12th Annual - · PDF file12th Grate Groan-Up Spelling Bee (2006) Electronic Scrapbook Contents Page Table of Contents

Thursday, May 11th, 2006

Kingston Literacy’s 12th Annual

Electronic Scrapbook 

at

12th Grate Groan-Up Spelling Bee (2006) Electronic Scrapbook

Contents Page Table of Contents 2

Our Grate Supporters 3

The Winners 6

The Teams 8

The Cast, Crew and Committee Too 28

The Last Word 31

2

Busy Bee (Major) Sponsor ($500) 

Our Grate Supporters!

Golden (Title) Sponsor ($1,000) 

Worker Bee (Team) Sponsor ($250) 

Cheerleader  Sponsors ($100) 

Check out pages 9 to 27 for businesses and groups who entered teams!

HOMESTEAD LAND HOLDINGS

FIRST IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING

PETERS GUARDIAN DRUGS (Est. 1930)

640 KING STREET WEST, ONTARIO K7M 2E5 (613) 548-7595 • (613) 546-5165

Good, Elliott & Hawkins, LLP

153 Brock Street 544-1330

700 Progress Avenue Kingston

Tel: (613) 384-3163

More Grate Supporters

Downtown Lotto Centre

120 Princess Street (613) 549-9930

Eric Palmer, AMP, Mortgage Consultant Tel: (613) 384-2334

Email: [email protected] Web: www.kingstonmortgages.ca

SECKER, ROSS & PERRY CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS

353 Alfred Street KINGSTON, ON K7L 4W2 Phone: 613-544-1517

Website: www.seckerrossperry.com

Silent Auction and Team Prize Sponsors McLellan & Stewart Kids Can Press Kingston 1000 Islands Cruises Kingston Computer Planet King Street Sizzle Loblaws - Midland Store Microage Neil's Flowers Novelis Rosemount B&B Inn S&R Department Store Screening Room Season's Promise Send in the Clowns Southeastern Telecommunications Stratford Festival Tara Foods Taylor Photography TD Waterhouse Thousand Islands Playhouse Titan Nutrition Trailhead Trousdales Via Rail Michele Zigman-Peebles

Ambiance Hair & Body Care Annick Press Atkinson Home Building Centre Bearance's Grocery The Brick Bytewize Computers Brandees Bursta Baskets Canadian Woman's Fitness Chien Noir Curves for Women Cottage Coffee Eddy's Mediterranean Grill First Data Acquisition Corp. Four Points Sheraton General Wolfe Grizzly Grill Gusto's Hershey's Hillside Coffee Company Holiday Inn Hot Yoga Hotel Belvedere JM's Restaurant (Ambassador) Jack Chiang

Skot Caldwell, Steven Heighton, Adam Newman Best Spellers - 2006

The Winners of the 12th Annual

Grate Groan-Up Spelling Bee

Best Spellers, Runners Up: Kingston Frontenac Public Library Christina Tracy, Wilma Kenny, and Sara Carpenter

More Winners in the 12th Annual

Grate Groan-Up Spelling Bee

Best Costumes: TD Canada Trust Jean Roff, Harriet Johnston, Shannon Falcao

Most Pledges Raised: TD Canada Trust Jean Roff, Harriet Johnston, Shannon Falcao

Best Team Spirit: Frontenac Secondary School Sarah Taslimi, Heather Yates, Winter Pearl Tekenos-Levy

The teams! We salute each and every team that has participated in the Bee. Without their support, talent and sense of fun, we would probably be the Grate Groan Spelling Bee. Thank you all!

Bergeron Clifford 

Word we were proudest of spelling correctly: All of them Downfall word: We all have temporary amnesia. Favourite moment at event: We had a great time at the 2006 Spelling Bee. Thanks to all of the people who put the successful event together. We can't wait for next year to support such a great cause.

The team: Tisha Roy, Christina Conklin and Ted Bergeron

Bergeron Clifford

Personal Injury Lawyers

201-1000 Gardiners Road Kingston, ON K7P 3C4 Phone (613) 384-5886 Fax: (613) 384-0501

Certified General Accountants—Kingston 

The team: Michelle Paquin, Ginny Belmore, Sandra Durant

Certified general accountants are trained in the full spectrum of accounting. Broadly and deeply competent, CGAs have the education and training required to fulfil advanced business and financial functions. Certified General Accountants Kingston

City of Kingston  Hockeyvillettes 

Word we were proudest of spelling correctly: We can’t remember now, we had too much fun spelling all the words. Downfall word: Fiduciary! We spelled it FEDUCIARY. Favourite moment at event: We had such a great time and most likely will be back again. Michele was our best speller but the words can sometimes fool you and the competition can be stiff or should I say skeletal! But it is fun to play along even when you are out of the running. Good food and a great venue!!

