Honours & Awards

Andy Pringle ’69 takes the word “volunteer” to a different level. Throughout 33 years of service to the College, he's been involved in many of its critical decisions and helped shape the school to become what it is. This includes everything from co-chairing the original Association Day with Mark Dalton ’70 in 1980 to leading the final committee to review boarding in 2008 with Rob Prichard ’67.

Pringle is a founding partner and chairman of RP Investment Advisors, serves on the Toronto Police Services Board, is a member of the Independent Review Committee of Fidelity Canada and is chair of both the Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research and the Shaw Festival.

In addition to being Association Council president, Pringle was UCC board chair from 2002 to 2007. He’s proud of his achievements, including the proper resolution of sexual abuse issues from the 1970s. He oversaw these difficult challenges while serving as board chair and leader of the abuse case steering committee.

Another significant contribution was Pringle's 10-year term as chair of various long-range planning committees and sub-committees from 1991 to 2001. He oversaw the International Baccalaureate’s introduction in 1997, the school’s restructuring to accommodate the removal of Grade 13 in the fall of 2002 and the successful recruitment and appointment of Dr. Jim Power as the College’s principal in 2003.

Pringle was instrumental in the campaign that saw the successful completion of the William P. Wilder ’40 Arena, which officially opened in 2008. He remains a lynchpin in UCC’s fundraising efforts, currently co-chairing the Think Ahead campaign and spearheading efforts to set a new bar for financial assistance. 

This award is particularly meaningful to Pringle because he was president of the Association Council in 1987-88 at the same time John Stevenson chaired the board of governors.

“He was very much a mentor,” he says, “so it’s wonderful to be associated with someone who did so much for UCC for so many years.”

Hugh Innes ’72 received the John D. Stevenson Award in recognition of his outstanding volunteerism at Upper Canada College. Innes has been a dedicated volunteer since he left the school in 1972 and has served as class president since graduating. He was on the UCC Foundation board of trustees from 2000 to 2009 after becoming a member of the foundation’s investment committee in 1991. He chaired the investment committee and was responsible for a comprehensive review of the transfer formula. This review resulted in the development of the “Convergence Report” designed to demonstrate the impact of the correlation between investment returns, the transfer rate and tuition fee increases. This report served to increase awareness among the governing bodies of the College and the UCC Foundation of the important relationship between the school’s priorities and the growth of the foundation’s assets.

Innes has served on many committees and task forces in support of the UCC Association and has been actively involved in reunion planning and annual giving as a class president. He recently organized the fundraising effort that allowed College Times and Old Times to be digitized and made accessible to the community electronically.

Holly Miklas, an active volunteer at Upper Canada College since her son Adam enrolled in 1999, was the 2012 recipient of the John D. Stevenson Award. Miklas’ extensive volunteer responsibilities at UCC have grown in magnitude over the years since son Matt (who graduated in 2012) joined brother Adam Miklas ’11. Four of the most important roles she played at UCC were: chairing the Ice Blue gala, fine wine auction and shopping night in 2004; co-chairing the arena fundraising campaign cabinet with her husband Paul in 2006; chairing the Prep Parents’ Organization in 2006 and 2007; and president of the Parents’ Organization for 2011 and 2012. She also serves as a member of the UCC Association Council.

“Holly is a natural people person,” says Leslie Alboini, mother of James Alboini ’09 and one of three people who nominated Miklas for the John D. Stevenson Award. “She is always positive and upbeat. She leads effectively and has the respect of her committee members. Holly is inclusive and a true team player. She is an excellent mentor. No volunteer job is too big or too challenging for her. When asked to take on a volunteer role at the Prep or the Upper School, Holly has always said ‘yes’ because she wanted to.”

“Holly has been one of the most important volunteer contributors to UCC since before my arrival at the school in 2004, and she’s most deserving of the John D. Stevenson Award,” says principal Jim Power. “Holly is a pleasure to deal with and has worked selflessly in numerous capacities to make the College a welcoming and valued place for boys and their parents. Her commitment and passion has made her a great ambassador in the UCC community, and I’m thankful for and appreciative of everything she’s done.”

