The Harbordite S P R I N G / S U M M E R 2 0 1 0 I S S U E N O . 6 2

Contact Us 286 Harbord Street Toronto, Ontario M6G 1G5 (416) 393-1650 contact@harbordclub.com www.harbordclub.com

Editor Angela Gulia

Assistant Editors and Staff Marisa Nunes, Emily Matias, Sara Rebelo, Vincent DeCaria, Julia Fronduti

From the Editor

“We are

fortunate to

have a school

with such a

strong and

illustrious

alumni base.”

Our editor, Ms. Angela Gulia

THE HARBORDITE Issue No. 62 SPRING/SUMMER 2010

P A G E O N E T H E H A R B O R D I T E

Dear Harbordites, Now that the school year is over, I’d like to thank this years' Harbordite staff: Emily Matias, Sara Rebelo, Marisa Nunes, Julia Fronduti, Vincent Decaria, and Christopher Bajouco Tavares. These grade 12 students have been volunteering their time and expertise to produce this issue of the Harbordite newsletter. I want to extend my thanks for their efforts during their graduating year. I’m proud of the contribution they’re making to be of service to the Harbord community and will sincerely miss them all very much! And just a reminder, speaking of Harbord community, in this issue we have the announcement of two newly established awards and details of the upcoming 60th reunion of the class of 1950. Be sure to come by and check it out! As always, we encourage all Harbord alumni to keep in touch by sending us your announcements, letters, stories, anecdotes, recollections, photos etc. If you have a fond Harbord memory or experience please share it with us. We’ll be pleased to publish your submissions in the Harbordite newsletter. Keep in mind that all issues of the Harbordite newsletter are always available online…www.harbordclub.com. Spread the word to any Harbordites you are in touch with! On behalf of the The Harbordite Staff and myself, I hope you all had a happy, healthy, and safe summer! Angela Gulia

From the Principal

Our Principal, Mr. Fuentes

THE HARBORDITE Issue No. 62

SPRING/SUMMER 2010

P A G E T W O T H E H A R B O R D I T E

Thank you, Harbodites for continuing to support our school and for having laid the foundation that guides us into the future. I am very proud to report that your alma mater won the Anne Hope Award for leadership in equity and social justice. This award is presented by the Board to a school that is instrumental in raising awareness for issues of social justice and for acting to help with such issues. Examples include Harbord’s raising of $15 000 for Haiti earthquake relief and SLIC’s (Students Leading Initiatives for Change) work with WarChild to help build a school in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This award is a validation of our work as we begin to work with our new mission. We are saying farewell to four teachers who will be retiring this year. Mr. Machado, Mr. McIntyre, Mr. Channing, and Ms. Poulos will be missed next year as they begin their new adventures as retired educators. We would like to thank them for all that they have given to the education system as a whole and, in particular, to Harbord Collegiate Institute. Harbord continues to be vibrant in the arts and athletics. Please consider yourselves invited to any and all events that are held at our school. I would like to thank Syd Moscoe for his hard work helping to revitalize the Harbord club and with his continued work to maintain our Museum.

Once again, thank you for your support and hope to see you at one of our many events next year.

Announcements THE HARBORDITE Issue No. 62 SPRING/SUMMER 2010

P A G E T H R E E T H E H A R B O R D I T E

New Harbodite Thanks Harbord Club… Dear Harbord Club and the Harbord Charitable Foundation, I graduated from Harbord C.I. last year and received the Van Der Hout Award and the Bright Penny Award. I want to thank the club for not only the awards and the award money, but more importantly for inspiring me. The fact that there are people who graduated decades ago and still care about the school and the Harbord Charitable Foundation makes me feel like I come from a special school; a place that we all feel a connection to. For me this connection emerged in grade 12 and since graduating has come to the surface even more. In many ways I wish there was still grade 13, as I feel I had just begun to think of Harbord as somewhere I be-long; something close to a home. The inspiration you gave me has also spread to my community and Har-bord’s surrounding neighbourhood where I recently organized a tree planting ini-tiative and planted 16 trees in the Palmerston Area. In the Spring I have an interest in organizing student volunteers to help take care of Harbord’s school grounds and gardens. I assumed after I graduated that I would break away from Harbord, but that has not been the case. I want to learn about Harbord’s history more than ever. For some reason I never got around to reading The Happy Ghosts of Harbord despite my love of the Local Archives course. I can’t wait to read the book once I have a break from my U of T work. I also intend to make a short film centered on the Hall of Memories (as I find that space has an atmosphere like no other). I find it hard to describe our connection with Harbord. What is the reason for it? Is it the teachers, our peers, the history of the school, the building itself, the Harbord Club, or that it is the place where we shaped ourselves and matured the most? For me it is all of the above. Thank you, Michael Marcucci ‘09

