Julie Lawson, VHS 1965 Teacher, Author, and Leaving A Legacy
Julie Lawson, VHS 1965 Teacher, Author,
Julie Lawson, VHS 1965 Teacher, Author, and Leaving A Legacy
By Mona Lee, VHS 1992
As a James Bay resident, Julie (Goodwin) Lawson walks by The Blue Room & Gallery Salon every day. She had read in the Vic High Alumni Newsletter that David (Mourant) Blue (VHS 1976) is the owner of the establishment and works with Vic High students who want hairdressing work experience. She decided to drop in to say hello and ended up becoming a customer.
Born and raised in Victoria, B.C., Julie wrote stories as a child and took part in plays in elementary school. At Vic High, she participated in plays, the symphony orchestra, and choirs, chiefly as the accompanist.
She is an award-winning author of more than 30 books. They are set in historical periods and inspired by actual events, such as the 1910 avalanche at Rogers Pass that killed 58 men clearing snow from the CPR tracks, the 1912 sinking of the Titanic, and the 1917 Halifax explosion caused by the collision of a French cargo ship and Norwegian vessel. Her writing has garnered awards, nominations and critical acclaim. She recalls the encouraging words of two Vic High English teachers with respect to her talent.
“You show the beginnings of style!” said Mr. Fell. “You’ll be a writer one day,” said Gordon Hartley.
At the time, she had tucked away these compliments because she wanted to be a teacher. She graduated from the University of Victoria with a teaching certificate and a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and French. Julie taught elementary school for nearly two decades in Saanich and Sooke and spent one year teaching in France. She became a full-time author in 1991.
In 1989, she took half a year off to write and travel to China. While there, Julie was fascinated by the prevalence of dragon imagery as a symbol of power, prosperity and good luck. Upon her return home, she assigned her students at John Muir Elementary School in Sooke some homework delving into the mythology of dragons, which included a field trip to Chinatown. A scavenger hunt on this trip led to an epiphany, planting the seed of an idea that would bloom into one of her best-selling books, White Jade Tiger. Published in 1993, the book won the Sheila A. Egoff Children’s Literature Prize in 1994.
On her writing process, she said, “I thought that one day, I’d get inspiration and write the beginning, middle and ending of a story. That never happens! The stories develop gradually. I usually get an idea of the character. Oftentimes, it is a situation or event that triggers things off. My books are mostly historical fiction. I like taking time periods and disasters and examining how people deal with their trauma.”
Julie plans to donate a collection of her belongings to the VHS Alumni Archives. They include her school essays, compositions, newspaper clippings, dance cards, and programs she saved from various choir and theatre productions where she performed. She is also donating her late mother’s 1939 VHS pin as well as her own Honour Roll pin. Julie was Vic High’s top academic student for 1965, earning her spot on the school’s legendary academic boards that hang in the 2nd floor Heritage Hallway entry way.
Julie will soon be part of a collaborative heritage initiative between students, staff and the Alumni, that will see 2’ x 2’ heritage panels installed around Vic High, each one celebrating a past student who embodies Vic High values.
Check out Julie Lawson’s website. The VHS Alumni Library carries many of her books. To sign out a book, visit https://vichighlibrary.sd61.bc.ca/our-library/vic-high-authors-library/.
Retired Canadian Space Expert Lands At Vic High
Students in the class, ranging from Grade 10 – 12, were intrigued, and asked very smart questions, said David. One question, though, he deferred to Physics teacher Jon Geehan, who holds a PhD in Astronomy.
Among his awards are the CASI 2017 C.D. Howe Award, Distinguished Alumni Award for Lifetime Achievement from the University of Calgary in 2019 and the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal for significant contributions and achievement to Canada.
David passed a hat-like item around the classroom, asking them to guess what it might be. Their questions, and a few clues from David, finally revealed it was designed to adhere to the optically pure window in a spacecraft in order to block out light from inside the spacecraft. Canadian astronaut Marc Garneau inserted a camera lens inside the hole in the top, then tightly velcro’d the fabric band around the lens, to take photos of a reddish cloud near the spacecraft so the CSA could study it.
Victoria Times Colonist staffers Jeff Bell and photographer Darren Stone were on hand to share David’s visit with TC readers, and both were fascinated with the information and stories David shared. 
Showtime! Vic High’s City of Angels A Big Success
Alumni 50th Anniversary, Volunteer & Donor Thank You
CHEK Upside Guys Sport the Black & Gold
Ian McKinnon, VHS 1966, Board Director, shared insights into the role the Alumni played in saving Vic High and supporting the renewal of the stadium and field area.
Keith McCallion, former Vic High Principal, shared alumni sentiments and presented Aaron Parker with an auditorium seat plaque.
A Vic High Student Speaks
Nina Holden was crowned Miss Victoria in 1961, a month before she graduated from Vic High and just two years after Vivi Pettersen won the title in 1959. She, like Vivi, was chosen as the runner-up to the 1962 Miss Canada. However she was later called up to replace the original winner and served for two years when a change in pageant ownership meant there was no 1963 pageant.
PARKSVILLE – QUALICUM BEACH NEWS July 5, 2017
Nina lives in Qualicum Beach and recently visited the Vic High Archives & Museum, posing with her official portrait which resides permanently in the Archives.
Basic information found online would indicate that the Miss Victoria pageant may have replaced the annual choosing and crowning of a May Queen in the city. In 1946, Vic High student Rosemary Hurst, was chosen as May Queen, sponsored by the local Majorette Coffee Shop and elected by the local community. Here’s her 1946 Camosun write-up:
Vivi married Vic High grad, Tom Wyatt, a star member of the 1959 BC Championship Vic High Totems basketball team, wearing her stunning Miss Victoria gown. They had two children, Pia and Peter. Pia works in drama production in Louisiana. She and Tom divorced after 20 years together, and Vivi married Mike Heppell, Victoria Fire Chief for 17 years, who also served in the Canadian Armed Forces and with organizations like the Red Cross. Her family donated her Miss Victoria gown to the Vic High Archives and Museum and when not on display, it is preserved in a special acid-free box to protect it.
Synnove has created art all her life – portraiture, landscapes, nudes, wildlife. She lives in Washington on the Olympic Peninsula, and her art is sold worldwide from her website. She’s a board member at her local 800-member seniors’ centre, took up the ukulele, and recently started an ambitious portrait exhibit project. “I’ve filled one wall of our centre so far, with 30-40, 8 x 10 portraits of local people and there’s many more to go. I take a head shot photo to use as reference. I expect this is my last painting project.”
Remembering the Vic High ‘V’
Derek Reimer, VHS 1965
Ron Dworski, VHS 1969 
Rod Edwards, VHS 1974 
Coral (Melder) Kaliciak , VHS 1972 
Dan Soberg, 1964 
Bill Williams, VHS 1958
Aristotle Azad, 1971 
A few years ago, a volunteer made these lovely quilted banners for the Archives, to display various Vic High pins, and of course, the iconic ‘V’.
Donna Blackstock, VHS 1972, Always Giving 1000%
Donna was born in Victoria to John Blackstock and Phyllis Waters and attended Quadra elementary, S. J. Willis junior high and Vic High before graduating from the University of Victoria with a Bachelor of Education degree. During her UVic days, Donna was asked to coach the Vic High and S.J. Willis girls’ volleyball teams, all while continuing her studies. Despite the challenges, this proved to be excellent training as she would later coach Spectrum girls to two provincial basketball championships. It also helped prepare her for her future job in P.E. “Saying yes to these opportunities was an excellent decision,” says Donna, “but I honestly don’t know how I pulled it off.”
