Jill Clark

��ɫֱ�� community members head to Paris Olympics as members of Team Canada

Christopher.Sorensen — Tue, 23 Jul 2024 13:18:06 +0000

��ɫֱ�� community members head to Paris Olympics as members of Team Canada

Christopher.Sorensen Tue, 07/23/2024 - 09:18

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(L-R) Former ��ɫֱ�� Varsity Blues athletes Heather Bansley, Michelle Li, Kylie Masse, Lucia Stafford and Jazz Shukla will be competing at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games (photos by Essene Hernandez/Eyepix Group/LightRocket/Getty Images, Shi Tang/Getty Images, Al Bello/Getty Images, Andy Astfalck/BSR Agency/Getty Images, MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Jill Clark

Topic

Global Lens

Athletes

Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education

Olympics

Varsity Blues

Subheadline

From swimming to track, volleyball and badminton, several former Varsity Blues athletes will head to the Games alongside key staff members

Five former Blues athletes have qualified to represent Canada at the upcoming 2024 Olympic Games this summer – and will be joined in host city Paris by several ��ɫֱ�� staff and community members.

Four-time Olympic medalist Kylie Masse has been named a co-captain of the Canadian swimming team at the Games, which take place July 26 to Aug. 11, while former Blues badminton star Michelle Li is set to make her fourth Olympic appearance and beach volleyball player Heather Bansley qualified for her third straight Summer Games.

Track and field alumnae Jazz Shukla and Lucia Stafford are off to their first and second Games, respectively.

Meanwhile, at the Paralympic Games, which take place Aug. 28 to Sept. 8., former Varsity Blues rower Alina Dumas is set to represent Brazil as coxswain of its PR3 coxed four crew.

The athletes will be joined in Paris by several ��ɫֱ�� staff members and alumni.

Byron MacDonald, who enters his 47th season as Varsity Blues swimming head coach this September, heads to his 10th Olympic Games as a broadcaster, while assistant head coach Linda Kiefer heads to her sixth Olympic Games as a swimming coach. Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education (KPE) alumnus and ��ɫֱ�� staff member Ron Castro was also named a massage therapist to the Canadian swimming team.

Former Varsity Blues volleyball player and head coach Ed Drakich is set for his fifth Olympic Games as a volleyball technical official. He also represented Canada as an athlete in 1996.

Jane Thornton, Team Canada’s chief medical officer, earned her Doctor of Medicine from ��ɫֱ��’s Temerty Faculty of Medicine in 2014.

Here’s a brief snapshot of the ��ɫֱ�� community members who will be representing Canada as the Games get underway later this week:

Kylie Masse reacts after competing in the final of the women's 200m backstroke at the Canada Olympic & Paralympic Swimming Trials at the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre on May 16, 2024 (Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Kylie Masse – Swimming

A member of the Varsity Blues swimming team from 2014-2019, Masse has already put together a lengthy career full of highlights ahead of a third Olympic appearance.

She claimed her first Olympic medal at the 2016 Rio Games, earning bronze in the 100-metre backstroke. She then set a new world record while winning the 100-metre backstroke at the 2017 FINA World Championships in Budapest.

Masse would go on to defend her 100-metre backstroke world championship at the 2019 FINA World Championships in Gwangju, South Korea, propelling her to a three-medal performance at the 2020 Tokyo Games, where she took silver in both the 100-metre and 200-metre backstroke events, and added a bronze as part of Canada’s 4x100m medley relay.

During her time with the Varsity Blues, Masse went undefeated at five consecutive Ontario University Athletics (OUA) championships without losing an individual or relay race. The five-time OUA female swimmer of the year, five-time OUA first team all-star and the 2015 OUA female rookie of the year also twice won the Dr. Jeno Tihanyi award for individual medley excellence and earned major grand slams in all three backstroke events.

Michelle Li poses during the medal presentation ceremony for the women's singles gold medal badminton match during the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England (Photo by Ben Stansall/AFP/Getty Images)

Michelle Li – Badminton

Competing with the Varsity Blues badminton team during both the 2009-2010 and 2012-2013 seasons, Li is appearing at her fourth Olympic Games.

