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December 2009 M T W T F S S « Sep 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
It was a great honor for me to attend the reunion on Oct 6/07. Thirty years have passed so quickly, and we have all changed so much. I have to say that the ladies have aged better than the guys. I know we have all had to deal with our share of regret, failure, and sadness; hopefully these times have also been tempered with contentment, success, and happiness. I never realized that I actually knew so many of you, and in fact that many of you remembered me! During my high school years I felt invisible and yet this was not case. There were also a number of my fellow elementary and junior high classmates that I had the opportunity to connect with again. I am thankful that Jean Leshenko shared her memories of my mother during our elementary years (my dear mother died peacefully about a year ago after a long battle with Alzheimer’s). It was a funny listening to Beth Patrick (who I never really knew that well in high school) explaining to me her need to learn how to text message her children (who heard of such a thing 30 years ago!) It was also fun to meet fellow classmates that I never knew in high school. I wish I had been more outgoing in high school, but maturity, confidence, and wisdom it seems develops only with the passage of time and living life.
It was wonderful to have some of our former teachers attend the event. They motivated us as our teachers, and they continue to carry themselves with such dignity and grace into their retirement years. What role models they are!
Najeeb Mirza’s comments were inspirational to me. We are all entering a phase in our lives where we need to make contributions to make our world a better place to live. I think we can all begin this in a small way by being kinder and gentler to others.
My sincere thanks to the organizing committee for doing such an excellent job of organizing the reunion; it wouldn’t have happened without your leadership.
I will treasure the memories of our reunion for many years to come. I hope our paths will cross again. Peace be with you all.
Kindest regards…
Brian Miller
Scona Class of 77
What a truly amazing time on Saturday at the reunion. It was great to see so many people – we all looked so much the same – and yet so different – I would have to say that we have aged gracefully! I enjoyed sharing memories from our times at Scona, but also enjoyed hearing about everyone’s lives today! Thank you to everyone who took the time to attend and especially to those who travelled great distances to to be there!
And there are not enough words to say thank you to the organizing committee for bringing this altogether – it will be a time that none of us will soon forget!!
Until we meet again…….Jo
p.s. Brett I could never be mad at you!!
I loved the pictures, but I am afraid being one who was not there in person, could only make out a few familiar faces and a few name tags that were clear or close enough…It truly would be awesome tohave individuals tagged….Has anyone got more pictures! It looked like fun and the word out I heard was that it was very nice!….Is the rumour true about a forth coming Parkallen reunion next year????hmmmmm! Thanks again for the memories!
See Today’s Post about navigating inside the Gallery for more information.
A huge thanks to everyone who was involved in organizing the reunion and all who came as well as those who were with us in spirit. It was great to reconnect with people I hadn’t seen in more than 20 years and wonderful to hear about how everyone is doing now. I think the best part of it for me was being able to say thanks to a few of the teachers who really meant a lot to me. For those of you who travel, when next you are in Toronto, please call.
Wow. It looked like an amazing weekend. I’m sorry I missed it but thanks for the pictures so I too could go down memory lane. Aaron and committee …I hoped you received the thanks you deserved. Brett… it was great seeing you for the video clip. Time has treated you well. A big hello to everyone.
Thanks you to all of the organizers of the 30 year Scona reunion, what a wonderful function. It was orchestrated in such a manner that we were easily able to mingle. It was fantastic to become reacquainted with so many of my Scona friends. We are scattered all over the globe and have accomplished a tremendous amount. I am sure my husband Bill (class president from 1975) and myself held the record for the Scona couple married the longest at 29 1/2 years! What a great turn out, those students I recall so fondly from my years at Scona have matured into an amazing group of people!
I apologize for not making the event however I spent I spent the day in emergency after I gouged my foot with a chain saw.
Perhaps there will be another in the future.
Thanks
Ray Gertz
Hope all had a wonderful time I was thinking of you.
Any plans for a 35th?
Doug
I attended with hesitation knowing I had become one of the big, fat bald people. Thankfully I was not alone in that club.
My wife and I had a great time. She enjoyed meeting the people she had heard me talk about for so many years.
It was wonderfull to see strong representation from the King Eddie crowd. Next time lets have two bars.
A big thank you to the organizers. It was a lot of work and you did a super job.
Why does Belmont not age???
thanks again
Bruce McKenzie
What a joy to see and visit with so many ‘visual associations’ to special memories and good laughs. It seemed the favourite opener of conversation, including mine, was “how have you been”? The irony – where does one truly begin??? 30 years covers just about everything. But it was a delight trying, in a fragmented way…until another exciting surprise would interrupt and take one’s attention down yet another memory path.
