School Life Mural

We have now officially moved in to the new Saint John’s office in the east wing of the school! Along with an office, we have our student records, our trophies, and the archival records stored in what used to be the dorms. There is also a lounge available for staff and visitors. It is a comfortable and quiet setting for our work.

Along with our move comes new contact information.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

By Phone: 780-701-5625

or  780-848-2881 ext 101

By fax: 780-848-2395

By Mail: R.R#5 Stony Plain, AB T7Z 1X5

By Courier:Via Purolator Courier

Route 18C, Genesee Bridge, Warburg, Alberta TOC 2T0

Email addresses are:

pjackson@sjsa.ab.ca

bmckay@sjsa.ab.ca

dynevor@sjsa.ab.ca

Please phone or email ahead of your visit to ensure that Saint John’s Staff will be available. On weekends and evenings, the front gate will be locked although someone is always resident on the property.

Thank you, and we look forward to hearing from you.

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.

Christmas Sleigh Ride at SJSA

Dear Supporter:

It is a surprise to me that I am still around to write a letter for Christmas 2009! Last year at this time, the final decision had been made not to re-open the school and to immediately sell the property.

Since then the school main building was leased to Mother Earth’s Children’s Charter School (MECC) with an option for them to purchase it after two years. It has been fantastic that the facilities are being used after sitting empty over the past year. MECC has 160 students from kindergarten to grade nine who have made excellent use of the gym and expanded the number of classrooms. There is even a brand new elaborate playground on site!

Continue Reading…

Doug Matheson May 6, 1921-June 15, 2009

On June 15, 2009 our Saint John’s family lost one of it’s founding parents. Douglas R. Matheson died in a plane crash – doing what he loved best, flying. His obituary says it best, ” He was adventurous, opinionated, patriotic, intelligent, courageous, irreverent and funny. He was passionate about the things he believed in and the people he loved. To the end he lived life with laughter, enthusiasm, joy and a wonderful sense of humour. He died the way pilots would like to go: soaring through a sunny Alberta sky, joyously doing what he loved to do. His timing was out just a little bit; he always said that when his time came he hoped it would be after cherry season was over.”

Doug was born in Edmonton, and except for his absence during World War II,

Doug with his Spitfire

spent his life in this city. His wartime experiences included a career in the Royal Canadian Airforce as a Spitfire pilot with 411 Squadron. His career came to a sudden halt in December of 1943 when he was shot down over northern France. He parachuted to safety and was protected by a wonderful French family. He worked with the French underground until he was arrested in April 1944. After interrogation by the Gestapo he was sent to Stalagluft III.

After the war, Doug attended the U of A, and graduated with a law degree. He went on to found Matheson and Company with his brother Bob. Doug was involved in many areas of volunteer service. He would later become the school’s lawyer, and the founding chairman of the board for the school.

We enjoyed many years of friendship and shared vision with Doug. He will certainly be missed.

See a tribute to Doug on line