Alumni Relations

Lida Baday has established herself as a Canadian fashion innovator. Her Toronto-based company LIDA BADAY LTD. has grown since its inception in 1987, expanding into an international business that counts a number of North America's pre-eminent retailers as clients. She has received many awards, including the Fil D'Argent in Paris and two City of Toronto Designer of the Year Awards. Ms. Baday supports several local and national causes, such as the AIDS Committee of Toronto, the Hospital for Sick Children Foundation, and the Look Good...Feel Better program, which assists women coping with cancer.

As chairman, president and CEO of Canada Publishing Corporation, Ron Besse built one of the country's largest publishing groups, turning a small operation into a diversified publishing empire. The firm is the parent of Gage Educational Publishers, Macmillan Canada, Global Press, and Gage Distribution Company. In 1994, The Financial Post named it one of the 50 best managed companies in Canada. Mr. Besse, a former member of the Ryerson Board of Governors, was named a Ryerson Fellow in 1982. A past director of West Park Hospital and a former member of the Board of Trustees for Sunnybrook Health Science Centre, Mr. Besse has also been a tireless supporter of fundraising for Mount Sinai Hospital.

After more than 25 years in the real estate development industry, Jim Bullock brought his entrepreneurial style and proven management skills to Laidlaw Inc. in 1993. As president and CEO, he led the giant firm through a radical shift in focus to become the leader in passenger, student and health care transportation in the United States. Mr. Bullock has worked tirelessly for Ryerson since 1979, serving two consecutive three-year terms on the Ryerson Board of Governors, including two years as chair. He was named a Ryerson Fellow in 1991. The James and Patricia Bullock Family Foundation benefits charitable groups in southern and central Ontario.

Education has always been an important part of Rosemary Heneghan Campbell's life. She has turned her passion for learning into a career with ever-increasing responsibility, becoming part of an elite group of women executives at one of the world's largest enterprises: IBM Corporation. As worldwide solutions executive with IBM's global education industry, she oversees the development of technology products to meet the needs of the education marketplace. In her new IBM position as international sales and operations executive for the Americas, Campbell helps companies become globally competitive.

She is active on a number of advisory boards including WEA (Women in Education Administration) and Western Governors University Advisory Committee (a U.S. group), and is a past board member of the Learning Partnership in Toronto. Recently IBM appointed Ms. Heneghan Campbell International Sales and Operations Executive, North America.

Cathy Crowe is a pioneer in the field of street nursing, the provision of clinical care for homeless and underhoused people. In addition to her work as a nurse practitioner with the nursing outreach program at Toronto's Queen West Community Health Centre, Ms. Crowe co-founded Nurses for Social Responsibility and helped found the Toronto Coalition Against Homelessness, an umbrella group of 28 front-line organizations. Politicians and nurses alike have praised her compassion, advocacy, commitment, and expertise. A frequent guest speaker, lecturer, and media contact, Ms. Crowe has also taught at Ryerson.

Under Donald Green's leadership, Tridon Ltd., a small family business, grew into a leading international manufacturer and supplier of systems and components to the automotive industry. Mr. Green has served as chairman on a number of community organizations, including the Hamilton District Health Council and the Greater Hamilton YMCA. He has also served on many corporate boards. An avid sailor, Mr. Green skippered his sailing yacht Evergreen to victory in the 1978 Canada's Cup, defeating the U.S. team and returning the Cup to Canada. He was named a Ryerson Fellow in 1979 and a Member of the Order of Canada in 1980.

Just one year after graduating, Perry Keller co-founded Digital Renaissance with Keith Kocho. Now a multi-million-dollar operation, the company provides new media solutions and content development. Mr. Keller has played a leadership role in the design and growth of Digital's creative department and has acted as creative director for many award-winning projects. He has participated in and chaired new media curriculum development boards at Seneca College and Centennial College's Bell Centre for Creative Communications. Digital has donated its expertise in Web site design to community organizations such as the United Way, Kids Help Phone, and St. Stephen's House.

Just one year after graduating, Keith Kocho co-founded Digital Renaissance with Perry Keller. Now a multi-million-dollar operation, the company provides new media solutions in areas such as CD-ROM and web technologies. The company is credited with many industry breakthroughs, including TAG, software that permits the creation of network links within audio or video files.

