April 2011 - Welcome Home!

HILLCREST HIGH SCHOOL CLASSES OF THE 1960s
50 TH REUNION
INSIDE:
Hillcrest 50th Reunion Website: http://www.hillcrestottawa50th.ca
Pages 2 & 3—
Reunion Events
Pages 4—7—
Kal Toth’s
‘IMAGES’ of
Hillcrest
Page 8 & 9—
Head Boy
Greg Green
Pages 10 & 11
—Greg Green’s
Valedictory
Address—1968
Page 12—Was I
really a rebel
Page 13—The
1968 Board
of Control
Page 14 & 15—
Head Girl
Sandy
Stevenson
Pages 16 & 17
—The Chapters
in Sandy’s life
Pages 18—19
— Hal Bolton:
From Hillcrest
to RMC
to the World
Page 20—
Peter Wellstead
remembered
Page 21—
The 1968
Cheerleaders;
Answers to the
11A Quiz;
Correction
Page 22—The
Girls of 1965’s
10D Class
reunite
Page 23—
Looking Back
on Dress
Reform;
Stuart
Briscoe—
Soccer Star
Page 24—The
Students of 11A
and a Quiz
V OLUME
1
IS SUE
11
AP RIL
2011
We chose them to lead us.
1968 was a tumultuous year
for students around the
world...unrest with “the system” - the political, the social,
the educational—culminated
in sit-ins and police raids on
facilities at Columbia University, McGill, the University of
Paris at Nanterre and the
Sorbonne, Mexico City...and
even at Hillcrest in the form
of the Valedictory Speech
by Head Boy Greg Green.
It was the first such speech
by a head boy or head girl
that veered from the traditional thanks to Mom, Dad,
the teachers and administrators at Hillcrest for getting us
ready to face the world.
Greg’s speech would ‘look’
at the world and question the
limitations on classroom discussions of controversial issues and other limitations of
freedom of speech. He wondered why students’ opinion
were minimized and about
their maturity to decide what
clothing they could wear.
He challenged the power of
a school principal, and the
raison d'être for a university
degree. And he equated the
school system to a factory
that even our parents had
‘worked’ in.
1
Head Girl and Head Boy for 1968—
Sandy Stevenson and Greg Green
Strong words for a young man to say,
especially while Bueth L. Bradley was
‘the guiding light’ for Hillcrest’s first
decade. Read Greg’s Valedictory
Speech on Pages 10 and 11 and
see if you, in looking back, agree
with his sentiments.
EVET DETAILS
Remember .... To participate in this weekend-long celebration you must purchase your
Campus Pass!
Please Note:
Your GOLD PASS provides access to ALL these Campus Events & Activities
(except Golf)
Friday May 13th, 2011 - Daytime:
Activity
Tickets Required
Pre-Reunion Golf Tournament (Friday Morning)
Meet at Anderson Links at 8:00 A.M.
18 holes - Double-shotgun start
Includes: Green Fees, Cart, Lunch & Prizes
Golf Pass Only
Ongoing from Friday 4 pm to Sunday 2 pm:
Activity
Tickets Required
Registration & Logo/DVD Sales in Front Lobby
Decades Memorabilia Room in Cafeteria
General Admission Pass
On-going Coffee Shop/Café in Room 136
Friday May 13th, 2011—Evening:
Activity
Tickets Required
Opening ceremonies with BLB & Alumni/Student Band
Performance in Auditorium - 7:00 P.M.
General Admission Pass
Alumni - Faculty Meet & Greet in school - 6:00 - 7:00 P.M.
Reception for Faculty & Staff only in Library 4:00 - 6:00 P.M.
Faculty & Staff Only
Pub Night in Tent - live music: The Mick Armitage Band;
Cash Bar, Cocktail hot & cold buffet 8:00 - 10:00 P.M.,
Raffle, Open Mic Time
General Admission
+ Pub Night Pass
Class of 1986 - 25th Anniversary Reunion
General Admission
+ Pub Night Pass
50th Anniversary Reunion
Where:
Hillcrest High School
1900 Dauphin Rd
Ottawa, ON
Canada
K1G 2L7
2
EVET DETAILS
Saturday May 14th, 2011—Daytime:
Activity
Tickets Required
Car/Vehicle Show—Classic old and new cars/bikes
Student BBQ—HAA Fund raiser
Afternoon Zumba aerobics dance class in Small Gym
Various sporting events (excluding golf) in Large Gym
and outdoors featuring our new Sports Field
Talent Stage in Tent, Beer Cash Bar—3:00—5:30 P.M.
Details & Sign-up on website for all Special Activities
General Admission Pass
Saturday May 14th, 2011—Evening:
Activity
Tickets Required
David Smith BBQ Buffet Dinner—you can no longer get
dinner at Nates but you can enjoy David’s famous steak
BBQ Buffet and stay for the dance—7:00 P.M.
Dance—live music: The Mick Armitage Band: Cash Bar
Raffles, Live Auction with David Smith—9:00 P.M.
General Admission Pass
+ Dinner/Dance Pass
General Admission Pass
+ Dance Pass or
Dinner/Dance Pass
Saturday May 14th, 2011—Daytime:
Activity
Tickets Required
Pancake Brunch in Tent—11:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M.; Kids
Zone; Closing Ceremonies, Memorial , and Dedication &
Time Capsule to 2:00 p.m.
3
General Admission Pass
+ Brunch Pass
Kal’s ‘images’ bring back memories of Hillcrest days
My visits to meet Hillcrest and Carleton friends and family, since moving to BC and Oregon,
have all been moving and memorable. My first Hillcrest reunion back in the 80’s was a super
experience! This one promises to be much bigger, better and more moving. This loop back
home is something very, very special indeed.
