2008-2009 Guest Speakers

Trinity College School is committed to inviting varied and interesting guest speakers to address the School community. Our guest speakers present to our community during a variety of TCS events such as the Mac Campbell Lecture Series, subject specific lectures and other special occasions such as Scholars' Evening.

Dr. Jane Goodall
Date: Thursday, April 16, 2009 - 2:30pm
Location: Peter Campbell Memorial Rink
Event: Centennial Lecture
By Invitation Only

Dr. Goodall will present a one-hour lecture (followed by a question and answer period) to students, staff and members of the TCS community as well as invited guests from surrounding schools. Dr. Goodall will speak about the threats facing chimpanzees and other environmental concerns, and about her reasons for hope that humankind will solve the problems facing our planet. Sponsored by the Mac Campbell Lecture Series, the Centennial Lecture is an annual tradition at TCS which began in honour of the School’s centennial (100th) birthday in 1965.

Dr. Jane Goodall began her landmark study of chimpanzees in Tanzania in June 1960, under the mentorship of famed anthropologist and palaeontologist Dr. Louis Leakey. Her work at the Gombe Stream Chimpanzee Reserve became the foundation of future primatological research and redefined the relationship between humans and animals.

One of Dr. Goodall’s most significant discoveries came in her first year at Gombe, when she saw chimpanzees stripping leaves off stems to make useful tools for fishing termites out of mounds. This and subsequent observations of Gombe chimpanzees making and using tools would force science to rethink the definition of what separates “man the toolmaker” from other animals.

In 1977, Dr. Goodall founded the Jane Goodall Institute, a global nonprofit that empowers people to make a difference for all living things. The Jane Goodall Institute of Canada, founded in 1993, supports community-centred conservation programs in Africa, sanctuaries for orphaned chimpanzees, and the Roots & Shoots program in Canada. Roots & Shoots is JGI’s environmental and humanitarian education program and global network of youth from over 100 countries. For more information, please visit www.janegoodall.ca.

Jennifer Hollett
Date: Monday, February 9, 2009 - 7:00pm to Tuesday, February 10, 2009 - 6:59pm
Location: Dick and Jane LeVan Theatre
Event: Scholars’ Evening
By Invitation Only

Hollett is best known for her time at MuchMusic as a VJ and Videographer. While at Much, she hosted a variety of shows – MuchOnDemand, The MuchMusic Video Awards, Live@Much, MuchNews, and So 90s. She has interviewed many big names including Coldplay, Avril Lavigne, Beyonce, Gwen Stefani, and Sum 41. She also interviewed Stephen Harper and then Prime Minister Paul Martin, each one-on-one, when she was MuchMusic's political correspondent for the 2004 federal election. In 2002, Hollett travelled to war-torn Kabul to host the award winning A MuchMusic Special: Afghanistan. In 2005, she reported from Live 8 in London, and travelled to Thailand, Sri Lanka, and Indonesia to cover the tsunami for MuchNews and The New Music.

Raising social consciousness is important to Hollett and she has reported on numerous issues from youth violence to the war in Iraq, bringing awareness to MuchMusic's influential youth audience. Hollett has produced a variety of shows for the network including Much Celebrates Aboriginal Day and the behind the scenes look at the music biz - Reality Check. She also co-hosted the national MuchMusic Top 30 Radio Countdown.

Prior to MuchMusic, Hollett was a chatterbox with CTV/TalkTV's live current affairs show the chatroom where her specialty was music and technology. Prior to broadcasting, she was a manager of new media at Sony Music Canada during the height of the digital music revolution. She was the youngest manager in the company's history. In 2000, the Globe and Mail selected Hollett for their 133 Young Leaders List. This “webgrrl” has been online since 1994, and created her first website in 1995.

Hollett is also the founder of YouthCARE, a youth engagement program at CARE Canada. CARE is an international humanitarian organization active in more than 70 countries around the world. In early 2006, Hollett travelled to East Africa as a “one woman crew” to document the stories of Kenyan youth facing issues such as poverty and HIV/AIDS. This documentary was part of a multi-media speaking tour that took her across Canada, visiting more than 20 secondary schools. The tour ended in Vancouver where Hollett was a host and delegate at UN Habitat's World Urban Forum and World Youth Forum. In August 2006, she was the organizer and host of Fashioning Change: A Youth Inspired Fashion Show at AIDS 2006, the XVI International AIDS Conference.

Hollett graduated with distinction from Concordia University in Montreal where she majored in Journalism and Communications. Her other interests include breakdancing, snowboarding, travel, and tofu. She is also a member of shebang! breakdance crew, and performed with the Biana Players West African dance troupe in Sierra Leone. At a young age she was nicknamed “talkahollett” and believes that this is what she was born to do.

Diane Francis
Date: Friday, February 6, 2009 - 7:00pm to Saturday, February 7, 2009 - 6:59pm
Location: Dick and Jane LeVan Theatre
Event: Mac Campbell Lecture Series

Diane Francis, Editor-at-Large for the National Post is well known across the country for her hard-hitting newspaper columns. She also blogs on the Huffington Post, is a broadcaster and author of nine best-selling books. In addition she is a sought-after speaker, host of events and participant in conferences around the world. She has been honoured with many prestigious awards from associations, publications and universities across the country. Renowned for her columns which appear thrice weekly in the Financial Post section of the National Post, and in the Fall of 2007, Diane expanded her column online by launching her blog, which deals with North American political and business issues.

She has been a Media Fellow at the World Economic Forum in Davos for many years and was a Shorenstein Fellow in fall 2006 at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government. In fall 2007, she became Distinguished Visiting Professor at Ryerson University's Rogers School of Management, Canada's largest business school, a role she'll continue with into 2008.

