Concordia University Magazine – Summer 2009 (Volume 32, Number 2)

2009·15.1 MB·English

by  Office of University Advancement and Alumni Relations

S U M M E R 2 0 0 9
U N I V E R S I T Y M A G A Z I N E
Wilhelmina Fredericks, S BA 78, at an
African orphanage, helping to improve
conditions for those less fortunate
CONCORDIA HUMANITARIANS > TOOLS FOR LEARNING > PRESIDENTIAL TRAVELS
m a g a z i n e . c o n c o r d i a . c a
SettinganExample
Remembering a beloved aunt
At Concordia’s Faculty of Arts and retirement, Rytsa taught literature, her fi rst
Science Spring 2004 Convocation, I love. In 1963, she was promoted to the rank
had the honour of presenting the inaugural of associate professor of English and, in
Rytsa Tobias Memorial Medal to Izabella 1972, to the rank of full professor.
Sylwia Czyzewska in recognition of her
status as the university’s highest-ranking, Following Rytsa’s death in 2000, our family
graduating BA student. That morning, Ms. entered into discussions with Concordia to
Czyzewska also received the Governor strike a medal to perpetuate her memory
General’s Silver Medal as Concordia’s top within the university and recognize
undergraduate student. She has since her excellence as both a student and
earned an MA in Linguistics and Hittitology teacher. The medal was fi rst awarded in
(the study of Hittite language and culture) 2004. This year’s recipient is Menachem
from Concordia and is now pursuing a PhD Wenger in Actuarial Mathematics and
in Hittitology at the University of London in Finance. Menachem also won the Governor
the United Kingdom. General’s Silver Medal, the fourth time in
the last six years that the recipient of the
Rytsa Tobias, circa 1945 Who was Rytsa Tobias? How did a medal Silver Medal has also taken home the Rytsa
struck in her memory come to replace Tobias Memorial Medal.
the Birks Medal, which had been awarded
annually to the highest-ranking student Rytsa believed in the value of liberal
graduating with a BA ever since Sir George studies for undergraduates. My aunt
Willi C ll b ti d ? d l b l d d t db ll
How to make a diff erence
As a volunteer or donor to Concordia, you, too, can make a difference.
Every year, thousands of Concordia alumni, parents and friends provide
support to Concordia students. Whichever area of Concordia you choose
to support, your gift will help ensure our students enjoy the best possible
university experience and graduate as leaders in their fi elds.
Contact Advancement and Alumni Relations at 1-888-777-3330 or
514-848-2424, ext. 4856, or visit giving.concordia.ca.
u n i v e r s i t y m a g a z i n e
ssuummmmeer 2009 volume 32 number 2 m a g a z i n e . c o n c o r d i a . c a
Alumni profi le: Doing
good for others
Meet fi ve Concordia alumni who,
through vocation or avocation, are
doing more than their share to make
our world a better place.
Cover:Wilhelmina
6 Fredericks, S BA 78,
with children at the
Upendo orphanage
L’art de motiver at the foot of Mount
Kilimanjaro in
son personnel
Tanzania, Africa.
Marylène Gagné, professeure 12
agrégée de comportement
organisationnel à l’École
de gestion John-Molson,
s’intéresse aux motivations
des salariés, à l’instar des
employeurs.
par Lucille Hagège
18
As easy as ABCs
President’s diaries The Learning Toolkit, developed
by Concordia’s Centre for
Concordia President and Vice- the Study of Learning and
Chancellor Judith Woodsworth Performance, helps young readers
details her encounters with alumni through online technology.
from recent travels to Vancouver,
22 by Julie Gedeon
Calgary, Edmonton, Washington,
D.C., Boston and New York City.
by Judith Woodsworth
2 EDITOR’S VOICE
This publication is printed on 100%
3 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
recycled paper, including 20% post
consumer waste. For each ton of
4 CONCORDIA NEWS
recycled paper that displaces a ton of
virgin paper, it reduces total energy
21 TRAVEL DIARY
consumption by 27%, greenhouse
gas emissions by 47%, particulate 26 ASSOCIATION NEWS
emissions by 28%, wastewater by
33%, solid waste by 54% and wood 30 CLASS ACTS
use by 100%.