Martha Shaw was recognized for her warmth, dedication and passion for the College. She's a true leader who always has a smile and is ready to take on any challenge brought her way. The volunteer veteran is the mother of four Old Boys: David ’98, Christopher ’99, Stephen ’01 and Nicholas ’09. Among her myriad contributions to College life, Martha and husband David co-chaired Blue Ties, the 2007 auction and gala which raised $1.5 million to fund the William P. Wilder '40 Arena & Sports Complex.

"Martha worked diligently and almost daily for the two-year period leading up to the gala,” says UCC parent and volunteer Lesley Alboini, who nominated Martha for the award. “She led her large team with skill, tact and diplomacy to achieve such positive results. Her enthusiasm and commitment were always visible.”

Shaw received the Harold A. D. Roberts Circle Award in 2009 for service. Her countless commitments also include numerous Parents' Organization appointments, co-chairing Festive Marketplace and Grandparents’ Day and Association Day positions.

“Few have given so much to the College for so many years,” says Alboini.

 

Upper Canada College is fortunate to have many outstanding volunteers, but the 2010 recipient of the John D. Stevenson Award stands alone in his commitment to ensuring the well-being of the College. Roland (Roly) Browning Watt ’62, Q.C., has a strong family tradition of voluntarism.

 

He's served as chair or vice-chair of the Don Mills Foundation for Seniors, the North York General Hospital Foundation and the Better Living Charitable Foundation. He's a director of the Rosedale Day School and a trustee of the Pet Trust at the Ontario Veterinary College at the University of Guelph.

 

Watt joined the board of the UCC Foundation in 1994 and became chairman in 2001. Since being elected chair of the foundation, he's attended almost all UCC Association branch events around the world at his own expense, making friends for the College with many Old Boys and their families in far-flung places. At home he served on many UCC committees, including the principal’s search committee. He also sat with the College’s board of governors. He's frequently acted as a quiet adviser to many friends and faculty members at the school. Watt is a member of UCC’s Scadding Society, the Sir John Colborne Society and the Russell Square Society. He continues to serve as a trustee of the UCC Foundations in both the United States and the United Kingdom.

 

Many years ago Watt established the Browning Watt Foundation Speaker’s Fund at the school to perpetuate the joy he felt as a student when an invited speaker would go too long at “prayers” — and dig into time otherwise allotted to Mr. Bremner’s mathematics class. Later he established the Browning Watt Foundation Scholarship to provide financial aid for students who would otherwise be unable to attend UCC. The need for increased financial aid at the College is a matter about which he feels strongly. Watt retired from the UCC Foundation’s board in 2008, but remains active in the College community. UCC is fortunate to have benefited from Watt’s expertise and selfless commitment in so many capacities for so many years. He's a true friend to literally hundreds of members of the UCC family. The UCC Association was honoured to recognize Watt as this year’s recipient of the John D. Stevenson Award.

It’s impossible for Vivien Cappe to make it across the full length of a UCC hallway without interruption; either she has stopped to chat with you or she’s being hailed by someone. Everyone loves a good chat with Vivien and everyone feels comfortable in her presence — students, parents, staff or faculty. Cappe is a natural community builder.

Cappe is the mother of eight children, three girls and five boys, including Jesse ’03 and Tyler '09. Her connection to the College deepened each year. When Jesse first attended the Prep in 1993, Vivien jumped right in as a form representative. She's volunteered in countless ways since then. Most recently, Cappe was Association Day chair in 2008 and president of the 2007–08 Parents’ Organization. On her initiative, the Spring Arts Festival became an annual event and the “Making a Difference” speaker series welcomes inspiring Canadians to the UCC stage. Her community involvement on behalf of the College includes clothing and food drives and a Mother’s Day campaign to assist women in shelters. From chairing registration and the silent auction at the 2007 Blue Ties Gala to volunteering for Grandparents’ Days and chairing Bingo Night at the Prep, Cappe’s involvement at the College is heartfelt, consistently energetic and exceeds all expectations.

“Vivien’s involvement at UCC has been a life-altering experience for her and for her family,” says her husband Leslie. “Vivien has only one way of approaching any task, large or small — with heart, with feeling and with care for all her peers.”

Cappe was presented with the John D. Stevenson Award at Founder's Dinner on Feb. 11, 2009. 

We welcome you to read her acceptance speech.