Happy holidays from the Dean's Office

With the holidays looming, some of the staff from the Dean’s Office have agreed to share some of their favourite traditions - staff ranging from our most-recognizable, including senior management, through to some employees whose work behind the scenes help to keep the CoM running smoothly - bring home that the main holiday theme is one of love, togetherness, and lots of food.

Kent Stobart,
Vice Dean of Education
“Christmas Eve is an important family event for us. For over 15 years we have had the tradition of having rouladen, a German meat-wrapped “cabbage roll.” Each year, as my eldest prepares the meal, the family discussion turns to whether rouladen should have a pickle wrapped in the middle of the “roll,” wit my spouse’s family, being form northern Germany, saying that is only something for the southern Germans from Bavaria. After our rouladen dinner, we open small gifts on Christmas Eve, then head off to church for the midnight Christmas Eve Service. Frohe Weihnachten!”

Kevin Siebert,
Accreditation Specialist
“A favorite old Christmas tradition is family gathering for a fully decked out turkey meal (including cabbage rolls).  A favorite new tradition is our kids making their ‘personal’ pizzas Christmas Eve, followed with a homemade chocolate Turtle desert.  With our young family, Santa’s magical visit Christmas Eve (complete with flour dusted footprints, chomped cookies and milk left in a Santa cup) is an example of an old tradition that is definitely new and exciting to our kids.  Merry Christmas everyone!”

Brad Steeves,
Interim Chief Operating Officer
“I come from a mix of ancestral backgrounds.  Steeves is a German name, and I am 8th generation Canadian on the Steeves side.  And while I come from German roots our holiday traditions are a result of my maternal and paternal grandmothers.  My maternal grandmother had strong British roots, even though both she and her parents were born in Canada.  The main holiday tradition inherited from her is adornment of the Christmas Day table with Christmas Crackers - which always bewilders guests at our Christmas table who are unfamiliar with this tradition.  The prizes and hats included in the crackers are usually cherished at least until the meal is over.  My paternal grandmother was from the United States with Danish heritage, and the tradition on this side is the elaborate Christmas Eve celebration of a meal beginning with Oyster Stew (I have never acquired the taste for this however!). 

The other significant event that evening as children was, and continues to be, the opening of gifts from the grandparents followed by opening one gift from an immediate family member on this night.  Our own children have now become quite accustomed to these traditions which we have incorporated into our own celebrations. Merry Christmas.”

Sinead McGartland,
Senior Project Leader
“As typical - our traditions revolve around food and time with family. We kick off these celebrations with my daughter’s birthday on the 24th, then move from dinner table to dinner table with my parents, my husband’s parents, and our extended families. We embrace our connections to Ireland by having sausage rolls and potato bread; our connection to Holland by having zon gebakjes and croquettes. And we top off our traditions with a chocolate fondue with our daughters!  

Needless to say, New Year’s typically brings in good intentions and resolutions.”

Alyson Rees,
Executive Assistant to the Dean
“On Christmas Eve, we would make hot chocolate and get ready to read “Twas the Night Before Christmas” when the girls would always remember that they could pick a gift to open. They were too excited as they would rush over to the tree and peruse the gifts, deciding which one to open. As luck would have it, the gift they chose (with some fancy behind the scenes work from Mom) was always their brand new nightwear for Christmas. “phew"

When they were small, it was easy to suggest what gifts they should open but as they grew, it took some fancy packaging and decorating to catch their eye and make sure they “chose” the right gift. To this day, new nightwear is always a “gift” on Christmas Eve and it is very special as my daughter has taken this tradition over with my granddaughter.”

Have a happy holidays, and we look forward to seeing you on January 4, 2016 when the Dean's Office reopens.