OBA Board of Directors
Director of the Old Boys’ Association since 2009, President 2014 - , Vice-President 2013-14, Secretary 2011-13
OBA Committees: OBA Sports Events, Five-Year Reunions
What are your personal goals for this year as a member of the Old Boys’ Association?
My primary goals this coming year are to continue contributing new ideas and enthusiasm towards some of the projects that I’ve enjoyed working on during my two years involvement with the OBA. For example, I want to continue encouraging younger alumni to get involved in the sports tournaments hosted by the OBA. These events are great fun and bring out the camaraderie, friendship and competitiveness that Selwyn House sports are known for.
A secondary goal is to help the board in its ongoing pursuits to utilize social media to maintain a strong network of alumni around the world. As a body of membership, we are fortunate to have so many amazing people living in communities outside of Montreal and we recognize the importance of finding a way to help keep them in touch with their school and their alumni. During the coming years, there is an opportunity to create a platform that does exactly this and I’m enthusiastic about the challenge to help get this done.
What did you enjoy most when you were a student at Selwyn House?
Looking back at my years at Selwyn House, some of my favourite memories include classes in the basement of the Macaulay building (such as history and geography, but never math), my Grade 11 English class, football and rugby practices at Westmount park and hockey bus rides throughout the city and province. All this was anchored by the general enthusiasm of the teachers. My overall highlight is having had the opportunity to share this experience with a group great guys who knew how to work hard and have fun.
Employment Information
Company: The Redbourne Group
Profession: Financial Accountant
Title: Manager, Financial Reporting
Specialty or Expertise: Real Estate
Hobbies and Interests: Golf, soccer, squash, skiing, rugby, current affairs, cooking.
List other activities and charitable associations that you are involved with: The Summit School Foundation (St. Laurent, QC) and the La Fondation Charles-Bruneau (Montreal)
What interesting places have you worked, lived in or travelled to?
During university, I lived in Kingston, Ontario, while majoring in political science and studying towards an honours BA at Queen's University. I also spent one year in London, UK, studying management as part of an MSc at the Cass Business School. While working at a multinational accounting firm, I worked with clients across Quebec and Canada. On vacation, I have traveled to many pockets of Europe and throughout North America. I have also visited parts of the Middle East and South America.
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Charles-Alexandre (Charles) Vennat 2005
Director of the Old Boys’ Association since 2012
OBA Committees: Golf
What are your personal goals for this year as a member of the Old Boys’ Association?
What did you enjoy most when you were a student at Selwyn House?
Employment Information
Director of the Old Boys’ Association since 2012
OBA Committees: Golf
What are your personal goals for this year as a member of the Old Boys’ Association?
Having had the fantastic opportunity to attend SHS as a francophone, I am lucky to be fluently bilingual. In the face of political change within the province, I would like for other young francophones to be able to share in this experience and to study among some of the best and brightest young minds in the city all the while learning a language which will prove to be essential in their business and social lives.
I would also like to promote more activity within our young alumni community and encourage links between Old Boys of various generations. I view the OBA as an excellent—if untapped—resource for alumni of all ages to connect, share, and learn from each other in business or in life.
What did you enjoy most when you were a student at Selwyn House?
Beating LCC in the senior football championships 42-21 (yes, I still remember the score…)
Company: Maxi Crisp
Profession: Food Manufacturing Executive
Title: Vice President Operations and International Business Development
Specialty: Cereal bars and portable snacks
Hobbies and Interests:
List other activities and charitable associations that you are involved with:
What interesting places have you worked, lived in or travelled to?
Hobbies and Interests:
Rackets, squash, golf, fishing, skiing, football, The Habs (despite not having been so worthy of the “Les Glorieux” moniker of late), travelling and seeking adventures wherever they are to be found.
List other activities and charitable associations that you are involved with:
I am currently on the board of the Action Centre Foundation
What interesting places have you worked, lived in or travelled to?
