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<div class="page-inner">
<h1>Honouring Student Academic Success at the 2021 Academic Awards</h1>
<p>Whether in-person or online, recognizing the academic success of our students is always a priority at St. Michael&rsquo;s College School (SMCS).</p>

<p>This year&rsquo;s annual Academic Awards ceremony, while online for the second year in a row, did just that &ndash; honoured each of our students who achieved excellence during another unconventional school year.</p>

<figure id="attachment_4863" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-4863" style="width: 750px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/smcs-academic-awards-2021-2-1024x577.jpg" alt="Students lining up during the Academic Awards Ceremony 2021." width="750" height="423" class="size-large wp-image-4863" srcset="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/smcs-academic-awards-2021-2-1024x577.jpg 1024w, https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/smcs-academic-awards-2021-2-300x169.jpg 300w, https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/smcs-academic-awards-2021-2-768x433.jpg 768w, https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/smcs-academic-awards-2021-2.jpg 1200w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-4863" class="wp-caption-text">Grade 7 students receiving their Basilian Scholarship awards at the Academic Awards Ceremony in 2021.</figcaption></figure>

<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s important to recognize students for their academic achievements, especially during difficult times,&rdquo; says David Lee, Vice Principal at SMCS. &ldquo;For students to remain focused and diligent during a pandemic and so much upheaval to their routine is impressive and worth honouring.&rdquo;</p>

<p>On October 7, 2021 staff, students, and their families watched the ceremony from their homes which premiered on the school&rsquo;s YouTube channel.</p>

<p>&ldquo;I think parents appreciate seeing their son being recognized &ndash; the fact that it was recorded allowed some families to watch on their own time and not miss the event,&rdquo; says Lee.</p>

<p>In total, 630 awards were given out to students in Grades 7-11 for their achievements during the 2020-21 academic year. They included Basilian Book Awards, Basilian Scholarships, Math Contest Certificate of Distinction, Math Contest Medal Winner, the Duke of Edinburgh Award, ARP Top Reader, and the Dr. S. Lazarovitis Poetry Award Winner.</p>

<figure id="attachment_4864" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-4864" style="width: 750px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/smcs-academic-awards-2021-1-1024x577.jpg" alt="SMCS Administration handing out Basilian Scholarships at the Academic Awards Ceremony 2021." width="750" height="423" class="size-large wp-image-4864" srcset="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/smcs-academic-awards-2021-1-1024x577.jpg 1024w, https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/smcs-academic-awards-2021-1-300x169.jpg 300w, https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/smcs-academic-awards-2021-1-768x433.jpg 768w, https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/smcs-academic-awards-2021-1.jpg 1200w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-4864" class="wp-caption-text">A Grade 12 student receiving a Basilian Scholarship for $5,000 at the Academic Awards Ceremony.</figcaption></figure>

<p>Twenty-six Basilian scholarships were awarded to the top students in each grade, amounting to $61,000 in award money. Annually, the student with the highest academic standing in each grade receives $5,000, second highest receives $3,000, third receives $2,000, and fourth and fifth each receive $1,000.</p>

<p>This year, 211 students received a Basilian Book Award and $300 for achieving an average of 90 per cent or higher. In total, $63,300 in Basilian Book Awards was awarded to our students.</p>

<p>&ldquo;Given all of the obstacles, I think they did very well and we are proud of the resilience they displayed. Kudos also to our teachers for ensuring our students continue to grow as individuals and are prepared academically for whatever comes next in their academic journey,&rdquo; adds Lee.</p>

<p><em>Watch the 2020-21 Academic Awards Ceremonies:</em></p>

<p><iframe loading="lazy" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/videoseries?list=PLEsaHXT7d7GciRuMTIyH9uAlXN35OSgLM" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></p>




</div>

Students lining up during the Academic Awards Ceremony 2021

Honouring Student Academic Success at the 2021 Academic Awards

<div class="page-inner">
<h1>Coccimiglio off to University of Maine</h1>
<p>To say becoming a St. Michael&rsquo;s College School (SMCS) student and playing for the St. Michael&rsquo;s Buzzers Jr. A hockey team was always part of the plan may be an understatement. For Jared Coccimiglio, it was a dream come true.</p>

<p>Now, the Grade 12 student-athlete can add a full commitment to the University of Maine to his promising career.</p>

<figure id="attachment_4870" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-4870" style="width: 750px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/smcs-jared-coccimiglio-uofmaine-2021-3-1024x819.jpg" alt="SMCS Grade 12 student-athlete Jared Coccimiglio playing hockey." width="750" height="600" class="size-large wp-image-4870" srcset="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/smcs-jared-coccimiglio-uofmaine-2021-3-1024x819.jpg 1024w, https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/smcs-jared-coccimiglio-uofmaine-2021-3-300x240.jpg 300w, https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/smcs-jared-coccimiglio-uofmaine-2021-3-768x614.jpg 768w, https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/smcs-jared-coccimiglio-uofmaine-2021-3.jpg 1200w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-4870" class="wp-caption-text">Jared Coccimiglio, Grade 12 SMCS student-athlete, is headed to the University of Maine to continue his studies and play hockey in the NCAA.</figcaption></figure>

<p>&ldquo;I enrolled at St. Mike&rsquo;s in 2020 for my Grade 11 year because I knew what an amazing environment it was to challenge myself as a student and grow to become a better person,&rdquo; says Coccimiglio. &ldquo;SMCS has not only challenged me academically, but it has also provided me with a great social space to help me push beyond my limits and build relationships with my classmates. I&rsquo;ve wanted this opportunity since I was a little kid.&rdquo;</p>

<p>The Oakville resident has had a journey filled with many experiences that have led him to where he is today.</p>

<div class="float-left"><figure id="attachment_4869" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-4869" style="width: 210px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/smcs-jared-coccimiglio-uofmaine-2021-2-210x300.jpg" alt="SMCS Grade 12 student-athlete Jared Coccimiglio" width="210" height="300" class="size-medium wp-image-4869" srcset="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/smcs-jared-coccimiglio-uofmaine-2021-2-210x300.jpg 210w, https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/smcs-jared-coccimiglio-uofmaine-2021-2.jpg 505w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 210px) 100vw, 210px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-4869" class="wp-caption-text">Jared Coccimiglio is currently playing his second season with the St. Michael&#8217;s Buzzers hockey team.</figcaption></figure></div>