When I first heard of our 50-year reunion in February from my sis, Kathy (‘67), I immediately
recognized that this would be my once-in-a-lifetime opportunity - one that I could not miss! Here
are a few people, images, and thoughts that have spun through my mind since I began browsing
the reunion website.
Image - Instant Friends: In the summer of 1961, Kathy and I moved with our family from
Toronto to Ottawa on Devon Street. The kids in the neighbourhood welcomed us with open arms.
Our initial batch of friends included the likes of Don Cassidy († 2009), Linda Watson (Head Girl
’66-67) and her brother Bob, Nan and Bill Kemp, Tom (’66) and Louise Swan (’67), Mike
Lamothe (’66), Don and Anne Longchamps (’66 and ‘67), and Bill Livingstone (’65).
Image - First Day at Hillcrest High School: In early September 1961, the school had just
opened, and major additions were still under construction or about to be launched. Hillcrest had
only Grades 9, 10 and 11. I was assigned to 10D - Mr. R.C. Lane, homeroom teacher. Music
teacher Mr. Howard LeRoy said to me, “Sorry, no wimpy violins hereFtry this trumpet instead;
it’s a real blast.”
With some encouragement from the likes of trumpeters Geoff Linklater and John McClenahan,
clarinets Doug Drummond (†) and Dave Ahrens, saxes Mike Jarvis and Dave Young, Brian
MitchelI (†) on tuba, and, yes, even Mike Lamothe on percussion, I steadily progressed F.from
sports game noise-maker to a reasonably proficient trumpet player in the main band, member of
our dance band, and finally my big chance in the spotlight doing a passable ad lib jazz solo at
one of our famous concerts. This turned out to be the top of my trumpeting career as I got
braces on my teeth in late Grade 13; trumpeting became, literally, too painful – and this cosmetic
handicap happened just in time for me to make a lasting impression on those university gals!
Well, I played some guitar in my twenties, but I let my various musical instruments get dusty as
I dove into family and career; however, the music and images remained - the Hillcrest bands,
concerts, Mr. LeRoy, and the great talent among us: Dave Young and Lyn Fairweather, Jimmy
Knox, and the Staccatos (“Half Past Midnight”) consisting of Vern Craig, Peter Fallis and Brian
Rading (circa 1964), and Rick Belanger who morphed into the Five Man Electrical Band
(“Signs”). I’m now a karaoke junkie and a member of a rock/blues wanna-be band jamming with
my Stratocaster in Portland, Oregon – great fun!
Image – Football: After a long lazy summer, much of it wasted away at Mooney’s Bay, those
gruelling calisthenics and practices would start in the fall. I remember struggling home with every
muscle in my body aching - “Mom, I’m just fine, really I am!” But this was nothing in comparison
to the pain I felt when coach Gerry Manale, or maybe it was Mr. (Lou) Labrosse or Mr. Lemaire,
made me run the gauntlet for being late to practice. I think it was my good friend Mike Lamothe
who gave me the hardest lick! For tough Ted Millar (FB) and speedy Bill Livingstone (HB) this
would have been business as usual. As a corner linebacker (CB), more used to hitting than being
hit, this gave me some real pain but toughened me up. – “Thanks, Coach.”
BTW, one of the newsletters mistakenly labels me QB of the Intermediate Hawks – I am fairly
certain it was Ed Kollesh who deserved that honour, though Polky gave it a shot, too. And I
would be remiss not to make special mention of Mr. Hawk himself, (at least in my book) close
friend Bill Livingstone whom I greatly admire. He excelled in virtually every sport at the collegiate
level including football, basketball, gymnastics, track (running various distances), and pole-vault.
Bill hauled in a lot of silverware for Hillcrest. And there was also close friend, Alex Turnbull, a
gritty cross-country runner, committed Habs fan (for me it was the Leafs) – he taught me how to
downhill ski; Pete Waddell (’65) who could throw a discus and kick the ball a mile;
(Continued on Page Six.)
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Kal and Kathy Toth—2010 and inserts—Kal from IMPACT 65 AND Kathy from IMPACT 67 (above);
and from the 1963-64 Dance Band (below), Kal is in the third row, far left, circled. Other members
include: Back row: Mike Lamothe, Doug Boyce and Brian Mitchell on bass fiddle; Third row:
Kal Toth, Geoff Linklater, Doug Hyde, Steve Skinner, Bill Hunt, Tom Jordan, and Howard Pleet;
Second row: Dave Young, Bill Spencer, Doug Cochrane; Front row: Dave Ahrens and Mike Jarvis.
Hillcrest’s Dance Band—1963-4
5
Kal’s ‘images’ of HillcrestL (Continued from Page Four.)
and Tom Shultz ‘(65) whose throwing arm was only rivalled by Tom Dempsey (’66).
Image – Teachers and Studies: The next cloudy image I recall is focusing hard on studies to
get into engineering. Notable teachers that influenced me, and I am sure many of you, included:
history and homeroom teacher Mr. Peterson who started every lesson with “In the good old days
when F”; Mr. Ken Crouch who always had a fascinating experiment going to wow the gals;
Mr. LeRoy - “Too much necking, McClenahan*, will ruin your trumpeting embouchure (lip)”.
There was Mr. E.W. Benoit who helped me finally learn how to put 10 words into a form that
others could actually make sense of F “Thank you Benny. I am eternally grateful!”; and Mr. R.C.
