St. Albert Catholic High School will honour nine former students and one former teacher during its inaugural hall of fame induction ceremony on Tuesday evening.
The ceremony will be part of a re-dedication of a new gathering space that opened about a year ago. Each inductee will have a plaque mounted on the wall with their portrait and biography. The idea is to celebrate the school’s heritage and provide current students with positive role models, Krystofiak said.
“It shows them that when they leave the building, there’s great things that will still happen in their lives. These people were former students with probably the same tentative feelings … what’s out there for me, what’s my life going to be like?
“Our inductees are just positive role models of what can happen to your life when you leave the building,” she said.
Former mayor and St. Albert citizen of the year Paul Chalifoux is the only inductee who didn’t attend the school. Chalifoux taught there for 24 years before retiring in 1998.
“I consider it quite an honour. I spent so much time there and I have so many memories from the place and met so many great people along the way,” he said.
Most of the inductees will be able to attend the ceremony, Krystofiak said.
Actor John Kirkpatrick won’t be among them as he’s performing in the current Citadel production of As You Like It.
“I’m very honoured, especially since the community has always been so supportive of me,” he told the Gazette in a recent interview.
Land stewards Bill and John Bocock are both being inducted.
“It is an honour and I’m looking forward to the event,” said Bill. “I’m very glad to see that somebody is taking the initiative to recognize the alumni.”
The other inductees are Gerald Audette, Chester Cunningham, Darrell Martindale, Diane (Patterson) Rusnak, Matthew Wheatley and Anne Marie (Willott) Toutant.
HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES
Dr. Gerald F. Audette<br />o Attended from 1988-1991<br />o Received a B.Sc. and a Ph.D. in biochemistry<br />o Professor in the department of chemistry at York University since 2006<br />o Collaborates with internationally renowned specialists on cellular proteins<br /><br />Bill Bocock<br />o Attended from 1948-1951<br />o Advocate on agricultural and land use issues<br />o In 2007 made available 777 acres of family owned land to the University of Alberta for agriculture research<br /><br />John Bocock<br />o Attended from 1948-1952<br />o Received a B.Sc in agriculture from the University of Alberta in 1957<br />o Advocate on agricultural and land use issues<br />o In 2007 made available 777 acres of family owned land to the University of Alberta for agriculture research<br /><br />Paul Chalifoux<br />o Teacher/administrator from 1964-1998<br />o Mayor for the City of St. Albert from 1998-2001 and 2004-2007<br />o Named a Paul Harris Fellow by the Rotary Foundation in appreciation for service to the community<br />o Received the Alberta Centennial Medal in recognition of outstanding service to the people and the province of Alberta<br /><br />Dr. Chester Cunningham<br />o Attended from 1949-1952<br />o Served on the National Parole Board, the Canadian Advisory Committee for Justice and Corrections, Canadian Native Friendship Center, the Carson Committee examining management and operation of prisons and corrections Alberta<br />o Awards: Order of Canada, Queen's Medal of Achievement, Alberta Achievement Award, Alberta Order of Excellence<br /><br />John Kirkpatrick<br />o Graduated in 1988 <br />o Earned B.F.A. in acting from the University of Alberta, 1993<br />o Performed for five seasons (1998-2003) with the Freewill Shakespeare Festival and was artistic director from 2003-2008<br />o Won a Sterling Award in 2003 for his direction of George Walker's play Featuring Loretta <br />o Also works as a sessional instructor at the University of Alberta's acting program and tutors students at Grant MacEwan<br /><br />Darrell Martindale<br />o Attended from 1971-1974<br />o Received B.Sc. in mineral engineering and M.Sc. in agricultural engineering before beginning a mining career that included various environmental positions<br />o Currently manager of environment & regulatory compliance for Shell Canada in Ft. McMurray<br /><br />Diane (Patterson) Rusnak<br />o Attended from 1983-1985<br />o Awarded full gymnastics scholarship to Oklahoma State University <br />o Returned to the University of Alberta and achieved a B. Comm. in 1990<br />o Won the National University All Around Gymnastics Title in 1988<br />o Won four all-Canadian titles and two national team championships<br />o Won the Canada West University All Around Title in 1989<br /><br />Dr. Matthew Wheatley<br />o Attended from 1977-1980<br />o Broke the Canadian national record in Team Pursuit (cycling) in 1987<br />o Received a Ph.D. in neuroscience from the University of Alberta in 1992<br />o currently the clinical director of neurosurgery at the University of Alberta<br /><br />Anne Marie (Willott) Toutant<br />o Attended from 1979-1982<br />o Earned a B.Sc. in Mining Engineering 1987<br />o Became one of the earliest and youngest female mine managers in Canada