<p>In Grade 8 while attending James W. Hill Elementary School in Oakville, Coccimiglio&rsquo;s young hockey career would see him play competitive AAA hockey in Richmond Hill led by coach Chris De Piero &rsquo;87, current SMCS Associate Director of Admissions.</p>

<p>Grade 9 took Coccimiglio to Sault Ste. Marie, the hometown of his mom and Dad, Joe, a long-time science teacher at SMCS, to attend Algoma District School Board Hockey Academy while living with his grandparents.</p>

<p>&ldquo;I believe that year was instrumental in taking my character and my development as a hockey player to the next level,&rdquo; he says. &ldquo;My coaches were instrumental in preparing me for my minor midget season and far beyond.&rdquo;</p>

<p>Coccimiglio returned to Oakville in Grade 10, attending Holy Trinity High School and playing AAA minor midget in Richmond Hill, this time for Michael De Pellegrin &rsquo;94, the school&rsquo;s Director of Communications.</p>

<p>&ldquo;Throughout these years, I was introduced to the SMCS way well before I became a student at St. Michael&rsquo;s,&rdquo; says Coccimiglio. &ldquo;Having a St. Mike&rsquo;s influence on my hockey career before I became a student has helped me push myself to be better every day. The culture that helps prepare students for the next level was brought to the rink by Mr. De Piero and Mr. De Pellegrin every day.&rdquo;</p>

<p>At the end of Coccimiglio&rsquo;s Grade 10 year, he was drafted in the Ontario Hockey League&rsquo;s (OHL) Priority Selection in the 10th Round by the Owen Sound Attack. However, he decided to pursue NCAA hockey and play for the St. Michael&rsquo;s Jr. A team.</p>

<div class="float-right"><figure id="attachment_4868" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-4868" style="width: 240px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/smcs-jared-coccimiglio-uofmaine-2021-4-240x300.jpg" alt="Jared Coccimiglio, Grade 12 SMCS student-athlete" width="240" height="300" class="size-medium wp-image-4868" srcset="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/smcs-jared-coccimiglio-uofmaine-2021-4-240x300.jpg 240w, https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/smcs-jared-coccimiglio-uofmaine-2021-4-819x1024.jpg 819w, https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/smcs-jared-coccimiglio-uofmaine-2021-4-768x960.jpg 768w, https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/smcs-jared-coccimiglio-uofmaine-2021-4.jpg 960w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 240px) 100vw, 240px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-4868" class="wp-caption-text">In Grade 10, Jared Coccimiglio was drafted in the Ontario Hockey League’s (OHL) Priority Selection in the 10th Round by the Owen Sound Attack.</figcaption></figure></div>

<p>&ldquo;I feel that the NCAA route is the best path for me to develop as a hockey player and academically,&rdquo; he says. &ldquo;Playing for the Buzzers and Coach Ricci is a surreal feeling, a team and coach I grew up admiring.&rdquo;</p>

<p>Coccimiglio finished Grade 11 as an honour roll student, a Basilian Book Award recipient (honouring students who attain an average of 90% or greater), and with his first season of Jr. A hockey under his belt, albeit interrupted by the pandemic.</p>

<p>Leading up to his Grade 12 year, and his second season with the Buzzers, Coccimiglio was recruited by the coaching staff at the University of Maine.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&ldquo;The moment I started talking to the coaching staff and Head Coach Ben Barr, I knew I wanted to be a part of the culture that they have and are going to build,&rdquo; says Coccimiglio. &ldquo;The coaching staff believe in me as a player and a person, and that&rsquo;s all I can ask for. It is such an honour to have a full commitment at the University of Maine.&rdquo;</p>

<p>Coccimiglio will be officially signing his National Letter of Intent to the University of Maine in November and plans to pursue a degree in business with a focus on sports management. &nbsp;</p>

<p>&ldquo;After taking the St. Mike&rsquo;s sports marketing course this past summer with Dr. Lumsden &rsquo;97, I definitely felt that I wanted to continue exploring that avenue of study.</p>

<p>&ldquo;SMCS has prepared me very well for university. One of the key things I have learned is to balance my life as a student-athlete by setting goals and planning out how to achieve them,&rdquo; he says. &ldquo;Creating a plan and being proactive has been the key to reaching my goals.&rdquo;</p>

<p><em><strong>Related links:</strong></em></p>

<p><a href="/programmes/athletics">Athletics Programme</a></p>

<p><a href="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/stories/~board/stories/post/bethune-ready-for-the-next-chapter-of-his-student-athlete-journey">Bethune Ready for the Next Chapter of his Student-Athlete Journey</a></p>

<p><a href="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/stories/~board/stories/post/thomson-commits-to-university-of-michigan-in-2022">Thomson Commits to University of Michigan in 2022</a></p>


</div>

Jared Coccimiglio, Grade 12 SMCS student-athlete

Coccimiglio off to University of Maine

<div class="page-inner">
<h1>Catching up with the Class of 2021</h1>

<p>In June 2021,&nbsp;with their diplomas in hand, the newest class of St. Michael&rsquo;s College School (SMCS) graduates walked through the courtyard, yellow brick halls, and finally the Students&rsquo; Arch for the last time as SMCS students.&nbsp;</p>

<p>While they weren&rsquo;t the easiest final years, the Class of 2021 proved their resilience, going on to receive over 800 offers of admission to universities across the continent and are now beginning their first year in programmes and schools of their choice.</p>

<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s a common theme for our recent graduates to tell us how well prepared they felt for the first year of university, even in highly-competitive programmes like, for example, engineering, commerce, or health sciences,&rdquo; says John Connelly, Director of Student Affairs at SMCS. &ldquo;Admission officers have commented that the marks students earn at St. Mike&rsquo;s are an excellent barometer of their prospects for success in difficult courses and programmes.&rdquo;</p>

<figure id="attachment_4874" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-4874" style="width: 750px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/smcs-classof2021-followup-1-1024x683.jpg" alt="Grade 12 graduation ceremony in the courtyard at SMCS class of 2021" width="750" height="500" class="size-large wp-image-4874" srcset="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/smcs-classof2021-followup-1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/smcs-classof2021-followup-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/smcs-classof2021-followup-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/smcs-classof2021-followup-1.jpg 1200w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-4874" class="wp-caption-text">The Class of 2021 at the Graduation Awards Ceremony held in the SMCS courtyard in June 2021.</figcaption></figure>