Lane, a wonderful man of great patience given he had to put up with likes of us in 10D (1961-62):
Billy Graham, Pete Birtwistle, Howie Gay, Mike Jarvis, Ken Rockburn, and Dave Young among
others. (*Referring to John McClenahan—See July Edition, Page Three—The Ugly Duckling.)
Image - Hillcrest’s “Magna Carta”: Then there was the hard work put in by the Hillcrest Constitution Committee – sorry I can’t remember everyone who contributed but I do recall working hard
with Elaine Barr and Don Gunn to produce Hillcrest’s “Magna Carta” – this was a really interesting experience for me. Does anybody know if our Constitution is still in existence? (top photo,
Page Seven)
Image – Apprehension on the Podium: Finally, my last, and most frequently remembered image at Hillcrest is of me on the podium in the auditorium – “What am I doing here I asked? I
should be in the pit with the band!” This experience gave me perhaps my biggest lesson-learned
in life. It relates to the fall ‘64 Head Boy campaign when I ran against Don Gunn and Hugh
Graham. I had a hard-working campaign manager (Mike Lamothe), a great team of helpers,
and several band members making campaign noises at the main entrance way.
But I totally blew my speech (Do you remember?) and lost to a better man (Don). My lesson:
You can’t assume that you know what to say or how to say it when you get in front of a large
crowd of your peers – unless you are a Ken Rockburn with a natural gift for the gab and comedy,
or you are a Ray Jewers (†) with the innate talent to authoritatively declare, “To be or not to be
F” and “Out damn spot!” This experience taught me that preparation, some friends to bounce
your ideas off of and lots of solid practice are essential when giving a talk in business or a lecture
to students or faculty. I suppose I should have taken drama classes with Ray and sister Kathy.
For the truly curious: I believe this lesson-learned about speech-making helped me a lot
throughout my engineering career which followed Hillcrest. After Grade 13, I went on to Carleton
to complete my B. Eng. degree. Fellow Hillcrest grads at Carleton included Alex TurnbulI, Doug
Drummond, Dave Ahrens, Doug Woods, Hans Konig, Bob Veal, Roy Irons, Richard Jackman,
and Dale Craig. I then hitchhiked around Europe (1969-70), worked in Geneva for the World
Health Organization, and returned to Ottawa to complete my masters, also at Carleton. I
became a business partner of Fred Tomlinson (‘66) in the hi-tech industry for a number of years
in the 1970s. In the ‘78-82 time-frame, I worked with Richard Jackman (‘66) renovating houses
in the Elgin Street area and the Glebe while consulting and working on my Ph.D. at Carleton
which I finished in 1980.
I have two beautiful daughters, Kim and Steph (bottom photo, Page Seven), and am seeing a
wonderful lady, Connie. Steph, married last August, completed her Bachelor’s degree in English
and teaching certification at UBC last year. Kim is finishing her Bachelor’s degree in business
and marketing at Athabasca University this year. I was transferred to Vancouver, B.C. in 1992 by
my employer, CGI Group, and then worked for Hughes Aircraft on air traffic control systems. I
soon met up with Hillcrest grads Gary Harasym (’65), Jimmy Knox and Vern Craig who were all
in Vancouver at that time. In 1999, I decided to start “professing” – first at the Technical University of British Columbia (now part of SFU), then Oregon State University, and most recently
Portland State University. I continue to make occasional loops through Ottawa to visit family,
friends and my mother, Julianna, who is now 95 years old. I very much look forward to
Kal
catching up with everybody. Hope to see you in mid-May!
6
Stephen Bookman
GinnySmith
Steph
Chris Grey
Kal Toth
Don Gunn
Kal
7
Elaine Barr
Kim
Hillcrest Head Boy—Greg Green
Greg Green
Activities: Head boy, sports.
Favourite Memory:
Mr. McSweeney and I in the yearbook office.
Future Plans: Sanitation engineering at Carleton.
Hillcrest’s 1968 Boy’s Cross-country Team: Back row:
Ron Brunette, Richard Beaumont, Jim Davidson, Greg
Green; Front row: Glen Davis, Tom Daly, Jim Barclay.
Hillcrest’s Hockey Team - 1968—Back row: Mr. J. Austin (Coach), Dale Potter, Bryan McSheffrey,
Jim Harrison, Jim Musson, Al Johnson, John Buchanan, Greg Green and Mr. N. Doherty;
Front row: Andy McDonald, Pat Taylor, Ted Bachusky, Tom Daly, Byron Scarcella, Mr. J. Baker
(Trainer) and Lincoln Bailey.
8
Hillcrest Head Boy—Greg Green
The 1968 Boys’ Senior Football Team—Back row: Rick Green, Mike Wright, Mark Lepage,
Jim Harrison, Bill Bunting, Mark Deslauriers, Bruce Harris, Greg Morgan, Brian Dickson,
Jim Chambers and Bill Leonard; Middle row: Mr. McAskin, Greg Green, Wayne Granger, Kirk
Armstrong, Dale Potter, Peter Lockett, Gord Mott, Mike Warren, Alan MacDonald, Jim Ferguson
and Mr. Austin; Front row: Rod Scharf, Bill Lemaire, Howard Goldfarb, Graeme Green, Bill
Larocque, Dale Merritt, Graham Stokes, Mike Rodrigue and Bill Barchett. In front: J. Berry,
T. Higgins and (Unknown).
The 1968 Hillcrest Band - Back Row: Shelagh Kelly, Gillian Caragata, Unknown, Doug Bridgewater, Anno Eblie, Eric Dormer, Don Hyde and R. Speares. Second row: Phillip Hartl and David
Smith. Third row: Nora Crawford, Bob Eberly, Terry Jordan, Sue Edwards, Tom Cove, Elizabeth
Clarkson, Ken Little, Vahe Guzelimian, Rick Moody, Greg Blaney, Douglas Hartl, Warren Carter,
Greg Green, Arthur Gowling, Jon Barter, Douglas Robinson, David Kropp, Andrew Reid and Allan
Imrie. Fourth row: Graeme Green, Brian Bawden, Ron Frederick, Brian Jessiman, Mark Hallman,
Sheila Cunningham, Peter Garrett, Linda Moody and Clifford Green. Front row: Hazel Burrell,
David Grey, Andrew Hodgson, Mr. Melia, Carol Rice, Betty Foster and Bill Noble.
