Outstanding Graduates Make Their Mark

Outstanding Graduates Make Their Mark
Posted on 05/03/2017

MAY 3, 2017 - BARRIE, ON: An artist, a hockey player, a RCMP officer and youth engagement officer are among those honoured this year as part of the Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board's Outstanding Graduate program. Each year during Catholic Education Week, the board recognizes one graduate from each of its nine high schools for their valuable and distinct contributions to society. This program takes a peek into the lives of some very extraordinary people and examines how Catholic education at our board has helped shape their future. This year's recipients are:

  • St. Peter’s Catholic Secondary School
    St. Michael the Archangel Catholic School

    David Ball is a live theatre performer who has graced the stage at Shaw Theatre Festival, Charlottetown Festival and many others. He is a three-time winner of the Brian Linehan Triple Threat Award.

  • St. Theresa’s Catholic High School
    Lindsay Dutton (Jones) is a professional fundraiser who became executive director of The Leacock Foundation. After a life-changing trip to South Africa, she made a career change and now practices psychotherapy in order to help people with their personal healing journey.

  • St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Secondary School
    St. James Catholic School

    Charlie Murray is an artist who specializes in performance, sculpture, installation and music. He was a leader in the artistic collective "Underground Space Station” and invented his own musical language called KRELM. The National Art Gallery of Canada owns two of Charlie's paintings in their permanent collection.


  • Patrick Fogarty Catholic Secondary School
    Sergeant Marcel Beaudin is an OPP officer who worked as part of the Tactics and Rescue unit (hostage rescue). He joined the Aboriginal Policing Bureau's training unit where he became engaged with a number of community and youth initiatives. He is currently the Staff Sergeant/ Provincial Co-ordinator of the Provincial Liaison Team developed after the Ipperwash tragedy.

  • Holy Trinity Catholic High School
    St. Marie of the Incarnation Catholic School
    Thomas Gabor is a youth engagement co-ordinator for LetsStopAIDS, which is Canada's largest youth HIV education and prevention organization. He works with youth in Dududu, South Africa at a drop-in centre and is focussed on providing youth with community health services and skill building.


  • St. Dominic Catholic Secondary School
    Monsignor Michael O’Leary Catholic School

    Carly O'Callaghan has her Master of Business Administration from the Rotman School of Management and currently lives in New York City where she works at a design and innovation consultancy and advises on how to bridge the gap between community and business.

  • St. Joan of Arc Catholic High School
    St. Catherine of Siena Catholic School

    Alexandra Dudarewicz attended the Fiorio Beauty Academy in Toronto and is currently the successful owner of a beauty salon in Barrie. She was always expected to go to university, but decided it was more courageous to follow her passion as a hairstylist.


  • Jean Vanier Catholic High School
    St. Mary’s Catholic School

    Sofie Winkels graduated from the University of Toronto and was accepted to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police training program. She has worked extensively with First Nations communities in British Columbia as an RCMP officer. She is currently a school resource officer who works primarily with at-risk youth in Kamloops, BC.

  • St. Joseph’s Catholic High School
    Matt Beleskey was selected by the Anaheim Ducks as the 112th pick of the NHL Entry Draft in 2006 and turned professional in 2008. He made his NHL debut in the 2008/2009 season, appearing in two games with the Ducks. In 2015, he signed a five-year contract with the Boston Bruins as an unrestricted free agent, where he remains today.

"It is such an honour to recognize these extremely talented students," said Brian Beal, Director of Education. "Every day we witness our students and staff changing the world in positive ways. We congratulate this year's recipients and thank them for demonstrating how our Catholic graduates contribute to the betterment of our province and beyond."

To learn more about this year's Outstanding Graduates or to nominate a graduate for next year, please visit www.outstandinggrads.ca.