She received her A. B. degree from Harvard University in 1990 and pursued undergraduate research with Professor Andrew R. Barron. After teaching high school sciences in the Fiji Islands on a Catherine Innes Ireland Fellowship from Radcliffe College, she commenced her doctoral studies in 1991 with Professor John A. Osborn at the Université Louis Pasteur in Strasbourg, France. After completion of her Ph.D. in 1995 she carried out two years of post-doctoral research with Professor M. Reza Ghadiri at The Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, California. In 1997 she joined the faculty at Purdue University as an assistant professor of inorganic chemistry, and was promoted to associate professor in 2001. In 2003, she moved to help set up Canada's new National Institute for Nanotechnology (NINT) at the University of Alberta. 

Signficant Awards: American Chemical Society (ACS) Pure Chemistry Award, Fresenius Award, Dreyfus Teacher Scholar Award, A. P. Sloan Foundation Fellow, Cottrell Teacher Scholar of Research Corporation, Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation New Faculty Award, Purdue School of Science Outstanding Teaching Award, National Science Foundation Career Award.

(Globe and Mail excerpt)
The ninth annual selection of Canada's Top 40 Under 40 reminds us that innovation and success come in many different forms. Professor of Chemistry/Senior Research Officer, University of Alberta/National Institute of Nanotechnology, Edmonton

Buriak is a chronic overachiever--99% on her high school science exams wasn't good enough. She got her first degree at Harvard, a faculty position at Purdue University in Indiana in 1997, and last year she was given the American Chemical Society Pure Chemistry Award, the highest award for scientists aged 35 or under. Now she's back in Canada doing specialized materials research and helping to drive the new science of the very small: nanotechnology, where something the width of a human hair is 100,000 times too big. "The chemistry involved is really fundamental and it's a lot of fun," says Buriak, "but there's really not a line between the basic science and applications." One application she's helped develop is a way to do biological analysis on a microchip. Usually, the first go-around at such technologies is extremely expensive and takes specialized knowledge; Buriak's goal is to make it cheaper and easier for non-chemists.

Small Pleasures: "I work with the neatest tools and toys to build things. . .it's a combination of art and science."

At the annual Team Impact Wrestling Tournament on the weekend, featuring teams from all over Ontario and Quebec, the Varsity Blues wrestling coaches decided to strap on their shoes and get into the competitive spirit first-hand. They were competing, (ironically, given their respective ages!) under the banner of the Cabbagetown Youth Centre Wrestling Club, an associative club to the University of Toronto.

Last year's UT head coach, 34 year old Peter Brown marked a return to competition finishing with the bronze medal. "If I can balance my work schedule with training, I would definitely see myself entering more competitions in the future".

However, the top spot for University of Toronto wrestlers went to current head coach Mike Quinsey. Winning three matches before losing in the finals at 76 Kg. he came back with the silver medal.

"It's been over twenty years since I was focussed on being personally competitive," said Quinsey. "But it's fun every now and then to see just how much spring is left in these legs."

Coach Quinsey last competed in wrestling in 2000 winning a silver medal at the Ontario Championships. Currently 47 years old, he was a member of the National Wrestling Team back in the early 1980's.

Quinsey led the way for his team with his silver medal finish in his 76 Kg. weight class, followed by Coach Peter Brown with the bronze in heavyweight. University of Toronto Varsity Blues athlete Chris Banic also took a bronze medal at 90 Kg. Other U of T wrestlers that did well were Tessa Botticella who finished in 5th spot in her division and Steve Suraci ended the day in 6th.


Aaron Abrams (2003)

Congratulations to another grad and former Rugby Captain, Aaron Abrams, for being selected for the National Rugby Team for the Churchill Cup in Vancouver this June. This is the second time Aaron has played for Canada. We know he worked hard to get there and weare very proud of him. Congratulations, Aaron.
Update: Aaron Abrams has been named to the starting lineup in the Rugby Canada Star Team which will be played in Ottawa on July 30 against the visiting New Zealand Maori at Twin Elm Rugby Park at 6:30 p.m. The Ottawa match presents a golden opportunity for some Super League players to demonstrate their skills in front of Canada's World Cup selectors. Good luck Aaron!