She made her Olympic debut at the 2012 London Games, competing in both the women’s singles and doubles events, earning an impressive fourth place result with her partner Alexandra Bruce. She then went on to qualify for both the 2016 Rio Games and 2020 Tokyo Games in the women’s singles, achieving a top 10 finish at the latter.

Among the most successful Canadian female badminton players ever, Li is a six-time Pan American Championships singles gold medalist and the first Canadian woman to win singles gold at the Commonwealth Games.

At ��ɫֱ��, Li helped the Varsity Blues to their first OUA championship title in 10 years, earning OUA female MVP and OUA all-star honours during the 2012-13 campaign. In that season she won both the OUA and Canadian university women’s singles titles, while partnering with Grace Gao to win the women’s doubles titles.

(L-R) Gold medalists Heather Bansley and Sophie Bukovec of Team Canada pose for photos after the women's final match of the NORCECA Olympic Beach Volleyball Qualification Tournament (photo by Essene Hernandez/Eyepix Group/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Heather Bansley – Beach Volleyball

A former Varsity Blues student-athlete between 2005-2010 and assistant coach during the 2021-22 season, Bansley is now getting set to head to her third Olympic Games as a member of Team Canada.

Considered among the best defensive players in the world, she previously competed at the 2020 Tokyo Games and the 2016 Rio Games with partner Brandie Wilkerson, placing fifth overall at both international showcases. Bansley has been a dominant player throughout her career on the FIVB beach volleyball world tour, winning the world's best defender honour three times (2018, 2016 and 2015). In 2018, she and Wilkerson reached the No. 1 ranking in the world.

While a student-athlete at ��ɫֱ��, Bansley was a two-time all-Canadian who finished first on the OUA and U SPORTS leader board in points, kills and serving aces per set during the 2009-2010 season. She helped lead the Blues to a provincial title and a spot in the U SPORTS national championship.

Lucia Stafford reacts during the women's 1500m heats at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan, Aug. 2, 2021 (photo by Li Yibo/Xinhua via Getty Images)

Lucia Stafford – Track and Field

An alumna of the Varsity Blues track and field and cross country teams between 2016-2020, Stafford will be heading to her second Olympic Games after winning her third Canadian women’s 1500-metre title. A semifinalist at the 2020 Tokyo Games, Stafford recently set a new Canadian record in the women’s 2000-metre in her Diamond League debut, breaking the previous mark set 30 years ago by Angela Chalmers.

While with the Blues, Stafford was named both ��ɫֱ��’s T-Holders’ female athlete of the year and the OUA female athlete of the year across all sports in her senior season. She earned individual OUA and U SPORTS gold medals, an OUA silver with the women’s cross country team, nine provincial medals and 10 national medals with the track and field team across her four seasons of competition.

Jazz Shukla prepares for the start of the women's 800m semi-final heat three during the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary on Aug. 25, 2023 (photo by Li Yibo/Xinhua via Getty Images)

Jazz Shukla – Track and Field

A Varsity Blues track and field and cross country athlete between 2016 and 2022, Shukla qualified for her first Olympic Games after winning the Canadian women’s 800-metre title. After a steady ascent up the rankings since graduating from ��ɫֱ��, her 1:58.20 time at the Canadian Olympic trials marked the second fastest trials time in North America.

Since jumping back into competition in the 800-metre event in 2022, Shukla has continued to improve her time with each outing. She most recently competed at the 2023 Canadian National Championships, 2023 World Championships and 2024 World Athletics Indoor Championships.

Shukla’s time at ��ɫֱ�� coincided with impressive results and recognition. With the cross country team, she earned U SPORTS first team all-Canadian and OUA first team all-star honours in 2021.

