We Are LCC

In this episode, we dive into the LCC student-athlete advantage. At LCC, participation in athletics is more than just a game—it is a powerful, real-world extension of the classroom. Through sports, our students learn invaluable lessons about resilience, teamwork, and leadership that shape them into well-rounded individuals ready for success in all aspects of life.To explore what gives our student-athletes this unique edge, we are thrilled to be joined by LCC’s Director of Athletics, Christian Viau, along with two incredible alumni who have lived the LCC athletic experience firsthand and taken those lessons into their college and professional careers.Christian Viau, BEd | Director of Athletics, LCC Chris has been a cornerstone of LCC Athletics since joining the school in 1999 as a math and physical education teacher. A lifelong sports enthusiast, he has coached everything from soccer and hockey to basketball, tennis, and baseball. Before taking the reins as Director of Athletics in 2011, Chris served as the Junior School athletics coordinator and ran LCC's hockey camp for over a decade. He also co-founded the Ligue de Hockey Interscolaire du Québec, which has since merged with the RSEQ provincial league.Isaiah Fox | LCC Class of 2017 Isaiah’s hockey journey is a testament to perseverance. After graduating from LCC in 2017, he spent two years at the Holderness School (NH) before taking a two-year gap year to play Junior hockey for the Maine Nordiques (NAHL). His hard work earned him a Division 1 scholarship to Long Island University, where he played four years and graduated with a degree in Business Management in 2025. Isaiah then signed a professional contract in the ECHL with the Adirondack Thunder (NJ Devils affiliate) and later played in Iowa before concluding his pro hockey career. He is currently an Account Manager for Margo Sales.Angelina Chevrier | LCC Class of 2023 Angelina exemplifies the ultimate student-athlete balance. Currently studying Health Sciences at Vanier College, she serves as the 2025 Women’s Soccer Team Captain and recently earned the impressive title of RSEQ Academic All-Star. Beyond her rigorous studies and athletic commitments, Angelina is a community leader and entrepreneur, serving as the co-owner of She Kicks, an all-girls soccer camp based in Montreal.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Chris is an LCC alum who works with organizations and communities to make decisions that actually match how people work, what systems demand, and the realities they serve. Over the past decade, they worked across agencies and consultant networks in the nonprofit and social impact space, often stepping in where strong intentions were undermined by unclear processes, conflicting priorities, and unrealistic expectations placed on staff and volunteers who were already carrying complexity without shared language or support.Chris has intentionally built their work outside the content and visibility economy. Instead of relying on constant posting, paid marketing, or a polished web presence, they engage in spaces where people are already thinking deeply, amplify leaders across disciplines, and stay in conversation through collaboration and dialogue, often across roles and perspectives that do not usually speak to one another. All of their work has emerged through trust, peer relationships, and referral, modelling an alternative to burnout driven and transactional approaches to impact.A Nonprofit Hive Trusted Partner, Chris has supported organizations working across gender and identity, youth mental health, and humanitarian and conflict affected contexts. Their approach is shaped by academic experiences across international development, peace-building, and psychology at McGill University, where they studied how power, conflict, and social systems shape outcomes on the ground, and how change actually happens when people are under pressure.Within the past year, Chris founded Empowering Empathy, a federal nonprofit, to carry this relationship centred work into shared infrastructure, knowledge, and capacity for the sector. Through coaching, advising, and facilitation, they support people and organizations leading change in imperfect conditions, helping teams move from friction toward shared clarity, steadier decision making, and ways of working that can actually hold the impact they are trying to create.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

April '25, Pre-U '26, a student at LCC with a strong passion for science, spent the summer of 2025 putting her research skills to the test as an intern at the Kenauk Institute. In this episode of the We Are LCC podcast, she shares insights from her fieldwork, shedding light on the practical scientific research opportunities available to students.April hopes her experience encourages others to be bold, step beyond the classroom, and explore what real-world science has to offer. It’s amazing what can happen when you take that leap—listen in to discover April’s journey and what she learned along the way at the Kenauk Institute.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Patrick Dussault is an award-winning comedy writer, actor, and producer, whose credits include Just for Laughs, This Hour Has 22 Minutes, The Beaverton, The MMVAs and The Canadian Screen Awards. He has written jokes, sketches, and monologues for comics and celebrities including Jay Baruchel, Seth Rogen, Chevy Chase, Norm MacDonald, Sir Patrick Stewart, Jim Gaffigan, Nikki Glaser, Jimmy Carr, Carrie Fisher, Jeff Goldblum, Anthony Jeselnik, Anthony Anderson and Lily Singh.As an actor, Patrick’s film and TV credits Borje, The Fire Inside, The Jane Mysteries, StarTrek: Strange New Worlds, and Olympians at Heart.  Pat is best known to audiences as befuddled life coach Rowen S.N. Potts, the spokesman for Sportsnet+.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Eric Macramalla is a partner at Gowling WLG and a member of the firm's Intellectual Property Group. His practice focuses on trademark litigation and prosecution, as well as a variety of Internet-related legal issues, including social media and domain name disputes.Through his trademark litigation and prosecution practice, Eric helps his clients manage their domestic and global trademark portfolios, while protecting and enforcing their intellectual property rights, both in Canada and abroad.In light of the ever-evolving intersection between IP and social media, he also helps his clients navigate intellectual property issues on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and other social media platformsWith recognition in dispute resolution, Eric acts for clients in domain name disputes around the world. He is also an arbitrator for domain name disputes and a co-author of Domain Name Law and Practice: An International Handbook (Oxford University Press).Eric has an exceptional reputation in the field of trademarks. In 2024, Eric was awarded the exclusive Lexology North America Award in the field of trademarks. This award recognizes outstanding achievement and world class client service in the legal industry as independently nominated by leading lawyers, in-house counsel and corporate teams. Eric has also been awarded the Lexology Client Choice award in an unprecedented three consecutive years.Eric is also the host of the nationally syndicated radio show Offside across the TSN Radio Network and writes for Forbes on sports legal issues.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Christopher Shannon joined LCC in 2005. Since then he has overseen the implementation of three strategic plans, the school’s most successful fund-raising initiatives and the construction of several state-of-the art learning facilities. Under his leadership, LCC has also developed a clear vision for campus and program development with an emphasis on program excellence, innovation and sustainability. This includes a more global orientation with the adoption of the IB curriculum in the high school, active membership in the Round Square international association of schools and broad student participation in the Duke of Edinburgh leadership programs.During his tenure at LCC, Mr. Shannon has been President of the QAIS and served on the boards of CAIS, Round Square and the Vimy Foundation, which provides unique learning opportunities for young Canadians exploring Canada’s notable WWI legacy. Prior to coming to LCC, Mr. Shannon served for six years as head of school at Stanstead College in Quebec’s Eastern Townships.A fluently bilingual Montrealer, Christopher Shannon graduated from Selwyn House School and from Pre-University at LCC, making him the first alumnus to head Lower Canada College. He pursued his education at Queen’s (B.A.), Institut universitaire de hautes études internationales – University of Geneva (Master's in International Affairs) and Brock University in Ontario (Master's in Educational Administration). Chris and his wife Hilary have two children: Leah (Pre-U ’06) and Matthew ’07 (Pre-U ’08), both proud graduates of LCC.