Breaking Down the Beattys

Giving up the idyllic Ontario winters for Canada’s wild west coast, Mr. & Mrs. Beatty are a couple of new additions to the Brentwood community. Hailing from Ridley College, just seven minutes from St. Catharines, with degrees from Brock, Queen’s, and the University of Toronto in a wide range of subjects, their knowledge is unquestionable. As Mrs. Beatty is the new Assistant House Parent for Hope house, and Mr. Beatty does duty in Rogers house, it’s time to learn more about these wonderful additions. The following is the text of an interview conducted with the Mr. and Mrs.: Where did you come here from? Mrs. Beatty: Most recently, we were at Ridley College at St Catharines, Ontario—but we were both born in Toronto. I was a student at both Branksome Hall and Ridley College growing up, and made my way back to Branksome to teach French and Phys Ed. After studying those subjects at Queen’s University. I took a year to work in Swizterland as an Au Pere so that I could perfect my French and travel! When I returned to Canada, I decided to get a degree in teaching, and taught in Toronto at Greenwood College and Branksome Hall, before moving to Ridley. Mr. Beatty and I met at Ridley, but we are very excited to move to Brentwood to start a new adventure together on the west coast! Mr. Beatty: I came here from Ridley College in Ontario. I was born in Toronto but I grew up in L.A, and then I moved back to Toronto for university where I attended the University of Toronto. I then taught history at an international school in Bogota, Columbia. From there, I taught history, politics, and economics at St. John’s-Kilmarnock School in Ontario, Neuchatel College in Switzerland, and the Canadian College Italy. I traveled with students to North Africa, Russia, Germany, Spain and Hungary. A couple of highlights were: leading a Habitat for Humanity service trip to Hungary, and taking students to Ypres, Belgium for Remembrance Day. Before moving to Ridley, I spent a year teaching high school students on a tall ship – a sailboat—with Class Afloat. We sailed to 20 ports in Europe, Africa, and South America. We crossed the Atlantic under sail- Senegal to Brazil in three weeks: it was wild. From there, I was a house parent and teacher at Ridley College for six years, also coaching rowing there—that’s where Ashley and I m—Mrs. Beatty and I met, got married, and had a baby. We got a dog and then moved to Brentwood. What do you teach/coach? Mrs. Beatty: I teach French and I coach Hope House girls! Mr. Beatty: AP Government and Politics, International Relations, and Grade 9 Socials are what I’m teaching this year. Also I’m coaching rowing, and doing evening duty in Rogers. What else would you want to get involved in? Mrs. Beatty: I really hope to do a coxing workshop for rowing; I coxed in high school and also the Varsity Men’s 8 at Queens University. Also, I’ll probably be focused on really anything to do with Hope house and transitioning to the new residence. Mr. Beatty: I would definitely be keen to help with Model UN and Debate; it’d be tough with the rowing, classes, and our daughter Lauren on top of that, but it’s possible; any trips or travel chaperoning I’d love to get involved with.  How has the transition [to Brentwood] been? Mrs. Beatty: It’s been fabulous; everyone’s been very welcoming and friendly. Actually, Mrs. Hedquist, (Hope House Parent) and her children had tiny books for our baby, Lauren, waiting for us when we arrived; it was so sweet. Also during the first couple days, Summit, our dog, would run off into people’s houses so we’d have to go and find him— that way, people got to know us pretty quickly. Mr. Beatty: Oh, yes, excellent. We’ve just really enjoyed our first month at the school; everybody’s been very good to us. We love the west coast “lifestyle”. What do you miss? Mrs. Beatty: Friends and family – my parents and 2 brothers live back in St. Catharines. Mr. Beatty: Yes, friends and family in Ontario; we have some pretty great friends back there. We’re not going to miss the winters, though! What’s your least favourite thing about Brentwood? Mrs. Beatty: The rain, not that it wasn’t abundant in Ontario, I just know that it’s coming—months of gray—and I like the sunshine. Mr. Beatty: Good answer, oh goodness, not a whole lot to dislike… The Masthead Restaurant is too far away? Victoria could be closer for shopping! What are your favourite pastimes/ hobbies?  Mrs. Beatty: I really adore rowing (coxing), jogging, hiking, scuba diving -- just being outside, on the water, I love it.  Mr.Beatty: Working in boarding schools, you don’t have much time for hobbies and with an eleventh month old—I no longer have pastimes, but I do enjoy hiking, running, sailing and canoeing, when I can. Um, I’m a bit of a foodie and I’m looking forward to playing on some of the beautiful golf courses in the area-- and travel too, I love travel, whenever we can, we try and go on an adventure. How is Lauren doing with the move to Brentwood? Also, what’s your dog’s name? Mrs. Beatty: She’s great! She’s almost one year old and she loves everything. Our dog’s name is Summit; he’s a Labrador retriever, and he loves the outdoors and being around students with food all day! How do you feel about the new Hope house and losing the “small house dynamic”? Mrs. Beatty: I’m very excited; I think it’s going to be great—a bigger, better Hope house. I think that the dynamic can be recreated with some strong leadership from the students, Mrs. Hedquist and me. Hope house is quite special, and I don’t think we’ll lose that. Mr. Beatty: Definitely, we’re looking forward to joining the girls in the new house. It’s a new adventure; we’re excited as much as anyone. Favourite foods? Mrs. Beatty: Oh wow, peanut butter. Banana and peanut butter, jam and peanut butter, honey and peanut butter-- you name it. It’s perfect with anything. The natural stuff, the crunchy stuff, the smooth stuff—I could go on forever. Mr. Beatty: I love a good burger, a gourmet burger, though. Seared, bacon-wrapped scallops, oysters, and seafood in general; I love seafood.  Favourite movies? Mrs. Beatty: Father of the Bride is one of my favourites. I’m trying to think of ones I watch over and over again—Oh! National Lampoon’s Vacation, too.  Mr. Beatty: The Mission. Yeah, The Mission is one of my favourites of all time. A lot of people don’t know it but it’s a beautiful movie. And the Bourne trilogy, those are great. Is there anything else that you’d like to say? Mrs. Beatty: Just that I’m really happy to be here at Brentwood and so far it’s been a really great experience; I’m looking forward to a wonderful year and the years ahead. On behalf of Hope House, we love the energetic dynamic that Mrs. Beatty brings to the house: her humour, her patience with a certain dorm room that jumps around to Linkin Park at ungodly hours of the night, and her and her family’s grace as they ease into the Brentwood community. Wishing them good tidings for the future and the best of luck, please welcome, Mr. and Mrs. Beatty, Lauren and Summit. Kimberly G, Hope ‘15