From the University of Guelph Gryphons  
2002 -2003

Brooke Hilditch cleans up!!! Brooke has combined athletic and academic excellence to the highest degree. She has maintained an average of 85.4% in the demanding Biomedical Science program over the past two semesters while competing in two sports: Rugby and Wrestling. This year, Brooke has earned almost every possible honour in Rugby including team MVP, OUA All-Star, OUA Player of the Year, CIS All-Canadian and CIS Tournament All-Star. But, it doesn't stop there, in Wrestling, she captured a silver medal at the OUA Championships and placed 6th at the national championships.

President's Trophy for Student - Athlete
A suitably inscribed award shall be presented to the female student-athlete that best exemplifies the combination of academic and athletic excellence. To be eligible, the athlete must have attained an 80% average for the previous two semesters prior to consideration, and must have lettered in her sport(s).
Presented By: Dr. Mordechai Rozanski to Brooke Hilditch for Rugby & Wrestling

Female Athlete of the Year
This award is open to any female student at the University of Guelph participating on a women's intercollegiate team. This award is given for excellence and versatility in intercollegiate sports.
Presented By: Richard Freeman to Brooke Hilditch for Rugby & Wrestling

Female Athletes of the Year
Brooke Hilditch & Tara Hedican

M.V.P. for Rugby presented to Brooke Hilditch

THE MISSISSAUGA NEWS, Nov 21, 2003

At the Women of Influence luncheon, Mississauga's Brooke Hilditch was honoured for her brains and athletic prowess.

The bio-medical science graduate at Guelph University was one of 18 recipients of an Ontario University Association (OUA) female scholar/athlete award at the 'Women of Influence' luncheon in Toronto yesterday. The 'Women of Influence' luncheon was held at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre and featured Dr. Roberta Bondar as the featured speaker. She received an OUA jewelry box with her name engraved on it, an autographed copy of Dr. Roberta Bondar's newest book and other gifts.
Brooke was a member of Guelph University's women's rugby and wrestling teams last year while maintaining an 85.5 per cent grade average.

She earned OUA medals in both sports, a silver at last year's wrestling championships and a sixth at the Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) championship.
As a member of Guelph's women's rugby team, She was a high-scoring outside center the past three seasons. Last year the team won the OUA title and finished fourth at the CIS championship.

She's now attending graduate school in bio-medical science at McMaster University in Hamilton and has played two years for Canada's under-23 rugby team and last summer she played with Canadian Women’s Rugby team at the Churchill Cup in Vancouver.

Brooke received an OUA jewelry box with her name engraved on it, an autographed copy of Dr. Roberta Bondar's newest book and other gifts.

UPDATE

Brooke participated in the Churchill Cup during June/2004 where she played all of the last game and contributed to a large degree in one of the two scores that Canada made against the USA. She also played the complete exhibition against New Zealand on June 5 in Vancouver.

New Zealand and England have very strong teams. Dianne and Fred were at both Alberta games in Calgary and Edmonton. Between the 2 Saturdays we travelled to Lethbridge in the south and north to Hines Creek (Dianne has a cousin there) 56.5 degrees latitude.

Brooke will be playing for the Ontario Provincial team August 10-15, 2004 at the National Championships to be held in Hamilton, Ontario. There are 8 provinces playing and they are British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland.

Brooke is one 12 Canadians representing Canada in International University Sports Federation (FISU) -1st World University Rugby 7 on 7 Championship in Beijing, China - September 15th to 18th, 2004. There will 5 countries represented in the Ladies Division.

Reported by Alan Wong:

I think some mention needs to be made about some of the athletes who have gone on to greatness internationally. Courtney Brown, if memory serves me correctly, represented Canada at the 1984 Olympics and won a bronze medal as a member of the 4x100 relay team (track and field). Karen Preston represented Canada in figure skating at the 1992 Albertville Olympics, placing 8th. She has also won the Canadian championship twice. Lesley Reddon won a silver medal as a member of the 1998 Canadian women's hockey team in Nagano, Japan. She was one of the goalies.

