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Selwyn House presents Speirs Medal to Colin Boyle
Retired Selwyn House coach, teacher and Director of Studies Colin Boyle received the 2016 Speirs Medal during the school’s Founder’s Day celebrations on November 24.
The Speirs Medal, named for former Headmaster the late Dr. Robert Speirs, is the highest honour the school can bestow upon any member of its community. It is presented each year as part of the school’s observance of Founder’s Day, as an occasion to honour the school’s founder, Captain Algernon Lucas.
“We’re all advised to try to lead full and balanced lives,” said retired Headmaster Will Mitchell in his introduction of Colin. “It’s not easy to do. But I know no one who comes as close to doing it as Colin.”
Beginning in 1982, Colin taught chemistry to Grades 10 and 11, and set about to, in his own words, “make things happen in the classroom.”
“Colin had a unique and sometimes explosive way of doing this,” said Mr. Mitchell. His pyrotechnical demonstrations could often be heard throughout the school, and more than once ended with a visit from the local fire department.
Colin also taught Grade 8 biology and Grade 9 science, and coached Midget Basketball and Bantam and Grade 7 Football.
Part of the balance Mr. Mitchell referred to can be seen in Colin’s strong sense of family, his wife, Joan, his daughter, Kristen, and his three grandchildren. Some of his most successful seasons coaching basketball were accomplished with the help of his co-coach, his son, Kevin, who graduated from Selwyn House in 1997.
Mr. Mitchell pointed to Colin’s own athletic successes, his university days as a standout wide receiver at McGill and in adult football and basketball associations. “He brings his experiences into very successful coaching of both those sports.”
As Director of Academics, Colin had the endless, thankless task of scheduling all the school’s classes. At one point the school decided to bring in a firm to computerize the timetable. After studying the situation and all its variables, the crew threw up their hands and said they couldn’t do it.
“We stuck with the wonderful computer in Colin’s head, and we were well and efficiently served,” said Mr. Mitchell.
Mr. Mitchell said that the essence of good schooling can be distilled down to three elements: caring, fairness and integrity. “They have to be embedded in every word the institution utters and in every action it takes.”
“Colin has lived up to what those words mean,” he continued. “He has been a wonderful example, both personal and professional, for all of us.”
In thanking the school for honouring him, Colin offered two pieces of advice. The first: “Be a good listener.” He learned this lesson from his basketball team, and it inspired him to change his coaching style, with great success.
His parting advice: “Don’t brag.”
“If you are really good at something, somebody else will point it out for you.”
As did Will Mitchell, when he described Colin as, “The picture of a balanced life.”
Also during the Founder’s Day program, retired Selwyn House French teacher Nancy Allard-Coutu was named an Honorary Old Boy by the Old Boys’ Association and recognized for 25 years of service to the school. Former school chef Francis Vauclair was also named an Honourary Old Boy. Parent Association Chair Heather Martin and executive member Nancy Berney received the Nancy Pitfield Memorial Award for volunteerism.
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