<p>The Guidance Department works with students across Grades 9 to 12 in transitioning to high school, making the best choices they can with course selection, as well as everything involved in planning for their post-secondary journeys.</p>

<p>&ldquo;We are so proud of this extraordinary graduating class. Their hard work and perseverance have led them to many interesting and varied post-secondary destinations. It is tremendous to see so many of our students pursuing dual-degree, co-op, and other experiential learning opportunities,&rdquo; says Connelly.</p>

<p>Read on to take a look at the following interesting examples showcasing the diversity of programmes that some of our graduates are pursuing:</p>

<h2>Matthew Ganesh &rsquo;21<br />
<em>University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) &ndash; Chemical Engineering/Aerospace Engineering</em></h2>

<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/smcs-matthew-ganesh-200x300.jpg" alt="Matthew Ganesh &#039;21, SMCS alumnus" width="200" height="300" class="float-left size-medium wp-image-4877" srcset="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/smcs-matthew-ganesh-200x300.jpg 200w, https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/smcs-matthew-ganesh.jpg 400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px" />

<p>Matthew Ganesh chose to attend UCLA for the abundant S.T.E.M. (Science Technology Engineering Math) opportunities in California. He&rsquo;s currently studying chemical engineering but has plans to switch to aerospace engineering.</p>

<p>&ldquo;I decided to switch in the summer after I was accepted as many of my passions include being an automobile and aviation enthusiast,&rdquo; he says. &ldquo;Mechanical and aerospace engineering line up perfectly with these passions.&rdquo;</p>

<p>Prior to attending SMCS, Ganesh completed Grade 9 and 10 at two different schools which had offered the International Baccalaureate (IB) program or a gifted programme.</p>

<p>&ldquo;I came to SMCS in eleventh grade and instantly noticed that this system was much more difficult in terms of the organization of coursework and managing my time over the semester system,&rdquo; says Ganesh. &ldquo;Instead of having to manage four courses at a time, I now had to manage eight, which meant that being more organized would be my key to success in all my courses.&rdquo;</p>

<p>Ganesh shares this advice for future graduates: &ldquo;I would say that they should start high school off strong with building work habits in their freshman and junior years and really put themselves out there so that they can build a solid academic and athletic profile over their four years of high school.&rdquo;</p>

<h2>Jeremi Kolakowski &rsquo;21<br />
<em>McGill University &ndash; Biomedical Sciences</em></h2>

<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/smcs-jeremi-kolakowski-200x300.jpg" alt="Jeremi Kolakowski &#039;21, SMCS alumnus" width="200" height="300" class="float-right size-medium wp-image-4876" srcset="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/smcs-jeremi-kolakowski-200x300.jpg 200w, https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/smcs-jeremi-kolakowski.jpg 400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px" />

<p>Kolakowski was drawn to McGill&rsquo;s biomedical sciences programme because of the hands-on learning opportunities available.</p>

<p>&ldquo;Like St. Mike&rsquo;s, McGill has so much to offer both within and beyond the classroom experience,&rdquo; says the former Student Government President. &ldquo;I gravitated towards this university because it values lab and research experience rather than just studies.&rdquo;</p>

<p>Kolakowski credits SMCS with instilling valuable study habits that are already making a difference in staying organized in university.</p>

<p>&ldquo;The greatest way that SMCS prepared me for university was time management,&rdquo; he says. &ldquo;Throughout the week, I have classes and labs during the day and track practice in the afternoons. Although my schedule seemed quite busy at first, SMCS taught me how to really prioritize my time for completing schoolwork.&rdquo;</p>

<p>&ldquo;SMCS has taught me to be well-rounded, and this incorporates what I am studying in school, the activities I take part in, and the interests that I have outside of the classroom. During my six years at SMCS, I learned that having a work-life balance is necessary and I will ensure that this stays with me during university and beyond.&rdquo;</p>

<h2>Andrew Lobo &rsquo;21<br />
<em>Harvard University &ndash; (Undeclared) Computer Science or Mathematics</em></h2>

<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/smcs-andrew-lobo-200x300.jpg" alt="Andrew Lobo &#039;21, SMCS alumnus" width="200" height="300" class="float-left size-medium wp-image-4879" srcset="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/smcs-andrew-lobo-200x300.jpg 200w, https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/smcs-andrew-lobo.jpg 400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px" />

<p>&ldquo;The biggest reason I chose Harvard was because of its liberal arts education,&rdquo; says Lobo who hopes to study either computer science or mathematics with a secondary in economics when he is able to declare his major in his second year. &ldquo;I wouldn&rsquo;t be bound to taking a specific set of classes; rather, I could take classes in any subject area I want &mdash; something that many other universities do not offer.&rdquo;</p>

<p>Small class sizes and networking opportunities were among other major reasons that influenced Lobo to attend Harvard.</p>

<p>&ldquo;St. Michael&rsquo;s really instilled in me an appreciation for learning,&rdquo; he says. &ldquo;Taking effective notes, keeping organized, and yes, doing a lot of homework are all habits from SMCS that are making a big impact on me already.&rdquo;</p>

<p>Lobo also notes how important it was to learn how to properly manage his time in high school, now that he&rsquo;s in university.</p>

<p>&ldquo;The numerous leadership positions I held in high school taught me decision-making, organization, and humility,&rdquo; he adds. &ldquo;I am truly indebted to my teachers at SMCS, not only for preparing me for the rigours of an Ivy League education, but also for providing me opportunities to grow as a person.&rdquo;</p>

<h2>Christian Pierobon &rsquo;21<br />
<em>Queen&rsquo;s University &ndash; Engineering</em></h2>

<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/smcs-christian-pierobon-200x300.jpg" alt="Christian Pierobon &#039;21, SMCS alumnus" width="200" height="300" class="float-right size-medium wp-image-4873" srcset="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/smcs-christian-pierobon-200x300.jpg 200w, https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/smcs-christian-pierobon.jpg 400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px" />

<p>Playing to his strengths, Pierobon is studying engineering at Queen&rsquo;s since he says the sciences and maths were always among his best subjects while at SMCS.</p>

<p>&ldquo;I chose to study at Queen&rsquo;s because they offer many different disciplines of engineering as well as nearly unlimited extra-curriculars and activities to do as an engineering student, including design teams and different engineering societies, just to name a few,&rdquo; says Pierobon.</p>