Also, another famous Erindale graduate, would be John Robertson, more famously known in Canada as J.D. Roberts. After hosting shows on City TV and a stint as a MuchMusic VJ, Roberts moved south and became a reporter. John Roberts now fills in as anchor for the CBS Evening News when Dan Rather is off.

Kevin Newman's bio should be updated to mention the fact that he's the anchor for the Global Television newscast.

Also, two alumni work for radio station 102.1 The Edge--Rob Johnston is a producer there, and Martin Streek is an on-air host.

Memorial:

We have just recently heard of the death of Julian Szeicz, class of 1983. After graduating from Erindale, he attended MacMaster University where he received his PhD. He then completed his work at Cambridge University in the UK and returned to Canada to take a professorship at Queen's University. Julian was killed by an avalanche while working with undergraduates in the Yukon in April 1998.
Our deepest sympathies to his family.

Rev. Mike Van Slingerland Rev. Mike Van Slingerland (Class of 1990) is an ordained, evangelical minister from Mississauga, Ontario, who is widely known for his extensive work with troubled teens. Mr. Van Slingerland holds an honors Bachelor of Theology degree from Master’s College and Seminary, where he doubled majored in Youth and Child Studies and Overseas Missionary Development. Mike then went on to complete his Master's of Divinity from Taylor University. Mr. Van Slingerland also has completed and holds Trainer Certificates in; Understanding and Managing Aggressive Behavior (UMAB), Cognitive Behavioral Management Process, Treating Sexualized Behavior and other Counseling accreditations. Mr. Van Slingerland has been a Youth Pastor in two prominent churches in Ontario, where he has combined the work of the church and social service need.

Specifically, Mr. Van Slingerland has been a Youth Pastor in two prominent churches in Ontario, where he has combined the work of the church and social service need. Specifically, Mr. Van Slingerland has fifteen (15) plus experience working with children, youth, families and communities in both the public and private sectors, half of which has been done in the context of he and his wife, Mary-Anne, running a four bed foster home for severe behavioral teenage boys. Mr. Van Slingerland founded and directed Prime-Time Youth Ministries and The Professional Foster Care Association, which have provided thousands of children and young people recreational, counseling, spiritual and pragmatic services. He is currently the Executive Director of Teen Challenge GTA, a residential drug and rehabilitation program.


Class of 1973

Dr. Gary Paterno Reprint from the Mississauga News By KATHARINE SEALEY Special

Dr. Gary Paterno's ground-breaking cancer research has earned a place in scientific history, but his own personal history is rooted right here in Mississauga.

He and his wife, Dr Laura Gillespie, have identified a cancer gene that may lead to the discovery of a cancer-fighting drug. The headline-making scientist is also a hometown boy. His parents, who now live in Niagara Falls where Paterno was born, lived in the Credit Woodlands for 30 years. Paterno himself lived here between the ages of 11-26.

He said his science classes at Erindale Secondary School helped fan the flames of a childhood love.

"My interest in science was expanded at Erindale but it probably started even earlier than that," said Paterno, now 45. "It's an interest that develops when you're quite young." Deciding on a life of science, Paterno studied biology at the University of Toronto at Mississauga (UTM).

He then transferred to the school's Toronto campus to obtain his master's degree but commuted back and forth from Mississauga. He said he still drops by whenever he can.

Paterno left Mississauga in 1980 to pursue his doctorate at the University of Ottawa, where he met his future wife and research partner, Gillespie. From there, Paterno spent time with the Montreal Cancer Institute, then three years at Oxford University in England, before returning to Canada to accept a Faculty of Medicine post at Memorial University in St. John's, Newfoundland.

"My father said it's only the toenail of Canada. I'm just barely back in the country," Paterno said with a laugh. "I really wanted to come back to Canada, not go down to the United States or stay in Europe. Canada is my home."

He and Gillespie have been with Memorial University since 1990, working at The Terry Fox Cancer Research Laboratories. It was here they identified the cancer gene, which they call Early Response 1 (ER1), which kills cancerous cells when it is deactivated. This gene is considered the master control of tissue development. The scientists decided to focus their research on embryonic development, which is when ER1 is most active.

The growth of an embryo is a lot like a cancer cell," he said. "Both start with one cell, but by nine months you have 12 billion cells."