Kylie Masse completes Tokyo medal haul with silver in 200-metre backstroke, bronze in relay

geoff.vendeville — Tue, 03 Aug 2021 14:49:42 +0000

Kylie Masse completes Tokyo medal haul with silver in 200-metre backstroke, bronze in relay

geoff.vendeville Tue, 08/03/2021 - 10:49

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��ɫֱ�� alumna Kylie Masse, far left, won bronze in the 4x100 medley relay in Tokyo along with her teammates Sydney Pickrem, Maggie Mac Neil and Penny Oleksiak (photo courtesy of Swimming Canada/Ian MacNicol)

Jill Clark

Topic

Global Lens

Alumni

Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education

Olympics

Varsity Blues

Recent ��ɫֱ�� graduate Kylie Masse helped Canada win bronze in the 4x100 medley relay over the weekend, earning her third medal of the Tokyo Olympic Games.

Masse, who graduated from the Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education this year, swam first in the relay and gave Canada the lead after the backstroke leg with a time of 57.90. The Canadian team – which also featured Sydney Pickrem (breaststroke), Maggie Mac Neil (butterfly) and Penny Oleksiak (freestyle) – went on to set a Canadian record in the event with a time of 3:52.60. They finished behind the Australian and the American teams, who took gold and silver.

“It's so special,” Masse, a former Varsity Blues swimmer from LaSalle, Ont., told CBC when asked about the difference between swimming in individual and relay events. “These girls have been my people, especially this past year through all the challenges with COVID.

“We've been together and by each other's side so I'm really happy to have done this here with them tonight.”

One day earlier, Masse took silver in the 200-metre backstroke, beating her personal best time and the previous Canadian record, which she held. Last week, she took home a silver in the 100-metre backstroke.

A bronze medal-winner in the 100-metre backstroke at the 2016 Games in Rio, Masse has now climbed the podium four times over two Olympics.

Byron MacDonald, head coach of the Varsity Blues swim team, praised Masse's performance in Tokyo.

“The word ‘incredible’ really doesn't seem to do justice to what Kylie has accomplished today and over the past six years,” he said in an email from Japan, where he's working as a CBC swimming commentator.

“Elite sports is about performance on demand and Kylie has always done that. She is so humble and gracious with her success. She is a true champion of sport.”

In nail-biting final, Kylie Masse takes silver in 100-metre backstroke at Tokyo Games

Christopher.Sorensen — Tue, 27 Jul 2021 14:18:21 +0000

In nail-biting final, Kylie Masse takes silver in 100-metre backstroke at Tokyo Games

Christopher.Sorensen Tue, 07/27/2021 - 10:18

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Kylie Masse, a ��ɫֱ�� and Varsity Blues alumna, won the silver medal in the 100-metre backstroke on Monday night (photo by Attila Kisbenedek/AFP via Getty Images)

Jill Clark

Topic

Our Community

Alumni

Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education

Olympics

Swimming

Varsity Blues

��ɫֱ�� alumna Kylie Masse won the silver medal in the women's 100-metre backstroke on Monday night at the Olympic Games in Tokyo.

The 25-year-old from LaSalle, Ont., touched the wall in 57.72 seconds – three-tenths of a second behind Australia’s Kaylee McKeown – to finish second and earn her second straight Olympic medal in her signature event.

Masse, who swam for the Varsity Blues, tied for the bronze at the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro.

“I'm really happy,” Masse told CBC after the event. “To get on the podium in this incredibly talented and deep field, I knew it was going to be a challenge – so I'm really happy to have gotten silver.”

Masse, who graduated from ��ɫֱ��'s Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education earlier this year, kicked off the Games with an Olympic-record swim of 58.17 seconds in heats on Sunday morning. In a sign of the competitiveness of the field, Masse’s record time was then broken twice – by American Regan Smith (57.96) and McKeown (57.88).

In the semifinals, Masse went on to touch the wall in 58.09, ranking her second coming into Monday's final event.

“It's always an honour to represent your country and this year especially when no one is able to be here,” she said. “I can feel the love and support from home and I couldn't be happier to bring a medal home and contribute to Canada's success here.”