<p>In addition to the non-semestered atmosphere at SMCS that Pierobon says helped ease his transition to university and the workload that accompanies it, he&rsquo;s also grateful for learning how to take his studies outside the classroom.</p>

<p>&ldquo;At university, I&rsquo;m in lectures with 300 other students so I don&rsquo;t often get to ask a question if I have one, so knowing how to teach myself something that the professor didn&rsquo;t have time to go over, helps significantly,&rdquo; he says.</p>

<p>For graduating students, Pierobon shares this: &ldquo;Use the community around you. The first thing I did at university was start making new friends. While I still have the odd St. Mike&rsquo;s friend around, I made sure to branch out to find new friends and build a network of people to both hang out with but also I&rsquo;d be able to call upon if I needed help.&rdquo;</p>

<h2>Matthew Wren &rsquo;21<br />
<em>McMaster University &ndash; Health Sciences</em></h2>

<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/smcs-matthew-wren-200x300.jpg" alt="Matthew Wren &#039;21, SMCS alumnus" width="200" height="300" class="float-left size-medium wp-image-4878" srcset="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/smcs-matthew-wren-200x300.jpg 200w, https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/smcs-matthew-wren.jpg 400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px" />

<p>Wren selected McMaster&rsquo;s health sciences programme for its unique interdisciplinary approach to the domain of health.</p>

<p>&ldquo;A big factor in me choosing the Bachelor of Health Sciences (BHSC) program was how small and welcoming the program is,&rdquo; Wren adds. &ldquo;Analogous to the culture at SMCS, you are more than just a number, and both students and faculty in the BHSC programme genuinely care about you and want to see you succeed.&rdquo;</p>

<p>Wren also credits SMCS for aiding in his transition to post-secondary.</p>

<p>&ldquo;The sheer workload that university throws at you is overwhelming, and while it is challenging, it was something that I had already experienced in my four years at St. Mike&rsquo;s,&rdquo; he says. &ldquo;SMCS&#39;s rigorous curriculum instills a work ethic in you that pushes you to excel in whatever discipline you are passionate about.&rdquo;</p>

<p style="clear:both;">In terms of advice from our Guidance Department, Connelly says he frequently encourages Grade 12 graduates to enjoy their final year at SMCS.</p>

<p style="clear:both;">&ldquo;Grade 12 boasts a rigorous programme of study that requires a lot of commitment and focus, but it&rsquo;s also a time for students to have some fun with their St. Mike&rsquo;s brothers, to find new ways to contribute their talents to the school community, and to decide what they want their legacy to be as a graduating class,&rdquo; he says. &ldquo;While it&rsquo;s important for students to position themselves well for success in the university admission process, it&rsquo;s equally important to maintain a healthy work-life balance. The Grade 12 year should be a time of joy and connectedness, not just a springboard to the next stage of the journey.&rdquo;</p>

<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/smcs-classof2021-followup-2-1024x684.jpg" alt="Grade 12 Graduation at SMCS in 2021" width="750" height="501" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-4875" srcset="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/smcs-classof2021-followup-2-1024x684.jpg 1024w, https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/smcs-classof2021-followup-2-300x200.jpg 300w, https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/smcs-classof2021-followup-2-768x513.jpg 768w, https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/smcs-classof2021-followup-2.jpg 1200w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px" />

<p>
<em><strong>Related links:</strong></em></p>

<p><a href="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/stories/~board/stories/post/celebrating-the-class-of-2021">Celebrating the Class of 2021</a></p>

<p><a href="/student-life/learning-support" aria-label="Student Affairs">Student Affairs</a></p>


</div>

Grade 12 graduation ceremony in the courtyard at SMCS class of 2021

Catching up with the Class of 2021

<div class="page-inner">
  <h1>Pull Up A Chair: Reliving Happy Memories</h1>
  <p>
    During the 2020-21 school year, St. Michael&rsquo;s College School (SMCS)
    continued its ongoing process of modernizing classrooms with more
    collaborative furniture, replacing the traditional slide-in yellow desks
    which were a staple at the school since the 1950s.
  </p>

  <p>
    Beginning in May 2021,&nbsp;the Alumni Association began offering up the
    legendary desks for sale. The <i>Pull up a Chair</i> initiative has been
    popular among alumni, rekindling old memories from former students spanning
    seven decades, along with current and past parents&nbsp;who have embraced
    the chance to bring a piece of SMCS history into their homes. &nbsp;
  </p>

  <p>
    &ldquo;It is amazing to hear how tied these classroom desks are to so many
    great memories from alumni of all ages,&rdquo; says Stephanie Nicholls, SMCS
    Alumni and Special Events Officer. &ldquo;Initiatives such as this one are
    really about building community and passing on the love so many have for our
    school.&rdquo;
  </p>

  <p>
    Check out the photo gallery below and read about the impact the desks have
    been making.
  </p>

  <p>
    A limited number of desks are still available for purchase. Visit
    <a href="https://www.mysmcs.com/pull-up-a-chair-" target="_blank" rel="noopener">
      SMCSpullupachair.com
    </a>
    to take one home.
  </p>

