Sheridan Alumni Gift Guide
Whether you're on the hunt for stocking stuffers, last-minute presents, or ideas for your next holiday gift exchange, we have thoughtful ideas for everyone on your list. ...
In this issue
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Fashion, frames and fate
Derek Desierto's career is as distinct as his artistic style
Derek Desierto sees the world through a slightly different lens than his peers. ...
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Who tells your story?
How Kyle Christie honed his storytelling skills
“I love piecing together a story. There are so many stories that need to be told, and if you can make someone feel something, that’s important.” ...
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Caffeine and gasoline
Interior Design alumna blends coffee and motorcyle culture
Nestled on the corner of one of Hamilton’s oldest streets is a store that’s catering to a new demographic. ...
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The facts of animal life
Advocating for exotic animals
Polar bears are among the world’s largest carnivores that live on land, with the average male standing approximately 11 feet tall and weighing between 800 and 1,300 pounds. ...
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Keeping composed
Daniel Abrahamson missions to Mars for CMTP musical
It takes Daniel Abrahamson less than three minutes to go from entering Macdonald Heaslip Hall at Sheridan’s Oakville campus to sitting down at the grand piano that has been set at ...
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Staying focused
Passing on a passion for photography
In late 2017, Amina Mohamed was at a crossroads. ...
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Nature docs from New Delhi
Riverbank Studios focuses on conservation films
As movie stars descend into Toronto to showcase their blockbuster films, Gautam Pandey and Doel Trivedy are working tirelessly at their New Delhi-based production company on their ...
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A female future
Animation alumna talks inspiration and motivation
In Aminder Dhaliwal’s debut graphic novel is a dystopian story about the end of the world…for men, at least. ...
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By design
Stuart Thompson on exploring visual storytelling
As technology shifts the needle in journalism, creating new pathways to deliver information, journalists such as Stuart Thompson are using digital tools to delve deeper ...
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Voyage into the unknown
How Robin Joseph took his film to the Oscar shortlist
Robin Joseph (Animation ’05) grew up in a small village in India where no one talked about animation. Then, in 2018, his film Fox and the Whale, was shortlisted for an Oscar. ...
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A new chapter
Linda Dalton reflects on her career with Sheridan
It seems fitting that Linda Dalton’s desk is in the same office as the one where she worked when she first joined Sheridan 36 years ago. ...
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Shining on stage
Alumni modernize stage lighting industry with BlackTrax
William McDaniel has lit up the stage at Sheridan’s Macdonald Heaslip Hall. Literally. ...
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Getting the cartoon treatment
Alumni take a tour of Dog River for Corner Gas Animated
It’s tough to reboot a television series and make sure it has all the nuances and eccentricities the original was known for. It’s even harder to do when making the switch from live ...
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Drawing inspiration
Domee Shi breaks new ground with Pixar short Bao
Domee Shi is making history as the first female director of a Pixar short film. How did dumplings, fairy tales and Shi’s mom help inspire the story behind Bao? ...
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Grad to watch
Taking the stage in Stratford
Kimberly-Ann Truong returns to Stratford after a year-long smash run on Broadway. ...
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Grad to watch
Dress to impress
Kobi Amponsah doesn’t just know how to knot a bow tie — he also crafts them. ...
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Art & science
Grads are turning their talents toward the scientific space
Sheridan is renowned for producing top animators, illustrators and designers. For some grads, art is a way to explain the inner-workings of the world around us. ...
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Global reach
Welcoming the world
Two alumni who first came to Sheridan as international students are now helping others ease into life in a new land. ...
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Documentaries with a difference
Alumna uses film to drive change
Chanda Chevannes’ films reveal the passion that drives people to build a better world. ...
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Art history lesson
New gallery exhibit opens the conversation on reconciliation
At the Creative Campus Gallery, Jeff Thomas’ photography will challenge what you thought you knew about Indigenous identity. ...
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Into the breach
Tips to help your company survive a cyberattack
When it comes to security, your company's front door is probably locked tight. But what's going on with your data? ...
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Budding business
Alumnus heads up cannabis company ahead of a big year
Todd Masse (Marketing '91) is at the front of the line of the marijuana market. ...
2017
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Comic book hero
Jeff Lemire on the journey from kitchen staff to Secret Path
When Jeff Lemire decided to make a living as an artist, he enrolled in Sheridan’s one-year Advanced Illustration program. Twelve years later, Lemire’s a New York Times bestseller ...
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Beating back the pain
Alumna wins gold - and a new chance at life - at Invictus
Cpl. Kelly Scanlan could barely walk when she came home from Afghanistan. Then she found the Invictus Games and began to heal. ...
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Emmy winner
Grad sets up the supernatural for Stranger Things
Craig Henighan reveals how he creates sounds for some of Hollywood’s biggest hits. ...
