A look at some of the prominent Hampstead Elementary School grads on the occasion of anniversary number 100

Montreal, September 2, 2025 – On Tuesday, September 2 the English Montreal School Board marked the first day of classes with a 100th anniversary assembly at Hampstead Elementary School. In attendance were  a  number of prominent graduates

Here is a look at some  of these indivduals.

Jonathan Wener

“A good education, a good environment and good peer groups can ignite your future,” says real estate mogul Jonathan Wener. 

Looking back on Mr.  Wener’s career, it is clear he benefitted from all three.

Jon and Pam Wener and Andee Shuster.

From a young age, Mr. Wener was drawn to entrepreneurship. As a teenager, he delivered newspapers for the Montral Gazette to earn extra money. He also learned the value of hard work from his father, who worked in clothing manufacturing. While he had “plenty of exposure” to the industry, Mr. Wener knew it wasn’t the right path for him.

While studying for his bachelor’s degree in commerce at Concordia University, Mr. Wener began working on construction sites. His keen interest in business and development soon led him to a position in real estate at First Quebec.   “I got lucky. I found a job that really interested me,” he recalls.

At the time, Mr. Wener was focused on gaining experience rather than chasing a paycheck.  “I just moved from one job to another and didn’t care much about salary. I cared much more about learning and equity,” he says.

After graduating from Concordia University in 1971, Mr. Wener maintained his entrepreneurial drive. At 25, he founded Canderel—a North American real estate company specializing in property management, development, and investment.

More than 50 years later, Canderel has become one of Canada’s leading real estate firms, with over $20.5 billion in acquisitions, development, and management projects. 

Despite his corporate success,  Mr. Wener never lost sight of the value of education. In 2015, after decades of involvement with his alma mater, he became chancellor of Concordia University. “I’ve had a very blessed career  and have stayed close to education most of my life, particularly with Concordia,” he says.

Today,  Mr. Wener remains the chairman of Canderel. Having recently stepped down as Concordia’s chancellor, he now devotes more time to philanthropy. Since 1989, he and his wife, Susan, have organized the Canderel Challenge, an annual fundraising race that has raised more than $28 million for cancer research. He is equally committed to his family’s education. “I’ve invested in each of my grandchildren’s education to make sure that they get the best possible education,” he says. “It forms a foundation that’s extremely important”

For  Mr. Wener, the belief remains steadfast: “You can give all kinds of material gifts but the greatest to me is teaching values and giving a good education to your kids.” 

Dr. Gerald Fried

Award-winning surgeon, teacher, innovator, Dr. Gerald Fried’s remarkable career can be traced back to his early beginnings at Hampstead Elementary School. “Education is fundamental to not only the skills that you need in order to practice your field, but also the way you view the world, the people you’re going to meet along the way, and the richness of your life,” said Dr. Fried.

Though he graduated from Hampstead Elementary more than six decades ago, Dr. Fried credits the school with sparking his initial interest in medicine. He vividly remembers working on a scrapbook project about cancer as an 11-year-old student. Determined to learn more, he reached out to the head of cancer research at McGill University for an interview. “I was pretty audacious,” he laughs. 

While he ultimately pursued a different path within medicine, he says that project inspired him to pursue a career that saves lives. “I remember it now many, many years later, and it was one of the things that it gave me the opportunity explore something in depth,” he explains.

Dr. Fried went on to first pursue a Bachelor of Science and his Medical Degree and residency, where he specialized in general surgery, at McGill. He also did a clinical fellowship at The Ohio State University, and his research fellowship at the University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston. 

Dr. Fried went on to become the chair of the Department of Surgery at McGill and worked as a general surgeon for the Montreal General Hospital and the McGill University Health Centre. 

Over the course of his career, Dr. Fried has received numerous accolades for his leadership in surgery and medical education, including the Meritorious Service Cross from the Governor General of Canada, the Duncan Graham Award from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, and election to the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences.  He has also held prestigious international leadership roles, such as Chair of the Board of Regents for the American College of Surgeons and President of the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons Today, Dr. Fried, is a professor of surgery, and associate dean in McGill University’s Faculty of Medicine. 

“As I get kind of later in my career, I enjoy the teaching part more and more,” says Dr. Fried, as he reflects on the importance of teachers.  

“The power of a teacher is huge in terms of their ability to motivate and influence people,” he says.

Dr. Fried reflects on how Hampstead’s small classroom sizes allowed both teachers and peers to have a lasting impact on him -something he encourages today’s students to appreciate. “It’s very powerful to be a good role model,” he says. “Your fellow classmates, they influence you a lot.”

Angela Broccolini

Angela Broccolini still treasures the friendships and life lessons she gained during her years at Hampstead Elementary School. She joined the school in Grade 4, already facing academic challenges. “I was having difficulty with English, reading, writing, math, you name it,” she recalled.