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Kiho Hirabayashi is a Grade 11 student at LCC and the founder of Eizy English — a free online English tutoring program for students across Japan. Eizy English welcomes learners of all ages, from elementary students to seniors, and aims to make English education accessible to everyone, especially in rural areas where native English speakers are less common. Recently, Kiho organized a book drive in collaboration with the Imabari Board of Education in Japan. This initiative will send books — along with handwritten messages from LCC students and teachers — to 15 to 20 elementary and middle schools in Imabari, Japan. While collecting the messages, Kiho also shared stories about the warm community of Imabari. She hopes this project will grow into something that builds lasting connections between students from different parts of the world and fosters a spirit of learning, kindness, and global friendship.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Dr. Mickey Moroz '09 graduated from McGill University Medical School in 2016 and completed his family medicine residency in 2018. He then pursued a fellowship training in Sport and Exercise Medicine and a Master's degree in Healthcare Education at Ottawa University in 2019 and 2021, respectively. He currently works as a family physician in Montreal and as a sports medicine physician at McGill University for the men’s Varsity Football and Rugby Teams, and at Concordia University for the men’s Varsity Hockey team. He is the chief medical officer of Artistic Gymnastics Canada (GymCan) and of Waterpolo Canada at the Institut national du sport du Québec. He also sits as an elected member of the board of directors of the Canadian Academy of Sport and Exercise Medicine (CASEM), and works as a member of the Sport Medicine Advisory Committee composed of chief medical officers from the Canadian Olympic Committee and the Team Physician Committee of CASEM. In 2023 he won the Transition to Clinical Practice Award for Excellence in Teaching. Furthermore, for the last four years he has participated in the Osler Fellow program at McGill, which pairs mentors with six medical students in their first year of medical school in order to guide, support and teach them about the concept of physicianship.Dr. Moroz was the recipient of the J. Donald Boudreau Award for Physicianship in 2023. This award is student driven and is presented to a senior Osler Fellow who has consistently demonstrated the qualities of mentorship, pedagogy, and role-modelling espoused by the physicianship program.  Recently Dr. Moroz represented Canada on a national and international level. In 2022, he worked at the Canada Summer Games as a physician. More recently, he acted as the chief medical officer for Team Canada at the Jeux de la francophonie in the Democratic Republic of Congo which is an event that brings together all French nations of the world for a three-week multisport and artistic competition. Dr. Moroz was part of the medical services team for the 2023 Pan American Summer Games in Santiago, Chile. Following the Panam Games, he was selected to be one of the physicians to care for the Canadian Olympic Team at the 2024 Paris Olympics. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Olivia Masella, '16, Pre-U '17 is a third year PhD student at the University of Victoria in Victoria, BC. Her research is focused on developing a novel low-cost radiotherapy device to increase access in low-resource settings such as low- and middle-income countries and rural regions. She holds a BSc in physics from the University of Waterloo, where she researched a vascular spheroid growth model (in silico) and developed a chemotherapy model to simulate treatments. Olivia has been exposed to several different research areas such as Monte Carlo Modelling, radiation safety, commissioning, and deep learning techniques. She is actively engaged in the community, having recently helped organize the Canadian Undergraduate Medical Physics Conference this past summer.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Tegan Webster holds a Master of Social Work (MSW) from New York University. Since 2006, she has dedicated her career to supporting women impacted by domestic violence. Tegan began her journey at Auberge Shalom, initially serving as a counsellor at their emergency shelter for three years, where she provided critical support to women in crisis. She then transitioned to their external counselling office, where she has spent over a decade empowering women through trauma informed therapy and advocacy. Tegan is particularly passionate about advocating for legal justice for her clients, ensuring that they have the support and representation they need to navigate complex legal challenges.With nearly two decades of experience at Auberge Shalom, Tegan remains deeply committed to the fight against intimate partner violence and is passionate about empowering women to reclaim their lives. In addition to her work at Auberge Shalom, Tegan serves as a director on the board of the R.H. Webster Family Foundation. Outside of her professional work, she is a dedicated mother of three children, aged 13, 9, and 7.Resources:Helpful for teens: www.loveisrespect.orgkidshealth.org/en/teens/assertiveIPV Outside Canada: www.thehotline.orgIPV Quebec: www.sosviolenceconjugale.ca/enAuberge Shalom:www.aubergeshalom.org24/7 Support Line 514-731-0833 Counselling Services 514-485-4783 See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hugh Verrier is the Chairman of White & Case LLP, a global law firm with 39 offices in 26 countries. With White & Case for 34 years, Hugh has been Chairman since 2007 and directs the Firm’s strategy and operations around the world. A New York-qualified lawyer, Hugh spent most of his career with White & Case overseas in Indonesia, Turkey and Russia, where his practice was focused on the development of natural resources. Hugh has law degrees from the University of Ottawa and Harvard Law School. He clerked for Justice Bertha Wilson, the first woman to serve on the Supreme Court of Canada.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Derek's journey into the field of performance wellbeing and mindfulness has been a blend of passion, curiosity, necessity, and serendipity—a journey shaped over a lifetime. It began in his early days as a national-level hurdler striving to qualify for the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. Eight years after missing the Olympics as an athlete, he entered the Sydney 2000 Games as a performance manager, launching a twenty-five-year career that spanned nine Olympic Games in high-performance sport. What started as an experiment in preparing the Tokyo Olympic team through mindfulness unfolded into a deeply personal and professional journey. Curious about its potential, he committed wholeheartedly through a training certification at UCSD, exploring how mindfulness could transform the way his approached his work and his own life.Mindfulness spoke to him personally as much as it did professionally. As an introvert and chronic overthinker, he often felt anxious, overwhelmed, and driven by a relentless urgency to get things done perfectly. In the high-pressure environment of the Games, he struggled with sustainable ways to manage himself and often bottled up his emotions, projecting calm on the outside while feeling entirely tangled inside.His journey has since broadened to include certification in elite athlete performance wellbeing through Loughborough University's collaboration with the Wellbeing Science Institute, allowing him to combine his passion for strategy, performance, and well-being in how he works with athletes, coaches, organizations and teams. Always at the forefront of performance, he remains fully engaged in sport, actively championing excellence in his role as High Performance Director in athletics, embedding mindfulness and performance wellbeing into the very fabric of the pathway from grassroots to high level sport.Also, as the Head of Performance Well-being and Mindfulness at www.innerstride.co, he works with high-performing individuals and teams to help them flourish to reach their full potential through coaching, training programs, and strategy implementation. Their approach integrates different disciplines to maximize not only athletic performance but also overall well-being.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sarah Bullock holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) and Bachelor of Education from Queen’s University, specializing in psychology and elementary education. Over the past four years, she has worked as the cycle 2 math teacher at LCC, where she places a focus in her classroom on inclusive education practices, centers, and project-based learning.Angela Rashotte has over twenty years of experience in elementary education, and is committed to fostering a love of learning in all students. She holds an M.A. in Curriculum from McGill University and serves as the Junior School math coordinator. Currently, she teaches grade 6 English, GHCE, and Math, as well as grade 5 math. In recent years, she has focused on incorporating inclusive learning methods into her classroom to ensure that all students feel valued, supported, and have equal opportunities to succeed.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

