Posted Oct. 8, 2019
Alumni Spotlight - Steve Tostenson, Grad Class of 2013
When did you attend Immaculata?
I attended Immaculata from gr. 8 in the 2008 school year and graduated in 2013.
What are your best memories of Immaculata?
My best memories at Immaculata would be playing Rugby throughout my entire high school career. Having such a supportive and cool coach in Mr. Marischuk and playing alongside some of my best friends. Immaculata Rugby has introduced a sport that I love so much and continued to play competitively throughout university.
What did you like the most about Immaculata?
Immaculata is a very unique High School experience which promotes a strong family
atmosphere; being able to have such a wide variety of friends throughout several grades along
with building close relationships with teachers and principals that I am still in touch with today.
What life lessons did you learn at Immaculata?
Throughout my 5 years at Immaculata I volunteered for Mr. Campbell cutting and trimming the
lawns around the school, Mr. Campbell taught me accountability and time management skills
along with respect. I also learned lots about leadership while playing, being the captain of the
senior men’s rugby team and coaching junior rugby which I continued into last year during my
final year at UBCO.
After Immaculata, where did life take you?
After graduating from Immaculata I started my undergraduate degree at UBC Okanagan, in my
second year at UBCO I joined the Heat men’s 15’s and 7’s rugby team’s which I played for throughout my entire undergrad. In my third year I changed my path and switched into Earth and Environmental Sciences. Between my studies and rugby, my brother and I run a small cow calf operation on our family farm in Glenmore. I have worked with Mr. Wilson over the past few years to help coach the junior/senior men’s high school rugby team where I have learned so much from everyone involved and got the chance to meet and coach a bunch of amazing kids. Over the past two summer I was co-captain of the Okanagan Coos sevens rugby team where we participated in 9 tournaments, of those 9 tournaments we won two and I was able to play alongside some of the best players in Canada. After my graduation from UBCO in 2019, I enrolled in the Masters of Sustainable Forest Management program at UBC Vancouver which I am currently completing.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
Sports between rugby, hockey and skiing are all a major part of my life and with that comes many hours of training in the gym. I also really enjoy running the cow calf operation with my brother, we are both extremely passionate about what we have built and find a great amount of accomplishment with continually growing our business.
Who are the most important people in your life?
My grandfather is the person I look most up to in my life. He has taught me about farming,
hunting and fishing along with teaching me many different life lessons including work ethic and
the importance in family.
Anything else you’d like to share with our community????
I’m grateful to my parents and grandparents for recognizing the importance of a Catholic
education and the value of the small, tight community at Immaculata.
