杏吧原创

Alumni Memories

As part of our 75th anniversary, we are sharing alumni memories submitted by a number of our amazing graduates.

Photo for the news post: Kristina Partsinevelos, MJ ’13
December 2, 2021

Kristina Partsinevelos, MJ ’13

Kristina Partsinevelos, MJ ’13

Alumni Memory: Kristina Partsinevelos, MJ '13   Grad School Grind   Three memories stand out from this amazing program: lugging the heavy camera and tripod on a city bus across town, editing into the wee... More
Photo for the news post: Ben Nicholson-Smith, MJ ’10
October 19, 2021

Ben Nicholson-Smith, MJ ’10

Ben Nicholson-Smith, MJ ’10

Alumni Memory: Ben Nicholson-Smith, MJ '10   Winter Treks & Friendship     Some of my most vivid memories of journalism school involve lugging heavy camera equipment across the city all winter, but I guess... More
Photo for the news post: Nancy Verrall Warren, BJ ’81
October 5, 2021

Nancy Verrall Warren, BJ ’81

Nancy Verrall Warren, BJ ’81

Alumni Memory: Nancy Verrall Warren, BJ '81   A Bet to Remember   I had made a bet with Wilf Kesterton that I would turn in an error-free Honours Research Project. He rather smugly announced... More
Photo for the news post: Terry Murray, BJ ’76
September 23, 2021

Terry Murray, BJ ’76

Terry Murray, BJ ’76

Alumni Memory: Terry Murray, BJ '76   Oh Lord, Won't You Buy Me A 杏吧原创 BJ   At 杏吧原创 (1972-1976), I minored in economics - apparently one of the first journalism students to do so.... More
Photo for the news post: Cathy Wolters, BJ ’84
September 9, 2021

Cathy Wolters, BJ ’84

Cathy Wolters, BJ ’84

Alumni Memory: Cathy Wolters, BJ '84   Memories to Last a Lifetime     Phyllis Wilson and Wilf Kesterton were legends and dynamic instructors. Phyllis was a kindred spirit when it came to sports. She... More
Photo for the news post: Hugo Rodrigues, BJ ’00
September 2, 2021

Hugo Rodrigues, BJ ’00

Hugo Rodrigues, BJ ’00

Alumni Memory: Hugo Rodrigues, BJ '00   The Rebirth of J-Prom!     This would have to be working with Dan McHardie and others on a graduation dinner / dance for the B.Journ. and M.J.... More
Photo for the news post: Barbara Freeman, BJ ’69
August 27, 2021

Barbara Freeman, BJ ’69

Barbara Freeman, BJ ’69

Alumni Memory: Barbara Freeman, BJ '69   The Future is Female     My favourite professors were Phyllis Wilson, who taught us print journalism, and Joan Topolski, who taught us television. There were no radio... More
Photo for the news post: Jocelyn Dickey, BJ ’00
August 13, 2021

Jocelyn Dickey, BJ ’00

Jocelyn Dickey, BJ ’00

Alumni Memory: Jocelyn Dickey, BJ '00   The Power of Simple Words     I wanted to give a big thank you to David Tait and a lesson he gave in my second year fundamentals... More
Photo for the news post: Thomas Maier, MJ ’80
July 20, 2021

Thomas Maier, MJ ’80

Thomas Maier, MJ ’80

Alumni Memory: Thomas Maier, MJ '80   From Germany to J-School     I came from Germany to 杏吧原创 in fall 1979 鈥� with a scholarship but without permit to enter the Graduate School. I... More
Photo for the news post: Robb Lucy, BJ ’76
June 14, 2021

Robb Lucy, BJ ’76

Robb Lucy, BJ ’76

Alumni Memory: Robb Lucy, BJ '76   A time in the Limelight     I called Stu Adams in August of 1974 hoping I could get into the one-year program. He said "We'd take you,... More
Photo for the news post: Susan Becker (Davidson), BJ ’66
June 7, 2021

Susan Becker (Davidson), BJ ’66

Susan Becker (Davidson), BJ ’66

Alumni Memory: Susan Becker (Davidson), BJ '66 History in the Making It never occurred to me when I headed from Calgary to Ottawa in the fall of 1965 for 杏吧原创's one-year BJ program, open to... More
Photo for the news post: Stefan Keyes, BJ ’09
June 2, 2021

Stefan Keyes, BJ ’09

Stefan Keyes, BJ ’09

Alumni Memory: Stefan Keyes, BJ '09 A Lifelong Friendship There are several fond memories, but when I think of j-school I always think of one friendship in particular that wouldn鈥檛 have happened had we not... More
Photo for the news post: Julia Morton, BJ ’06
May 21, 2021