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Helping hands
Grad gets athletes on ice
From weekend warriors to Olympians - Jason White wants everyone to achieve their goals. ...
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Cal Brunker
Grad gets squirrelly on Nut Job 2
Nut Job 2 Director Cal Brunker on animation, and the challenges of bringing tenacious park fauna to life. ...
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Autoshop talk
Grad drives animation on Cars 3
John Hoffman once wanted to do stunts in the movies. Then he found out about animation. ...
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Legacy of learning
Next stop: success
Jim Forbes and Larry Kelterborn have dedicated their lives to improving rail travel. They got their start in Sheridan’s Mechanical Engineering Technology program back in 1968. ...
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Speaking out
Giving back on the job
Karen Tsang believes her career needs to make a difference in the lives of others. ...
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Economic realities
Reflections on a career
Alan Dick looks at what the highs and lows of his career have taught him. ...
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Grads to watch
An app for autism
Shauna-Kay Jones and Keisha Alcott are using what they learned at Sheridan to create solutions for people living with autism. ...
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From classroom to circus
Big top bikes
For years, finance alumnus Trevor Bodogh earned sprained ankles, gashes on his shins and broken bikes. Now, it’s all paid off with a role in Cirque du Soleil ...
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Creative libraries
Materials that inspire
Tucked away in the new building of Sheridan’s HMC campus is a library brimming with materials that will have you asking: what is this? What can I do with it? ...
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James Cunningham
Financial housekeeping
Financial advice from someone who makes a living telling jokes seems unlikely, unless he's James Cunningham. ...
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Grad to watch
Alumna speaks out to end the stigma
Born with HIV-AIDS, journalism grad Muluba Habanyama shares her story so others get to know the facts behind the illness. ...
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Centre for Mobile Innovation
Get ready for the future
One day, a patient will get an update on his phone if his heart rate spikes, and apps will track medications. And they’ll be powered by Sheridan’s Centre for Mobile Innovation. ...
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Early Childhood Educators
Children’s Champions
Kara Thompson (ECE ’81) and Nancy Simpson (ECE ’88) don’t get to watch the children they teach grow up, but they’ve spent their careers creating spaces toddlers and preschoolers ...
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Fifty shades of blue
A match made at Sheridan
In honour of Valentine’s Day three couples talk about meeting their match – in life, and in business – at Sheridan. ...
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2017 Academy Awards
Voting on the Oscars – a look behind the scenes
Ever wonder who decides the Oscar winners? Alumnus David Stephan (Animation ‘78) is one of many Sheridan graduates who are members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science ...
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NHL Centennial Classic
Building the ultimate outdoor rink
Garrett Mills (Theatre Arts, Technical Production, `06) reveals what it takes to turn a soccer field into an NHL arena. ...
2016
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Animating theatre
Sheridan students shine a new light on musical
Students are blending their talents on stage and screen to bring musical theatre to new audiences. ...
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Create success:
Give back and build a bright future for a student
More than 70% of Sheridan students need financial support. You can make a difference in their lives by supporting scholarships and bursaries. ...
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Phil Pritchard
Preserving hockey’s precious treasures
Phil Pritchard’s tuft of blond hair, blazer embossed with the Hockey Hall of Fame logo and silky white gloves are as recognizable to North American hockey fans as the puck itself. ...
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Charmaine Hammond
Spreading love and hope across the continent
As a correctional officer, Charmaine Hammond began her career working with people behind bars. But rather than seeing the worst in people, Hammond discovered a drive to make the ...
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Camille Eanga Selenge
Sheridan grad takes stage as a ‘triple threat’ performer
She only graduated in 2012, but Camille Eanga-Selenge has already built an illustrious resume. She’s performed on Broadway, toured the United States, and helped bring new musicals ...
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Kent Monkman: Making Mischief
Aboriginal artist turns history on its head
Kent Monkman has become one of Canada’s most celebrated contemporary artists whose work turns aboriginal history on its head. ...
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Milestone moment
Hazel McCallion named Sheridan’s first Chancellor
Sheridan is proud to announce that former Mississauga Mayor and long-time Sheridan champion, Hazel McCallion, has become our inaugural Chancellor. ...
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Becoming a university
Q&A with Sheridan’s President and Vice Chancellor
Sheridan’s President and Vice Chancellor, Dr. Jeff Zabudsky, answers recurring questions from alumni about our plans to become a university. ...
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Training that transforms lives
Alumni who make a difference
It’s a rare day when Samantha Jagt is not told she has the best job in the world. She’s a Coordinator in the Puppy Program at the Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides. ...
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Grads to Watch
Recent alumni making their mark
Each year, Sheridan welcomes a new group to the alumni community. We put the spotlight on recent grads who are already making their mark. ...
