Lauren Root – Features Editor 

Last week, I had the privilege of talking to Duncan Crabtree, class of 2020, about his time at Bishop’s and what his life has looked like post-graduation. 

Image courtesy of Duncan Crabtree

Originally from Toronto, Ontario, Duncan found Bishop’s on a ski trip to the Eastern Townships. While he was in the area, Duncan’s mom suggested taking a campus tour at Bishop’s. On his tour, Duncan’s student tour guide, Shane, was so passionate that he inspired Duncan to attend Bishop’s. After that, Duncan’s top university choice was Bishop’s. Duncan majored in history, and in his third year, he added political science as a double major. 

Duncan was heavily involved in school activities while at Bishop’s. In his fourth year, he was the co-president of the Academic Honour Society, while also being involved with the History Society. Duncan was also a part of the Model UN class. Due to COVID-19, his trip to the UN Headquarters in New York City was cancelled. Duncan was also an inaugural member of the Gaiters Cross Country Ski Team. 

At the end of his Bishop’s academic career, Duncan was working as a research assistant for Dr. Manore, when she suggested that he get into judicial history. 

After his 2020 graduation, Duncan enrolled in a micrograduate program through Bishop’s, earning his certificate in 2021. After that, Duncan went on to attend the University of Toronto’s law school. While at UofT, Duncan was part of a fundraising group that partners with charities to support Indigenous peoples. As a co-leader for this event, Duncan helped organize a silent auction and a trivia night. He was also involved with the Rights Review, which is part of the international human rights program at UofT law. 

After he graduated from law school, Duncan began practicing corporate law. He likes the fast-paced nature that corporate law allows. He enjoys working under pressure and also loves the motivation that comes with it. Duncan works on transactions, and he enjoys playing a role in the growth of a company and the changes people are making. 

 Recently, Duncan attended a Bishop’s alumni event in Toronto, and notes that it still has a major impact on his life. While he’s still learning what it’s like to be an alumnus of Bishop’s, Duncan is enjoying the transition. He is still in contact with many of his Bishop’s friends, and travels regularly to see them. 

“It’s a really supportive community,” Duncan said as he reflected on how Bishop’s helped him after he left Lennoxville. Connecting with alumni helped Duncan during his job search and helped guide his career path. 

Duncan believes that many of the skills he learned during his time at Bishop’s helped him later on in life. History helped him develop critical thinking skills and formulate arguments, while political science helped him learn how to distill complex information. 

To close our conversation, Duncan and I spoke about how Bishop’s provides unique opportunities for students at the undergraduate level. He mentioned how much leadership students can take while they’re at Bishop’s, which is something not every university has. 

Thank you, Duncan, for taking the time to sit and talk about your time at Bishop’s! We hope to see you back on campus again soon.