I was lucky to study for three years at the beautiful St. Paul’s School in Concord New Hampshire, after which I spent four great years at the University of Edinburgh sampling fine whisky, perfecting my three-putt, and taking full advantage of cheap Ryan Air flights. I now spend my days between sales calls in the scenic Longueuil Industrial Park…
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Kyam Shell-Schnitzer 2001
Director of the Old Boys’ Association since 2008, Secretary 2014 -
OBA Committees: OBA Sports Events, Five-Year Reunion
What are your personal goals for this year as a member of the Old Boys’ Association? To encourage recent alumni to be more involved with the OBA and reconnect with friends.
What did you enjoy most when you were a student at Selwyn House? Top-notch teachers, wonderful friends, and stellar lunches.
Employment Information
Company: Juno Risk Solutions
Profession: Intelligence/ Risk Management
Title: Intelligence Analyst
Specialty: Intelligence / Country Risk Solutions, Supply Chain / High Value Cargo Solutions, Risk Managment, Cyber Security, Security Program Review & Development.
Education Information
University of Ottawa - Civil & Common Law 2007-12. (Member of Quebec and Ontario Bar)
University of Reading, Reading, England - MA International Security and Intelligence Studies - 2006-07
Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario - BAH History 2002
Hobbies and Interests: Skiing fast, reading, tennis, photography/videography, DJ'ing, backpacking, keeping up-to-date on security and intelligence news.
Hobbies and Interests: Skiing fast, reading, tennis, photography/videography, DJ'ing, backpacking, keeping up-to-date on security and intelligence news.
List other activities and charitable associations that you are involved with: Volunteer high school football and rugby coach, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Society of Quebec (ALS Society), St. John's Ambulance Service (Advanced Medical First Responder), Quebec Lifeguard Society.
What interesting places have you worked, lived in or travelled to? Lived in Denmark and played American Football. Lived and worked in Sydney, Australia, and travelled throughout Europe and Asia.
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Director of the Old Boys’ Association since 2007, Past-President 2014-, President 2012-14, Vice-President 2011-12, Secretary 2008-11
OBA Committees: Marketing and Communications, OBA Enhancements (New Activities)
What are your personal goals for this year as a member of the Old Boys’ Association? I would like to use my involvement on the OBA to help celebrate the school's centennial, increase awareness for the OBA among students, alumni and the community at large, and to participate in the various SHS events throughout the year.
What did you enjoy most when you were a student at Selwyn House? Many of the friends I made as a student at Selwyn House remained lifelong friends. It is these solid friendships that stand the test of time that makes one realize how unique the Selwyn House experience really is. My best friends in high school are still my best buddies today.
I also really enjoyed the music program at Selwyn House, which was my first introduction to music and, more importantly, playing the trumpet. This is a passion that I have kept up to this day. In University my music hobby even resulted in my performing at the Montreal Jazz Fest along with a band I was performing with at the time. Thanks SHS!
Lastly, the overall commitment to excellence which was instilled to us by our teachers is something that has stayed with me and I feel is responsible for many of my achievements to date.
Employment Information
Company: Bierbrier Brewing Inc.
Profession: Brewing Industry
Title: President
Specialty or Expertise: Completed BA (Economics) from McGill and an MBA from John Molson School of Business at Concordia University and worked in the financial services industry for several years prior to launching the brewery. In 2005 founded Bierbrier Brewing in downtown Montreal and began brewing Bierbrier Premium Ale. The beer can be found in many of the city’s finest establishments.
Hobbies and Interests: Playing music (trumpet), avid skier, curler and tennis player.
List other activities and charitable associations that you are involved with: Past-President of the Westmount Rotary Club, President of McGill Young Alumni, and Alumni Advisor for Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity (McGill)
What interesting places have you worked, lived in or travelled to? Travelled throughout Europe to countries such as England, France, Switzerland, Netherlands, Belgium and Italy. Travelled across Canada and visited many of our great cities. Travelled extensively in the US along the East Coast, central U.S. and into the deep South.
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Director of the Old Boys’ Association since 2010
OBA Committees: Golf Sponsorship
Current Parent: Jindrich 2015, Tomas 2016, Nicholas 2019
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Director of the Old Boys’ Association since 2005
OBA Committees: Marketing and Communications, 25-Year Service Wall, OBA Grade 11 Induction Dinner, OBA Enhancements (New Activities)
What are your personal goals for this year as a member of the Old Boys’ Association: To raise awareness of our ever-increasing efforts in supporting the school and remain active in the day-to-day quality of the education it offers the present students — to maintain the sense of camaraderie and belonging that, once instilled, shouldn’t die.