9
GREG GREEN’S VALEDICTORY ADDRESS
It is my honour as valedictorian to say what any of my fellow graduates would
say given the same opportunity.
“No man”, said Bertrand Russell, “can pass as educated who has heard only
one side on questions to which the public is divided." Very few of us then can pass
as educated for we have been told what to think and not how to think.
Free expression of opinion is necessary in education yet discussion of
controversial issues is taboo in the classroom. Student newspapers were confiscated last year and its distributor suspended. Is this freedom of speech? Is this an
example of respect for the opinions of others? Is not the emphasis put on firmness
of belief a source of future bigotry?
Should not education emphasize doubt and the inquiry for truth? At institutes
of learning our opinions are listened to and if they are deemed valid, some action is
taken. We can wear our hair, clothes the way we feel is proper. Surely our ability to
accept responsibility has not changed that much in just two months?
The power left to principals in moulding our characters is terrifying. The
student is not treated as an end in himself, but as a means to an end, the end,
being the defence of the status quo. We are constantly advised to pass our exams
so we can get good marks, to get our Junior Matric, to get our Grade 13 Diploma,
so that we can go to University, and get that all important degree.
You don't have to be interested in what you're taking, just get that degree and
man, make all the money you want. Now doesn't that smell? High schools are
merely training centres where students are taught to fill a place in an office or
factory. Yet parents have been through it all so they feel we must go through it, too.
Teachers are restricted in giving us a good education by a few pennypinching conservatives in Toronto and the Collegiate Institute Board of Ontario.
There, the tight schedule and the strict course of study is the thing. Teachers have
not the time to expand or diverge as much as most of them want to.
We students would like to thank all our teachers for their help, but especially
those who disregarded Board Policy in order to present us with views other than
those of the Establishment.
And, while thanking our parents, we would also like to ask them to become
aware of what is going on at school, not just by coming to parent-teacher interviews
or Open House once a year, for they often tend to give too rosy a picture, but by
attempting to understand what their son or daughter feels of his or her education.
(Continued on Page 11.)
10
Valedictory...
(Continued from Page 10.)
You must become aware because,
Collegiate Institute Board members
will be elected next year.
Criticism is pointless without
constructive advice so I'd like to read
an article by Richard J. Needham
whose revolutionary ideas are often
scorned by our so-called educators:
"If we really want the teenagers to grow up straight and selfassured, if we really want to get
them off the drugs-sex-booze kick,
we've got to treat them with a lot
more understanding and a lot more
imagination. They're at the height
of their energy, creativity, idealism;
why not use these qualities, instead
of ignoring and even suppressing
them? Why not give the kids a taste
of freedom, responsibility, of exploration, of constructive activity, instead
of locking them up all the time?
"Let's get the teenagers out
of the box and into Canada, into
the mainstream of Canadian Life,
into the world. Let's not range them
against us - in boredom and bitterness and hostility - but get them
on our side to do things that are
obviously worth doing, things that
to them as well as us are better
than liquor and L. S. D. Juvenile
delinquency won't disappear but will
certainly shrink a lot when the adults
say a few simple words to the kids."
We like you, we need you,
please help us build a better
Canada.
Greg Green
Valedictorian—1968
Lori and Greg—2011
11
Was I really a rebel, Greg Green wonders
I'd been doing my best to forget that tumultuous event (my infamous valedictory), but intrepid Graham
MacDonell from the Newsletter tracked me down, and I'm willing to talk. A dear friend from those days
said, as she was commiserating with me while I contemplated this task, that I should be proud of the
valedictory...it had been a ground-breaker...a sign of the times. A sage friend from more very recent
times suggested that I may have been merely guilty of ‘living my times’. In fact, I may have been guilty of
beating myself up over it through all these years; I've been told I have a tendency for this. That night I felt
I was lucky to escape being beat up. For one, Vice-Principal Dunlop was forceful in conveying his upset
feelings but, thankfully, he restrained himself. My father didn't talk to me for months so upset with me was
he – he heard no end of it from his colleagues at R.C.M.P. HQ. Let's just say I took on some guilt and
regret in the aftermath. (Editor’s Note:- See Greg’s Valedictory Address on Pages 10 and 11.)
Until my sister very recently produced a copy of
‘IMPACT’ in which there was a transcript of my address, I'd pretty much forgotten the actual text. (Not
that I was really trying to remember. I was trying to
forget, after all). Had I really borrowed so heavily
from other commentators on the times? I had, I
confess. It's been said I was a rebel. If so, I was
ill-prepared by my upbringing to be one.
During my five years at Hillcrest I'd been a 'good
boy', active in sports particularly and other extracurricular activities, but still, relatively obscure until
thrust into the 'limelight' of being the 'Head Boy'.