Donna put her UVic degree to work, and began her teaching and coaching careers at Spectrum Secondary School in 1977. On her first day at Spectrum, teacher Dennis Swonnell asked her if she was interested in helping with the volleyball program. “I was up to my ears right from Day 1,” she said. In May of 1985, two P.E. teachers had to be dropped from Spectrum. Donna was shocked to learn that she was “excess to needs” and out of a job in July. Thankfully she was recruited by Vic High Principal Dave Watkins, to join the staff there. (Dave’s grandfather, Charles Elwood Watkins, was the architect of the original 1914 Vic High building. In 1912 he’d been appointed school architect for the Victoria Board of Education and designed what some described as the ‘crown jewel of Victoria schools’ at 1349 [now 1260] Grant Street.)
P.E. had become an elective program at Vic High and extra-curricular sports were about to become extinct. Vic High’s student numbers didn’t warrant hiring an additional PE teacher, but Watkins had convinced the District that numbers would be up by September, partly by converting to a semester schedule for the first time. Donna was hired. She taught Social Studies as well as P.E. at a school with a shrinking student population and a sports program that was all but cancelled. But in a bold move, Principal Watkins and Donna decided to ignore the plan to step away from district league play at least temporarily. “I had walked into a school with no (sports) programs.” Donna recalls, “so we were always working to build them back up.”
Doing the Right Thing, Nhan Pham’s Designs for Vic High
Nhan focussed a fair bit of time on the design and finishes for the school’s General Office. “We saved the old vault door and it now provides entry to a large supplies storage room,” says Nhan. “The old accounting window was re-used to give access to the Accounts Clerk’s office from the main hallway.” Administrative staff love their new space with its high windows and beautiful woodwork that reflects the building’s age. In some cases, doors were salvaged and re-finished, and door frames and handles were added new. In some areas, like many of the wooden rail caps on the original stairwells, ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ meant the old patina was kept, scratches and all.
Some features, though, were specifically designed to honour the school’s history. “I spent hours creating the design for the mosaic on the Main floor,” says Nhan, “painstakingly working out the exact placement of each small tile on my computer.”
The 1-8-7-6 seen on the new bleachers in the Andrews Gym were also Nhan’s handiwork. Even when the bleachers are opened up, the gold numbers are visible against the black background.
Warrant Officer Lilas, 2136 Canadian Scottish Regiment
PS Vic High made the news! Victoria Times Colonist November 8.
Rolf Gjelsten, VHS 1972, Vic High’s Doctor of Music
The Gilsteins (Rolf changed the spelling to better reflect his family’s Norwegian heritage) were known for their folk dancing and were part of the establishment of the Norway House still standing on Hillside Avenue. Their dance group was also part of iconic Vic High teacher Tommy Mayne’s 1959 Song of Norway production. Eleanor was in Grade 10 at Vic High at the time.
George Cummings, VHS 1954 Always Room For the Unexpected
Age is a state of mind, and George Cummings is as creative and adventurous as ever. This past summer he went skydiving for the first time and loved it. “It was great fun!” says George, “I’d do it again.” A lifetime of hiking and mountaineering may have helped keep his physical body in good shape, but it’s his authenticity and curiosity that has inspired and motivated him, a willingness to try new things and as George says, ‘always leave room for the unexpected.”
George’s grad write-up also listed ‘Art, Grad Choir, and Y’s Club’ [current affairs discussions], and ‘our Capulet’ to describe him. George had been active in art classes throughout school, even taking weekend classes while still in elementary school, and speaks highly of Vic High art teacher Frances Cameron. “My time at Vic High was quite pleasant,” says George, “but I didn’t participate much. I had two jobs. I delivered the Vancouver Sun and worked after school at different jobs.” One of his after-school activities, though, was joining fellow students to act out a scene from Romeo and Juliet playing Capulet, Juliet’s father, as he discovered her love for Romeo.
Without the means to set up his own studio, he eventually left his pottery work behind and did IT work in the life insurance industry for 15 years. Not long before COVID changed everyone’s life, he unpacked some bowls and vases he’d made years earlier and decided it was time to get back into his art. His style evolved, and his knowledge of chemistry led him to develop his own palette of glazes. His colour preferences had evolved too, from earlier muted tones to vibrant, clear colours which suited his new whimsical designs as his handbuilding skills improved using pinch, coil and slab techniques.
George had always loved hiking, and it was two co-workers at his medical school job that introduced him back then to the Mazamas, a 130-year old mountaineering organization in the Pacific Northwest, Canada and Europe. His years of climbing mountains in the area with Mazamas made him the perfect participant in a 2023 rappel down 473 feet of Portland’s 536 foot skyscraper, the Bancorp Tower, known locally as ‘the Big Pink’ because of its copper-coloured glass. He and 50 other thrillseekers raised funds in the ‘Rappel for Purpose’, with his proceeds going to the Mazamas to support their ongoing work in climbing education, outdoor leadership, and conservation. But his most impressive feat was climbing Monkey Face at age 80. The 350′ tower is an icon of Smith Rock State Park in Oregon, a challenging climb and descent which few will tackle.
Peter McKinnon, VHS 1968 Vic High Is Home
Writing and editing books was also a natural fit for Professor McKinnon: New Theatre Words, a dictionary of theatre terminology is translated into over 28 languages, Designer Shorts, A Brief Look at Contemporary Canadian Scenographers and Their Work, and the 2007 publication One Show, One Audience, One Single Space by Jean-Guy Lecat that he edited. In 2007 he helped organize a huge Canadian exhibit at the Prague Quadrennial. “At the time,” says Peter, “there was no international catalogue of stage design.” So Peter ended up co-editing two volumes of World Scenography, 1975 – 1990 and 1990 – 2005, working with over 165 contributors around the world to create what became a key resource in every serious theatre school in the world. 
His last book, Sailors and Stagehands, was the culmination of eight years of research into when, where, and under what circumstances backstage terminology became so nautical. These books now all reside in the Vic High Library Alumni collection and can be borrowed by alumni. Over the years, he also stepped up to support various organizations related to his work, sitting on or leading executive boards.
“Vic High really shaped me,” he said. “Most lunchtimes you’d find me in the auditorium, about a third of the way down the center aisle, sitting quietly and eating my lunch. Sometimes Cedric Zala or Gunnar Cordsen would be in there playing the grand piano beside the stage. It was magical. Yes, I really enjoyed my time at Vic High.”
Frank Crocker, Chemistry, and Mr. Blasner
Ah, Chemistry. I remember that Grade 12 science requirement well. Ron Blasner, teacher extraordinaire. Paul Wyle. Smartest kid in the class. Thankfully he and I were partnered up or who knows what kind of a mark I’d have gotten. (Chemistry was not my choice. I couldn’t imagine cutting up frogs or who-knows-what in Biology. And Physics just seemed too hard. So there you go. Chemistry.) I’m glad Practical Chemistry hadn’t been my textbook. Way too many words! And such small type. Oh my.
My Vic High Experiences Shaped My Life
I remember shivering in the early morning Physical Education (PE) class as Roberta West and I (always the first), jogged around the 1/4-mile cinder track, sometimes waving to the “Tech boys” who loitered across the way. Few of us had spike track shoes so it was difficult to gain traction as we huffed and puffed along with the effort and cold, blowing puffs of breath clouds. My one triumphant remembrance was running in the girls’ relay with Carol Cranston, our school track star, as the last runner, making us first in the Inter-house track meet.