A Message from the President of Harbord Charitable Foundation: Peter Miller

Calling all his cronies of 1947 form 3F to try and make it for the 60th Anniversary of the 1950 graduating class of Harbord Collegiate. It will be a brunch-luncheon at Temple Beth Emeth at 11:00 a.m. Sunday October 17th 2010. for more information, please get in touch with Helen Klineman, Murray Rubin, Howard Warner or Peter Miller by August 2nd, 2010 Hope to see you there, and don’t forget to remind our classmates!

NEWS

THE HARBORDITE Issue No. 62 SPRING/SUMMER 2010

P A G E F O U R T H E H A R B O R D I T E

Dr BERNARD LANGER AN OUTSTANDING CAREER IN

MEDICINE By Murray Rubin I loved Harbord, and anybody that knows me will subscribe to that fact. I never tire of telling complete strangers about our 1950 graduating class. Four people from 1950 H.C.I. graduated at the top of their chosen profession in 1951 at the University of Toronto., Henry (Red) Petroff in Architecture, Saul Sidlofsky in Honour Science, and Melvyn Finkelstein in Commerce and Finance and, of course, Bernie Langer in Pre-Medicine. But it was Bernie who rose to heights never before attained by a Harbord graduate in Medicine, and Harbord has produced, without exaggeration, 100`s of doctors. In 2004 the University of Toronto established an endowed chair, The Bernard and Ryna Langer chair in general surgery to support research and education in the Division of General Surgery.

Bernie was an A student at Harbord and a top swimmer in inter-collegiate competition. His post-graduate studies after U of T medicine took him to Anderson Hospital in Houston, Texas and to Peter Bent Brigham Hospital in Boston, Mass. Certified in general surgery in 1961, he was chair of the division from 1982-1989 and was the Colonel R.S. Mclaughlin Professor and chairman of the department from 1982 to 1992. He was on the editorial board of many medical journals, on the executive committee of the Research Council of Canada, and he is a past president of the Canadian Association of General Surgeons. He was a council member, vice president and president of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. He has received numerous honours nationally and internationally, and in 2002 was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada. He developed a widely respected Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery Unit and initiated the

Liver Transplantation Program at the University of Toronto. He has authored or co-authored 174 papers and 29 book chapters, been visiting professor at university centers around the world. He has had a long-standing interest in research training and the preparation of surgeons for academic careers. The very successful Surgeon-Scientist Training Program at the University of Toronto, which he initiated during his chairmanship, has become a model for Clinical-Investigator training in Canada. He has been married to Ryna since 1954 and they have four children, two of whom are doctors. Bernie has been a great person in a great marriage with an outstanding career. Harbord can be proud.

THE HARBORDITE Issue No. 62 SPRING/SUMMER 2010

P A G E F I V E T H E H A R B O R D I T E

Alumnus Looking to Re-Connect

Invitation from Oakwood Alumnus     David Honigsberg – Oakwood ‘67

First of all, I would like to mention that although I’m an Oakwood Collegiate ’67 alumnus I was quite impressed with the Harbord Collegiate Institute (The Harbord Club) Alumni web site. It is very professional, easy to navigate and quite informative. In fact, it’s the best alumni web site I’ve seen. That is how I came to contact The Harbodite. I would like to make Harbord Alumni aware of “The Right Road to Pontypool ” that is returning in August 2010. It received three stars in the Globe

