Some graduates in this listing have received more than one degree from Concordia, Sir George Williams and/or Loyola. These people are listed under their earliest year of graduation.

See also our Artists page.

Irene Husaruk-Leon , S BA, who received an ARCT in piano from the Royal Conservatory of Toronto and an Elementary Teaching Certificate from Montreal’s Macdonald College, has been living in California since 1960.

“I opened Kindergarten Ranch School, a private prep school for cultural literacy, 15 years ago. A story about my school, ‘The Geography Lesson,’ is included in Chicken Soup for the Soul in the Classroom — Elementary Edition [by Jack Canfield, Victor Davis Hansen and Anna Unkovich, Health Communications, Incorporated, 2007]. It describes how we teach students the countries on the map by having them simply read clothes labels. My little students know about 80 countries by now.”

Claudia Csaby, S BSc, writes: “I run a small secretarial/travel service from my home in Surrey, B.C. I am a master cruise counsellor, and you can visit my site at ccocinvestments.com.”

Roman Mukerjee, L BA (poli. sci.), came to Loyola on a full scholarship from India. He also received an MA from McGill University in 1968. “I went on to help establish the first two new anglophone CEGEPs in Montreal in the early ‘70s, as chief administrator and professor of humanities and political science. I was then recruited by the Department of Canadian Heritage, Multiculturalism, to address the integration of South- East Asian refugees in Quebec. I was then recruited to its Ottawa headquarters to help develop and implement the historic Canadian Multiculturalism Act. My prime responsibility was for religious diversity and community life on issues such as the Sikhs with turbans in the RCMP. I’m now retired in Ottawa and work actively on interfaith relations.”

Judith (Mann) Wiesenfeld, L BA (comm. arts), lives in Winnetka, Calif. “I have worked in the film and television business since graduating (taking time off to raise my sons John, 20, who wants to get into film, and Will, 18, who wants to be a music composer). I married Joe Wiesenfeld, a writer, whose films, St. Urbain’s Street Horseman and Bookey meets Santa, recently aired on the CBC. I work as a production manager for Patrick Stewart Productions, setting up film and video shoots. I also have pursued my passion for painting.” judewiesenfeld.com

Elaine (Brisindi) Creighton, S BA (TESL), lives in Beaconsfield, Que. “I became Canada’s first bilingual female success coach 19 years ago, after working as a teacher, personnel recruiter and admissions director at the International Academy of Design. I help executives and professionals here and abroad remain successful by learning to handle the human dynamics of business, particularly the people and communications issues. I also train executives to deliver effective presentations. I speak in French or English to organizations, groups and universities on such topics as how to deal with difficult people and how to create the brand called ‘you.’ I have taught public speaking and public relations at Concordia and other places of learning.” communication.dynamics@qc.aibn.com

Bob Delaney, BSc, was re-elected October 10, 2007, to a second term as a Member of Provincial Parliament for the Mississauga Streetsville riding, in the Ontario general election. Bob was appointed the Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister for Research and Innovation—”a fitting assignment for a Loyola physics grad,” he writes. Bob has served in the Ontario Legislature since 2003. www.mississaugastreetsville.ca

Barbara Anne Beaucar, BFA, lives in Philadelphia, Pa. “I completed an MA in history at West Chester University of Pennsylvania in 2001, and began working at the Barnes Foundation soon after. I am now a certified archivist and have worked as the Foundation’s assistant archivist for the past three years. I’m single (again).”

Chan Hing Kai, BA (poli. sci.), lives in Hong Kong. “I have retired as a lawyer and have opened a tai chi school in Hong Kong.

30th Reunion

Carlos dos Santos, BA (pysch.), writes: “Upon completing my degree, I worked as child-care worker for several Montreal institutions, and I then completed a DEC in Special Education from Montreal’s Collège Marie-Victorin. A few years later, I attended Université du Québec à Montréal and earned a degree as a special education teacher. I have been teaching at the English Montreal School Board for the last 10 years. I enjoy what I do, and I enjoy the time out of work spent with my family.”

Jeanette (Ferreira) Fernandez, BComm, is a national materials analyst at Fresenius Medical Care in Richmond Hill, Ont. “I’m looking for fellow alumni who wish to keep in touch.” fernandezjeanette@yahoo.com

Stephan DePenasse, BA, is the Director of International Business Development - Asia and Latin America for Segway Inc. in Nashua, N.H.

“It was a great year. I attended all of the COMSCC [COM Sports Car Club] events, broke two track records and won two events and the 2007 COMSCC Championship. I set my car club’s track record in my class at the Circuit Mont Tremblant, July 30-31, in a 1973 Alfa Romeo GTV-2000 [pictured]. I also was voted Instructor of the Year from among the 60 instructors registered in my club].”

Anthony Caldbick, BComm, writes: “I have been living in Toronto since 1990 and recently moved from Scotiabank’s Quebec Government Student Loans portfolio to a leasing company that concentrates in Quebec. It certainly keeps me practicing my French.”