38 WORDS & MUSIC
40 ENOUGH SAID
Editor’sVoice
Being ourselves
W
hen I attended the Canadian Affairs, and Michael Horgan, BA 77,
Marketing Association’s national Executive Director for the Canadian,
conference in Toronto in April, Irish and Caribbean constituency at
the fear was practically palpable. the International Monetary Fund in
Marketing and advertising professionals Washington, D.C.
are spooked by the sudden loss of Concordians also excel in non-
control of their brands’ images due governmental fi elds. This issue’s alumni
mainly to the exponential growth and August reaching out to alumni across profi le, “Doing good for others” (page 6),
infl uence of online social networking the continent (see “President’s diaries,” highlights fi ve grads who are dedicated
sites, such as Facebook and Twitter, or page 22) and in China to strengthen to improving conditions for the less
blogs. Word of mouth now spreads like the university’s ties with them, gauge fortunate or those in peril. If we had the
wildfi re and traditional (read: archaic) their feelings about their alma mater space, we could have easily focused on
media placements can’t stem the tide. and bring them up to speed on the dozens more. Here are just two examples
But speaker after speaker relayed university’s developments. Actively of those who weren’t profi led in this issue:
the same message: forget about control involving alumni in setting goals for Nelofer Pazira, MA 03, is a Toronto-based
and focus on authenticity. Make sure their alma mater strengthens their author, journalist and president of PEN
your message is consistent with the sense of belonging to our extended Canada, which defends the rights of
nature and strengths of your business community. persecuted writers; Alison Lawton, BA 95,
or products and you won’t have to worry And Concordia has long groomed is a Vancouver-based entrepreneur who
about being fl amed on the internet. In students to become responsible also serves as chair of UNICEF Canada’s
other words, be yourself. citizens who are active members of Unite for Children, Unite against AIDS
AtConcordia University Magazine,we their communities. The university campaign. She recently donated $1 million
have aimed for that type of authenticity can boast of an impressive number of to the University of British Columbia’s
by following the university’s lead. To graduates who have gone on to make School of Journalism to fund the reporting
name just a few of many examples, over a positive and lasting impact on our of social issues in lesser-developed
the past several years, our cover stories society in the public and not-for- countries.
have featured the Simone de Beauvoir profi t sectors. Concordia University So many other Concordia grads
Institute, grads and faculty members Magazine’s Fall 2008 issue featured six volunteer time and donate to numerous
involved in sustaining our environment, Montreal-area alumni mayors (“Hail worthy and important causes—including
and alumni fl ourishing in the art and to the chiefs”). Many other grads have Concordia. Their generosity perpetuates
high-tech worlds. These stories refl ect distinguished themselves in Canadian the cycle of growth and quality at our
Concordia’s core strengths of enhancing and international civil service and university and motivates students to
students’ experiences, academic quality politics, such as Lawrence Cannon, L become socially active and responsible
and community engagement. BA 71, Canada’s Minister of Foreign alumni.
The university’s commitment to
promoting community issues and those
of the world around us dates back to the
philosophy of diversity and accessibility
practiced by its founding institutions,
Loyola College and Sir George Williams
University. These days, Concordia
carries on that tradition of engagement
in a number of ways. For example,
it remains a Canadian trailblazer in
environmental sustainability, which
is bolstered by its groundbreaking
Sustainable Concordia initiative.
What’s more, President and Vice-
Chancellor Judith Woodsworth has
spent much time since her arrival last
2 || ssuummmmeerr 22000099 ccoonnccoorrddiiaa uunniivveerrssiittyy mmaaggaazziinnee
President’sMessage
Boldly moving forward
I
n early June, Montreal’s Place
des Arts rocked as we celebrated
the achievements of 4,400 new
graduates at Concordia’s convocation
ceremonies. Classmates hooted and
hollered for each other and professors
stood to clap for their students. An
occasional “bravo Papa” or “I love you
Mom” could be heard, while the moms
and dads themselves beamed with
pride and expressed their appreciation
by clapping, whistling and snapping
pictures.
Times are tough. It’s not easy to
step out into a world plunged into
the deepest recession since the ’30s.