  <div class="carousel">
    <div class="carousel-item align-center">
      <img loading="lazy" decoding="async"
        src="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/smcs-pullupachair-yellowdesks-gallery-3.jpg"
        alt="SMCS alumnus with his yellow desk in support of Pull Up A Chair campaign."
        width="333"
        height="500"
        class="alignnone size-full wp-image-5121"
      />
    </div>
    <div class="carousel-item align-center">
      <img loading="lazy" decoding="async"
        src="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/smcs-pullupachair-yellowdesks-gallery-6.jpg"
        alt="SMCS student with his yellow desk"
        width="333"
        height="500"
        class="alignnone size-full wp-image-5124"
      />
    </div>
    <div class="carousel-item align-center">
      <img loading="lazy" decoding="async"
        src="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/smcs-pullupachair-yellowdesks-gallery-8.jpg"
        alt="SMCS alumnus with his yellow desk in support of Pull Up A Chair campaign."
        width="333"
        height="500"
        class="alignnone size-full wp-image-5126"
      />
    </div>
    <div class="carousel-item align-center">
      <img loading="lazy" decoding="async"
        src="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/smcs-pullupachair-yellowdesks-gallery-5.jpg"
        alt="SMCS alumnus with his yellow desk in support of Pull Up A Chair campaign."
        width="333"
        height="500"
        class="alignnone size-full wp-image-5123"
      />
    </div>
    <div class="carousel-item align-center">
      <img loading="lazy" decoding="async"
        src="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/smcs-pullupachair-yellowdesks-gallery-7.jpg"
        alt="SMCS students with their yellow desks."
        width="333"
        height="500"
        class="alignnone size-full wp-image-5125"
      />
    </div>
    <div class="carousel-item align-center">
      <img loading="lazy" decoding="async"
        src="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/smcs-pullupachair-yellowdesks-gallery-2.jpg"
        alt="SMCS alumnus with his yellow desk in support of Pull Up A Chair campaign."
        width="334"
        height="500"
        class="alignnone size-full wp-image-5120"
      />
    </div>
    <div class="carousel-item align-center">
      <img loading="lazy" decoding="async"
        src="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/smcs-pullupachair-yellowdesks-gallery-1.jpg"
        alt="SMCS family member sits in a yellow desk."
        width="333"
        height="500"
        class="alignnone size-full wp-image-5119"
      />
    </div>
    <div class="carousel-item align-center">
      <img loading="lazy" decoding="async"
        src="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/smcs-pullupachair-yellowdesks-gallery-9.jpg"
        alt="SMCS students and alumnus with their yellow desk in support of Pull Up A Chair campaign."
        width="333"
        height="500"
        class="alignnone size-full wp-image-5127"
      />
    </div>
    <div class="carousel-item align-center">
      <img loading="lazy" decoding="async"
        src="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/smcs-pullupachair-yellowdesks-gallery-11.jpg"
        alt="SMCS alumnus&#039; children with his yellow desk in support of Pull Up A Chair campaign."
        width="500"
        height="500"
        class="alignnone size-full wp-image-5129"
      />
    </div>
    <div class="carousel-item align-center">
      <img loading="lazy" decoding="async"
        src="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/smcs-pullupachair-yellowdesks-gallery-10.jpg"
        alt="SMCS alumni with their yellow desks in support of Pull Up A Chair campaign."
        width="500"
        height="375"
        class="alignnone size-full wp-image-5128"
      />
    </div>
    <div class="carousel-item align-center">
      <img loading="lazy" decoding="async"
        src="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/smcs-pullupachair-yellowdesks-gallery-12.jpg"
        alt="SMCS alumni with yellow desks in support of Pull Up A Chair campaign."
        width="500"
        height="333"
        class="alignnone size-full wp-image-5118"
      />
    </div>
    <div class="carousel-item align-center">
      <img loading="lazy" decoding="async"
        src="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/smcs-pullupachair-yellowdesks-gallery-4.jpg"
        alt="Writing on a yellow desk purchased for alumnus for Pull Up A Chair"
        width="500"
        height="375"
        class="alignnone size-full wp-image-5122"
      />
    </div>
  </div>
</div>;

<section>
<p><em><strong>Related links:</strong></em></p>
<p><a href="https://st-michaels-college-school-one.vercel.app/news-events">News And Events</a></p>
</section>

SMCS Pull Up A Chair campaign involved the sale of the legendary yellow desks pictured.

Pull Up A Chair: Reliving Happy Memories

<div class="page-inner">
<h1>Honouring our First Nations through Indigenous Education</h1>

<p>On Thursday, September 30, 2021, St. Michael&rsquo;s College School (SMCS) staff and students were honouring Indigenous Peoples on the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.</p>

<p>&ldquo;The goal on Thursday, September 30 is to have our community recognize the impact and the legacy of the residential school system in Canada,&rdquo; says John Walsh &rsquo;73, Manager of Community &amp; Learning Partnerships. Walsh is also the chair of the Indigenous Education Group at SMCS.</p>

<p>&ldquo;The overall goal is to start to deepen our overall knowledge and understanding of Indigenous history, their culture, and perspectives,&rdquo; he says.</p>

<h2>Evolving curriculum</h2>

<p>In addition to recognizing and honouring Indigenous Peoples on September 30, the Indigenous Education Group and the school&rsquo;s Administration are making plans to embed more education around Indigenous issues in the curriculum, including inviting more guest speakers and Indigenous Elders and Knowledge Keepers to regularly speak with students.</p>

<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/nctr-logo.png" alt="National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation logo" width="225" height="224" class="float-left size-full wp-image-5134" />

<p>One of the first steps that the school has taken, is to construct a Curriculum Audit Tool to determine existing gaps in the curriculum and identify further opportunities for growth. Created by the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, this tool will be used beginning this term with SMCS department heads. They will begin to evaluate the courses within their own departments in order to infuse Indigenous issues and other issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion into the fabric of courses, going above and beyond pre-existing curriculum expectations.</p>

<p>The Curriculum Audit Tool is a rubric with categories that ask our faculty to question lesson plan design, create discussion topics, as well as assessment opportunities with a critical eye on how can they meet, and go beyond the curriculum, with a distinct focus on Indigenous and other issues such as anti-black racism, LGBTQ+ support, etc.</p>

<p>The goal is that the audit tool won&rsquo;t just be unique to specific courses but infused in all classrooms and done in authentic and meaningful ways with advice from Indigenous Elders in a conscious effort to be mindful that it&rsquo;s not always our place to tell other people&rsquo;s stories. By seeking authentic voices and partnerships like this, it becomes an extremely valuable tool in educating students from an authentic perspective.</p>

<p>&ldquo;Along this journey, students are learning about Indigenous Peoples living in Canada that they might not otherwise have learned in previous courses, schools, or even in their own household,&rdquo; says Jacob Lang, science and biology teacher at SMCS. &ldquo;Sadly, those were all the intended impacts of residential schools that the Canadian government had in mind all those years ago. There&rsquo;s a reason why not a lot of people know about this &ndash; it&rsquo;s because they didn&rsquo;t want them to.&rdquo;</p>

<h2>Honouring Indigenous Peoples</h2>

<p>On September 30, for the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, staff and students took part in discussions on the history of our First Nations, M&eacute;tis, and Inuit Peoples, colonization, the impacts of residential schools, Survivor stories, and other important topics.</p>

<figure id="attachment_5133" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-5133" style="width: 1200px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/smcs-truth-reconciliation-day-jacob.jpg" alt="Jacob Lang was among the speakers on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation" width="1200" height="676" class="size-full wp-image-5133" srcset="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/smcs-truth-reconciliation-day-jacob.jpg 1200w, https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/smcs-truth-reconciliation-day-jacob-768x433.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-5133" class="wp-caption-text">Jacob Lang, SMCS teacher, was among the faculty involved in the discussions on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation</figcaption></figure>