(I still cant believe Maurice’s Pharmacy is still there! or the IGA with the outside window ledge that offered a perfect straight corner to crack a double popsicle perfectly down the centre.)
cheers and stay well!
Well – you have no idea how happy I am to have had that time with all of you this past weekend. This will be something I will remember forever.
I did not know as a teenager how lucky I was to have such amazing friends to spend that very important stage of life with. And now so many of us are enjoying the teen years all over again as parents…
I am proud of all of our friendships, and of who we have each become.
It amazes me that we have all grown up, and yet not changed in the important ways. Everyone still has their sense of humor, big heart, intelligence, – whatever their gift to our group was at the time – it is still there. I feel so blessed to know all of you.
To those of you who I did not get to connect with – wish we had! For those of you who couldn’t make it – I hope that you will be able to catch the spirit from the website.
To the organizing committee – I thank you from the bottom of my heart for providing this opportunity. I have learned and gained so much, and know I will continue to, as I hope to stay in touch and keep some of these friendships alive.
Sincerely,
Vicki Fenn (Frewer)
My journey started at Toronto Pearson Airport meeting Alice Walter(Breda) also on her way to Edmonton for the reunion. From then on the weekend started, and was truly amazing!
I so enjoyed catching up with each and everyone of you at the reunion, and it was so interesting to hear about your lives today.
Not only did we have a chance to remember the Scona days, but the Garneau and Windsor Park days as well.
I think we figured out there were nine of us in attendance from kindergarten at St. George’s church in Windsor Park (apparently a 43rd reunion!).
We all have many great memories of high school and our friends, and a now an evening to remember for a very long time.
Thank you to all who attended, and to the special group of people who made this evening happen!
Congratulations to you all for your successes and achievements, and I hope it won’t be long before our paths cross again.
To the Class of 77!!!
Cheers,
Clare
This was a very enjoyable event! Thanks for tracking me down. What I found amazing was not having to look at names tags as much as I thought I would have to.
Thanks BIG TIME to Aaron and the rest of the organizers. This web site worked very well. Even to see, sadly, who has passed away
Is it possible to get/post a copy of the power point presentation that was showing on the wall?
Hi Bonnie Bennett Jamieson Bailey. Yes its true there is a Parkallen reunion next spring. There will be a web site. If you like send me your e-mail address to warrenospam@telus.net
Hello Aaron,
I was unable to attend your reunion but I am sure that with such fine planning it was a huge success. I enjoyed reading all the updates. What wonderful help the internet provides. You and your committee can be very proud of your efforts.
I wish you continued success in all your ventures.
Edna Downs
The only thing wrong with the reunion is that it was too short, by half. There were so many people I wanted to talk to but never had the chance. Still, I managed to reconnect with dozens of old classmates and had a blast.
I lasted ’til 5:00 am, but couldn’t hold out until 7:30 when the last few stragglers at the Westin Hotel finally shuffled off to bed.
There were a few people who originally said they weren’t going to attend the reunion, but changed their minds at the last minute. What a pleasant surprise to see them.
And what a pleasant surprise to see that, for the most part, despite a few gray hairs, fewer hairs or the odd pound or two, everyone looks much the same 30 years later.
And, as Birgit has pointed out, the best thing about the night is that it revived so many pleasant memories that I’d virtually forgotten.
(The McKernan IGA is still there, but does anyone remember the 50s style diner that used to be attached to it… and the old lady with the beehive hairdo that used to run it with her cigar-smoking husband?)
If nothing else, I’ll remember the reunion and the all too brief night of fun we all had together (again) for a long time.
Here’s to the next 30 years!
Brett
[ed. - Brett, That wasn't 50's style, that was the original empanada - it was the 50's. The lady with the beehive at the lunch counter was Debie Wiggley Empson Fincham Trueman's mother. The guy with the cigar would have been Mr. Wiggley, or perhaps Mr. Empson. I can't remember which of her many husbands he was. Or did Debie's mother run the hairdressing salon upstairs?]
I am finally back in Tokyo and reflecting back on last weekend and glad I made the trip. It was a great opportunity to meet up with classmates from 30 years ago. It was fascinating to hear the life journeys since we all left Scona and made our ways into the world. I’d have to say Scona did a good job in preparing us for what lay ahead. Personally, I am remain puzzled why I spent two years studying Latin. I didn’t help me much with Japanese. : )
Many thanks to all who were involved in the planning and execution of the weekend. The hard work and dedication was evident at all times.
See all of you again soon.