The team: Pam Sorensen, Michele Zigman-Peebles, Mary Helen Webster

This team is part of the hard-working crew at Ontario Works, that provides employment and financial support to people in need. The goal of Ontario Works is to help people gain employment and/or the skills they need to obtain a job and become self-reliant.

Word we were proudest of spelling correctly: saltimbocca Downfall word: litotes Favourite moment at event: Being asked (and correctly spelling) the word that eliminated us last year

Cunningham, Swan, Carty, Little & Bonham 

The team: Beth Marshall, Pierre Vanderhout, Andrew Bonham

Cunningham, Swan, Carty, Little & Bonham LLP Finding Solutions. Getting Results.

201-1473 John Counter Blvd Kingston, ON

Phone: (613) 544-0211

Website: www.cswan.com

Direct Signs 20/20 

The team: Jane Zigman, Kevin Constantineau, Sandra Pappas

1381 Midland Ave. Kingston, ON Phone: (613) 384-8584 Fax: (613) 384-6484 Email: [email protected] Website: www.DirectSigns.ca

Empire Life 

Word we were proudest of spelling correctly: porphyry -- Of course it didn't count because it wasn't our word. We were already bumped out and scribbling our answers to everyone else's words by then. Downfall word: basilar Favourite moment at event: It was "grate" fun and we thoroughly enjoyed being part of it. Alison's daughter enjoyed playing along too. We're going to recruit her next year...

The team: Sue McDermid, Earl Jenkins, Alison Hamilton

Empire Life has been one of the Bee’s strongest supporters over the years. In addition to sending and sponsoring teams, their staff members have helped us out, and they even desktop-published and printed our program for many years. We are very lucky to have such a strong , community-minded company based here in Kingston!

Frontenac Secondary School 

Word we were proudest of spelling correctly: scion (we were shocked that we got it right!) Downfall word: debouchement (we missed the middle “e”) Favourite moment at event: I’m not sure, but The Bee was a wonderful opportunity for us to become involved in the community. As we were the only highschool team, I felt we represented Frontenac in a great way! I can only hope that we paved the way for future highschool teams, as it was a fun and entertaining night!

The team: Sarah Taslimi, Heather Yates, Winter Pearl Tekenos-Levy

For the first time, a high school team was included in our Bee. Committee member, and Head Girl at Frontenac Secondary School, Winter Pearl Tekenos-Levy organized a mini-Bee at her school, and generated lots of interest and spirit. While the winners of Frontenac’s Bee were unable to attend ours, due to unfortunate scheduling conflicts, this boisterous team did their school proud, AND won the award for Best Team Spirit.

James Reid Funeral Home 

Word we were proudest of spelling correctly: caduceus Downfall word: offal Favourite moment at event: Our team, although never a winner, is always enthusiastic.

The team: Scott Cameron, Anita Lister, Mary Cassidy

James Reid Funeral Home, Cataraqui Chapel 1900 John Counter Blvd. Kingston, ON K7M 7H3 Telephone: (613) 544-3411 Website: www.jamesreidfuneralhome.com

James Reid Funeral Home

Kingston Community Health Centres Sponsored by  

Viner, Kennedy, Frederick, Allan & Tobias LLP 

Word we were proudest of spelling correctly: All of them! Downfall word: We can’t remember. Favourite moment at event: There was a fun buzz on that night!

The team: Leann Cunningham, Wendy Christopher, Ted Faucher

27 Place d'Armes, Kingston, ON K7L 4V6

Phone: (613) 542-7867 Website: www.vinerkennedy.com

We provide expertise in many areas of law, representing a broad range of clients. We endeavor to provide client success by understanding their needs, keeping in regular contact with them and providing prompt advice.

Kingston Frontenac Public Library  Team name: Eats, Shoots and Leaves 

Sponsored by the Friends of the Library 

The team: Christina Tracy, Wilma Kenny, Sara Carpenter

With 17 branches in the Greater Kingston and Frontenac region, the Kingston Frontenac Public Library is a treasure trove of books, movies, cd’s, computer and internet access, and community resources, but their greatest asset is their knowledgeable, helpful and caring staff.

