Issue link: https://publications.tfs.ca/i/1467827
TFS MARC PFEIFFER '00 "It focused on community," says Marc Pfeiffer, of the Anna Giles Medal. It's no coincidence, then, that this recipient of the award spent a lot of time at the school, often working behind the scenes as a dedicated member of the theatre tech team. In fact, as he puts it, "my life revolved around TFS." Among the many aspects that Mr. Pfeiffer came to deeply appreciate about the school were the level of care, support and interest that his teachers demonstrated. Those attributes have stayed with him all the years since, and formed one of the main reasons that he and his wife, Dr. Shirley Wang '00, are intent on sending their children to TFS. Their daughter is currently in Junior Kindergarten and their son will start Pre-Kindergarten in September. It is this approach, and how the school teaches with the goal of opening students' eyes to the many perspectives of the world, among other things, that Mr. Pfeiffer carries into his work for BMO Financial Group as Head, Data, Analytics & Governance, North American Commercial Banking. As a direct echo of Anna Giles and the award named after her, Mr. Pfeiffer says, "When dealing with other people, you want to produce good for everyone. You need to put yourself into someone else's shoes and ask, 'What are they feeling, and what are their goals and objectives?' It's about closing the gap between people." Acknowledging the meaning behind the Anna Giles Medal, he says,"It's a part of me and who I am as a person today." ARLENE HOFSTADER '77 Arlene Hofstader considers herself fortunate. A member of TFS' third graduating class, she knew Anna Giles personally, and from different perspectives: as a central presence in her school life, and as the mom of her close friend and classmate Kathy Giles. Says Ms. Hofstader, "She balanced the way of teaching; it was not just about what was taught, but how it was taught. She always took into account a child's view of learning." 1977 was the inaugural year for the Anna Giles Medal, and Ms. Hofstader was one of its four recipients. Of receiving the medal, she remarks, "I was honoured and I felt a sense of responsibility. I admired Anna for her leadership, her mentorship of students. She represented an ideal to live up to." Citing TFS' liberal arts approach to education as a "huge influence," Ms. Hofstader went on to study architecture at the University of Toronto. A principal of her own firm (along with husband David Eckler, Class of '77, and another partner), many of their projects revolve around heritage preservation and, separately, creating barrier-free spaces. Importantly, the firm is actively engaged in a program giving newly arrived, foreign-trained architects Canadian work experience and insight into how the practice is undertaken here. Often their interns stay with them. Says Ms. Hofstader, "Anna was always supporting and guiding students. That, and my teachers at TFS, who came from all around the Francophonie, inspired me to follow their example. I find it enriching and I feel I am doing some good." 23 e Anna Giles Medal recipients Priya Persaud '00 Vanessa Bell '01 Andrew Graham '01 Victoria Long '02 Diana Sharpe '03 Hartley Dutczak '04 Vanessa Floras '05 Victoria Tuason '05 Francis Hugo Pabke '06 Laura Deliakis '06 Cristina Wong- Nomura '07 Avi Bourassa '08 Rebecca Love '08 Lindsay Musalem '09 Caitlin Sharawy '09 Mariam Besada '10 Deema Couchman '11 Sumner Braund '11 Kayla Musalem '12 Kimberly Ng '13 Chloé Laflamme '13 Claire Gallibois '14 Madlen O'Connor '15 Jordyn Smith '15 Michael Aw '15 Annkie Mak '16 Kathleen Yuanxin Chen '16 Norene Lach '17 Maxwell Brodie '18 Sofia Hempelmann Perez '18 Daniel Featherby '19 John Wood '20 Maya Ellis '21