I joined Y-Teens and took my first trip away from home on my own to New Westminster with my sidekick, Jean Barker, and other members. Under the guidance of Mr. Hunter, my inspiring Math teacher, and my Shorthand teacher, Mr. Glover, we ran the Students’ Council. During our graduation year of 1957/58, an intellectual student, Howard Lim, was voted in as president, (a successful campaign launched by his cohorts, Gordon Eekman, Winston Roberts and Martin Bergbusch), winning over the athlete, David Skillings. I became Secretary by acclamation and Walter Creed was treasurer, which foretold his future as an Accountant. Later, one of my secretarial students did her work experience in his company in 1969. Wendy Love, Ed Pomeroy, Harold Ridgeway, Skip McBratney, Gudrun Marquardt and Bruce Atkinson were also on Council.
As a cheerleader, in Grade 12, I attended all the Totem basketball games. Larry Ballard would lift me up high and I’d land in the splits. The half-time entertainment were the majorettes in their black sweaters and white pleated skirts. Were we ever proud the next year, when the Totems, coached by “Porky” Andrews, won the 1959 BC High School Basketball Championship. I rode my bike from my Vancouver Street home down to the wharf on Government Street to welcome them home from Vancouver.
I had taken dance classes since I was five, and Norma Douglas, the Vic High music teacher, acknowledged my talent by giving me opportunities to perform at school functions. I danced a tap number to an Irish Jig on St. Patrick’s Day, and performed a toe tap on stairs at the School Fair many, many times. My accompanist, Peter Wilkinson, told me he was VERY tired of playing “Louise” so many of those times.
Names were drawn by the Commercial girls on the third floor for escort and banquet seating in the cafeteria on the hard wooden benches. Someone thought it would be amusing to pair the shortest boy, King Lee, with the tallest girl, Barbara Keung. They were good sports. On grad day, I attended a breakfast party at Bev Fletcher’s. We all got dropped off at school afterwards and had excitedly streamed across the front lawn. Once inside, we were beckoned into the office by Mr. Dee, the principal, and chastised for “inappropriate, rowdy” behaviour. After the grad dance, (having fallen off my first spike heels twirling in a jive, flat on my tush), I attended a party by the beach hosted by Pat Horne. I was not welcome in any Chinese households as my Grandfather had passed away in May and there was a cultural belief that I would bring his “ghost” into their homes.
Gloria Cranmer Webster, VHS 1949,
Gloria became the first Indigenous person to enroll at the University of British Columbia and the first to graduate in 1956 with a degree in anthropology. She earned her way through university by working as a deckhand and at a hospital, but it was working at the UBC Museum, later renamed the Museum of Anthropology, that inspired Gloria’s path in life. She also worked at the Oakalla Penitentiary in New Westminster for two years and at the John Howard Society for two years. It was at the JHS that she met her future husband, John Webster.
In 1971, she joined UBC’s Department of Anthropology to teach, and to support the development of museum studies and the museum’s assistant curator.
The graduation ceremony for our large class of about 375 students took place in the school’s auditorium, followed by a light dinner in the New (Andrews) Gym and a dance in the Old (Roper) Gym, which was festooned with paper streamers. I think the grade 11 class was responsible for the decorations. The only photo I have from the occasion shows me and friends looking up at someone with a camera on the balcony that surrounded the Old Gym: Corol Smith, Dale Ingram, Phil Humber and Carol Bishop.
We charged $2.50 per ticket and entry was restricted to ticket holders. At some time during the dance a group of party goers from the Oak Bay High School after-grad festivities attempted, unsuccessfully, to crash our party. I remember my parents were so impressed with the responsible behaviour of all our guests.
I was never called the principal’s office during my time at Vic High. Mr. Gav Thompson was at the helm in those years. However, some 5 years later, in early 1969, I did visit the principal’s office. There was a significant snowfall in Victoria just after Christmas Day 1968. The snow remained for quite some time. It was early January and the snow continued to clog the streets when school re-opened after the December vacation. I lived nearby on Balmoral Avenue at the time, and worked in my first teaching job at Prospect Lake School. The commute home that day went very smoothly until I made a brief stop at the small store on Camosun Street, which happened to be closed. My small Anglia car got stuck in the very deep snow bank.
Corol continues: I have many hobbies, which keep me very busy. One is genealogy. Once retired, I started to research our family history. My great grandparents and / or grandparents were all pioneers of one sort or another. Rupee’s grandfather was among the first East Indian immigrants to come to Victoria in 1906, so also of pioneering ilk. I spent 10 years documenting our family history into a book named “Footsteps To Dreams”. I self-published it to share with my children, grandchildren, siblings, cousins, nieces and nephews. On the suggestion from my publisher, First Choice Books of Victoria, I submitted a copy to the BC Genealogical Society. Much to my surprise, it was awarded the society’s “Family History Book Award” in 2015. I have attached a picture taken at the by book launch event and another taken on a recent Mediterranean cruise.
Vic High Tomahawks, 1980 Girls Field Hockey, 
They played thirteen games, with four wins, eight losses, and a tie. And of course no tour of young girls happens without a little shopping and maybe a little disco time. Sights were seen, side trips were taken, one memorable one by boat to St. Michael’s Mount in Cornwall to visit a historical chapel. See Donna Jones trip log summary below. April 12, 15 Victoria-bound travellers headed home, little realizing those three weeks might inspire some serious field hockey over the years, some very supportive friendships, and some laughter-filled group chats via the ‘Classy Ladies of the ‘80s’.
2024 Grads Present Capstone Projects
Arlo follows in his dad’s footsteps as an avid drummer and percussionist. But then, when your dad has performed at Rifflandia, your brothers play drums and guitar, and your dad soundproofed a room in your house, expressing feelings and releasing physical energy through drumming is pretty much second nature.
Aviva has danced for 10 years, four of them at Vic High as part of Platform 61. She loves the movement, the expression of herself, the creativity, and the friendships she’s developed. She’s also an active sportswoman, playing volleyball, basketball and soccer at Vic High. All these experiences increased her confidence, and she says that while Vic High isn’t the most athletic school, its culture of inclusivity is invaluable. She values her friendships with many international students and looks forward to attending McGill in the fall. Its unique Bachelor of Arts and Sciences program will provide the flexibility to narrow her path as she develops critical thinking and writing skills. (She’s also signed up to volunteer with the Vic High Alumni whenever she’s back in Victoria.)
Rayan has been in Canada just two years and loves Vic High. Her family arrived here from Syria not long after she learned about her diabetes, a condition she says makes her special. She wants to become a doctor, and help others manage their diabetes. Right now, as she completes Vic High’s Hairdressing Program, she also works as a cashier at Thrifty’s Broadmead, and at a hair salon. We know Rayan will achieve whatever goals she sets for herself. She has already adapted to live in five different cultures – and languages. Her native language is Arabic and she spoke it and Kurdish in her youth. When she was nine, her family moved to Turkey and she learned Turkish. Their next home was in Germany – a stop en route to Canada – where she learned German. And she began learning the perfect English she speaks only on arriving in Canada. A most extraordinary young woman.