Kingston Literacy Tutors Team name: The Phonetics 

Sponsored by Bell Canada 

Word we were proudest of spelling correctly: I think we were pretty lucky because the words we were given to spell were all familiar words. Downfall word: Our downfall came with the word “rococo.” One might think that it should stick in my mind, but even now I needed to check its spelling in the dictionary! Favourite moment at event: All of it!

The team: Sue Raike, Carol Smith, Bill Jennings

Bell Canada has been very supportive of the Grate Groan-Up Spelling Bee, sponsoring teams since our 2000 Bee. This year, they sponsored a team of Kingston Literacy tutors, each of whom showed us some of their brilliant spelling techniques. Way to go guys!

Ongwanada Sponsored by Empire Life 

Word we were proudest of spelling correctly: all of them Downfall word: distraight Favourite moment at event: A member of the winning team was a friend of ours from the "Open Voices Choir."

The team: Amy Wartman, Martin Kandler, Cindy Chappell

Empire Life has been one of the Bee’s strongest supporters over the years. In addition to sending and sponsoring teams, their staff members have helped us out, and they even desktop-published and printed our program for many years. Ongwanada, as well, have been stalwart supporters of the Bee, sending a team every year since 1997!

Queen’s Absent‐Minded Professors 

The team: George Brandie, Louise Mallory, Kim McAuley

Queen’s

Absent-Minded Professors

Sometimes groups of friends, or colleagues enter teams. What a great shared experience it can be!

Re/Max Realty Concepts Corp. Team name: Realty Good Spellers 

Word we were proudest of spelling correctly: All of them, until we crashed! Downfall word: It’s just too painful to even think about it... Favourite moment at event: The event was fun, the meal was fantastic, and it’s a worthwhile cause. Does there have to be just one moment?

The team: Hilary McKenna, Bob Winsor, Marcia Jones

You can tell that these three would be great in the realty business, because they take their spelling seriously (crossing every “t” and dotting every “i”), but they also know how to have a great time. If I were buying or selling a property, those are both things I would want to be sure of. Wouldn’t you?

Realty Concepts Corp Brokerage

613-389-7777

Skeleton Park Skeletymoglogists 

Word we were proudest of spelling correctly: distichous Downfall word: None! Favourite moment at event: We had fun!

The team: Skot Caldwell, Steven Heighton, Adam Newman

Skeleton Park Skeletymologists

This was the Skeletymologists first year as a team in the Bee, though Adam was on the North Kingston Community Health Centre team in 2005. Despite their relative inexperience, the team wowed the crowd with their spelling prowess, and good humour. Congratulations, guys. You were the best!

Talking Books Book Club 

Word we were proudest of spelling correctly: No one can remember. We did think we had some toughies though. Downfall word: ephod Favourite moment at event: It was humbling going up against the high school team that included the daughter of one of our team-mates, particularly when the high school gals outlasted us.

The team: Barbara Yates, Linda Poce, Annamey Yan Zyl

The Talking Books

This book club was one of the first to enter the Bee, in 2005. From their spelling prowess, it is obvious that there is a link between the ability to spell and the amount you read!

TD Canada Trust 

The team: Jean Roff, Harriet Johnston, Shannon Falcao

Canada Trust

TD Canada Trust has been an incredible supporter of the Bee right from our very first year. Whether it be by entering teams, sponsoring teams, providing amazing prizes for our Silent Auction, volunteers for the event and beyond, they have shown how much the community means to them in spades!

Upper Canada Office Systems 

The team: Ted Bass, Ken Martin, Sean Gallagher

Upper Canada Office Systems provides intelligent and creative solutions for your office environment. As the largest vendor of office furniture and technology from Belleville to Kingston to Brockville, they will help you create an efficient environment, maximize employee productivity and achieve your business goals. 40 Grant Timmins Drive, Kingston

(613) 547-8070

W3C (Women, Wine,  Words and Chocolate) Mad Bees 

Word we were proudest of spelling correctly: All of them! Downfall word: manoeuvre Favourite moment at event: It was such a fun, well-run event, we just had a great time! And the Mulligan was a great idea!

