On behalf of Appleby College’s Board of Governors, I am pleased to announce the election of William (Bill) R. Benson ’79 as the 16th Chair of the Appleby College Board of Governors.

Bill and his wife Dawne are long-standing members of the Appleby community. He was first elected to the Board of Governors in 2015 serving as Chair of the Risk Management Committee from 2019 to 2022, and as Vice Chair of the Board since 2022. The son of alumnus, William “Bill” F. Benson ’53 and the father of alumnus Will ’09, Bill attended Appleby from 1973 to 1979 and was the Head Boy (Prefect) of Powell’s House in his graduating year and a member of the First Football team for which he received Colours, while also being active in hockey. He was also an instructor for two years at the S. Bruce McLaughlin Northern Campus, and he credits the lessons learned from his experiences at the Northern Campus as having played a vital role in the successes he has achieved since.

A successful business leader, Bill brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the role of Chair where he will lead the Board’s efforts to ensure Appleby remains at the forefront of educational excellence through the implementation of the school’s strategic vision - Beacon Appleby. Including initiatives such as the construction of Cockwell Hall, the growth of Appleby’s financial assistance programme, and the school’s ongoing commitment to wellbeing.

With this announcement, I would like to thank outgoing Chair, Joanne McLaughlin, for her extraordinary leadership while a member of the Board of Governors. Joanne played a pivotal role in the completion of the A.W.B. Alumni Centre for Athletics and Student Life and provided unparalleled support to both the Board and the school’s Leadership Team in navigating the challenges presented during the COVID-19 pandemic. Joanne’s contribution to the school’s success will be forever appreciated. On a personal note, I would like to thank Joanne for the wisdom, insights and support she provided me as Principal. Her wise words and sound council were always a comfort during some extremely challenging times and I will forever be grateful. 

Supporting Bill as Chair will be Officers of the Board: Vik Sachdev (Vice Chair), Andrew Cockwell ’93 (Chair, Finance Committee & Treasurer) and Janice Madon (Chair, Governance Committee & Secretary).  

As we embark on this new chapter, there is much to look forward to, including this year’s Homecoming celebrations taking place from October 3 to 5. I look forward to welcoming you to campus in the coming weeks! 

Sincerely,  

Innes van Nostrand
Principal

Most everyone knows, it takes a village. What wasn’t apparent to me until recent years was how broadly that truism applies. I first heard it in reference to raising children, regarding which I find it to be wildly accurate! Most recently, there’s ubiquitous commentary on the support and resources that go into each and every spectacular performance at the recent 2024 Summer Olympic Games. In between the extremes, however, I’ve come to appreciate one’s community impacts nearly every facet of life; indeed, we do very little truly alone. Best of all, getting help along the way takes absolutely nothing away from our accomplishments. That’s what being part of a village is all about.

Community is something we’re constantly surrounded by, yet too often think little about. It’s understandable, life is fast and busy and distracting. Mercifully, there are mile markers along the way that cause us to recognize the passing of time and present opportunities to plug into our community again. Appleby Homecoming is just such an event and in fact was the catalyst for my own re-engagement with the school and alumni in 2019 at my 25th reunion dinner (thank you again, Jas Brar '98!).

Like many, my closest friends today remain those I lived with in Powell’s House. Yet for years I struggled to find the time to really engage and give something back to the source of those lifelong friendships. After my 25th reunion dinner, I resolved to participate actively in the Appleby College Alumni Association (ACAA) and make it to every Homecoming to connect with my community of alumni. Now, as President of the ACAA, I have an opportunity to see first-hand how remarkable Appleby is today and how vibrant and mutually supportive our community is. I couldn’t be more proud of our shared past and I genuinely hope to connect with you over the Homecoming weekend.

Cameron Hurst '94
ACAA President 

For the past 50 years, the Appleby College Archives have preserved and documented the ongoing story of the school. As the keeper of Appleby’s institutional memory since 1974, we look forward to celebrating this milestone anniversary by sharing Appleby historical facts, trivia, and more throughout the coming year in Alumni Ties. 

DID YOU KNOW the term Homecoming was first introduced in 1979, although it was originally called the Old Boys’ Weekend? This was a chance for alumni to reconnect with their alma mater for a weekend of athletic events, the annual general meeting of the Old Boys' Association (now Appleby College Alumni Association) and concluded with a dinner and dance.

Drop by the Archives display on Homecoming Day to learn more about the history of Appleby College and this year's milestone anniversary.

Class Notes and Biographical Updates

Appleby's Class Notes provides alumni with the opportunity to update the Appleby Community with news of recent happenings and photos, as well as make updates to your contact information. This includes birth notices, engagement, and marriage announcements, career news, alumni trips and special photos of alumni get-togethers. You may also use this form to submit address or contact information changes.