That began to change when she entered Ms. Yablon’s class as a shy young girl. Reading aloud had always been daunting. “I never, ever, ever, ever read in public,”  Ms. Broccolini said. But in Ms. Yablon’s classroom, she found a teacher willing to meet her where she was. She remembers how Ms. Yablon rearranged desks to create a welcoming space and introduced group reading sessions. Though she dreaded hearing her name called, her teacher gave her the time and encouragement she needed to build confidence at her own pace.

Ms. Broccolini recalls the first time she read to the class. “Ms. Yablon pulled me aside and said, ‘I’m very proud of you—you could do it,’” she said. It was a moment that stayed with her.

Despite having to work harder than many of her peers, she persevered, earning a Bachelor of Arts in history and political science from Concordia University. When applying to law school, she reflected on her early struggles and the determination it took to overcome them. “I’m so proud of it,” she said. “It was the story that I told to get into law school.”

Ms. Broccolini’s perseverance paid off. She earned her law degree from the University of Saskatchewan and later moved to Toronto, where she completed the bar exam. In the early years of her legal career, she practiced across a broad range of areas, including contract breach litigation, insurance law, municipal and planning litigation, and defence litigation. She has appeared before the Ontario Superior Court, the Financial Services Commission of Ontario, the Licensing Appeal Tribunal, and the Ontario Small Claims Court. Seeking a new challenge, she shifted from representing plaintiffs to working on the defence side—a move she describes as “a completely different kettle of fish.”

“You’re not only a lawyer,” she said. “You’re also a social worker, a mediator.” Still, her passion lies in securing rightful damages for her clients.

Today, Ms. Broccolini is part of Hoffman Law, a Toronto-based firm specializing in personal injury and disability cases. She is also a proud mother, a dedicated professional, and a strong advocate for those she represents.  And while she no longer lives in Montreal, the fond memories of her time at Hampstead Elementary remain, along with friendships that have lasted more than three decades. 

Andee Shuster

“I’m someone who wears many hats,” says Andee Shuster proudly.

By day, the Hampstead Elementary School alumna serves as Marketing and Communications Officer for McGill University’s Faculty of Education. By night, she is a city councillor for the City of Côte Saint-Luc. 

“I describe these two roles as my nine-to-five and my five-to-nine,” she jokes. 

After CEGEP, Ms Shuster went on to pursue a bachelor’s degree in education from McGill University, followed by certificates in marketing from Concordia University.  When she is not working, Schuster says she dabbles in professional acting and singing, often for the local community theatre.  Her deep connection to community dates back to her earliest days at Hampstead Elementary. She recalls visiting the school before enrolling and sitting in on a classroom where the teacher led the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag—a moment that left her with a strong sense of civic pride.

Joining the school in the fifth grade had a big impact on ‘Ms. Shuster’s life. “I have such profound, lasting memories from that grade five class,” she says.

Her teacher, Ms. Curry, helped her feel at home in a new environment. “She had this grandmotherly warmth,” Ms. Shuster recalls. “As terrified as I was, she really made me feel at ease.” 

Many of the lessons she learned then still guide her today. She fondly remembers Ms. Curry’s unique assignment to write a recipe for a sandwich intended for an alien—a creative exercise she later passed on to her own daughter during the pandemic. “It was a great learning experience because you had to think from an outsider's perspective, which is something that I do in my job every day,” she adds.

In the sixth grade, Ms. Rill’s circle time encouraged students to speak openly. “We had this honesty that was fostered by an educator,” Ms. Shuster reflects. “She was [addressing] with mental health before we even had the term ‘mental health.’”

Ms. Shuster also treasures memories outside the classroom, from physical education teacher Mr. Finelli setting up trampolines for the gymnastics club to DJing her class’s sixth grade graduation. “Our educators did everything with the supplies that they had,” she says, “and we were the happiest kids in the world.” Her bonds with Hampstead remain strong. She’s still in touch with former classmates and even some of her teachers.

For  Ms.Shuster, the value of education is immeasurable. “Education can carry you through your life and open so many doors,” she says, encouraging today’s students to follow their passions with confidence.

David Byers

David Byers

“It was designed as a community school, and it seems to have remained a community school for quite some time,” reflects David Byers on his former elementary school. 

Byers, who grew up in Hampstead, says many of his friends were classmates and neighbours from that time—friendships he still maintain today.

Hampstead school held a special place in his family history. His father attended the same school—and even had the same principal. “My father used to tell me about Mr. Brewer standing like the Colossus of Rhodes,” he recalls. 

A jack-of-all trades, Byers explored several career paths. After high school, he earned a bachelor’s degree from McGill University, and later studied landscape architecture at the Université de Montreal. He soon found work as a landscaper. But one cold day in 1992, while painting soffits, he had a moment of clarity. “I thought to myself, this is silly,” he says. After 15 years in landscaping, the work no longer held meaning for him.That realization led him to his wife’s bookstore. Maya Munro-Byers had opened Barbar Books, a children’s bookstore in Pointe-Claire, in 1986. 