The team: Marilyn Broadhead, Allison Handelman, Dana Harris

  W3C (Women,    Wine, Words and    Chocolate) Mad Bees 

This group represents another book club, a phenomenal addition to the type of groups, businesses and organizations who support the Grate Groan-Up Spelling Bee.

The Cast and Crew

While it may take a village to raise a child, it takes a small army to run and maintain an event like the Grate Groan-Up Spelling Bee. Kingston Literacy has been very fortunate to have had tremendous support from the community to run this event. Here are just some of the folks who play key roles in the Bee, many of whom have helped us out for years!

Jack Chiang Honorary Chair

Jim Elyot Master of

Ceremonies

John Lazarus Mispronouncer

For the last five years, Kingston Whig-Standard Photo Editor, author and recent Order of Canada recipient, Jack Chiang has been the Honorary Chair of the Grate Groan-Up Spelling Bee. In this role, he has helped us to promote the Bee, and raise its stature significantly. He has also acted as a judge at this event for the last nine years, entertaining the audience and teams as well! Thank you Jack, for all your support.

We have been very fortunate to have local media icon Jim Elyot as our Master of Ceremonies for the last eight years. While always the consummate professional, Jim takes on the role of ringleader, stand-up comic, traffic cop and general evening facilitator, keeping this event moving. He is never at a loss for words, and adds so much to the fun of the evening.

Who could be better to give each team their words than John Lazarus? As a professor in the Drama Department at Queen’s, and an acclaimed writer, actor, and broadcaster, his command of the language is staggering. His crystal clear diction and intimate knowledge of words would make it easy for teams to spell, if only the words were more simple!

The Judges Paula Allen, Jack Chiang and Garry McColman are our illustrious judges. They let the teams and audience know if each word is spelled correctly, or not. The judges also have the final say if anyone challenges a spelling, or decision. Their tools include the Canadian Oxford Dictionary, and several loud noisemakers. Their wisdom and good humour help keep the Bee buzzing.

...And Committee Too

A large part of why this event is so successful is that the volunteer committee that has organized it has been incredibly dedicated, hardworking and creative. While some might content themselves with a successful event, and leave each detail as it was the previous year, this committee consistently seeks out new elements, and works hard to make sure it is always fresh. While some faces have changed over the years, consistent traits of most committee members are their dedication, originality and great sense of humour.

Verna Mann has been on the Spelling Bee

Committee since 1996!

Evelyn Maizen, this year’s Co-Chair, has been with the

Bee since 1999.

Newcomer to the committee, Jane Zigman was a team member in years gone by.

2006 Spelling Bee Committee

Shirley Kalfin (co-chair) Leslie Kirby-Olvet Evelyn Maizen (co-chair) Verna Mann Winter Pearl Tekenos-Levy Nancy Pearce Lorraine Winsor Jane Zigman Martha Rudden (staff support) Donna Vinkle (staff support)

A Bittersweet Note

Longstanding Word Wizard, and committee member, Cyril Kalfin passed away during the past year. While we really missed his wry sense of humour, talent with words and incredible dedication, Shirley Kalfin stepped up to the plate, and provided us with a great set of words, yet again. Cyril’s hard work and amazing support for the cause of literacy were recognized at this year’s Bee with the presentation of the Zalman Yanovsky Award for Outstanding Service To Literacy, by Zalman’s daughter, Zoe Yanovsky.

Cyril’s daughter accepting the Zalman Yanovsky Award

Cyril (foreground) keeping an eye on the words in 2004

Where would we Bee without our terrific volunteers? A number of wonderful people helped us out on the night of the Bee, and we would have been lost without them. Here are just a few.

Want into the Hive?

The Spelling Bee Committee are dedicated folks who know how to work hard, and have fun at the same time. If you are interested in being a part of this committee, please give Martha or Donna a call at (613) 547-2012. We are always on the look out for new workers and drones!

The Last Word

While the Bee is a wonderful event, and tons of fun, it does serve a couple of very important purposes. First, it helps to raise critical funds for our Family Literacy programs, which receive no government funding for their ongoing operations. These programs support and encourage the development of reading in families, especially in high-risk areas. The 2006 Bee raised over $17,000 dollars for these programs, and for that we are truly grateful. The Bee also helps to increase public awareness about Kingston Literacy, and literacy issues in general. The more people who know about both, the better. Thank you for your interest in both the Bee and Kingston Literacy!