A couple of months ago the 1962, 63, 64 and 65 classes had a combined grad reunion. “We’re only old to the little ones, not to one another” comments Arlene Whalley.
It’s easy to forget how many years have passed when we’re all together.
Even easier to recall the North End kids where I grew up, Hornquist, Smolik, Waswick, Salanski, Aiello, Clarke, Gentile,Ferrarelli, Di Giorgio, Lento, Irwin, Patterson, Poupart, most of the names still recognizable today.
Don Dicks says that his class was the smallest to graduate, 21 students, 11 in attendance at the reunion, four deceased. He says “I’m amazed at how things have changed yet somehow still stay the same”. He reminisces about Trites-Wood Department Store, Minton’s, Quails, Fiorillo’s, Barton’s Music and Guzzi’s where he stopped each day for a snack on the way to Shop class. And the Diamond Grill where everyone hung out afterschool. He recalls TV arriving to Fernie in 1962 with snowy Spokane Channel Four. Physics class with only four seniors, the monthly dances at the Odd Fellows Hall “The dance started when the girls danced with each other”, going to the Drive In with kids in the trunk to save on admission, chewing gum and being late for class.
Roy Slavens remembered Miss Way in grade two, “Teachers failed students back then, a few gave up on the education system or they gave up on them”. He recalled the Operettas, skiing, eyeing up the girls from the Pass, Mr. Condon and woodworking and Mrs. Reed, fundraising for a score board for the gym and being first to run the scoreboard.
Frank Lento talked about his family living on Pellat Avenue, remembering Lloyd Hamilton, Al Simcoe and limericks in the back of a book that weren’t supposed to be read and mentioned Kent, Lawrence, Peggy, Lois, Kathleen, Maureen and Cheryl who were unable to attend, and wished Mona Fleming a happy birthday. Said he’s spent 61 consecutive years in the school system as a student, teacher, principal and chair of the school board. Craig East presented the Fernie book to all of the organizers of the reunion and also to all of his 1964 class present.
Main organizer of the event and MC for the evening was Judy Smolik with help from Linda Boardman and Mary Craig. Judy spoke wistfully about school years saying ” When we used to play kick the can in the alley in the North End who could have imagined that one day one of us would have ended up to be mayor?”
Undoubtedly nothing is more gratifying than to receive approval from your peers. More so for me because in fall of 1964 while schoolmates began college I remained in Fernie married to the love of my life.
I never regretted this decision yet years later I suffered pangs of regret at the lack of formal education. I began to feel inferior to friends that had achieved this accomplishment.
I compensated for this lack by self- educating, I read voraciously asking the library to loan reference books from the University of Victoria Library. I wanted to have an idea of what students were learning. I also took courses through the local college at various times. But most of all I began to volunteer in schools, church and service clubs.
One day the negative feelings disappeared and I understood that a formal education can’t make the person, it enhances, it teaches, it opens doors, what it doesn’t do is build character to make someone “better”.
Perhaps this is the reason that classmates deny themselves the pleasure of coming to reunions. We worry unnecessarily about “being good enough, looking good enough, being smart enough” to impress. This group has many professionals, engineers, doctors, accountants, who live in various parts of the continent and who have lived all over the world. One classmate Marvin Di Giorgio moved to his wife’s home country of France. Some like Mary Craig moved back to the area after living elsewhere during her working life.
I have enjoyed all reunions, this year I was asked to say a few words as Mayor. I welcomed everyone and said:
“As a school mate I want to say how odd it is to stand in front of you this evening in this capacity.
But even odder is the reality of how many years have passed since we all were in school together.
I recall clearly September of 1953, grade two. That was the grade I began when my family moved to Fernie. I couldn’t speak a word of English but by Christmas I had become fluent.
I remember all of you whether you are older or younger than I am because in Fernie Central School basically everyone knew each other regardless of grade.
I also recall many of the teachers like Mr.Pezel, Miss Fofanoff, Mr. Rushcall, the Misses Dicken, Mr. Simcoe, Mr. Kennedy, Max Turyk in grade eight socials, Mr. Quail, sweet little Miss Moir in French, Mr. Hamilton in English, drama and glee club, Tom Foran in Art Mr. Caufield in science and of course Miss Shennan in Home Ec.
And I will never forget Mrs. Reed who presented me with a pair of scissors in grade nine typing class and said in order to learn properly I needed to cut my long nails. Something I had to do right then and there.
Needless to say that was the first and last typing class I ever took but I need to thank her as that typing class has served me well during the 23 years of writing I have been doing for different publications.
And I remember the clothes we wore, pleated skirts and bobby socks, twin set sweaters for the girls and James Dean jackets for the boys.
And the hairstyles, girls with swinging ponytails and bangs and Brylcream slicked back hair for the guys.
We were so young and naive back then and couldn’t have even imagined how much the world would change.
Sometimes I close my eyes and visualize stepping down the concrete steps going to gym or home ec, or having Mr. Simcoe wave his long bony finger at us because someone had thrown spit balls at his back, or in math class listening to Mr. Quail talk about his time in the Air Force.
I remember Monday morning in front entrance hall where all students would gather to recite the Our Father and sing oh Canada.
And I remember running to Patterson’s second Hand Store for a nickel’s worth of penny candy during recess.
Today, I don’t know who has had the most interesting career or made the most money, who has the most grandchildren or been married the longest, who lives the furthest away or who has faced the greatest challenges and heartbreak.
I am reminded of a quote by Albert Einstein, who said, “Strive not be a success but rather to be of value”.
And we are all successful because each one of us is of great value to our families, our work places, our communities and most importantly to ourselves.
Regardless of where all have called home since those school days I believe that we never forget the time or the people we are with during the most formative years of life.
Those were fun days even though we didn’t realize it at the time and the fact that we are here tonight proves that most of us still remember those days with fondness.
Fernie will always hold a special place for everyone and for this reason I am especially pleased to be able to welcome each one of you back home.
It is great to see you all and thank you to all who organized this occasion. In closing I want to leave you with a short poem
Life is short, Live it,
Love is rare, grab it,
Anger is bad, scrap it,
Fear is awful, face it,
Memories are sweet, Cherish them.
A huge thank you to everyone that organized and attended this reunion, it was a great visit with amazing, wonderful people who understand that maturity is a great equalizer. See you all in five years.”