<p>None of the discussions or initiatives would be possible without the advice and collaboration from Cat Criger, an Indigenous Elder, Traditional Teacher, and Knowledge Keeper. Criger has been engaged in the process and has assisted in developing the frameworks that were used to educate our students.</p>

<p>The school, with the guidance of Criger and the Indigenous Education Group, opted to construct a unique day of reflection framed around the Seven Grandfather Teachings of wisdom, honesty, respect, courage, love, humility, and truth.</p>

<p>Students and staff paused at the start of each period for 20-minute discussions where they took the time to learn and reflect on topics throughout the day.</p>

<p>&ldquo;Being M&eacute;tis, this is a very personal journey for me&rdquo; says Lang, who is of the M&eacute;tis Nation of Ontario under Barrie South Simcoe M&eacute;tis Council. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve kind of put it on myself, this responsibility to not only continue to learn about the language and history of my Indigenous ancestry but also, as a teacher, to share this knowledge with my students too. I am a big believer in being culturally responsive whenever I can in the classroom. Being Metis, I feel I owe it to my ancestry and to my profession. Being a part of something like this is something I&rsquo;ve always wanted to do; I&rsquo;ve always wanted to educate my students about Indigenous cultures not just in Canada but around the world.&rdquo;</p>

<p>Lang is also a member of the Indigenous Education Group, which is collectively working to embed more Indigenous education into the school&rsquo;s curriculum.</p>

<p>&ldquo;Schools play perhaps the biggest role alongside government to ensuring these Calls to Action are acknowledged, honoured, and ultimately realized,&rdquo; he says, referring to the 94 Calls to Action put forward by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada back in 2015. &ldquo;Even though the education portion of these calls is somewhat small, we have the biggest impact because we&rsquo;re teaching &nbsp;children and they need to know not only what happened, they need to know what the impacts of these residential schools were, and they also need to know the hard truth that there are many to blame for this who were ultimately responsible for it, including both the Canadian government and a number of Christian churches&rdquo;</p>

<h2>Impacts from a day of reflection</h2>

<p>&ldquo;The impact I hope students, and staff for that matter, have is that these things really happened in these schools and not all that long ago,&rdquo; says Lang. &ldquo;The other impact is hopefully staff and students realize that the effects of these Indian residential schools extend beyond the walls of those schools, the effects are intergenerational.&rdquo;</p>

<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/smcs-mporium-orange-shirt-day.jpg" alt="Every Child Matters t-shirts for Orange Shirt Day at SMCS - Honouring Indigenous Peoples" width="489" height="500" class="float-right size-full wp-image-5135" srcset="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/smcs-mporium-orange-shirt-day.jpg 1173w, https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/smcs-mporium-orange-shirt-day-768x786.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 489px) 100vw, 489px" />

<p>Lang explains that the intergeneration effects are passed down through generations both behaviourally and genetically, where even though an Indigenous person may not have even stepped foot inside a residential school, they can still feel the effects of the system.</p>

<p>&ldquo;I hope that staff and students start to understand that they have role to play in Truth and Reconciliation. Even though the students weren&rsquo;t there, they still have a role to play,&rdquo; says Lang. &ldquo;We all have responsibility to seek allyship with Indigenous Peoples in Canada. That means coming to truth with what&rsquo;s happened in the country, learning about Indigenous cultures in an effort to revive them given the cultural genocide that took place. I like to think of it as being a &lsquo;co-conspirator.&rsquo; One who seeks allyship is one who is actively engaged in the Indigenous community in an effort to try and make things better for the present and future. Residential schools had a serious impact on Indigenous culture because they sought to &lsquo;kill the Indian in the child.&rsquo; If that culture can&rsquo;t be passed from one generation to the next, then the culture fails to survive and becomes extinct.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>

<p>After participating in the discussions on September 30, Christopher Pinnington, Grade 12, reflected on the lessons and stories he learned.</p>

<p>&ldquo;[The day&rsquo;s] discussions and reflections impacted me by filling me with a desire to change,&rdquo; says Pinnington. &ldquo;From hearing the heartbreaking personal stories of residential school Survivors to listening to Cat Criger&rsquo;s powerful words about love and wisdom, I was filled with an incredible range of emotions from deep sympathy for the Indigenous peoples of Canada and all that they went through, to disappointment in myself for not knowing or doing more to help this cause.&rdquo;</p>

<p>He adds, &ldquo;One of the most impactful lessons I learned today was Cat Criger&rsquo;s advice of considering how we today can best influence the next seven generations. I thought this was a wonderful way of thinking about how to better yourself as a person because it allows you not just to confront how you can be a better person in your life today, but to consider your effect on future generations. Someone who is kind and loving to all people regardless of their differences is undoubtedly a good person, however, someone who, on top of being kind and accepting, uses their voice to fight for the rights of others who are oppressed for their differences definitely has more of an impact on the world than the former.&rdquo;</p>

</div>
<section>
<p><em><strong>Related links:</strong></em></p>
<p><a href="https://st-michaels-college-school-one.vercel.app/news-events">News And Events</a></p>
</section>

Every Child Matters logo - Honouring Indigenous Peoples

Honouring our First Nations through Indigenous Education

<div class="page-inner">
<h1>One for the Ice Ages: Celebrating 40 Years</h1>

<p>Through tears, a smile and a twinkle in his eye, Rob Tunney recalls that day back in 1982 when he got a call about an opportunity.</p>

<p>He was in his second year of working for the city at North Toronto Memorial Arena, following his graduation from Humber College in Facility Management.</p>

<p>The call came from Ross Blatchford, father of the late Christie Blatchford, formerly of the National Post and one of Canada&#39;s most prolific journalists.</p>

<p>Blatchford was general manager of the arena back in the 1980s.</p>

<figure id="attachment_5146" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-5146" style="width: 1200px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/smcs-rob-tunney-40years-arena-3.jpg" alt=" Rob Tunney, Arena Manager, in front of the St. Michael&#039;s College School Arena" width="1200" height="752" class="size-full wp-image-5146" srcset="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/smcs-rob-tunney-40years-arena-3.jpg 1200w, https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/smcs-rob-tunney-40years-arena-3-768x481.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-5146" class="wp-caption-text">Rob Tunney ’81 began working at St. Michael&#8217;s College School in September 1982.</figcaption></figure>