René Balcer is a Canadian-American television writer, director, producer and showrunner, as well as a photographer and documentary film-maker. Born in Montréal in 1954, he studied photography and visual representation at Concordia University. Inspired by such artists as Edward Hopper and Ed Ruscha and photographers Robert Capa, Leonard Freed, and Liliane De Cock, Balcer began his photography work in 1968. Eschewing studio work and staged images, Balcer searches for natural compositions that suggest a sense of disquietude and an implied or hidden narrative, as well as images that engage his interest in social justice.Balcer is noted for writing and showrunning the television series Law & Order, and for creating and showrunning its spin-off series Law & Order: Criminal Intent. He was hired as staff writer on Law & Order's first season in 1990, becoming showrunner in the show's seventh season in 1996. During his tenure as showrunner, Law & Order won the Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series.In writing about legal issues, Balcer has drawn on his own experiences with law enforcement and his first-hand encounter with the brutal application of authoritarian power - at age 16, he was picked up as a suspected FLQ sympathizer during Quebec's October Crisis in 1970 and held overnight in the Montreal Police's infamous Station 10 where he was interrogated and beaten, before being released the next day. That experience, he says, gave him a harsh introduction to the reality lived by many disadvantaged communities.While pursuing an award-winning career in film and television in Los Angeles, he has continued his photography practice, completing such photo essays as “Desaparecidos” and “Beleaguered Trees of Los Angeles.” On June 20, 2024, Balcer's first solo photography show in New York City opened at the Hutchinson Modern & Contemporary Gallery. The show, René Balcer: Forensics, focused on his photography work in Argentina - "In Forensics, Balcer’s photos speak to the complicity of silence during the years of modern-day caudillos in Latin America and to society’s willful blindness in the face of today’s rising authoritarianism in the Americas. In making these images, Balcer was moved by his own experiences during Québec’s 1970 October Crisis in his native Montréal. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

With a distinguished career spanning over two decades in educational leadership, Tammy Groff has consistently demonstrated a commitment to fostering academic excellence and holistic student development. Currently serving as the Director of Middle School at Lower Canada College in Montréal, Tammy oversees a comprehensive range of responsibilities including mentoring middle school teachers in goal-setting and evaluation, implementing the school’s strategic plan, and supporting the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program (MYP) curriculum.Previously, she held the role of Interim Director of Educational Services at Villa Maria, where she managed a diverse team of educators and spearheaded strategic initiatives such as Education 3.0 and project-based learning implementations. Her tenure involved overseeing budget management, school calendar planning, and enhancing parent-teacher communications.Prior to Tammy’s role at Villa Maria, she served as Assistant Director of Educational Services, focusing on policy development, student supervision, and curriculum implementation across academic and student life programs. Her leadership contributions were also notable during her tenure as Vice-Principal at St. Thomas High School, where she collaborated closely with the MYP Coordinator and resource teachers to ensure inclusive education practices for students with special needs.Tammy's career trajectory includes pivotal roles at Centennial Academy, where she served as Director of Middle School and Level Coordinator, overseeing curriculum development and faculty mentoring. Her dedication to educational advancement is underscored by her academic credentials, including a Master's in Educational Leadership from McGill University and ongoing professional development in educational methodologies and leadership strategies.Throughout her career, Tammy has participated in numerous conferences and workshops, enhancing her expertise in areas such as assessment strategies, 21st-century teaching methodologies, and fostering inclusive school environments.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Olivia obtained her BSc in Nutritional Science from McGill University in 2018, then went on to complete her MSc (‘20) and recently, her PhD (‘24) from McGill in Animal Science. Her graduate research involved use of national dietary data from the 2015 Canadian Community Health Survey - Nutrition to assess the role of animal and plant protein foods in Canadian sustainable diets. Her latest project published in Nature Food modeled the nutrition, health, and climate impacts of partially substituting animal with plant protein foods in Canadian self-selected diets. She recently started a post-doc at the University of Oxford involving modeling the health implications of food and agricultural policies in the UK and Europe.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Christopher Shannon joined LCC in 2005. Since then he has overseen the implementation of three strategic plans, the school’s most successful fundraising initiatives and the construction of several state-of-the art learning facilities. Under his leadership, LCC has also developed a clear vision for campus and program development with an emphasis on program excellence, innovation and sustainability. This includes a more global orientation with the adoption of the IB curriculum in the high school, active membership in the Round Square International Association of Schools and broad student participation in the Duke of Edinburgh leadership programs.During his tenure at LCC, Mr. Shannon has been President of the QAIS and served on the boards of CAIS, Round Square and the Vimy Foundation, which provides unique learning opportunities for young Canadians exploring Canada’s notable WWI legacy. Prior to coming to LCC, Mr. Shannon served for six years as head of school at Stanstead College in Quebec’s Eastern Townships.A fluently bilingual Montrealer, Christopher Shannon graduated from Selwyn House School and from Pre-University at LCC, making him the first alumnus to head Lower Canada College. He pursued his education at Queen’s (B.A.), Institut universitaire de hautes études internationales – University of Geneva (Master's in International Affairs) and Brock University in Ontario (Master's in Educational Administration). Chris and his wife Hilary have two children: Leah (Pre-U ’06) and Matthew ’07 (Pre-U ’08), both proud graduates of LCC.David Bensadoun has been the chief executive officer of the ALDO Group since 2017 and is the fourth generation of his family to work in the shoe business. Leading up to his appointment as CEO, he worked in almost every corner of the business, including operations, buying, IT, headed the Call It Spring brand and created a wholesale division of the ALDO brand. A forward-thinking leader with progressive ideas, David’s commitment to corporate social responsibility has seen the company instill a low carbon strategy and become the first fashion footwear and accessories company in the world to be certified as climate neutral for its offices and stores. He is a firm believer in hands-on philanthropy, and he has succeeded in pairing two of his greatest passions: his drive to give back and rally racing, by participating in a series of international racing events that helped raise over $200,000 for AIDS research. David and his wife Isabelle have three children: Connor ’28, Sloan ’26 and Logan.