Then, having had the mantle of rebel put on me,
I tried my best to live up to it in a 'modest' way,
being just barely successful in my first year at
Carleton and two subsequent part-time years,
while I worked with troubled teenagers at an
Ottawa agency. I quit and moved west to the
Rockies and beyond, following in the footsteps of
other south-eastenders, at least a couple of whom
are no longer with us – Auggie Bannerman and
Jimmy Tutt, peace be with them. I tried my best,
mainly by being a ski-bum and doing a series of
low-paying jobs until, in 1975, I attempted to
become a professional musician in a band. (Who
was I kidding?) I was convinced to complete my degree by all this 'rebelling' before the time limit.
Luckily, St Pat's had a General Arts Degree, toward which I could cobble together enough credits.
Armed with the degree, I had to drive hack in Ottawa for six months which was ‘de rigueur’ at the time.
I was lured back out west and back into skiing and more menial work for several more years.
However, it was while working as a gardener in Vancouver in 1981 that I met Sheila, a rebel herself,
who would become my partner of 22 years and with whom I'd raise two wonderful kids, Jemma and Arlo.
While working as a gardener, I'd picked up credentials at UBC to teach ESL to adults which stood me in
good stead when we moved to Toronto to start our family. I started my modest career as a teacher
(Now isn't that rich!) at George Brown and Seneca before we moved back to Vancouver in 1987 where
I've lived since and worked at Vancouver Community College. In 2003, Sheila and I parted ways but
our children, Jemma, 25, working and studying here in Vancouver, and Arlo, 23, living and working in
Toronto, remain a joy to us. I'm living happily with a woman, Lori, who shares a love of playing music
together with an enthusiastic gang of oldsters with a similar bent. We live in Vancouver, but have a
beautiful get-a-way on the Sunshine Coast.
When I heard my sisters and brother were making the trip to the reunion, not to be outdone, I made
arrangements to be there too. Gulp!
12
Hillcrest Board of Control
Hillcrest’s Board of Control—1968: Back row: Greg Green, Gary Wolfe, Sheila Petzold,
Doug Street; Front row: Fred Barber, Dianne Davidson, Sandy Stevenson, Rick Salmon.
13
Hillcrest Head Girl—Sandy Stevenson
Sandy Stevenson
Activities: Head Girl, Sports, Hi-Y.
Favourite Memory:
Messing around with Soward*.
Future Plans:
Queens for Phys. Ed Teachers' degree.
* Refers to Beth Soward Danskin—
See March and February Editions and Page 22.
Sandy was very active in school activities,
participating in the Girls’ Officials Club during
Grade 12 (See insert photo at left.) and during
Grade 13 (See photo below.) In addition, she was
a member of the Girls’ Senior Basketball Team
and the Girls’ Hi-Y. (See photos next page.) As
Head Girl, she held a position on the schools’
Board of Control, which has been fully explained
on Page 12.
It took some searching but thanks to Beth
Soward Danskin, we found Sandy whose story
can be found on Pages 16 and 17 and Page 22.
Hillcrest’s Girls’ Officials Club—1968—Back row:
Arlene McFeeley, Mary Bythell, Judy Dey, Ellen
Young; Front row: Janet Jury, Irene Harris, Marilyn
MacKay, Dianne Mosley, Sandy Stevenson.
Impact 67
14
Hillcrest Head Girl—Sandy Stevenson
Hillcrest’s Senior Girls’ Basketball Team for 1968—Back row: Sue Jordan (Manager) Diane Grison,
Lesley Taylor, Betsy Cameron, Dino Thompson, Judy Dey, Mrs. Manderson (Coach); Front row:
Sandy Stevenson, Diane Mosley, Ann Tompkins.
The Girls’ Hi-Y Club: Back row: Brenda Dempsey, Gail Halikas, Cheryl Bosworth, Donna Brierley,
Alison Swick, Anne Stallabrass, Collette Roche, Maggy Dornan; Middle row: Sharon O'Brian,
Debbie Herr, Colleen Scott, Sue Dempsey, Sandy Stevenson, Ann Thompkins, Marie-Chantal
Roche, Judy Fudemoto, Barb Bower-Binns; Front row: Linda McNichol, Cathie Avent, Wendy
Havelock, Barb Hillmer, Anne Bythell, Leslie Cantor, Linda Fletcher, Carol Thompson, Linda Mee.
15
Sandy recalls the ‘chapters’ in her life
CHAPTER 1 – GROWING UP AT QUEEN’S
As planned, I did attend Queen’s University in the Phys. Ed. program
after graduating from Hillcrest. Having successfully utilized the ‘coast-andcram’ approach in high school (including skipping classes and not doing
homework), I didn’t do too well for the first two years of university, where it
was even easier to skip classes and not do homework! But, in my third year,
I smartened up and got to work and my marks went up. I married in the
summer of 1971, after third year. We were in love, of course, and living
together was not okay in those days! I graduated in 1972 with a B.A./
B.P.H.E., and then attended the Faculty of Education, also at Queen’s,
graduating in 1973 with a B.Ed.
CHAPTER 2 – BECOMING MS. HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER
Getting a teaching job was tough then (resumes sent: 50; interviews
attended: three; job offers: zero), and I took several short term and part-time jobs before I was
hired to teach at Bayridge Secondary School in Kingston in 1974.
I taught Phys. Ed., Health, Science and Geography; coached basketball and gymnastics;
and, coordinated the Health curriculum. It was a brand new school with a young staff and an
open concept design, and it was exciting to be part of a team, and involved in decision-making.
