Any thoughts to a Malcolm Campbell High School 2017 reunion? Question from Gerry Maffre, MCHS class of ’67
MCHS 2015 Sixties Reunion was held at Old Mill Toronto on Oct. 17, 2015. Walter Psotka photo
We’ve had a recent discussion at the webpage entitled: Malcolm Campbell High School.
I’m sharing it as a separate post by way of bringing attention to it:
Gerry Maffre (June 25, 2016 at 11:44 pm):
Any thoughts to a 2017 reunion?
Gerry Maffre
class of ’67
Jaan Pill (June 26, 2016 at 6:31 am)
Good to read your message Gerry.
Yes, there has been discussion about a 2017 reunion in Montreal.
By way of example, Gina (Davis) Cayer, who was a member of the organizing committee for the successful 2015 reunion at Old Mill Toronto on Oct. 17, 2015, has posted a message on Facebook not too long ago indicating (as I recall) that she has been in touch with people who have an interest in staging an MCHS reunion in Montreal in 2017.
I’m also aware that Gary Lambertz, who attended the MCHS 2015 reunion and who lives in Montreal, has expressed interest in the organizing of a future reunion in Montreal.
I believe there is interest in such a reunion. I would much enjoy attending such an event. I would also like to help out by spreading the word about the idea for a get together. I would be pleased, as well, to offer strategic advice about the planning process and steps, for whatever value it may have, as a person who was involved in the organizing of the MCHS 2015 reunion.
However, my own major task at this point is to tie up loose ends – such as posting more photos (and some videos) from the MCHS 2015 reunion to my website, and distributing photos to some people that I’ve promised to distribute selected photos to – from the MCHS reunion that was held in Toronto in 2015.
There is tremendous value in the organizing of such a reunion. If there are MCHS grads from the 1960s and 1970s who might be interested in organizing such a reunion, I can help out by spreading the word. If a person has an interest, I would suggest they contact Gina Cayer and/or Gary Lambertz via Facebook or they can send a message to the Preserved Stories website, via a Comment, or they can send me an email at jpill@preservedstories.com.
I would help to get the word out. Live in NJ. Hard to work on Reunion, physically, from here. Interested
Class of 62….. Now in Summit NJ. Do I need an excuse to visit Montreal? Last visit in ’86
Keep updated here. Gina Cayer will keep us informed about any news updates, with regard to the proposed planning process. Possibly there are other alumni from New Jersey who would also be keen to visit Montreal once again.
Getting the word out is a great way to help with such an event. Also, sometimes people can help out by working with the organizing committee online. For the MCHS 2015 reunion, by way of example, two of the key organizers lived far from the event – in Boston and Vancouver, respectively. We also had a group of people from the Greater Toronto Area and elsewhere in Southern Ontario who met physically about once a month in Kitchener; having a group of people who are able to meet face to face makes the organizing easier than it otherwise would be.
As an MCHS ’69er who was heavily involved with organizing our 30 year anniversary event in 1999, my recommendation would be to schedule a reunion on the August Long weekend in Ontario. This would permit an extra day of travel for out of towers.
It would be very worthwhile to contact the Armenian church folk who own the old MCHS building, and inquire if it might be available. That worked very well for our 1999 reunion.
That is a most interesting suggestion, Bruce. As I understand, what you have in mind is the August long weekend that is in place for Ontario, as the date, with Montreal as the location of the reunion. I very much like the idea – which had not occurred to me – of contacting the Armenian church folk who run the old MCHS building.
The 1999 MCHS ’69er reunion turned out beautifully; that is what I have heard from many sources. The photos and information that you sent some time back, regarding the event, is of tremendous value. I posted one or two photos rom 1999 a ways back and look forward to posting more. As with the Oct. 17, 2015 MCHS Sixties Reunion in Toronto, and the MCHS 2000 Reunion in Montreal, such events are now part of our history as MCHS grads and we have much to learn from such successful events.
Jaan,
I would just like to mention that I have not lived in Montreal since 2005. I now live in Cornwall. I do not feel that we would have enough time to get a reunion together for 2017. Let me talk to a few people and I will see who wants to help organize the event and for when it can happen.
Regards,
Gary Lambertz
Gary,
I much appreciate your correction, regarding where you now live. Clearly, fact-checking is a helpful and necessary part of any project and I have room for improvement in that department!
A good person to talk with, regarding the organizing process, is Gina Cayer of St. Williams, Ontario. She doesn’t live in Montreal but she travels there regularly and is in touch with a remarkable number of MCHS alumni. She played a key and much appreciated role in the organizing of the Oct. 17, 2015 Sixties Reunion in Toronto.
My sense is that it would be a stretch, so far as organizing goes, to get a reunion into place by 2017. But then, I work pretty slowly as a member of an organizing team and there may be other MCHS grads who as a group of organizers can stage an event much more quickly. The key thing is that we are all talking back and forth getting a sense of what may or may not be possible.
I would be happy to help with your reunion in 2017 at the Holiday Inn & Suites Pointe-Claire
We could help provide the Banquet space for your event as well as bedrooms for your out of town guests.
Please feel free to contact me!
Pam Lawton 514-693-3099
p.lawton@holidayinnpc.ca
Good to know of this option, Pamela. I’ve forwarded your message to Gina (Davis) Cayer, who is the key player in getting the discussion underway with regard to a proposed 2017 MCHS Reunion in Montreal.
I have copied the message to Lynn (Hennebury) Legge, who along with Gina and several other enthusiastic MCHS alumni was a key player in the organizing of the successful MCHS 2015 Reunion held in Toronto on Oct. 17, 2015.
Strikes me an event in June might be better; August could be family vacation time.
Hello to Gina Davis if she sees this. I recall we were in Miss Critchley’s Latin class in grade eight.
The only MCHS’er I might be able to contact would be Donna Speller.
Good to have discussion about the date options. I’ll send an email to Gina (Davis) Cayer so she will know at once of your recent comment, Gerry.
I’ve started to catch up on all the facebook posts for MCHS. Unfortunately I missed out on the previous reunions. Are there any plans for another one in the future ??? I would appreciate being kept in the loop and attending if one is in the works..
Thanks / Heinz Thurner
We will post information about plans for upcoming MCHS reunions, that we hear about. To date, there has been discussion about a reunion in Montreal in 2017. However, the planning to my knowledge has not moved past the discussion stage.
Every month or two, I meet with a handful of MCHS grads from the 1960s for coffee or lunch in South Etobicoke. From time to time I let people know about such get togethers at the MCHS Sixties Reunion Facebook group. In the event you live within driving distance of South Etobicoke, please let me know; all MCHS grads are most welcome to join us at these small get togethers.
I’m really pleased that the October 2015 reunion turned out well. It was a couple of years in the planning. We owe thanks to all the great MCHS grads who were involved with the latter reunion, and with all of the other reunions that have been held over the years. I’m pleased that the Preserved Stories website serves as one community hub, among others, for the sharing of information of interest to MCHS grads and teachers.
Thanks for the info Jaan. I’m in Burlington so Etobicoke is fairly close. Let me know when you are meeting , I’d like to attend if it works out with with my travel plans (I’ll be out of the country for a good portion of the next 3 months) .