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 “We’ve turned into our mothers,” she stated as she looked at her female classmates of ’48. She probably should have said, “We look like our grandmothers,” because all of this group consisted of graduates from Rosetown, Saskatchewan High School sixty years ago. All have grandchildren and some have great-grandchildren.
At the gathering of these 78-year-olds, the years peeled away as the insecurities of youth and incidents long-buried are re-hashed and laughed about.
The sixty-year reunion took place as roses bloomed their colours into the long summer days.
On Thursday, June 19th, three singles and seven couples (no divorces among them) gathered at the Montecello clubhouse in Westbank where graduates, Wilma Hamilton and Vivian Davis, along with their husbands, Gavin and Gordon, arranged for reunion members to mull over days gone by. A video, made by graduate, Joan (Olafson) Turcott, was spliced together from sixty-year-old photos and played with nostalgic music background. Photos and memorabilia were placed around the room. Dozens of group photos were taken and wine-relaxed people were introduced to faces that were wrinkled, but still with smiles and voices remaining familiar. Hugs were spontaneous as soon as recognition dawned.
Dinner was arranged at the Grand restaurant on Thursday evening where the women were festooned in splendour with fellows dressed in white sports coats, sans pink carnations. A silver candelabra cast a golden glow over the commemorative cake which was decorated with a sixty-year-old photo of the graduation class of ’48 imprinted very clearly on the top – clear enough to see each person’s face. One of the classmates encouraged the group to name every teacher who had taught them; three of the students who started Grade one together regaled fond memories of the Grade One teacher, Miss Nettie Stewart. At the end of the evening Vivian and Wilma were presented with beautiful bouquets for their much-appreciated efforts in contacting people and arranging the event.
Friday morning breakfast was held at the Eldorado Hotel overlooking the sun-glazed Okanagan Lake. Friday afternoon three of the reunion group invited former Rosetown school students to meet with them at the UBCO Monashee Residence for an informal get-together; one person came with her husband from Nakusp just for this occasion.
Unlike the younger years of yore, the group disassembled at 7:30 pm (seniors’ night out.) People left for homes in Winnipeg, Prince Albert, Kelowna, Edmonton, Regina, Creston, Westbank and Saskatoon. No current Rosetown residents were present. |