Alison Dyer, BA (geog.), is company principal at Squidink Communications in St. John’s, Nfld., a small writing/research firm with private- and public-sector clients. Alison continues to work as a freelance journalist. Her specialties include sustainable development, organic farming, fisheries, the outdoors, ecotourism and kayaking. Alison, who also writes short stories, won awards in the Newfoundland Arts & Letters Competition in 2003 for fiction and in 2005 for non-fiction. She is collecting and editing soundworks for her latest work: an oral history project.

Alain Andreoli, attendee, who was recently named Senior Vice President of Sun Microsystems’ Europe, Middle East and Africa region, is based in London. He will be responsible for directing sales and services for the region, which represents close to 40 per cent of the company’s business. Alain boasts more than 25 years of technology, sales and leadership experience, and recently served as CEO of cc-hubwoo, a provider of source-to-pay electronic solutions and supplier network management. He has earned a business degree from CERAM in France and participated in the John Molson School of Business’s MBA program.

Richard Neftin, BA (geog.), also holds a BEd. He is co-founder of Nomad Scientists, a travelling environmental organization, and has homesteaded in the wilderness of Bella-Coola, B.C., for seven years. “I have worked for many years teaching high school in the Rudolph Steiner system, lived in Germany, Scotland and India, and have travelled extensively in Asia, Africa and Central America. I am married with no children and live in Duncan, B.C. I’ve published a novel, Enigmatii, about crop circles.”

Lisa Chalifoux, BA (psych.), teaches part-time in Concordia’s Department of Education and the pre-university program at Montreal’s Lower Canada College. Lisa recently self-published a children’s book, Spotty & Eddie Learn to Compromise (available at trafford.com/07-2478 ), which aims to teach young children to share and compromise.

Patricia Lenkov, MBA, joined DHR International as Executive Vice President in the firm’s New York City and Stamford, Ct., offices, and is a member of its Board & CEO Practice. Before DHR, Patricia spent three and a half years conducting executive searches for Spencer Stuart’s New York office. One of her previous positions was as Assistant Director of the John Molson School of Business MBA Program. Patricia also holds a BA in Psychology from McGill University.

Lucille Proulx, GrDip (art therapy), MFA (art therapy) 93, lives in Winlaw, B.C. “I have just returned from a two-year assignment in Thailand with Canadian University Students Overseas. As a registered art therapist, it was amazing to see art therapy in its grassroots in South East Asia. I worked for the Centre for the Protection of Children’s Rights in Bangkok, training mental health professionals and artists in the use of art as healing. I am now back in Canada, teaching and supervising art therapists at the Kutenay Art Therapy Institute. I also hold workshops at the B.C. School of Art Therapy and in the United States. My book, Strengthening Emotional Ties through Parent-Child-Dyad Art Therapy, is now recommended reading in many art-therapy training programs. P.S. I am 76 years old and proud to be a Concordia alumna.”

20th Reunion

David Gosselin, BA (cr. writing & poli. sci.), writes: “I graduated from Concordia with high hopes of being the next Hemingway. I did the coffee house thing, the publishing thing (minor) and did some acting and teaching along the way. I still love writing and acting, and I pursue doggedly my big break. My day job is technical writing at CGI in Montreal. One accomplishment I am proud of is that I reached the Competent Communicator level with Toastmasters International. Any folks from Colin Browne’s class, I’d be glad to hear from you!” dmg88@alumni.concordia.ca

William Leavitt, BFA, owns Fitness Alliance, LLC, in Overland Park, Kans. “I used the fantastic music training I received at Concordia to become a professional musician for eight years before moving to the United States in 1996 to start my fitness business in Overland Park.”

Jean-François Baladi, MBA, lives in Short Hills, N.J., and is Executive Director of Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation in nearby Florham Park. “After working six years at the pharmaceutical company Novartis in Canada, in 2004 I moved to New Jersey, where I head the global health economics and pricing function of Novartis Oncology.”

Yvan Cliche, MBA, has joined the external relations and communications department of the African Development Bank in Tunis, Tunisia. He had previously worked for Hydro-Québec for nearly 20 years.

Wing Fung Alan Lau, BA (econ.), is director of Pak Hing Loong Co. Ltd. in Hong Kong. “I’m now Vice-President of the Concordia Hong Kong Foundation. I’m also studying part time for a Master of Buddhist Studies degree at the University of Hong Kong and working in the metal business. Long live Concordia!”

Jason Oldford, BA (translation), lives in Fredericton, N.B. “I now work from home as a French-to-English translator for the Ottawa office of Lexi-tech International, a leading language translation and linguistic services company.”

Catherine Newton, BA (journ.), and her husband, Jason Casey (former linebacker for the Stingers from 1995 to 1999), left Montreal in 2005 after a decade in the city.

Catherine was a sports reporter for the Team 990 radio station and CTV Sports but decided to move back to her hometown of Kelowna, B.C., where she and Jason started a cabinet-making business.