So many of our graduates, however,
go forth with courage, knowing they
are armed with the tools they need to
achieve success. On stage, we heard PI
I
about the jobs some were headed to or Concordia President and Vice-Chancellor Judith Wooodsworth congratulates a graduate at the
the additional schooling others will Faculty of Arts and Science convocation ceremonyy June 7 at Place des Arts in Montreal.
seek. To all, we wish the best of luck
and smoothest of paths through the Over the past months, we have highest quality; outstanding student
challenges ahead. revisited our past, mission and values; experience and student engagement;
As is customary, we also paid tribute we have articulated a vision and and community engagement and
to outstanding individuals whose identifi ed opportunities for renewed social responsibility. This issue of
achievements refl ect Concordia’s impact on the wider community and the magazine showcases some alumni
mission and values. Honorary society as a whole. We have defi ned the who exemplify these goals.
doctorates were bestowed on Andrée distinctiveness of the university as it As one academic year draws to a close,
Lajoie, Roger Abbott, Don Ferguson, moves forward, boldly making its mark we turn our attention to the next, when
Jean Béliveau, Richard J. Renaud, on the academic landscape. we will focus on the implementation
N.R. Narayana Murthy and Mel The resulting strategic plan, of Reaching Up, Reaching Out. We invite
Hoppenheim—all different in profi le Reaching Up, Reaching Out. A your input and support as alumni,
yet similar in their deep sense of social Strategic Framework for Concordia friends and members of the Concordia
responsibility. (Visit news.concordia. University 2009-2014 (concordia. community. This is your university:
ca/main_story/014845.shtmllto view ca/strategicplanning),rests on work with us to make it the very best
convocation photos and webcasts.) three pillars: academic work of the it can be.
published without the full name of the Dépôt légal : Bibliothèque nationale mail agreement # 40065749
correspondent. du Québec. ©2009.
university magazine Printed in Canada. Editorial Board
Concordia University Magazine is Howard Bokser, editor and chair.
Concordia University Magazine published four times a year for alumni Pcoleraressep aodnddreenscse e tdoit:orial MSuesmanb eErlsia: sS,a Lmini dAan Ktaakyi,, GJoeohfnf rAeyyl eKnin, g ,
welcomes readers’ comments. and friends of Concordia University. The Editor, Howard Bokser Lucy Niro, Nicole Saltiel, Sandra-Lynn
Letters should include the writer’s Opinions expressed herein do not Spina, Donna Varrica, Xurxo Vidal.
full name, address, school(s), necessarily refl ect the views of the For advertising information, call
degree(s) and year(s) of graduation alumni associations or of the University. 514-848-2424, ext. 3819. Graphic Design: Concordia Marketing
for alumni. Letters may be edited for Communications, P100003.
length and clarity. No letter will be ISSN 0706-1005 Canada Post Corporation publication Art Direction: Christopher Alleyne
concordia university magazine summer 2009 | 3
ConcordiaNews
Understanding Desire a huge hit
T
he discussions were dynamic and
enlightening. The audiences were Associate professor of Sociology Bart
young, older and everything in Simon spoke about the addictive nature
of video games and the internet April
between. The response? Overwhelming
6 at Concordia’s D.B. Clarke Theatre.
By all accounts, the inaugural
Simon’s presentation was part of “The
“President’s Conference: Understandin Addictive Network,” the second of three
Desire” on April 6 was a resounding sessions that comprised the “President’s
Conference: Understanding Desire.”
success. The event was intended to
showcase Concordia’s achievements in
research and creation.
All three sessions of the day-long
conference were fi lled to capacity with
nearly 1,000 participants from inside
and outside Concordia. The morning
session in Concordia’s De Sève Cinema
was called “Brain and Reward: Appetite,
Anticipation and Drug Addiction.”
The afternoon session, “The Addictive
Network,” and the evening’s session, star of the TV series Degrassi: fi lmed “The Addictive Network” session
“Self, Sexuality and Desire,” were both The Next Generationand Concordia and interviewed Simon and Bukowski.
held in Concordia’s D.B. Clarke Theatre. Communication Studies student, The material will be part of a special on
“It’s apparent now these discussions helped moderate the questions. And Mountain Lake Journalto be aired this
resonate with what’s happening in the graduate student Felicia Meyer delivered summer. (Visit mountainlake.orgfor
world today and truly appeal to a diverse a part of Bukowski’s presentation. updates.) Mountain Lake PBS is also
range of people,” says Vice-Provost “The point was to reach out and connect exploring the possibility of making the
of Teaching and Learning Ollivier with communities, near and far,” says program available to other PBS stations
Dyens, BFA 86, who also served as the Dyens. “I think that’s one of the major across the United States.
