The 2004 Reunion was an overwhelming success thanks to all GCVI Alumni. On your behalf we have been able to support the following projects for GCVI with monies available from the 150th Reunion funds:
Acta Nostra
Principal Portraits
Athletic Banners
Fitness Centre
Restoration of the Grand Piano
Display Case
Coat of Arms
Scholarship Fund
o The George Penfold Memorial Prize
o The Durrant Cane
Gaels Alumni Sponsorship Program
Any person wishing to make a tax-deductible donation to The Guelph CVI Alumni Fund will become a member of the Gaels Alumni Sponsorship Program. The following sponsors have helped to support a variety of legacy projects at GCVI.
Title Sponsorship Opportunities
Green Gael – $4001 +
Platinum $1,600 - $4,000
T.G. Colley & Sons Ltd., City of Guelph, Bell Canada, Sleeman Brewing & Malting
Gold $501 - $1500
Peter Cardillo, William Robinson Sr., John Wood
Silver $301 - $500
Jennifer Waterston, Robert Hohenadel, T.K. Jewell, Helen Round
Bronze $100 - $300
Lois Calvert, Patricia Cannon, Raymond Chan, Robert A. Hammond, Homewood Corp., Hugh & Ruth McFarlane, Cal Simpson, Peter Hohenadel, Arthur Pitman, Harold Rudd
The G.C.V.I. Gazette Spring 2009 Page 5
Upper Grand Learning Foundation
The Upper Grand Learning Foundation is a non-profit charitable organization. It is an independent entity managed by a Board of Directors consisting of representatives from the Community, the Public and Separate School Boards. As a registered Charity, the foundation is able to issue official tax receipts for the donations it receives. The Upper Grand Learning Foundation can issue tax receipts but the G.C.V.I. Alumni Association cannot. The G.C.V.I. Alumni Association has become a member of the Upper Grand Learning Foundation and contributions to the Alumni Association will be credit to the G.C.V.I. Alumni Fund and a tax receipt will be issued
1. Reconstruction of the old school bell.
This bell needs to be incorporated into the existing G.C.V.I. auditorium to be functional for very special occasions i.e. commencement, reunion, etc. The bell is the last remaining symbol of the 1879 school building.
3 Preservation and upkeep of the G.C.V.I. school archives.
The G.C.V.I. school archives have been established at the school They are currently in the P.G. Reid Resource Centre, our library. We are in need of assistance for the cataloguing and maintenance of the growing collection.
2 Scholarships
The Alumni would like to provide scholarships for G.C.V.I. that would be presented at the annual Commencement ceremonies. We currently sponsor the Penfold Prize and the Durrant Cane.
If you are interested in making a donation for the above projects, please fill out the contribution form and mail it to the address noted on the form.
Forms can be downloaded form the Alumni Web Site.
The G.C.V.I. Gazette Spring 2009 Page 10
The G.C.V.I. Gazette Spring 2009 Page 11
G.C.V.I. Alumni New Member Response Form
If you can think of any other alumni, student/staff who would like to be on the mailing list, send us their name and address
Name:
Address:
Phone Number
email:
Year left GCVI
Please return this form to: G.C.V.I. Alumni Association c/o 8 Megan Place, Guelph ON N1L 1H1
Contribution Form
Please accept my gift of: $50 $100 $250 $500 Other amount $___________
The administration fee charged by the banks for the use of credit cards will be deducted from the amount donated to the school, i.e. A $100 donation will result in $96.50 going to the school.
Please send information on giving through a bequest or will ________________________
Please allow my name and donation amount to be forwarded to The Alumni Association to be included in thier Sponsorship Program Yes_______________ No _________________
This contribution to be credited to the G.C.V.I. Alumni Fund
OR
This contribution is to be credited towards the following project:
I would like to join or renew my membership for another year for the Alumni Association and support its activities (newsletter, mailing list, Wall of Fame, Etc.) Please enclose a cheque for your $10.00 or $50.00 membership fee payable to:
G.C.V.I. Alumni Association
Name:
Year left GCVI
email:
Phone Number
Address:
Enclosed:
$10.00 for a 1 year membership _________
$50.00 for a 7 year membership _________
Please return this form to: G.C.V.I. Alumni Association c/o 8 Megan Place, Guelph ON N1L 1H1
The G.C.V.I. Gazette Spring 2009 Page 1
THE GEORGE PENFOLD MEMORIAL PRIZE
The George Penfold Memorial Prize was established in 1906 and is now given to the student with the highest aggregate in Ontario Academic Credit courses. It was originally set up by George Penfold, a coowner of the then very well-known local hardware store–Penfold Hardware. Mr. Penfold was quite anxious to encourage students to continue their education so he set up this prize which was initially worth five dollars. Five dollars then was, of course, worth a great deal more than it is now.
