VEALE (BES ’76, MA ’80, PHD ‘10) started a new role as Senior Director, Watershed Strategies and Climate Change at Conservation Halton, where she leads interdisciplinary team delivering climate change initiatives and watershed planning, watershed monitoring and restoration activities, Lake Ontario initiatives, and the Hamilton Harbour Remedial Action Program. 

To mark the 40th anniversary of the Blue Box program, ERIC HELLMAN (BES ’78), who was involved in its launch, wrote the story of how it began, highlighting key insights for how we can create change today. You can read it at How the Blue Box Began. 

KEVIN O’REILLY (BES ’78. MA ‘83) has been a Member of the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly for Frame Lake (Yellowknife) since 2015. https://kevinoreillyframelake.ca/

TRACY SWARTOUT (BES ’98) became the superintendent of Blue Ridge Parkway in Western North Carolina. A 21-year veteran of the U.S. National Park Service, she is the first female in history to lead the parkway; busiest unit of the Unites National Park Service. Read more at https://www.nps.gov/blri/learn/news/swartout-superintendent.htm  

MIKE SEAMAN (BES ’92) wrote an article about making heritage sites accessible which was featured in the February 2022 edition of Municipal World Magazine. Mike drew inspiration from the outstanding heritage and accessibility conference held last fall which featured many great speakers. If you subscribe to Municipal World you can read it here: https://www.municipalworld.com/articles/grimsby-shows-the-way-to-making-heritage-sites-accessible/  

TODD POKRYWA (BES ’95) served as a guest coach during the Adidas Legends Classic game at Scotiabank Arena held on November 14, 2021 as part of the 2021 Hockey Hall of Fame Induction Weekend in Toronto.  Pokrywa served behind the bench of the World team, captained by Mike Modano, which was victorious over the Canada team by a score of 10-8.  Pokrywa was chosen for this honour as a result of his support of the Hockey Hall of Fame’s COVID-19 relief fundraising initiative. 

KENT TAYLOR (BES ’97) and his family visited the University of Waterloo this fall to tour campus with his son who will be following in his father’s footsteps this fall, studying at Waterloo’s School of Planning. In addition to stocking up on swag at the W Store, Kent volunteered to be a Class Champion for the Planning Class of 1997’s 25-year reunion on June 4, 2022.  

ALEXANDRIA FISHER (BES ‘04) started a new role as Sustainable Finance Manager at the Global Risk Institute. Her portfolio will include helping accelerate the management of ESG risks across the financial sector and further developing the sustainable finance market in Canada. Get in touch through LinkedIn. 

MARTIN QUARCOOPOME (BES ‘05) started a new role as Vice President at Weston Consulting where he will be providing support for all types of development applications, and representation in front of committees, councils, the Ontario Land Tribunal and the Superior Court while while assiting in the success of his Firm. Say congratulations and connect with him on LinkedIn.

CALVIN WEEKES (BES ‘09) As a Planner, Calvin contributed to the reform of Trinidad and Tobago’s planning legislation and led the project team for the largest waterfront redevelopment in the Caribbean. After earning a Bachelor of Laws (University of the West Indies), Calvin returned to Canada and practiced planning law at a national firm. Calvin is now Legal Counsel at Infrastructure Ontario. 

MATT HEATHER (BES 2011) is looking forward to a new adventure as he starts a new position as Associate - Manager, Planning on the Real Estate, Economics and Planning Team at IBI Group. Say congrats or get in touch through LinkedIn. 

MEGAN CONWAY (PHD 2012) is a proud UW Planning grad who has utilized her degree and research related to social planning to make an impact in the charitable sector. She was recently appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of Volunteer Canada and is excited to work with diverse partners to build a strong ecosystem that enables and strengthens volunteerism across Canada. “I am looking forward to engaging with diverse, and too often excluded, communities and organizations to recognize, celebrate, honour and advocate for inclusive, just and sustainable models and systems of volunteering.” Get in touch at mconway@volunteer.ca  

RYLEY KORNELSON (BKI ‘12)  As a management consultant with Deloitte and then a value advisor with SAP, Ryley has spent the last 10 years collaborating with large organizations in Western Canada -  helping them plan and implement technology-driven transformation. She is moving with her growing family to SAP’s Global Industry & Value Advisory team in Dubai, UAE, to work with organizations across Europe, Middle East and Africa. Say hello through LinkedIn.   

JEFF SAMUEL (MAES ’12) has worked in Indigenous Engagement for over ten years for all levels of government and in the private sector. Jeff was recently promoted to Team Lead, Indigenous Engagement for the Aquatic Habitat Restoration Fund (AHRF), one of the Trans Mountain Expansion (TMX) accommodation measures that is being led by Fisheries and Oceans Canada. 

MOIRA HENNEBURY (BES ‘15) received her master’s degree in disaster & emergency management from York University and was recently promoted to Manager, Emergency Preparedness at Sunnybrook. Moira.Hennebury@Sunnybrook.ca 

PUNINDA THIND (BES ‘15) is delighted to have been selected to join the Race to Zero 2022 Criteria Consultation Working Group on Net Zero Finance & Disclosure of Climate-related Risks. Honoured to be working with experts, scientists, academics, and practitioners from around the world to help drive upward convergence around best practices in climate action. Learn more at: https://lnkd.in/ditQaeSR 

ROSHAN SAHU (BES ‘17) recently travelled to East Africa to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro. He shared a recap of his experience and what he learned in a piece called Willing to Try. You can check it out at https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/willing-try-roshan-sahu  

CAROLINE EDWARDS (BES ‘19) has been with KPMG Canada for since 2019 and was recently promoted to the role of Manager, GTA Communications and Social Impact.Connect with Caroline on LinkedIn. 

RACHEL POON (BES ‘18) is completing her law degree at the University of Ottawa after graduation and recently began a role as a Legal Intern at the Department of Justice Canada. She will be articling at a construction and infrastructure law firm. 

OKE ISAAC-ONWAH (BES ’19) recently started a new role as Sustainability & ESG Consultant at KPMG. Since graduating, Oke has been working to make sustainability and equity the default. She is also an advocate for the Women in Sustainability Network and Diversity in Sustainability, where she serves as a strategic advisor and engagement lead. https://www.linkedin.com/in/oke-onwah/  

ZAIN BANDALI (BES ’20) is looking for an illustrator for a children’s book he’s writing that is set to be published in 2023. It’s an exciting milestone and he can't wait to share more developments with you all soon! Please share this with Indo-East African and other BIPOC illustrators in your network! 

Former Warrior, JESSE GIBBON (BES ’21) was re-signed to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the first round of the 2019 CFL draft, second overall. In 2012, he appeared in 14 regular-season games with Hamilton. Connect with Jesse on LinkedIn.