and Mail review when it ran for the month of July 2009. Once again it’ll be playing at the 4th Line Theatre in Millbrook, ON . The play chronicles the life of one family of Toronto’s working class Jews from the early 1900’s through to the mid 1960’s. Pontypool was located in the heart of Protestant southern Ontario but was also the summer resort area for thousands of Jewish immigrants as well. The 4th Line Theatre’s web site is www.4thlinetheatre.on.ca . I believe that part of Harbord’s

history includes many Jewish students (many of whom I met up there in the early ‘60’s) who’s families vacationed up there every summer until the early 60’s. Not only were there students from Harbord up there but Oakwood and McKenzie as well. There was also a book written about Pontypool by Grant Curtis, Laugh, and the world laughs with you, in Pontypool . Please con-tact the Har-bord Club for more info.

I graduated in 1974, and while I attended the 1992 celebrations, I moved to Victoria, BC in 1997, and managed to loose touch with just about everyone, students and staff alike. I am hoping to get back in touch with Harbord, any assistance you can provide, would be much appreciated. There were quite a few teachers and staff that helped shape the

person I am today, I wish I could thank them all, I imagine many of them have long retired, some may have passed away. I am wondering if Mr. Hugh MacDonald is still around (he was the head Guidance Counselor while I was at Harbord), or Miss Krane (she was my home room teacher for a number of years, and taught us math), or Mr. Wilde (he taught typing and econom-

ics), not to mention Mr. Lawson (he was our V-P). Thank you, Zsuzsa Toth Please contact Zsuzsa through the Harbord Club

Harbord Club News THE HARBORD CLUB RE-ENERGIZED

Over the years many of the older active members of the Harbord Club retired indicating the necessity of passing on the torch. In particular, Murray Rubin, who has single handedly kept the Harbord Club going for these past many years, has said that younger blood was needed to carry on the mission of the Harbord Club. As a result, a call was put out, and together with the help of Sue-Lang Wong (HCI-Guidance), a new group of Harbord Alumni have come forward to re-energise the Harbord Club. I am pleased to introduce the new active Directors of the Harbord Club as follows:

Ben Lee—HCI 1978 Sidney Ingham—HCI 1978

Maria (Frias) Kovacs—HCI 1979 Helder Frizado—HCI 2009 Diana Da Silva—HCI 2009

Samantha Burns—HCI 2009 Brenda Medeiros-Felix—HCI 1981 and also on Staff

The Staff contacts will be Mr. Rodrigo Fuentes , Principal, and Ms. Sue-Lang Wong. A point of interest is that all of Ben, Brenda and Maria are parents of students now at or about to enter Harbord Collegiate. Syd Moscoe -HCI 1952; will act as President pro-tem. The new Directors extend an immense vote of thanks to those who served over the years. In particular special thanks to Murray Rubin, who becomes President Emeritus. All previously active Directors will con-tinue as Directors Emeritus-At-Large and will be called upon from time to time to share their knowledge and experience with the new Directors as they carry out the mission of the Harbord Club.

P A G E S I X T H E H A R B O R D I T E

THE HARBORDITE Issue No. 62 SPRING/SUMMER 2010

From a Former Teacher Jean– Paul Ginester I was a math teacher at Harbord from 1980 to 1992– wonderful years at a great exemplary school that embodied all the best things Canadian– equal opportunity for all, but at the same time, a pretty challenging and workable curriculum for the students who chose to go there. Not quite the same in 1992 as in my early years, but nevertheless a superb example of what a public collegiate can and should be. My main contribution outside the classroom at Harbord was leading the Oola boola club– the humorous skits activity that was founded decades previously be Wayne & Schuster. Together with dozens of students, I had a lot of fun with that. Probably the most active students in the Oola-Boola Club were the 85’ Harbord grades. To this day, I have a close and constant friendship with many of my past students at Harbord, and that is the best legacy of all. I then joined the Toronto French School, where I stayed for three years. Then in 1995, when most of my colleagues were retiring for very much thinking about retirement, I decided that, having only one life, I should take up an exciting position and forget about trying to build one life, I should take up an exciting position and forget about trying to build up a decent pension from Ontario– and as Head of Math, joined the Nordic United World College which was just opening up in Western Norway. Although education at Harbord was magnificent, there is nothing anywhere that compares to a UWC. It is, in a sense the ideal of a public school for the world. All students are there on scholarship, and by that very fact, they want to be there. Students spend the last two high school years at a UWC, namely grades 12 and 13, and the students prepare the International Baccalaureate Diploma (whose standards are substantially higher that grade 12, actually even higher than the defunct OACs). The students come from over 80 different countries, from all continents, and share their lives with an equally international staff for two years. The school has 200 students: 100 first years and 100 second years. The atmosphere is more than friendly: everyone, including the Principal, is on a first name basis. The students are expected to be involved with much more than academic education: they must undertake some service, and a multitude of activities