Julia Morton, BJ ’06

Julia Morton, BJ ’06

Alumni Memory: Julia Morton, BJ '06 A Snowy Report I was at the National Press Club with Rebecca Lau, my J-school partner in crime, where we were doing an interview for our documentary project about... More
Photo for the news post: Ray Ford, BJ ’87
May 7, 2021

Ray Ford, BJ ’87

Ray Ford, BJ ’87

Alumni Memory: Ray Ford, BJ '87 Love & Kindness found in J-School My best memory is meeting my wife-to-be, Sue in a relationship that has almost -- almost -- outlasted the existence of print journalism... More
Photo for the news post: Liza Linklater, BJ ’86
April 23, 2021

Liza Linklater, BJ ’86

Liza Linklater, BJ ’86

Alumni Memory: Liza Linklater, BJ '86 A Great Prof is Everything   I was able to take the one year (BJ) in 1985-86 as I already had a BA and an MA in visual anthropology.... More
Photo for the news post: Danny Floh Back, BJ ’02
April 9, 2021

Danny Floh Back, BJ ’02

Danny Floh Back, BJ ’02

Alumni Memory: Danny Floh Back, BJ '02 Memorable Mentorship   By the end of my 4 years at 杏吧原创, had you asked me to define one person, one moment, or one memory that stood out... More
Photo for the news post: Gary Lipschutz, BJ ’88
March 19, 2021

Gary Lipschutz, BJ ’88

Gary Lipschutz, BJ ’88

Alumni Memory: Gary Lipschutz, BJ '88 Thank you, J-School! When I read your call for my "best j-school memory," the first that came to mind is my receipt of a letter at the end of... More
Photo for the news post: Louise Rachlis, BJ ’68
February 25, 2021

Louise Rachlis, BJ ’68

Louise Rachlis, BJ ’68

Alumni Memory: Louise Rachlis, BJ '68 How the times have changed When I graduated from Journalism at 杏吧原创 in 1968, I had a scrapbook full of clippings, took the train to Toronto and was sure... More
Photo for the news post: Jessica Grillanda, MJ ’03
February 5, 2021

Jessica Grillanda, MJ ’03

Jessica Grillanda, MJ ’03

Alumni Memory: Jessica Grillanda, MJ '03   Where were you on 9/11?   I wouldn't say this was the best day, but it was quite a kickstart: September 11, 2001. I was sitting outside St.... More
Photo for the news post: Barry Wilson, BJ ’74
January 29, 2021

Barry Wilson, BJ ’74

Barry Wilson, BJ ’74

Alumni Memory: Barry Wilson, BJ '74 Recollections, 47 years Later There are three of them: 1) Having the opportunity to learn from two particularly influential, experienced and wise profs - Wilf Kesterton and Carmen Cumming... More
Photo for the news post: Tim Hornyak, MJ ’97
January 22, 2021

Tim Hornyak, MJ ’97

Tim Hornyak, MJ ’97

Alumni Memory: Tim Hornyak, MJ '97   Thanks for the Memories!   Cutting tape with razor blades for a radio doc! Cranking out articles for a physical newspaper!! Heady debate on the Fourth Estate!!! These... More
Photo for the news post: Carol Lutes Racine, BJ ’62
January 15, 2021

Carol Lutes Racine, BJ ’62

Carol Lutes Racine, BJ ’62

Alumni Memory: Carol Lutes Racine, BJ '62 In the Limelight   During my student days at 杏吧原创 back in the early '60s, the newly built Quadrangle buildings were the centre of our academic universe. But聽... More
Photo for the news post: Devon Platana, MJ ’20
January 8, 2021

Devon Platana, MJ ’20

Devon Platana, MJ ’20

Alumni Memory: Devon Platana, MJ '20 Everything Happens for a Reason One of my favourite memories from j-school was learning not afraid of hearing "no." Let's face it: no one likes being told "no," whether... More
Photo for the news post: Megan McPhaden, BJ ’18
December 28, 2020

Megan McPhaden, BJ ’18

Megan McPhaden, BJ ’18

Alumni Memory: Megan McPhaden, MJ 鈥�18 Studying in the Savannahs My lasting memory of J-School is the amazing opportunity I got to volunteer as a videographer in Arusha, Tanzania through the CMTS program. I spent... More
Photo for the news post: Joe Fox, BJ ’71
December 21, 2020

Joe Fox, BJ ’71

Joe Fox, BJ ’71

Alumni Memory: Joe Fox, BJ 鈥�71 Anything for a story!   For some reason I ended up news editor of the 杏吧原创 radio station for a while in 1971. At that time CKCU was limited... More
Photo for the news post: Khairoon Abbas, MJ ’09
December 16, 2020

