September 2017 - Issue No. 28
2017 Annual Alumni Dinner and Awards


The Annual Alumni Dinner and Awards is fast approaching. Join us for an evening of food, drink and camaraderie! Taking place on Thursday, October 19th, Mr. Kevin Breen '62 and Dr. Lesley Bautista '05 will be honoured as the 2017 Alumnus of the Year and Magis Award recipient, respectively. See here for their full biographies. Mass will begin at 6:00 p.m. in the Chapel at St. Bon's, followed by a reception and dinner from 6:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m. Tickets, $40, are available online here or at the President's Office. Questions can be directed to Mrs. Jessica Whalen '04 at 726-0024 Ext. 228 or jwhalen@stbons.ca.

2017 Alumnus of the Year, Mr. Kevin Breen '62
2017 Magis Award recipient, Dr. Lesley Bautista '05


Sold Out 2017 Annual Fallen 51 Dinner a Success!
The guests of the 2017 "Fallen 51" Dinner at the historical Crows Nest Officers' Club.
From left: Mr. Anthony McAllister, C.D., Ms. Racvhel Howells '18 and President Tom McGrath. 


A touching tribute to those 51 St. Bon's heroes lost in battle during the First World War, this year's "Fallen 51" Dinner was a sold out success. Held at the Crow's Nest Officers' Club, guests enjoyed a champagne reception, a delicious dinner and were treated to some enlightening speakers. Ms. Rachel Howells '18 spoke as a student who walks through the same halls as those 51 men. She artfully captured the significance of the sacrifice made by the "Fallen 51" for today's St. Bon's students. The evening's guest of honour, author Mr. Anthony McAllister, CD, gave life to the men who fought at the Battle of Monchy-le-Preux, allowing the guests to walk in the boots of our heroes. He read excerpts from his book,  The Greatest Gallantry, and was even able to sign copies for many guests. Thank you to the St. Bon's Alumni Committee for putting together such a successful event, especially to Mr. Gary Walsh '66, President of the Crow's Nest Officer's Club. 

 Celebrating Historically Significant Alumnus Thomas Nangle, Class of 1909
The crowd celebrates Lt. Col. Thomas Nangle, Class of 1909, by unveiling a plaque in his honour at the Bonaventure Ave. entrance to the school.

From left: Gary Browne '63, Principal Annette Mallay, Dr. Neil Glabraith, Mrs. Mavourneen Galbraith, President Tom McGrath and Board Chair Ms. Barbara Mason with St. Bon's trophies bearing Nangle's name.


On Monday, September 4, 2017, St. Bonaventure's College held a ceremony unveiling a plaque honouring Lt.-Col. Thomas Nangle, class of 1909. Nangle was named a Person of National Historical Significance by the Government of Canada in 2016 for his dedicated service in the Royal Newfoundland Regiment as the Catholic Chaplain. Nangle dedicated much of his post-war life to paying tribute to those who served and gave their lives during the First World War. He was a major contributor to the efforts to create the five bronze caribou memorials overseas, including at the War Memorial at Beaumont-Hamel in France. Additionally, Nangle had a hand in the St. John's National War Memorial

In attendance was Nangle's daughter, Mavourneen Galbraith, who travelled from New Zealand to be a part of the ceremony. Galbraith, along with President Tom McGrath unveiled the plaque at the entrance to St. Bonaventure's College, where current students and alumni can admire and reflect on Nangle's admirable contributions. 
Dr. Gary Mooney '62, 2015 Alumnus of the Year, Commissioned in Oils
From left: Dr. Cathy Whiteside (former Dean of Medicine at U of T), Dr. Suan Seh Foo (artist and professor of Medicine at U of T), and Dr. Gary Mooney '62.
Dr. Gary Mooney '62, 2015 Alumnus of the Year, has recently had an oil portrait commissioned in his honour. It was commissioned by philanthropist Terry Donnelly in recognition of Dr. Mooney's decade of service on the board of the University of Toronto. Gary has had an extremely diverse career as a Jesuit Priest, an Academic, a Lawyer and an Entrepreneur. He was formerly CEO, and latterly Chairman Emeritus of the Canadian division of a Fortune 500 company, and pioneered title insurance and legal processing outsourcing for financial institutions in Canada.  He was a finalist in Ernst and Young's Ontario Entrepreneur of the Year competition and has been named Businessman of the Year by the Board of Trade in the City of Mississauga. Gary is a recipient of many honours and awards including two Honorary Doctorates, Rotary's Paul Harris Fellowship, The Queen's Jubilee and Centennial Medals, The Gold Key Award from Osgood Hall Law School and the Arbor Award from the University of Toronto. The artist behind the portrait, Dr. Suan Seh Foo, is a medical doctor and a member of the staff at the University of Toronto. Dr. Mooney says, "Terry Donnelly and Suan Seh Foo came up with the idea of reducing me to oils. I am always in movement, and Suan Seh said he tried to capture me in forward motion, about to take off again." The painting is rich in symbolism with many homages to Dr. Mooney's various stages of life - for example, the Jesuit AMDG can be seen on the globe to recognize his time as a Jesuit Priest. It will soon include a coat of arms that Mr. Donnelly and Dr. Foo have commissioned for Dr. Mooney.   


Have You Considered Joining The Xavier Society?


Named in honour of Jesuit St. Francis Xavier, the Xavier Society offers an opportunity for alumni, friends, parents and benefactors of St. Bonaventure's College to support the Bursary Program. Members pledge to donate $200 per year (or only $16.67 per month) for five years, all proceeds of which support our goal of offering this unique educational and character building experience to applicants from all income levels. Membership is open to persons under 40 years of age. If you would like to join the Xavier Society, or for more information, contact Melissa Follett at presidentsoffice@stbons.ca.

Upcoming Events
Mark your calendar for the following events:      

  • 2017 Alumni Dinner and Awards, Thursday, October 19th
  • St. Bonaventure's College Fall Fair, this Saturday, September 30th, 10a.m. - 12p.m. Bake sale, fresh local veggies, pumpkin patch, crafts, canteen, carnival games  and more! 
  • Annual Alumni Christmas Social, Friday, December 22nd

Alumni Announcements

We wish to extend warm congratulations to the following alumni:
  • Alex Riggs '10, who earned a Bachelor of Arts (Economics and Political Science) this past spring from Memorial University. 
  • Heather Carroll '10 and Tari Ajadi, who were married in August of this year.
  • Anna (Snow) '09 and Jason Stevens, who welcomed their son Charlie this past February. Anna and Jason were married at the St. Bon's Chapel in 2014. 
  • Alison (Bradbury) '04 and Andrew Pike, who welcomed their son Louis on September 16th, 2017. Alison and Andrew were married in the St. Bon's Chapel in November of 2015. 
We regret to inform you of the passing of:
David Buckle '65
Kelvin Grant '52
Bill Higgins '62
Ron Kielly (past principal)
Harry Making '62
Wayne Malone '62
Brother J. Manning (past teacher)
David Murphy '62
Patrick O'Flaherty '54
Greg O'Keefe '62

If you have any alumni announcements such as births, marriages, accomplishments or deaths please send the information to Mrs. Jessica Whalen at jwhalen@stbons.ca

St. Bonaventure's College Alumni Goes Social

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If you know of an alumnus that has not received this email, but would like to be included on our mailing list, please contact Jessica Whalen at jwhalen@stbons.ca or (709) 726-0024 ext. 228
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