Although I had changed my name when I married, I had since that time discovered feminism,
and called myself Ms. instead of Mrs. This led to quite a few situations where I challenged
“male chauvinist pigs”, but I was stubborn (and annoying) enough to do it pretty consistently!
CHAPTER 3 – DISCOVERING MOTHERHOOD
My daughter, Emily, was born in 1978, and I left Bayridge S.S. on
maternity leave. I returned briefly in the fall of 1978 (only six months mat.
leave then), but wasn’t happy leaving my baby. Since my husband had
almost completed his education, and we were going to be moving to
Belleville soon (his hometown), I resigned my teaching job. We did
move to Belleville in the summer of 1979, and bought our first house –
an affordable fixer-upper.
CHAPTER 4 – BECOMING A DIVORCE STATISTIC
Surprise! My marriage ended in the spring of 1980. Now I was the
single parent of a two-year-old, with no job, an Old English Sheepdog,
three cats and an aging house in need of repair. Resigning that teaching
job didn’t look like such a good idea anymore! I did some supply teaching,
some dating, and some worrying about the future. I took my old name back and decided not to
change it again.
And I had my daughter – the joy of my life – to raise. I also got
involved in teaching childbirth (“Lamaze”) classes, and was part of the
“natural childbirth” movement of the 1980s. This involved a great deal of
challenging the status quo—maybe part of why I loved it! I had found my
passion: teaching about birth and breastfeeding.
Now I had to find a way to make a living with this passion!
CHAPTER 5 – A STUDENT AGAIN!
With financial support from Husband One, I enrolled in the Nursing
program at Queen’s. I loved it, even though I had a young child, an hour
commute from Belleville to Kingston, and it took five years. My classmates
(Continued on Page 17.)
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Sandy’s ‘chapters’
(Continued from Page 16.)
were mostly 14 years younger than me (without children or commutes), but I graduated in 1986
with Honours (B.N.Sc.). I wrote my nurse registration exams and added an R.N. behind my
name. During that time, I continued to teach childbirth and breastfeeding classes, and began
a self-study program to become a lactation (breastfeeding) consultant. I read, attended many
workshops, and wrote an exam to become an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant
(I.B.C.L.C.) in 1989. I still maintain that certification now.
CHAPTER 6 – SECOND CAREER, SECOND MARRIAGE
I joined the Health Unit in Belleville in 1986 and began my career as a Public Health
Nurse. I’ve been there for almost 25 years, and have always worked with women and babies –
prenatal classes, breastfeeding support and promotion, parenting classes. Of course, there
have been some compromises, but I do get paid for following my passion.
During that time, I did a lot of home renovations, and fixed up that old house. And I met
Husband Two – we married in 1998. I moved from Belleville to his place in Enterprise, Ontario,
where we still live.
CHAPTER 7 – SECOND DAUGHTER
Husband Two had a crazy idea – we
should have a child even though we were in
our fifties. I loved it! We were both healthy and
energetic, and felt we could offer a child a good
home. We applied to the China adoption program
and were accepted. We travelled to China in April
of 2003 to bring our daughter Mariah Xiuhua
home. Emily travelled with us to meet her 24years-younger sister! Now Mariah is the joy of
all our lives, and I am blessed with two wonderful
daughters! Emily has almost completed her
Ph.D. in Communication, and Mariah is doing
very well in Grade 3 French Immersion.
CHAPTER 8 – AND NOW?
Retirement from Public Health
stop following my passion. I love to
knowledge. I’m fascinated by human
to mothering, food and nutrition,
ecology, Chinese language and
opportunities to learn and share
that book I’ve always wanted to write.
is in sight, but I have no desire to
learn new things, and to share my
lactation, birth, how women adjust
human history and evolution,
culture. I’ll be looking for new
when I “retire”. Maybe I’ll write
CHAPTER 9 – THANKS, HILLCREST!
Thinking back to my time at Hillcrest, especially to being Head Girl, I am truly humbled.
I’m still not sure that I deserved the honour which I was so flattered (and surprised) to receive.
For a girl who was far less confident than she may have appeared, the support of so many of my
fellow students was a gift – a gift that I hope I have been able to pass on to other people in my
life.
Sandy
Thanks, Hillcrest! We had a great time!
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Hal Bolton—public speaker, debater,
thespian, skier and nearly head boy
The cast of “Mr. Roberts”, presented by Hillcrest Drama Club in May, 1963: Left to right: Don
Gunn, Hal Bolton, Fred Baker, Ray Jewers (with bucket on head), Andy Graham, Roy Shaver,
Rick Karp, Paul Kyba, Morley Greenberg, Roy Irons, Bob Thiessen, Grant Jones, Ray Pagé and
John McClenahan. (The play was an adaptation of the 1946 novel by Thomas Heggen that was
turned into both a play as well as the classic film, a 1955 John-Ford-Mervyn LeRoy production
starring Henry Fonda, James Cagney and William Powell and introduced Jack Lemmon as
Ensign Frank Thurlow Pulver, the skiver who avoided work as best he could and lived of the
riches of his buying and selling on a US cargo ship working in the Pacific during World War
Two.) Hal with his wife, Nancy, at a Queen’s University Reunion in 2002 in Arizona (bottom left)
and as most of us remember him from those early days at Hillcrest (bottom right) when he ran
for head boy in 1961 and lost to Don McKnight and lost to Peter Fallis in 1962. Hal was featured
in the August edition, Page 15, along with members of the Hillcrest 1961-62 Public Speaking and
Debating Club. (Marilyn Reid, Carol Harvey, Claire Martin, Frances Gale and Bob Thiessen)
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From Hillcrest to RMC to the world!