2024 Grads Celebrate With Vic High Song
A Huge Monetary Cheer for Vic High
Volunteers from the Association look after the Archives, overseen by Annie Boldt, VHS 1967 and Linda Baker, VHS 1969. All archival supplies and some furnishings are funded by donations from caring Vic High alumni who are keen to see the school’s history preserved. But since Vic High re-opened, it’s the daily visits by various Vic High students that’s making the donations and volunteer hours so worthwhile.
The Esquimalt Alumni was founded in 2006 by a dedicated team of grads, who were helped by friends active in the Vic High Alumni. “We decided to generally mirror the Vic High Alumni’s operational structure,” says Dave Allen, a Director-at-Large and former principal of Esquimalt High School. “And we’ve grown a lot in the last 18 years.” The Alumni began providing scholarships to deserving Esquimalt students in 2006, and now gives out three, $1000 scholarships, drawing from funds they’ve raised and invested to yield annual awards.
The Alumni charges a one-time $10 membership fee, and currently has 620 members. EHS 1971 grad and Alumni Secretary Marilyn McCrimmon, wife of Vic High alumni Rod McCrimmon, VHS 1968, publishes the Alumni’s newsletter. Events, meetings, reunions, and more – there’s plenty of information on the Alumni page of the Esquimalt High School website. 
The 2002 Camosun cover shows a very colourful illustration of a drop of water about to fall into the bluish and yellow water swirling below. It sends a meaningful message which relates to our school motto, also shown on the cover, and was created by student Caitlin Quigley. The new drop of water seems to represent our effort, which will affect the current ripples in the water as powerfully as the impact of our personal, educational, spiritual, and social perspectives on the world around us. We are confident that our perspectives will have a constructive impact on our personal world, and this is our reward. The cover of this Camosun is a very meaningful one where Caitlin’s art reinforced the significance of our Vic High motto: Palma Non Sine Pulvere / No Reward Without Effort.
Geoffrey and Gordon met at Victoria High School in 1956. For 67 years they never asked that question, “Where is he now?” because they maintained close contact for nearly seven decades sharing significant life experiences throughout.
Over the years Geoff and Gordon met for meals, attended lectures together at the Vancouver Planetarium, TRIUMF, the UBC nuclear research facility, and the Life Sciences Centre. “Every August,” says Gordon, “Geoff, my wife Saranya, and I would attend musical events at the Harmony Arts Festival.” Gordon had met his second wife in Thailand where they married in December 2002. “I was particularly pleased that Geoff was present at Saranya’s Canadian citizenship ceremony in 2013,” says Gordon.
“Every Christmas, we would gather to help Geoff decorate his Christmas tree in West Vancouver,” Gordon continues. “Geoff was a gentleman, a gentle soul. It was always easy to talk with him about anything. There was a genuine dialogue of speaking and listening in all our conversations. What we would say to each other had content, had substance and was never frivolous.” Geoff and Gordon last met on September 8, 2020 for a farewell dinner at Ambleside, West Vancouver, a few days before Geoff moved to Victoria where he died on September 14, 2023 at Douglas Care. 
He went on to achieve four university degrees from the University of British Columbia (BSc, BA, MSc and MA). That led him to a career in science, research, and post secondary education and a life that included a world of travel throughout Canada, Europe, the Middle East and particularly Asia.
Don Smyth was born on March 26, 1929 in Forestburg, Alberta, a twin with sister Aileen, he graduated from Vic High in 1947, and died on May 29, 2022 at the Saanich Peninsula Hospital. His wife, Lorraine, predeceased him. His yearbook entry included this write-up: Jovial Don makes school life much easier. Flying “Y” swimming member. Council Rep. Rep Rugby; Rep Soccer; House Captain; Hi-Y. 
Don started coaching Vic High volleyball teams in 1958 and led them to three provincial championships. “Mr. Smyth was such a positive influence,” recalls Anne McKeachie, VHS 1968 and a member of one of Don’s provincial high school championship teams. “He had such a joyful presence…we all wanted to be the best team for him. He was simply an all-round great person, teacher, and vice principal.” Teammate Pat (Bourne) Nalleweg, VHS 1968, wholeheartedly agrees. “I would describe him as patient, encouraging, with a calm demeanour. He brought out the best in his players.”
First floor hallway, east side (Girls’ side), with a beautiful mosaic honouring the school’s founding as you cross the threshold into the original 1914 building.
East (Girls’) and West (Boys’) entrances’ new flooring. Stairs off these entrances go down to the Main (1st) floor and up to the 2nd floor south hallway – the Heritage Hallway. It features new egg-and-dart ceiling moulding, a heritage classroom in the southeast corner, and dark wood trim. Accent colours denote the floor you’re on. The 2nd floor accent colour is gold, 1st floor is medium purple, 3rd floor is dark blue, and 4th floor is light/turquoise blue.
Contrasting dark wood trim defines spaces in the Heritage Hallway. The School Office is where it always was, the World War 1 bronze memorial has been cleaned, and display cases for trophies and student and archival displays are back in position adjacent to the entrance to the Lawrie Wallace Auditorium.
The old Safe with its heavy double doors has been moved to a new location inside the new Staff Workroom, down the office-lined hallway from the School Office.
The Lawrie Wallace Auditorium would do its namesake proud, and features new lighting in the ceiling and under the balcony, gold-highlighted detailing in the moulding on the balcony face, and a new AV booth at the back of the balcony.
How cool is this! New moveable bleachers sport decorative accents, and when seen from above or closed up, honour the year Vic High was founded.
Colourful, inspiring art panels adorn the new Vining Street entrance (the Grant Street entrance remains), where you enter the (newly-renamed) Main floor of the school.
Tomas Ernst, VHS 1996 Diversity In Action
Besides the weekly music competition, Tomas has lots of great Vic High memories: hanging out with his buddy, Sam Ramsden, any class with his favourite teacher, Ms. Jillian Zaruk, soccer and hacky sack at lunchtime, and the day the principal let the students have a massive water fight outside on the lawn. Tomas took Grade 12 Drama with teacher Jackie MacDonald, and he and 20 classmates performed on stage in the Vic High Auditorium. It wasn’t a classic play, but a 15-minute interlude. “We had each made our own creative papier mâché masks and were asked to perform as a group doing improv on stage.” Soccer and hacky sack were favourite lunchtime activities.
Rod McCrimmon, VHS 1968 “I’ve Got the Music In Me”
Ian McLean, 1969, Ron Dworski, 1969, and Roger Skillings, 1968, are greeted ahead of the game by members of the 2023/24 Vic High Totems.
The Vic High Beginning Dance class performed at quarter time, complete with branded Vic High clothing and black, gold and white pom poms. The Creative Dance team was also cheered on by students in attendance at half-time.
Senior Boys’ Volleyball: After Five Years, Their Last Spike Together
The nine-member Senior Boys’ Volleyball team also called up Grade 10 students Myles Morisseau, Haroun Zahra and Cole Niedjalski for early competitions and provincials this year. “They gave us some insurance against injuries,” said coach Bethany, “and were highly valued team members when we won the Spectrum [Community School-hosted] Spikes and Aces Tournament in September.”
It has been 45 years since Alan Lowe had balloons raining down into the Vic High Auditorium from the venerable school attic in his campaign for Prime Minister of the Vic High Parliament [student council] for the 1978-79 school year. “Mr. [Principal Duncan] Lorimer wasn’t too happy,” Alan laughs, “but I won.”
Alan’s life of activism and advocacy, started with his Vic High experiences, continues still, as he shows off the Victoria Chinatown Museum in Fan Tan Alley he helped launch in early 2020. He is past chair of the society which runs the museum that’s drawn many visitors since opening.
