Murdoch MacKay reseals time capsule

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This article was published 24/06/2014 (4302 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Murdoch MacKay Collegiate put a lid on its 50th anniversary celebrations on June 17.

The Transcona high school sealed up its time capsule and put it back near the school’s north entrance in a ceremony that day. The capsule, sealed up on June 10, includes letters from various dignitaries including MacKay’s daughter E. Jean Curtis and memorabilia from the school’s anniversary celebrations. As well, several items that were in the capsule when it was originally unearthed were placed back inside. Among these items were coins from 1963, original newspaper clippings, and the teachers’ agreement from the time.

Murdoch MacKay principal Darwin MacFarlane explained a committee did its research to decide what should be placed in the capsule before settling on the eventual contents.

The ceremony was one of MacFarlane’s last as the school’s principal, as he is heading to Kildonan-East Collegiate to serve in the same role in the fall.

“It’s been an honour to put the time capsule back in the wall. It’s been an honour just to be here in the building with all these people,” he said, adding it was a thrill to cut a cake with the inaugural principal, George Derenchuk, during a ceremony last September.

The capsule also included a letter co-authored by two current students, Grade 12s Aaron Labiuk and Caleb de Jong.

Labiuk said in an email that he and de Jong were approached in the fall about contributing to the capsule.

“We decided from the start to keep it clean and to the point. We discuss Murdoch’s history as a school, who Murdoch has helped “create” over the years,” Labiuk explained. “We contemplate the idea of change and remind our future readers not to forget Murdoch’s deep and rich history within the community. We remind that society will seem different to them just as our alumni’s society may have seemed different to us.”

Labiuk added the letter ends with he and de Jong’s hopes for those who read the letter when the capsule is reopened in 2063.

The 17-year-old Transcona resident noted he didn’t realize the year would be a special one when he embarked on his final year of high school in September, but quickly realized the significance of 2013-14.

“I think it is a bit special to me, realizing that Murdoch has already been around for so long, and that time goes by so fast,” he explained. “Most importantly though, I feel like it makes our [g]raduating class special. Some schools aren’t even around after 50 years and to be around graduating at the same time the school celebrates such a milestone, is truly a pleasure in itself.”

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