Read about Kylie Masse’s road to the Tokyo Olympic Games

Varsity Blues head swimming coach Byron MacDonald, who is also in Tokyo as a CBC commentator, said he was impressed with Masse's performance.

“After all the challenges during this pandemic year, she rises to the challenge once again,” he said in an email. "Sport is about performance on demand and Kylie always answers the bell. What a record of getting to the podium these past six years. This silver is icing on a very impressive cake! We are so very fortunate to have had Kylie Masse on campus these past years. She is one of the greatest Canadian athletes ever, and an outstanding leader and compassionate friend to all who know her.”

Masse will also swim in the 200-metre backstroke and could make an appearance on Canada's women's and mixed medley relay teams later this week.

During her time with the Varsity Blues, the two-time world champion went undefeated at five consecutive Ontario University Athletics (OUA) championships by never losing an individual or relay race. The five-time OUA female swimmer of the year, five-time OUA first team all-star and the 2015 OUA female rookie of the year also twice won the Dr. Jeno Tihanyi award for individual medley excellence and earned major grand slams in all three backstroke events.

On the national stage, Masse earned the grand slam award for four career victories in the backstroke events and was named the U Sports female swimmer of the year from 2016 to 2019. She was named the BLG award winner as the U Sports female athlete of the year across all sports in 2015-16 .and was named ��ɫֱ��'s T-Holders’ female athlete of the year three times between 2015 and 2018.

Masse's international highlights while competing for the Blues include a bronze-medal finish in the 100 backstroke at the 2016 Olympic Games, as well as breaking the world record en route to a gold-medal finish at the 2017 FINA world championships.

Triple jumps and chicken coops: Varsity Blues athlete Brenna Hamel stays sharp during COVID-19

Christopher.Sorensen — Thu, 13 Aug 2020 21:38:24 +0000

Triple jumps and chicken coops: Varsity Blues athlete Brenna Hamel stays sharp during COVID-19

Christopher.Sorensen Thu, 08/13/2020 - 17:38

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After returning to the family farm in Saskatchewan after COVID-19 struck in March, Varsity Blues triple jumper Brenna Hamel was forced to get creative with her training regimen and equipment (photo courtesy of Brenna Hamel)

Jill Clark

Topic

Our Community

Coronavirus

Faculty of Arts & Science

Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education

Global

Rotman Commerce

Varsity Blues

Like many others, the ��ɫֱ��’s Brenna Hamel found her life turned upside down by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In March, the fourth-year Rotman Commerce public accounting specialist – and Varsity Blues track and field athlete – was taking part in an international exchange program, when the prime minister called Canadians home.

Hamel went from working for a technology-consulting firm in Singapore to working on her family’s recreational farm in Shellbrook, Sask., about 140 kilometres north of Saskatoon.

"We raise chickens and turkeys for means of personal consumption and we raise other birds recreationally, such as peacocks, guinea fowl and silkies,” she says. “We also recreationally raise rabbits.”

Another big change: Hamel, who competes in triple jump, needed to find a new way to maintain her training.

“I set up a strict daily schedule,” says Hamel. “I worked 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., made supper and spent at least one hour per day weeding or doing some short chores. Afterwards, I would train."

Hamel says she adopted a strict daily schedule on the family farm that included working eight hours a day, performing chores and physical training (photo courtesy of Brenna Hamel)

Hamel, who finished fourth overall at the 2019 OUA championships, says she had to get creative to keep up with the Varsity Blues program.

“The track in Shellbrook is dirt so I have to drive 40 kilometers to get to a real track,” she says. “This is not always feasible, but I go when I can. On those days, I get my spikes on and do my speed work. Otherwise, I work with what I have on the acreage.

“During the winter months, I got creative by creating a squat bar out of PVC pipe, hooks and weighted backpacks. We have a treadmill to get some running in and I use the stairs for plyo [plyometrics, or jump training].