<p>&quot;I see there is going to be more opportunity for you there in the long run,&quot; Tunney says he was told by Blatchford.</p>

<p>His comment came after Tunney received this message: &quot;we have an opening at your old school at St. Mike&#39;s. We think it would be a great opportunity for you. Rob, it&#39;s time to come home.&quot;</p>

<p>The rest, as they say, is history. Forty years of history for Tunney who celebrates four decades of working at St. Michael&#39;s College School&#39;s arena in September 2021.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He started his journey as arena operator on September 7, 1982, the same time his wife started at the University of Toronto&rsquo;s School of Pharmacy.</p>

<h2>TOUCHING TRIBUTES</h2>

<p>Since news of his work anniversary began to filter, the feedback has been steady and at times, overwhelming.</p>

<p>&quot;A lot of people just can&#39;t believe it,&quot; says the native of Newmarket, Ontario. &quot;I&#39;ve heard, you&#39;re too young to have been here for 40 years, and you don&#39;t look that old!&quot;</p>

<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/smcs-rob-tunney-40years-arena-11.jpg" alt="Rob Tunney, Arena Manager at St. Michael&#039;s College School" width="1200" height="800" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-5143" srcset="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/smcs-rob-tunney-40years-arena-11.jpg 1200w, https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/smcs-rob-tunney-40years-arena-11-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" />

<p>
One recent comment in particular, Tunney says, &quot;blew me away.&quot; It came in written form and said, &quot;You&#39;ve become a fabric of the school. Your warmth and integrity really exude what the school is all about. We&#39;re lucky to have you carry on the school&#39;s mission.&quot; He shares the sentiment through a cascade of tears.</p>

<p>Tunney puts the rare milestone into further perspective. &quot;It&#39;s longer than my marriage! I&#39;ve been married 35 years!&quot; His wife Denise is a clinical pharmacist. He adds, &quot;I could probably write a book. That&#39;s what my wife says. She&#39;s wondering when the book is coming out!&quot;</p>

<p>If it gets written, that book would be flush with names (some of them famous), experiences (vast and varied), and stories of impact (countless and continuing).</p>

<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/smcs-rob-tunney-40years-arena-10.jpg" alt="Rob Tunney, Arena Manager at SMCS looking at a photo" width="1200" height="800" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-5142" srcset="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/smcs-rob-tunney-40years-arena-10.jpg 1200w, https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/smcs-rob-tunney-40years-arena-10-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" />

<p>
So many encounters, interactions, and memories from decades ago remain fresh in his mind. As arena operator, arena assistant manager, and since 1996, arena manager, the father of two and grandfather of three has seen and done it all in his role, and then some.</p>

<p>&quot;You&#39;ve got to be able to do everything in this job,&quot; he says. &quot;And that&#39;s the beauty of starting from the ground up and working your way up. You know every facet of every job.&quot;</p>

<h2>JACK OF ALL TRADES</h2>

<p>At any given moment, Tunney says his role includes relationship manager, scheduler, Zamboni driver, valet, steam-boiler and refrigeration system expert, sales manager, ice rental coordinator, concessions and snack bar attendant, pro shop lead, coach, mentor, adviser and mediator, among others.</p>

<p>But the role he says he spends the most time on &#8212; &quot;being an ambassador for the school.&quot;</p>

<p>And it&#39;s no accident.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The arena building, he says, is often the first point of contact for many visitors.</p>

<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/smcs-rob-tunney-40years-arena-7.jpg" alt="Arena Manager at SMCS sits in the arena stands" width="1200" height="771" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-5150" srcset="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/smcs-rob-tunney-40years-arena-7.jpg 1200w, https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/smcs-rob-tunney-40years-arena-7-768x493.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" />

<p>&quot;It is usually the first place they come into because they&#39;re not sure where to go to the school,&quot; he says. &quot;My door is open. And then the conversation always happens &#8212; why should I send my boy to this school?&quot;&nbsp;</p>

<p>There are also other subjects discussed like hockey, history, academics, religion. Not many topics have been off-limits in the confines of the building dubbed the &lsquo;cozy barn,&rsquo; with its venerable history, steeped in cache. It has been the subject of books, media stories, interviews, and documentaries.</p>

<p>Speaking of which, during his time, Tunney has booked, facilitated, welcomed, and supported a slew of events and visitors to the arena. The 45,000 square-foot building seats 1,000.&nbsp;</p>

<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/smcs-rob-tunney-40years-arena-4.jpg" alt="Arena Manager, walking under the stands in the SMCS arena" width="1200" height="800" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-5147" srcset="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/smcs-rob-tunney-40years-arena-4.jpg 1200w, https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/smcs-rob-tunney-40years-arena-4-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" />

<p>It has served as the backdrop to all kinds of occasions, says Tunney, including:</p>

<ul>
	<li>Minor hockey tournaments</li>
	<li>Movies (&#39;Youngblood&#39; with Rob Lowe and the late Patrick Swayze)</li>
	<li>Commercials</li>
	<li>Greater Toronto Hockey League games</li>
	<li>Political rally &#8211; during the Brian Mulroney era</li>
	<li>TV Series (&#39;In The Heat of the Night&#39; with Mr. T)</li>
	<li>CBC&#39;s Battle of the Blades</li>
	<li>Learn to Play classes</li>
	<li>Figure skating instruction</li>
	<li>Furniture liquidation sales</li>
	<li>Athletic banquets</li>
	<li>Latin fiesta</li>
	<li>Breakdancing competition&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Biosteel Camp (for NHL players)</li>
	<li>A marriage proposal at centre ice&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

<p>&quot;Sometimes you wouldn&#39;t recognize the rink, because of the way they dressed it,&quot; he says.</p>

<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/smcs-rob-tunney-40years-arena-1.jpg" alt="SMCS Arena Manager, in his office" width="1200" height="800" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-5144" srcset="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/smcs-rob-tunney-40years-arena-1.jpg 1200w, https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/smcs-rob-tunney-40years-arena-1-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" />

<h2>MOST MEMORABLE &nbsp;</h2>

<p>That eclectic list leads to the next question for the man who has had a hand in most, if not all, of these encounters. His all-time most memorable interactions?</p>

<p>He answers with little hesitation offering the names and <em>why </em>they made an impact on him.</p>