conference’s chair. responsibilities of a university.” Organizers have been buoyed by
The afternoon session on the And reaching out was not restricted to the outcome of this year’s conference
addictive nature of technology was those who were able to attend. Focusing and intend to carry the momentum
especially lively. Professor of Psychology on social connectivity, all three sessions into the next conference. “Security,
Bill Bukowski and associate professor were webcast around Concordia and to Surveillance and Human Rights,” which
of Sociology Bart Simon welcomed high schools across the province. is tentatively scheduled for November
students from Trafalgar School for Webcast participants emailed 2009. Organizers want to increase direct
Girls, Centennial Regional High School, questions, which were entered into the involvement from more high schools
Marianopolis College and Concordia. discussion and answered by presenters. around Montreal and beyond, as well
Teachers and guidance counsellors “In traditional conferences, we as from the Concordia community,
from other schools, including Loyola usually only get the chance to talk to including undergraduate and graduate
High School, Centennial Academy, colleagues involved in similar work. students.
and Dawson, Vanier and John Abbott This really gave us an opportunity to “This conference simply went so well,
colleges, were also in attendance. talk to the public and colleagues from it’s almost a daunting task to improve
“When we were developing the idea, we other departments,” says professor of for the next conference,” Dyens says.
said, ‘Let’s put forth some of our best and Psychology Shimon Amir, a featured “But it’s a genuinely exciting endeavour
brightest.’ We knew much of the work presenter in the morning session. we’re truly looking forward to.”
the presenters were doing has signifi cant “I thought it was a great and different — Russ Cooper
relevance not only in academia but also experience and I’d like to see more of
beyond the labs and classes,” says Dyens. these public events that translate what For more information and to watch
“It was about thinking about schoolwork we do into accessible information.” the videos from all three sessions of the
in a different way.” What’s more, Mountain Lake PBS, fi rst President’s conference, visit the
To bring a fresh dynamic to the the Mountain Lake, N.Y., affi liate of concordia.ca/presidentsconferences.
afternoon, Sarah Barrable-Tishauer, American public broadcaster PBS,
44 || ssuummmmeerr 22000099 ccoonnccoorrddiiaa uunniivveerrssiittyy mmaaggaazziinnee
Laurentian Bank donates $300,000 to
Concordia for an integrated risk management
professorship and scholarships
L
aurentian Bank announced May 14 a $300,000 gift to
Concordia University’s John Molson School of Business
(JMSB) that will support student scholarships and a
professorship in integrated risk management, a vital strategic
tool for fi nancial managers in today’s uncertain economic
times. The gift is the largest Laurentian Bank has made to
Concordia.
Laurentian Bank President and CEO Réjean Robitaille
announced the news to about 50 Concordia faculty and staff The Career Management Portal
members, as well as alumni and bank representatives gathered
for Concordia Engineering and
on the 8th fl oor of Concordia’s Guy Metro Building.
Computer Science Alumni
Kathy Assayag, Vice-President, Advancement and Alumni
Relations, told the guests that Laurentian has been a long-time
supporter of and partner to the JMSB and Concordia. Assayag Register now
thanked three individuals who helped make the gift possible:
Dana Ades-Landy, MBA 83, a Senior Vice-President at
Laurentian and a member of the JMSB’s advisory board; Gladys ECACCareers
Caron, Vice-President Communications and Investment www. .com
Relations for Laurentian; and Jonathan Wener, S BComm 71,
a member of Concordia’s Board of Governors and Chair of its
Real Estate Committee, and a member of Laurentian’s Board of RHR Expert provides
Directors.
full executive and engineer
Concordia President and Vice-Chancellor Judith Woodsworth
recruitment services
thanked Laurentian for its generosity, lauding its foresight
and ongoing contributions to higher education. She added that
Concordia and the JMSB have undergone tremendous growth in
recent years. “The new JMSB building will be the crown jewel of
the downtown core of Montreal. It is also a sustainable building,
with solar energy panels designed by members of our Faculty
of Engineering and Computer Science,” Woodsworth said. She
Le portail de gestion de carrière
added that the building’s occupants—especially the students—
des anciens en Génie et en
are boosting JMSB’s reputation.
Informatique de Concordia
Inscrivez-vous
ECACCarrieres
HY www. .com
HOTOGRAP
P
BL RHR Expert offre une gamme
P
/AU complète de services de recherche de
BL
R YAN cadres et de recrutement d'ingénieurs
At the Laurentian Bank gift announcement May 14 are (left to
right) Sanjay Sharma, Dean of Concordia’s John Molson School of
Business; Kathy Assayag, Concordia Vice-President, Advancement
RHR
and Alumni Relations; Judith Woodsworth, Concordia President and
Vice-Chancellor; Réjean Robitaille, Laurentian Bank President and
CEO; and Jonathan Wener, Chairman and CEO of the Canderel Group
of Companies, member of Concordia’s Board of Governors and of
Laurentian’s Board of Directors.