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Dr. Robert Ravinsky '02 is a dual-fellowship trained orthopaedic spine surgeon with clinical interests in adult deformity and adult degenerative conditions, including complex revisions of the cervical and thoracolumbar spine. He is additionally interested in the use of novel technologies and the implementation of minimally invasive surgical techniques.A native of Montreal, Quebec, Dr. Ravinsky attended McGill University for his bachelor of science degree, followed by his medical doctorate. He subsequently completed his residency in orthopaedic surgery at the University of Toronto, followed by fellowships in spinal surgery at Toronto Western Hospital and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. He also completed a Master of Public Health at Harvard University. Prior to joining the Department of Orthopaedics and Physical Medicine at the Medical University of South Carolina, Dr. Ravinsky was in practice for three years in Phoenix, Arizona.Outside of his clinical practice, Dr. Ravinsky is interested in international medicine, and has ongoing collaborations with the World Health Organization (WHO), and the Foundation of Orthopedics and Complex Spine (FOCOS) in Accra, Ghana where he has volunteered and recently completed a medical mission in February and March of 2022. Dr. Ravinsky is actively involved in research on spinal disorders. He has authored numerous peer-reviewed scientific articles and book chapters, and he has presented scientific research at both national and international conferences.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Krista McNally '02 is the founder and retreat facilitator at Heartventures. She is a curator of experiences ranging from international retreats, enneagram personality workshops, hot stone restorative yoga classes and creating memorable vacation stays as an Airbnb Superhost in Halifax, Nova Scotia. She helps individuals and teams find meaningful connection and leadership development through self-awareness and adventure. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jackson Labell '18, Pre-U '19 has delved into the worlds of entrepreneurship, finance, and tech. After his time at LCC, he founded a non-profit organization, became the youngest hire at his Morgan Stanley Wealth Management branch, and successfully managed a tutoring service while studying computer science at New York University. As a tutor, he noticed that students often wait weeks for grades and need more feedback on their work. In response, Jackson founded Teztus, an ed-tech startup using AI to assist educators in grading. The platform saves teachers time and provides students with more personalized feedback.Maya Wou '19 LCC is the creative director at Teztus. She is pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts at Concordia University, while skillfully handling the graphic design of the platform and playing a vital role in the company's marketing and branding strategies. A lifelong artist, her creative prowess significantly contributes to Teztus' distinct and standout presence.In the past few months, they have successfully bootstrapped their launch and secured paid pilot contracts with educational institutions in the US and Canada. The Teztus team also includes LCC alumni Matthew Barg '18 and Helen Zhang '18, Pre-U '19.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Geoff Molson '87, Pre-U '88 has been a general partner of CH Group Limited Partnership since December 2009, and the President and, since 2011, Chief Executive Officer of CH Group Limited Partnership, owner of the Montreal Canadiens, Evenko, Équipe Spectra, Just for Laughs and the Bell Centre.He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Molson Coors Brewing Company and serves as an ambassador for Molson Coors, representing the Molson family in key strategic areas of the business. Geoff is also a member of the Board of Directors of RES PUBLICA Consulting Group and of the Molson Foundation, a family foundation dedicated to the betterment of Canadian society, as well as St. Mary’s Hospital Foundation, and the Montreal Canadiens Children’s Foundation. He was also recently appointed to the Order of Canada and was made Chevalier de l’Ordre National du Quebec in 2019.Geoff holds an MBA from Babson Business School and a Bachelor of Arts from St. Lawrence University.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Emmanuel Mavridakis ‘18 is currently majoring in political science with a minor in law at Concordia University with plans to attend law school. He has been interning at DLA Piper Law firm since 2016.After surviving a serious accident in 2013 and sustaining a life-threatening spinal cord injury and brain trauma, Emmanuel became a motivational speaker. He has worked with many organizations such as St. Justine Hospital and Melio Foundation in order to raise money for research and equipment for children and adults with spinal cord injury and brain trauma.In addition, he has also started his own business buying and selling shoes and clothing. All of his work has enabled him to develop an ease with communication, develop his work ethic and enhance his business mentality.Listen to his TEDx Youth Talk:https://youtu.be/zF7f-9i4zQA?si=uNRofXYA_i-fUPg0See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Roger Hilton is a global affairs and defence analyst based in Central Europe. Since 2019, he has worked at GLOBSEC in Bratislava, Slovakia, where he is currently a Media Presenter and Defence Fellow. He has worked extensively with both public and private sector stakeholders and managed the NATO 2030: NATO-Private Sector Dialogues with GLOBSEC, where many of the dialogue recommendations were integrated into the 2021 Brussels Summit Communiqué. He regularly provides expert input on security dynamics for international media outlets. Roger’s punditry has been featured in Al-Jazeera English, TRT World, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), Breakfast TV New Zealand, The Vassy Kapelos Show, Foreign Policy, Reuters, The Japan Times, DW news – Ukraine, NATO Review, Denník SME, and other local media outlets. Outside of work, he sits on the alumni association board of the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna.Christopher Shannon joined LCC in 2005. Since then he has overseen the implementation of three strategic plans, the school’s most successful fundraising initiatives and the construction of several state-of-the art learning facilities. Under his leadership, LCC has also developed a clear vision for campus and program development with an emphasis on program excellence, innovation and sustainability. This includes a more global orientation with the adoption of the IB curriculum in the high school, active membership in the Round Square International Association of Schools and broad student participation in the Duke of Edinburgh leadership programs.During his tenure at LCC, Mr. Shannon has been President of the QAIS and served on the boards of CAIS, Round Square and the Vimy Foundation, which provides unique learning opportunities for young Canadians exploring Canada’s notable WWI legacy. Prior to coming to LCC, Mr. Shannon served for six years as head of school at Stanstead College in Quebec’s Eastern Townships.A fluently bilingual Montrealer, Christopher Shannon graduated from Selwyn House School and from Pre-University at LCC, making him the first alumnus to head Lower Canada College. He pursued his education at Queen’s (B.A.), Institut universitaire de hautes études internationales – University of Geneva (Master's in International Affairs) and Brock University in Ontario (Master's in Educational Administration). Chris and his wife Hilary have two children: Leah (Pre-U ’06) and Matthew ’07 (Pre-U ’08), both proud graduates of LCC.