In addition to her work as a financial journalist, Diane Francis is the author of: Immigration: The Economic Case; BRE-X: The Inside Story; Fighting for Canada; Underground Nation; A Matter of Survival; The Diane Francis Inside Guide to Canada's 50 Best Stocks; Contrepreneurs and Controlling Interest - Who Owns Canada.

Diane Francis has served on the advisory boards of York University East/West Enterprises and CANFAR, the Canadian Foundation for AIDS research as well as on the board of directors for CARE Canada, the George Brown College Foundation Board and was Chair of the successful $22-million campaign for Ryerson University's Community Health Centre which was opened in fall 2002.

She is a director of Aurizon Mines of Vancouver, listed on the Toronto and American Stock Exchanges, is a partner in the world's largest conference website, Confabb.com, and on the advisory board of a private healthcare company.

Angela Stultz
Date: Tuesday, November 4, 2008 - 12:00pm to Wednesday, November 5, 2008 - 11:59am
Location: Dick and Jane LeVan Theatre
Event: Guest Speaker

Angela Stultz, Executive Director, S-Corner Clinic & Community Development Centre in Kingston, Jamaica will explore how inner-city poverty leads to violence, and the need for local and international intervention to alleviate poverty and stop the violence.

Dr. Gillian MacKay
Date: Thursday, October 30, 2008 - 4:00pm to Friday, October 31, 2008 - 3:59pm

Gillian MacKay is an Associate Professor of Music of the University of Toronto, where she conducts the Wind Ensemble and teaches conducting, trumpet, and music education. An award-winning teacher, Gillian has an active professional career as a conductor, adjudicator, and clinician. She has conducted honour bands throughout Canada and the United States, and in 2001 was chosen to conduct the National Youth Band of Canada. A sought-after adjudicator, Dr. MacKay has judged Canadian band festivals at local, provincial, and national levels. In addition, Gillian has judged band competitions in Singapore and Thailand. In October 2007, Gillian was the conductor of the Southeast Asian Youth Orchestra and Wind Ensemble in Bangkok, a group which has members from countries throughout Southeast Asia.

Dr. MacKay has presented clinics and workshops at provincial and state conferences in Canada and the United States, and is known for her work on the relationship between conducting and mime. Also recognized as a conducting pedagogue, Gillian leads the University of Toronto Wind Conducting Symposium each July, and has been the guest instructor at other symposia in Canada. As a trumpeter, she is active as a recitalist and chamber musician, and has a particular interest in the French solo trumpet and cornet music of the 19th century. Gillian holds degrees and diplomas from the University of Lethbridge, McGill University, the University of Calgary, and Northwestern University. Previously, Dr. MacKay was Instructor of Brass at Medicine Hat College, and Director of the School of Music at the University of Windsor.

Michael "Pinball" Clemons
Date: Tuesday, October 14, 2008 - 7:00pm to Wednesday, October 15, 2008 - 6:59pm
Location: Dick and Jane LeVan Theatre
Event: Mac Campbell Lecture Series

Renowned as one of pro football's most electrifying players, Toronto Argonauts running back Michael "Pinball" Clemons was the CFL's all-time all purpose yardage leader. However, it is his exceptional character, in addition to his outstanding athletic ability, which has made him the remarkable fan favourite he is throughout Canada. Pinball’s tireless community involvement and participation in countless charitable causes exemplify the qualities he possesses, which are so rarely found in today's professional athletes. He has used his superb leadership and communication skills in his former roles of coach and president of the Toronto Argonauts - and now as the CEO of the franchise. In 2008, Clemons was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame.

Pinball’s presentations are at once captivating and empowering, and clearly demonstrate the capabilities of teamwork. At only 5 foot 6 inches and 170 pounds, he also inspires his audiences by illustrating what is possible and what it means to beat the odds. Michael Clemons communicates his heartfelt stories with a passionate spirit and his patented, contagious smile. Organizations respond to his presentations with rave reviews and overwhelming enthusiasm.

Ashley Taylor ‘01
Date: Thursday, September 18, 2008 - 7:00pm to Friday, September 19, 2008 - 6:59pm
Location: Osler Hall
Event: Scholars’ Dinner
By Invitation Only

Trinity College School has a tradition of inviting recent graduates to speak to our scholars and their families at our annual Scholars’ Dinner. This year, we are delighted to have Ashley Taylor '01 as our guest of honour.

Ashley attended TCS for three years, after her family moved to Cobourg, from Sault Ste. Marie and graduated in the year 2001. During her years at TCS, Ashley was a scholar and played Bigside basketball, hockey, and soccer. She sang in the chapel choir, and was a part of three musical productions: Fame, Hair and Chess. Ashley’s studies were focused mainly on the sciences, where she completed three Advanced Placement courses. She was also a pool steward and worked with Trinity International Development and Education (TIDE) in her final year.

Upon graduating from TCS, Ashley attended the University of Toronto in Engineering Science and completed her Bachelor’s of Applied Science in 2006, with a specialization in Infrastructure. As part of her undergraduate degree, she took a year-long internship to work as a project coordinator for the construction of new Terminal 1 at Toronto Pearson International Airport. In her final year of studies, she focused on sustainable infrastructure and through her thesis work, a case study of solar hot water for the campus’ athletic facility, Ashley became involved with the University of Toronto’s Sustainability Office. Ashley is now the Sustainability Office’s co-coordinator, and her work focuses mainly on the development of a sustainable plan for energy and resource use at the campus. She is also a part-time student, pursuing a Masters Degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering.

Ashley now lives in downtown Toronto. In her free time, you can often find Ashley experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen, playing croquet or beach volleyball with friends at one of Toronto’s fabulous parks or beaches, and generally exploring all that the city has to offer (particularly its restaurants!).