AlumniProfi le
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Adventure of love
the life I’m meant to live,’ ” he recounts. Montreal and enrolling in teacher’s
Steve Sims, L BComm 68, has taken “I wanted to make my life congruent college at McGill University. He
a spiritual path toward helping with what really matters.” obtained his teaching certifi cate,
drug addicts and youth. After graduating, Sims went to taught for a year and then returned to
Australia, where he experienced a life- India for six months with the Canadian
I
n a calm, soft voice that belies his changing epiphany. “The message from International Development Agency. He
energy and stamina, Steve Sims, within was: Make your life an adventure spent three months with the Adivasi
L BComm 68, tells the story of of love. It was very clear; the closest I tribe in the Himalayas before moving
his life, with all its twists and turns. ever came to hearing a call,” he says. on to an ashram some 800 kilometres
From Montreal’s inner city to Kolkata After Australia, Sims travelled north of Kolkata. There, he worked with
(formerly Calcutta), India, Sims has to India before returning home to Mother Theresa’s sisters, caring for
worked with disadvantaged youth, the lepers, the destitute and
homeless, the sick and drug addicts. dying. That experience,
Yet, at 62, Sims is still searching for Sims recalls, “Just opened
meaning in his life and imparting the the heart.” Three months
lessons he’s learned over the years. “It later, he returned to
starts with ‘do unto others,’ the idea Montreal but found he
that the value of your life is its content could no longer teach
for others,” Sims explains. “Much of within the framework
our culture is about ‘getting’: we get of Quebec’s educational
high, we get a friend, we get money, we system.
get a degree. I go about living my life He then started what
by pouring out.” would become his life’s
Sims graduated from Loyola work: helping the city’s
with numerous awards, including drug addicts. That led to
the Loyola Canadian Offi cer his position as program
Training Corps Medal for “the most director of the Spera
representative Loyola student among Foundation, a drug
the graduates.” Yet, he chose to shun
the mainstream. “Graduating and
getting awards and everybody slapping Steve Sims, pictured at Kitsilano
me on the back and saying, ‘You’re Beach in Vancouver, has dedicated
going to be a great success’ . . . I knew, LLEW his life to helping those in need—and
AS searching for meaning in their lives—
this isn’t the life I want to live, [it’s] NEH in Montreal and around the world.
NTA Sims has just published a memoir
calledRiver of Awareness: Seeking
6 | summer 2009 concordia university magazine the Wisdom of Love (Novalis, 2009).
Concordia has always sought
to impress upon its students
the importance of becoming
concerned, involved citizens
who are interested in improving
the world around us. We focus
on five of our countless alumni
who take this message to heart.
rehabilitation centre. As he pursued Each year, Wilhelmina Fredericks
his work with drug addicts and recruits individuals to climb Mount
KKiilliimmaannjjaarroo ttoo rraaiissee aawwaarreenneessss aanndd
disadvvaannttaaggeedd yyoouutthh,, SSiimmss aallssoo bbeeccaammee
funds for African children infected
the fi rst lay chaplain at Loyola College’s
with HIV/AIDS. Frederick has won
campus ministry. several awards for her charitable
In 1995, he returned to India to work, including a Queen’s Golden
Jubilee Medal in 2002.
facilitate a cross-cultural awareness
Scaling
dialogue and peace project that
Kilimanjaro
encourages young-adult initiatives
for kids
toward community development. Upon
his return to Montreal, he created Whether she’s climbing
the Padua Dialogue (padua.ca), an Mount Kilimanjaro or
interdisciplinary forum that explores producing documentaries, When Fredericks returned
the healing arts and teachings from Wilhelmina Fredericks, S BA 78, to Montreal, her home of more than
various spiritual traditions. helps African children stricken 40 years, she set out to organize
He’s still seeking out meaningful by HIV/AIDS. “Kilimanjaro 20/20,” an annual climb
projects. “I’m looking to run my river,” of the Tanzanian mountain, to raise $20
W
Sims says. Part of that river is called ilhelmina Fredericks, million for medicine and supplies for
IASIS, a project that gathers small, S BA 78, remembers how African children living with HIV/AIDS.
interactive learning groups to serve she would talk to Mount In 2004, at age 64, Fredericks scaled
as catalysts for individual change and Kilimanjaro in Tanzania whenever she Mount Kilimanjaro for the fi rst time.
self awareness. It’s the follow-up to a passed by on expeditions as a young She was joined by 12 other Canadians.
discussion group Sims started in the woman in her native Africa. “I’ll climb “It was spiritually fulfi lling, emotionally
early ’80s. “We would put a theme or a you one day,” Fredericks would say. draining and physically exhausting,”
question on the table each week around In 2002, Fredericks attended a funeral she says. Fredericks has led climbing
which would pivot a conversation. And in her birthplace, South Africa’s Western expeditions to Mount Kilimanjaro each
that conversation started going out to Cape province. There were coffi ns for 20 year since, raising more than $800,000.
kitchen tables all around Montreal. That people—12 of whom were children—who This year’s climb is planned for
conversation is my life’s work,” he adds. had died of AIDS. “I knew I had found September 7 to 21.