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Creative Entrepreneurs
Secret Location studio leads the way in the virtual world
Pietro Gagliano, Ryan Andal and their team are reinventing storytelling through the rapidly growing medium of virtual reality at their studio, Secret Location. ...
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Creative Entrepreneurs
Jonathan Bielaski: Telling stories one shot at a time
Jonathan Bielaski captures the magic of the world’s top athletes in action for the likes of Sports Illustrated and Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment. ...
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Creative Entrepreneurs
Anne Day: Inspiring Confidence
A cancer diagnosis led Anne Day to reflect on what was important in her life. The networking group Company of Women she founded turned out to be at the top of the list. ...
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Getting your dream to the screen
Tips for funding and promoting your film
Generating the buzz to bring a film to life takes planning and ongoing effort. Read some tips from successful alumni filmmakers to help first-timers cut through the competition. ...
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Developing ahead of the curve
Tariq Adi brings style to the suburbs
Adi Development Group’s landmark properties across the GTA have revitalized housing options for people in the suburbs, from cookie-cutter homes to modern design. ...
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Building hope through housing
Susan Smith finds her job more than a numbers game
For Susan Smith, COO for Habitat for Humanity Canada, one figure looms large in her mind: the 1.6 million Canadian families with inadequate housing. ...
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Passion for problem-solving
Mike Hicks is up to the task at top Canadian tech firm
Mike Hicks started programming computers at eight years old. Today, he still works with computers but he does it as CTO of one of Canada’s most awarded tech firms. ...
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COME FROM AWAY is Broadway-bound
Musical developed at Sheridan soars to the top
Sheridan is playing a ground-floor role in the development of a musical destined for theatre’s mecca. ...
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Faculty Focus
Jose Rueda: Game Changer
Like many of those in the industry, Game Design Professor Jose Rueda grew up with an Atari console and a Commodore 64 system, never dreaming how much gaming would change. ...
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Faculty Focus
Shannon Pirie: Rethinking Design
For Shannon Pirie’s students, a trip to Tim Hortons is more than a break before or after class, it’s experiential learning in action. ...
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Faculty Focus
Nathaniel Barr: Tapping into the creative mind
Many of our most impactful innovations have created new and pressing problems to solve that are complex and span many disciplines,” says Nathaniel Barr. ...
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Faculty Focus
Peter Amponsah: Empowering at-risk youth
After a trip to Ghana, Peter Amponsah was greatly impacted by the music of local drummers. “In that moment, I committed myself to my own personal journey with the drum." ...
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Faculty Focus
Adding up: Jason Dean tallies his career
Jason Dean draws on his varied workplace experience - from a stint as a busboy to factory and office jobs - and his education to teach economics at Sheridan. ...
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Between the lines
Connecting communities through animation
Animation students draw inspiration from all walks of life, which is what four 2002 alumni set out to do when they founded the Toronto Animation Arts Festival International (TAAFI) ...
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Melody Wang
Following Your Creative Voice
Recent animation graduate Melody Wang’s short film The Casebook of Nips & Porkington has landed on the industry’s top film lists and has fans calling for more. ...
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Brandon Grosvenor
Breaking the Mould
“The Mad Men model of the big downtown advertising agencies is outdated, says veteran media executive Brandon Grosvenor. So he brought a new model to the table. ...
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Taha Neyestani
Annie Award winner: Best Student Film
For 2015 animation graduate Taha Neyestani, figure drawing wasn’t just an important skill he needed to master on the road to becoming a successful artist. It was his passion. ...
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Living in Colour
Chris Grubisa and Aleks Lason
For Chris Grubisa, the most exciting project is whichever one is next. As a video content creator for sports and lifestyle brands, he can find himself in a far-flung area of the ...
2015
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For the love of the work
Graham Annable and Jon Klassen
It took a bit of time for Graham Annable and Jon Klassen to get used to being in the spotlight. But the two animation graduates soon learned to handle all the attention that comes ...
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Daryl Simm
Blazing a Trail in Advertising
Daryl Simm has never been afraid of a good challenge. As Chairman of Omnicom Media Group, he’s the founder of a company that currently employs 12,000 people, serves 5,000 clients ...
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Larry Kelterborn
Engineering a Safer World
When you think of a profession that helps save lives, engineering doesn’t immediately come to mind. But countless people have been kept safe thanks to Larry Kelterborn's work as an ...
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Jon Klassen
Children's Literature Star
When animator turned author-illustrator Jon Klassen learned of his prestigious Caldecott Medal win for his book This is Not My Hat he was surprised and deeply honoured. When the ...
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Dr. Loriann Hynes
Changing the Game
The dangers of high-impact concussions in sport have been in the public eye for quite some time, but Dr. Loriann Hynes has shown that you don’t have to hit your head to get a concu ...
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Mike O’Brien
Dealing with Disaster
Emergency management is a fast-growing profession in Canada, and those who excel at it typically bring a mix of know-how combined with emotional intelligence to the job. ...
