Dakota alumni to hold 50th reunion

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This article was published 29/04/2014 (4406 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Do your ever wonder what your classmates are doing now?

If so, and you’re a graduate of Dakota Collegiate, you might want to free up some space on your calendar this coming weekend for a 50th reunion.

For those of you who were part of the fabric of the school’s first five decades, there will be numerous events for former students of the Dakota Street-based school.

“Dakota Collegiate was built in 1963 and this spring the 50th graduating class will go out into the world,” said Dakota alumnus and Royalwood resident John Hindle, who is trying to raise awareness among former students who may not be aware of the upcoming celebrations.

Hindle, 61, who graduated in 1970, said there will be numerous festivities for participants to enjoy, including a pancake breakfast, school tours, an induction ceremony into the Manitoba High School Hall of Fame for the record-breaking four provincial-winning teams from 1969-70 and a social at Jonathan Toews Community Centre.

For more information, visit www.dakota50th.com

And despite all these events on offer, Hindle — a former general manager of the Winnipeg Goldeyes, who is now an author and professional speaker — said there are also opportunities to let loose and catch up on the Friday night.

“People wanted to come from far away for this reunion and one day of events was not enough,” said Hindle, a member of the reunion’s Friday evening committee. “We saw an opportunity to make this reunion more memorable and decided to act by adding a special Friday evening event for graduates of the first 10 years of the school.”

The Friday night event will be held at Canad Inns Fort Garry (1792 Pembina Hwy.) on Fri., May 2 at 7 p.m. All graduates and teachers from 1964 to 1973 are invited to register for the event at http://www.fabrismilano.ca/dakota/home.php. The cost is $25 and it’s free for teachers. For more information, contact Hindle at john@johnhindle.com

Hindle said the event will have memorabilia displays, a PowerPoint presentation, entertaining speeches, food and plenty of mingling with former classmates. At press time, tickets were selling fast.

“We have had an amazing response and there are more than 150 people registered for this one event. We could have 200 people attend, as individuals are registering every day. And there are surely still people who have still not heard about the 50th events,” he said.  

 
“Dakota was an important part of the life of our committee and we needed to add another event for people from our era to attend. Fifty years is special and people obviously agree. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for many individuals.”

simon.fuller@canstarnews.com

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