“I came to the store to warm up, and Maya was standing in a corner, kind of teary-eyed, and said that her number one person had quit,” he remembers.

With the Christmas rush approaching, Byers volunteered to help. What began as a temporary fix turned into a permanent shift. He started part-time, then joined full-time, taking on everything from accounting and paperwork to building shelves and attending reading fairs.

In 2005, Munro-Byers officially welcomed her husband as co-owner. “I’ve deferred to Maya in virtually every instance—she’s the one who started it. It is very much her baby,” says Byers, who gladly worked his way up from the ground level.

Now, 32 years later, Byers says he never envisioned himself co-owning a bookstore—but it has brought him immense satisfaction. “This store has been a new adventure and has been source of good in my life,” he says. “I’m always doing something for the family. I’m always doing something good for the community so I'm happy.”

As he looks toward retirement, Byers intends on keeping “a foot in the door” while leaving the store in the hands of his children and the community it serves. 

Amanda Frank

Amanda (Mandy) Frank has constantly pursued a challenge in her professional life. The former valedictorian of Hampstead Elementary school left with big dreams, fond memories, and lasting friendships. 

Since graduation, Frank pursued a Bachelor of Arts in communications and media studies from Concordia University. 

She went on to work in marketing for companies such as BlackBerry and Monster. However, in 2020, Frank took a risk in the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, pursing a lifelong ambition. 

Having recently moved to Mont-Blanc, Quebec, Frank decided to start her own farming business, which she called Mandy’s Microgreens. Microgreens, unlike regular plants, are harvested at the cotyledon stage—within 7-14 of being planted—and tend to be denser in nutrients and flavor. Often used as garnishes or in sandwiches, Frank had tapped into a market that was quite appealing to restauranteurs, food vendors, and chefs.

Mandy’s Microgreens sold broccoli, red cabbage, arugula, mustard, radish, broccoli rabe, among many other things. Franks adds that all her produce was sold fresh and certified organic. 

What started off as a pandemic project turned into a full-scale business, says Frank. She was responsible for everything from growing the produce, harvesting and packing it, and later selling it. 

“It was super fun and very fulfilling. It was my debut into entrepreneurship which was always a dream of mine,” she says. 

Her marketing expertise gave her an edge. “I could build the brand so I had all the marketing background to get the business a little bit more hyped […] and participate in the local markets.”

Today, Frank has put Mandy’s Microgreens on the side, in pursuit of yet another challenge—getting her real estate license. “It was sort of a way to get a foothold in the community,” she explains. 

As she embarks on this next chapter, Frank still treasures the foundation built at Hampstead Elementary. “There’s a really strong bond between us that lasts,” she said of her former classmates and teachers.

Dr. William Steinberg

Dr. William (Bill) Steinberg has come a long way since graduating from Hampstead Elementary in the 1950s. Deeply rooted in his community, he served as mayor of Hampstead for 16 years.

His path to leadership was far from easy. Born with profound deafness, Steinberg recalls struggling academically as a child. Still, Hampstead Elementary provided a supportive environment where he thrived socially. “My academic career basically kept improving,” he said.

After high school, Steinberg earned a Bachelor of Science at McGill University and a Ph.D. in psychology from Northwestern University. He later taught at Concordia University before moving into the tech industry, founding William Steinberg Consultants in 1988. His company specialized in software for business surveys.

Politics was never part of his plan. His first involvement came during the demerger movement to restore Hampstead’s municipal independence. “I didn’t hear well enough, but I was of some value,” he said, explaining that he read quite a bit on the issue and wrote articles for The Gazette. After Hampstead regained its independence, Steinberg decided to run for mayor in 2005—and won in a historic underdog victory.

As mayor, Steinberg prioritized safety, cleanliness, and municipal collaboration. Among his many achievements were saving the local police station from closure, reducing crime, improving snow removal, and maintaining public spaces.

One of his proudest accomplishments came outside of municipal politics: lobbying to bring cochlear implant surgery to Montreal. Steinberg, who received implants in 2004 and 2018, said the procedure changed his life. He joined the Cochlear Implant Recipients Association and secured political support for the initiative. In 2023, the surgery became available for the first time in Montreal.

Steinberg’s work is reflective of his love for his community and passion for his convictions. “I’ve lived here almost my whole life,” he says, saying that he will continue to fight for the battles he strongly believes in. 

About the English Montreal School Board

With a youth and adult sector population of more than 35,000 students, the English Montreal School Board (EMSB) is the largest English public school board in Quebec. Established on July 1, 1998, when the province created new boards along linguistic lines, the EMSB network consists of 73 schools and centres. For more details, visit the EMSB website at www.emsb.qc.ca

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Contact:

Michael J. Cohen

Manager,  Marketing and Communications

English Montreal School Board

mcohen@emsb.qc.ca