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Constance McGuire is in her seventh year as Director of Academics at LCC and has been an educator long enough to remember when technology in the classroom consisted of a whiteboard, and if you were lucky, your very own overhead projector. She has been part of many schools' journeys from computer labs to one-on-one device programmes and online teaching tools. She is excited to see how AI will impact teaching and learning for both teachers and students.Fiona Nanson has been the Educational Technology Integration Coordinator for seven years at LCC. Her PhD is in neuroscience, specializing in cognitive processing in autism and her training is in special education, specializing in integration. She started working with ed tech as a tool for supporting students with learning accommodations. She came to Quebec from Saskatchewan (via Alberta and Oklahoma) to work on a project for six months and that was 20 years ago. Her goal is to help teachers and students use technology to be creative and supportive of the learning process.Additional information & Resources:https://teztus.com/https://www.instagram.com/teztus/ Jackson Labell-Nevard ‘18, Pre-U ‘19 is the founder of Teztus.Maya Wou ‘19 is the creative director, overseeing all promotional content, designs and user interface.Matthew Barg ‘18 is a lead programmer.Helen Zhang ‘18, Pre-U ‘19 has recently joined as another key developer with expertise in full-stack development and machine learning.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Claire Webster is a Certified Dementia Care Consultant (PAC), Certified Professional Consultant on Aging (CPCA), as well as a conference speaker and educator in the area of caring for an individual with dementia. She is founder and president of Caregiver Crosswalk Inc., a consulting firm that provides education and support services to help people navigate the journey of Alzheimer’s disease and/or dementia-related illnesses.Claire works in collaboration with McGill University’s Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences and the Division of Geriatric Medicine. She is the Founder and Ambassador of the McGill Demen­tia Education Program and McGill Cares, a webcast series designed to support family care partners.Claire is the daughter-in-law of Philip Webster '63.Additional Resources:https://www.mcgill.ca/dementia/Dementia Companion Guide which has been translated into 10 languageshttps://www.mcgill.ca/dementia/resources/dementia-your-companion-guideMcGill Cares webcasts:https://www.mcgill.ca/dementia/resources/mcgill-cares-webcastsDementia Activity Booklet:https://www.mcgill.ca/dementia/resources/dementia-activity-bookletAlzheimer Society of Canada:https://alzheimer.ca/enAlzheimer’s Disease International:https://www.alzint.org/2021 and 2022 world reports:https://www.mcgill.ca/dementia/resources/world-alzheimer-reportsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Maggie Owen is an academic advisor and Certified Canadian Counsellor with 15 years of experience at the secondary and post-secondary level. She has worked at LCC since 2016 and spent eight years prior to that working as an academic advisor, administrator and eventually as an academic dean at the CEGEP level. She also remains the QAIS representative for guidance counsellors and academic advisors related to Academic and Career Guidance Content (ACGC) objectives and spent five years as the Quebec representative of the Canadian Independent School Counselling (CISC) group. In this role she had the pleasure of working with counsellors on a national and provincial level. She conducted a national study on independent school counselling to determine current trends, needs and best practices across Canada and as a result organized and hosted two national presentations on healthy post-secondary admissions practices with the Stanford-affiliated non-profit, Challenge Success.Maggie has also presented at several conferences including the Canadian Independent School Counselling bi-annual conference with Kimberly Tulloch and the National Association of College Admission counselling conference with St. Andrew’s University, Queen’s University Belfast, Oxford University and the Dalton School. Maggie’s background includes a double Bachelor’s degree in Theatre and German Literature from the University of New Hampshire, a Master’s degree in Creative Arts Therapies from Concordia University, Certifications in Psychometric Testing and a Master’s of Education in College Teaching from the University of Sherbrooke.Maggie remains dedicated to the field of education, continuously striving to identify evidence-based practices and strategies that keep students engaged, inspired and motivated. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Stuntman Sam is up for anything. Ask him to prank complete strangers on their birthdays, all in the name of fun and a few laughs, and he’s game. As a radio host for Montreal’s morning radio show with The Beat, Stuntman Sam is so named for the risks that he takes and the publicity stunts that he stages to garner attention for the station. In his words, not all radio hosts are comfortable doing the “dirty” work, like contacting unsuspecting listeners and fabricating outrageous stories to elicit on-air reactions. Enter Mr. Lupovich.Mr. Lupovich is also a voice-actor and highlights his acceptance into the Acting Conservatory at York University as a major achievement. The program, which offers intense training in stage and screen acting, admits only 16 students. During his time at York, Mr. Lupovich landed several roles in both TV and film.Mr. Lupovich has many fond memories of certain teachers at LCC who encouraged his penchant for the arts. “They were endearing people who loved what they did and made a point to foster the students’ talents and cater to their interests. I attribute much of my work ethic and attitude to what I learned from them.”Sam moved back to his beloved hometown of Montreal in 2014. He studied Acting/Voice at York University, and Radio Broadcasting at Humber College. Sam loves finding ways to connect with people, and radio is a brilliantly creative vehicle for him to explore that.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Lily Mariani has just completed grade10 at LCC and joins us to talk about her personal project - Sport for All where her main focus is that no matter who you are, the importance of physical activity can not be denied. She acknowledges the sad reality that many children with disabilities do not get enough physical activity because of lack of equipment & resources and designed a manual to show how sports can be adapted with minimal cost and equipment so everyone can play! She is also the first girl in the history of LCC to make the juvenile baseball team, an accomplishment to be proud of and is the recipient of the Peter W Webster ‘60 Scholarship & Award.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Christopher Shannon joined LCC in 2005. Since then he has overseen the implementation of three strategic plans, the school’s most successful fundraising initiatives and the construction of several state-of-the art learning facilities. Under his leadership, LCC has also developed a clear vision for campus and program development with an emphasis on program excellence, innovation and sustainability. This includes a more global orientation with the adoption of the IB curriculum in the high school, active membership in the Round Square International Association of Schools and broad student participation in the Duke of Edinburgh leadership programs.During his tenure at LCC, Mr. Shannon has been President of the QAIS and served on the boards of CAIS, Round Square and the Vimy Foundation, which provides unique learning opportunities for young Canadians exploring Canada’s notable WWI legacy. Prior to coming to LCC, Mr. Shannon served for six years as head of school at Stanstead College in Quebec’s Eastern Townships.A fluently bilingual Montrealer, Christopher Shannon graduated from Selwyn House School and from Pre-University at LCC, making him the first alumnus to head Lower Canada College. He pursued his education at Queen’s (B.A.), Institut universitaire de hautes études internationales – University of Geneva (Master's in International Affairs) and Brock University in Ontario (Master's in Educational Administration). Chris and his wife Hilary have two children: Leah (Pre-U ’06) and Matthew ’07 (Pre-U ’08), both proud graduates of LCC.David Schwartz '87, Chair of the Board, has been the chief financial officer of Nuvei Corporation, a global fintech company, since November 2018. From 2010 to 2018, he was a senior executive of The Aldo Group ultimately being appointed chief financial officer in 2015. From 1999 to 2009, David was a senior financial executive of Optimal Payments and chief financial officer since 2002. He started his career at Pricewaterhouse Coopers LLP where he held positions in assurance and financial advisory services. David holds a Bachelor of Commerce from McGill University, is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA) and member of the Ordre des comptables professionnels agréés du Québec since 1996, as well as a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA). David and his wife Leanne have three daughters: Daniella ’17, Kaylee ’19 and Madison ’23.