A curatorial committee decides what to display at the museum, located at 10-14 Fan Tan Alley, and some changes are forthcoming. One of the new displays features the late Tony Eng, a well-known Victoria magician. Tony’s daughter, Julie, who is also a magician, travelled to Victoria from her Toronto home, to attend the official unveiling of the display on December 7.
Neil Worboys, VHS 1962 has been an advocate for British Columbia’s education system throughout his entire life. Initially as the President of the Victoria High School Student Council 1961-62 and later as President of the British Columbia Teachers’ Federation, Neil has profoundly influenced education in B.C.
Derek is particularly proud of his mother’s legacy at Vic High, the Victoria High School Archives and Museum. “She was a homemaker with a BA in History,” says Derek, “who decided to go back to school. She did her student teaching at Vic High while earning a Teaching Certificate and returned to Vic High in September 1967 to teach Social Studies, History and English.” But it was her dedication to setting up the Vic High Archives that made her famous. In 1975, Vic High was gearing up for the 1976 Centennial Celebrations. Principal Duncan Lorimer asked Faith to set up the now award-winning Vic High Archives. “Stuff was spread around the whole school,” says Derek, “and she meticulously accessioned everything brought to her and set up the Archives on shelving built in the Fairey Tech Woodworking shop.” Peter Smith, VHS 1949, and former UVic Classics Professor, was writing Vic High’s history, Come Give A Cheer, so records had to be organized and researched for the book. Faith died in 2010, but not before attending a tea given by the Archives in her honour where the Archives room was officially named the Faith Reimer Room. “That brought her great pleasure in the last weeks of her life and she was very proud of that,” says Derek.
In June of this year, Principal Parker put out a call for a teacher to temporarily fill the vice principal’s position until the new appointee, currently on a school district leave of absence, arrives at Vic High. Sara applied and was selected to fill the position, joining the principal and Vice Principal Danielle Mercer on the management team.
“The net result was lower grades than I would have liked,” says Greg. “However, I did enjoy homeroom and hanging out in the cafeteria. I became a minor celebrity as a cast member of two major stage drama productions, including the award-winning Ernie’s Incredible Illucinations in 1974, and the Greek comedy Lysistrata the following year. I was a keen supporter of Vic High sports teams, especially the Tyees and the Totems, and followed the senior girls basketball team all the way to their BC title winning game in 1975.”
Eventually his persistence and willingness to help and learn landed him an ‘on air’ gig at C-FAX while still attending Vic High. He was allowed to announce the time and weather during breaks in the elevator-music format of the day. Meanwhile, back at Vic High, his grad write-up said: John is a member of the grad choir, as well as one of Mr. P’s “labourers” in the equipment room. He also served as manager of the Totems this year. Outside of school, John works for C-Fax radio, and his future lies in the field of radio and TV production.”
Dan Soberg, VHS 1964, also remembered John from Vic High. They both lived on Moss Street in Fairfield, and Dan often gave John a ride to Vic High in his $75, 1951 Austin, which occasionally needed a push. And Gerald Pash, VHS 1962, remembers John as a fellow student interested in radio. “I worked at CKDA 1962-64,” he says, “and would visit John occasionally on the week-ends when he was operating the control board at C-FAX.”
We sold 24 auditorium seat plaques in 2022 fiscal year. An anonymous donor has secured individual seat plaques for all members of the 1959 Vic High BC Championship Totems. Approximately 250 seats out of 960 total are still available on the main floor. There will likely be seats available in the balcony at some point. Seat Plaques can be ordered 
Later, two daughters entering school and a wife with an honour’s degree in math climbing the walls, considered situation, decided she should get a job, took a 25% cut in salary so she could work in Winnipeg for Great West Life. I took care of the kids and used the rest of the day to make art. As I was breaking the norm for men staying at home while wives worked, she was working her way up the scale to become head of the Computer Systems Section. When she insisted on being recognized as a manager, she broke the barrier against women progressing beyond secretary. In doing so, she paved the way for other women to become managers and company directors.
You never know what will inspire a lifelong passion or career. For little Gloria Mobey, the seeds of her future were sown when she and younger sister Sylvia (Hosie, VHS 1961) attended their cousins’ graduations from nursing school. They began playing ‘nurse’, with Gloria always the nurse and Sylvia always the patient, and to this day treasure the photo taken of them in tiny copycat nursing uniforms.
By 1965, Gloria’s sister Sylvia was a teacher in Victoria, and says school principals competed to get the best teachers on their staff. “Vic High was expected to get the best teachers,” says Sylvia. “People wanted to teach there, it would be a feather in your cap to get a position there.”
Class of 1970 50th+ + + Reunion
Robin Farquhar, VHS 1956, Vic High A Magical Place
“I was into everything at school,” says Robin. “I actually won the Activities Award with John Lancaster that year. Being involved in so many things really taught me to say, when opportunities arose throughout my life, ‘I can do that!’ ” A search of his name in the 1956 Camosun (available digitally on the Vic High Alumni website), reveals twelve entries, and his grad write-up says it all.
Vic High’s art teacher 1966 – 1988, Michael Hemming, would be thrilled that yet another of his students, Rod Quin, VHS 1970, has made their way in the world of art, though perhaps in a way that Michael might never have imagined. Rod’s groundbreaking Ombrae, an extraordinary fusion of art and technology, has produced innovative sculptural images on over 90 commercial buildings around the world. As a scalable technology it has applications on fabric, watches, cars, and so much more. Earlier this year Rod was finally able to bring his technology home to a Vancouver Island building, the new Amazon Distribution Centre in Sidney, (dubbed Cascadia Junction).
3D pixels or Optical Tiles are precision-cut into a base material to create Sculptural Images. His initial application uses anodized aluminum panels as the base material for large-scale architectural art. Each Optical Tile is set at a precise angle according to the image to be displayed, and catches and reflects the changing light and viewing angle so images are constantly shifting and appear to come alive. Rod’s technology has almost limitless potential to reduce our energy use as the panels create a cushioning envelope that buffers environmental effects and insulates a building, thus reducing costs to manage interior air and temperature by upwards of 40%. In addition, of course, applying aesthetically pleasing art to large building surfaces definitely enhances our environments, and inspires the imagination to expand the boundaries of what’s possible in the world. Read more in this March 12, 2023 Times Colonist article: 
“Michael’s program rescued me,” says Rod. “He took me under his wing and mentored me, encouraging me to explore my ideas and a lot of different mediums. He let me use his darkroom to develop and experiment with my own images, and helped create a very safe space for my experimentation. I ended up winning the Arts Specialty scholarship that year and enrolled in the Vancouver School of Art in 1970.” After a couple of years, Rod and future wife Nonie James, VHS 1970, spent a year travelling in Europe, then married in 1974 and moved to Comox. He designed and hand-built them a beautiful home where Nonie still lives. “We were married for about ten years,” says Rod, “but we’re still the best of friends.” Rod learned various skills like masonry and carpentry by doing them, an approach that often contributes to innovation as you better appreciate how things are constructed.
