stmarysspartans.net - St. Mary's 50th Anniversary Reunion

St. Mary's 50th Anniversary Reunion

On August 15, 16 and 17, 2003, hundreds came together in Sherbrooke to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the opening of St. Mary's Rural High School in 1953. Over 400 former graduates and students, teachers and staff, principals and secretaries, bus drivers, administrators, and many others with an affiliation to education and learning at St. Mary’s came together to celebrate this “green and golden” anniversary.

News & Updates

Friday Night Update

The St. Mary's 50th Anniversary Reunion got off to an excellent start this Friday, August 15, with a Coffee House. The event started early as several alumni signed-in before the event was scheduled to begin at 7pm. Participants signed-in and registered steadily throughout the evening.

Saturday Update

The 2nd Day of the St. Mary's 50th Anniversary Reunion saw perfect weather, an excellent atmosphere, and lots of mingling. Registration began at 10am, and became very busy as the Opening Ceremonies approached. 15 minutes before the Opening Ceremonies were scheduled to begin, the foyer was full. Participants arrived steadily while the ceremony took place.

The Opening Ceremonies began at approximately 1:15pm with a procession of special guests to the sounds of piper Shawn Fraser. Joyce Johnston provided music on piano for O Canada. Included in the ceremonies were speeches from the current Principal of St. Mary's, Walter Duggan, Donald A. Cameron (Principal 1953), Zena MacKinnon (former Home Economics teacher), and Mildred Whidden (teacher). Master of Ceremonies David MacDonald also recognized other alumni from 1953 including Margaret Cameron (teacher), Frank Terris (teacher), and Harvey Burns (bus driver). Warmest regards were also expressed by Warden Milton Jordan, Strait Regional School Board member Hazel Kennedy, and MLA Ronnie Chisholm. Other highlights of the ceremony included a video presentation called "St. Mary's: Long Time Gone" and a special presentation of graduation plaques to the classes of 1974 and 1984. An 'Open Mike' session was held at the end of the program where audience members shared their thoughts of St. Mary's. The general sentiment (from young and old) was that St. Mary's was 'home' and the friendly atmosphere of the school cannot be matched.

Following the Opening Ceremonies, participants visited the old St. Mary's Rural High (now St. Mary's Education Centre), browsed various memorabilia and mingled. With perfect weather for the day's events, participants took advantage by sharing memories and stories outside. The afternoon's activities were thoroughly enjoyed by all. Everyone eagerly awaited Cape Breton band "The Accents" who provided music for the dance.

There was lots of hugging and hand-shaking to be seen. Alumni mingled most of the evening to the sounds of local musicians playing in the cafeteria. The Reunion committee would like to thank the entertainment for providing such an enjoyable atmosphere for the evening.

Participants could also take a look at memorabilia (including school jackets, old photographs, and yearbooks) that was on display. Members of the reunion committee, expecting around 100 people, were excited to see a turn-out of 150+.

Saturday Night Update

The "icing on the cake" took place on Saturday night at the St. Mary's 50th Anniversary Reunion. Cape Breton band "The Accents" blew the roof off the gymnasium. Words can only begin to describe how great the band and the dance were. The music was so wonderful, the dance floor was full for every song.

This was the first appearance "The Accents" had made in the Sherbrooke area. With almost 400 people in attendance, the Reunion dance was one of the largest dances in St. Mary's history.

Sunday Update

The final day of the St. Mary's 50th Anniversary Reunion began with a breakfast brunch at 9:30am. The Ecumentical Church Service began at 11:00am with Father John O. Scott as Master of Ceremonies for the Service. Reverend Roxanne MacGaw (Kaiser), class of '81, delivered a message entitled "Remember...". Sunday's activiites, which were well attended, brought the incredible weekend to a close. Farewells could be seen as alumni departed for home.

Alumni Scholarships

A financial statement of the 50th Anniversary Reunion was published in an issue of the Municipal newsletter. Excess funds from the St. Mary's 50th Anniversary Reunion were put towards an Alumni Scholarship for future graduates of St. Mary's Academy. Over $3000 was contributed.

Donations

The St. Mary's 50th Reunion Committee would like to extend their warmest thanks to those donors whose generosity helped to make the Reunion activities possible. Special thanks to Martha Brown, Ethel MacLaughlin, Helen & Hugh MacDonald, ExxonMobil, Doug Morrison, Kendell Reeves, and John & Gay Weir.