P A G E S E V E N T H E H A R B O R D I T E

THE HARBORDITE Issue No. 62 SPRING/SUMMER 2010

“Come Together Right Now”

“As stated by Bernard Teitelbaum, a former Harbordite, “It’s this kind of spirit which makes us all work harder because we’re proud to be at Harbord”.

What is this Harbord spirit that he speaks of? From 1902-1985, there have been five reunions, and I believe that the Harbord spirit was the catalyst for these events. From 1985 to the present, there have been no Harbord reunions, and I cannot help but think that the Harbord spirit has waned to some degree. As a way to revitalize this spirit, a homecoming reunion is long over due.

When looking at the memorabilia from the 1960s at Harbord Collegiate Institute, it is possible to get a sense of the Harbord spirit during that time. The Harbord spirit in the 60’s was vital and vibrant. The school was alive

because of the student body; everyone was so involved and committed. It was this vitality that inspired me to work on a 2010 homecoming to commemorate the school spirit of the 60’s. The strength of the Harbord spirit in the 60’s was so powerful that I believe it can revitalize the school spirit of this time. On that note, there is a homecoming being planned for this fall. Details are not finalized, however, I can promise that it will be a close encounter with the 60’s. As for the Harbord spirit that Teitelbaum speaks of, come and find out for yourself.

Museum Musings With the help of Ben Lee (HCI 1978), a new Director of the Harbord Club, 40 VHS tapes of various Harbord activities have now been converted to DVD. Ben also created an Excel spreadsheet indexing the contents of each DVD. The index can be found on the Harbord Club website under the “Archives” tab. They can be viewed in the museum anytime you come to visit. Eventually, as funds and space on the main server allow, we will post them there for all to see in the comfort of their own home or iPod. From time to time we will choose one and post it on Youtube with a link from the Harbord Club website. Along the same line, we have over 1700 feet of 8mm movie film which we would like to have transferred to DVD. We would appreciate help from anyone out there who has access to the necessary facilities to do this. By the time you are reading this, we expect that the virtual visit to the Harbord Club Museum will be completed. The volunteer students

photographed each display case and then created a voice over explaining the contents of each. Special thanks to Richard Sui , Esther Jeon , and Jonathan To, for their exemplary work. They did the photography, posted the photos to the website and then created the messages which they read as voice-overs for each display case. The really technical stuff, such as putting the photos of the display cases in their proper order and matching the voices with each display case was done by Sheldon Hua (HCI 2007). All of Richard , Esther , and Jonathan are in grade 12 and off to university this fall, Richard to Computer Engineering at University of Waterloo, Esther to Engineering Science at the University of Toronto and Jonathan to Life Science at University of Waterloo. Even though I have been looking after the Museum since September 2003, it never ceases to amaze me how often we find hidden treasures. In looking through a drawer with 1930’s memorabilia such as a 1930 CNE Catalogue of events, the 1930 TTC budget (also advising that they had settled with the union), and the1930 Toronto Board of Education budget, we found, in absolutely pristine condition a document entitled, “Harbord Street Collegiate Institute First Annual Commencement, October 11, 1893”. It contained all the usual information one would expect to find in a