—Anna di Giorgio my reason and purpose to climb Mount The fi rst ascent taught Fredericks
For more information about Steve Sims’s Kilimanjaro: for the 20 million African much about herself and her fellow
work, visitriverofawareness.com. children infected and affected by HIV/ climbers, as well as the guides and
AIDS,” she says. porters who worked for them. “They
had dreams and aspirations that were
no different from any Canadian,” she
points out. “Dreams of getting a good
Much of our culture is about ‘getting’:
education and fi nding a good job.”
we get high, we get a friend, we get Fredericks had similar dreams
when she was a young factory worker
money, we get a degree. I go about
in South Africa. Her favourite pastime
living my life by pouring out.
concordia university magazine summer 2009 | 7
Transformative
education
Pick whatever you like.
Vincenza Nazzari, Cert (TESL)
But I like to be known as 80, MA (ed. tech.) 01, empowers
educators to change the world—
a Métis of South Africa.
one person at a time.
O
nce a year, some 130 educators
from 60 countries attend a
was travelling on jungle and mountain funds to drill a well for an orphanage three-week training program in
expeditions to neighbouring countries. near Mount Kilimanjaro. human rights education at John Abbott
On one expedition in Kenya, she met a Fredericks says she has strengthened College in Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, Que.
sociology professor from Saskatchewan, her ties with the mothers and children While they work to develop effective
Edwin Fowlers, who had contracted of Africa because of the promise she strategies for social change, participants
malaria. Fredericks left the expedition made to the late Professor Fowlers. defi ne and confront their personal
to nurse Fowlers back to health. “He said I must return to Africa and prejudices, as well as those of their
“I learned all about Canada in his tent,” share my education with my people. respective societies and cultures.
she recounts. My work in Africa is a way of honouring Vincenza Nazzari, Cert (TESL)
The appreciative professor offered my Canadian mentor,” she says. 80, MA (ed. tech.) 01, director of
to sponsor Fredericks’s high school “It is because of him that I am a graduate education for Equitas – International
education in Canada. Four years later, of Concordia. I believe it’s a dream Centre for Human Rights Education
Fredericks arrived in Montreal en route come true.” (Equitas) in Montreal, sees these 130
to Saskatchewan. She quickly fell in love —Nachammai Raman educators return home with more
with the city and decided to make it her questions than answers and less at
home. She would later study Library For more information on Zerf Production ease than when they arrived. “That’s
Science and Sociology—and learn and Kilimanjaro 20/20, visit my barometer for success,” Nazzari
English—at Concordia. zerfchallenge2020.com. says. Questioning and discomfort are
“The dual French and the seeds of change for the educators
English culture of Montreal
is so much like the culture of
South Africa: Afrikaans and
English,” Fredericks says.
She boasts 15 different ethnic
groups in her background.
“Pick whatever you like.
But I like to be known as a
Métis of South Africa.”
In 1988, Fredericks founded
Zerf Productions, a non-profi t
organization that produces
AAfrican-themed documentaries
aand live performances to
rraise awareness and money
ffoor humanitarian causes.
TThis June, Zerf Productions
shhowcased Mrembo Dance,
ann African fashion show and
muusical extravaganza featuring
chiild singers from Tanzania.
Thee Montreal show raised
Vincenza Nazzari, second from left, is director of education for Montreal-based Equitass –– IInntteerrnnaattiioonnaall CCeennttrree ffoorr
Human Rights Education. In 1995, NNaazzzzaarrii eennrroolllleedd iinn CCoonnccoorrddiiaa’’ss mmaaster’s program in Educational Technology
ttoo eeaarrnn tthhee rreeqquuiissite credentials for her current position. She is pictured in the Mecca Mall in Amman, Jordan, in
September 2006. Nazzari was in Jordan to plan Equitas program activities for the Middle East and North Africa.
8 | summer 2009 concordia university magazine