Logo

Archive for the ‘News’ Category

2012 Spring Fling

An Invitation to Our 4th Annual “Last” Spring Fling

Spring has Arrived

 

Now that spring appears to be on it’s way, all of us are thinking how best to celebrate it’s arrival. On June 9, 2012, we will be hosting our 4th Annual “Last Spring Fling” at Saint John’s.  As with the past three celebrations; we look forward to seeing old friends and sharing an evening of camaraderie and memories.

We have an additional reason to gather – to say a farewell to Blaine Thauberger who will be moving to B.C in the summer. Blaine has been on staff with us since the early 1980′s and has been invaluable to us as we continue to move through the new phase in the Saint John’s story. We will miss Blaine, and invite you to come out to share in our farewell to him. Bring your favourite “Blaine” story to share around the fire.

The evening will begin with a Compline service at 5:00pm followed by a potluck supper, hosted at the McKay’s. Other items to bring are a lawn chair and your own refreshments.

If you are able to come, please contact us at 780-701-5625 or bmckay@sjsa.ab.ca. We look forward to seeing you on June 9th. Send this email on to a friend who might not have heard about our get together.


Excerpt from History Book

Sample Front Cover

 

Check out the “sneak peek” of our history book. Click on the link on the right hand side of our home page.


Alumni Mini-Reunion

Dave Leach and Michael Owen - 2012 (Grad Class 1982)

Dave Leach (AG 82) and Michael Owen (AG 82) met up at the Wright Brothers Pub in London, England in January of this year. They ran into each other in Dallas, Texas this past December and through luck, found that they would be overseas at the same time. “It was great to see Dave and to hear all his wonderful news. It has been almost 30 years since we left school, and we were able to pick up right where we left off! That said, neither of us wanted to strap on any snowshoes.” Unfortunately, they could only spend the evening, but had a good laugh over old times – Mike and Dave shared a dorm in their Grade 12 year. Both of them would like to hear from other ’82 grads…

 

 

 

 

 


Alumni Passes Away

Stephen in "historical costume" circa 1980's

Quite suddenly, on Saturday January 21, 2012 alumnus Stephen Whistance-Smith (laundry # 408)  passed away. Stephen was a student at St. John’s from 1973 – 1975.  Notification of his passing came from his brother Douglas (1980-1983 laundry #798). We express our condolences to the family as they grieve their loss.


Alumni Parent Passes Away.

On December 16, 2011 John Zigarlick; alumnus Rory Zigarlick’s (AG 1981) father passed away. When Rory was in the school, his Dad was president of  Echo Bay Mines, and was always there to lend a hand to us when our canoe trips were in the north. On many occasions he arranged for the brigades to fly out of Yellowknife on the company plane.

Our condolences go out to his family.

See the  article on John Zigarlick from the Edmonton Journal.


SJCBS Photos from the ’60′s

We received some great old photos from an alumni. They include pictures from the 1967 Grande Portage canoe trip; as well as the student body photos from the years 1964 through to 1969. They are posted on our Picasa page at this link:

Or you can scroll to the bottom of any page on this website and click on the Picasa icon in the bottom right hand corner of the page.


Check out the story of how St.John’s Discovered the Use of Canoes

While researching material for our history book, we came upon an article from the early days of the school. It is an interesting story about how and when canoes were first used by the school.

Click here to read the story, taken from the 1966 SJCBS yearbook.

Or, click on Stories in the top menu bar.

Enjoy the read.

 

 


Our St. John’s Community Loses Another Founding Member

Nancy Wiens

In the early hours of September 13, 2011, Nancy Wiens (wife of founding father Frank Wiens) surprised us with her passing. Nancy was 87, but was still living on her own and determinedly independent to the last.  Nancy along with Frank and Ted and Virginia Byfield began the adventure of the St. John’s  Schools back in 1957. She worked as the school nurse and administrative office assistant.  Along with the school adventure; Nancy raised 10 children and in later years enjoyed her 23 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren.  In her retirement years she gave her time to volunteer activities in the Selkirk community; as a member of the Rotary Anns, working at the Selkirk Food Bank and the secondhand clothing shop ‘the House of Economy”.  She was predeceased by her husband Frank in May of 2010.

Funeral services will be held at St. Peter’s Parish, Dynevor, in the old stone church near East Selkirk on Monday, September 19th at 3:00pm. Interment will follow immediately in the cemetry.

A complete obituary can be seen in the Winnipeg Free Press


Re-Living the Methye Portage

Methye Crew 2011

In mid-August several Manitoba alumni and their children tackled the Methye portage. They began at the bridge on highway 955 north of La Loche and traveled on the Clearwater River west to the portage. Yes, that’s right they did the portage backwards.

The weather and bugs cooperated to make it a memorable trip. Included in the crew are; Richard Bird SJCBS ’67, Jim McKay SJCBS ’67, Mike Solmundson SJCBS ’79 and his sons Kyle and Kevin, and Danny Lynes SJCBS ‘ 80.


New Photos Added to Picasa Gallery

Interschool Dog Race 1977

For those students who participated in the February 1977  Inter school dog sled race, we came across the pictures taken on the race.  Scroll to the bottom of this page and click on the icon on the far right to see the album “1977 Inter school Dog Sled Race” in our Picasa albums.  (Or click here)

Continue Reading…