After Mr. George Penfold’s death his grandson, also George Penfold, born in 1916 and a graduate of the G.C.V.I. class of 1933, wished to see his grandfather’s prize continued for by now it has been presented for the longest unbroken string of years of any award at the school. He changed the amount of the prize, of course, and the award has been presented every year to the present though as 2002 it has been funded by the G.C.V.I. Alumni Association.
The G.C.V.I. Gazette Spring 2009 Page 3
Address:
Address:
The G.C.V.I. Gazette Spring 2009 Page 4
THE DURRANT CANE
Mr. Eugene Durrant was an outstanding teacher of mathematics, an author of a text-book on Upper School Geometry, ‘Analytical Geometry’ that stated “and this is our way to the moon”, little realizing that the 1960's moon landing would occur in his lifetime. When Mr. Davison, Principal Emeritus, retired in 1929, at the age of eighty-one, Mr. Durrant succeeded him as mathematical master, and the fact that so young a man ably filled the venerable and beloved teacher’s place is in itself the highest praise. He then became the respected Vice-Principal of The Guelph Collegiate-Vocational Institute for several years. In business of the Secondary School Teachers’ Federation, Mr. Durrant had always taken an active and constructive part.
Mr. Durrant was sincerely interested in his students–not only in their progress in mathematics but in their life and welfare as a whole. Wishing to retain some link with G.C.V.I., Mr. Durrant expressed to the Board of Education his desire to present a cane each year at Commencement to foster not only good scholarship but also participation in all school activities. The cane is to be presented to the boy from the graduating class of any department of the school who has the best record of participation in extra-curricular activities, good-scholarship and manliness, as decided by a committee comprised of the Principal, three members of the staff, and three students who are not members of the graduating class.
Download your own copy in pdf - click on the icon above
The G.C.V.I. Gazette Spring 2009 Page 9
The Landscaping is a Changing!
G.C.V.I. Greening Project
The newly formed "school greening" committee is pushing forward with exciting plans to change the campus landscape at G.C.V.I. Since its inception in November of 2007, the committee of dedicated teachers has been surveying the needs of students and staff and coming up with plan of action to redesign the campus. This project will likely take several years to complete and cost many thousands of dollars, but in the end will provide a much more functional, safe and environmentally attractive setting for staff, students and the community.
In the next two years, the "greening committee" will focus on providing many more shade trees around all parts of the school and provide seating through benches and naturalized rocks. In addition, pathways will be added along with borders and shrubs and likely a shade shelter will be constructed for outside classroom use. By providing many pockets of naturalized green space, along with additional bike racks, the committee hopes to extend the school to the outside environment. In fact, on April 26th G.C.V.I. started "The Big Dig" and 75 students and 20 staff have already put in a path facing Paisley Street, mulched and pruned the borders, improved the Japanese gardens and planted 10 large trees along with 22 smaller samplings
The second phase of the landscaping project specifically involves changing the back campus, but most importantly the aged and broken down tennis courts. Based on the needs survey, the school hopes to do the following:
Remove the current tennis court and replace with a smaller, but up dated school/community basketball, ball hockey facility.
Extend the playing area of the back campus by 20% and put in a 2 lane running oval of approximately 250 meters
By removing the tennis courts, provide a green space area ( approximately 50 feet by 40 feet ) with a shade shelter, trees, bike racks etc.
How can you help?
Purchase and dedicate with a plaque, a 10-12 foot tree for $400.00 a memory that will hopefully last 100 plus years, provide pleasure for many, and help to make a cleaner environment. What could be better?
Use your business connections to help defray the many landscaping costs. Can anyone help with some of the landscaping needs such as mulch, trees, rocks, screenings, machine rental, etc?
Assist us with our on-going fund raising through donations, advice or connections to sources of environmental funding.