What did you enjoy most when you were a student at Selwyn House? The friendships.
Employment Information
Company: Kamara
Profession: Commercial Photographer
Specialty or Expertise: Advertising imagery, editorial essays, portraiture and fine-art imagery.
Hobbies and Interests: The culinary arts, publishing, working on my first book and raising a young family.
List other activities and charitable associations that you are involved with: Being a 50-year-old first-time Dad leaves me with little time to do much else.
What interesting places have you worked or lived in or travelled to? The West and East Coasts of Canada, understanding the warmth and hospitality of Mexican culture by travelling extensively in the country and getting to Europe as much as possible.
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Sean A. McKinnon '98
Director of the Old Boys’ Association since 2009
OBA Committees: OBA Sports Events, Honorary Old Boys' Selection
What are your personal goals for this year as a member of the Old Boys’ Association? Increase awareness of the OBA in the Old Boys' community; expand the Old Boys' Network and continue raising the profile of the school.
What did you enjoy most when you were a student at Selwyn House? Athletics, lunches in the dining hall, rugby trip to Europe, great friendships.
Employment
Queen's University B.A. (Hons)
University of Ottawa - Civil & Common Law
Employment Information
Company: BFL Canada
Profession: Lawyer
Title: Vice President, M&A
Title: Vice President, M&A
Hobbies and Interests: Football, golf, squash, spending time with my kids, traveling and the Habs.
What interesting places have you worked, lived in or traveled to? Lived and played American Football in Denmark. Worked in Sydney, Australia and have traveled throughout Europe and Asia.
Director of the Old Boys’ Association since 2010
OBA Committees: Old Boys' Off-Campus, Five-Year Reunions
What are your personal gols for this year as a member of the Old Boys' Association? To promote the OBA in the GTA area and bring together graduates of all ages here to rekindle old friendships and support the school.
What did you enjoy most when you were a student at Selwyn House? The knowledge that I was obtaining a first-rate education while making relationships that would last a lifetime. Although school trips, chemistry experiments, public speaking, and English classes definitely stand out, it was also just the day-to-day activities with best friends that made the school so enjoyable.
Employment Information
Company: RBC Capital Markets
Profession: Fixed Income Trader
Title: Portfolio Manager, Principal Credit
Specialty or Expertise (Description): Corporate credit - cash and CDS
Hobbies and Interests
List your hobbies and interests: golf, sailing, skiing, cooking BBQ on the Big Green Egg, watching the Habs on TV with other SHS grads living in Toronto or attending games in MTL and various American cities.
List other activities and charitable associations that you are involved with: Second Harvest, Ride to Conquer Cancer, United Way, Santa Comes to Bay Street, Hospital for Sick Kids, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Housing Works
What interesting places have you worked, lived in or traveled to? I attended one semester of classes in Paris at Paris Dauphine while completing my Masters in Financial Economics at U of T. I lived and worked in New York City for 8 years, witnessing the Credit Crisis first hand while trading fixed income securities on Wall Street.
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Josh Wisenthal '99
Director of the Old Boys’ Association since 2014
OBA Committees: OBA Sports Events
What are your personal goals for this year as a member of the Old Boys’ Association? To continue to promote the school and let people know of the impact that the institution and the OBA has had on my own personal and professional development.
What did you enjoy most when you were a student at Selwyn House? Spending countless hours with the guys who grew to be my lifelong best friends. In particular, developing an understanding that I was a small part of something bigger than myself, namely the goals and values of the school community as a whole.
Employment Information
Company: Weyco Group Canada
Profession: Vice-President, Business Development
Hobbies and Interests: Skiing and hockey are my two vices, whereas golf is a great summertime activity, particularly when playing a round with OBA President Ben Spencer, 2000. Otherwise, drinking good coffee and reading non-fiction occupy my time.
