Class Notes

Catch up on classmates, housemates, faculty, and friends.

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Marking career and personal achievements, special milestones and the birth of future Queen's alumni - Class Notes helps you stay in touch with former classmates, housemates, and faculty.

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  • David Hain, class note

    1970s

    David Hain

    – Arts‘71, LLB’74

    Winter 2023

    The Brockville Concert Band has been entertaining Brockville audiences for 50 years and now has more than 70 members, including these happy Queen's alumni: (back row) Michel LaBonté, Sc’80; Suzanne Morrison, Mus’91, BEd’92; Charlotte Patterson, BEd’78, MEd’90; Tracey Clarey Artsci/Ed’05, BEd’05; David Hain Arts’71, LLB’74; (front row) Sarah Pattingale-Jones Mus‘96, BEd’01; Heather Jones (Wales) BEd’15; Judy Quick (Bourne) Mus’76, BEd’77, co-conductor; Karen Mahon (Wylie) Artsci’78; Colleen Leslie (Rowsom) Mus’05, BEd ‘06.

     

  • 1990s

    Erum Afsar

    – Sc’94

    Winter 2023

    Erum Afsar has achieved the ICD.D designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors, a designation acknowledging a lifelong commitment to excellence in the boardroom. She was also awarded the Queen's Platinum Jubilee Medal from the province of Alberta for her community service and dedication to STEM. Additionally, she celebrated a significant career achievement with the opening of the Valley Line LRT in Edmonton, of which she was project manager for the downtown portion.

  • Debrah Zemanek and Jean Paul Martin, class note

    2010s

    Debrah Zemanek and Jean Paul Martin

    – Sc’16 and Sc’13, PhD’19

    Winter 2023

    On Sept. 30, Debrah Zemanek and Jean Paul Martin were married in Squamish, B.C. The married couple are seen here, in the middle of the second row from the bottom, surrounded by family, friends, and a lot of Queen's alumni after the ceremony. With cocktails on the dock and a game of capture the flag before the ceremony, it was a perfect weekend to celebrate a love that began at Queen's.

  • 1990s

    Mona Rahman

    – Artsci’93, PhD’01

    Winter 2023

    Mona Rahman is humbled and surprised to discover that she has been included in the EqualityX Top 50 Influential Muslims List in the Americas. The 2023 Influential Muslim List is reserved for the most inspirational Muslim individual whose work has brought distinction to Muslim communities. This recognition is awarded to professionals with a solid track record of making a positive difference and clear evidence of impact, both in the workplace and in society. Mona had served as education coordinator of the Islamic Society of Kingston (ISK) for six years. She’s also been working with children and youth in the Muslim community since her undergraduate days and frequently speaks about various topics in the local schools and on campus as a member of the Islamic information and outreach committee. She currently teaches Qur’an as well as Grade 11/12 Islamic studies at the ISK Evening and Weekend School. Since 2014, she has been serving as co-chair for the Give30 Campaign in Kingston, which aims to raise money for local food banks during Ramadan and also serves on the boards of Family and Children's Services of Frontenac, Lennox and Addington and the Kingston Health Sciences Centre. She was the inaugural interim co-chair of UCARE at Queen's and is the current co-chair of the community equity advisory committee for the Limestone District School Board. During the day, she serves as the research awards officer in the vice-principal research portfolio at Queen's.

  • 1970s

    Terry Collins

    – Com’77

    Winter 2023

    Terry Collins is deeply grateful to the Royal Canadian Institute for Science for awarding him the Fleming Medal for Excellence in Science Communication, which was announced on Oct. 30. For Terry, the Fleming Medal is the honour of a lifetime and humbling, given the list of past recipients but also because of the award's famous namesake, Sir Sandford Fleming, the Institute's founder, the father of standard time and Queen's long-serving second chancellor.

    He would like to thank RCIScience and the hundreds of scientists and media colleagues with whom he has had the honour to work with over his career. He would also like to congratulate

    CBC's “Quirks and Quarks” on winning the RCIScience William Edmond Logan award.

  • Sheila Cornett's book, Hoping to Hear From You Soon

    1960s

    Sheila Cornett 

    – Arts’69, MA’72 

    Winter 2023

    Sheila Cornett has published letters her father, Don Cornett (Arts’47), wrote to his future wife, Marjory Lindsay (Arts’41), when he served with the Royal Canadian Artillery during the Second World War. In "Hoping to Hear from You Soon: Canadian War Letters, 1940-1945," Don describes what army life is like for Canadian servicemen during the long years of training in the U.K. He complains that “month after month, we do next to nothing” and “our existence over here seems so utterly futile.” He critiques Canada’s political leadership and finds it wanting; discusses current affairs and the progress of the war; and expounds his views on bureaucracy within the army. After disembarking in Normandy, Don's endurance is tested further, as he commands a battery through the battlefields of northwest Europe. The book is available from the FriesenPress bookstore.