In addition to the advice and assistance Mr. Kocho gives the United Way on information technology issues, Digital Renaissance lends its expertise in Web site design to St. Stephen's House, the United Way and Kids Help Phone among others. In 1997 he received the Young Entrepreneur Award for Ontario

As executive director of the Toronto Fashion Incubator, Susan Langdon has helped launch the careers of many Canadian fashion designers, several of them Ryerson graduates. The Incubator, an initiative designed to support and nurture new business entrepreneurs, is the first in North America to cater to the fashion industry. Susan received the 1996 City of Toronto Excellence in Fashion - Industry Achievement Award for her work in mentoring and promoting up-and-coming designers. Susan's commitment to the fashion community is further demonstrated through her volunteer work with 14 various boards and advisory committees, including the City of Toronto's Fashion Industry Liaison Committee and Fashion Group International.

Arthur Lee has built Solidwear Enterprises Limited, his Toronto-based garment manufacturing company, into a multi-million-dollar corporate group. Established in 1985, the group produces men and women's clothing for sale domestically and abroad. Mr. Lee made headlines in 1997 when he purchased the medals of John McCrae (author of In Flanders Fields) and donated them to the McCrae House Museum. Arthur is co-chair of the Yong Hee Centre, a member of the Board of Upper Canada College and Ontario Heritage Foundation, and is a member of Ryerson's Fashion Advisory Group. Mr. Lee received a Ryerson Honorary Doctor of Laws in 1998.

One of Canada's most recognized and respected broadcasters, Valerie Pringle was still a Ryerson student when she was hired by CFRB in 1973.

She worked there for ten years, followed by eight years as co-host of Midday, and star assignments for CBC-TV. In 1993, she began working for CTV. as co-host of Canada AM and then W-5. Ms. Pringle received the 1997 Variety Club Diamond Award for her contributions as a volunteer to many charitable organizations including CAN FAR, Sunny brook Health Science Centre, and the United Way.

Marshall Pynkoski is the co-artistic director of Opera Atelier, Canada's baroque theatre company, which he founded with his wife Jeannette Zingg. Opera Atelier performs opera, ballet, and drama from the 17th and 18th centuries. It has received international acclaim since its first performance in 1985. In 1996, Mr. Pynkoski received the distinction of Chevalier dans l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres for his artistic creativity and contribution to the dissemination of the arts in France and the rest of the world. Mr. Pynkoski and Ms. Zingg act as mentors for the DAREarts Foundation program.

Isadore Sharp, founder, chairman, and CEO of Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts, opened his first hotel on Toronto's Jarvis Street in 1961. His company has grown into the world's largest operator of luxury hotels, managing 42 properties in 18 countries. Named CEO of the Year by The Financial Post Magazine in 1992, Mr. Sharp was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1993 and was inducted into the Canadian Business Hall of Fame in 1998. He founded the Terry Fox Run program, the world's largest single-day fundraising event for cancer research, and initiated the corporate sponsorship program supporting the Terry Fox Marathon of Hope. He was named a Ryerson Fellow in 1983.

Klaus Woerner, president and CEO of ATS Automation Tooling Systems Inc., was named Canada's Entrepreneur of the Year in 1997. Mr. Woerner started ATS, North America's leading producer of advanced automated manufacturing systems, in 1978 with three employees. ATS is now a public company included in the TSE 100 Index, operating on three continents in 18 locations and employing more than 2000 people. Mr. Woerner contributes to the cultural life of his city through his support of Kitchener's Centre In The Square.

Jeannette Zingg is cofounder (with her husband Marshall Pynkoski, and choreographer of Opera Atelier, Canada's baroque theatre company. Opera Atelier performs opera, ballet, and drama from the 17th and 18th centuries, and has received international acclaim since its first performance in 1985.

Ms. Zingg's performance highlights include a co-starring role with Dame Kiri Te Kanawa in the award-winning film The Sorceress, appearances at Royal Albert Hall and the Royal Theatre in the Chateau Versailles and in the first-ever baroque opera to be performed in Tokyo. In addition, Ms. Zingg and Mr. Pynkoski act as mentors for the DAREarts Foundation program.