Kelvin High School - Kelvin Yearbook (Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada)

Page 30 text:

THE KELVIN CREST T HROUGHOUT the ages “symbolism” has played an important part in our history and still means much to us. In brief, “symbols” are outward and visible signs of an inward meaning. Thus, all flags convey to their na¬ tionals special meanings as in the case of the Union Jack which by its pattern¬ ing incorporates the red cross of St. George for England, the white cross of St. Andrew for Scotland and the diag¬ onal red cross of St. David for Wales. These incorporated into one symbol sig¬ nify the union of the three countries as a corporate whole. In the days of Chivalry each knight was distinguished by his coat of arms. These consisted of symbols bearing ref¬ erence to qualities for which the family was distinguished, such as the “Lion,” a symbol of strength, sometimes “couch- ant” at others “rampant” as in the arms of Scotland. One of the best known symbols is that of the “Cross” which epitomises all that is inferred by Chris¬ tianity. Whether you are aware of it or not (in modern times) though the signifi¬ cance may have been lost, we still fol¬ low the practice in regalia, club in¬ signia and school and college badges. We naturally desire distinctive mark¬ ings to identify our associations and there is no better way than that of a design distinctive in form and color, one easily recognizable by the mem¬ bers of an organization. Whether you call it a crest, a badge, an emblem, or any of a dozen names in common use, it essentially is a symbol of the quali¬ ties and identity of such a body using it. In our School’s history we have found ourselves searching for some form of expression embodying a rich symbolism to express our identity. First we chose as our colors Cherry and Gray; the rich red expressing all those warm human sympathies we admire; the cool blue gray symbolising the calm judgment of an educated mind. This became natu¬ rally the basis for all the designs we use to identify particular emits of our school. Of our first school crest, no one has any record other than the designer of it, but it was the beginning of a con¬ sciousness for an official symbol. The second developed in the War period and consists of a background of cherry and gray stripes, vertical and superimposed by a Golden Torch, a Laurel wreath and ribbon upon which is inscribed “Kelvin.” It was inspired by McCrae’s poem “In Flanders Field,” the passage “To you from failing hands we throw the torch” providing us with our chief sym¬ bol. Just as over 500 of our students accepted the challenge of the War, we who remain accept the challenge of the “Torch” to carry on the progress of humanity. Not only that, but we crown it with the Laurel of Victory, and label it with our identity, and back it up with the full strength of the Cherry and Gray symbol of war, human sympathies, and calm human intelligence. That is what our Crest should mean to us and we should be proud to wear it as a School. That the enterprising Sports Committee was quick to seize it as an athletic award is history but the crest has wider sig¬ nificance than that and in one form or another should be adapted for all school uses, stamping these with the rich in-

Page 29 text:

taught at the LaVerendrye, later com¬ ing to Kelvin when it was first opened. Her long years of service to the school were greatly appreciated by all. Miss Perry, who is another former Kelvin student, left her work in the Household Arts De¬ partment, last year, to be married. She has gone to live in Hamilton, Ontario, and we of Kelvin wish her happiness Mbs. H. Steventon (Doris Perry) and the best of luck in her new home. We are pleased once more to offer our congratulations to Mr. Sellors, our Art teacher, who has received a Carnegie Scholarship entitling him to a summer course at the University of Oregon. THANKS Your editors wish to thank: 1. Our advertisers who have made this book possible. Our readers are asked to patronize these firms. 2. Those who assisted so courteously in the publication of this book: Wallingford Press, Rapid, Grip Batten, C. Jessop, Photographer. 3. Mr. Toseland and his staff who helped so willingly in all school activi¬ ties. 4. Our enterprising Advertising Com¬ mittee: Mr. C. Kerr, Glen Garvin, Ed. Palk. 5. All students who assisted by con¬ tributing material and by supporting our paper with their subscriptions. 21

Page 31 text:

signia of qualities its symbolism con¬ tains. There are many alumni of the School who in the past received the Crest as an athletic award who framed this and treasure it as a personal association with Kelvin. To those it is their visible con¬ tact with their Alma Mater. At a more recent date an attempt to focus student attention upon one com¬ mon design to take the place of indi¬ vidual class pins was made. A design suitable to the broad statement neces¬ sary to “felt” was instituted, consisting of a trefoil and a triangle enclosing the letter “K.” This without the inscrip¬ tion of the three virtues “Courage, Truth and Right” leaves one open to confusion of thought as both trefoil and triangle may be interpreted in many dif¬ ferent ways. If the “trefoil” is accepted as symbolism for “Courage,” “Truth” and “Right” then the sharp points of the triangle are the opposite, i.e., “Fear,” “Ignorance” and “Injustice.” In the de¬ sign the trefoil is triumphantly super¬ imposed upon these negations. The symbolism therefore declares that “Fear,” “Ignorance” and “Injustice” are vanquished by “Courage,” “Truth” and “Right” and the heart of this is in “K”— Kelvin. H. V. Fanshaw. Our Scene Painters W. McDowell R. Cullen D. Kirkland 23