In 1980 Rod enrolled at Emily Carr University in Vancouver as a third-year student, and opportunities there also opened his eyes to various mediums and provided opportunities to explore. With the movie industry really taking off after Expo 86, Rod ended up spending 18 years designing and constructing sets, as an art director, sculptor, props builder, and special effects technician for major movie and TV productions like I, Robot, Seven Years In Tibet, Legends of the Fall, and the X-Files, X Men. More info here – 
While working in the film industry, he also ran his own studio in downtown Vancouver creating architectural sculptures and continuing to bring together his skills and experience in (now) digital photography, science, math, and art. By 2003, his work in film special effects had shown him a way to finally put his Optical Tile idea into practice, and in 2005 he set up Quin Media Arts and Sciences to develop this innovative new technology, initially for architectural installations. Ninety buildings later, he’s also developing applications for his technology such as watch faces for Rolex and Cartier, swimsuit material for Speedo to create more hydrodynamic performances in the water, and vehicle applications for the likes of Lamborghini, Ferrari, and McLaren. The Ombrae surface in the McLaren Speedtail seats can be programmed in the design phase to allow the driver and passengers to ‘slip’ into the seating position, but once there they are held by the ‘grip’ direction of the Ombrae 3D pixels.
Doug, 49, was born in Victoria to Pat and Andy Clement. He attended Margaret Jenkins Elementary School, Central Middle School (where he joined the photography club), and Vic High, graduating in 1978. He was 10 or 11 years old when he first became interested in photography and videography.
His climb to online notoriety came about 10 years ago when, very early one morning, Doug noticed fog creeping up a nearby hill. He wondered if it could be photographed and the next day, he bought a $500 camera and experimented. The shots came out so well that people on social media began to take notice of his photography.
We Found Ernest! 
Barrie Moen, VHS 1969, Remembers Beta Boys
Lawrie Wallace, VHS 1930 (1913 – 2006) 
Jill Wallace, VHS 1966 (1948 – 2011)
Sylvia Hosie, VHS 1961
Timothy Vernon, VHS 1963
Mohammed Elewonibi, VHS 1983
Pamela Madoff, VHS 1972
Ian McDougall, VHS 1956
Ann Kipling, VHS 1951
After graduating from UVic in 1973, Colin taught school in Ladysmith, Port McNeil, and Victoria, before moving in 1982 to Sherwood Park, Alberta where he met and married his second wife. “32 years of wedded bliss! He worked until retirement in 2011 as a band teacher in Edmonton Separate and Edmonton Public schools. From 1983 to the present, he’s been pianist, organist and music director at various churches, currently St. David’s United Church in Leduc, Alberta. “I took piano lessons in Victoria from Eric Edwards, father of Vaughn Edwards, and from well-known jazz pianist George Essihos,” says Colin, “and I recall playing in Victoria at Fairfield United Church and St. Luke’s Anglican Church, in Langford at Gordon United Church, and at Brechin United Church in Nanaimo.” He also plays tuba in the Mission Hill Brass Band and in his own brass quintet- the Beaverhill Brass Quintet – and is on call to play The Last Post on the bugle.
Former Chief of the Defence Staff and Commander of the RCN, retired admiral John Anderson made the presentation along with Jan Dent of the Admirals’ Medal Foundation, with the citation:
Following her 2020 Miss Vancouver Island title win, she won the Miss Teen Western Provinces title (BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba), and then competed in Florida in 2021 against 50-60 contestants to become Miss Teen North America. November 2022, she competed in Toronto at the ‘Miss’ pageant level, recognized along with the Miss World and Miss Universe pageants as the top three international beauty pageants. She presented a classical ballet performance of the Princess Florine variation from the sleeping Beauty ballet, and was, like all contestants, assessed for her physical fitness and during evening wear and swimsuit competitions. She beat 49 other contestants and now holds the Miss Earth Canada 2023 title and will represent Canada at the Miss Earth 2023 contest in Vietnam.
A few brick interior walls will also be plastered, each area getting three coats of sand cement and lime. Annie Boldt, Vic High Archives and Museum manager could hardly believe the soft, smooth feel of the finish coat. Although Andy adds, “We always leave a few imperfections here and there, to remind people it’s hand done.” Plaster baseboards will be restored in some areas as well.
Anna says she had excellent art teachers at school, Bill West at Central and Mrs. Cameron at Vic High. Among her school friends were Carole Sabiston, a world-renowned, award-winning Victoria textile artist, and Donna (Cranton) Jones, another accomplished artist (and former Director of the Vic High Alumni).
Anna’s long and varied career of performance art, writing, and small press publishing has included many unique events and initiatives. For example, she launched the Banana Olympics in San Francisco, published VILE magazine and its wide range of art mediums, and promoted international mail art through her Artistamp News and eventual local and international exhibits.
As a youth, Glenn recalled his involvement with his church youth group and delivering youth sermons, cruising for girls on Douglas Street in his Vic High days, watching a young but eventual world-champion pool shark Cliff Thorburn at a local pool hall, and leaving Vic High to work at the White Spot restaurant at Douglas and Caledonia. But music and marketing had become his passions after his experience during Grade 8 when he stood in the front row of an audience staring at the guitarist of the local band Blues Union.
German-born Otto Werner Mueller happened to be in Victoria, where he was the founding-director of the Victoria School (now Conservatory) of Music in 1963 and the conductor of the Victoria Symphony Orchestra from 1963 to 1967. He died in 2016. Timothy became Otto’s first student at the Victoria School of Music and it eventually led to Timothy moving to Vienna and studying at the Vienna Academy of Music from 1965 to 1972 and graduating with honours. He did graduate studies from 1973 to 1975 in Vienna, where he accepted his first engagement as a conductor. Then he returned to Canada in 1975 to be the Conductor and Music Director of the Regina Symphony Orchestra, until a phone call from opera-lover George Heffelfinger lured Timothy back to Victoria.
Along the way, Timothy has picked up a few trinkets and robes, including Opera Canada’s Rubies Award in 2005 for Opera Building, the 2012 Diamond Jubilee Medal honouring the 60 year reign of Queen Elizabeth II, and honorary degrees from Royal Roads University, 2013, and the University of Victoria, 2017. In 2008 he was invested into the Order of Canada, one of our country’s highest honours, in recognition of his work expanding opera in Canada and his commitment to young musicians. He joins many well-known Canadians invested into the Order for their outstanding merit and distinguished service to Canada, such as writers Margaret Atwood and Michael Ondaatje, signer/songwriter Sarah McLachlan, and in 2017 then Prince Charles, now King Charles III.
Sometime in the 1930s he first saw a collection of flowering cherry trees in Volunteer Park in Seattle. He immediately began to test and plant the trees in Victoria, keeping detailed records on the performance of each variety. His published research papers were the first studies of boulevard planting in North America. He was always looking for new ways to beautify the city. In 1937 he introduced the hanging flower baskets, developing a formulation that is still used to this day.
After his retirement he worked as a consultant for Butchart Gardens, published “Historic Trees of Victoria”, and continued as an active member of many horticultural clubs. In 1984, at age seventy-nine, Herb was on a small commuter plane that crashed on Saturna Island. He quickly assisted with the evacuation of passengers before the plane blew up and then guided everyone to safety with the aid of his pocket compass. Herb is remembered for beautiful gardens and trees and Warren Island in the centre of Goodacre Lake in Beacon Hill Park.
About Ken Roueche, VHS 1963
I remember that May day in 2018 when I first met this class on the front lawn of our iconic Fernwood building. While many were shy and reserved, the group as a whole was …energetic. I likely would not have predicted that students like Wes and Lucas would turn that energy into honour rolls, championships and general school leadership. Turns out most of my predictions turned out to be wrong. I would love to go back to that afternoon to say “For those of you who are really worried about the next four year – think bigger.”