Stay tuned, grab a shovel and help us with our next "Big Dig" which will take place in the fall.
If you would like more information on this exciting project, please contact G.C.V.I. teachers, Joanne Ryan or Lloyd Lewis at 519-824-9800
The G.C.V.I. Gazette Spring 2009 Page 8
Alumni Passings
February 2009 - Mel Finkbeiner
October 2008 - Charley Fox
May 2008 - Arthur Pitman
G.C.V.I. Welcomes new Principal - Wes Coffey former Principal of John F Ross. .
Principal’s message May 2009
The Guelph C.V.I. has been a big part of my life, going back to 1977 when I began my teaching career here and to 1995 when I began my “second career” as an administrator, returning to G.C.V.I. as a vice principal. It has been a privilege to be able to return again to Guelph Collegiate. From 1977 to 1991 I taught
Charley Fox a World War II pilot is credited with injuring Rommel in 1944.
Charley Fox was born February 1920, in Guelph, Ontario. His career with the R.C.A.F. commenced in the spring of 1940. He soon became a flight instructor at Dunnville, Ontario where he taught from October 1941 to May 1943. After instructing he went to an Operational Training Unit at Bagotville, Quebec.
Arthur Pitman was G.C.V.I.'s oldest living Alumni until his passing in May 2008.
Arthur Pitman attended grade 9 at G.C.V.I. in the new school that opened in 1923 and he left in 1926. In the new high school he enjoyed attending classes in the woodworking, machine shop and electricity rooms. These rooms had all new equipment for students to use. He also remembers taking spelling and writing.
Read about our interview with Arthur in the 2007 Gazette.
Marion (Mel) Finkbeiner one of the school's secretaries for 21 years passed away in February of this year. Mel was 89.
On Mother's Day in May 1963, I received a phone call from my friend Mrs. Evelyn Carleton. We attended separate schools at the same time. She went to G.C.V.I. and I attended Loretto Academy in the 1930's. We played basketball against each other and later at the Y.W.C.A. we were on the same team. She was working in the Principal's office at G.C.V.I. and she was the only secretary on staff. The Board of Education informed Mr. P. G. Reid, Principal of G.C.V.I., that he could hire an additional secretary for the office. He asked Evelyn to look around for someone to fill the position and she thought of calling me.
A lot of water had flowed under the bridge since we played basketball together! I was now a married woman and the mother of five daughters. The oldest was 16 and the youngest just five years old. I had been seriously considering the possibility of going back to work. My mother-in-law was living with us and my sister and her family lived just around the corner. They had both offered their services as my babysitters if I ever decided to return to work. I was away from the work field for sixteen years and my skills as a secretary were at an all-time low. I accepted Evelyn's invitation to come to G.C.V.I. for an interview with Mr. Reid the following day.
It was an excellent interview and it was suggested that I come in to start work the next day. Mr. Reid said we could try it for a week and see how it would work out. I agreed to this suggestion and if I didn't like it I'd let him know. It worked out very well for both of us and I stayed for 21 years. In July 1984 I retired at the age of 65, one year after my husband's death in June 1983. By the time I retired there were four more "girls" in the office besides Irene Simmons who had replaced Evelyn as Head Secretary, and myself. They gave me a wonderful Retirement Surprise Party at the Holiday Inn in June, 1984 with over one hundred former staff members in attendance. It was GREAT!
The Armorial Bearings included two flags for G.C.V.I. The flag for the school was presented to Principal Judy Sorbara and the flag for Student Council (G.C.V.I. Student Senate) was presented to Senate Chair, Chantel Jandard at the G.C.V.I. Awards Assembly on May 29, 2008. The school flag is mounted on the proscenium wall framing the stage. The flag was mounted in time for Commencement in November 2008.
G.C.V.I. and The Alumni Association bid a fond farewell to Judy Sorbara, prinicpal for 10 years. The Alumni presented Judy with her own framed copy of the Coat of Arms (a much smaller version of course). Judy was an integral part of the Reunion in 2004 and an ongoing support for the Alumni Association. We will miss you
Mathematics up in room 202, before transferring to Centennial as an assistant head and then to John F. Ross as Head of Mathematics. I returned to G.C.V.I. (the first time) in 1995 as vice principal until 1998 when I transferred to Centennial (again) as vice principal. Since then I have served as Principal at Norwell DSS in Palmerston from 2000-2004, and John F. Ross C.V.I. from 2004-2008, before coming “full circle” and finally returning home to G.C.V.I..