Thanks to Jason’s woodworking skills and booming West Coast economy, they have been busy ever since. Together, they build everything from the smallest shoe-bench to entire kitchens.

10th Reunion

Arbinder Pal, AMBA, is a marketing manager for CAE India in Bangalore. “After spending 12 amazing years in Montreal and New York, I am back home. I recently accepted a marketing position with CAE India. Now that the settling-in process is almost complete, I would like to hear from my fellow AMBA-ites.” palistravelling@yahoo.com

Robert Adolfson, BA (App. Soc. Sci.), is a social worker for Citizen Advocacy of Ottawa. “Concordia was one of my greatest experiences. The Applied Human Sciences department was not only a blast but a great place to grow. And grow I did. I went on to complete an undergraduate and a graduate degree in social work and subsequently relocated to Ottawa, a beautiful town. However, when people ask me about where I went to school, Concordia rolls off my tongue quite naturally. My time spent there was a wonderful preparation for the career that I chose. Would I do it again? You bet!”

Aaron Pollard, MFA, and Stephen Lawson are the Montreal-based performance duo 2boys.tv. Their performance Phobophilia, “a contemporary chronicle that uses the life and art of Jean Cocteau as its palate and inspiration,” was presented in February by Studio 303 in Montreal. Aaron and Stephen, as 2boys.tv, create and tour multimedia performance pieces and have also produced several video art pieces, installation works, performance interventions and political cabaret works across Canada, the United States, Europe and South America. 2boys.tv

Julie Dufour, BA (comm. studies), writes: “It has been one great adventure after another since Concordia! I now live with my husband and four children in Williams Lake, B.C., since starting work as a criminal prosecutor for the Provincial Crown. I practiced family law in Ottawa for one year before joining the Crown in B.C. Life is great, the work is wonderful and the mountains are just beautiful!”

Raja Kadri, BA (poli. sci.), MA (PP & PA) 02, pens: “My wife, Laurie, and I just had our second child, Patrick Ryan, born on January 28 in Montreal. Both mother and baby are doing well. I cannot thank Laurie enough for her support, love and caring for our family. I recently left my job with the Government of Canada and moved to Dubai. It is a great place to be right now. Please drop me a line at raja.kadri@videotron.ca.”

Caralee Salomon, BA (journ. & comm. studies), writes: “While I am no longer writing professionally, my heartfelt thanks go to my former Concordia instructors who nurtured my skills in writing and who inspired in me a passion for prose—both of which allow me now to write this shamelessly self-promoting blurb. I am now practicing law at a small firm in downtown Montreal. We have a litigation-oriented practice with expertise in a range of legal fields. I welcome all enquiries from teachers, classmates and fellow alumni who want to learn more about my practice or to seek legal advice: caralee.salomon@gmail.com. ”

Marie-Judith Jean-Louis, BEng (bldg. eng.), is now an interior designer. She recently launched her own firm, M2JL :: STUDIO, which offers design and decoration services for special events, as well as commercial and residential spaces. Marie-Judith appeared in the third season of Méchant Changement on Vrak.tv.“ If you need some creative help, feel free to contact me at designer@m2jlstudio.com.”

Mary-Anne McTrowe, MFA, teaches in the art department at the University of Lethbridge, Alta. “My ‘art-ernative’ folk-rock band, the Cedar Tavern Singers, a.k.a. Les Phonoréalistes, released a second self-published CD, We Are Making Art, as a follow-up to last year’s Songs for a Dead Hare. Bandmate Daniel Wong and I are now working on ‘Art Snob Solutions, Phase II: The Age of Mechanical Reproduction,’ an exhibition/ installation that will show at Stride Gallery in Calgary this year. I am happily married to David Hoffos, and have a stepson, Mason.” thephonorealistes.com

Alan Mikhail, BComm (mktg.), writes, “I worked in tradeshow display manufacturing while completing my BComm. The input my courses and professors provided was instrumental in helping me create phasic inc. in 2003. Phasic positions itself between an exhibit manufacturer and a marketing/advertising agency for small- and medium-sized businesses that set up at tradeshows and special events and are looking for an alternative to the standard strategy/ marketing agencies.”

5th Reunion

Richard Archambault, BA (ling.), writes: “I have been with Canada World Youth in Montreal for three years, helping Canadian youth see and learn about the world. I am also the proud father of a wonderful one-year-old boy.”

David Bellusci, MA (philosophy), pens: “I just completed my doctorate in philosophy at the Dominican University College in Ottawa.” Catherine Lahaise, BComm (MIS), graduated from Concordia’s co-op program and worked in information technology for five years. She will soon complete an MSc in MIS from HEC Montréal and also works as a project manager at TELUS Business Solutions in Montreal. Sylvain Picard, BFA (music), is a guitar teacher at the École de musique de Verdun in Verdun, Que. “Hey there! Life is good. Concordia was a great springboard for me.”

Florin Botca, GrDip (environ. impact assessment), is an environmental scientist with ERM Canada Corp. in Vancouver.