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Trevor Williams, LCC parent of Riley ‘26, grew up in Little Burgundy, an inner-city Montreal neighbourhood. His perseverance and basketball skills landed him the opportunity of a lifetime— a basketball scholarship to an American university and a chance to play for the Canadian national team. After playing for division 1 universities in both Louisiana and New Jersey, Trevor played against basketball legends including Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird from the 1992 USA Dream Team.However, Basketball glory was not what Trevor was after. He returned to Montreal with a vision to change the lives of youth across the city. With childhood friend Dean Smith, Trevor founded the Trevor Williams All-Star Basketball Academy in 1992, an instructional basketball camp that drives youth to be the best that they can be. The Trevor Williams Basketball Academy has a distinctive mission: to create good basketball players, but more importantly, good people. In 2002, Trevor expanded his vision founding the Trevor Williams Kids Foundation, a non-profit organization aimed at teaching life skills to youth from impoverished families.Both the camp and the foundation are clear manifestations of Trevor’s motto: “Academics plus athletics equals a perfect education.” He continually stresses the importance of balance; and the importance of health, well-being and education. By educating and empowering youth, he has made a tremendous difference in the lives of youth across the city.Trevor Williams now coaches basketball at Dawson College and continues to serve as both Director of the Basketball Academy and President of the Foundation. He is a well-known and widely respected figure in the Montreal community and in the basketball community of universities across North America.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Leslie Levinson has taught at the Mackay Centre School since 1989. She holds a Bachelor of Education in Physical Education, a Masters in Adapted Physical Activity and a Certificate in Inclusive Education all obtained at McGill University. Leslie began her teaching career at Mackay as a physical education teacher, later moving into the classroom. After attending an inspirational conference in New York in 1998, Leslie experienced a professional epiphany that would shape her career and forever change the lives of all her future students. With full support from the administration at Mackay, Leslie returned home to spearhead the creation of an Augmentative Communication class for students with complex communication needs and has been working with these students ever since.Leslie stays up to date with the seemingly constant innovations in the fields of technology and teaching methods that have enhanced and improved the quality-of-life experiences of her students (and their families) by regularly attending AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) conferences.Twice a year, Leslie also takes her students to Camp Massawippi, an adapted camp in the Eastern Townships for a three-day camping adventure, which provides much needed respite for parents/guardians. Accompanied by support staff and caregivers, Leslie’s students can experience the joys of sleep-away camp, in a secure setting for the first and sometimes only time, memories they will likely never forget. She also coordinates annual field trips to the Atwater Market, the bowling alley as well as hockey and skating outings (thanks to LCC).In recognition of her undying passion and unconditional commitment to her students, Leslie was honoured to be the recipient of the EMSB Teacher of Inspiration award in 2014.While there has been a long-standing relationship between Lower Canada College and the Mackay Centre School, Leslie has a personal relationship with LCC as well. She is the mother of LCC alumni: Blair '10, Josh '13, Drew '17, Pre-U '18 and Kirsten '20, Pre-U '21. Her husband, Scott graduated from Lower Canada College in 1981 and her late father-in- law Martin worked at LCC from 1965-2000, first as head of the Science Department and later in his career as Assistant Headmaster of Academics. Rounding out the Mackay/LCC connection, two of Leslie’s children participated in the Reverse Integration Program at Mackay, Blair (1997-1998) and Kirsten (2012-2013). Kirsten is now the director of Camp Massawippi’s summer day camp.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jennifer Irwin is terrible at hockey, but that hasn’t stopped her from having a tiny (huge) crush on Sidney Crosby.She holds a bachelor's and master's degree in English literature, as well as a Bachelor of Education from McGill University. She teaches Middle and Senior School English at Lower Canada College. The students she admires most are the ones who never stop trying.She lives in Montreal, QC, with her husband, two sons, and a cat and dog who are locked in the grips of an intense love/hate relationship. This is her first novel.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A recognized motivational speaker and healer, LCC parent, Olga Munari, is an inspirational force in the breast cancer community, mentoring cancer patients and families and raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for cancer research. Following her first best-selling book, The Joy of Cancer: A Journey of Self-Discovery (2012), Olga presented her memorable and exhilarating story of survival in a TEDx Talk in Las Vegas, Nevada. Today, she continues to inspire through public speaking, writing, coaching and media appearances.A prolific best-selling author, Olga bares her soul in her book The Joy of Life: Now What? (2020), revealing the emotional devastation at the hands of an abusive uncle. Her latest book, The Joy of Healing: Overcome Victimhood. End Denial. Live Life. (2021), Olga sheds the effects of sexual abuse through her mother’s story, exhuming the past and discovering that loving oneself and others is the universal cure for disease.A student of Dr. Deepak Chopra’s meditation instruction and graduate of Spiritual Psychology from the University of Santa Monica, Olga shows us how to embrace, not deny, our inner struggle to bring out the best in us.Olga is mother to Andrew ‘06, Laurie ‘08 & Jeremy ‘14.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode, we welcome LCC’s Michele Owen, director of student life and Gillian Shadley, school counselor for a conversation about positive education and social emotional learning models.Ms. Owen holds a Bachelor of Education and Bachelor of Social Work from McGill University. Ms. Shadley holds a Bachelor of Education and a Bachelor of Social Work from McGill University, along with a Master of Arts in Education from Concordia University. Both have completed a certification in positive education and PERMA-V and have been working at Lower Canada College for 19 years.Positive education brings together the science of positive psychology with best practice teaching to encourage and support individuals, schools and communities to flourish. It is a combination of “feeling good and doing good”. Positive education focuses on specific skills that assist students to strengthen their relationships, build positive emotions, enhance personal resilience, promote mindfulness and encourage a healthy lifestyle.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Natascia Lypny ‘08, Pre-U ‘09 is the features producer for CBC Saskatchewan, based in Regina. She leads in-depth and longform storytelling on the web, television, radio and social media. Since graduating from the University of King’s College's journalism program, she has worked in six provinces. She loves mentoring developing reporters.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Natalie Voland is the parent of an LCC alum from the class of 2022 and current parent of a grade 9 student.Natalie has been reinventing the process of real estate development for over 25 years. With a background in social work, she has a unique and purpose-driven, design-centred outlook on development that prioritizes historical protection of civic assets. She is forward-thinking; using buildings to unite communities and push environmental advocacy. Natalie is an award-winning, socially-driven developer and a leader of the Quebec B Corp movement, where her companies contribute to the protection of the environment, foster social inclusion, while making market-driven profit to further the economic development of Montreal. She manages 1.5 million square feet, supports over 500 entrepreneurs, and is an active expert, public speaker, and mentor. Her newest venture - Quo Vadis Capital - is investing in carbon mitigated accessible housing to address inclusion and climate change in real estate.Natalie sits on several boards and think tanks associated with her passion to be a leader in environmental, social and governmental (ESG) development. She is an active master planner, and partners with universities to use her assets as teaching and prototype tools to evolve concepts on what kind of city we want to build as citizens and corporate leaders. Natalie is a PhD candidate and member of the Concordia Chair of Excellence in Research on Smart and Resilient Cities and the Next Generation Cities Institute specializing in the bridge of market business practices that drive sustainability on the built environment.