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Robert McCann, FRSC (BScH ‘89) was named a Canada Research Chair in mathematics, economics, and physics at the University of Toronto in 2021. Robert looks back fondly on the training he received at Queen’s, as he shares his knowledge and discoveries with Canada’s next generation of scientific leaders. He lives in a semi-detached home in Toronto, which he shares with his wife, Carolyn, their three sons (born in 2012, 2014, and 2016), and his mother Daisy. His nearest neighbour is a fellow Queen’s Musical Theatre alumnus from the 1986 production of Company. He would be happy to hear from former associates at Queen’s, including classmates, QMT, Queen’s Orchestra, and Kingston Symphony alumni. Cha Gheill! 

I write children’s books now that I am retired. The Teacup Tree is about a friendship between a tree stump, a lonely grandfather, and his chatty granddaughter, which will melt the hardest heart. The best thing to do after reading this story is for every parent or grandparent and grandchild to give each other the biggest bear hug imaginable and then go outside to hug a tree, together. This beautifully illustrated story is geared for children ages six to nine but will warm the heart of everybody who feels that every moment with their child is precious.

Virginia Heffernan signed a deal with Toronto’s ECW Press for her book on the ramifications of the multi-billion dollar Ring of Fire mineral discovery in the James Bay Lowlands. Settlers in the Wetlands: The Story of the Ring of Fire Discovery is a tale of prospectors and politics and the valuable discovery under the second-largest temperate wetland in the world in the traditional lands of the Cree and Ojibway. The book casts light on the growing global conflict among resource development, environmental stewardship, and Indigenous rights. The book is the product of Virginia’s MFA in creative non-fiction at the University of King’s College, Halifax. Publication is set for early 2023.

William Finn (aka Dohmie) Pfifer-Dohm was born Aug. 23, 2021 at Chelsea & Westminster Hospital in London, U.K. His weight was 3.74 kilograms and rumour has it he is 55 centimetres tall already! Everyone thinks he has strong lungs and we dream he will wear his dad’s Queen’s jacket on campus 18 years from now! 

After a long and circuitous period of discernment, complicated by COVID-19, Paul Peters Derry MDiv (Vancouver), DMin (Chicago) and STM (Winnipeg), was ordained to the “transitional diaconate” by the Rt Rev Geoffrey Woodcroft of the Diocese of Rupert’s Land on Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021. Ordained to the Ministry of Word, Sacrament, and Pastoral Care within The United Church of Canada (1990), Paul has wandered and wondered his way into the Anglican communion. When he was ordained the first time, he was “transferred and settled” to the Shared Anglican-United Church Ministry of All Saints’ Anglican Church and St Andrew’s United Church, Sept-Iles, Quebec. His involvement with Anglicanism actually goes back to his participation in the life and work of Canterbury House, the Anglican chaplaincy centre on the Queen’s campus, under the direction of the Rev. Sel and Joan Caradus. What a long and winding road it has been! Paul continues his work as clinical service lead - Spiritual Health Services at Winnipeg’s Victoria Hospital and to his commitment as certified supervisor-educator of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) through the Canadian Association for Spiritual Care (CASC).

I’d love to share my newest published work: my fourth oracle card deck was self-published this year. Cat Herbal Oracle Deck and I have lots more .