Commencement program. Harbord had only opened the year before. To view it please go to our website and look under the “News” tab. The earliest Commencement program we had until now was from 1894 and it did not state what Commencement number it was. Through the assistance of Mr. Daniel Leblanc- History &Archives teacher- we have received from the Toronto City Archives a CD showing photographs of the original unveiling of “Our Soldier” on November 11, 1921. We will post it on the web and print up an enlargement for framing and hanging in our Museum. No such photo existed in our own archives. We hope, before school closes, to add a photo railing to hang the many framed pictures we have received over the last few years including those of the dedication and unveiling of the Second World War Monument. As for next year, it is hoped that we will be able to digitize for the Club website “The Happy Ghosts of Harbord” which was created in honour of Harbord’s Centennial in 1992. Your Harbord Museum is open every Wednesday from 1:00pm to 5:00 pm during the school term.

THE HARBORDITE Issue No. 62 SPRING/SUMMER 2010

P A G E E I G H T

MUSEUM MUSINGS

T H E H A R B O R D I T E

By Syd Moscoe (HCI 1952)

Classes of 1949 and 1950: Does this look familiar?

Sunday, October 17, 2010

11:00 a.m. brunch Beth Emeth Synagogue Social Hall

100 Elder St. Parking entrance on Wilmington Ave.

Just south of Overbrook.

For any further information or to let us that you’ll be coming feel free to contact:

Howard Warner 416-649-7728

Helen Klingman 416-736-8435

Hannah Banky Brown 416-221-5087

Larry Hausman khausman@sympatico.ca

We’re looking forward to a fun time of Harbord camaraderie, shared memories and treasured stories.

Let’s look past the wrinkles, canes and have a party!

THE HARBORDITE Issue No. 62

SPRING/SUMMER 2010

P A G E T E N T H E H A R B O R D I T E

Save the Date to Celebrate!

Harbord C. I. Class of 1950

60th

Anniversary

Reunion

60th

Anniversary

Reunion

T H E H A R B O R D I T E

HCI Class of 1950

Please let us know if you Have any information about these classmates.

Addresses, phone numbers and/or e-mails will be very helpful!

Allen, Emmeline

Chlystyk, rose

Elder, betty

Goodman, Irwin

Grainer, Barbara

Gruber, Ruth

Gruber, Shirley

Kaplan, Roland

Karvelis, lottie

Katz, jack

Kucharczuk, mike

Laine, Wilfred

Mendelsohn,

Dorothy

Mischenko, Lydia

Molassy, Lucy

Murphy, Helen

Rosen Joseph

Rotman, mynne

Sholukir, Gerry

Silverstone,

Marilyn

Sklar, jack

Studnitz, faith

White, Yvonne

Wursta, Michael

Yurchuk, Alex

Zale, Renee

Zlatkis, Dorothy

Zolkiewski, Mi-

THE HARBORDITE Issue No. 62 SPRING/SUMMER 2010

P A G E E L E V E N

Keep in Touch...

Write us with your announcements, news, stories, photos, and questions.

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We’d love to hear from you!

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Toronto, Ontario M6G 1G5

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THE HARBORDITE Issue No. 61 SPRING/SUMMER 2010

T H E H A R B O R D I T E P A G E T W E L V E

Harbord Club Executives

President Emeritus-Murray Rubin-HCI-1950

President Pro-Tem– Syd Moscoe-HCI– 1952

Harbordite editor-Angela Gulia-staff

Director-Ben lee-HCI-1978

Director– Sidney Ingham– HCI– 1978

Director– Belinda Medeiros– 1981

Director– Joseph Druck– HCI– 1949

Director-Helder Frizado– HCI– 2009

Director– Diana da Silva– HCI– 2009

Director– Samantha burns– HCI– 2009

Staff Contacts

Rodrigo Fuentes-principal

Sue Lang-Wong– Guidance

Harbord club emeritus members at large

Arthur downes

Rosa galati

Helen klingman

Alice freitas

Gord hinch

Sid klotz

Harbord charitable foundation

President/treasurer—peter miller

Secretary– Patricia Wong

Director– Murray Rubin

Director– Doris Chan

Director-Joseph druck

SPRING/SUMMER 2010

T H E H A R B O R D I T E P A G E T H I R T E E N