MEET OUR ALUMNI

Hal Willis is a native of Toronto, Canada currently sojourning in the UK with his wife Hannah and their cat Lewis. He received his B. Phil. (MA) in philosophy from the University of Oxford, after completing degrees at the University of Toronto (BA Hons., Philosophy, St. Michael’s College) and McMaster Divinity College (MA, Theology, Philosophical and Theological Hermeneutics). He is a Research Fellow at the Kirby Laing Centre for Public Theology in Cambridge, UK. His primary philosophical interests are in ethics and the philosophy of economics.

Hana Suckstorff is an Education and Research Associate at Alpha Education. She recently completed her doctoral degree in History at the University of Toronto. At Alpha Education, Hana develops resources and leads workshops to broaden the public’s understanding of the history of Asia in WWII. A graduate of Duke Divinity School, Hana is a self-described professional nerd whose interests range from the Italian Renaissance to urban planning, government and civics, and Broadway music.

Hannah Gardiner has a Bachelor of Knowledge Integration and Master’s of Arts in Literary Studies from the University of Waterloo. She is a writer and researcher interested in contemporary poetry, wisdom literature, body studies, and community– building. Hannah currently works as a research assistant and is the artist-in-residence at the Brubacher House Museum, where she is involved in a translation project focused on German language Mennonite poetry.

Ilana Reimer studied journalism and has been a professional writer and editor since 2015. She is the editor of Love Is Moving, a national magazine for Christian young adults. She also coordinates resource development for the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada. Ilana thrives on curiosity and is passionate about exploring meaning and truth through journalism and fictional storytelling. She’s = particularly interested in writing about human sexuality — spiritually, psychologically, and biologically — and how these areas connect with the Christian worldview.

Jamil Jivani has served as president of Canada’s largest conservative networking organization, the Canada Strong and Free Network. He’s also a political columnist for Postmedia and serves on the board of directors at North York General Hospital. He is a lawyer by training and previously worked as a visiting professor at Osgoode Hall Law School and special advisor to the Premier of Ontario. As a child, Jamil was labeled illiterate by the Ontario public school system and he recently survived stage IV non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. These experiences motivate him to help create healthier communities where all children can live up to their potential.

Jonathan Cheng is a lawyer and an associate in the Municipal & Land Use Group at Stikeman Elliott in Toronto. His practice focuses on delivering strategic advice and representation on a broad range of land development, planning, and municipal law matters. Jonathan is regularly consulted by property developers, landowners, and industries for his understanding of complex policy and regulatory changes. He regularly appears before the Ontario Land Tribunal (formerly the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal and the Ontario Municipal Board), the Toronto Local Appeal Body, municipal councils, and committees of adjustment, and has experience before all levels of court in Ontario.

Linda Holdbrook is a public health researcher who has worked to improve the resettlement experience for newly arrived refugees in Calgary, Aberta. She is passionate about working towards health equity for marginalized communities, addressing barriers across social systems, and advancing racial reconciliation. Linda holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Calgary and a Master of Public Health from Western University.

Mark Chester Dumbrique is a Junior Client Manager with NFP, a multinational insurance brokerage, where he services clients in energy and transportation sectors as a member of the Complex Risk Solutions Group. An active member of the Calgary performing arts community, Mark is a bass section lead at the Cathedral Church of the Redeemer and the bass section representative with the Calgary Philharmonic Chorus. Within his faith community, Mark serves as the Chair of Liturgy and Prayer with the St. Francis Xavier Chaplaincy and on the pastoral council at St. John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church. Mark is an alumnus of Queen’s University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, and Clear Water Academy, where serves as the Vice Chair of the Alumni Committee and an assistant volleyball coach.

Nate Gartke is a lawyer with the Constitutional and Aboriginal Law Team for the Government of Alberta in Edmonton. He has an interest in oral and written advocacy, drafting policy, and legal advice. Nate is a graduate of the University of Alberta (J.D., Law) and the University of Victoria (BA, Political Science). He also serves on the boards of a local food bank and a Christian camp. In his off-time, he enjoys spending time with his wife and daughter, playing music, reading classic novels and other books, learning poetry, and baking.

Peter Vlaar practises labour, human rights, and workplace safety law as in-house counsel at the Christian Labour Association of Canada (CLAC), a national labour union founded more than 70 years ago to apply Christian principles of social justice to labour relations and the workplace. Peter is also a lifelong elder at his church in Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario, a husband to his amazing wife and father to his three children.

Phil Gaudreau is a public affairs and business consultant, and writer. He lives in Kingston with his wife Catherine and their children. Phil and Catherine co-founded Make it Matter Media Inc. in 2013 to help organizations and people share their gifts and talents with the world in a way that is practical, professional, and compelling. He is a community builder who works with small to medium-sized businesses, public officials, and government agencies.

Tersha De Koning is an Ontarian lawyer interested in criminal, constitutional, and Charter law, in which she hopes to practice, publish, and teach. She works as a lawyer at Innocence Canada, an organization that does advocacy and education/ reform work for those who are innocent of the crimes (homicides) for which they have been convicted. She graduated from law school at Queen’s University and articled as a clerk at the Superior Court and an ex officio clerk at the Divisional Court. Her current research and academic interests include the recent framework shift to section 12 of the Charter, the right not to be subject to any cruel and unusual punishment or treatment. Tersha lives in Mississauga, Ontario, where she has the pleasure and privilege of attending and serving at her local church.