Vincent Massey 60th+++ reunion finally a ‘go’

Fort Garry

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 05/04/2023 (984 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The COVID-19 pandemic changed Vincent Massey Collegiate’s 60th reunion plans for May 2020. Reunion chair Gerry Daly, vice chair Gary Senft, treasurer Shirley Hurst, and secretary Jan (Stewart) Bones kept the various committees in touch over the past three years via Zoom, email, and phone. Reunion dates, bookings and reservations were changed many times as the pandemic lingered.

Now, the reunion committee is excited to extend an invitation to the Vincent Massey 60th +++ reunion weekend, while run from June 8 to 11. Anyone who attended VMC since its inaugural year in 1960 is welcome to register.

Events planned for the reunion weekend include:

• a beer garden at the Pembina Curling Club across the street from VMC on Thursday and Friday evenings;

• a golf tournament at Wildwood golf course on Friday morning;

• a variety music event on Friday evening at the school;

• Saturday morning school visits at VMC and a premiere screening of Massey Musical Memories, an iMovie created by Joanne Parker Gibson;

• a gala dinner and dance at the RBC Convention Centre on Saturday night with live music;

• the reunion will end on Sunday afternoon with a family barbecue picnic. It will be a time for a final visit at the end of a memorable weekend.

“We want to have a wonderful time and create an event for people to come back to the school, re-connect and enjoy each other’s company,” reunion secretary Jan Bones says.

Of her high school years, Bones says, “I loved high school.” She said her time at VMC defined Bones’ career in fashion and in teaching. Bones first remembers going to VMC for Home Ec. while still a junior high student and being taught by Mrs. Wilson and Mrs. White. “When I progressed into high school, so many of the teachers made a difference for me. They taught me to do my work well and to have pride. In 1986, when we all celebrated the school’s 25th anniversary and reunion, it was so clear to look back and recognize the value of our school and the community in which we live. We continued to have pride at the 40th reunion in 2000 and at the 50th reunion in 2010’

Treasurer Shirley Hurst agrees.

“I played on all the teams,” she says. “I was in the musicals. People could do musicals or drama or play sports. What was so great was that it was such a community school. I look back at my school photos of elementary school at Crane and we graduated from VMC together.”

Hurst is still good friends with people she graduated from high school with and sees them regularly.

“So many of the teachers were awesome,” Hurst remembers. As she tracks the list of former VMC students, she notes the high school sweethearts that are still together.

“We also like to support the school,” Bones says. Therefore, three bursaries have been awarded by the reunion committee each year since 1986, with funds generated from the 25th, the 40th and the 50th reunions. They are awarded annually at the school’s graduation ceremonies, to students selected by the school’s administration, based on academic excellence and plans to continue their educations at a Manitoba post-secondary institution.

The reunion registration fee, which includes all weekend events, is $170 per person. For more information visit the reunion website at: www.vmc60threunion.ca