“Spring and summer is very busy. We do lots of weeding, rototilling, cleaning of chicken coops, cutting grass and any miscellaneous projects that are going on. For example, we are re-treeing our lot right now. We are also laying gravel paths so we are separating dirt from rocks with a sifting machine. We have also done trenching to lay water hoses underground to feed the gardens and set up an automatic watering systems for the birds and gardens.”

Brenna Hamel performs at the 2019 Ontario University Athletics track and field championships (photo by Seyran Mammadov)

“In my 40-plus years of coaching, this is a first,” says Carl Georgevski, the Varsity Blues’ head track and field coach. “Brenna couldn't make it to a team meeting because she was cleaning chicken coops.”

As crazy as these last few months have been, one thing is for sure: Hamel is eager to return to Toronto and ��ɫֱ��.

“I will be back this fall,” she says. “This will be my sixth and final year at ��ɫֱ��. I wanted to return to have one last year of training with Carl and the team, and one last shot at nationals.”

Friends of the forest: ��ɫֱ�� mountain bike team recognized for Don Valley clean-up program

Christopher.Sorensen — Thu, 06 Dec 2018 17:30:42 +0000

Friends of the forest: ��ɫֱ�� mountain bike team recognized for Don Valley clean-up program

Christopher.Sorensen Thu, 12/06/2018 - 12:30

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Co-captains of the team, Michal Leckie and Brandon Fawkes, and head coach David Wright, accept their awards from a representative of the City of Toronto (photo courtesy of Varsity Blues)

Topic

Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education

Innis College

Urban Studies

Varsity Blues

The ��ɫֱ��’s Varsity Blues mountain biking team was recently recognized by the City of Toronto with a certificate of appreciation for their ongoing volunteer work in Toronto's Don Valley urban forest.

Over the past 18 years, the team has organized an annual event where team members, alumni and volunteers have helped remove a total of 44,000 pounds of garbage from the forest floor.

“This recognition is important because it both highlights the great work our ��ɫֱ�� students, the leaders of tomorrow, are doing outside the classroom alongside the City of Toronto, but also highlights an important local environmental issue that everyone can get involved with,” said David Wright, head coach of the team.

Wright accepted the award alongside team co-captains Michal Leckie and Brandon Fawkes.

This year the clean-up project will be integrated into ��ɫֱ��’s urban studies curriculum, and students will conduct additional research on issues surrounding urban waste in our forested city ravines.

The trails in the forest are the training ground for the ��ɫֱ�� cyclists, so the team is happy to ensure it remains clean, green and accessible.

“Happy trails mean a happy team,” says Wright. “It’s a win-win situation. We are a high performance program on the race course, but also in life. Volunteering is important.”

The team has already started recruiting volunteers for the 2019 clean-up event on Saturday, May 11. Those who are interested are asked to email mountainbiking@utoronto.ca.

��ɫֱ�� basketball coach Tamara Tatham joins Raptors 905 as first Canadian woman in the role

Romi Levine — Thu, 16 Aug 2018 14:53:59 +0000

��ɫֱ�� basketball coach Tamara Tatham joins Raptors 905 as first Canadian woman in the role

Romi Levine Thu, 08/16/2018 - 10:53

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Two-time Olympian Tamara Tatham will continue to coach Varsity Blues women's basketball while working with Raptors 905 (photo by Martin Bazyl)

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Tamara Tatham is making history.

The ��ɫֱ�� Varsity Blues women’s basketball assistant coach has just joined the coaching staff of Raptors 905, the G-League affiliate of the NBA’s Toronto Raptors, making her the first Canadian woman to have a coaching job on a North American men's professional basketball team.

Tatham was hired by Raptors 905 head coach Jama Mahlalela, who also has ties to ��ɫֱ��, having served as an assistant coach with the Blues men's team from 2005-2009.

“I've played basketball my entire life, started coaching, so I know a lot about the game and I know what I can give to the game, and to the younger generation,” Tatham told the Canadian Press. “I'm really excited to have this opportunity to really showcase, not just for women, but for the Canadian culture.

“Jama's given me a huge opportunity as a Canadian coach to learn from some of the best, and that's something I really am excited about.”

