My column today is a follow up to the Prince George Senior Secondary (PGSS) 50 Year Reunion as written and submitted by Neila Ollinger, a PGSS 50 Year School Reunion Committee Member:
Wow! My fellow school alumni, you made our 50th PGSS Reunion on Sept. 18 and 19 a huge success.
Thank you for your attendance; we marched 260 strong.
We had alumni attendees from all parts of BC, across Canada, the U.S.A., and Australia.
Obviously, "we all hang onto our roots" (quote from alumni) more than we realize.
Saturday's speeches by Peter Ewart and Melba King were spot on. Peter spoke of how our generation, "championed changes in policies, modes of behaviour, practices, attitudes, and ways of living that have become established now."
He expressed that, "the core of it all was the idea that people should empower themselves, speak out and stand up for their rights, whoever they were and whatever walk of life."
Melba talked about her experiences and difficulties upon entering PGSS after leaving a close-knit smaller school in the Millar addition. Hearing from both these speakers confirmed to me that attitudes are changing for the better. Thanks to both of you for your inspiring and enlightening words.
A big thank you goes out to the Inn of the North and their wonderful staff. They just couldn't do enough for us and made everything happen seamlessly.
The feedback the committee has received confirmed that the menu and food were superb and enjoyed by everyone. Thank you also goes out to the donors who supplied door prizes, the groups that entertained us: The Elder Citizens Recreation Association's Forever Young Chorus (ECRA) and the Elvis Impersonator. You were all wonderful!
In the wake of the reunion, the committee has met and decided that it would like to keep the Facebook page going as a forum for alumni to keep in touch and let everyone know about future PGSS reunions. So feel free to post your comments and photos, or to sign up to Facebook if you haven't already done so.
Maybe this will be the incentive we need to join the 21st century and "stop bucking the Facebook thing" (quote from alumni).
Here is the PGSS 2015 Reunion Facebook link: www.facebook.com/groups/305299006260809 or in Facebook, search PGSS2015Reunion. Search under groups.
We may not be able to climb the cut banks, roam endless hours in downtown P.G., go to the Shasta Caf or Jimmy James drag race down Third Avenue and Victoria Street but we can attend another reunion. Keep in touch on Facebook. See you in 2020.
November Birthdays that I know about: Shirley Bond, Noreen Rustad, Sid Doucette, Mary Kordyban, Ginny Jenkins, Diane Reynolds, Lorraine Anderson, Wilf Howlett, Donna Legault, Ann O'Shea, Glen Callieou, Karen Loehndorf, Eva Switzer, Maurice Mingay, Victoria Nudds, Ken Royston, Geraldine Bailey, Bev Kelly, Darrell Rutledge, Jan Rivers, Carron Dunn, Sharon Husberg, Robin Wright, Christena Benwell, Unice Caron, Fred Schaefer, Darlene Mallais, Maureen Braun, Jack Paul, Sharon Paul, Joann Eikum, Leonard Ouellette, Annetre Kennedy, Lindsay Hick, Mary Curiston, Bill Heather, Sylvia Fetterly, Edith White, Neil Hunter, Sharon Halvorson, Corinne Collins, Shirley Ankerstein, John Lovett, Wilma Davison, Sheila Wilson, Georgina Ward, Donna Nichols, Hilda Eshlelman and Ralph Balcom.
November Anniversaries that I know about: 63 years for Roy and Ivy Whitfield and 49 years for Vern and Verna Wright.