Schedule of Events

Friday, August 15, 2003

7-9pm - Registration; Coffee house. Bring your musical talents and join in with local talent at the coffee house. Refreshments will be available.

Saturday, August 16, 2003

10am-12pm - Registration. Late registrars may register in the afternoon.

1-2pm - Official Opening. Join old friends, faculty, invited guests, and 'firsts' as we open the 50th Anniversary Reunion.

1-5pm - Activities for children complimentary of St. Mary's Recreation department (PDC).

2-5pm - Afternoon activities will include school tours, meet n'greet, & memorabilia rooms; cafeteria will be open all day.

8pm-1am - Dance. Music provided by Cape Breton band "The Accents". Happy hour will be from 8-9pm. (19 and older)

Sunday, August 17, 2003

9:30-10:30am - Light brunch provided in high school cafeteria.

11:00am - Ecumenical Church Service conducted by former alumni of St. Mary's. This event will be held in the school gymnasium and is open to the public.

Reunion Participants

The following is a list of those who took part in the St. Mary's 50th Anniversary Reunion. Over the three days that the Reunion was held, hundreds of alumni came to Sherbrooke for the golden anniversary celebrations. Total number of participants: 412+

Allen, Bob
Allen, Brenda
Allen (MacDonald), Diane
Anderson, Alick
Anderson, Barbara
Anderson (Moore), Marcia
Anderson, Marie
Anderson, Mona
Anderson, Wentworth
Archibald, Brian
Archibald, Calvin
Archibald (Kaiser), Cathy
Archibald, Charlene
Archibald (Malloy), Donna Eileen
Archibald, Fred
Archibald, John
Archibald, Gerry
Archibald, Greg Hugh
Archibald, Len
Archibald (MacLeod), Letitia
Archibald (Archibald), Liz
Archibald (Bezanson), Margaret
Archibald (MacDonald), Margaret
Archibald, Nancy
Archibald (Baker), Nancy M.
Archibald (Sinclair), Nancy
Archibald, Paul
Archibald, Raymond
Archibald, Ronald
Archibald (Harpell), Sandra
Archibald (Barron), Vera
Asselin (Lawson), Ann
Barnard (Fleet), Elizabeth
Beaver, Rene
Billard (Hartling), Ruby
Boucher, Lloyd J.
Bonner (MacEachern), Margaret
Bonner, Roger
Boutlier, Arden
Boutlier, Carmel
Bowles (MacGrath), Erma
Breen, Eugene
Breen (Archibald), Myrna
Breen, Richard
Breen, Wendy
Brown, Martha
Burns-Gagnon (Burns), Tracy
Burns, Alice M.
Burns, Brad
Burns, Cyndi
Burns, Gordon
Burns, Harvey D.
Burns, Mary
Burns (Kelley), Mary F.
Burns (MacIntosh), Pat
Burns-Gagnon (Burns), Tracy
Cameron, Carolyn
Cameron, Donald A.
Cameron, Helen M.
Cameron, John
Cameron, Margaret
Cameron, Marty
Cameron, Moira K.
Cameron, A. M. 'Sandy'
Cameron (Vatcher), Shirley
Cameron (Sinclair), Wendy
Campbell, Caelin
Campbell, David
Carmichael (Horton), Agnes A.
Carroll (Laing), Lillian
Chipman (Cruickshank), Juanita
Clark, David
Clark (Harpell), Patricia
Clerk, Graham
Cook, Patricia
Cruickshank, Cam
Cruickshank, Glenn
Cruickshank, Helen
Cruickshank (Croft), Janet
Cruickshank, Ruby
Cumminger, Alison
Cumminger, Elaine
Cumminger, Ervin
Cumminger, Frank
Cumminger, Joy
Cumminger (Mable), Norma
Cunningham, Jamie
Cunningham (Lawson), Sally
Donovan (Turner), Starlene
Dooks (Gunn), Beth
Dooks, John
Doucette, Darren
Duggan, Joanne
Duggan, Walter
Dunbar, Arlene
Dunbar, Dave
Dunbar, Rod
Fancy, Glenda
Fenton, Julie
Fleck (MacDonald), Elizabeth
Fleming (Sears), Genevieve
Fraser, Charles
Fraser, Chris
Fraser, Donald
Fraser (Robar), Krista
Fraser (Burns), Maureen
Fraser, Norah
Fraser, Vi
Furlong, Bernie
Furlong, Doreen
Furlong, Carolyn
Furlong, Roy
Gagnon, Ross
Gallant, Helen
Gallant, Keith
Gaudet (Kirk), Genevieve
Giffin (MacDonald), Maddie
Giffin, Mary
Giffin, Walter
Gillis (Hartling), Verna
Golden, Blair
Golden, Brenda
Golden, Krysta
Greenwood, Judy
Gunn (Hattie), Ethel
Gunn (Morrison), Jenny Lynn
Gunn, Ronnie
Hallett, Amy
Hallett, Lisa
Hape, Bruce
Harpell, Asa
Harpell, Brad
Harpell, Doug
Harpell, Lottie
Harpell, Sharon
Hartling, Jim
Hattie, Eva
Hattie, Gregor