Tatham, who joined the Blues as a full-time assistant coach last season, is a two-time Olympian, having represented Canada at both the 2012 London and 2016 Rio Olympic Games. She has also donned the red and white at two Pan American Games, six FIBA Americas championships, and two FIBA world championships.

Her esteemed national team career is highlighted with a gold medal from the 2015 Toronto Pan Am Games, where Canada defeated the United States, 81-73, to claim the first ever Pan Am gold medal in basketball, men or women.

Prior to her time with the senior women's national team, Tatham's basketball career blossomed at the University of Massachusetts. Named team captain in her final two seasons, she became just the 11^th player in program history to surpass 1,000 career points.

She will continue her position with the Blues while working with Raptors 905 for practices, team meetings and home games.

Varsity Blues buddy up with elementary students across Toronto

sgupta — Tue, 10 Nov 2015 16:20:57 +0000

Varsity Blues buddy up with elementary students across Toronto sgupta Tue, 11/10/2015 - 11:20

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(all photos by Martin Bazyl, courtesy Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education)

Jill Clark

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Jill Clark

Topic

Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education

Community

Cities

Children

Subheadline

Student-athletes devise community outreach program for city schools

Student-athletes from the ��ɫֱ�� are using everything from basketball to blindfolds to help elementary school kids across the City of Toronto develop character and leadership.

“I liked the Lego building because I learned about cooperation and exact communication,” said one child from St. Paul's Catholic School in Regent Park.

Created and delivered by the athletes of ��ɫֱ��’s Varsity Blues, the community outreach program is called Blues Buddy Up. Designed to target personal and interpersonal skill development in students ranging from grades 4-6, the program runs under the BLUES philosophy: Believe, Learn, Understand, Excel & Succeed.

“This is a tremendous opportunity for us to give back to the community,” said football player Kevin Collins of ��ɫֱ��’s St. Michael’s College. “It’s a chance to talk to them about some valuable life lessons, do some physical activity with them and really engage these young students with the Blues philosophy.”

“We are so excited to start implementing Blues Buddy Up this fall,” said Beth Ali, director of intercollegiate & high performance sport and acting assistant dean of the Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education.

“Our dedicated group of student-athletes have so much to offer. To see them give back to the community this way is the definition of leadership. I really believe this program will not only help the school children in their everyday lives, but will also enrich the experience of our Varsity Blues student-athletes during their university careers.”

St. Paul's Catholic School was the stop for their first, in-class session on Nov. 4. The visit featured six of the 45 Blues athletes who have committed to this project. And the young audience embraced their new mentors and the messages with open arms.

“I liked the game when I was blindfolded and walked around the pucks,” said one St. Paul's student. “My guide gave me instructions to follow and I had to trust that person.”

“Overall our students all had the same feedback,” said Micheline Dutil-Hoffman, principal at St. Paul’s. “They thought it was a lot of fun and they learned important lessons at the same time. I would say it was a job well done!”

For fastpitch player Alika Kingsbury, who studies medical radiation, the students’ excitement was infectious.

“The students are so excited to see us that you can’t help but feed off that energy,” Kingsbury said. “Being a part of this is special and it’s a great chance for us as student-athletes to give back in a small way, and really be positive role models.”

“It was educational,” said one St. Paul's student. “They taught us how to support our teammates in basketball and understand what they are saying.”

Blues Buddy Up has already booked two other school visits for next week. Interested in having the one-hour program visit your school? Register here.

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Jayna Hefford and star-studded roster of athletes to join ��ɫֱ�� Sports Hall of Fame

sgupta — Wed, 21 May 2014 09:39:13 +0000

Jayna Hefford and star-studded roster of athletes to join ��ɫֱ�� Sports Hall of Fame sgupta Wed, 05/21/2014 - 05:39

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Alumna Jayna Hefford is just one of the athletes being inducted into ��ɫֱ��'s Sports Hall of Fame (photo below of Darren Lowe courtesy KPE/ all other photos courtesy Jayna Hefford)

Jill Clark

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Jill Clark