I am indeed proud of the G.C.V.I. history and confident in its future. From the first day that I walked the hardwood floors and climbed the stone steps, worn by years of successful students, I felt that I was embarking on a grand journey. I have enjoyed my many years of working with G.C.V.I.’s exceptional staff and enthusiastic students. They have taught me the meaning of excellence, compassion, tradition, and pride in one’s school. It is an honour for me to re-enter The Guelph Collegiate as its eleventh Principal.
From Left to Right: Judy Pavlis,
Wendy Darroch,
Judy Sorbara and Bob Hohenadel
From Left to Right:
Wes Coffey, Bill Scott, Judy Sorbara, David Euale, Bob Bradstock
A Decade of Loving Service Ends at G.C.V.I. as Mrs. J. Sorbara Bids a Fond Farewell
• with permission from Jeff Bersche, Acta Nostra Teacher Supervisor
In September of 1978 Miss Witt began her teaching career in the Math Department of Centennial C.V.I. She served Centennial well. In September of 1991, Mrs. Sorbara moved to J. F. Ross to become the Department Head of Math, a first step upward. Encouraged by her success at Ross, and by her mentors, she returned to Centennial in February of 1993 as Vice Principal. Her skill at solving tough problems with a firm but gentle hand, helped her move quickly through the Upper Grand ranks. In September 1996, she was appointed Principal of Mount Forest District High School. Just 2 short years later, she was awarded the coveted job of Principal at the Guelph C.V.I. She remains the first and only female Principal of G.C.V.I. in its storied 154 year history. She lists her appointment to GC in the top 5 memories of her career and is happy to have been here during its 150th anniversary.
Mostly, she relishes the moments she was able to make a positive difference in students lives. “I will remember how proud I was of being the Principal of the finest high school in Guelph. Our school is the most welcoming, the most accepting, the most tolerant, and the most caring school in which I have ever worked. My feelings of pride of all of the students and staff of GC is what I will always remember.”
In true “Judy” fashion, she implores future students to “enjoy your time at high school. Meet your challenges head on and don’t give up on yourself. Do something that makes you feel like you really belong. Get involved in anything and everything you can. And family, don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need it. The staff at GC will always give you the support you need.” A fitting final remark for a remarkable educator whose impeccable reputation was built on her kindness, caring, and truly uncanny support of students and teachers alike.
The Alumni Association was approached to have oil paintings completed for of each of the four former Principals who only had photos hanging on the wall. The cost was exhorbetent until John Mahnic the head of the Art Department at G.C.V.I. and a very talented Artist agreed to take on this project. The paintings were completed, framed and unveiled to the Principals at a Staff meeting in May 2009.
Thank you John the portraits are amazing!
The spot in the Japanese Gardens is marked where the time capsule has been buried. The time capsule is to be opened on G.C.V.I.'s 175th Anniversary in 2029.
G.C.V.I's Influence on Canadian history
Former Prime Minister John Diefenbaker married a G.C.V.I. teacher, and made two prominent visits to the school including a stop as opposition leader in 1957, just weeks before being sworn in as Prime Minister, and one as Prime Minister in 1963 just before losing the next election to Liberal Leader Lester B. Pearson
John Diefenbaker’s first visit launched the 17-year political career of Alfred Dryden Hales, alumnus of G.C.V.I. Hales chaired the Public Accounts Committee for 6 years, and was beloved by his constituents.
Less than 24 hours before Diefenbaker’s first visit Prime Minister Louis St. Laurent stopped at the school. Diefenbaker drew a much larger and much more enthusiastic crowd (a sure sign of what was to come in the election).
John Diefenbaker had replaced George Alexander Drew (a former G.C.V.I. Student) as leader of the Conservative Party less than a year before becoming Prime Minister in 1957.
During the Ontario provincial elections of 1943 and 1948, both the Premier George Alexander Drew and Opposition Leader Ted Jolliffe were former G.C.V.I. students, so regardless of who won the election the Premier of Ontario would have been a G.C.V.I. alumnus.
George Alexander Drew was the second G.C.V.I. student to hold the position of Federal Leader of the Opposition, following Hugh Guthrie, who held the post for little under a year in the early half of the 1900’s.