Our front step philosophers amused and entertained. Fynn, Malcolm, and Callum doubled as Vic High’s unofficial band. Only Vic High could feature impromptu guitar, flute and didgeridoo performances – depending on the day.
But her career highlights include playing in Canadian and provincial championships, pitching three complete games in one day (more than once), striking out 17 batters in a seven-inning game, pitching for a B.C. all-star team against world-champion Raybestos Brakettes in 1964 and being picked up by a Port Angeles team to play in a tournament in Portland.
Arthur, who was a bright student, attended Sir James Douglas elementary and Central Junior High schools before arriving at Vic High, and went on to obtain a teaching degree at the University of Victoria and a masters degree in theological studies from the University of Toronto.
Jim, who died in 2019, became a full-time sportswriter while in Grade 12 at Vic High. After learning his craft and honing his skills at writing with humour, Jim became a sports columnist at the Vancouver Sun staying for 13 years, and at the Vancouver Province for 17 years. His widely-read columns were eventually syndicated and he was inducted into the Canadian, British Columbia and Greater Victoria sports halls of fame as well as receiving two lifetime achievement awards.
Stew, who won the Governor-General’s award for top Grade 12 student in B.C., became a noted particle physicist and spent five decades on the Princeton physics faculty in New Jersey. He later became chair of the physics department and Dean of Research. Not only that, he was a member of the Mann Cup-winning Vancouver Carlings senior lacrosse team in 1961 and eventually became known as an accomplished gardener. Stew has made major donations to help launch Vic High’s Astronomy program, and continues to take an active interest in its growth.
David was also a multi-faceted achiever, winning silver on the Canadian Olympic rowing team and a federal cabinet minister in four ministries. An early environmentalist, David was a Member of Parliament for Esquimalt-Saanich before becoming Leader of the B.C. Liberal Party. He returned to federal politics and was appointed to four portfolios, National Revenue, Transport, Fisheries and Oceans and Environment. He was also the President of the World Fisheries organization.
Fenwick (known as Fen by his classmates) contracted polio before his first birthday and, despite only being able to paint with his left hand, became an internationally-recognized water colour artist specializing in birds. His paintings were compared with those of James Audubon. Fenwick died in 2008.
Thank heavens young Ken Coley-Donohue stepped up when shop teacher Fred Packford told him he was smart enough to apply for that School District scholarship. Ken had natural talents, but his lack of confidence stalled the recognition and rewards he deserved.
Julie (Goodwin) Lawson, VHS 1965
It’s fascinating to me what classmates remember about each other long after the fact. When friend and fellow grad Wendy (Smith) Sullivan and I reconnected in 2001, she told me she’d never forgotten my role in The Mouse that Roared. Really?! I’d completely forgotten! But her recollection brought it all back. I had auditioned and landed the role of Molly Mulligan, Air Raid Warden. It was a perfect role, a “bit” part which required a panic-stricken Molly to burst through the door on the right side of the auditorium, run up the stairs to centre stage, deliver a message about invaders via walkie-talkie while anxiously looking over her shoulder, ending with a terrified scream, “They’re after me!” and running off to exit through the door on the left—to thunderous applause and laughter. Nothing like making good use of adrenaline! A “bit” part for sure, but worthy of a special mention in the Daily Colonist. I recently came across the review and the program while going through boxes of scrapbooks. 
Irene (Foot) Harrison, VHSG 1955
Cathy (Dent) Blondahl, VHS 1966
Ruth (Hamill) Marshall, VHS 1961
Bill Chapman, VHS 1968
I’m the funny-looking guy in the circle and my now wife of 59 years is the beautiful young girl in the other circle, Pamela Crawford. We met a few months after this picture was taken while working together in the Jerry Gosley Smile Show with Sylvia (nee Mobey) and Bill Hosie. But even then we hardly noticed each other. A year later I offered to take her to performance in town and one thing led to another. We actually only discovered this picture about twenty years after we got married. In 1976, our good friend Sylvia Hosie, asked for Pamela’s help with the production of the big Vic High Centennial show at the Arena, Come Give A Cheer. (Pamela came up with the name.) Naturally I got involved, and did all the sets and lighting for the show. 
Ken graduated in 1962, but I don’t think he had his photo taken. (Ed note: We couldn’t find him in the Camosun.) We got married a month before my graduation in 1964 (no, I wasn’t pregnant!) By this time Ken was in the armed forces and was going overseas and we needed time for paperwork and our shots. I did graduate through Camosun a couple of years later. My dear Ken passed away 10 years ago, so this is about the most recent photo I have of the two of us together.
Jack says: There was a drugstore across the street from the school on Fernwood St. that had a small soda fountain, but the meeting place that I remember was Johnny’s Cafe around the corner from there (on Gladstone St.). It was always packed with us kids during noon hour and after school. One could hardly see through the cigarette smoke as we listened to our favourite songs on the jukebox and played Bill Smith’s pinball machine for free games. Joe Andrews, our Phys Ed teacher, would sometimes drop in to give detentions to those he caught smoking. I saw him coming one day and ran in before him yelling, “Jiggers, Joe” He found no one smoking but gave me a detention which consisted of transferring me to his all-girl health class and assigning me to read the embarrassing lesson when he had to leave the room. What a detention! I loved it!
Sally (Whitehouse) Miller, VHS 1966
Gloria Rocha-Taylor, VHS 1988
Suzanne (Baker) James, VHS 1971
Beta Boys
Brian Hodgson, VHS 1965 
We definitely appreciate your appreciation, Alix. It’s not hard to tell Alix was a Majorette at Vic High. Such enthusiasm!
Dennis Tupman, VHS 1954, Ruth Sones, VHS 1953
Dawn Quast, VHS 1965 and the Santa Claus Band 
My favourite class was Woodworking. We learned to make furniture from our own drawings. I made an end table which is still used today. A friend and I both made baby cradles from the plans we drew. My cradle was slept in by both my children and my nieces and nephews. I still have it and maybe one day a grandchild will too. I found this breadboard while cleaning out my mom’s kitchen. It was broken and my brother was going to toss t but I recognized it as the one I made her in Grade 11 for Mother’s Day. This is maybe why she kept it, even though it was in two pieces. I took it home and glued it together like we were taught by Mr. Somers, and now it’s as good as new and I’m able to use it.
Although I was involved in many, many activities, this event has stayed in my mind for all these years.
Roye Lovgren, VHS 1966
“The class was started as a way of teaching students about coping mechanisms to get them through the day and to deal with emotions. It’s about being in the ‘now’. With technology and social media, it’s so easy to dwell in the past or worry about the future. The class teaches skills to cope with feelings and emotion, learning to recognize stressors in your life and learning to manage your reactions to them. We teach breathing techniques for energy, sleep, relaxing. Yoga and Mindfulness helps the students to balance the mind and body, so they can be the best they can be. This class offers a safe, welcoming place to sort yourself out when you’re stressed out. It offers structured and guided coping skills, and the yoga helps to release tension. The class teaches you to control your day, rather than your day controlling you.”
Scarlett is in grade 12 and is taking the class for a second time. “I took the class in grade 10 and now again in grade 12. The class helps me with difficult times, it breaks up the day and helps me to focus on myself. I always leave in a good mood, with a clear mind and thoughts, and physically refreshed.” Coral is in grade 9 and this is her first time taking the class. “I’m new to Victoria, and Vic High, plus I’m in the Honours program. The class helps me to relax and focus. It helps with the anxiety and stress of being new to everything. It keeps me in the moment.”