Hayes, Frank
Hayes (MacDonald), Iris
Hayne, Derek
Hayne (Myers), Heather
Hayne, Mary
Hayne, Ormille
Hayne, Sandy
Hayne, Steve
Hiltz (Laing), Lorna
Hislop, Judy
Horton, John
Horton, Keith
Horton (Sears), Margaret
Horton (Barron), Verna
Howard, Peter
Hull (Brigley), Goldie
Hull, Harold
Hurst (Mills), Arlene
Hurst, Francis 'Red'
Hurst, Sherman
Hurst, Shirley
Hyink (Burns), Jolene
Jansen (MacInnis), Elizabeth
Johnson, Debbie
Johnson (MacNaughton), Jean
Johnston, Joyce
Jordan, Barbara
Jordan, Doris
Jordan, Ernie
Jordan, Francis
Jordan (Mills), Joan
Jordan, Keith
Jordan, Leeta
Jordan, Ray
Jordan (Whidden), Susan
Jordan-Robichaud, Jean
Kaiser, Dale
Kaiser, Dennis
Kaiser, Deverne
Kaiser (Bouchie), Diane
Kaiser, Dolores
Kaiser, Blair
Kaiser, Bruce
Kaiser, Gary
Kaiser, Gary A.
Kaiser, Harold
Kaiser (Burns), Jeanne
Kaiser, Margaret
Kaiser, Marie
Kaiser (Mason), Marion
Kaiser, Melanie
Kaiser, Rosalie
Kaiser (Gunn), Ruth
Kaiser, Shelly
Kaiser, Stephen
Kaiser (Barron), Velma
Keefe (Pace), Beverly
Keefe, Roy
Kemp (Sears), Margaret Anne
Kenny, Mary Jane
Kennedy, Allan
Kennedy, Carl
Kennedy (Wiseman), Catherine M.
Kennedy (Feltmate), Hazel M.
Kennedy, James W.
Kennedy (MacLeod), Marie
Kirk, Danny
Kirk, Donna
Kirk, Heather
Kirk (Cook), Sheri
Laing, Ola
Lamley (Whidden), Glenda
Langille (Malloy), Jean
Langille (Cumminger), Kathy
Lavers (Milford), Dorothy
Laverty, Susan
Lawson, Arch
Lawson (Jack), Erika
Lawson, William
Laybolt (MacKay), Heather
Laybolt, Keith
Levch (Greenwood), Sandra
Lumsden (Hudson), Kim
Lumsden (Martin), Nadine
MacDonald, Allison
MacDonald, Bob
MacDonald, Byron
MacDonald, Carmel
MacDonald, David
MacDonald, Dolores
MacDonald (Burns), Doreen
MacDonald (MacNaughton), Elizabeth Rose
MacDonald, Gordon
MacDonald, Gordon
MacDonald (Burns), Helen
MacDonald (Ryan), Helen
MacDonald (Cameron), Jessie
MacDonald, Kevin
MacDonald, Leo
MacDonald (Hape), Linda
MacDonald (Dobbin), Lorraine
MacDonald, Ralph
MacDonald (Cruickshank), Sharron
MacDonald, Stuart
MacDonald, Yvonne
MacEachern (Kelley), Anita
MacEachern, Stan
MacFarlane, Todd
MacFarlane (Hayne), Vicki
MacGrath, Ellis
MacGrath (Smith), Jo-Ann
MacInnis, Edith M.
MacIntosh, Edward R.
MacIntosh, Gordon W.
MacIntosh, Gwen
MacIntosh, Linda M.
MacIntosh, Margie
MacIntosh (Kaiser), Mary Lou
MacIntosh, Susan
MacIntosh, Wayne
MacKay, Andy
MacKay (Smith), Patricia
MacKeen, Allan
MacKeen (Barkhouse), Gloria
MacKenzie, Betty
MacLaughlin, Arch
MacLaughlin, Arlene
MacLaughlin (Archibald), Ethel
MacLaughlin, George
MacLennan, Maria
MacLeod, Jamie
MacLeod (Archibald), Marie
MacLeod, Matthew
MacLeod, Sherry
MacLeod (MacKinnon), Zena
MacNaughton, Al
MacNaughton, Lynn
MacPherson, Margie