<p>Don Cherry: &quot;His passion for minor hockey and for Canada.&quot;</p>

<p><em>Tunney says he got to know the former Hockey Night in Canada Coaches&#39; Corner mainstay, as well as his late wife Rose, during the 1980s.</em></p>

<p>Red Kelly: &quot;A gentle man. He was a quiet man, who had this professionalism and honesty about him.&quot;</p>

<p><em>An SMCS alumnus, Kelly, a former Toronto Maple Leaf and Detroit Red Wing, would later watch his son and grandchildren play hockey at the arena, says Tunney, who served as the Deacon at the NHL legend&#39;s funeral in 2019.</em></p>

<p>Next on his list: &quot;All alumni who come back,&quot; he says.</p>

<p><em>&quot;They&#39;re special to me. Because they come back. Those are special moments when they come back and we start talking about when they were students.&quot;</em></p>

<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/smcs-rob-tunney-40years-arena-9.jpg" alt="Rob Tunney, SMCS Arena Manager" width="1200" height="743" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-5141" srcset="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/smcs-rob-tunney-40years-arena-9.jpg 1200w, https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/smcs-rob-tunney-40years-arena-9-768x476.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" />

<h2>HOUSE AND HOME &nbsp;</h2>

<p>The day-to-day provides plenty of satisfaction and delight.</p>

<p>&quot;When people come into the facility, some of them say, &#39;Oh, boy, it hasn&#39;t changed&rsquo;. What a clean facility we have, and how hard it must be to maintain that. People who play here recognize that we don&#39;t have big dressing rooms, we don&#39;t have modern amenities. They like the charm here. They say what a nice-looking facility you have, a well-run facility and the staff are smiling and willing to help. That makes you feel good!&quot; &nbsp;</p>

<p>For the man who has spent most of his life inside the barrel-shaped roof shrine to hockey, there is no other option.</p>

<p>&quot;I treat it like it&#39;s my home.&quot;</p>

<p>With a staff of three and as many as a dozen part-time helpers throughout the year, Tunney has not only seen and done a lot in his job but given up much as well.&nbsp;</p>

<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/smcs-rob-tunney-40years-arena-2.jpg" alt="Rob Tunney has worked in the SMCS Arena for 40 years and counting" width="1200" height="800" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-5145" srcset="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/smcs-rob-tunney-40years-arena-2.jpg 1200w, https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/smcs-rob-tunney-40years-arena-2-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" />

<p>Over the years, when duties call, <em>whenever </em>they beckon &#8212; he answers.</p>

<p>&quot;My wife came to understand early that my job is important. And I&#39;ve never let my family down. But sometimes I&#39;ve got to step out, whether it be from a family gathering or get-together because people need help. So, you&#39;ve got to go in and deal with it,&quot; he says. &quot;There have been familial sacrifices along the way of those 40 years.&quot;</p>

<p>While the length of his workdays and sleep deprivation peaked during the 1990s &#8212; forcing him to take time off due to depression &#8212; Tunney says he has since found a better balance with the help of his doctors, family, and friends.</p>

<h2>PASSION AND PURPOSE</h2>

<p>You&#39;ll still find him here by seven o&#39;clock every day, including Saturday mornings during the winter &#8212; working on something or another.</p>

<p>After all, it&#39;s not just a rink or a second home to him. It is also where he spent a good chunk of his formative years, as a student at St. Michael&#39;s College School, starting in 1976.&nbsp;</p>

<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/smcs-rob-tunney-40years-arena-6.jpg" alt="Rob Tunney, Arena Manager at St. Michael&#039;s College School stands in one of the dressing rooms" width="1200" height="800" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-5149" srcset="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/smcs-rob-tunney-40years-arena-6.jpg 1200w, https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/smcs-rob-tunney-40years-arena-6-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" />

<p>&quot;What it [this rink] stood for was part of the fabric of the school for a lot of us,&quot; Tunney recalls. &quot;That&#39;s where a lot of friendships were forged, a lot of battles won or lost on the ice, and some championships, but in the end it&#39;s where we went for enjoyment.&quot;</p>

<p>And as the eldest of three children who, at the age of five, lost his father tragically to suicide &#8212; the fond memories remain etched in Tunney&#39;s mind.</p>

<p>They included working alongside former teachers, in the early years of his arena role, with his brother for 25+ years, all while turning rink-side acquaintances into lifelong relationships along the way. Some even became mentors or mentees.</p>

<p>&quot;Being able to carry on that legacy has been important to me,&quot; he says.</p>

<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/smcs-rob-tunney-40years-arena-5.jpg" alt="Rob Tunney, SMCS Arena Manager, drives the Zamboni as needed" width="1200" height="800" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-5148" srcset="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/smcs-rob-tunney-40years-arena-5.jpg 1200w, https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/smcs-rob-tunney-40years-arena-5-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" />

<p>&quot;At any given time, we&#39;ve got probably 1,100 stakeholders right across in the school. It is great to see it back open again, see people playing. It warms your heart. That is what it was built for. That&#39;s why we&#39;re here. It helped shape who I am today.&quot;</p>

<h2>LASTING LEGACY</h2>

<p>In 2018, it inspired him to become a Deacon, an ordained minister in the Catholic Church, who can carry out many similar tasks to that of a priest. It also inspired him to coach both figure skating and hockey for 20 and 30 years, respectively.</p>

<p>&quot;The most gratifying thing is seeing a child in September out on the ice, sitting on the ground, not being able to get up, not being able to skate and then watching their progression throughout the whole year. In April, they&#39;re playing in learn to play tournaments and they&#39;re able to go back and forth on the ice without much help. That&#39;s &nbsp;really something.&quot;</p>

<p>Impact both seen and unseen.&nbsp;</p>

<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/smcs-rob-tunney-40years-arena-8.jpg" alt="Rob Tunney, Arena Manager at SMCS" width="1200" height="800" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-5140" srcset="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/smcs-rob-tunney-40years-arena-8.jpg 1200w, https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/smcs-rob-tunney-40years-arena-8-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" />

<p>No ordinary job. And certainly not a role for everybody.</p>

<p>But for Deacon Rob Tunney &#39;81, it has been a seemingly natural fit.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The road to 40 years and counting paved with goodness, discipline, and knowledge &#8212; and delivered with much faith, character, and service.</p>

</div>
<section>
<p><em><strong>Related links:</strong></em></p>
<p><a href="https://st-michaels-college-school-one.vercel.app/news-events">News And Events</a></p>
</section>

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