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Tariq Adi
Developing Skills to Develop Properties
Tariq Adi put new meaning to applied learning during his time at Sheridan. He once excused himself from class to close his first major land deal. ...
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Kim Pickett
Turning Risk into Reward
Although she is part of the growing number of Canadian female entrepreneurs, Kim Pickett isn’t interested in following trends. “I want to be the trailblazer who’s seen as having ...
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Adventures in Animation
Talent knows no bounds for globetrotting artist
Studying animation at Sheridan wasn’t in Ravinder Kundi's original plan. Born and raised in Kenya, Kundi studied art by correspondence before moving ...
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Powering the Pan Am/Parapan Am Games
Alumni in the spotlight and behind the scenes
Sheridan alumni were part of the action at the TORONTO 2015 Pan Am /Parapan Am Games this summer. ...
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Driving Josh Cassidy
Three silver medals at Parapan Am Games
Josh Cassidy holds the record for the fastest marathon ever, a title he earned at the 2012 Boston Marathon when he posted the fastest time ever for a wheelchair marathon - 1 hour ...
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The Guru Effect
Global success story for Canadian animation
As the leader behind Toronto-based Guru Studio, Frank Falcone has long championed homegrown animation talent. The result is some of the best animation on the small screen. ...
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Hotbed of New Musical Theatre
Sheridan sets the stage for tomorrow’s top productions
In 2014, over 400 students auditioned for a coveted spot in Sheridan’s music theatre performance program. ...
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Celebrating 45 years of making a difference
Creating healthier communities
Graduates of Sheridan’s Social Service Worker Program, the largest in Ontario, impact the lives of the most vulnerable in our community. ...
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Keeping It Rolling
Business alumni ride the road of success
Since transport drivers move 90% of consumer goods and foods in Canada, it’s safe to say that if the trucks stopped rolling, the Canadian economy would grind to a halt. ...
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Staying Inspired
Adam El Daba puts passion behind every venture he touches
Sheridan is not far from the mind of tech entrepreneur and former varsity athlete ...
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Good as Gold
Connecting with fellow artists a big win
In the world of film, there’s nothing like the thrill of an Oscar nomination. In the case of three nominees, it was their Sheridan connection that made the excitement of this ...
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A Hero’s Legacy
Chris Williams: Oscar winner for Big Hero 6
Like so many acclaimed animators, Chris Williams was a fan of comic books growing up. But the traditional superheroes didn't appeal to him as much as the more lovable ...
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Dean DeBlois Rides the Dragon to Success
Two-time Oscar nominee at the helm of final film in trilogy
Amid all the Oscar buzz for the animated feature How to Train Your Dragon 2, writer and director Dean DeBlois has his sights set on the third instalment of the trilogy. ...
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The Boxtrolls
Graham Annable nominated for an Oscar
The animation alumnus can add Oscar-nominee to his credits for Best Animated Feature this year ...
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Glen Sharpe
Far-Reaching Teaching
Glen Sharpe knows that inspiring students means going beyond the confines of the classroom ...
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Michael Lomenda
Small Town Boy Hits it Big
The star of feature film "Jersey Boys" directed by Clint Eastwood, Michael Lomenda reprises his theatre role on Broadway. ...
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Ken Walker:
The Art of Keeping Students Current
As a student in Sheridan’s Graphic Design and Computer Graphics programs in the late eighties, Ken Walker was studying at a time when computers were beginning to change the face of ...
2014
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Linda Lundstrom:
Canadian fashion icon conquers adversity
When Linda Lundstrom left her clothing manufacturing facility in Toronto in 2010, she brought two very important items with her ...
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Stories from the Keeper of the Cup
Phil Pritchard travels with hockey’s top trophy
Phil Pritchard treated alumni and guests to an up close and personal look at hockey’s most iconic trophies and artifacts, complete with stories behind them. ...
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What’s in a Name?
Ian Brignell tells a story one letter at a time
The next time you raise a glass of your favourite beverage, you are likely toasting the artistry of Ian Brignell. The font and lettering designer has created logos for the biggest ...
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Perfect Casting
Stephanie Gorin nabs Emmy Gold
For Stephanie Gorin, there’s nothing like the joy of seeing someone get that big break. It is a thrill she has experienced many times over as one of Canada’s top casting directors. ...
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Corus Quay
The Place to Be
Especially if you’re one of the many Sheridan grads who help power Canada’s media and entertainment titan. ...
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Doug Luciani and Kandise Barron
Welding a Bright Future
Doug Luciani and Kandise Barron have advice for those who carry the torch. ...
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Danielle Strnad
Finding a Voice Through Performance
DramaWay has taught scores of young people with physical and intellectual challenges much more than performance skills. The results can be both astonishing and uplifting. ...