In 2006 G.C.V.I.'s football team was the first ever to go to Western Bowl (one of the five high school OFSAA football championships) from Guelph.
More Alumni Projects completed in 2008
All Former Principals now have their portraits in oil.
The G.C.V.I. Gazette Spring 2009 Page 7
The G.C.V.I. Gazette Spring 2009 Page 6
The G.C.V.I. Alumni Association was established.
The Alumni Association held G.C.V.I.’s 140th Reunion on May 27 and 28, 1994.
The 140th Reunion profits supported:
•paying off the outstanding debt on the Arch Restoration Project
•the building of display cases in the Arch area
•the purchase of adjustable display stands to display student work
•the purchase of athletic banners to be hung in the gym to recognize past
championship teams
•framed additional pictures for the school Wall of Fame
•framed significant pictures from the Archives
The first annual Alumni newsletter “The G.C.V.I. Gazette” was printed in the Spring.
The unveiling of the school’s Wall of Fame took place on October 24, 1996. The project was initiated by Librarian Bill McKinnie and teacher, Debbie Shaw. The Wall of Fame acknowledges and recognizes the significant contributions of G.C.V.I. Alumni. The G.C.V.I. alumni Association will continue to sponsor the Wall of Fame inductees.
The G.C.V.I. Alumni Fund was set up with the Wellington Learning Foundation to allow Alumni to make financial contributions to the Alumni Association and receive a tax receipt.
The Alumni Association’s web site was created.
A Wine & Cheese party was held April 28, 2001 with proceeds used as initial start up funds for the planning of the 150th Reunion in 2004.
A Wine & Cheese party was held on Nov. 9, 2002 with proceeds used to help plan the 150th Reunion in 2004
The Alumni Association held G.C.V.I.’s 150th Reunion on May 28, 29 and 30, 2004.
Initiated the Gaels Alumni Sponsorship Program for anyone wishing to make a tax-deductible donation to the G.C.V.I. Alumni Fund. The donor will become a member of this program and sponsor a variety of legacy projects at G.C.V.I.
A Chronology of Important Dates Of The G.C.V.I. Alumni Association
Supported Projects and Events – Cont’d
The 150th Reunion profits supported:
- Acta Nostra
- creating our Coat of Arms
- painting of four Principal portraits
- updating of the Athletic Banners hung in the gym to recognize past championship
teams
- restoration of the Grand Piano
- purchasing of fitness equipment for the G.C.V.I. Fitness Centre
- purchase of a display case
- creating the Alumni Association Scholarship Fund to fund The Durrant Cane and
The George Penfold Memorial Prize
Supported the Veteran and Donor Brick Program and purchased a brick to commemorate the sacrifice of Canadian W W II veterans, at the Juno Beach Centre. The brick is placed on the walls of a Kiosk on the Project’s property on the beach of Courseulles-sur-Mer.
The Armorial Bearings of The Guelph Collegiate-Vocational Institute was granted by Robert Douglas Watt, Chief Herald of Canada on January 15, 2007. The Armorial Bearings was unveiled on October 4, 2007. The original concept of Darrel Kennedy (class of ‘65) Assiniboine Herald, assisted by the heralds of the Canadian Heraldic Authority, delivered the proclamation. The grant of Arms, Supporters, Flags and Badge is framed and displayed in the main hallway of G.C.V.I.
The spot where the 2004 Time Capsule was buried in the Japanese Gardens was marked with a plate stating that the Time Capsule would be open on G.C.V.I.’s 175th Anniversary in 2029.
The Armorial Bearings included two flags for G.C.V.I. The flag for the school and flag for Student Council were made. The flag for the school was presented to Principal Judy Sorbara and the flag for Student Council (G.C.V.I. Student Senate) was presented to Senate Chair, Chantel Jandard at the G.C.V.I. Awards Assembly on May 29, 2008. The school flag is mounted on the proscenium wall framing the stage. The flag was mounted in time for Commencement in November 2008.
The Principal’s Portraits are completed. John Mahnic the head of the Art Department at G.C.V.I. and a very talented artist, painted oil portraits of the last 4 Principals, Judy Sorbara, Dave Euale, Bob Bradstock and Bill Scott. The Portraits were presented in May 2009.
A Chronology of Important Dates of The G.C.V.I. Alumni Association