Malloy, Rose
Mahar (Parsons), Dorothy
Mahar, Gary
Mahar, Melanie
Mansfield, Edward
Mansfield (Barnes), Kelli
Manson (Dingle), Bonnie
Manson, Francis
Martin (McLane), June
Mason, Charlene E.
Mason (Kirk), Elizabeth
Mason, Kristy
Mason, Raymond T.
McGaw, Roxanne (Kaiser)
McGrath, Cindy
McGrath, Jim
McGrath, Martha
McGrath, Minnie
McKeen, Donald
McKeen, Evan
McKeen (Hornbrook), Penny
McLane, Dave
Merlin (MacKaracher), Margaret
Michaud (Carty), Carol
Michaud, Jim
Michaud, Johnny
Michaud (Arsenault), Theresa
Mills, Joan M.
Moase, Lorne
Moase (MacDonald), Shirley
Morrison, Bradley
Myers (Cameron), Cindy
Myers, Donnie
Nadler, David
Nauffts, Allan
Nauffts (Hartling), Mary
Newcombe (Dobbin), Barb
Newcombe, Leona
Newcombe, Vic
Newell, Gene
Newell, Pearl
Olsen (Dobbin), Diane
Olsen, William
Pace (Naugler), Colleen
Pace, Godfrey V. 'Sonny'
Parker, Chuck
Parker (MacInnis), Gloria
Parker (MacIntosh), Joan
Patterson, Garnet
Patterson, Judy
Pelley (Fisher), Effie
Pelley, Art
Porter, Brandi
Porter (Parsons), Emily
Porter, Steven
Pottie (Laing), Lorraine
Prior (Matthews), Cheryl
Prior, Gary
Pye, Janet
Ralph, Silvia
Reeves, Ivy
Reeves, Judy
Reeves, Kendell
Reid, Elizabeth
Reid, Freeman
Reid, Lloyd
Reid, Ruth
Reid, Sharon
Reynolds, Bob
Reynolds (Weir), Sheila
Robar, Eric
Robar (Beattie), Gwen
Robichaud, Robert
Romsa (Reid), Mary
Rudolph, Mandy
Russell (Cloony), Nora
St. Peters, Bernard
St. Peters (MacEachern), Marlene
Saulnier (McLane), Betty
Scott, John O.
Sears, Kenneth
Sears, Margaret
Sherman, Hilda
Shiers, Charity
Shiers, Faith
Simmon, Amy
Simon, Jamie
Sinclair, Marie J.
Smith, Davene
Smith, Elmer
Smith, Ethel
Smith (Cameron), Joanne
Smith, Katie
Smith (MacDonald), Ruth
Smith, Wade
Spears, Leonard
Steffens (Francheville), Edith
Steffens, Jim
Sutherland (Philpott), M. Pauline
Swindley (Bright), Kendra
Taylor (Malloy), Roberta
Terris, Frank
Terris, Marjie
Vanderzwaag (Hattie), Irma
Veinotte, Constance
Veinotte, Dennis
Veinotte (Sears), Mary Claire
Yukawa, Saki
Walker (MacKeen), Betty
Waugh (MacDonald), Patsy
Weaver, Darren
Weir, Barbara
Weir, Cheryl
Weir, Ed
Weir, Gay
Weir, George
Weir, John
Weir, Julie
Weir, Kylie
Weir, Lee
Weir, Marion
Weir, Mark
Weir, Mary
Weir, Ruby
Whidden, John
Whidden, Keith G.
Whidden (Whidden), Marilyn
Whidden, Mary
Whidden, Mildred
Whidden (Harpell), Verlene M.
Williamson (Parsons), Evelyn
Willis, Diane
Willis, J. Melvin
Wilson, Lewis
Wolf, Kate
Wolf, Rob
Worth, Corey

St. Mary's Alumni