Kyle
To the class of ‘77 – what a truly enjoyable night that was to meet up with so many of you again! So many years have gone by, however I didn’t see a whole lot of changes in people at all. To look at them and talk to them, it took me right back to my Scona days – 3 of the best years of my life! So many friendships were made there and perhaps lost over the 30 year period – but when we saw each other again, it was evident that the friendships were still there, through the smiles, the laughter, the hugs and the whole evening together. It was great to see you all again!
I really enjoyed talking with all my old Parkallen schoolmates and friends – it was amazing to see so many of you there and to catch up with you.
I am really hoping that now we have had the chance to meet again, that the friendships will continue to grow in the future. It really feels to me that we had something very special 30 years ago and that it was lost – but now found again, so I would love to remain in contact with my old friends and classmates.
It was awesome to see so many teachers attend our Reunion and I thank-you so much for being there for us – I really enjoyed your speaches.
To all of you who made this great event happen – I thank-you all so much. What an amazing amount of time and effort you all spent to give us a wonderful evening together. You did a terrific job organizing our 30th Reunion!
With best wishes
Faye Linster (Tutty)
Damn!!! My sincerest apologies for not attending the past reunion. I did not get the information in time to come out and “play, mingle and reminisce” once again. I really wanted to see some of the “old” teacher colleagues and students who now have less hair than I do. Anyways, it’s pretty apparent that the organizers did a super job and fun was had by all. Congrats and continue to keep the history of Edmonton’s most remarkable school alive. Till next time. Larry
My thanks to everyone who attended the reunion for a fun, memory-filled evening! My only regret was not having enough time to visit with everyone. I’m not sure that I ever finished a conversation – so many wonderful distractions.
As has been mentioned by several people – a highlight was the great memories – of times, places, and people – revisited. I didn’t realize how much I had forgotten – and it was a lot of fun going back!
Another highlight was the number of people there from the St. George’s Kindergarten class with Mrs. Hunter!! It was unoffically our 43rd Reunion!! Had to laugh when Doug Hunt told me that on his final “kindergarten report card” Mrs. Hunter stated that he would never amount to much!
Ha! If she could see him now! Doug or Rob Thompson (or was it Doug Calvert?) – I think you said you still have our kindergarten class photo. Could you scan it and post it here – it would be a hoot to see!
Thanks again to everyone for being part of a great evening! Let’s not wait another 30 years to do it again!
Lorna: I can put my hands on a b&w copy of our kindergarten class photo – the next time I am in Edmonton in a couple of weeks or so. I’ll scan it and post it. Don’t hesitate to email me to remind me if it seems to be taking too long … that would give you a chance to use the new email directory being compiled.
Everyone: Lorna got it exactly right about the reunion: it was great, there was so much to remember and to realize had been forgotten, and there was not nearly enough time.
I left so many conversations unfinished, and I had memories continue to surface during the evening and into the following days. I’m thinking I might have to post a list here of things I remembered but failed to share because there wasn’t the time or because things started to get kinda jumbled by 2:30am – some things I have not thought of for 30+ years and some things I have held dearly over that entire time.
Our thanks to all who put together such a fantastic event. It sure brought back memories of Scona. Seeing some of our teachers and being able to thank them was great. We hope that the reunion has rekindled many old friendships.
Thanks, too, for recognizing that Carys and I re-met at the 10th reunion. One more proof that reunions are a good thing. Our son graduates from Scona next spring, and our daughter will follow in a few years; we’ll definitely be encouraging them to attend their reunions!
Best wishes to all!
-Richard and Carys
Thank you to all the organizers of this wonderful evening. I look back and read the comments and realize that there were classmates in attendance that I was not able to see. The evening went by quickly. It was wonderful to reconnect with the friends from Scona, hard to believe that 30 years had gone by. Thanks for the opportunity to relive the memories and rekindle the friendships made during our time at Scona.
Gossip is funny!
Sounds like the reunion was fun!
Just to set the record straight Mr. & Mrs. Dawson ran the McKernan Coffee Shop. His name was Al and her name was Ev. Tubby Bateman owned it. It was part of the IGA store in the begining. Debie Trueman (Ficham/Empson/Wigley) By the way is me. Empson/Wigley was my maiden name. My mother remarried when I was 13. She is Gwen Ellen that owned the Gwen Ellen Beauty Salon that was above the IGA Store. I bought the Mckernan Coffee Shop from Tubby Bateman ran it for awhile I sold it in 1985. Also the year I divorced Stuart Fincham (deceased). I went back to school and took computer programming where I met my current husband of 21 years. I have two lovely daughters and three wonderful grand children. I have owned and operated Hairwear & Bodyworks Salon and Day Spa for the past 10 years, and look forward to my retirement next year.
Its been interesting reading some of the comments I haven’t seen the pic yet but plan to take a look when I have more time. Bye