Alumni Outdoor Adventures

Sunset on the Churchill River

While the school may be closed, our alumni outdoor activities have not slowed down! During the spring, summer and fall of last year the “adventurers” were out by water and by land to enjoy the outdoors.
On June 1st, Chris Petrie (AG01) along with a friend (Tony Ebdon) began a three month canoe trip starting from Edmonton with plans to end in Churchill, Manitoba. This mammoth trip was part fundraiser, part environmental voyage. They were not able to complete the trip this year, but will be back next summer to finish. (See the Updates section for a link to information about this trip).

In July a group headed down the Red Deer River to share in a Saint John’s style stag for Heath Foster(A85). With him were Floyd Houle(AG86), Leon Perrier(AG86), Richard Bird(MG67),BlaineThauberger (AG80) and MarkCoates (AS08).

Family hike on the Chilkoot Trail

We received an email from Rick James (SJSA’85), in November, in which he mentioned a trip his family, along with Paul Nordahl (SJCBS’77) and his son, hiked the Chilkoot Trail in July. He says; “We finally did the Chilkoot Trail, and it was amazing. My family went with Paul Nordahl and his son Ti. Needless to say, we were looked down at a bit by some of the other trail hiking families for pushing our kids “so hard”. Us three adults were hurting more by the end I think though. Scenery was breathtaking, as beautiful or even more scenic than White Goat & Siffleur.”

As well in August another group of alumni and some of their family members enjoyed a rainy, mosquito ridden trip along the rivers on the east side of Lake Winnipeg. This group consisted of Jim McKay(MG67), Richard Bird (with two of his daughters) and Fenton Leonard(MG80)(with his son).

In September a small group from Alberta re-lived their hiking days near

2009 Lake of the Falls

David Thompson Lodge – Entry Creek. Blaine Thauberger, Keith (MG69) & Charles McKay(AG01) and Mark Coates enjoyed a warm and beautiful weekend as they trekked up to Lake-of-the Falls.

On September 19th, Blaine Thauberger, Charles McKay, Sean Hudson(AG07)and Duncan McLeod(AG06) helped out the Paddle for Compassion canoe group along the North Saskachewan River. This continues the school’s tradition of participation in this event.

The original crew 1959

In late September, a 50 year reunion of the

B. Schmidt & M. Maunder 2009

1959 navy cutter trip from Winnipeg to Norway House and back to Winnipeg was held. While not many of the participants from the original group were there, Bob Schmidt, of Calgary, with his wife Gail and Mike Maunder met to share the memories of this very early outdoor trip.

It is wonderful to see our alumni carry on this love of the outdoors! This will be a large part our “living legacy”, the continued sharing of the outdoor experiences. Let us know of your adventures so we can pass news of them along through this website.

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