The class is held every day from 9-11:45am. Students can come and go depending on their commitments, but most are there for the whole class. All grades from 9 – 12 are mixed in a class as the content is individually focused. “You’re not competing with anyone. Each person is on their own individual journey, dealing with their own issues. This class teaches them to help themselves, and to deal with their issues in positive ways.” The students can take the class more than once, and many do as they find it helps them in their schoolwork and social life. “It’s given me such positive ways of dealing with stress and life, and I’m taking it again to help me focus in my final year” says Scarlett. “I’ll definitely keep doing this after I graduate, but I’ll miss the class, and the peace that’s here.”
Maple has since replicated that ‘heart of love’ for Mike on the walls of their son’s shop, a lasting tribute to Mike who passed three years ago.
Peter Smith died on August 29, 2006, at the age of 73 but his widow, Mary Jean Smith, still remembers the pleasure with which her husband worked on the research and writing of Come Give A Cheer, the definitive history of Vic High’s first 100 years. He spent his nights and weekends poring through Vic High Archives collections and writing while doing his “day job” as a professor of classics at the University of Victoria. “It was definitely a labour of love,” Mary Jean said. “He wrote it with a lot of pleasure.”
Stu also uses the internet to learn about the developments in recent technology, such as electric motors: “I’m always looking for what’s new out there.” He said the Greater Victoria School District is continuing to invest in diagnostic and other equipment to help automotive programs at Vic High, as well as at Oak Bay, Mt. Douglas and Esquimalt.
“My sports highlight at Vic High came in 1966 when, as a member of the Totems, we beat arch-rival Oak Bay to win the BC provincial high school championship,” Brian said. “The game was played before a packed [UBC] gymnasium and watched by thousands on [CBC] television around BC.” The 1966 Vic High grad still recalls the details surrounding the all-Island final: the Bays had beaten the Totems in the Island final [the Totems beat them in the Lower Island title game], and had a powerhouse team led by Bob Burrows and Brian MacKenzie (now a BC Supreme Court judge). Brian said that Vic High realized it couldn’t match the offence and had to rely on a stifling defence which resulted in a 37-33 championship game.
True to his word, Mr. Whalen taught Brian about television and when Mr. Whalen had a falling out with Stampede Wrestling producer Stu Hart (father of iconic wrestler Bret Hart) and quit, Brian took over as television host for a year and a half.
Lyle and Alison became ‘we’ July 25, 1976, the summer before their Grade 12 year. Lyle asked Alison if she thought they should share their story, saying, ‘It happened, kids, move, then like so many others we split, move back, c0-parent. But I don’t want to write it.’ But Alison decided it was a compelling one. She begins: Lyle’s right, it was our life, and though apart for almost 30 years now, we shared 16 years, three children, a fair amount of strife, but also lots of family, love, and fun. At our first apartment together in Victoria, we were forced out in the middle of the night as it went up in flames – a fire that made the front page of the paper then and is still talked about today, much to my surprise just recently on Old Victoria.
Ray and I met on Gonzales Beach the summer after grade 10. Ray had gone to Central Jr. High and I had been at Lansdowne. Starting at Vic High, we both lived in James Bay, and walked home from school together so we could save our bus fare money to buy cigarettes at the Tuck Shop near Vic High.
It all started spring 2000, when James, who was hanging out with his buddy Vince Cox, noticed me at the end of the hallway, decked out head to toe in Adidas. James, too, was decked out in Adidas. He turned to Vince and said, “I’m going to marry that girl one day.” it was love at first sight for James. However for me, the feeling was not mutual…at first. After months of wooing – poutines from the George & Dragon, pizza slices from Thin Edge of the Wedge in Fernwood Square, and plenty of chocolate chip cookies and focaccia bread from Breadstuff Bakery – James finally made his big move. H kissed me at a rave we both attended at the beginning of summer – Summer Skool at Memorial Arena. Aaand…we’ve been together ever since. We’ll be celebrating our 22nd anniversary July 2022, and will be married 12 years December 2022. 
Rick took me out once in high school. His claim to fame was as a drummer in the Vic High band, and he played gigs outside of school. I was into music at Vic High and belonged to various high school choirs and the Madrigal Singers, and accompanied various high school vocalists on piano. Apparently it was an unremarkable date. We went to a movie, then to Paul’s Restaurant for something to eat. And that was that.
We met again in 2001 at the Vic High 125th anniversary celebrations. I’d graduated from the Jubilee nursing school and moved to California, but came home for the gala Vic High event. Something must have clicked then, because we ended up getting married in 2003. I worked for VIHA and Rick continued as a BC land surveyor. We’ve been living in Qualicum Beach since 2003.
On April 6, 2022 Fred and Doreen Packford, celebrate their 66th wedding anniversary.
I met Rob in Grade 10, and we married in Grade 12. Friday the 13th because we couldn’t find a Justice of the Peace for Valentines Day. We had our own apartment with furniture given to us by my aunt, Rob quit school to join the navy while I stayed and graduated. He bought a 1969 Roadrunner that I drove to school while he was out at sea. I never went to my grad, waiting instead for him to come home from a three-month tour. We had our first child three months after school finished. We moved a lot – good times and bad times. Still together and our 41st anniversary is February 13, 2022.
William Sluggett took the electric tram from Brentwood Bay to Vic High every day – it being the only high school at the time – and that’s where he met future wife Ina Foubister who lived in town. Both played basketball at Vic High. They were married January 22, 1937 at Central Baptist Church. William joined the RCAF during the war and was stationed in various Canadian cities, Ina always going with him. They built a home on Saanich Road, and in 1949 daughter Sandy came along. 1987 they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. Ina passed in 1990 and William in 1994.
Certainly some great memories of VHS. Number one would be meeting my wife Andrea Bell. Life was a challenge for me and I missed a chunk of Grade 11. Fortunately I met Andrea late that year but never recovered my studies. Gudy Gudmundseth was the matchmaker, and later the best man at our 1967 marriage. Andrea worked at the Victoria School Board and her supervisor tutored me so I could graduate. I then worked 37 years with BC Tel and Telus. We live in Nanoose Bay and have two children and four grandsons. We have such fond memories of our Vic High years and the friends we made.
In September 1958 Howard entered his first year at Victoria College. In his second year there, he was so advanced in his studies and comprehension that the psychology faculty invited him to give formal lectures at the college.
Tupper eventually moved over to CFMS’s AM sister-station, CKDA, and became its morning personality. His radio career included one-year stints with C-FAX and (now defunct) CJVI.
One that came to mind quickly was the CHEK Around segment on the theme of tattoos. Tupper and his roving mike went downtown to ask passersby to “show me your tattoos.” He said one guy and a couple of women started stripping down to their underwear to show their “tats.” “Great fun,” said Tupper.
A published author, Mason also edited Sunlight in the Shadows, The Landscape of Emily Carr, providing writings and a 5-page biographical sketch of Carr for this photobook of places Carr had painted. Her 2017 book, The Life and Art of Arthur Pitts, a British painter whose work focussed on the Indigenous people of the Northwest, also received favourable reviews.
Exterior photos are all we have at the moment, but if the masses of equipment and construction trailers and protected trees and construction crew in hard hats and porta-potties is any indication, the seismic upgrade work is definitely continuing inside Vic High these days.
Gord Hoshal, front row, second from left, helped the Vic High Totems win the 1969 B.C. high school championship at the Pacific Coliseum. SUBMITTED