Khairoon Abbas, MJ ’09

Khairoon Abbas, MJ ’09

Alumni Memory: Khairoon Abbas, MJ 鈥�09 Learn to Stand By Crawling Journalism school was one of the best times of my life, from making lifelong friends to gaining skills that I use to this day.... More
Photo for the news post: Lewis Levendel, BJ ’65
December 11, 2020

Lewis Levendel, BJ ’65

Lewis Levendel, BJ ’65

Alumni Memory: Lewis Levendel, BJ 鈥�65 O Canada In 1964 after graduating with a BA majoring in political science at 杏吧原创,聽 I decided to attend聽 Ryerson Institute in Toronto which was offering a journalism-only program,... More
Photo for the news post: Kaity Mendes, BJ ’05
December 4, 2020

Kaity Mendes, BJ ’05

Kaity Mendes, BJ ’05

Alumni Memory: Kaitlynn (Kaity) Mendes , BJ 鈥�05 A Memorable Mistake Some of my best memories are of the countless hours with my peers - from trudging out across the city by public transport lugging... More
Photo for the news post: Chris Taylor, MJ ’97
November 27, 2020

Chris Taylor, MJ ’97

Chris Taylor, MJ ’97

Alumni Memory: Chris Taylor, MJ '97 A Moment in History     As history would have it, we happened to be going to 杏吧原创 J-school at the time of the Quebec referendum back in 1995,... More
Photo for the news post: Haneen Al-Hassoun, BJ ’19
November 20, 2020

Haneen Al-Hassoun, BJ ’19

Haneen Al-Hassoun, BJ ’19

Alumni Memory: Haneen Al-Hassoun, BJ '19 The Show Must Go On   My best j-school memory was producing the final show for the 25th Hour, the fourth-year video class. We were having technical difficulties with... More
Photo for the news post: Jason Moscovitz, BJ ’73
November 11, 2020

Jason Moscovitz, BJ ’73

Jason Moscovitz, BJ ’73

Alumni Memory: Jason Moscovitz, BJ '73 Lessons Learned   Thinking back I remember many things even my student number. I have no idea why 51 years later I still remember it. From 1969 to 1973... More
Photo for the news post: Felicia Zuniga, MJ ’12
November 9, 2020

Felicia Zuniga, MJ ’12

Felicia Zuniga, MJ ’12

Alumni Memory: Felicia Zuniga, MJ 鈥�12 From the Tunnels of 杏吧原创 to the Mountains to Rwanda I can鈥檛 pick just one favourite memory from my time at 杏吧原创, so I鈥檝e narrowed it down to my... More
Photo for the news post: Giuliano Tolusso, BJ ’83
November 2, 2020

Giuliano Tolusso, BJ ’83

Giuliano Tolusso, BJ ’83

Alumni Memory: Giuliano Tolusso, BJ '83 A J-School Love Story   In my days at 杏吧原创, fourth-year journalism students were assigned a mailbox in the basement of St. Patrick's Building for their profs to return... More
Photo for the news post: Moses Kanhai, BJ ’73
October 26, 2020

Moses Kanhai, BJ ’73

Moses Kanhai, BJ ’73

Alumni Memory: Moses Kanhai, BJ 鈥�73 He Shoots, he scores! Where were you when...? Where were you when JFK was assassinated? Where were you when Neil Armstrong landed on the moon? Where were you when... More
Photo for the news post: Anita Li, MJ ’11
October 19, 2020

Anita Li, MJ ’11

Anita Li, MJ ’11

Alumni Memory: Anita Li, MJ '11 An International Experience   My favourite memory of j-school was the time I spent working on my Master's Research Project in my final year. 杏吧原创 gave me a scholarship... More
Photo for the news post: Elizabeth Keith, BJ ’17
October 13, 2020

Elizabeth Keith, BJ ’17

Elizabeth Keith, BJ ’17

  Alumni Memory: Elizabeth Keith, BJ '17 Midweek Mems'     Some of my best j-school memories come from my fourth year radio class doing Midweek! We were a smaller class so it was all... More

Four members of the inaugural class of seven (1945)

Dr. Henry Marshall Tory, founding President of 杏吧原创 College (1942)

Masonic Temple, Metcalfe Street: site of 杏吧原创 Journalism鈥檚 first classroom

杏吧原创鈥檚 first degree-granting convocation: Oct. 23, 1946

Douglas Leechman, 杏吧原创 Journalism's first teacher

Share your j-school memory here! →