Frank Wiens

On September 18, 2010 a Testimonial Dinner will be held in honour of Frank Wiens. This dinner is being organized by alumni. The details are as follows:

Where: The Selkirk Inn – 166 Main St. Selkirk, Manitoba

When: 5:30 pm Cocktails  6:00 pm Dinner

How Much: $30.00 per ticket (the venue has limited seating – order your tickets early to be sure of a place)

Keynote Speakers: Ted Byfield & Don Forfar

Tickets can be purchased from Jim McKay. Contact information: 204-482-7284 or 204-771-7147

Or email Susan.McKay@gov.mb.ca

To ensure a reserved ticket, cheques should be mailed to Box 156.

East Selkirk, Manitoba, ROE OMO -   Made out to Jim McKay

Nahanni River

David Hibbard (AG’77) is looking for any alumni who are interested in a great canoe trip on the Little Nahanni River.

Gym Lights Replaced

On June 23 rd the lights in our gymnasium were changed – no small feat as discovered by former headmasters Keith McKay and Peter Jackson.

After renting a scissor lift, collecting the lift, driving it out to the school and managing to get it off the trailer and in to the gym, the job of installing the new light bulbs was relatively easy.

PJ working in the gym

Thirty bulbs later the gym is now bathed in bright light. Just goes to show you that there is always work for the retired headmasters!

Chapel on June 5, 2010

On June 5th our chapel anniversary celebration went off without a hitch. Many of our alumni, former staff and friends came to share the day with us.

Thank you to all who attended. It was wonderful to see all of you out again and to be able to catch up with everyone’s news. The singing voices were greatly appreciated both in the chapel and around the fire pit later.

We were truly blessed with wonderful weather for the weekend. This enabled us to enjoy a warm, sunny outside breakfast on Sunday, and to watch all the little ones play. We will have to put our heads together to plan the next event.

Frank Wiens

It is with a very heavy heart that we announce the passing of Frank Wiens on May 12, 2010.  Frank was co-founder and headmaster (1962 – 1986) of the Manitoba St. John’s School. It was his educational philosophy that guided the three schools in their unique approach to educating boys. His legacy will live on in all the young men he mentored over the years. We shall all miss him very much.

A service was  held for Frank on Tuesday, May 18, 2010 at St. John’s Anglican Cathedral. Many, many alumni, family and friends attended to celebrate Frank’s life, and to reminisce about their adventures with him. View Frank’s obituary in the Winnipeg Free Press.

Chapel of St. John the Evangelist

On June 5, 2010 Saint John’s School of Alberta and the Company of the Cross will be celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the chapel of St. John the Evangelist at Saint John’s School. The chapel was originally built in Edmonton in 1910, and used as the Edmonton Mission to minister to congregations around the city. In 1975 it was purchased by the school from the Sisters of St. John the Divine, and moved out to the school site. Over the next school year the students, under the supervision of master builder Bernard Werner, completed the reconstruction of the chapel. The dedication ceremony took place in May of 1977.

The chapel has always played a very important role in the Saint John’s community. Many of you or your family members were married, baptized, confirmed or shared in great fellowship in the chapel. For some of you – the reconstruction of the chapel in 1976 played out with your help.

Chapel Reconstruction 1976

We would like to invite you to come back for this celebration, to share in a Compline and Anniversary service in the chapel, and a potluck supper afterwards.

The service will be held at 5:00 pm on June 5, 2010. Following the service there will be a potluck dinner (outside if weather permits), so bring a lawn chair, your favorite refreshment and a potluck dish and join us in the celebration of our chapel’s birthday. Stay for fire side fellowship, reconnect with old friends or meet new ones. We would love to see as many of our former students, staff and supporters come out to share in this celebration.

Please let us know if you will be attending by email bmckay@sjsa.ab.ca or by phone at 780-701-5625. We look forward to hearing from you.

Front Entrance

As of March 19, 2010 we have a new, direct line to our office. The  new number is 780-701-5625.

We will retain the Warburg line 780-848-2881 and our fax line 780-848-2395. All other numbers will discontinue on March 31, 2010.

1980 Graduating Class

Two of our anniversary classes are planning re-unions for this summer. The Class of 1980 is expecting to attend the 100th Anniversary celebrations for our chapel on June 5th. (They are only a little younger than the chapel they helped to reconstruct!)

Also, the class of 2000 is making plans for their ten year anniversary to take place  some time in the summer.

2000 Graduating Class

Details for these are not available at this time. However, if you are one of the grads from these two years – get in touch with your classmates – plans are in the works and they are looking for you.

Grads from the classes of 1970 and 1990 where are you? Any plans to get together? Let us know if we can be of any help.

Early Snowshoe Run 1969

The history book is now in its early stages as archives are organized after the move to our offices in the east wing of the school. It has been very easy to lose one self in the old pictures and newsletters. Great memories are found at every turn!

We are now in the process of setting up a display room for the trophies, plaques, photographs and other archive material. The Manitoba school display room is set up and has already had some visitors.

Through this re-designed web site, we will be publishing some of the stories from our past. As well, you will find links to a photo site and social networking sites, (scroll to the bottom right hand corner of any page on this site to click on the Picasa link to more photo albums) to share our pictures and updates. There will be new picture albums and stories added on a regular basis. It is hoped that these stories and pictures will bring back memories of the adventures shared by many students, parents and staff down through the last 40 years.

Chapel of St. John the Evangelist

The Saint John’s School of Alberta Bursary Trust name will be amended to become the Saint John’s Legacy Trust Fund in 2010. When the school property is sold, the sale of the assets will be transferred to this fund to fulfill the following mandate:

1. Providing post secondary scholarships to alumni of Saint John’s School of Alberta as well as to children of alumni and staff of the said school;
2. Providing grants to community organizations working with children and in particular, education and activities for boys;
3. Providing grants to organizations that promote and introduce people to the Christian faith;
4. Supporting groups and individuals involved in outdoor expeditions that promote adventure and protection of our environment.

We are in the process of working through the transfer of funds from our Bursary Trust Charity to the Legacy Trust Fund Charity. The forms are with the Charities Division in Ottawa – we await word from them. Once this is complete, we will be able to accept applications for the Legacy Trust in 2011.

The trust fund is accepting donations for 2010 that can be directed towards all of the above or one specific section of the mandate. If you are interested in making a contribution, please make out your cheque to the Saint John’s Bursary Trust Fund and send it to the school address. A charitable receipt will be issued.