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Lauren Small Pennefather is a current LCC parent of a grade 9 student.Lauren joined the Public Service of Canada in January 1997, and has served in science, innovation and international portfolios. She is currently Director of National Celebrations and Commemorations for Parks Canada, and was the previous Director for Quebec Waterways responsible for the operations of five historic canals. Furthering her commitment to public service, Lauren was elected as a municipal councillor for the Town of Montreal West in November 2021.Lauren holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Science and Human Affairs and the School of Community and Public Affairs (1995) and a Master's Degree in Public Policy and Public Administration from Concordia University (1997). She completed a graduate certificate in air and space law at McGill University, Faculty of Law, Institute of Air and Space Law (2014).Prior to joining the Parks Canada, Lauren worked for Environment Canada, Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada and the Canadian Space Agency. The majority of her career has been devoted to diplomatic relations concluding agreements with China, India, Israel, Japan, the Russian Federation and the United States, and was head of delegation for the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space and the Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee on matters related to space security.In addition to her professional achievements, Lauren continues to remain active in local issues affecting her community. She proudly participates in the Terry Fox Run, having never missed a run in 24 years. She has raised over $50K for the Terry Fox Foundation towards cancer research, both as a participant and coordinator of the Montreal West Terry Fox Run. Lauren is a board member for Concordia University’s Alumni School of Community and Public Affairs, the Montreal West Community Services Council, and is the founder and chair of the Montreal West “Bottoms Up” Diaper Drive in benefit of the NDG Food Depot. In July 2017, Lauren was part of Team Canada in the Maccabiah Games half marathon in Israel.In May 2015, Ms. Small was awarded the Alumna of the Year Award by Concordia University for outstanding professional and personal achievements and was named as one of five Concordia graduates making a difference in the world in 2016.In November 2012, Lauren received the Queen Elizabeth ll Diamond Jubilee Medal, honouring her continued commitment to improving relations with international partners. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Design for the Art of LearningAlec Mathewson '95 is the design curriculum lead and Fab Lab coordinator at LCC. He is an interdisciplinary artist and designer specializing in digital fabrication, critical making, and using design processes with the intent to learn. Mr. Mathewson examines the hidden spaces and accidental discoveries that emerge from creative technical practices with a particular concern for exposing the critical mindsets needed for students to learn about innovation and sustainable action. His research and creation are intended to spark dialogue about design education as a model for experiential learning in the 21st century, where creativity, curiosity, confidence, and critical thinking are concerned. He oversees the development of LCC's new Centre for Discovery, where ideas come to life through a community of practice surrounding design, technology, maker culture, and entrepreneurship.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sarah Kingsley began teaching at LCC in 2007. She taught in grade 1 and grade 4 before entering into the coordinator role of the Junior School LEAD department. She is also the coordinator of the English and social science programs in the Junior School. Ms. Kingsley completed a master's degree in child studies in 2015 at Concordia University and has since pursued her certification as an Orton-Gillingham practitioner. She now provides intervention and curricular support in various grades throughout the Junior School.Lise Huppler has been working in the LEAD department at LCC since 2008. She teaches study methods courses in the Middle and Senior Schools, and coordinates the LEAD program in the Middle, Senior and Pre-University Schools. Ms. Huppler is also involved in several LEAD initiatives, including Grade 7 Brain Explained and Executive Functioning Morning, and exam prep courses. She completed a master's degree in child studies in 2015 at Concordia University, conducting a study on executive functioning measures and interventions in Middle School students with ADHD. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Luc Drymer Graham '21 (Pre-U '22) is a recent graduate of Lower Canada College. Since 2018, he has been working in youth-to-youth education with International Animal Rescue Indonesia to promote orangutan and forest conservation in the remote villages of Kalimantan (Borneo). Through this work, Luc has come to understand how conservation is a multifaceted issue. In Indonesia’s most remote forest communities, he has worked with teenage students educating them about the importance of conservation and empowering them to make a difference in their communities—communities where the rate of deforestation is cataclysmic and, as a result, certain species are on the verge of extinction. Understanding the importance of perpetuating this knowledge, many of these students have since taken on roles as youth ambassadors, raising awareness and organizing local youth groups to use their collective voice to further spread their message at the local level. Be it in Kalimantan or at home in Montreal, Luc continues to spread the word about the plight of Indonesia’s forests and its indigenous inhabitants, informing, educating, and motivating anyone who will listen.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Join us for a candid conversation with Lower Canada College’s Head of School, Christopher Shannon (Pre-U '76), about education: How things were, how they are and what’s in store for the future.Christopher Shannon joined LCC in 2005. Since then he has overseen the implementation of three strategic plans, the school’s most successful fund-raising initiatives and the construction of several state-of-the art learning facilities. Under his leadership, LCC has also developed a clear vision for campus and program development with an emphasis on program excellence, innovation and sustainability. This includes a more global orientation with the adoption of the IB curriculum in the high school, active membership in the Round Square international association of schools and broad student participation in the Duke of Edinburgh leadership programs.During his tenure at LCC, Mr. Shannon has been President of the QAIS and served on the boards of CAIS, Round Square and the Vimy Foundation, which provides unique learning opportunities for young Canadians exploring Canada’s notable WWI legacy. Prior to coming to LCC, Mr. Shannon served for six years as head of school at Stanstead College in Quebec’s Eastern Townships. A fluently bilingual Montrealer, Christopher Shannon graduated from Selwyn House School and from Pre-University at LCC, making him the first alumnus to head Lower Canada College. He pursued his education at Queen’s (B.A.), Institut universitaire de hautes études internationales – University of Geneva (Master's in International Affairs) and Brock University in Ontario (Master's in Educational Administration). Chris and his wife Hilary have two children: Leah (Pre-U ’06) and Matthew ’07 (Pre-U ’08), both proud graduates of LCC.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