(Editor’s note: In the August edition of the newsletter (Page 15), we featured a photo of Hal Bolton
on Hillcrest’s 1961-62 Public Speaking and Debating Club. We caught up with him at his home in
Phoenix, Arizona...and here is life after Hillcrest for one of Hillcrest’s first senior students, a
former member of Eddie Benoit’s all boys 11B class—1961-62.)
Hal Bolton left Hillcrest in 1963 after Grade 12 and went to College
Militaire Royal de St. Jean followed by the Royal Military College in 1966.
During his mercifully brief military in Ottawa career, he wrote
computer programs and wed Nancy, a Queen’s grad. Following a Queen’s
MBA, he was an investment banker at Wood Gundy until emigrating to the
US in 1979.
After travelling for a year, he settled in San Diego where he was
initially CFO of an oil exploration company and later financial advisor to a
wealthy family. In 1985, he was recruited by Bank of America in investment
banking based in Los Angeles but with many business trips to Europe and
Asia.
Eleven years later, at age 50, he retired in Phoenix. He and Nancy
returned to Arizona State University as “mature” students collecting degrees for a few years and
travelling between terms. In 2005, they dropped out of school to emphasize international travel.
They travel about seven months a year and have been to over 70 countries and all 50 states.
Hal enjoys sailing, dancing and volunteer work. During the reunion, he and Nancy will be
in Southern Africa visiting Victoria Falls, game parks and friends in Cape Town. Hal will be
spending the summer in Colorado and sailing on Lake Ontario. (Below: Mandalay, Burma, 2011.)
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THOSE WHO HAVE LEFT US
Remembering Peter Wellstead, a son, a brother...
Peter Wellstead was born in the early hours of November 6th, 1947,
at Ottawa's Civic Hospital. Patricia and Leonard Wellstead welcomed their
third child to a family that would eventually become five happy siblings.
Peter was adored by his older sister Sandra and brother Gary. His turn
to be a proud big brother came when Michael was born in September of 1952.
As part of a military family, Peter lived in Ottawa, where his father
was a member of the Royal Canadian Air Force, based at Rockcliffe Airport.
As a ‘Service brat’, he soon realized it was to be a very transient life. In 1951,
a posting to RCAF St. Hubert, just south of Montreal became the start.
A few short years later, he would need to give up friends and a close
connection with relatives and board a ship for a very eventful and stormy crossing to a strange place called Europe! In the fall of 1955, Peter, at the age of
eight, was introduced to new school 'mates' in a community on the outskirts of
London, England. He was an immediate hit. His new class very much enjoyed
teaching him all that is 'English'...warm milk and cucumber sandwiches for
lunch...and a cane across the back of the legs when your behaviour was
considered inappropriate !
Six brief months later, Peter and family headed to a small town in
Belgium on the border with France. Again an interim stop towards the new
military base in Marville, France, that, at the time, was not yet quite ready for
family members. Commuting to school in Marville meant an early morning bus
ride, followed by the return hour long ride near the dinner hour for Peter and
his brothers and sister. It was not until early 1956 when he could establish some roots at the housing complex near
Marville, France and make some new friends there.
During the next four years, Peter travelled with his family, and other organisations like the Cub Scouts,
and learned about many of the countries of post-war Europe. Peter's view and memories of his time in Europe were
very formative and he spoke often in the later years of his time there.
On return to Canada in the summer of 1959, it was back to familiar territory...Ottawa, once again. It was also
at this time big brother status included a new, very pretty sister, Christine. Born just before leaving France, Peter
would delight in entertaining her with his ‘international’ knowledge in the years to
come.
Grade school concluded at St. Leo's Separate School in Elmvale Acres and
in the fall of 1962, Peter entered Grade Nine at Hillcrest High School. Peter very
much blossomed here, both socially and athletically. Many friends and romances.
He joined the school wrestling team, winning many awards in competition, and
praise from his peers for his ability to teach others about the sport. Peter expanded
his repertoire with a scuba diving certificate, swim team competitions, baseball,
and during the summers he worked and taught young handicapped kids at camps
in nearby Quebec. Not being one dimensional, Peter also enjoyed acting in the
school's musical production of "Hello Dolly" in 1966.
High school, and Hillcrest, in particular, was a very positive and happy time
for Peter. He was a very likeable, out-going, charming and well-loved young man. His
many friends and acquaintances always spoke highly of his very engaging personality.
An example of his depth of character occurred on a winter night when he had
missed a bus coming home. So as not to worry his mother, he knocked on the door of
a nearby house and asked to use the phone. In return, he promised to return the next
day and shovel the significant snow in their driveway. True to his word, the very next
day he was there to fulfil that commitment!
It was also on another very cold winter night in late December of 1966, Peter
was enjoying a date with a very pretty lady from school. And as the ‘old line’ goes, his
little red sports car 'ran out of gas '! Actually! He and his lovely lady spent the rest of
the cold night pushing the car home. (She was Carol White, now Carol Campanella,
Class of 1967, a retired school principal.)
Sadly, very sadly, it was also in late December of 1966 that Peter became
very ill. It was but a couple of days after that date night, that the ravages of leukaemia
tore at his body. As it had only been diagnosed as 'the flu', Peter suffered.
On the 29th of December Peter was taken unconscious, by ambulance,
to the Civic Hospital. He died the next day, December the 30th,1966.
Born in Civic Hospital, he died here a very short 19 years later. Nothing
describes the devastation, felt by our family, and I'm sure, by his many friends,
with the loss of our beautiful young man.
To this day, we all remember Peter so very fondly, but with tears in our eyes.
