FEATURE
POPULATION 63,913 LANGUAGE English
SOVEREIGN STATE United Kingdom CAPITAL CITY Hamilton
Contrary to what one might expect, Albert College and Bermuda share many similarities – a friendly community, historic architecture and Bermuda shorts, as part of our summer uniform. Although the pink sand beaches of Bermuda cannot be found in Belleville, the connection we share is one that is cherished and will continue to be celebrated for generations to come.
paid it forward by establishing the Waheed Brown ’98 Scholarship for Charitable Bermudians in 2020. The scholarship provides additional opportunities for Bermudians who are seeking their own Canadian experience at Albert College. Skye, a Grade 10 student, shared some of her reasons for coming to Albert College from Bermuda. “I was ready for an adventure, ready for more independence and looking for a new experience.” Skye is also a recipient of the Frederick Sydney Smith ’31 Scholarship. In her first year, Skye has been involved in the school’s drama production and choir, and delved into painting watercolour castles in visual arts class. Skye competed with the school’s volleyball team, and at a national tournament with the basketball team. Skye joined Albert College because it felt like it was the right place for her. “It is really diverse here, and I am living with people who speak so many different languages and share their cultures,” she says. Skye has also brought her Bermudian culture to Canada, giving a presentation to students about the celebrations like the Good Friday kite festival that she loves so much about home. The connection between Albert College and Bermuda is a family affair. For example, John Barritt ’68 attended Albert College for three years, as did his sister, Jennifer (Barritt) Johnson ’64 and brother, Mark Barritt ’70. After Albert College, John attended Trent University where he earned a bachelor of arts and met his wife, Sharon. He then received his bachelor of journalism (honours) from Carleton University, and bachelor of law from
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Higgs' and Horseshoe Island
Paget Island
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Lighthouse Hill
Ruth's Bay
Ruth's Bay Point
Annie's Bay
Long Bay
net Rock
Students from Bermuda have been travelling to Belleville for over a century to receive a first-class education at Albert College. Wenona Robinson sailed from Hamilton, Bermuda on the SS Bermudian, arriving at the port of New York in 1905 at the age of 14, en route to Albert College. Wenona graduated in 1908 with an honours diploma in elocution, and her sister, Pauline, graduated the same year from Albert’s domestic science program. After returning to Bermuda, she became a respected teacher, co-founded the Sunshine League, a children’s home, with her sister Agnes, was a women’s rights activist and a long-serving Girl Guide leader. Bermudian Frederick Sydney Smith ’31 attended Albert College from 1928 to 1931. Smith was the son of Hammond Reeve Tucker Smith and Essie Mabel McCallan. Born in 1911, in St. David’s, Bermuda, he was known as a quiet and unassuming gentleman of few words. He was an accomplished sailor of fitted dinghies – a family tradition he notably carried on as the
skipper of “Victory 11” for over 25 years. He was a life-time employee of A-1 Grocery from which he retired in 1975, after more than 40 years of service. Smith passed away on December 4, 1978. His experience at Albert College was so meaningful that a scholarship and bursary fund was established in his name in 1992. The Frederick Sydney Smith Scholarship provides scholarships and bursaries for Bermudian students to attend Albert College, granting from $5,000 to $40,000 each year. The committee, comprised of Bermudian alumni, meets annually to determine the recipients. For 230 Bermudian students, an Albert College education was made possible thanks to this scholarship and a man’s dream to share his experience with his fellow Bermudians. The Frederick Sydney Smith ’31 Scholarship also inspired other Bermudian students to give back to Albert College as he did. Waheed “Ali” Brown ’98, who attended Albert College on scholarship himself,
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ALBERT TALKS
SPRING/SUMMER 2023
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