​​Kristina Ashqar '02 (Pre-U '03) began her journey with PSB Boisjoli as an intern in 2005. She quickly rose up the ranks of the firm’s Audit and Assurance Division. From the beginning, she established herself as a gifted supervisor with strong professional competencies, and an impressive ability to manage mandates. Kristina was promoted to a managerial position in 2012 and was admitted to the partnership in 2019. Within the scope of her current responsibilities, she handles the accounts of several of the firm’s major clients, ensuring audit, assurance, and taxation services for companies from a diverse range of sectors. She also plays a key role in the supervision of over 45 members of the audit team.Whether she’s managing client accounts, or supporting her team in professional development, Kristina demonstrates remarkable passion for everything she puts her mind to. Kristina’s infinite qualities make her one of the most admired and sought after professionals in the field.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Before Manny Blu '12 was known as a Nashville artist with his own genre, three LPs and 1M+ streams, he was playing tours throughout North America and Canada as an acclaimed MMA fighter turned country singer and a true road warrior. Blu started his music career playing nightly shows to support his 2019 debut album “Leave It Like It Is” while also sharpening the larger-than-life sound that would later fill his 2020 EP “New Ink” and his most recent 2021 EP “Devil”. However, before Blu took the stage, he spent his days in the gym, training for a career as an MMA fighter. When a leg injury left him unable to compete in professional matches, Blu found himself at home in Montreal, recovering from a torn quadricep and looking for a new passion to pass the time. What he found was a renewed appreciation for music. First he was drawn to the guitar-driven blues of BB King, Stevie Ray Vaughan and John Mayer. Second, he discovered a connection with easy-going swagger and relatable storytelling of modern country.Today, Blu has relocated to Nashville and created a genre called country punk which combines the lyrical style of country music with the heavy infused beats and sounds of punk rock. Country punk brings Blu’s own vibe to country music creating an original sound that makes room for his blues and rock ‘n’ roll influences.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Meghan Swidler '08 (Pre-U '09), is a graduate of Cornell University. She started her career working for a hyper growth tech startup in both San Francisco and New York City. Then, in 2021, she took a leap and changed her career path to follow her long-time passion for health and wellness, becoming a holistic nutrition health coach and wellness consultant. She holds certificates from both the Institute of Integrative Nutrition and the International Association for Health Coaches.In this episode, Meghan shares her holistic nutrition coaching practices, which are grounded in plant-based whole foods, the principles of food combining, and bio-individuality. She reminds us that there is not a one-size-fits-all approach to sustainable health and well-being. We hear about her transformational journey towards better holistic health and wellness, which she says is the foundation for an abundant life. Follow Meghan on Instagram. http://www.instagram.com/thatplantbasedgal.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Dr. John Brownstein '94, epidemiologist, professor of biomedical informatics at Harvard Medical School, and chief innovation officer of Boston Children’s Hospital, joins us for an in-depth look at the ongoing pandemic.NOTE: Information shared in this episode was accurate on its release date of February 9, 2022, but may have changed since that time.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Chris Olive graduated from John Abbott College in pure and applied sciences in 1991 and obtained a BSc in computer science from McGill University in 1995. He then worked for two years as a programmer for a Petro-Canada contractor on the Petro-Pass system. He returned to McGill and obtained a BEd with a minor in biology and physics.From 2000 to 2015, he taught physics, general science, chemistry and computer programming at LCC and, from 2015-2017, worked at several Lester B. Pearson public schools. He returned to LCC in 2017 and is teaching physics and general science.Mr. Olive has worked with at-risk youth at LOVE (Leave Out ViolEnce), and has coached robotics, soccer and curling teams. He is a lifelong competitive soccer player and finished 4th and 6th in the 40-44 age category at the 2014 FINA World Masters Championship in springboard diving, on 1m and 3m boards.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Samara Fox '04 (Pre-U '05) addresses the myths and misconceptions of mental health and offers insight into her cutting-edge research.Samara is a resident physician at the Harvard-Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Psychiatry Program in Boston, and has a JD from Harvard Law School and an MD from the Yale School of Medicine. She previously worked as an attorney at Ropes and Grey LLP and at Greater Boston Legal Services. Her interests are in immigrant and refugee health, trauma, and novel treatments for mood disorders.Samara lives in Boston with her partner and their two pets.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sheri Elefant shares her personal journey, the shift in her career from corporate to non-profit and the things that are most meaningful to her. Originally from New York, Sheri began her professional life in advertising working on product launches and media negotiations in a fast-paced, multi-million dollar industry. The decision to leave Madison Avenue was not difficult, as the greatest and most challenging opportunity of her life lay ahead - raising her kids.Her non-profit career began as co-founder of the Trevor Williams Kids Foundation and she currently serves as the Strategic Development Officer for the Montreal Community Cares Foundation. Prior to this, she co-founded a 21st century non-profit sustainability learning space called Genvironment. She is also a member of the advisory board at Clickto, an edtech startup, which was born out of a need to address the pain points of remote learning as virtual became the new in-person.Sheri is passionate about creating social value and putting youth - our future change makers - at the forefront of social issues, and integrating impact in anything she puts her hands on.Sheri is mother to Samantha '10 (Pre-U '11) and David '12 (Pre-U '13).See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Mitch Garber talks about his early years, his rise to success and the importance of working hard and giving back.In the early 90s, Mitch hosted a sports radio talk show in Montreal before pursuing a career as a lawyer and businessman. He led the online gambling unit of Caesars Entertainment Group before becoming the Chairman of Cirque du Soleil in 2015. He has been active in the effort to bring baseball back to Montreal, and he is now part owner of the NHL expansion team, the Seattle Kraken. He sits on the boards and leads a number of philanthropic activities in Canada and Israel. He has a BA from McGill University ('86), a law degree from the University of Ottawa ('89), an honorary doctorate from the University of Ottawa ('17), and was awarded the Order of Canada in 2019.Mitch’s journey to success is filled with diverse experiences and is inspirational to a wide range of people of all ages. Mitch is a past LCC parent and husband to Anne-Marie Boucher, a former LCC Board member. He is father to Dylan '12 and Ryan '17 (Pre-U '18).See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Matt Cundill '87 joins us for a candid conversation about his background, his journey in broadcasting and shift to the world of podcasting. Matt is one of the best in the business of Canadian broadcasting and podcasting. He says he is grateful to his English teachers who, in his words, taught him how to write, an essential skill for working in media.Matt continues to show support to those who aspire to follow in his footsteps, as he explains that his industry is all about giving back, sharing and teaching. He mentored students of the LCC Green Team, as they launched their own environment-related podcast, The Sustainable Burrito and, most recently, guided LCC in the production of the We Are LCC podcast.Matt’s career in the industry spans 20 years. He was born and raised in Montreal and spent his days listening to radio before working on air. He was program director at top music and talk radio stations across Canada, starting at Montreal’s CHOM 97.7 and eventually landing in Winnipeg. In 2014, Matt had a slight career shift from radio and launched The Sound Off Media Company, helping broadcasters and podcasters increase their audience and the amount of time engaged in their audio, as well as hosting his own podcast The Podcast about Broadcast.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.