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The Hillcrest Cheerleaders for 1968 were: Front row: Jill Luxton, Debbie Allen, Anne White,
Robin Wentzell and Debbie Herr; Back row: Lorri Winges, Elizabeth Roberts and Barb Wills.
Cheerleader Elizabeth
Roberts looks on (left)
while Jill Luxton and Anne
White take a break during
a game in the 1968 Season.
At right, Barb Wills and
Jill Luxton watch as
Elizabeth goes through one
of the team’s many paces
that the cheerleading squad
uses to get their fellow high
school students cheering
for one of the Hillcrest
football teams.
CORRECTIONS TO THE MARCH EDITION
The 50th Reunion Newsletter staff (that’s me, who only attended Hillcrest for one year - 1961-62)
would like to thank our diligent readers for sending in some corrections to the March Issue noted
below.
We rely on feedback like this, realizing that contributors' memories and old yearbook labels,
while interesting, are not always 100% correct.
1. Page 8: photo was Norman Sheahan, not Patrick Sheehan; John Amyot's name was spelled
incorrectly.
2. Page 12 should read: Paul Damphouse, Greg Connolly and Richard Grant (not Denis Purton).
3. Page 15 should read: Lee Anne Bolch, Lindsay Campbell.
4. Page 19 incorrectly identified Anne White as Mildred Think, and Joan Logan as Jean.
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The 1965 10D ‘Girls’ get together 45 years later!!!!!
The ‘Girls’ from Hillcrest’s 1965 10D class got together last summer Marjorie George's cottage and
are...from left to right: Ginnie Smith, Cathy Caven, Sandy Stevenson, Sue Dempsey*, Margorie
George, Grace Johnson, Beth Soward and Betty Grant*. (* Memories, as we all have found out,
do fade over the years as Sue Dempsey and Betty Grant were actually in 10B in 1965.)
Beth Soward Danskin’s reflective message
to her 10D classmates after meeting last summer
'Even now I cannot help but be incredibly thoughtful about our reunion. For me, hearing our stories was
just amazing. The last time I saw everyone...I saw 17-year-olds participating in dances, sitting in classrooms, walking hallways, playing sports, datingFusual high school activities. And then, there you were:
mothers, wives, widows, graduates, post-graduates, breast cancer survivors, grandmothers. You have
found love, lost love, found it again. Dealt with depression, mental illness, illness. Travelled the world,
created businesses, felt the pain of a child in trouble, had your heart broken by husbands and mothers.
Wow! But you know I realized that is what life is. It is hard sometimes and we have survived. Here we
are heading into our 60’s and we have our health.'
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Looking back on dress reform at Ottawa’s high schools...
S. Robert Berry
Hillcrest Vice-Principal 1961-64
Articles reprinted courtesy of
“The Ottawa Citizen”:
•
September, 1965
•
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September 26, 1968
The Students of 11A—before 10 girls transferred
September 1961—The students of Robert Byer’s 11A—before ten girls were transferred out to
Eddie Benoit’s 11B all boys class in January 1962: Back/Fourth Row: Jim Harris, Fred Baker, Don
McKnight, Brian Rading, Keith Hansen, Ron Gillespie, Russ Peacock, Jim Baxter, Martin Van
Sickle and Rick Karp; Third Row: Linda Scovill, Susanne Beattie, Lynn Harris, Phyllis Janes,
Andrea Truck, Karen McKenzie, Carole Dupuis, Joanne Munsen, Gillian Chater and Sandy Scott;
Second Row: Joan Breardley, Cathy Syberg, Betty Fish, Andrea Truck, Mickie Cox, Mary Elliott,
Marilyn Reid, Margo Robitaille, Lynne Mundy, Nancy Hiles and Vickie Albulet; Front/First Row:
Mr. Robert .J. Byers (Homeroom teacher), Gerri Gross, Diane Young, Bonnie Shanks, Cheryl
Temple, Judy Evans, Lorna Henderson, Diana Usher, Wendy Lauder and Vivian Berlinger.
Testing your memory on the class of 11A
1. Which boy in the back/fourth row became Hillcrest’s first Head Boy? Where does he live now?
2. Which boy in the same row became a founding member of “The Staccatos”?
3. Which boy in the same row is a former owner/manager of a “McDonald’s” in Whitehorse?
4. Which girl in the third row became Hillcrest’s first head girl? What history did she make?
5. Which girl in the third row is her girlfriend and now a retired teacher in Stratford, Ontario?
6. Which girl in the third row is married to Ray Crowder and lives in Brockville, Ontario?
7. Which five girls in the second row went to Teacher’s College after Hillcrest?
8. Which girl in the second row lives in Port Moody, B.C. and ran a 10k for charity years ago?
9. Which girl in the second row became a nurse in Montreal and met a friend from the third row?
10. Which girl in the first row is an instructor at Douglas College in English as a Second
Language and has a B.Ed., M.A., a Ph.D. and a TESL Certificate?
11.Which girl in the first row ran for head girl under the slogan, “Let Diana Usher you through?”
12. Which girl in the first row also became a teacher, still is, and loves to ski?
BONUS: Which ten girls were transferred from 11A to 11B in January, 1962?
(See May edition for the answers. Prize for the most correct answers—a 1964 IMPACT CD!)
The 50th Reunion Newsletter is produced for Hillcrest High School Graduates from its first decade—the 60s;
however, we welcome articles from graduates of any year. Please send them to: gemcom1@gmail.com
Editor: Graham Evan MacDonell
Student—1961-62
Editorial Assistance: Lynne Mundy Bowes
Class of 1964
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