Alpha Alternative School (circa 1979), Photographer unknown
Alpha Alternative School 1972/2012
ALPHA Alternative School, one of the oldest alternative schools in Canada, celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2012. ALPHA—A Lot of Parents Hoping for an Alternative—was unique in the Toronto public school system when it was founded in 1972. It had none of the usual paraphernalia of mainstream education: no homework, grades, or tests. This project pairs black and white childhood portraits taken by F. Robert Openshaw in 1978 alongside present-day portraits of the same people taken at ALPHA during the 40th anniversary reunion by Michael Barker. The portraits are accompanied by texts contributed by the subjects and shaped by Ariel Fielding.
PHOTOGRAPHS BY
Michael Barker and F. Robert Openshaw
TEXT AND INTERVIEWS BY
Ariel Fielding
Michael Barker and F. Robert Openshaw
TEXT AND INTERVIEWS BY
Ariel Fielding
Maggie Marrelli (née Garrard) ALPHA 1976 to 1984, ages 4 – 12. Studied Fine Arts. Works in Home Improvement. Creates art.
Jamie Leonard ALPHA late 1970s to 1980s, ages 4 – 13. Studied Journalism at Ryerson University.
Works in Information Technology/Server Support. Rides, collects, and writes about motorcycles.
Works in Information Technology/Server Support. Rides, collects, and writes about motorcycles.
Kether Graham (née Beaulieu-Urbanski) ALPHA 1975 to 1979 or 1980, ages 4 – 9.
Studied Law Enforcement at Seneca College, then Baking and Pastry at George Brown. Works for the City of Toronto.
Studied Law Enforcement at Seneca College, then Baking and Pastry at George Brown. Works for the City of Toronto.
Jennifer Ferrari ALPHA 1973 to 1984, ages 4 – 14. Studied at Trent University. Works as an Automotive Technician.
Stefan Lynch Strassfeld ALPHA 1977 – 1984, ages 5 – 12.
Ran an international organization for kids of LGBTQ parents. Studied Nursing at University of California, San Francisco.
Works as the director of the health clinic at Juvenile Hall, San Francisco.
Ran an international organization for kids of LGBTQ parents. Studied Nursing at University of California, San Francisco.
Works as the director of the health clinic at Juvenile Hall, San Francisco.
Flannery Fielding ALPHA 1977 to 1985, ages 4 – 11.
Studied Nursing at Ryerson University and University of California, San Francisco.
Works as a Nurse Practitioner in Palliative Care. Creates art, sings, and plays the ukelele.
Studied Nursing at Ryerson University and University of California, San Francisco.
Works as a Nurse Practitioner in Palliative Care. Creates art, sings, and plays the ukelele.
Crawford (Crocky) Teasdale ALPHA 1973 to 1978, ages 7 – 8 & 10 – 11.
Studied at the Royal Conservatory of Music.
Works as a graphic designer at Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment. Makes music.
Studied at the Royal Conservatory of Music.
Works as a graphic designer at Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment. Makes music.
Morgan Jones-Phillips ALPHA 1975 to 1981, ages 4 – 9.
Studied Languages and Linguistics at York University,
French as a Second Language at Université du Québec à Trois Rivières,
and Paramedics at Centennial College.
Works as a Paramedic. Does stand-up comedy.
Studied Languages and Linguistics at York University,
French as a Second Language at Université du Québec à Trois Rivières,
and Paramedics at Centennial College.
Works as a Paramedic. Does stand-up comedy.
Lucy Falkner ALPHA 1975 to 1978, ages 4 – 7. Studied dance.
Owns and operates a Vancouver dance company, Rhythm City Productions. Teaches dance.
Owns and operates a Vancouver dance company, Rhythm City Productions. Teaches dance.
The full project, including a downloadable photo book containing all of the texts,
is available for free from michaelbarker.ca
is available for free from michaelbarker.ca