Using frog embryos - which have the same genes as humans but which are simpler and more ethical to work with - the duo found that ER1 shuts off after the embryo is fully formed but reactivates in people with breast and cervical cancer. Their current research focuses on why this happens because if they can stop the process, the cancer tumors will die. This discovery is very exciting for cancer research, said Paterno, but he is cautious about jumping to claims of a cure since only one per cent of discoveries ever make it to clinical trial.

"We are still in the really early days," he said. "We're not there yet."

Despite his headline-making discoveries, the humble Paterno isn't interested in becoming a household name. He just wants to do his job.

"It's five minutes of fame," he said. "But if some other scientist across the country picks up the paper and thinks 'Hey, that idea could help my research,' then it's all worth it."


Class of 1977

Mike Bullard came to Erindale on Friday Oct. 29 and was well received by staff and students alike. George Brett who had been his history teacher acted as the interviewer for the assembly for senior students. Mike gave some wonderful advice to the students and of course his sense of humour was evident throughout the hour. He happily signed his book afterwards and visited with us for another hour or so. It was a entertaining and educational visit.
Thanks, Mike.

On September 16, 2000, about 60 '77' Alumni along with about 8 teacher Alumni, met at the Lion and the Leprechaun and spent an evening reminiscing about days gone by. Graduating at about 18 years of age, the Alumni were now in their forties (ughhhh was the common expression). The 'old' staff refused comment.

It was organized by Chris McAnerney, Sandra Fletcher and Tricia Ray. A good and relaxing time was had by all. There was even talk about another one with a little more notice. Again the 'old' staff refused comment but a whisper was heard that it better not be too long from now.


Class of 1978 and Others

Reported by P. Gurnell

The Christine Magee of Sleep Country Canada fame is really the beautiful, delightful and talented Chris Bishop, class of 1978. She, for some obscure reason is married to Alan Magee, class of 1979 (or maybe even later). In a more bizarre twist, Alan turns out to be the producer for Open Mike. Mike Bullard strangely enough achieved his fame some 15 years after his younger brother, Pat (class clown of 1978) Bullard who can be seen in TV's Love Connection.
Speaking of TV, another '78 grad, Kevin Newman did stints with Glow-ball and CBC as anchor, before being recruited by NBC's Good Morning America (a job from which he was subsequently released after the ratings tanked). He is now a correspondent for Ted Koppel of Nightline.
I'm not sure that any of these people are making the world a better place to be but Mike Jakowec (I'm not sure of the spelling) disappeared to Berkely many years ago and I always felt he had great potential.

Class of 1979

Find out about John Ryan's Regeneration Tour

Class of 1972

The 1972 alumnae annual golf tournament will be held once again at Springfield next summer, probably the first Friday or Saturday in July. Stay tuned for the facts as we get them. Save your $100 entry and donation fee now and don't miss out on all the fun.

This year's third scholarship winner was introduced at last summer's meet.
Brooke Hilditch was given the happy news that she will receive $1000 from the class. The first two winners, Jamey Vickery now at Queen's in his third year, and Aaron Abrams, now at Western in his second year, were also present and kept the class up-to-date on their activities. Well done alumnae for helping these recent Erindale grads. Stay tuned to the alumnae news!

Class of 1998

The class of 1998 is to be congratulated for their fund raiser this summer. Thanks to Aaron Abrams and Jeff Handler for organizing the pub crawl which produced a healthy scholarship for a member (yet to be announced) of the class of 1999. According to Aaron, this will be repeated next summer also; so, if recent grads missed out last summer, they are welcome to participate next summer.
This year they gave out their first scholarship at Commencement for $260 to Scott Peachman.

Once again, Aaron Abrams, Jeff Handler, and Lisa Wallace organized the Pub Crawl for their Commencement Scholarship and this year (2003), they raised a whopping $400. This is the continuation of a fine tradition that has seen rugby and football athletes, who were truly skilled in their sports, were fine leaders, were good students (are going on to college or university) and excellent representatives of Erindale athletics, get the recognition they deserve. This year's recipient is Michael Moores, captain of the senior rugby team. Mike is going on to Trent University. He embodies all the qualities required for the scholarship and we congratulate him and the alums for working together for this happy result.
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